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Dear Friends and Family,

Easter Greetings from Copacabana! We hope this time of resurrection and renewal fills and refreshes your hearts. It's a season of new beginnings.

A year ago we arrived in Copacabana on the Wednesday before Easter with some clothes, cookware and a few books packed into four bags. We were lucky to have made hostel reservations in advance because thousands of people travel to Copa for the last days of Holy Week. It seems even more crowded this year.

It has been fun, this past week, to receive brief text messages and photos from Jim of the high school Chapel Choir trip to New York. From the first day's surprising glimpse of two of our students joyfully hoisted in the air at a recreation area; to a glimpse of that same evening, of the choir preparing for their first concert; to a glimpse of them gathering on Wednesday to sing at the United Nations - these momentary glimpses helped me to understand the fun - and the significance - of what they were experiencing.

Day two found Lauren looking at the world from a different perspective. After losing her wallet temporarily, she flipped with joy when it was returned safely! During a sermon by Pastor Beth, words ushered us into God's nudging our hearts to open to gratitude. As this was said a yellow balloon came over and Julian said, "God’s presence floated amongst us." The balloon floated in and over us visually scoring the sermon. God’s presence followed us even into our messy bus, THE SKY IS FALLING THE SKY IS FALLING no it’s that same balloon bouncing around us.

Thirteen days until 41 Chapel Choir members and adult leaders head off for Tour 2012 and NYC!  This is just the first of many blog entries for Tour 2012.  Look for our daily updates and photos starting on March 24th.