|
USA Tour
Report - October 2008
|
|
Undertaking a US Tour with the
Tileagd Choir is a huge challenge and not for the ‘faint hearted’!
 13
people travelling 10,000 miles by air and over 5,000 by road is an
organisational ‘night mare’ – but our conclusion so far, with just a
week to go, it that this tour has been even better than the first one
we undertook in February 2007.
Maybe because we knew more of what to expect and could deal with
potential problems before they actually arose. The children were also
used to what happens on these long tours that although enjoyable, are
still very demanding on mind and body. It also helped a little
having two less travellers this time which meant a little extra room
in the bus!
|
After such a busy
summer which followed extensive preparations for the Tileagd Complex
Grand Opening – Kevin and Maria started the tour quite
exhausted but through the prayers of so many, health and strength has
been sustained and a very successful tour has been enjoyed.
Even on route to our initial destination in Jacksonville FL,
the Choir enjoyed some great Jazz from a quartet playing at Chicago
Airport. The kids loved it! |
 |
|
After a late arrival in Jacksonville, we all enjoyed a refreshing
night’s sleep before hitting the road and travelling north to
Leesburg GA.
 Our
wonderful friends at First Baptist showed perfect ‘Southern
Hospitality’ and it all got the Tour off to an amazing start. It is
great to be visiting friends on a Tour and this Tour we had a lot of
visits to familiar places and people. Most had been on Mission Trips
to Romania and some of course we met on the ’07 tour.
After Leesburg, we headed to Eastman GA and our good friend
Dr Russ Elkins. No one from Eastman has been to Romania yet on a
Smiles Mission Trip, but we’re hoping they may do soon after the
Choir’s visit! |
|
|
|
 We
sadly then had a Concert cancelled due to the forecasts of Hurricane
Hanna threatening to hit Richmond Hill GA area. After the
damage ‘Gustav’ had done we understood people not taking chances. As
it was, the hurricane was reduced to a storm and diverted away from
the Georgia coast. We had a beautiful day of weather and the kids
enjoyed time at the beach instead of a concert!
Then on to Charlotte NC where in addition to 3 morning Services
at Trustee Scott Suskovic’s church – the kids were treated to
an afternoon on the lake on a couple of Pontoon boats. They also got
to experience ‘tubing’ which was a great hit! |
|
|
|
 We
had a wonderful first time to Calvary Chapel in Fredericksburg VA
and then headed up to Maryland. Nearly a week was spent located at
Skycroft Conference Centre which is always great when on tour, to
have a few days of not loading the suitcases.
During our time in Maryland visiting a couple of Churches and
the State Fair in Frederick – we also got to visit
Washington DC. What a city! And would you believe, just as we
arrived at the White House, the President was arriving back from a
meeting at the Pentagon and we witnessed and photographed the
Motorcade – very impressive.
|
 A
tiring ‘rest day’ visiting the Monuments and Memorials but DC really
is a great city and we all enjoyed ourselves immensely.
Then we were heading south to Kingsport TN who had a team of 20
visiting Romania this summer. Great to see them and have an
‘unofficial’ reunion in the context of a Concert. The Choir also had
opportunity to perform at the local Middle School during the
afternoon which was very well received. |
|
Then on to Nashville, well Brentwood
actually (just south) but the Choir were interested in doing their
first concert close to the Music Capital of the World!
 An early start
next day as we began a 12 hour journey to Baton Rouge LA.
Here we would be performing at a Retirement Community, A Dinner Party
and two Churches. Again, great to be amongst so many friends and while
in Baton Rouge, American Trustees joined us for a Board Meeting
during the Monday and then had dinner with Choir that evening.
|
|
We are thankful
to all who support the work of Smiles, but acknowledge the Trustees
hold a special and important role of protecting the vision of Smiles
and ensuring it stays focused on the task God has called us to. It was
great to see the Board together in Louisiana. |
|
|
|
|
 Another
long journey back to Central Florida where two more concerts
awaited but also another amazing opportunity for the Choir to visit
Disney World. A special place indeed and after 15 hours of rides,
shows and parades – the fireworks finished off a great day and we
headed home for a busy Sunday in Lake Wales where the Choir
sang and Kevin preached(!) before driving down to Stuart FL
for an evening Concert.
An incredible month of touring, that was going to end after 5 weeks of
travelling as we headed back to Jacksonville FL. The last couple of
hundred miles north from Orlando was a welcome drive.
A very busy time awaited us in Jacksonville with 3 Church services
and two Concerts to fit in over the week-end of October 4th
& 5th. Even after all this, it wasn’t finished yet. Monday morning
we started packing up and with 26 pieces of luggage packed we headed
to the Airport for the return flight via Miami and London.
All went well, although the 4 hour layovers in Miami and again in
London made the journey a long one. But, at 10pm on Tuesday October 7th
we were all safely back in Romania. A great tour had been enjoyed by
everyone. Hopefully the opportunity will come again for us to head
across the Atlantic Ocean. Meanwhile, we hope to see our friends from
America visiting us in Romania!
Thank you to everyone who made the Tour such a success and
enjoyable, beneficial experience. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Any one interested
in future Tours with the
Tileagd Community Choir visiting your area in
America or United Kingdom
please contact: Kevin D. Hoy 
E-mail :
kevin@thesmilesfoundation.org
Telephone: USA: 423-239-9525 UK: 0113-276-5060
To purchase a copy of
the Choir CD
‘My Life is in His Hands’
telephone the above office numbers. |
