Since the tour itinerary came out several month ago, this was the day I was most looking forward to. The band's first engagement for the day was to play to some 250 children and staff at Camp Happyland in Western Virginia (a camp where I spent two consecutive summers as a cabin counsellor back in 1994/5).
The day began with another early start as the coach departed from the hotel at 7:30 in the morning. The journey took some 90 minutes before we duly arrived at the camp. En route we celebrated the birthday of Graham Farmer - Graham we wish you a long, happy retirement.
With ample time before morning worship began we were given a chance to see the camp's facilities. Nothing had changed at all from 8 years ago with the exception of new football (soccer) goals being erected - glad to see I may add. The bandsmen were very impressed with the setting and facilities that The Salvation Army had established for the camp, particularly the chapel.
The camp runs throughout the summer months with a different set of children each week. Most of the children come from deprived or problematic backgrounds and the camp offers them an opportunity to mix with other children, to get away from everyday life and, most importantly, to learn more about Jesus Christ and what he can do in their lives.
At 10:25 the band formed up in marching order at the opposite side of the camp to the chapel and we undertook a small parade to the march Anthem of the Free with the children following behind. It was a great sight to behold.
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This was immediately followed by morning worship in which the band took its part with Karen Farmer playing the flugal horn solo I'd Rather Have Jesus and the band meditation Faithful God. It was great to see the kids praising the Lord in song so vibrantly. The worship also included a powerful testimony from a young member of staff, David Carter, from the UK when he made it clear that living with Christ in your heart is one big adventure and that God would have you do things you never thought possible.
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The very moving one hour long worship came to a close with probably over 100 of the children having come forward to the Mercy Seat and asking Jesus to be a part of their lives. We pray that these children, and the many others who have attended this and similar camps across the country this summer, will continue to turn towards Jesus - particularly as they face difficulties in the future.
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Worship was followed by lunch at the camp's canteen where I was pleased to see they still had chocolate carton milkshakes for a drink!
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At 1:30 the band, augmented with Craig and his wife, provided a short festival for the children for which, the most part, they enthusiastically responded. Several of the children helped on the shakers and blocks in Las Lluvias Grandes and they all clapped along in a number of the other pieces.
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Helter Skelter, the xylophone solo, started off as usual with Tim Farmer on the sticks, but a rather frustrated Robert Hayward (our other percussionist) decided he wanted some of the action. This resulted in not only a change of soloist but, part way through, a change of conductor which saw the Bandmaster relegated to 1st trombone. A good bit of fun, appreciated by all.
The festival concluded with Craig taking over the baton to conduct the march The Pioneers.
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The time spent with the kids was a unique experience and brought much blessing to us bandsmen to see the good work that The Salvation Army does on these summer camps with developing and nurturing young hearts for Jesus.
At 3:20 we made our two hour trip through to the other side of Washington D.C. to the Harbor Lights Center and Corps. The centre conducts rehabilitation programmes for alcohol and drug addiction for numerous men and women.
As soon as we arrived the current residents helped us to unload all the instruments from the van, portraying the fact that they were very pleased to see us and very much looking forward to the concert. After setting up, tea followed which gave us the opportunity to share fellowship with the residents. Many were telling us of their stories on how they ended up a drug user or alcoholic and why they needed to spend some time at the centre. The common grounding was that they weren't really given a head start in life and that their backgrounds/upbringings did not endear them to anything else. However, every one of them acknowledged that the Harbor Lights Center was a God Center. Their time on the programmes there was not only helping them to redirect where their life may be going in terms of kicking into touch their addictions, but also giving them the time to develop their relationship with God. Many of them were so full of the Holy Spirit it was great to see.
Our coach driver provided one or two scary moments - his idea of a turning circle seemed to be at odds with reality. This was well evidenced when he grounded the coach on the volleyball court! Still, the tow truck saved the day.
The festival, the final one of the tour, could not have had a better audience in terms of responsiveness. We had joyous singing, lots and lots of clapping, and standing ovations for the soloists and timbrels. It was a great couple of hours with a time for laughter, reflection, testimony and praising God.
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Today gave the band two very unique experiences of what good work The Salvation Army does over here in the USA in providing nurturing environments for children and adults to not only help to alleviate their problems, but to develop them spiritually. As the final day of the tour before preparing to fly home, the experiences of today were a great high to finish on.
On returning to the hotel, 35 pizzas were ordered to be delivered to the hotel (funnily enough, Pizza Hut did not believe us at first!). We all ate together in the Breakfast room of the hotel which we took over.
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Following this the final awards were made for the 'Clanger Pot'. Martyn Pearce won the award for Thursday but, I'm afraid, you will have to go to him if you want to know the details. (Clue - ask about getting caught short at Chicago airport!!) The 'ultimate clanger' for the tour went to my wife Rhianon for her additional note at the end of Praise (see Day 3's diary entry). However, a special award was made to Major Vic Kennedy: this was for receiving a nomination EVERY day, but particularly for his 'sacred thong' quote on Day 5.
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All that was left now was the words of thanks that were required for certain individuals in helping make the tour such a success. Bandmaster David Nicholson expressed a big 'thank you' to everyone to ensure that no-one was missed out. The specific thanks were as follows: the car drivers in Des Moines for safely driving everyone around for the week; Graham Farmer and Roy Richley for driving the van; Roy Richley for his tremendous efforts on the multi-media; David and Gordon McKee and the various 'diary writers' for their regular web updates; Paul Sharman and Daniel Robson for their support; Major Victor Kennedy for his words and thoughtful contributions, as well as being 'one of the guys'; to the Bandmaster for his hours of musical preparation both before and during the tour, as well as the rapport he developed with the audiences; to the band locals for keeping us organised and in the right place at the right time; but a special and most sincere thanks was given to Band Secretary Phil Harris who has been at the forefront of all the arrangements for this tour. Months of preparation, many e-mails and phone calls from Phil have ensured that everything throughout the ten days has ran smoothly, ensuring the band has had a tour not to forget. Thank you Phil.
Words: Darren Selby
Photos: Gordon McKee
