Trip To Two Cities

Encouragement.
Connections.
Encouragement.
Re-connections.
Did I mention encouragement?

If you followed my posts via instagram or facebook these past two weeks, you would have seen many pictures from New York and Kona, Hawai'i - from my "Trip To Two Cities".  As of January 2013 I was given an invitation to come teach Repertoire in Kona at the Performing Arts school.  I thought it over, prayed it over and found out it would fall in the time slot of Ad Deum's one week break from rehearsals/classes and would fall right next to Project Dance NYC.  So I asked for God's provision through people, and quietly began sending out emails to specific people. 

Boom!  Money started coming in.  In fact just over 100% of my budget came in.  All through amazing people who are supporting Andreas and me.  :)  Thank you so much!

My schedule was packed.

In New York...

Stayed with my friend/sister who I grew up with in Virginia!  Kristin!

I took 6 dance classes so that I could bring back some inspiration/material for the dance classes I teach here in Houston.  Two of the teachers that I took from were my "dance mentors" from my 2011 program at Broadway Dance Center, and they both gave me nothing but encouraging words.

Just after taking class with Jared Grimes.
HipHop teacher in NYC.
Thanks for the encouragement Jared!

 At Project Dance...

Friends I danced with in NYC while we lived there.  Amanda and Colleen! 
Us at Project Dance.

I also was helping out with Project Dance on Friday and Saturday - where so many of my worlds collided. Before we moved away from Brooklyn in 2011, I prayed an "unrealistic" little prayer saying, "God it would be so nice if I could have a little bit of Kona, little bit of NYC, and a little bit of Virginia all mixed together." My friend Kristin from Virginia, the Ad Deum dancers from Houston, Crystal and 3 other girls from Kona all met one another at Project Dance NYC (and of course NYC dancer friends were there)!  Worlds collided!  I couldn't have been flying higher.

Stella (from Ad Deum) and I helping teach the "flashmob"
group dance to the Project Dance participants.

God's hand of protection was over us at Project Dance's Saturday outdoor show which was in Time Square.  The bombers from the horrible attack in Boston - little did we know - they had planned to attack Time Square that weekend, but were caught on their way to NYC.  We were kept safe and sound, and able to spread some joy and hope to the huge audiences that came through for the show! 

Ad Deum performing in Time Square at Project Dance

 Visiting church...

At church...

I Visited my church in Brooklyn ("Church! of Park Slope").  Which to see the faces of people from our church warmed my heart, and walking down the streets Andreas and I lived made me long to be back - in a happy way.

Church friends and me at lunch at a restaurant on the same block
as our old apartment.

On the last day in New York I got to meet up with my friend / old student / old classmate Angie - we spent time in Kona together, and she now lives in the City.

Kona, Hawai'i...

I taught repertoire from HeartBridge's 12 year running production "Coming Home".  For roughly 4 hours a day I was working the new students hard in the dance combinations! Also trying to bring some encouragement on the side of WHY DO WE DANCE?  The new students were so much fun, and I know God has good plans for each one of them. 

After teaching several hours of dance! Good job students!

I dropped in on the Schools "Culture Night" where they shared food from the various countries that they are all from.  Some of the students shared with me how they came to Kona and why they love dance.  It was so nice to hear stories from the students and encourage them however I could.

I was able to spend more time with the four girls who will open up a School of Dance Studies in Kona as of the Summer of this year.

School of Dance girls from Kona (minus Sherisa) who I got to see
in NYC and Kona!
(this is us in NYC)

Connecting with several of my students from 2011's Performing Arts School (DTS) who had stayed on the Kona campus to continue in ministry and schools.  What amazing people they each are, and you can see the joy of the Lord in them!  I'm so proud of everything they are doing.

hanging out with the 2011 students + Maddie who staffed last year

catching up with the students from 2011

Also spent time with good friends and mentors Kenny, Maria, Uli, and Becky.   Who were able to bring me some major encouragement.

Maria and Kenny invited me and the School of Dance girls over
for dinner and final goodbye's before I had to catch my flight.

This trip was just what the Doctor ordered.  It was so good I want to just sit and soak in everything that happened.

Now back in Houston with Andreas have been walking through some of the up's and down's of marriage, and coming out in a stronger place and feeling God's hand all over our marriage healing broken pieces.  Marriage is serious business, and oh so worth it!  I love my husband.

Ad Deum and Ad Deum II have roughly two weeks until our BIG Spring shows, so we are rehearsing like crazy.  Along with being busy at the various places we are teaching preparing for end of the season recitals.  We love this team of dancers we are working with and to see each of them feel the Love and Encouragement that is from the Lord that goes beyond dance.  What amazing times and opportunity we are in the midst of.