The Best Spring Break Ever!

Trying to get back into the groove of everyday routines after such an amazing week has been, to say the least, a bit difficult. A part of my heart stayed in Italy, and one day I will return :) Breath taking scenery and ancient ruins tell the stories of ancient Italy, such as the larger than life Coliseum, while monumental sculptures and paintings gave a small glimpse into the brilliant imagination of the sculpture/painter, Michelangelo. This trip to Italy was a very emotional experience for me, on many different levels. Our performances were wonderful and the musicality and connection we all shared as an ensemble was almost too much at times. Everyday was amazing, and every night was amazing. At night was when we got to wind down and relax after long days... and that we did:)
But now we are back home, and left with wonderful memories, pictures, videos, and stories that we will carry with us forever. We are better for it.

-Ginger Wheelock

Lucca and Il Baluardo

What can I say about Lucca? I think it was the only town with no tourists, other than ourselves of course. The concert tonight was amazing. The local choir that sang with us was called "Il Baluardo". I walked up to one of the members after the concert and asked them what Baluardo means. She told me that the Baluardo was the wall that surrounded Lucca which was created by the Etruscans in the very birth of Italian civilization. So I thought that their choir name was pretty interesting, since it's meaning related very closely to the origin of the City itself. It kind of shows how close this community is to it's music.

I hope to one day come back to Italy and stay in Lucca for a while. I heard that they have a Conservatory for music which really made me actually consider the option to one day come and study here. It is very peaceful and the nature of the place is great for people who want to come and learn about history of art and music, and to come and learn about themselves.

That all from me, I will probably be posting one more blog before we leave to come back to the States. Thanks for reading.

-Jason Whitney

St. Francis of Assisi

Today we visited the town of Assisi, which has been the best site for me so far. It was much less populated than Rome which made exploring Assisi much easier. It was so amazing to be walking in the narrow streets between the ancient tall buildings and shops. The locals were very nice and enjoyed us very much. I do have to say though that the Tomb of St. Francis moved me the most. You can feel the emotion of all the people as you descend the steps into his tomb, and as you turn that last corner, you see it, the Tomb of St. Francis. Everyone was silent, some sitting, some walking around, and some praying. I sat down for a while and started to pray. Just thinking about all the history behind St. Francis, the people who had been here before me, and all the history behind Catholicism in Italy in general made me began to appreciate a lot about how important my religion is to me. I soon began to have tears fill my eyes and I began to wonder to myself why I was weeping. The power and emotion filled in that room was very intense, so intense that I even went back later for a 2nd time.

All in all, Assisi was an amazing experience, not to mention the impromptu performance at the cathedral. I liked how we were able to sing for the tourists wandering in and out. I'm sure it made their experience there, and ours, an even more memorable one.

-Jason Whitney

Dyandra Edwards

I must say, today has been the highlight of my trip. We visited Vatican City and toured the Vatican museums, the Sistine Chapel, and St. Peter's Basilica. Later in the day we saw the Pantheon and the Revi Fountain. This was the part of the trip I had been waiting for the whole time.
All my life I've wanted to visit the Vatican. It's something I've been thinking of for years, and even thought of trying to plan on my own someday. But once I heard that this was going to be on the trip, I was very excited. We were able to see several different statues and paintings, glorious tapestries, and see the art that inspired Michelangelo's works. The Sistine Chapel was a wonderful thing to see, simply awe-inspiring.
The Pantheon was a wonderul experience. I walked around and saw the different statues and tombs, different paintings. However, the Trevi Fountain was awesome. Huge states adorned the fountain. People filled the steps around the fountain to take pictures, videos, and throw a coin or two into the fountain. One coin was to come back to Rome, and two was to come back with your true love. We were also able to have some free time today to shop and look around town.
I'm exhausted right now. But in a good way. I've had the day of my life, and I can go home happy with plenty of pictures to remember this day forever.

A big day full of grace.... by Katie Hodge

The morning started in a mad rush to the heart of Roma! Starting the perfect day was a tour of the Vatican Museums! Tapestry, paintings, frescos, and mosaics are only the beginning of a long list of artforms found in the museum. The most incredible moment came as we stepped through the door of the Sistine Chapel. To witness Michelangelo's masterpiece was astounding and to describe it would be near impossible.
Last night, I blogged and promised to describe what it meant to me to sing in the Vatican. Touring the museums even further enforced these feelings because they are the combined tribute to the ultimate case of Grace. To sing in St. Peter's Basilica means a great deal to me, not as the target of a pilgrimage, but as a tribute to the ultimate case of grace. Simon Peter is one of my favorite people in the Bible. He got to walk with, talk to, learn from, and follow Christ. Still, it wasn't enough for Simon Peter to merely follow Christ. Christ wanted Peter's name, his identity. Christ said, "You are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church." (Matthew 16:18)He literally changed Simon son of Jonah's identity. Names, at the time, were sacred and representative of a person's character. The very essence of a person was captured in their name. When Christ changed Simon's name to Peter, He literally changed his identity. "Peter" literally means "Rock". Just as Christ predicted in at the Last Supper, Peter denied knowing Christ three times before the rooster crowed the night of Christ's betrayal and crucifixion. Even knowing this, Christ still named Peter the Rock of His Bride, the Church.
Matthew 7:14, "Small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it." Though I may trip and fall on my face while finding my way through this narrow gate, Peter's humble and devoted return to Christ reminds me of the grace given to me in salvation. A church constructed in honor of Peter is a church constructed in honor of what defines his and my life. I am being given the rare privilege of getting to praise the Almighty God in a memorial built to give tribute to the thing that saves me: grace.

Love and peace,
Katie Hodge

Eduardo Paredes

The timeless and epic statues of the annals of past popes and holy men, the quiet, watchful sentinels who act as silent guardians and watchful protectors gave me (and I suspect all of us) comfort as we entered that grand hall at Vatican City. The Basilica di San Pietro stands as a monument to those who find faith and hope in everyday things, from the wisp of a cloud racing the skies, to the grandeur and majesty of Maestro Michelangelo's heartstopping and divine brushtrokes, this is truly a center of God's magic working through us and around us!

There is a sense of searching and longing, even for those whose faith is unyielding, there, in those hallowed halls. A moment of volitation is certainly in order for those willing to let the experience take them to new heights, and it is with great excitement and joy that I can say I was truly and deeply touched by the Almighty this day.

This entire trip has been awe-inspiring and awesome, and I can't wait to see and do more, and hunger for more!

Brenda's Adventures =)

Today was the most incredible day yet. We started the day off early with some yummmyy breakfast (the cappuccino is to die for!), and then off to the Roman Colosseum! I could try to describe it for you... but words won't do it justice. Pictures will be posted up soon, but even those can't describe its grandeur. It was absolutely beautiful... After that was the Roman forum where we definitely had some fantastic picture ops and took advantage of them. =) I was amazed at how preserved the Roman structures are after thousands of years. I have been so lucky to be able to share this experience with two of the bestest friends any girl could ask for... and an article is actually going to be posted in the Herald about our bond throughout the years and our big Italy trip, so that's something to look forward to. YAY!
The day was busy busy busy. After our beautiful sightseeing, we hurried off to our hotel to get changed for our choir concert at THE VATICAN! The sheer magnitude of it beauty is so overwhelming. The statues and artwork are awe-inspiring, and left us all speechless. I can't wait to show everyone pictures... and our singing at the mass? It was gorgeous gorgeous gorgeous, thank you. Absolutely incredible. Hopefully, some of it will be online, and you can see for yourself. =) Yay, Rome! More sightseeing tomorrow and our first full concert.
I'll be posting more soon.. stay tuunneedd! =) Ciao!

-brenda <3