Andrea says...

Well I seem to have missed a ball!

Sorry for not getting in touch sooner, but life is life and to be honest I
thought it was tomorrow!

Sadly I wouldn't have been able to make either weekend, a little thing
called the Irish Sea, but I have been thinking about those youth chorus
days.

It was the best of times and worst of times, people I loved and people who
could have driven me to drink! But God taught me so much through those many
years, I must be a contender for longest serving member. Being from a small
corps, the chorus was a great support as I would never have had the
opportunity to go 'specialling' and visit other corps, the Isle of Man was
especially powerful, an over-crowded mercy seat and God telling me to go
'fishing for souls' what a privilege. I still don't understand the whole
robbing stuff from the hosts, but hey I can get over that one.

Youth chorus was special for many different reasons, I met my bestest friend
in the whole world Su, I travelled and learned that God speaks to Andi
through words penned by others. There have been many occassions when God
spoke so clearly at practices that tears flowed, I'm sure my many neighbours
over the years thought I was truly barmy! I still think of Banners & Bonnets
- 'Could you love the unloved, never reckoning the cost?' Can I? Or in times
of complete pantsness - He will part the water and till the day I die, I
will be singing my song of love.

Plase pass on my love to Margaret and express my apologies. Youth chorus was
a life line at an important time of my life especially at University and it
was a real privilege as I watched the young people grow, develop, mature and
become really beautiful people.

The photo looks great, but there are a few I don't recogonise, I don't think
I've changed a bit, except more freckles!

Thank you to those who organised the event and I pray that you all had a
blast and how lovely to see the DYOs especially Melvyn.

Well sorry again for not replying, but as they say its the thought that
counts - actually I don't agree with that at all.

Thanks for the memories and as I move forward with a different youth chorus
- officially the Chaplain, so I can get in, I remember with love those
practices, the timbrel routines, the drama items, the laughs, the tears,
God's challenges, the time our tyres all got let down - thanks Peter for
changing the tyre and above all the singing - we were good and thank God for
the different pianists, and musicians, especially Margaret.

Thank you Margaret for looking after me during the Chester years, I may not
be in the Army now, if you and the other beautiful Lacey's hadn't loved me
through that time.

Thanks and sorry this is a pitiful excuse of an apology but roll on the next
20 year reunion, I may be back in the UK by then.

Luv n' prayers

Andrea