Don't worry! It's just stage make-up!!!

Yesterday we performed in English for highschool students (in Germany). We had a program that was not our ordinary program. Usually, we perform shorter plays with the emphasis of our English Language Communication Program being on interactive improvisations and discussions. Despite this being the normal way we work, with the interactive nature being the huge selling-point of our work in the schools around the world where students are learning English as a second (--or third--) language, this was not what our contact wanted.

She wanted straight performing-- no interaction. While on a pedagogical level, we didn't necessarily agree with this -- from the point of pure theatre -- it was a joy. The roles -- particularly in the final play -- were dramatically fulfilling. (All the plays were written, of course, by our founder, Charles M. Tanner.) First I played an apathetic mother in a highly dysfunctional family (with an alcoholic husband and drug-experimenting daughter) in a play called "Look Ma -- No Mirrors". Then I played a self-absorbed diva-esque actress blackmailing her "friend" in a play called "Backstage-- Upstage". And finally, we finished with a very intense play called "Bullies" -- a play about domestic violence -- hence the stage make-up. (In the actual performances, the make-up (done in 4 minutes!) was even gorier -- much more hideous. The picture here was just a test-shot and I hadn't done very much with bruising/swelling.)

"Bullies" was a new play for me and although it was gut-wrenching and I was spent after performing it (and we had to do it twice), it was such a fulfilling experience. I love doing what I do -- being able to step outside of myself and into the life -- and experiences -- of another person. That's the magic of theatre -- being able to transform yourself as completely as possible into someone else. And with repertoire like this, I grow to appreciate more and more the treasure chest of repertoire we have -- 3500 plays all written by one man! Isn't that incredible???

I sometimes wonder if I would ever pursue acting outside of Covenant Players and usually the thought that follows is that it would be difficult to live up to the variety and depth of material that we have.

First Playdate in Germany this mission...

I'm back on the Rhein Unit again now. Debbie drove me to the airport on Thursday at 2:30AM to start my trek from Wales to Luton airport to fly to Dortmund, Germany -- to be picked up by the Rhein Unit (Cindy & Kevin Gourlay and Sabine Reiber). It was a terribly difficult goodbye (as expected by all of us). We not only worked together and missioned together but we also shared life together as a family and loved deeply these past 2 1/2 months. I've missed them terribly everyday and thoughts of them come up throughout each hour of the day.

But I'm glad God's given me the strength, grace, & courage to do what I need to do and to be who I need to be for the unit here. Cindy & Kevin are also wonderful people (as experienced last mission) and I'm really excited to be missioning with Sabine for the first time. She's a gem & I like her very much. And of course, Baby Gourlay might want to come out before the end of mission! So that's pretty exciting, eh? And today, I performed my first German singlet (a play on my own). It went really well -- especially since I only started learning it Thursday & had one rehearsal on it. Again, I thank God for enabling me to do what I need to do. And I'm glad that I could just jump in because sometimes that's best.

My brain's pretty fried, though. I've not had to work in German for five months & today was an intense crash course -- particularly lunch with a very animated family -- including three very talkative & ebullient daughters (ranging from 17 to 24)-- often talking simultaneously. They were a delightfully fun family, though, and a wonderful welcome back in Germany.

I've not had much of a chance to write about my time in Wales so I'll have to devote a post to that in the near future -- along with pictures. Life was so full and I lived every moment so fully, I never really stopped to write about it. But I'd like to do that soon.

Blessings on everyone reading this.
Love,
Amy