Macon & Atlanta

What a couple of days!

1 Sunday morning service
1 Parade
2 Concerts
7+ hours on a bus
65,000 calories eaten per bandsmen (slight exaggeration)

Sunday morning at Atlanta Temple Corps, we were warmly welcomed by the corps officer and had a chance to look around the corps building, impressive! They even have a fancy coffee machine for everyone to use, which is always on free vend, hopefully this is an idea Capt. Hill will take back to the TAB.

The band played quite a few pieces in the morning meeting, which where all well received and I'm sure that the congregation found them a helpful aid to worship. Meredith, and Derek Flinn also gave their testimonies in music. Capt Dusty preached on being "People of Proclamation" which if you haven't realized is the theme of our tour.

After the meeting we had a quick getaway to be at our next venue Macon, where we would be participating in the Cherry Blossom Festival Parade. This parade was fun and we where well received by the folks, and also gave the local SA good exposure.

After the parade we were off for some food, and we were in for a treat! BBQ and it was good, nothing more really to say about that. We got back to the training school fairly early so most of us got an early night.

Monday was to be a busy day. back to Macon (1.5 hrs) for a 'open air' concert for the ribbon cutting of the Cherry Blossom Festival. It was COLD! The powers that be made the desicion to wear our tour jackets which are quite a bit thicker that our festival tunics, some wore those under the jackets, it really was chilly. After all the dignitaries said a few words each we played the National Anthem then on to our concert which the warmed the souls of the listeners if not their bodies. We met a very pink poodle in Macon, Barbara found out the she had to get her roots done every 4 - 5 weeks (the poodle not Barbara).

On the way back to Atlanta we made a stop for food, we were advised by Bernie to try out 5 Guy's burger joint, he said it could compete with In 'N' Out. After eating the heart attack in a bun, I have to say the burger it was very good, but maybe not quite at the standard of our beloved In 'N' Out.

The evening concert at Atlanta Temple in the evening was well attended by the locals. The band played very well, Mr James Allen brought the house down with his piano solo (Standing O) he really did a great job. I pray that the congregation had a clear understanding that this was not a performance but an act of worship, for our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.

-Matt