It's been two of four days of the first week of performance practice. When all is said and done, I'll have spent about 100 hours over two weeks helping Praise In Motion with four performances. I'm just one of dozens of folks serving the Lord in this way, but it is just awesome to be involved!

It's taken its toll. I've lost sleep. I've lost time with my family. My back and feet are killing me (esp. my previously shattered ankle). I'm almost always hungry, with little time to scarf something down (although other servants so graciously provide food, and we're very thankful!). I think I sweat a couple of gallons each day, and drink that much again to replenish--when I can find a spare moment to gulp some down. I've lost time at work (no work, no pay). Between lost wages and various tools, black clothes, and supplies, this will probably cost well over $2000 for these two weeks (plus many more thousands of dollars were my hours billable to PiM ). And you know what? I wouldn't trade it for the world!

It has been such an awesome blessing even these first two days. I've met a great bunch of guys, all going that extra mile, just to glorify the Lord. The dancers have been all smiles. (The guys smile, too, in between crushing toes under sets, banging heads on lights, and stabbing hands with nails and screws.) Kindness abounds.

Why do I love the PiM Tech Crew so much?

When I first saw PiM and saw the Tech Crew guys running around before the show (you generally don't see them during the show), I knew I wanted to do that. It was a chance to serve the Lord, to be sure, but it was also a way I could be involved in the world of ballet--Juliana's and Katrina's world.

Over the years, I've really come to appreciate ballet, both for the physics of it and for the aesthetics--the grace, beauty, and fluidity. With Godly, worshipful ballet, like PiM, there's that extra special Gospel that really brings it home. As an uncoordinated dad, my involvement in ballet could be nil, but the Tech Crew gives me a chance to do so much to be in that world with my girls. While Juliana is not yet in PiM, I pray she someday will be, and I'll be overjoyed to be there with her.

I sincerely pray others find joy in Godly ballet, be it by dancing or in the Tech Crew.

I'm halfway through the prep. for my second PiM Tech Crew weekend. The second pair of performances this fall, in Gainesville, are tomorrow. I hope you can come.

The experience has been fabulous. I've met many new friends, good men whom I'm proud to call friends. I've been able to move sets, assemble and disassemble sets, work on sound and lighting setup and debug, do some carpentry, act as stage-left mgr. for a time (including wearing the hallowed headset!), and even led some newbies.

We had a "fun" experience yesterday. A 60-amp power panel GMC so kindly set up for us was inadvertently miswired. The neutral reference was not correct, so voltage was floating without a decent ground reference, but we didn't know it. After we tried to light up our four trees (each tree is a tall stand with four 575 watt lights on it), we were measuring between 33 and 180 volts on the outlets! Needless to say, several expensive bulbs blew, along with fuses in the dimmer controls. We scavenged some bulbs, replaced the fuses, fixed the power distribution panel, and all was [mostly] well again.

Two days ago, when we arrived at GMC, we found we needed to build some custom stage extensions to accommodate our sets. I was able to play a key role in building these! With any luck, nobody will ever notice them, because they blend in so well.

As always, we'll be leaving this venue, as we did last weekend, in better shape than when we found it. PiM Tech Crew is very good about fixing and improving the things we use. At GMC, we've significantly improved the stage flooring, leveling it properly. We've cleaned lighting contacts. The stage extensions, being custom, will likely be left with GMC for their use and benefit. This little extra effort by PiM is a blessing to our hosts, and it keeps our spirits steeped in His service.

Many of the dancers have gotten to know me a bit--or at least seen me about--as I've had the pleasure of getting to know them. They all have such kind hearts and just love to dance for the Lord! I hope getting to know each other will open doors for future tutoring and ministry. They work so hard for PiM. Many do homework between numbers, as they're up late each evening, too, during these practices. Any chance to serve such servants is a blessing.

I may be glad to return to a normal schedule next week (including seeing my family out of bed!), but I wouldn't trade the experience for anything. I'm looking forward to doing this again next year--and in the spring, for that matter.