A Musical Farewell

The big day had finally come - today was the day we'd be performing the musical our youth group had been trying to secretly prepare for Karvin (our youth group leader and church pastor who will be leaving for China next Monday) over the past few weeks!


Aonghas and I went to Harvey Norman to pick up a large-size photo of our youth group that we would be giving to Karvin. I had to Photoshop in Fiona, one of the youth group leaders since she left early and missed the photo! 


We arrived at church early so that we could sort things out. Jireh had brought a white jumper with the NZ silver fern on it for all of us to sign to give as a present to Karvin so we tried to track down everyone to sign the shirt.


During the service, we all did last minute practices in the group songs we would be singing and dancing. The main actors also had make-up put on them. James and Angie, who were playing Karvin's dad and mum respectively had to put talcum powder in their hair to make them look older, as well as have wrinkles drawn on their face! It looked pretty freaky!


Once the service was over, it was time for Karvin's Ordination/Farewell Ceremony. It started off with some mass singing, before Karvin's family took to the stage to sing us a song. Some people gave speeches dedicated to Karvin before some of the children's Sunday School teachers came up to perform a song.


Finally finally...it was our time to perform!


The musical goes like this...


There are all these depressed and tired people wandering the streets. Karvin sees this and thinks something should be done about it! 


These angels suddenly appear and tell Karvin to go out there and let them know about God! Karvin isn't so sure, but the angels persuade him to go and he agrees to.


He breaks the news to his parents that he's going to China to be a missionary! They aren't too happy. When he meets his wife-to-be Christine, he has a new-found confidence and his parents now feel slightly better about it. 


Karvin, Christine and their children are then farewelled by the Oddfellows at the airport as they are about to leave for China.


It went quite well! I was proud of them all, especially the main characters who had to sing solo such as Andrew (as Karvin), James and Angie (as Karvin's dad and mum), Grace (as Karvin's wife) and Phillip (as Karvin's good friend).


After the performance we all had a shared lunch in the gym. It was probably one of the biggest shared lunches we've had! Everyone in the youth group were a little worried all the food would be gone by the time we finished taking all the group photos, but they had nothing to fear!


Fortunately it wouldn't be the last time we'd see Karvin, as he would still be in New Zealand for another week. He would be leaving on the Monday I'd be down in Christchurch, so I got to say goodbye to him on the following Friday night after youth group!


Farewell Karvin and family, may you have a great time in China and serve God well!