USA East Music BULLETIN - FALL 2019 - ISSUE 3 | Page 4

PENDEL MISSION:
By Fred Mbesi, Regional Music Director, EPA
MAY 24-27, 2019 — During the
extended Memorial Day weekend,
the Eastern Pennsylvania & Delaware
Division’s (Pendel) Music & Arts forces
embarked on their long-anticipated
missions trip to the country of Cuba.
This particular trip was one that had
been in the works for a while, with a
smaller team traveling to Cuba both in
the winter of 2017 and, more recently,
this past February. Under the leadership
of Divisional Music Director Gavin
Whitehouse and Divisional Creative
Arts Director Brad Cain, the 54-member
group began their long journey at the
crack of dawn! It was clear that God’s
presence was covering us through the
speed we were able to clear customs
with our instruments. After a long day
of travel, we all met up with Lt. Col.
Julio Moreno for dinner at Fress, a nice
Cuban buffet! Major Jud Laidlaw led us
in a time of devotions as we cleared
our plates, challenging us to consider
what God was going to do both in us
and through us during our trip. We
finished up our first day by traveling
to the beautiful Cristo de La Habana
(The Christ of Havana) sculpture and
praying over our ministry.
Divide and conquer was the
mission of Saturday as our team split
CUBA
up into three groups. The first two
teams traveled to the Parragas &
Diezmero Corps respectively, where
they spent the bulk of the day painting
parts of the Corps building. The third
group met at the Central Corps, where
they joined about 20-30 delegates
in singing a number of Hallelujah
Choruses in Spanish before breaking
off into a day of Music & Arts training.
This was followed by an impromptu
dance party featuring the Cuban
worship team Sin Limites, who we
would spend more time with during
4 • USA EAST MUSIC BULLETIN | FA L L 2 0 1 9
our stay. Following our day of service,
the teams headed back to change and
prepare for the evening’s concert. An
unexpected venue change did not
deter anyone from coming; we were
inspired to march into a completely
packed auditorium with the sound
of roaring applause from all sides.
Highlights of the festival included a
drama presentation from DCAD Brad
Cain & Major Juanita Stanford called
“Vida,” Principal Cornet Lexi Finnie’s
opening cornet solo to Dorothy
Gates’s “Cantad a Jehovah,” the Pendel
Timbrels combining with Cuban
timbrelists for “Fuego,” the Pendel
Singers performing Dave Williamson’s
“Fairest Lord Jesus,” and the Pendel
Brass with Paul Sharman’s “Purpose.”
The program was all tied together with
praise & worship from Sin Limites and a
message from Lt. Col. Janet Ashcraft…
entirely in Spanish! Before ending with
their traditional benediction “God Be
With You,” the Pendel Brass presented
a surprise in the form of “Me Gozare,”
which caused the entire audience to
erupt into singing, dancing, and a few
conga & chorus lines! It was a moment
not to be forgotten for quite some
time. CONTINUED >>>>>
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