10-29

It's not about the dance or the music, the costumes or the movement. It's all about Him.

10-29 is our new motto, if the Lord can work through us as He did on 10-29 in the most difficult situations He can work through anything.

We had an amazing night at Higher Vision Church in Castaic, CA. The stage wasn't easy, we actually had to reset our whole program in 3 hours, but the Lord was faithful! Our motto and prayer for the entire evening was "Lord let them see You and not us" and they did. 30 salvations, over 20 people came forward for prayer and to "surrender" things they are holding onto. It was a blessed evening. Thank you Lord for using us in such a significant way.

We are currently at the home of a lovely friend from the past, Sarah Branaman. One of my trainees from Ballet Magnificat over 7 years ago. We have been spending time with her students in her school, taking class with them and worshipping with them in Creative Worship class this morning. We have been relaxing at her home waiting for our program this evening at East Valley Church in Rocklin, CA.

A few more days and we head back to Puyallup! Please pray for us this Sunday, we have 3 programs in Red Bluff CA and then drive for 10 hours on Monday.

The Lord is good!

In Him,
Tennille

(approved by Sham)

The happiest place on earth~

What a day at Disneyland! Audrey met Mary Poppins (perfect I know) and actually had conversation with her about ballet of all things :) My kiddos had a blast from hour one, pictures are coming soon! We spent 10 hours at Disney and California Adventure and loved every minute of it, it was a fabulous day!~

We were up bright and early this morning (I'm not lying 4 am!) for a double program at Hillcrest Christian School of A Walk with Paul, it was great to share with the kids in such a unique way, hearing the gospel in a way they've never heard before. We had a great response and I even overheard some girls asking if they could start a dance ministry class at the school. Praise God for the way He moves, I love it!~

We headed back to homestays for a long nap and are now preparing to eat some amazing lasagne at the Plyler home, we love Lori and Sim our sponsers! I am currently drooling and falling asleep, the time has come for this blog to end (thank you Sham).

Bless Y'all!~

Tennille

Driving, driving, driving...

It's been a long day of driving but we have arrived to Anaheim! 8 hours in the bus and praise God we've finally made it. After our double performance yesterday we were ready for the rest but for some reason all the sitting and doing nothing makes you more tired... why is that?

We met Amanda's family, Sim and Lori and Ms. Maria for a great dinner at Buca de Bepo and are now retiring to our rooms across the street of Disney. It's going to be a great day tomorrow!!! What a great birthday for Audrey!

Blessings,

Tennille

Here we are!

We have arrived in Cai! After 2 days of traveling, we've made it to our first destination of Sacramento. The trip started off with a lovely snack at Grandma Barton's (Whittannie's Gma) of homemade soup and apple crisp and the evening finished with checking into a Garden Villa Inn in Southern Oregon. Saturday began with a 7 hour bus drive (with a couple stops of run around the bus 10x's for the kiddos) with opportunity around every corner. Some of the girls had an chance to share with a gentleman running a liquor store (where we stopped to plug our coffee pot in) and encouraged him in his faith. Our 10 minute stop gladly turned into 30! I wonder how many opportunities we miss every day when we don't consistently have the mindset of ministry? We arrived in Roseville, CA at the Risney home and was blessed to share a meal with them.
Sunday began bright and early at Resurrection Lutheran for our first program on the road of Project Grace. It's amazing the things the Lord teaches us in different scenerios, it's always different than you expect and the things we've learned so far is to not have any preconceived ideas about what it will be like, because He always surprises you. The congregation quietly watched, the first time they've had dance like this in their church and we heard they
were pleasantly surprised. The Lord shows us His faithfulness in so many ways and is consistent to be there every time, Oh we pray our hearts will be ready and willing to receive what He wants to teach us at any given moment. A sweet church with so many sweet families who took care of us so well. What a blessing!

Our afternoon next went to an outreach at The Palms retirement home down the road, we had such a lovely time with the residents there. They were so eager to hear about the Lord, we were so blessed by their hearts and their honest, open questions about our God. Asking about the cross and the joy we had on our faces and in our hearts. We were so eager to tell them and had many opportunities to pray and encourage them. It was a great day! Blooms coffee was next on the list where we had the chance to discuss the day and what the Lord accomplished through us. I love what we do. How awesome to be called into ministry at a time such as this.

Please pray for our next couple programs, the last thing we desire is to have it look anything like a performance, the word literally makes me cringe. It's nothing like a performance, it's worship. From the top of our heads to the bottom of our feet. The best question we had today was "Why do you sing when you dance? Is it to help you count the music or what?" and our answer really surprised her "No, it's because it's worship, it's all about worshipping the Lord, with everything we have". Genuine shock was on her face. I love it. :)

Boldness to share our faith in any way the Lord sees fit, whether it's on stage in front of 500 or holding the hand of an elderly woman who feels she's been forgotten. We pray for boldness to do and say exactly what He wants us to, whether we're uncomfortable or uneasy. He will direct and give us the words if we allow Him to take over. Isn't He great?

Ok, I'm being beckoned into the pool in a lovely home in El Derado Hills, the skyline to the left, a waterfall to the right and my family laughing and playing around me.

What a great day. What a great God.

Tomorrow is another day, please pray for traveling mercies!!
In Him,
Tennille

Prepping for California

Here we go! It's been an insane month and a half as we've put together our most recent piece "Project Grace". What a whirlwind! This piece has been a battle to finish, and has been a roller coaster from day one, however through all the ups and downs the Lord reminded me where to place my trust. Him and Him alone.

Physically and mentally He has prepared each of us for this piece "Project Grace". This ballet is centered around the cross and tells a story with each song and how they are placed together, continuous from beginning to end, rips to the very core of who we are in Christ.

Nothing but the blood, Lead me to the cross, Inside out, Revelation Song, Hosanna, How He loves, I surrender all.

Reading the words to each song and placing them together paints the most beautiful picture. I love the creativity of our Savior.

To dance this piece is exhausting, overwhelming and beautiful all in one and we all have the bruises to show for it. We have ultimately come to the end of who we are and have found who we are in Him. The Lord has shown up as we've rehearsed this past week, I know He's always there but to have Him pour out His anointing and to feel His presence in such an awesome and tangible way that I have never felt before, has brought us to a new level. We have found ourselves not wanting to finish worshiping and on our faces before Him as the last song "I surrender all" is played.

I'm so in awe of what He's done with each of us, what can I say? Whenever I feel like moaning or complaining about the "work" that has to be done each day or the refining that needs to take place, I'm reminded of where I'm at. Do you find yourself thinking that way? How does God remind you each day or get your attention to pull you out of the mindset you find yourself in? When do you get to the end of you and the beginning of Him? He did it this week for me with the flu (of all things) got me to step back and reevaluate where I'm at. It's such a glorious thing, I have a new respect for the flu. If you don't enjoy the ride how disappointing would it be to get to the finish line and not remember the journey with all it's ups and downs. Remembering what He's shown me and taught me as I choreographed this piece brings depth not only to this ballet but to my life.

So as I get back to our trip to California, we are 6 days away from our first 10 day tour. I'm excited to see how the Lord has prepared us for ministry, prepared our hearts to seek relationship and conversation, prepared our minds to dig into His word deeper and more intentionally each day and prepared our "body", unifying us, tying us together in significant ways to uphold and encourage each other. We are on a mission. To share the love and passion Christ has for us in a way that touches people to the core of who they are, to stir up emotions and excitement about what our Father did for each of us at the cross.

He saw our faces, called out our names. Let us never forget.

Stay tuned for a tour update, please pray for safe travel and the spirit of the Lord to hover over us from day one.

He makes everything glorious,
Tennille

2009/2010 Season

Our 2009/2010 Season has begun! It's going to be a fantastic year. We have a few new dancers with us this season, Alle from California and Rachel from Michigan. They have both proved to be assets this far so we're excited to see how they grow in the Lord and in the ministry this upcoming season.

Our summer was chalked full with summer camps at SSA. We had the privilege of ministering to over 75 kids this summer at our studio in Edgewood as well as at Cascade Christian Schools. The Lord worked in mighty ways uniting us all on a deeper level and showing us the importance of reaching out into the community and to these little ones who are so hungry to know more about Him. Our focus within our camps this summer was "The Fruit of the Spirit" and teaching our students why they are important and how to apply them to our daily lives. We sang the Fruit of the Spirit song (with hand movements, yes) for 5 weeks straight, oh my! :) We are already thinking about how to expand our camps for next summer!

We've been in the studio for just two weeks and have gotten a great jump start on our new piece "Project Grace". This worship session is God inspired, focusing on the cross and the grace the Lord bestows upon us daily. We are moved (literally) by each of these songs and are excited to bring our word for the year, "Authentic" to life within this piece. We want to be authentic in our worship we lay at the altar for Him. It's all for Jesus, it's all about Jesus and it's all pointing to Jesus. The minute we lose sight of that, we've failed. We choose to be authentic this year, not bringing less than 100% to our programs, not just physically but mentally, emotionally, spiritually. We choose to dig in and apply ourselves quickly. Sometimes in worship we all find ourselves not "feeling it" right away or just being lazy in digging into the Word. We have decided as a ministry that won't fly. As worshippers it is our obligation to offer nothing less than 100% and we are excited to see how the Lord will honor and bless that. Please be praying for us as we move forward in our word for the year.

Our year is shaping up nicely, a few tours here and there (which I'll update on later, I can't share all the good stuff right away otherwise you won't stay tuned!) and exciting things around every corner I'm sure, our God is an exciting God!

We have begun registration for classes at the school (Surrendered School of the Arts) and anticipate and praying for double the students where we finished off last year (84 is the exact number), please pray that these kids will pour in our door, we are ready to receive and eager to make an impact! We know the Lord is Faithful and will give us exactly what we can handle and ready for, so we're praying for abudance! Our partnership with Cascade Christian School continues this year as well, we have the wonderful opportunity to teach 10 classes at 3 campuses this year (ballet, hip hop, drama and pilates) and are so blessed to have this partnership, the Lord is so good!

That's all I have for an update for now, there are many many many things on our plate, we are relying on the Lord's voice and prompting to direct. I was told a few years back by a dear family friend when we were praying about the beginning of this ministry;

"Cling to, run after, and dig into the word of God. Rely on NOTHING but Him. When you don't know what to do or how to keep going sit and share with Him. He is your first, your last, your everything. He is the driving force of the ministry. You are not."

Isn't that the truth. Praise God! Whew.

Stay tuned, you won't be dissapointed, it will be a wild ride this year. BUCKLE UP!

Blessings,
Tennille

Greetings!
I hope everyone had a wonderful weekend celebrating Christ's triumphant victory over death, hell, and the grave. We were blessed to be a part of Puyallup Four Square's five church services this past weekend, dancing to "Jesus Paid It All" and "This Beautiful Place". It is such a priviledge to be used of the Lord as He ministers to His people. We also had great times of fellowship with a Saturday brunch and a Sunday Easter lunch. ( yummy!)
We are starting our second week in the studio since coming back from our wonderful spring break. It was nice to have a little breather before we start up our next few busy months. Yesterday marked the kickoff of Surrendered School of the Arts partnership with Cascade Christian Schools. We are offering an after school enrichment program for the elementary grades to share with and teach kids how to worship Jesus with the arts. As of now there are ballet, hip hop, and drama classes in place. I am excited to see what all the Lord has planned as He continues to open new doors of opportunity!
Our next few days in the studio we will be preparing for a program coming up this weekend. We will be dancing at a conference in Yakima ( I think I spelled that right). I think we are all excited to be busy doing what the Lord has called us here to do, minister through dance!
Also, thank you Lori Plyler, (Amanda's mom) for giving your time and energy to help work on new costumes. I am pretty sure they are our favorite ones yet!
TTFN,
Holly