Everyone Loves Music…Feb. 5, 2012

“I think music in itself is healing. It’s an explosive expression of humanity. It’s something we are all touched by. No matter what culture we’re from, everyone loves music.” ~ Billy Joel


Be careful what you wish for—and to whom you mention that wish.

Sometime last year some musicians in our group said “Wouldn’t it be cool to do a Christian music concert in Cozumel?” It was mentioned to Pastor Mariela of the Vida Abudante church and voilà, allí es, there it was. Of course it wasn’t as simple as all that. A lot of work went into making it a reality, but it’s a perfect example of how things work here: someone has an idea, no one has resources, but somehow through cooperation and creative thinking, a solution is found.

Larry, Gary, Jay and Julie of Friends of Cozumel formed a music group they called Amigos de Cristo while Pastor Mariela helped connect them with a local drummer and guitar players. She also recruited other local Christian bands, vocalists, dancers and dramaturgical groups for the concert held the evening of Feb. 4.

About 200 people attended the free contemporary Christian music concert at Parque del la Concha on Feb. 4.

Larry, Gary, Julie and Jay traveled from Iowa and Nebraska to practice together a few times, but they didn’t meet their rhythm section until a practice here in Cozumel just before the concert.

“My Spanish just isn’t very good, but we all understood each other—mas o menos (more or less),” said Gary. “They’re great local musicians, so once we got going, language just didn’t matter.”

The sky was overcast the day of the concert with threatening black clouds in sight just before the time to start. I got a text from a friend in Cancun who reported that it was raining gatos and perros (cats and dogs) just a few miles from where we were. But there was no backup plan in place, so we hoped Pastor Mariela had spoken to her boss about holding off the rain.

The concert was a great success. About 200 people came to the picturesque venue of the neighborhood plaza. Amigos de Cristo got a warm welcome and did a great job with their songs in both English and Spanish. Near the end of the concert, members of the other groups joined them on stage for a finale piece, “How Great is Our God,” in Spanish. The crowd was on their feet, singing and clapping along.

Amigos de Cristo included Julie, Gary, Larry, Jay as well as local musicians Karina, Alex and Antonio.

“That was a special moment for me because we were all sharing the same message,” said Larry. “Music really is universal.”

Everyone loved the music. And once the crowd had gone home and the equipment was packed away, it began to rain—gatos and perros.

The concert included dance and drama as well as bands and vocalists.

“Music is God’s best gift to man; the only art of heaven given to earth, the only art of earth we take to heaven” ~ Walter Savage Lander

Leave us your comments below. We’d love to hear from you.–Phyllis

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