Often, when we find ourselves entering a new year, we pause for a moment to reflect on the events of the year past. If WAASUP was to do that, it would probably look a little something like this…
January – Last Countdown to Christmas performances at a pastors circuit meeting in Wadena and at the Broen Home in Fergus.
February – Two children’s messages and Ladies’ Valentine Dinner at Trinity. Our first ever bridal shower took place at Bethel church in Fergus.
March – With help from donations from Trinity members, we were able to attend the Minnesota regional Christian puppetry festival in Bloomington.
April – Started groundwork planning on our new production, Stand Firm.
May – 4 new puppets and 1 new puppeteer.
June – Worked on “Jesus Is Life” parade song.
July – The parades began! We performed “Jesus Is Life” at the Erhard (our longest parade ever) and Battle Lake parades. Kyle was on the Dream Team at the International Festival of Christian Puppetry and Ventriloquism and, with help, taught puppetry at Lutheran Island Camp. Our website (www.waasup.org) was launched.
August – Vining parade (we called upon the “Honorary WAASUPeteers” for help). Children’s message at Trinity. Pastor D’s suprise 50th (our first completely originally scripted and recorded program).
September – Dalton parade. Grand re-opening of The Promise Shop in Fergus. The German Heritage Festival at Trinity.
October – Morning Son’s fall festival in Fergus (doing 4 shows was the most we’ve ever done back-to-back).
November – “Nose to the grindstone” on Stand Firm.
December – Premiere of Stand Firm at one of Lutheran Island Camp’s Christmas Dinners was canceled due to snow, but the January premiere at Calvary was soon to follow.
Now, obviously, those were only some of the biggest events to take place over the past year. We met once a week, every week of the year (minus one or two) where we honed our puppetry skills, did an incredible amount of planning and work “behind the scenes”, and, most importantly, grew in our faith through devotions and prayer and grew in our abilities to share that faith. As you can see, we had a lot of firsts and new experiences and we were definitely kept busy! We praise God for all the ways He blessed us in 2008 and we look to Him for guidance and direction in 2009.
Regarding our upcoming performance, we will be at Calvary church for the Sunday school here in town on January 4 with our first performance of Stand Firm, but we would actually encourage you to wait to see our new program until we have it completely finished the way it was planned. It won’t be a long wait…we’re very close!
Happy New Year!
In Him,
-The WAASUP Team