Joy Unbound

I had a very long day.

I had gotten to James River Assembly by around 7:15 AM and was operating Camera 2 for the two main services. After that I went to the Connect center just to hang out and around with some of the people (particularly an old person named Sharren because she’s awesome and I like being around her). After spending about an hour there we closed up the Connect center and I was heading out to drop some stuff in my car (I had two large healthy drinks on me, one of which I had already drunk). I had noticed that two diesel semi-trucks with trailers were backing up at the entrance to the atrium from which I had exited, so on my way back I offerred to help and was gladly accepted. The group of volunteers there were young adults of and around my age, I think most of them who were volunteers for James River Assembly but were not officially meant to help out (but did so entirely on their own desire to be there and help) — and that’s awesome too, and a few that were from around the country. One of the volunteers had just come from Chicago, and I think maybe another had come from California or something, or Brooklyn.

We helped unload crates both heavy and light from the trailers and moved them into the public hallway behind the sanctuary (which was later curtained off after everything had been unloaded from the trailers). After unloading everything, we sought for things to do and help out on stage in setting up lighting equipment, power equipment, and various other. I personally helped out a guy named Al, who I figure was probably in charge of everything else on-stage but the power equipment. With another buddy, I helped him setup and stand up some of those tower metal things that had lighting equipment attached to it. We also ran a bunch of very thick heavy gauge cables along the back of the stage and hooked up equipment. There were a lot of various things we did. Al had also traded me off to a guy named Andy here and there; Andy was in charge of power and I think maybe some of the lighting, but mostly responsible for power stations and powering equipment with electricity. I helped him and a couple other James River Assembly staff setup some of the massive but portable power supplies. The plugs on these are huge and consist of many moderately thick (compared to what they were powering) pins.

At 4:00 PM I let Al know that I had signed up for a Hillsong College informational that I needed to be at, so I attended that. It would be my dream to attend Hillsong College for the TV/Media/Production/Camera stream and possibly something else. I further realized that I am the kind of person that fits better in international/mixed/pluralistic environments; I am not afraid around people I have never met who come from all over the United States (let alone the world), and find it very enjoyable and pleasant to be among them. Anyway, due to financial reasons I would be unable to go to the Hillsong College; God would have to open doors to even make this possible. All I can do is hope, pray, move on, and let God be in control and lead the way. I then went up to the production room and met the director from Hillsong by the name of Chong/Chung/Chuong/Choung who was going to be, well, directing everything! He was performing two jobs as one — operating the switchboard AND keeping his eyes on the cameras and live program feed and calling out camera operators. I have to say he’s very passionate about what he does, and very hyperactive, conscious, and alive.

I think Hillsong actually started playing at around 7:45 PM or 8:00 PM, but they went on for like 2 hours minimum with a couple or few preachings scattered in-between throughout.

This is all I am going to write for now. My brain is still trying to process everything that has happened.