by Stan Ewing

Tuesday, March 18
On Tuesday the same daily format was followed, but noticeable progress was now being made with the various groups. Some of the older students spoke English and helped out in the bands so that the leaders could get their instructions across. I think of one such young girl, Xatziri Hernandez, who is a university law student. When Valerie gave the invitation to pray after band class, without hesitation she volunteered. It was most encouraging to see the young people so committed.
Tuesday evening was dubbed “Canada Night” and was given over to the CSB ensemble. Commissioners William and Marilyn Francis, our own territorial leaders, had arrived from Toronto, escorted by the territorial commander for Mexico, Colonel Olin Hogan. They were given a warm welcome by the divisional commander and the students. A video was shown of various scenes of Canada, accompanied by a soundtrack featuring James Merritt’s famous march The Canadian. Colonel Gruer and Bandmaster Brian Burditt compèred the proceedings.

Items contributed by the CSB ensemble included Paul Curnow’s arrangement What a Mighty God We Serve and James Curnow’s cornet solo Deep River played by Bob Gray. Emily Ewing and Serena Doars did a timbrel display to El es El Señor, and Serena performed the cornet solo Peace Like a River, accompanied on the piano by Cameron Rawlins. I presented a little percussion arrangement of the Newfoundland folk song She’s Like the Swallow on the glockenspiel, with the three girls (amigas!) assisting with the cymbal and triangle parts. Cameron Rawlins accompanied himself on the piano in a powerful arrangement of There is a Fountain Filled With Blood/The Vaults of Heaven. Doug Elvin and I supported with bass guitar and drums. This drew a standing ovation from the audience. Colonel Gruer also contributed with a solo, Jesus Loves Me, on the musical saw. The young people were fascinated with this, some standing to get a better view. To conclude, Valerie Moreton handed out maple butter cookies and each student received a Canada pin and a Canadian Staff Band CD. All in all, it was a great night.

Following this, Bandmaster Burditt had arranged for pizzas to be brought in for everyone from Little Caesars, and we all enjoyed pizza and pop before heading off to bed.

Wednesday, April 19
Wednesday followed the same format, with even more progress being shown by the students. So keen were they to learn that they didn’t hurry off after band class but lingered behind as long as they could, trying to get more personal practice in.
Wednesday night was “Talent Night,” led by Angèlica and Isaias Cerezo, who are soldiers at Corps No. 1. Isaias is an accomplished guitarist and had accompanied the singing at the campfire. The format sort of followed the American Idol television show, and three judges were appointed in the persons of Bob Gray, Serena Doars and Pepé Sanchez. Isaias had skillfully put together a PowerPoint presentation to introduce each performer. The number of the contestant, along with a photo, came up on the screen with appropriate background music. This added to the quality of the show.

The judges had score cards that were held up, giving marks for each performer on a scale of one to 10. After each performance, one of the judges was given an opportunity to make a few “tongue in cheek” comments about the presentation. We had vocal solos, a mime item, a cornet solo from one of the beginners, and even a couple of rock bands. One performance that stood out was a heavy-metal rock arrangement of We Want to See Jesus Lifted High. Daniel, the bass guitarist in this group, was terrific.

One of the more poignant moments of the evening was a presentation by Carlos (Charly) Diaz. He introduced a song he had written, then accompanied himself on the guitar. In his introduction, he became quite emotional as he gave us some insight into what his life was like before he became a Christian. He told how he used to eke out a living busking on the subway with his guitar. There was no meaning in his life and, when he got saved, his peers said it wouldn’t last. But he ended up at The Salvation Army, where he was soon enrolled as a senior soldier, and now he is using his talents for the Lord. Before he was finished, Charly gave thanks to God for turning his life around. I don’t think there was a dry eye among the faculty. He sang his own song beautifully and then launched into O Boundless Salvation, at which point all the young people held their arms up, waving them to and fro. It was quite a moment.

Pepé Sanchez also contributed with a song performed in a dramatic style reminiscent of Freddy Mercury. It was all about a favourite sock of his, finishing with him taking off his sock and throwing it into the audience. Cameron Rawlins was asked to judge the performance and panned it, much to Pepé’s chagrin! The place went wild. It was great fun.

Angèlica gave a short devotional before we retired to bed after another long day, but there were so many memories that one forgot about the tiredness. We were again reminded that these young people are very talented and are a credit to the territory.

Thursday, March 20
Sadly, the last day had arrived and, in the morning, preparations were made for the final concert, including some brief last-minute rehearsals. Calling on his years of experience with such big events, Brian made the students run through their rotations on and off the stage for the program so that all the moving around would go smoothly.

The concert took place outdoors and, once again as per usual, it was sunny and very warm. All band, elective and workshop groups participated. Bob Gray’s band played two arrangements from David Catherwood’s From the Beginning series-Kum ba Yah and Alleluia. Valerie Moreton’s group played another Catherwood arrangement, Rousseau Rock, and Cameron Rawlins steered his ensemble through Jesus Loves Me, followed by William Himes tongue-in-cheek Muffins Rhapsody, accompanied by the CSB ensemble. It was amazing to see how much the young people had learned in five days. Charly Diaz favoured us once again in a song, and we also had items from the guitar, timbrel, vocal and percussion electives.

The workshops also contributed with praise and worship, choreography and mime items. The territorial commander, Colonel Olin Hogan, was in attendance, along with our own territorial leaders from Canada and Bermuda, Commissioners William and Marilyn Francis, who were present as guest speakers for the Easter weekend. The divisional commander, Major Doug Danielson, had some of the students present the Canadian visitors with lovely engraved glass trophies as a thank-you and a reminder of our time in Mexico City.

The final item of the program consisted of the whole camp forming a massed chorus, led by Bandmaster Brian Burditt, to sing Amazing Grace (Gracia) to the tune O Waley, Waley (arr. Mark Hayes). The students all said their tearful goodbyes to each other and to us and headed home, leaving us with a great experience to remember for years to come.

* * * * *

Later that afternoon, we travelled back into the city to meet up with the rest of the CSB who had now arrived at Corps No. 1. The corps building is situated in a very rough area known as the Morelos district. I was told that about 25 percent of the criminal element in the city comes from this depressed area. Having said that, the corps officer, Major José Sanchez (father of the afore-mentioned Pepé), informed us that in the 70 years the corps had been there, not one incident had ever occurred either with the Salvationists or the building itself-a reflection of how much the Army is held in high esteem.

After supper at the corps, we entered into the Maundy Thursday service, where the main presentation was given by Commissioner William Francis, based on an explanation of the Passover meal and how it was given new meaning by Jesus at the Last Supper. The commissioner gave us fascinating insights into how this traditional Jewish meal was conducted, based on his own experience of attending such a meal held by a Jewish Rabbi friend in the United States. He explained in great detail how the various components were significant in the Easter story, using various elements of food and spices along with actual Jewish garments and other accessories to illustrate the proceedings.

The band’s musical contributions included Stainer’s God So Loved the World, a new setting of To Stand With Jesus in the Morning by Kenneth Downie, and the James Curnow arrangement of Here at the Cross. Cameron Rawlins gave his testimony before singing the vocal solo Above All.

At the end of the service, the band was asked to play a postlude item. Earlier I mentioned Pepé Sanchez, who helped us at the music institute. He has recently left his job as a high-school music teacher to work for The Salvation Army and had sent Bandmaster Brian Burditt a new composition he had written entitled Grandé es El Señor (Great is the Lord). Brian invited Pepé up to conduct the piece, much of which is written in a 5/4 metre in the style of Dave Brubeck’s Blue Rondo. This was the first time Pepé had heard his music performed and it was obvious he was thrilled with the moment.

At the end of the night it was back to the children’s home, where the remainder of the band who had just arrived sorted out their beds in the dormitory-style accommodations, eight to a room. It was good to have the whole band in place and we looked forward to the activities of tomorrow.

Part 4- Coming April 30th