Plan B for the Win!

February 17, 2017 was a chilly, rainy, windy day in San Jose California USA. The plan had been to do a school assembly at Valley Christian Elementary School in the spacious outdoor basketball court for 450 students that morning. Because of the weather however, we had to go to plan B. The next best option was to pack the kids in their chapel while Dustin did an adapted UniShow performance using the small carpeted stage and little runway along the front and down the middle of the room.

Though not a typical setting for the UniShow, from the students reaction, we think they thoroughly enjoyed it. Afterward, the principal said he's been at the school for 9 years and this was his favorite chapel, though his heart did stop a few times. The vice principal told us they all enjoyed it 100%.

"I've been in Christian school chapels most of my life as a student, teacher, administrator, as well as the person running chapel. Dustin's show ranks at the top. Engaging, relevant, meaningful, and inspiring. I can't wait to have him back."
-Gabe Guven, Elementary Principal Valley Christian Schools, San Jose California

UniShow in San Francisco

Cornerstone Academy in San Francisco California has two spacious, beautiful and historic campuses three blocks apart, surrounded by crowded city life. One of the campuses used to be Simpson Bible College.  Dustin visited this very college when he was 13 years old, while watching his sister compete in a Bible quizzing competition.

During our recent visit, we were graciously hosted here in a guest room in the dorms where students from China live. These students comprise most of the high school population of the school.

We presented two UniShow assemblies on February 16th, first for high schoolers then for junior highers, in a retro theater in the second campus which used to be a Catholic Girls School a few decades ago.

Though English is a second language for many of the students, they still seemed to thoroughly enjoy the presentations, even laughing at Dustin's jokes. More importantly, they listened intently to the Gospel message and we pray many were impacted by the truth of God's saving love.

Victory in Sacramento

It's been a few years since we headed south out of Oregon. This year, since we don't have to be back to Minnesota until Easter, we decided to take the southern route home to continue our North America tour.

Our first stop in California was Victory Christian School in Sacramento on February 15. We presented the UniShow for all the elementary and some junior high students in their beautiful gymnasium.

After the UniShow presentation, we were given a gift of cash that the students had collected for us as a thank you. What a sweet surprise!

Unicycle for Fitness

During a recent conference in Portland Oregon we met a doctor from Grants Pass Oregon who is promoting fitness in his local schools through unicycling. He told his school district about our UniShow assembly and, though it was short notice, Redwood Elementary invited us to present for their students on February 10, 2017 during our visit to the area.

Grants Pass was where Katie grew up so it was exciting to share in this community and even have friends and family come to watch.

The students were very enthusiastic and it seemed like all 500 of them were screaming with excitement most of the time. They did quiet down long enough to hear Dustin challenge them to never give up so they can develop their abilities to help others.

We saw a beautiful rainbow over Grants Pass after our show.

Yujin Gakuen

Our second assembly of the day on January 27th, 2017 was at Yujin Gakuen Elementary. They share a campus with Corridor Elementary so we were able to do both assemblies in the same location. This Japanese Immersion School was the first in the country when it began in 1988. Many have opened since, using this school as a model.

They packed the students in and we again had a fun and enthusiastic time, leaving students with a challenge they repeated in unison, "Never Give Up!".  どうもありがとうDomo arigato (thank you very much) for welcoming us to your school!

Just around the Corridor Elementary

We were enthusiastically welcomed to Corridor Elementary School in Eugene Oregon for a UniShow assembly on 27 January 2017.  Students could not keep quiet, screaming and cheering with excitement while Dustin performed on different unicycles.  The message of never giving up seemed to sink in as they quieted down to listen to the message.  A teacher overheard one student say during the presentation, "This is the best day of my life!" 

Students love to meet Dustin after the show.