Launching in California

After a busy 3 weeks in Kenya, we flew the long 22 hours back to San Jose California. While still recovering from jet lag, we had the privilege of performing our first North American UniShow Universe presentation to 700 junior highers at Valley Christian in their beautiful gymnasium.

  

We heard great feedback from students afterward. A mom even told us gratefully the next day that her son came home raving about the UniShow being the best assembly they'd ever had. She said it must have been good since she usually can hardly get a word out of him about anything that happens at school.

Next we moved over to Valley Christian Elementary for our 3rd year in a row presenting on the last Friday before President's Day. Due to the torrential downpour that day, we squeezed the UniShow into their cozy chapel along with 450 students. They didn't seem to mind and were a very enthusiastic audience. The principal told us later that students enjoyed it as much or more than the previous 2 years. He noted that a group of boys really connected with David's dance which helped keep them engaged throughout the whole show and the music students were really inspired by Misun's violin playing.

Just outside of Death Valley we presented at Saint Ann School for a great group of K-8th graders in Ridgecrest California. An impressed student asked Dustin afterward, "Is there anything you can't do?!" Another student thanked Dustin for presenting the Gospel and said she felt so peaceful when he shared. 

We were thankful for the amazing scenery we were able to experience along our travels in Death Valley, Grand Canyon and beyond.

Wild burros in Death Valley.

California and Colorado start with C

From Oregon, we drove south for a return visit to Valley Christian Elementary School in San Jose, California. Last year the rain forced us to present a very abbreviated UniShow assembly on a small shag carpeted stage in a chapel the 450 students barely fit into. This year was dry and sunny so the UniShow was in full force in an outdoor basketball court. The principal has become a big advocate for the UniShow, stating our assembly is the best he has ever experienced and is promoting it around the region for the future.

Our tour then took us to Colorado Spring, Colorado where Dustin’s lungs were put to the test presenting an assembly at an elevation of 7,000 feet for 320 middle schoolers at Eagleview Middle School. We heard afterward from a student that it was the best day of her life. A teacher said that it was the best assembly they've had in his 20 years teaching at the school and he knew students would never forget it. Another student thanked Dustin for what he shared, saying it's people like him that motivate her to not give up in life.

Middle School Central

Central Valley Christian Schools in Visalia California began in 1979 with 60 students.  Today it has over 900 students and is going strong, with three schools on one big, well-kept campus on the edge of town.

We had the privilege of sharing the UniShow with the Middle School on February 23rd.  The 300 students were very attentive and well behaved.  Here's a little video clip of the fun that was had:

Sometimes Dustin get's a little turned around.

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!