The Tour That Terminated

What a joy to head to Oregon for the next stop on our North America tour! For the third time we partnered with Building Healthy Families to present in the beautiful Wallowa Valley of eastern Oregon.

This time, we presented an assembly for Enterprise Schools and then for the community the following day in the same location.

It was special to have family nearby to see the UniShow Universe for the first time. The Sinclair Brothers Tree Service crew even came to support. Family owned Hurricane Coffee kept us fueled on the daily with their amazing lavender chai, Mexican mocha (aka churro mocha!) and other amazing drinks! 

  

On the way from Enterprise to Grants Pass we visited one of the snowiest places in the US which averages 45 feet of snow every year. Crater Lake did not disappoint! 

We presented a chapel at Vineyard Christian School in Grants Pass, Oregon. The last time we shared here was in 2005. We were amazed when students showed us a photo album the school still has with photos of that presentation 15 years ago! 

Little did we know that Grants Pass was our last show of this North America tour. As we all know, the world changed in March 2020 and our remaining 4 weeks of events in Oregon, Washington, British Columbia and Montana were cancelled as well as all of our domestic and overseas outreaches through July. We look forward to rescheduling all these events as soon as things are up and running again.

The beautiful Oregon Coast!

Just When You Thought Utah It All!

Nestled in the beautiful Wasatch Mountains of Utah is Layton Christian Academy, an international boarding school. Apparently LCA is also excellent in sports since our assembly began with a senior college signing for University of Minnesota Morris on a football scholarship! We were able to pray with international students afterward who were experiencing the challenges of being so far from home.

The elementary principal told us, “The UniShow was more than I anticipated it being. The transparency of the cast was awesome! It gave the students people they could relate to and identify with their struggles.” And the high school principal said, “It was amazing and the students absolutely loved the show! This is a show that is highly entertaining and has a dynamic spiritual message all in one!” One of the teachers, Mr. Musil, gifted us with some great photos of our assembly (see below).

At Vista Elementary in Taylorsville, Utah, select students were rewarded for good behavior with a UniShow Universe assembly. Apparently it was a hit as the feedback we received from the principal afterward was, “I can't imagine the performance being any better. It was the best assembly we have ever had. The message was perfect. Thank you!!”

In Riverdale, Utah, we helped kick-off Read Across America week with an assembly for Riverdale Elementary students. Impressive student leaders introduced our show then followed it up by presenting us with gift bags before they lead the students in songs as they dismissed.

East of the Rockies

After our James Bay Canadian adventure, we crossed back over the border, continuing our tour with our next event at Rohan Woods School in St. Louis, Missouri. Afterward, the PE teacher of many years raved that the UniShow Universe was the best assembly they have ever had!

We then had the privilege of presenting for 500+ students at Eisenhower Middle School in Topeka, Kansas. The bright purple gymnasium with a vivid eagle covering the back wall made for a fun setting to challenge students to persevere through life's challenges and be on the lookout for ways to help others along the way.

University Academy in Kansas City, Missouri invited us to present a middle school assembly. The principal told us afterward, "The program was excellent and helped reinforce the messages we push our students to use in their everyday life."

During a quick visit with Katie's sister in beautiful Colorado Springs, we were able to connect with a family we had met in Kenya last February who happened to be visiting Colorado Springs at the same time. After their son had seen the UniShow Universe in Kenya last year, he found a unicycle in their attic that someone had left after learning to ride following our visit to Kenya 7 years ago! Their son was also inspired by Dustin and has learned to ride unicycle remarkably well in this last year. The family surprised him with an early birthday gift of a new unicycle delivered by Dustin Kelm himself in Colorado!

Best Chapel in School History!

We hit the road October 31, 2019 for a full USA East Coast tour.  Kicking off the tour in Ohio, we presented at Westside Christian School where the principal told us the UniShow Universe was "the best chapel in school history!"  Then we had 4 assemblies across Pennsylvania.  It was a highlight to have so many opportunities in Christian Schools to share the Gospel and challenge students to use their gifts in world missions.  We heard again from a teacher at Lititz Christian School in PA, "Best chapel we ever had." 

Just after we ended our presentation in York PA, we were evacuated due to a fire alarm which was set off from food burning in the kitchen, not from Dustin's juggling torches. This surprise gave us a few more focused minutes to interact with students and staff.  

In Elizabeth NJ we continued a 15 year partnership with an influential pastor and city councilman.  He organized a community event at a local school, a special presentation at a senior center and had the UniShow Universe for their Sunday morning service.  Super impressive guy who truly cares about each person in his community and is reaching them with the love of Jesus.

We had the privilege of returning to the youth detention center in Washington DC to share the Gospel with the teen residents.  One volunteer told us he's never seen the youth so attentive before.  He was encouraged by how he is now able to build on our message as he connects regularly with the youth and gives them Bibles.

It's been a while since we displayed at the National Youth Workers Convention but we made a reappearance in Tampa FL along our route.  It was great to connect with many youth workers from around the world and present the UniShow as a resource to help them reach students.

Before leaving Florida, we stopped at North Florida Christian School for 2 UniShow assemblies in the Eagle's Nest.

We returned to Biloxi to present 2 rewards assemblies for students who reached their reading goals at Popp's Ferry Elementary.  Jeff Davis Elementary next door had us share 2 assemblies for their students this time, too.  One teacher said, "Everyone needs to see this show. It is motivational and inspiring with a mix of excitement and laughter."

Finally, to wrap up the year, we had an amazing time in Prattville Alabama partnering with a friend who previously organized several UniShow tours in Kosovo. 

He again put his networking and organizations skills to good use and coordinated events for us in a local high school, a community outreach, an at-risk youth program and in a Hispanic community. 

Super special times!  They told us that our presentations brought new life and energy to their church community as well as the truth of the Gospel to the unchurched.  A teacher told us ours was the most amazing assembly they've ever had at their school and that it "Restores hope and opens our eyes to future possibilities that are available through hard work and following our passions."

In all, we presented 21 shows in 7 states during this USA tour.  The encouraging feedback we've received confirms that God is using our humble efforts to point people to Him.  Thanks for praying and sending us out to make Him known.

Jeff Davis Elementary in Biloxi MS was ready for the UniShow Universe with their hallway decor.