Family in Missions Spotlight: Arts & Missions, Melanie Weaver

Hi everyone! Since we're home right now, we thought we'd keep up our blog by introducing you to some of the other missionaries we are in contact with.  We met Melanie Weaver and her family through our church and have been following her missions adventures over the last few years.  She has served on missions bases through YWAM in Haiti, Jamaica, Hawaii and has also participated in short term outreaches in other countries around the world.  She is currently attending a School of Dance on YWAM base in Montana in preparation for serving as staff in future performing arts schools held overseas.  You might wonder dance has to do with missions, the fact is, the "arts", including dance, music, media, etc. have quite an impact in our society and often serve as a great vehicle for reaching the unreached, particularly in "closed" countries. Melanie and the team she is studying with are a great example -  their work is leading to open doors in Thailand! The following is her latest update.  I encourage you to pray about how you might contribute to their work. If you feel led to give, or just want to stay up to date with the teams progress so that you can join them in prayer, contact Melanie by email, dancer.for.Christ@gmail.com

"We are now already almost halfway through the School of Dance Studies and are getting more excited by the day to be going to Thailand for our outreach! The last several weeks of the first quarter were packed full from having a guest artist, two dance concerts, and all our finals, presentations and individual presentations of dance pieces we have choreographed. As much as my fellow students, staff and I are here for dance we are also here to grow in character and our relationships with God and each other. It has been a journey and there is still much to learn.

Our guest artist was Freddie Moore. A christian who works within the Alvin Ailey company, a dance company that has been called artistic ambassadors to the world. It was an honor and a privilege to get to work with him in class and glean wisdom such a vast history and experience of dance and the dance world. The week following was full of multiple rehearsals and culminated with two concert nights. The base and community at large are invited to come and attend the concert.  The response from the audience and the base was that it was one of the most purposeful concerts in its message and the presence of the Holy Spirit was so evident. We felt it as well and it was really amazing. God is on the move and has a lot more in store for this quarter as well.

After a week of spring break and rest we are back at it again and are delving deep into the history of dance through the ages, how to teach dancing, and working with people and choreography. We are still a few months out from Thailand but will be getting our tickets soon.

This is a rather long update but check out Facebook for pictures and some videos.

Please be praying for us that we can soak up all that God wants us to while we are here, and favor as we start to work with each other in dance pieces that each of us will create ourselves and set on the others.

Please pray also for all the funds to come in for the team for Thailand. I am still in need of $1200 for the outreach and I know others are still gathering their funds as well. Thanks so much for reading and praying!

May God bless you in this season and give you a refreshing taste of His love and joy. He is our confidence and our source.

Melanie Weaver

Email: dancer.for.Christ@gmail.com"