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Show Trip to Bethelem a lasting experience for So. Davis Choir , ..... " i j. - ? . f i -' f - u ; :?C v .s. 1 - - N , ',fi0jm7 'MJJj ill t,,.,., -w. . V -s-' " v.-.:-;-v:.:;y.:- v'E.. ; . ; . VmmL,.:. - He ate and drank the precious words. His spirit grew robust. , He knew no more that he was poor, Or that his frame was dust. He danced along the dingy ways, And his bequest of wings Was but a book. What liberty a loosened spirit brings. In the words of Emily Dickinson comes a description of the first hand experience of a member of the South Davis Community Choir as an emissary to Bethlehem, Bountiful's Sister City, in observing observ-ing a small resident of that ancient city. Dark eyes in a handsome little brown face came alive at the sight of a plastic bag full of brightly colored col-ored picture books from the United States. At no time were members of the tour inconvenienced with problems prob-lems which might arise in a country on the constant edge of war. The light of understanding came home with each member of the tour as to the complex problems of the dual nature of people who are tied to our culture and community in a very unusual way. Members of the choir, and others who joined the tour, came home as a closely knit family, having shared a unique and unforgettable experience. Presently, the choir is preparing to provide music for the fireside to be held at the Regional Center on July 24, in connection with the Handcart Days celebrations. As members of the South Davis area who share a common love of music, we bring an even more thankful heart for the blessings of liberty and our ereat oioneer Members of the South Davis Community Choir posed for this photo during the choir's recent visit to Bountiful's sister city of Bethlehem. The group performed several times while visiting the Holy Land. The small, barefoot boy, about seven or eight, each day walks the rough stones of famous Manger Square in Bethlehem and follows visitors , hawking his poor wares. A letter expressing thanks came to Bountiful recently from Brother Joseph, principal of the College De Freres, a school in Bethlehem. Over 200 children's books, donated don-ated by students at Bountiful's Meadowbrook Elementary School, have found their way into the hands of the Arab Christian children who attend this school. The books were delivered by members of the South Davis Community Com-munity Choir who recently toured the Holy Land and who came to Bethlehem to visit their sister city. Mayor Elias Freij accepted the . books and this visit of good will to ' the one city in the world most famous, for its message of good will. The birthplace of Jesus is a city under seige. The PLO enforces a strike which is crippling the city. , Schools have been closed or are opened only from 6 a.m. to noon. Similarly, shops are opened only from 9 a.m. to noon. Christian Arabs make up the majority of the inhabitants of this city. They are caught between two powerful forces, the influx of Jewish people who have offered to help teach the Palestinians in the methods of reclaiming re-claiming this dormant land, and those Arab countrymen of a zealot nature Who are continuins a cen- heritage. In addition, the choir can be heard in concert on Aug. 12 in the Bountiful Tabernacle as a part of Bountiful's Summerfest. Under the baton of Dr, Winterton and the talent of organist Diane Bastian, the choir is reaching new excellence excell-ence in its ability to bring a oneness of interpretation to the music. Of special note, Mary Nelson, Eldeen Trimble, Susan Blake, and Steve Hale are in the process of raising funds for such excellent projects as the recent trip to Israel. A cook book of high quality was , published under the direction of Mary Nelson. These make excellent excel-lent gifts and can be obtained from choir members. . Jesse Manfull, able president of the board of directors, fielded all the problems which arise in undertakings under-takings of the scope which have been accomplished by the choir this year. Barbara Manfull, a member mem-ber of the choir, arranged for the book drive which successfully placed books in the hands of children chil-dren in a deprived city. Thanks go to all these emissaries of peace, even the children of Meadowbrook Elementary School. Mayor Dean Stahle of Bountiful should be commended for his efforts to extend a hand of friendship friend-ship and fellowship to Mayor Freij . This association allowed for the exchange ex-change of cultures in a difficult political situation. tunes old feud. Members of the choir had the rare opportunity to be received by the Mayor of Bethlehem at a dinner and reception honoring the two sister sis-ter city mayors. Highlights of this reception were covered by P.M. Magazine and will be shown on television at a future date. While in Israel, the choir, under the direction of Dr. Bonnie M. Winterton, performed at Kfar Blum, a Kibbutz located north of the Sea of Galilee, and at the YMCA in Jerusalem. The choir as an organization received a commendation com-mendation from the Israeli government govern-ment which reads as follows: "Be it known that we hereby express our gratitude and appreciation to the South Davis Community Choir directed by Dr Bonnie M. Winter-ton Winter-ton for participating in a 'Musical Tour To Israel' during Israel's 40th anniversary celebrations. Blessings Bles-sings and congratulations on their success." This commendation was signed by Abraham Shariz, Minister Minis-ter of Tourism. A highlight of the choir's performances per-formances included a beautiful rendition ren-dition of a loved western folksong by Craig Clyde who sang "They Call the Wind Mariah" with all the pathos the lonely cowboy song expresses. ex-presses. Craig acted as emcee for the choir at Kfar Blum. His rendition rendi-tion added to the American folk flavor of the choir's program which also included a stirring number from Randall Thompson's "Testament "Testa-ment of Freedom" and numbers from "Elijah," performed by the choir in the spring with the Bounti- t ful Symphony under the dual direction direc-tion of Joel Rosenberg and Dr. Winterton. Another highlight included the opportunity for the choir to provide pro-vide music for a fireside at the sprawling, beautifully styled BYU center, located on Mount Scopus across the Kidron Valley from Jerusalem. Pres. Gordon B. Hinckley Hinc-kley and his wife spoke at the fireside. fire-side. Susan Blake, tour director for the choir, and Peggy Bluff of All About Travel, a Salt Lake based firm, arranged the tour in cooperation coopera-tion with Uri Plotnikov of ISRAM, an Israeli based tour company. Tour arrangements and accommodations accommo-dations were excellent in quality. |