My last post was about my amazing friends I'd made in HPA.
Now I want to talk about HPA itself.
HPA has been in my life for over 5 years. HPA stands for Homeschool Preforming Arts and it is amazing! My first year I did the Kids! production of Aristocats. It was fun, but I didn't really do anything else until the next year when I did HPA camp 2011. That was not such a great experience, as some of the kids were jerks and made me cry.
I don't know what incited me to go back the next summer. But I did and loved it! I did camp in 2013 and then auditioned for what us HPAers call a Main Stage Show. It was terrifying and what was worse was waiting a whole MONTH for the cast lists!
When they finally came out, I was a nun in The Sound of Music. It was a nerve wrecking, but wonderful year as I learned multiple songs in Latin and got to be in my favorite musical. I made a few friends and was so ready for summer camp!
2014 summer camp found me in Encore camp, a higher, more intense drama camp for students serious in going deeper with drama. It was fun and I made some really great friends!
I auditioned and got into Beauty and the Beast as a enchanted object. That cast...it was like a giant family. Devotions every show were followed by a song based off a verse from Romans.
May the God of hope fill us with all joy,
And peace as we trust in him,
So that we may know and overflow,
With hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
For He is good,
His love endures forever,
We walk in him
and live forever more.
It was so powerful, singing together. I had just gone through a very hard time with our church and was feeling bitter at it. Few people knew, but the power of the Holy Spirit was certainly there and it made me realize that not all "Christian" treated people the way I had been.
This year I was in the Secret Garden as Mrs. Shelley.
I've certainly had a year filled with drama (theatre and otherwise!) but I wouldn't change a thing. God uses everything in out lives, good and bad, to help us grow and mature in him.
Jeremiah 29:11
For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a future and a hope.
Jesus knows what we need and he uses it for our good. And in every instance, we need to shine his light. We may be broken and tattered on the inside, but inside we carry a priceless treasure.
2 Corinthians 4:7 - 8
But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies.
Tomorrow is the Cast Party and the end of my HPA adventure. I've learned a lot there. I know that where ever I go and whatever I do, God wants me to shine His Light everywhere.
HPA taught me to tell His story. His is part of my own and what ever I do, whether it be on stage or off, in private or seen by all, it needs to be for his honor and glory.
