My Hillsong United Experience....

A lot of you saw me be excited about this one thing...Hillsong United coming to Portugal! So Im going to try to tell you how it all went in simple words or maybe not so simple. Anyways,

Summer of 2006 had been pretty good but it was about to get better. We were at a conference for teens and I was looking around the stuff that they were selling. As I was passing several booths, one caught my attention. A poster talking about the conference Mais Que Musica 2006 saying that Hillsong United was going to come. Boy was I excited! I talked to the guy he gave me some information and a week later I already had a ticket!

After a few weeks my mom came with the news that she had signed us up with the choir that was going to sing during the entire conference! I was SUPER excited because I would be singing on the same stage as them! So, I went to the practices, learned the songs, met very cool people and was super excited about everything!

On October 19, 2006 we had arrived early because the choir was going to do a soundcheck. We each were given special bracelets to go in while the other people had to wait till it begun. It felt so good! So the first night was a blessing. We sang some songs and pastor Gary Clark from Hillsong London gave a wonderful message. I saw some of my friends there and it was just amazing.

What was more amazing was the second night. Because the second night was when the Hillsong United concert took place. We got there early and stood right next to the door so that when people told us to make a line we would go in first. I saw some of my old friends there and we all stood in an incredibly LONG line. It blew me away at how long it was. We were singing and really bored and wanted to go in. After a long wait, we finally got it and the place was quickly getting packed with people so we had to find seats fast. But we really didnt need to because later on in the concert people got really close to the stage and stood during the entire concert. It was an amazing worship experience and a dream come true for me. It was amazing to sing the songs that I had listened to so much in the car or at home but this time LIVE!

After the concert, I was soooo sweaty! We bought the United t-shirts that the guys brought from Australia, they were sold out in almost 3 hours!

On the third day it was the day for the seminaries. I went to the Praise&Worship seminary with the United guys. I learned a lot about songwriting and worship teams and had fun with friends. The guys were always being overcrowded by people on breaks so I only got bried conversations with some. But I got to talk a lot to the drummer which was awesome for me.

That night was the CCC concert (the church hosting the conference) along with Hillsong United. Us, the choir were ready and I had so much fun onstage! When Hillsong United came, I was so happy! It was the best worship experience and I felt very honored to be on the same stage with such great Christian music moguls. I loved it.

The next day, the guys went to play at CCC. Thats where I got to talk to Joel Houston. I got the poster that I had made signed and Joel and I had a good talk. It was an honor to meet the people that I so admire. Their character and their lives have been a great inspiration for my life.

It was an amazing experience that I will never forget. I had been praying for this for two years and it was a dream come true. I have been a huge Hillsong fan since I was 9 and it was the greatest experience ever!

Hopefully I will be able to write more when I get to see Switchfoot some time in my life! But for now this is all I have!

If you want to see pictures you can go to http://s24.photobucket.com/albums/c2/independent_girl/Hillsong%20United/

Thank you for all of those who have prayed for me!
God Bless!
Guimel