I am back.....again! Hehe. Well the David Phelps concert was GREAT! Magnificent even..... Who is David Phelps you say? For those of you who remember when I went to Camp Sunshine a number of years back I shared a song with you guys on the Talent Night and David Phelps wrote the song. I also sang a David Phelps song at FA Australia Camp. When I minister or sing somewhere, I often use a David Phelps song. He really blesses me with what he writes in the songs. I love to share my Christian Background and David Phelps songs are a great way to share with people. When I am very down with FA, I just watch my DVD's and listen to my CD's with David Phelps singing and I am so touched by the power of God through his music. I sit there with tears falling down my cheeks.
I wanted, so badly, to meet him. And so.....he came to Brisbane, Australia. I was so excited and Alan and I could not afford to send Alan, Isaac and I. We have just come back from holiday on Kangaroo Island as you know......so Alan said for me to go because he knew how much it would mean to me. I was heaps nervous flying on my own. It was only interstate but I was anxious about changing flights. So we decided to contact the airline and organise help for me so I would not get so anxious and upset. Quantas was GREAT. The flight attendents were so nice to me going there and coming back. They helped me get where I needed to and checked on me and made sure I was not anxious.
I also wanted to thank Karien, one of my mother's friends for housing me up for the night. Thank you for looking after me and cooking for me.
Also I want to thank Aliki and Rob. Aliki is an Australian singer who goes around to different events and churches witnessing to people through her music. She has ministered through her music to our church and we know them a bit....mum and dad know her and Rob quite a lot. Aliki managed to be a "support singer" at the David Phelps concert! Go Aliki!!! The first picture is of Aliki singing. I don't know how many people were there. The convention center was pretty full and big! So a good amount of people. I have some of Aliki's CD's and she is a very enjoyable singer to listen to with a great ministry! If you are interested in her music, please go to her website below:
www.aliki.com.au
Oh yes, I have not said why I was thanking Aliki. Well, she and Rob managed to register me as one of their "team" for her and I had access to backstage and her dressing room, the dinner for the team of David Phelps and band, the crew and her team and so on. Thanks to Aliki because if it wasn't for her I would not have been able to be back there. I was able to get a seat in the very front row, in the middle seat, right in line with where David stood and sang. I was REAL close! Haha.....also Aliki spoke with David backstage and told him about me and he said he would meet with me privately after the concert! So THANK YOU ALIKI!!!! Haha......Another support singer and band was "Alabaster Box" who are very popular here in Australia, on radio and their CD's and stuff are really well known. They have been living in the US for a while but have just come back. This is the singer below . I really enjoyed their music!
Here is David Phelps! Whoo Hoo! Ha.....you can see I am not shy about my enthusiasim. He sang wonderfully. I was right in front of him here.
More pictures!
He was sitting RIGHT in front of me. He was singing "There is a River". Old Gospel Song........beautiful! He sang it SO well.
More pictures!
Ok, I am real tired here. After the concert he ran around to the front of the convention center, behind a desk thingy and signed CD's and also had pictures. Because I had the backstage access I was around there with him with Aliki too. However, I waited to have the private meeting with him in the lounge after he was finished signing. That was 12am!!! So I was really tired in this photo. I really enjoyed meeting him. He shook my hand and I told him about FA and his music and how it had touched me, me using his backing tracks and singing .....we spoke more about FA and he was real sweet. He was very personable and real. He gave me a hug, signed my new CD and obviously, we had a picture. While I was talking to him about FA and losing my brother, I had tears that I could not stop. I didn't ball....just wept a little....very quietly....didn't lose control. It was a dream to meet him. Hehe...I look very little in this photo....oh well.
I had a picture taken with Andrea (sp?). She is a part of David's band and plays a MEAN violin! Ha! I don't know how many of you would know but I am a violinist and learnt from the age of 7. Or was it younger. I was young though. I am actually a very good violinist. I don't mean to sound proud but I am a good violinist and was a teacher for some of my time. I taught at 4 different schools up until I was 24 years old. I also used to play in weddings and at functions. I would do it again but sometimes I feel a bit stressed with everything else. I LOVED watching her play and listening to it. She signed my CD and obvously, we had a picture together. She is taller than me. She is bending her knees for the photo :-)
Does everyone know Billy Graham? Does everyone know Franklin Graham, his son? Does anyone know of William Graham, his grandson? Well at the concert, William Graham, Billy Graham's grandson, spoke for 20 mins at the concert and I really enjoyed his speaking. From the photo below you can see the resemblence between them all. I have heard Franklin Graham speak somewhere else too. Billy Graham is 90 now! Amazing. When I was flying back to Adelaide via Sydney, I found myself on the same plane as Will Graham and his team. One of them recognised me from the concert and said, "hey this is Charisse, Aliki's best friend"....ha, talk about being famous.....hehe. I don't know if I am her best friend but I didn't correct them. It wasn't appropriate. Hehe!
Well, they let me take a few little videos on my camera of David Phelps singing. However, I don't feel it would be right to play them here. Just because of law and so on. I forgot to say what type of singer. He is a tenor and rated as one of the best tenors in the world. He is extremely versatile. If you are interested in his music or work go to:
Well, it was all very exciting. Ha! I kept running into him back stage but was too shy to say anything. I was even in the prayer circle before the performance and he was right there......one person beside me and then him.....but I was still a bit shy. I am so glad I got to meet him in the end. If I ever had another make a wish....I said that it would always be to go to his concert, meet him and speak privately.....well those wishes came true.....God blessed me. However, I have one more "wish"....hehe.....to sing with him on stage! I will never have a voice like his but oh how I would love to sing with him!
Bless you all,
Thanks for reading,
Love Charisse
