[During June and July, 1998, the General Board of Global Ministries led a group of 21 students from United Methodist-related colleges and universities in singing global choral music in the Baltic States and Russia. The participants wrote statements commenting on their experiences. Following is one such statement.]

I learned that home can be where you feel needed and loved. At each performance there were smiling faces, tears of joy, and great enthusiasm in the audience.

Church services were meaningful, leaving each of us with a sense of fulfillment in knowing that we are part of a larger Christian community. I have spent my life attending church, Sunday school, participating in the youth group, and singing in the choir. But until this experience, my faith has never soared above to this level..

Within days of meeting the group, I began to feel the power of the Holy Spirit. . .. Every member of the group seemed to spark greater motivation in me to become closer to Christ. And this helped to open me to the gifts each person in Russia and the Baltic States had to give. . . .

I feel ministered to by the choir members; by leaders of our group; and most intensely, by the members and pastor of the congregations, however large or small.