ShadowLand Is HERE!

I am so excited to announce the arrival of ShadowLand's first project, "For The Beauty!" Earlier this year, I was given a four week sabbatical from my church. After much prayer, I decided one of the best things I could do with the time was to create a "solo" album. The thought of creating a solo bass album however, didn't seem that appealing to me. However, producing a recording along with my friends seemed like the absolute right thing to do! Thus ShadowLand was born.

Over the course of years, I have written a number of arrangements that are instrumental hymn settings. It has been a blast to perform them at church. But, it's one of the hazards of the job, you play them once, and when you're finished they can get placed on a shelf to never be heard again. This just seemed like the right thing to do! I am so blessed to have so many extremely talented friends, and I asked them if they'd be willing to help. All said yes! Thanks guys & gals! What a blessing you have been to me!

So, I packed up my stuff, and headed to Montana! My dear friends, Kay & Randy Creech have an incredibly beautiful ranch in the Bitterroot Valley, and some space that was perfect to start the whole process. I spent the first two and a half weeks writing, arranging and recording my parts.

When I got back home the process continued. I had done some consulting work for Optical Disc Solutions in Richmond, which I bartered for recording time in their studio. My buddy Jeff Ervin is the engineering genius behind the faders. So, we started calling in all the other players to record their parts. We started with drummer Kevin McDonald. Kevin and I have known and played together for nearly 30 years (ouch). What a joy for him to join up with the ShadowLand team. Jeff not only engineered the project but played electric guitar on many cuts. What a talented guy! Also joining the team was the entire Pike family. Barry joined on several cuts with his electric guitar, Jordan played keys on "Amazing Grace," and Nancy added her beautiful vocal stylings to an original tune I wrote called, "Phileo." The talented Kate Wogoman graced the ivories on several cuts. We we're also honored to have my buddy Jason Webb put his signature on a couple of tunes. My dear friend Pat O'neal added some saxophones, and the talented Heidi Thurston played flute. (By the way, the longest note in history is at the end of Piggy Tails & Puppy Dogs-check it out-no breath). My long time pal Chris Robinson played drums on Amazing Grace. (I say long time, he started playing with me when he was 13 or 14.) Amazing Grace was one of the most fun tracks for me to cut. First of all, I had an old arrangement of that great old hymn, but it just wasn't getting it done for me. So, for Easter this past year I decided to write a new arrangement. On the recording, it's three young guys and an old guy. I was the old guy, all the three other guys were under 25! I met and asked my now new friend, Casey Randall to play guitar on that one. All I can say is, Whew! What great young talented guys! I've been ministering with my brother Lee Behnken for over 20 years, and it would have been sad to not have him join us. So, he added his beautiful voice to "Faith of Our Fathers." (How appropriate is that?) I also got to do one of the things I've always wanted to do. I got t0 record my girls! My daughter Katie's husband, John flew her home for the recording session! My wife Linda, and daughter's Laurie and Stephanie added an incredibly haunting vocal to "For the Beauty!" We also were graced by the trumpet/flugelhorn stylings of my friend Don Smith.

As the project was being recorded and mixed there was another team putting together the other side of this project. It was apparent to me that it would be nice to do a recording, it would be great to do something that could be broader than that, and impact lives. So, per the advice of Derek Williams in his book, "Worship Revolution;" we structured a leadership team to birth a ministry. The ministry was recently born and is called, Shadowland Project Inc. Shadowland Project Inc. is the reason ShadowLand-For the Beauty exists. The early plan of the SPI is to help students with finding musical instruments. Hopefully, writing scholarships for music and art students. We believe that all real beauty comes from the Creator. We also believe that we-his creation are in part, created to be creative. It's in our DNA because we're created in His image.

There will be so much to come! You can now go to our web site at: www.shadowlandproject.com. The cd will soon be available on iTunes, CDbaby, and many other internet providers. You can also contact me or buy from our website.

Sunday, July 19th - Our last day in Bogota. PART ONE

On Sunday morning, we got up and, after breakfast, took the TransMilenio rapid transit bus to the Iglesia Wesleyana del Norte for the 9:30 service. We walked from the bus stop on a bridge across the highway to the church.





This is the largest Wesleyan Church in the world. They have six services every weekend.


The worship service was great. We were treated as honored guests, sitting on the front row with our friends from the Bible Institute. Their music was very good, contemporary like ours, and we all really enjoyed that part of the worship service.


July 20th is the Colombian Independance day, so the church honored some of it's veterans.


Then they called our team up on stage. Rick West spoke briefly, introducing us, and Steve presented greetings from FCWC and a devotional. Then we led a song, "Open the Eyes of My Heart", which everyone sang, each in their own language...really cool. Nancy has a short, rather rough video clip of this which may appear on her Facebook page at some point.

Pastor Jose' Quintero, our host and friend, was the guest speaker for this service and he delivered a very dynamic message on the subjects of freedom and independance. In particular, he spoke about what it means to experience for eternity the freedom that we have from sin through the resurrection of Jesus. He is an excellent communicator and we were all transfixed by his message. The language barrier could not withstand his passion or the Holy Spirit's power to draw us in.

After the message, prayers, and benedictions, we exited out to a sunny open courtyard which featured...Coffee Wesley!!!

Here we made several new friends. Everyone was so friendly and welcomed us warmly.

Rick encounter some old friends, and these little guys want to make new friends.

After church, we were taken by car and van to a different and very large shopping mall. While there some of us purchased enough Colombian coffee beans to start a small export business. You can speculate as to who it is that might have done that.

Then we went to lunch at one of Pastor Luz Angela's favorite restaurants, The Crepe and Waffle. Okay, so that's not very South American sounding, we all get that, but the food was delicious and we had a great time of fellowship.

Here are various picture of food and friends:









A great time was had by all.

This is the end of Sunday, part one.

Saturday, July 18th

It's Saturday and, contrary to our original plans, the team was back at the school early to work. Originally, this was to be a day off for sight-seeing and playing. But several jobs remained to be completed and everyone was determined to get them done.

For several reasons, our curtain-sewing department, in particular, and was feeling the pressure and were anxious about the success of their mission.

The sheer material was difficult to work with. The sewing machine on loan had some definite functional limitations. The number of windows that needed to be completed, 27, was substantial.

After 3 days of designing, measuring, and cutting, only 3 curtains had been completed. The girls were concerned, to say the least.

And then, Saturday morning, something happened. Something clicked and everything started to fall into place. By early afternoon ALL of the curtains had been sewn and hung!

And there was great rejoicing!

Meanwhile, Ron and Steve finished the tables and they look FANTASTIC, exceeding everyone's expectations:


The office remodel was coming together, too. The walls are finished and the guys were getting the doors hung. The biggest part of this was the sliding door on what was to be Mercy's office. It was designed by Scott and mostly built by him, Billy, and Andres, with occasional help from Ron and Steve, too.






Meanwhile, Barry and Carl had run into some trouble. Most of the computer wiring had been pulled, the router was installed, and the wireless was hooked up. Everything tested out and all of the components seemed to be communicating properly. There was just one problem - the internet didn't work! After several hours of troubleshooting and second-guessing, Carl had eliminated all of the obvious possibilities inside the building (our wiring was good!) and we had to conclude that there must be something wrong with the DSL/telephone line coming into the building, or some issue at the ISP provider's office.

So we had to call in an expert.


This is Camilo. He works for Microsoft here in Bogota, teaching advanced classes in various aspects of networking, online security, system design, and several other advanced areas of information technology. He is a for-real, super-smart, certified computer expert with extensive credentials to prove it. He was also an extraordinarily gracious and patient man and we couldn't have asked for any better help.

Unfotunately, after running his own battery of tests, Camilo couldn't find the problem either...which actually made Carl and Barry feel somewhat better.


So, after concluding that it was likely an issue with the telephone company, Carl, Steve, and Barry set out to finish all of the wiring as best we could and trust that the Lord would fix the internet on Tuesday, the next business day. (On Thursday, the 23rd, we received confirmation that the telephone company DID fix the problem and the Institute is online again!!!)


We then packed up all of our tools and headed back to the hotel. We were all going out to supper that evening to celebrate our last day of work at the school! Our hosts were taking us to one of Pastor Jose's favorite restaurants for the best hamborguesa in Colombia. So we got cleaned up quickly and reassembled in the lobby of Hotel Lord.


The restaurant, called El Corral, was in a very large mall in a different section of town. The burgers were truly huge and delicious, and a good time was had by all.

Friday, July 17th

On Friday morning, the day began with Steve leading us all in a devotion about discipleship, drawing the lesson from some of the Old Testament traditions. Afterwards, some of our team shared about how the Lord had lead them to sign up to come on the trip to Bogota:


And then it's back to work. We've got a lot to do and we are starting to feel the pressure...we want to be done before we leave.

Above, Billy and Tina are about to start hanging curtain rods. Everyone thought it would be a good idea to keep Billy away from sharp, pointy objects for a while. Below, Ron is assembling the tables for the classrooms, fitting the removable tops to the frames.



Above, Brittany is measuring the light diffusor material which had to be carefully cut to fit to cover the windows in the classrooms. The purpose of this is to moderate the incoming sunlight, for security, and also to cut down on the distraction factor for the students. Below, Debbie is sewing the hems on the curtains. This, too, was a very big job.




Above, Scott is applying mud to one of the walls that he and Billy built while Steve is checking it out. Even though specific people had certain assignments, we all floated in and out of each other's jobs, helping as needed, sharing tools, offering insight and experience to one another. Below, Carl is working on the wiring in the computer lab. This is a job we wouldn't have even attempted without someone like Carl, who is very knowledgeable about wiring. It was great to witness God using each person's unique gifts, experience, and personalities to complete the work.


Here is a wonderful woman who, like the women in the Old Testament, has a name that matches her personality and spirit, Mercy Macias. She works for the Wesleyan Bible Institute and, as you can see she is bringing us a treat. Every day, all day, up and down six flights of stairs, these sweet ladies kept us fueled with food and lubricated with coffee, juice, and water.


This beautiful smile belongs to Xiomara Macias, and she is Mercy’s niece. She also speaks English very well and never missed an opportunity to encourage us. In English, her name is pronounced “sha-MAR-a”. On this day, she is bringing us this interesting refreshment, a kind of drinkable yogurt made by a Alpina, a big and important company in Bogota that exports a variety of food products all over South America.


Here are some of our other friends, again. Laura Macias, our chief translator, tour guide, Spanish teacher, and helper.

Andres Rodriguez, a tireless worker with a true servant's heart.

Pastor Felix (standing, talking to Ron), and Alberto, another young man with excellent translation skills. He is talking with Scott below and is also a worship leader at his church.

Several times during the week, in the early evening, there would be a class meeting in one of the classrooms and we would always try to be a little quieter about our work. On Friday night, after supper, we received a special surprise. One of the classes, in Apologetics, came upstairs to the top floor so that they could meet us. They thanked us for our efforts and we had a good time mingling and talking with them. They were happy to practice their English skills and we had a good time getting to know some of the folks who we hoped would benefit from our labors.

(Remember, you can click on the photos to view a larger version)

Afterwards, we all went back to work, the students to their classroom and us to our jobs:

And finally, here is a picture of Brittany's tool bag:

She got teased a bit because of it's girly look and color-coordinated tools. All week we called it either "Hannah Montana's Tool Bag" or "the Barbie Tool Bag". However, I think that all of us, at one time or another during our work, found that it held exactly the right tool we needed for whatever task we were doing at the time.

Isn't that just like the way the Lord works?

Thursday, July 16

This morning Nancy led our devotional time and had everyone in tears as she spoke about the varied gifts and talents that each of our team members possesses and how the Lord is using us here so far from home. Then she spoke about the gifts that we have seen in our gracious hosts, the sweetness of their humility, their quiet devotion to serving us while we serve them, and their enthusiastic devotion to the kingdom of God. As we have poured ourselves into one another's lives, we have truly seen Jesus at work, mixing our personalities, our abilities, and our spiritual gifts in surprising and creative ways.

Work continues apace on all fronts. Scott and Billy made a lot of progress on the new office area, installing the metal studs, mounting most of the drywall, and figuring out how to mount a sliding door.

Billy provided us with considerable extra excitement when, late in the afternoon, while cutting his last piece of drywall with a razor knife, something slipped and he cut a deep, approximately 2" long gash between his thumb and forefinger. Immediately our hosts and team rallied, wrapping his hand and taking him to an emergency clinic nearby. Ultimately, he wound up at a local hospital emergency room, with Rick watching over him, where he received six stitches, a shot in his booty, and a prescription for ibuprofen. He reports that the medical treatment he receive was very professional and carefully done. Amazingly, the bill was only $35 US. And now, we are very happy to report, he really is in great shape. Of course, we had to promote him to a different work crew, one where he doesn't get to play with sharp objects for a while, but he is back to his lovable and highly capable self. On Friday morning, Luz Angela thanked him for shedding his blood for Columbia.

Having completed the painting on the first floor, Leigh Anna, Britney, and Tina are working on removing the old tinting from the windows so that new, better tinting can be applied. This is a big job, but they are getting it done.

Here is of one of our helpers, Laura Macias. She speaks excellent English and has been a great translator. She has also been helping with the work in several areas, here with Britney & Andres. She is studying psychology at a local college and intends to be a teacher upon graduation.



And here is Consuelo Martínez, who has cooked and cooked and cooked the most amazing meals for us. Typically, she prepares two meals each day for 16-20 people. Now that, folks, is ministry.


This is what we had for a midmorning "snack" today, a kind of puff pastry filled with chicken, served warm:

And speaking of lunch, this is what it looked like today:

That is a salad with fresh sliced tomato, carrots, sweet peppers, lettuce and cilantro in some kind of light lime-flavored vinaigrette. The main course was roasted chicken, what seemed to be a sweet-tasting ground pork with red peppers, and fried yucca wedges. The yucca is pan fried in butter with a little salt and, sometimes, a little garlic. It taste like a gourmet french fry. The desert was a small plate of mild cheese, probably mozzarella, with melted panella. Really, really good.

And here is "el Jefe," Pastor Jose Quintero, and his wife, Luz Angela. They are both very gifted leaders, and they overflow with kindness, graciousness and the love of Christ. It has been a joy and great privilege to get to know these people.


On Thursday evening, all of us except Rick and Pastor Jose, who were looking after Billy at the hospital, took a ride through northern Bogota in an open bus, complete with a live mariachi-style band. This adventure also involved some singing, sight-seeing, illegal driving, dogs in T-shirts, and "dancing", if that is what you can call this:


Below are some more shots from that evening. We were sooo happy that Billy was able to join us later, too, for the last half of our ride.

Remember, there are many more photos at the Fountain City Wesleyan Church's Flickr Website. Follow the link from here.

Wednesday, July 15th

Today was a major work day. So after a good breakfast at the hotel, we traipsed over to the school, arriving about 9:30 AM. Steve led our devotional time and we sang "This is My Desire," a request by Pastor Jose. We first sang it in English, and then our hosts took over in Spanish.

The first jobs was to transport all of the building materials that had been purchased the day before from the downstairs foyer up to the floors on which they were to be used. There is an elevator in the building, however it has been broken for a long time and, in fact, would have been too small for most of our supplies. So, as you can see in the picture below of Ron and Brittany, we carried lumber (2x3's...the standard stud size here), metal studs, pre-cut tabletops, and sheet rock up several flights of stairs, handing it up "fire-brigade" style.


While Tina, Brittany, and Leigh Anna continued to work on the paint job on the first floor, Carl met with Eduardo and Pastor Jose (below) to finalize the plans for the relocation of the buildings IT equipment. Carl and Barry are pulling Cat5 cable so that tomorrow they will be able to move and install a new 16-port router, a professional-grade wireless access point, as well as install some additional power, computer, and telephone connections. Hopefully, this will enable the school to have wireless internet access throughout the building, improve office communications, standardize the computer lab setup, plus provide computer access in the library.


Steve and Ron had the big job of building 10 tables to be used in the classrooms. Here Steve is planing and sanding each table legs that Ron had cut. Yes, that's 40 table legs...that was a substantial workout and Steve is going to be sore tomorrow.

Here Ron is applying stain to one of the table braces. After that came the polyurethane finish.


Scott and Billy had the task of taking one office and making it into 3 separate office workspaces, building walls and hanging doors.


Nancy and Debbie, shown here at lunch, were stripping window treatment from some of the windows, as well as measuring and cutting fabric to sew for curtains. This, too, is a pretty big job. This building has a lot of windows.


And speaking of lunch, here is one of the main dishes, ajiaco bogotano. This soup is indescribably delicious. It is made of potatoes, chicken, corn, and indigenous herbs. At the table, we added crema de leche and capers. A thing of beauty...

Here we are, enjoying a great time of fellowship, with the city and mountains over behind Andreas:

Another special time is our meal together with our hosts at the end of the day. This is where we really get to know one another and our Colombian brothers and sisters. The work that they do and the beautiful way they serve us and one another is indescribably humbling. It is impossible not to love these people.


We were exhausted. Here, over our dinner later that night, Billy is getting the story from Brittany about how she got a little carried away with a putty knife earlier in the day. Evidently she was trying to dig her way through one of the walls...you'll have to ask her about it.



When we got back to our hotel rooms, we all found on our pillows a sweet note of thanks and a gift of frutas Colombianos from our hosts. Like I said earlier, it is impossible not to love these people.

Tuesday, July 14th

Today was a day full of new experiences. After a hearty breakfast in our hotel 8:30 AM, Steve led a devotion from Galatians 2:20 and challenged us to surrender ourselves to the work at hand.

We then walked the couple of blocks to the Wesleyan Bible Institute, led by Rick West and Andreas, one of our hosts. After a fun, "get-acquainted" meeting, around 10:30 or so, we were served this:

Yes. Empanadas...it was like a second breakfast. They were awesome.

Then we sang a little "Your Love is Deep," with our new friends, Pastor Jose Quintero, Luz Angela, Roscio, and Mercy...some of the warmest, nicest people I've ever met.


After that we began to plan the work in earnest. Our key construction guys, Billy Ward, Ron Ayers, and Scott Warner, along with Rick West and Pastor Jose focused on the design and construction of 10 tables for classroom use. The rest of us took measurements and brainstormed ideas for a fairly ambitious curtain hanging project.


After that the building team above planned an office space renovation, Carl Dole began collecting info for relocating some of the office IT infrastructure, and everyone else started thinking about the painting project that was going to take place on the first floor.


In addition to the Wesleyan Bible Institute, this wonderful building also houses both the national and regional offices of the Colombian Wesleyan Church. It is an interesting, six-story structure with a great view. Here are a couple of shots taken from one of the upper windows.




So far, all of these blog photos have been taken by Nancy. She has many more and will be uploading them to her Flickr site soon, so be sure to check back there.

So that afternoon, after a magnificent lunch, the team split up. The construction team drove off to find and purchase supplies for their projects. The painting began on the lower two floors, a space which will, ultimately, be rented out.


There will be a number of photos of the wonderful folks who are taking care of us while we work here. But here is Andreas and Marie Elena Rodriguez. Andreas has been the driving force behind our construction projects and has been a gifted and determined Spanish tutor as well. His wife brings us refreshments throughout the day and is also a part of the team that prepares and serves our meals. These people embody the very idea of "el corazon de siervo," the servant's heart. Priceless.

Here is our first group picture: