A highlight of tour was being able to record our second album, In Endless Light, in the Sacred Heart Cathedral of Pueblo, CO. Besides being a beautiful old cathedral with an awesome atmosphere, the acoustics were flattering! All of our recording was done in two late evenings, since outside traffic was at a minimum then. We wrapped up tour with a program in Hutchinson, KS, on Saturday, followed by Sunday programs in Arcola, IL, and Kokomo, IN. A very tired but blessed Chorale dispersed to their various homes the next day.
White water rafting on the Arkansas River provided an exciting twist of adventure! To say that our group of rookie rafters enjoyed the day is to put it mildly! Some of us settled for a 10 mile ride, while others opted to keep on rafting right through the Royal Gorge for an extra thrill.
It was exciting to be back in Colorado, with all it’s rugged beauty and wonderful climate! Loren Miller with New Horizons Ministries made arrangements for us to sing in several of the prisons we had in 2004, along with some we had never sang in. Once more we were encouraged by the inmates who lived with free hearts in spite of being in prison. Many other inmates, especially the young offenders, brought sadness to our hearts as we saw them living without hope in Jesus.
In July of 2005, Oasis Chorale headed west to sing in the prisons of Colorado, working through New Horizons Ministries, a ministry that provides foster childcare for children of incarcerated mothers. The Chorale met in Kokomo, IN for 2 1/2 days of intense rehearsal before beginning the long bus ride to Colorado. A short stop in Leon, IA, for an evening program and overnight stay broke up our journey.