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Ascphil’s Recap, Asia, The Return of David Archuleta: Part 2
Posted by ascphil on Tuesday, July 12, 2011
The following is the second of five daily installments leading up to David’s return to Asia. Written by Ascphil at the conclusion of his last trip to that part of the world, and with exclusive photos by her daughter.
FAST FORWARD to NOVEMBER 16, 2010
Since everyone at home was on vacation for the Muslim holiday, my husband found an activity for all of us to do on that day. He programmed the day to do our early Christmas shopping with our two sons and daughter. I knew that David was arriving in the afternoon of the 16th, and I was resigned to not being able to join the airport welcome. But because Naree called me the previous night to say that there will be two welcoming teams, one at the airport and one at the hotel, I was re-thinking my chances. She informed me that JR was in charge of Team Airport and she was in charge of Team Hotel, so she wanted me to be with her. I told her that I’d see if I could make it but the chances were quite slim. I was thinking of a creative way to get to the place at the latest by 3 pm. The night before our downtown shopping, I told my husband that I needed to go meet my fellow Archies at 2 pm to discuss the arrangements for the concert and that it would last till early evening. He agreed for as long as we left pretty early in the morning to do the shopping in downtown Manila. Alas, no one woke up early enough because there was no sense of urgency. So we found ourselves caught up in heavy Saturday-like traffic and got to the downtown mall by mid-morning. While we were shopping, I received a text from JR saying that the hotel welcome was not a go; she had gotten confirmation from her contact that the hotel welcome would not be allowed. It was 3:30 pm when I had a chance to call Naree to find out what was happening. I wanted to know what happened with Team Hotel. She said David had already arrived at the hotel and they were able to greet him. Whaaattt??? The welcoming did push through at the hotel! Then I told her where I was and she was very excited and told me to stay and wait for them because they were really intending to go and re-group to review what had just happened.
Since I had already missed the whole thing, I told her that my family was with me and that I’d join them after we were finished with our meal. My family was pretty chatty during the meal, so I enjoyed it with them as much as I could but my mind was obviously somewhere else. Time flies while you’re having fun and realizing it was nearing 5 pm, I became pushy about leaving for my meeting. So my husband and kids finally separated from me and went on to go to another part of the mall while I proceeded to the Archie meeting place at the mall’s second level.
When I got to the meeting place which is a small cafe, there were two long tables each with about 8 to 10 Archies excitedly chatting away and laughing at each other’s stories. About half of them were familiar and the rest were new faces. Then a tall guy named Dom from the other table joined our discussion and started relating his experience with the hotel people prior to David’s arrival. It was then that I realized that one of the ladies at the second table whose back I failed to recognize was JR and she was busy working on her laptop. I quickly rose to greet her which pleasantly surprised her, but since she was totally engrossed and preoccupied with her computer, I went back to the first table to listen to what was being related. Oh my gosh!!! What did I just miss?!!!
Piecing together the stories of Naree, Dom and a few other Archies who were at the hotel, I could tell that the time prior to David’s arrival was full of anxiety, doubt and stress for them. Their meeting time at the hotel lobby was 1:30 pm, but Naree decided to come earlier at 11 am. It was when she settled down at the coffee shop with a few other Archies that she received a text from JR that the hotel welcome was cancelled. She decided to stay put and just wait for David to arrive, with or without the welcoming party, since she had brought along the welcome banners and the baskets of fruits they had prepared for David. Then a few more Archies started to arrive because they did not receive the info about the cancellation.
It was almost 3 pm with no news from Team Airport, way past David’s expected arrival at 2 pm. Suddenly JR texted that David had landed and just left for the hotel in a white van. Not to lose hope and in his determination to see David, Dom went back to the security people outside the lobby and negotiated for the Archies to be allowed to gather on one side of the hotel driveway with their banners. He told them that they would keep to a small group of ten and just wave at David from where they stood outside, a good distance away from lobby view in order not to disturb the hotel guests. He promised them that they would not cause a commotion or approach David when he arrived.
They were finally allowed to assemble on the side of the driveway approach, and as they were lining up with the banners along the driveway sidewalk, a nondescript low silver-gray van passed by and stopped at the hotel entrance. The hotel guards approached the van as foreigners started to alight from the van. The Archies just watched and thought they were just another group of foreign hotel guests. Then the fourth to emerge was a smaller guy with a large yellow smiley on a white T-shirt but a bigger smile on his face. Suddenly one of the Archies recognized who he was and exclaimed, “Daaviiiddd!!!” Naree’s perception of the moment David alighted was that there was a sudden burst of light out of nowhere in an afternoon that was previously overcast with drizzles. David waved at the Archies who were stunned and didn’t move from where they were, as he was led inside the lobby, surrounded by hotel security. The Archies thought that was it, time to go. But suddenly they were surprised to see David running out towards them and asking if anyone wanted him to sign anything. Caught off guard and frantically looking for anything they had for David to sign, they dropped the banners on the sidewalk and milled around David as he generously accepted anything they put in front of him. Right after, and despite the initial statement of David’s tall security guy that there will be no group photos to which David questioned, “Oh, why not?”, the Sony Philippines representative graciously allowed all the Archies to take a picture with David. As I listened to Dom and to Naree’s story, I concluded that the experience of the Team Hotel was another testimony to David’s unquestionable love and appreciation for his fans no matter who and where they are from. Even if I had missed what was surely an enviable experience, I was truly happy for everyone in Team Hotel because their perseverance paid off. And it was as if David knew what they had gone through and made it worth all their effort.
At about 6:30 pm, most of the younger Archies were bidding us goodbye after an exciting afternoon. JR decided to move to our table with her laptop as she was waiting for Team Airport’s videos to be uploaded to her YouTube account. It was her turn to relate what was happening in the video as they waited for David to come out of the arrival area. The airport security kept telling them to stay back and not move from their position. When David and his people came out, the media swarmed him such that the Archies could not see him and they felt neither could he see them as they stood outside with their welcome banners. As the swarm of media around David moved towards the white van that was waiting for him, JR, in her small stature of a little less than 5 feet, could only get a glimpse of the side of his face. She was finding the right word to describe his skin. I was asking if he got a tan. She said, no — something more like ivory because he was so white. One of the young Archies, Xeno, who took the video, said that the media was crazy around him and that she was pinned against the van in all the craziness. But she was relieved that the lei of flowers they had prepared for him was successfully placed around his neck. Then JR made an observation: Was it coincidence that the rain stopped and the sun came out when David arrived? Then there was the question of why they were texted that David left the airport in a white van but were surprised when he arrived at the hotel in a low silver gray van. JR then concluded that it could have been due to security reasons, that somewhere along the way to the hotel, there was a switching of vehicles.
When almost everyone had left, it was then that the three of us, Naree, JR and I, discussed what the plans were for the next day before the Skydome mini-concert. Naree was anxious about what I had arranged for them at the venue. They couldn’t line up early enough for VIP passes which were to be given only to the first 400 TOSOD cd’s sold on the day itself. The cd’s with VIP passes were also announced as the only ones to be autographed by David. JR was invited by her Sony Philippines contact to join the press conference at the hotel and she was told to be there by 3 pm. She had asked Naree to be with her as her ‘official’ photographer representing Archuleta Philippines. The mini concert was at 5 pm, so it was clearly a challenge to get there early enough from the hotel which was two cities away, and with traffic, a good one hour travel. At home, I started to think of what needed to be prepared for the mini-concert. I had not realized that it took so much time to decide what to wear, to look for my camera and video cam, to charging batteries and making sure the spares were also fully charged, to discussing the recording settings of the video cam with my husband (a camera freak), to carefully packing my gift to David. My preparations went late into the night since I had to keep stopping to respond and check what was happening on Twitter. I didn’t realize that it was already 3 am until I began feeling quite light-headed from staying up too late. After I was satisfied that I had everything prepared, I finally went to sleep.
The Voice David Archuleta 
Abrra said
Enjoying your adventure!
Common David Effect:
“I didn’t realize that it was already 3 am until I began feeling quite light-headed from staying up too late.”
We wait so long for the chance to see him in concert, yet sleep is the last thing we are able to accomplish. Time flies too fast in Archuland!
Abrra
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Abrra said
Why I do not participate in polls:
This “attitude” comment from the owner of the current poll that is making the rounds…
http://tinyurl.com/6yz3ymm
Idolhead Ed
“July 11, 2011 at 4:07 pm
Reply
I’m being factual. Even now David would not be able to vocally compete with the likes of Kelly, Adam, Clay (even though he’s not here), Haley, Allison…… He just does not have the gift. He sings very well but when it comes to competiting against these guys he just comes up short. Sorry but that’s the truth. Now Archie fans will wholly disagree and they will argue taht it is his voice they love which is a perfectly good argument. I will also bet most of Archie’s fans are the sub 20 year old group.
Seriously? If anyone considers a poll such as this can “help” David in any way, I would beg to differ.
Polls are meant to get site traffic that the owner then shows to advertisers for revenue rates. They USE fans to accomplish the mouse clicks for them.
/rant off
Abrra not a puppet of the “polls”
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FG said
Crouching David, Inner Tiger
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lct said
Please submit your one vote regardless of what the writer thinks of Archie fans! If David can ignore all the negative comments written about him – WE can too!
http://idolheaded.com/blog/2011/07/top-13-all-time-start-the-competition-with-my-picks/
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FG said
Sorry, photo credit goes to KimmieDavid!
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OmgDavid said
Good morning! Abbra, I agree with you completely.
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skydancer1x said
eeeek! can’t wait till tomorrow and the next ‘chapter’!! Thank you so much Ascphil, all the detail in your article makes for a perfect ‘must read’ ,for Archies everywhere♥
“Right after, and despite the initial statement of David’s tall security guy that there will be no group photos to which David questioned, “Oh, why not?”, the Sony Philippines representative graciously allowed all the Archies to take a picture with David.”
I clearly remember THIS… David saying “oh,why not?” You can hear him say that to the bodyguard in the video that was taken, and I loved it when he spoke up himself without hesitation,and asked why not!? It’s like, “these are my fans who made the effort to come to welcome me, and I WILL take a picture with them unless you can give me a dang good reason not to.”haha.
David knew. He knows his fans, and how much he means to us …such a sweetheart. I even remember him apologizing for looking and maybe smelling bad, from the plane ride.
tell, you what David…I will volunteer to be your official smell checker.full time.
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betsy said
Ascphil, I never want this recap to end! I love the details. It always amazes me, never fails to, that thousands of miles away, in a different country, different culture, we are all the same. It makes me weepy.
(Sorry about the above poor sentence structure, too many comma’s, etc. I am flailing even in my writing)
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betsy said
Thinking about the kinship of fans, friends all over the world, has me thinking about this. The lyrics, the emotion, the meaning. ♥
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Jo said
I was one in the team airport ha ha! That was really amazing experience, yes David fight for us to have group picture. I was able to handshake him before the dispersed, David hand was big , he grasped all my hand and shook firmly for few seconds and all smiling. I can’t even look into his eyes, becausei it was like hypnotizing ha ha! I can see his light all shining.
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MunkFOD said
Ascphil, I am loving your articles! The details are awesome and I can feel the love and excitement! I can’t wait to read the 3rd story! I have had similar experiences in trying to see/hear David and in meeting “David” friends. It can get crazy! I just have to be happy with what I can experience. Thanks again! 😀
Abrra, I have to thank you for the wonderful cookie jar! I was gone for 2 weeks and saw the epic SOF performances but it is soooo great to see and hear them again! so…..thank you! 😀
“So, why not?” David is so considerate and I am loving his determination to do things his way! Way to go David!
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Jo said
Ops! I wrote wrong , not team airport, I’m in team hotel, sorry.
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gladys said
thanks Ascphil.
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Heidijoy said
Ascphil-Loving hearing about everyone’s organizational skills,passion,determination,preparation etc.etc. Grateful for your dedication and willingness to share.
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Angelica said
At the airport.
At the hotel.
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skydancer1x said
awww! thanks for posting those videos Angelica. such sweet interaction there, between David and his fans.eeeek! I can just feel how they were feeling, all over again in the last one.
David must be busy as all get out, this week, and very excited about this tour, where he can just be himself and perform full concerts for the fans. I cannot wait for each stop, each experience, and each recap from people all over!!
Abrra, better get lots of rest, for all the videos that will be coming our way!
Wonder how the guys in the band are feeling this week!? hmmm, wonder if they have any idea of the magnitude of what is coming?
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MT said
ascphil
Thanks so much for another great installment. I love the detail you put into it and I’m really enjoying seeing everything through your eyes.
“As I listened to Dom and to Naree’s story, I concluded that the experience of the Team Hotel was another testimony to David’s unquestionable love and appreciation for his fans no matter who and where they are from. Even if I had missed what was surely an enviable experience, I was truly happy for everyone in Team Hotel because their perseverance paid off. And it was as if David knew what they had gone through and made it worth all their effort.”
It warms my heart to know that David appreciates all that fans go through to see him. Even though he was encouraged to just keep walking, he came back because he knew how excited they were and wanted to do something for them in return for their dedication.
PS Your daughter’s photos are wonderful!
Looking forward to installment 3. 🙂
Angelica, thanks for those vids. I can’t wait to see the new ones from this tour! David must be getting really amped up right about now and ready for Asia!
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betsy said
Someone has been cleaning up the background noise and posting these:
Dead.
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Gayle122890 said
Ascphil-I’m savouring every detail of your recap. Thank you. I keep re-reading each chapter till the next one. :).
#10 Jo, what an experience! Your hand in his and to be near that wonderful aura about him. Love your sweet comment.
#18 Betsy, THANK YOU! Abrra..? (candy jar) Pretty please??? Muchas gracias in advance. 🙂
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ascphil said
Skydancer, Betsy, MunkFOD, MT, Heidijoy:
Am glad you’re liking the details. I couldn’t write the experience in any other way because it was very memorable. I realized I could write what was in my head and heart only after becoming a fan of David. It’s the only way for me to release my ODD in a discreet but productive way. Thanks so much for all your appreciation.
Gladys, You’re welcome!
Angelica,
Thanks for posting the corresponding vids that support the story. I bow to your amazing editing skills!
Hi, Jo! Looking forward to seeing each other again on DALIM3!
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bebereader said
Ascphil, These installments are a gem and keep us in high suspense. I can’t wait for the part where you saw the concert and met David.I just know it’s coming up soon!
I am in spazz mode for the Asian fans, in anticipation of the tour next week! So happy for all of you who will get to witness the magic!
Meanwhile, here’s David’s vlog from his visit to Manila in Nov 2010.
Mabuhay!
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ascphil said
From the previous thread:
Xaris, I’m glad your husband sees the up-side to our ‘mid-life crisis’. It’s really, really harmless fangirling. 🙂
Tawna21, It’s great you like long stories. I’m good at that, lol!
Rexburg must have been it for your husband. I think my husband understands me a bit more after a month of listening to CFTH. He has mellowed down since then.
Shanny in Australia, great to see you here! And thanks for liking the details. We all share a common love for David that is mind-boggling!
SweetonDA, David keeps me young at heart, too! I guess it is the root of our addiction to him.
I’m almost certain there will be more of my daughter’s pictures to look forward to. 🙂
Blueberry Ice, Thanks for enjoying my post and my daughter’s photos. Yes, it’s great to find refuge among people who share the same thoughts, feelings and love for the awesomeness that is David. This site has some of the best that I know of.
Back to this thread:
Gayle122890,
I’m glad you like re-reading the ‘chapters’. There’s more to come!
Bebereader,
Aww, thanks for the compliment. I’m excited to see what comes up next, too. LOL!
We’re all really excited for David’s Manila trip! I just got a text that he’ll be with us till July 20th!!!! Four days in the Philippines!!! Gaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhh!!!!!
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Abrra said
Gayle #19
I had reservations about the music as presented in the video in #18 ( it appeared to me to be something official looking at first glance), so I made a phone call to Betsy. She found the link on Twitter by someone I know would not post it if it had a chance of being new music to be “stolen”. Fields of Gold was a song David performed live in his CFTH Tour. I have posted mp3’s of this song on the Cd I made from the tour.
I checked the youtube channel of the person who posted it and he seems to take different artist’s music and edit songs into an acoustic format. I checked David’s OS and do not see any reference to an EP being released at this time. Contigo is another TV live performance that this person has done some audio editing on. He slows down the voice some so that it sounds richer.
I’ll post links to both song’s mp3 downloads with Angelica’s blessing ( I called her as well ). Both are now in the Candy Jar!
David Archuleta Fields Of Gold ( Live Acoustic) 2011.mp3
http://www.mediafire.com/?5vo5ojad665n88a
David Archuleta Contigo En La Distancia At The ALMA ( Live Acoustic) 2011.mp3
http://www.mediafire.com/?85byhn76lorqon9
Credit Leopnovais on youtube for the audio editing
Abrra
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Gayle122890 said
Oh Abrra! These are beautiful (and blessed by Mother Angelica. Tee hee.) Thank you again. Of course, I wouldn’t want anything that wasn’t ok to download. Your checking and re-checking (Thank you too, Betsy!) to make sure it was ok to put these in the candy jar is greatly appreciated. 😀
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tawna21 said
Ascphil…please don’t let this story end!! 😉 I really feel like I’m the fly on the wall watching, live, what is going on!! It’s so exciting!! I find myself holding my breath in anticipation of the next sentence. I can’t wait for tomorrow’s installment.
Abrra— thank you for the candy jar additions…I’ve had to make a note to get them downloaded as soon as I get my computer back. Dang, I’m getting good at the delete key with this laptop–I’ve learned right where it is for my typos, I just don’t know what it is with this keyboard that is so different from mine. 😦 **sigh**
sky #16…Wonder how the guys in the band are feeling this week!? hmmm, wonder if they have any idea of the magnitude of what is coming?”
What’s coming is gonna knock their socks off at a 10 on the Richter scale, and we will be witnesses to it happening!! I can’t believe how exciting all of this is!
Angelica…thanks for bringing the vids in… good, good reminders and visuals of David’s love for Asia and his loyal fans over there.
Tawna
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archangel48 said
Ascphil, I’ve had a great time reading your recap! Please feel free to discuss every tidbit of your Archu-experience in every detail possible! 😉
Abrra, I like your spirit! Your candy jar is full of such sweet goodies! I appreciate you adding such tasty morsels like those last two. The beauty of that VOICE is so dang amazing I am blown-away once again…
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djafan said
Ascpil!
This is great! I’m enjoying this so much, its adding to the frenzy feeling I’m feeling lol David leaves tomorrow to your side of the world!
And your daughters pictures are beautiful!
Hello Shanny!!! Glad to see your here 🙂
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skydancer1x said
21. Bebe, thanks for putting up that 2010 vlog. He is so funny in that one, that look on his face when he can’t remember what he was going to say is priceless. haha He just tickles me to no end.
“.I am in spazz mode for the Asian fans, in anticipation of the tour next week! So happy for all of you who will get to witness the magic!”
I too couldn’t be more excited or filled with happy,for all the Asia fans! It’s so wonderful!
Why is it, that watching David share his voice and his spirit with others who have not had the chance to see him perform live, or be in his presence, gives me just as much joy,as when it is me? ♥ The world needs David.
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emmegirl said
Ascphil, love your story and as everyone has mentioned, the detail. You are an amazing story teller. And your daughter is a very talented photographer!
Can’t wait for any nuggets you can give us on this next trip. He is so excited about this trip you know he is going to be amped! Woohoohoo!
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djafan said
The Albion College Euphonics performing “Crush” by David Archuleta at their spring concert, “BEST CONCERT EVER,” on April 28, 2010.
Soloist: Mark Kluk
Arrangement by: Mark Kluk
Courtesy of Charisa Giddings
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betsy said
WOW Dja! Albion College isn’t that far away from me! Good job, Albion!
They have good taste in music. 🙂
The tuition is absolutely crazy though.
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Suzy-Q said
Ascphil, Thank you for this write up of your experiences. I am loving every word and every detail. I really admire and respect the fans where you are that show David so much love. Just the way everything was organized down to the details was amazing. I am proud to be associated with you through our ODD. It’s a good feeling to know that people of your intellect and caliber take such an interest in David. “What a Feeling”.
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bebereader said
Safe Travels to David, his band and his whole entourage on their journey to Asia!
Welcoming Shanny from the last article!
Can’t wait to read Part 3!
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djafan said
I’m putting up Silverfox’s prayer due to David and team traveling to Indonesia tomorrow. Hope you don’t mind SF (I changed Manila to Indonesia) 🙂
Dear Lord,
Though we are unworthy to ask,
Please take care of David. Watch over him, Protect him from all harm. Cloak him with your love and give him the strength to endure all that is thrown in his path. Give David the courage and guidance to say no to those who ask for more than he can reasonably give. Surround David with loving and supportive people who love him UNCONDITIONALLY as we, his Archangels do. Separate David from those who have agendas other than for his well being. Give him rest when he’s weary. Give him stamina to sustain his hectic pace. Give him assurance when he feels doubt. Give him joy when he feels sad. Cloak him always in your protective arms during this time on his journey. Keep David and HIS VOICE healthy & strong as he fulfills his Destiny which was written in his Book of Life before he was born.
Though we may be unworthy, we humbly pray.
Amen.
Have a safe & uneventful flight to Indonesia. You are constantly in our thoughts & we hope your stay in Indonesia will be all you hoped it will be & more! Have fun & please take care! Keep with you our love & prayers. Contigo Siempre!
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bebereader said
Amen.
Djafan, Thank you for posting Silverfox’s prayer.
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Goboywonder said
Dajan, thank you for posting Silverfox’s prayer for David.It’s as pertinent today as when it was first presented.
“Separate David from those who have agendas other than for his well being.”
*coughJive/WEGcough*
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SandyBeaches said
SF, I always appreciated reading your prayer for David, especially when David is travelling in foreigh countries. Long distance travel can be exhausting and trying and in today’s world sometimes not so safe. You always add a little someting different for each time he goes away.
I am looking forward to its continuation until his safe return.
SB
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daniel said
i dont know if this is the way to get to archire but here’s an album idea who am i or what am i living for
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