George (Yingzhi) Qiao, top right in the collage, wanted to worship at Blacknall while visiting from China.
About 25 people — including an international visitor — led worship on Sunday as part of our pop-up summer choir. George (Yingzhi) Qiao, a nursing student at Tsinghua University’s Peking Union Medical College in Beijing, was part of the group that sang “Siyahamba,” a South African hymn, and “Shine on Us.” Kids and adults gathered for a one-off rehearsal last week to prepare, led by Choir Director Nat Stine and accompanied by Susan Mullins on piano.
“It was so fun to sing,” said George, who is Catholic and wanted to visit Blacknall during a three-week exchange program at Duke’s School of Nursing. He said he wanted to learn about Presbyterianism in person. “Everyone has been so nice to welcome me.”
Watch the choir’s songs from Sunday: