Around 4:30, that afternoon, Candi and her group had gathered in the church's large classroom for a meeting. Candi had her list of songs for the concert. "Okay, I've discussed this with Reverend Fulton, and he seems to like the idea of love, peace, and God for the theme of our next concert, which will take place in six months. That should give all of us plenty of time to rehearse the songs. Now, I have been planning this for a while, and I have made a list of songs we can all choose from. Some of them are classics from musicals, and some of them are some of my favourite Irish pieces. I've made a list of about thirty songs to choose from."

While Candi spoke, someone in the group raised their hand.

"Yes, Brie?"

"Well, I was thinking we could listen to the songs, and vote for the ones we wanna do."

"That's a great idea, Sweetie!" Candi agreed. "And, it just so happens that I have all the songs on CD. We can listen and vote at the next meeting. Today, I want to know how things are going for everyone. Teresa, how are things between you and your sister?"

"Dominique didn't come to our concert," Teresa sighed.

"Oh, I'm so sorry. Have you tried talking to her?"

"She won't listen. She doesn't even hear me talking. I always looked up to her, but she doesn't even know it. I mean, I watch her in all her plays, and I went to all her beauty pageants, back when we were kids. She's never come to any of my stuff. She won't even talk to me. It would be nice to have just one stinkin' moment with her, where she's actually paying attention to me, and listening to me. Teresa hung her head. "I just... I feel so invisible."

"You're not invisible, girl," said Natasha. "Your sister just needs a good talkin'-to. What you gotta do is say, 'Hey, Dominique, I gotta talk to you, Honey. I have somethin' important to say,' and then, just say how you're feelin'."

Candi smiled and nodded. "Try to get her attention, and when you do, tell her what she means to you."

"Thank you so much," Teresa said sweetly.

"You're welcome. William, Dear, how is your daughter? Have you heard anything from her doctor?"

William wiped away a tear. "He said she... only has six months left." William's daughter was a victim of Breast Cancer.

"They can't do anything to save her?"

"No, it's too late. The cancer's already spread too far."

"Oh, no. I'm so sorry. We'll all keep you, your daughter, and your whole family in our prayers."

"Thank you," William responded, trying not to cry.

"We all go through pain in our lives. Some pain is worse than other kinds of pain, but nonetheless, you'll always have a safe place to be when you feel you can't handle it on your own. Whether it's a distant friendship, a relative who doesn't seem to care, or a lost loved one, you're always free to let out your sorrows here. No one should have to suffer alone. In times of sadness, or any difficult time, for that matter, prayers are needed, and even more, love is needed. Where would prayers come from if they didn't come from a sincere, loving heart? I want you all to know that I pray for you nonstop. Every night, before I fall asleep, I pray for you. Before every meal, I pray for you, and every time I sit and think of you, I pray for you. I send out all my love to you, and I ask God to bless you. I truly and sincerely love you very much. Remember that."

"We love you, too, Candi," said Chloe, a young lady, also from Ireland.

"Since joining the group, have any of you had a prayer answered, or has anything good come out of being a part of the group?"

Everyone agreed, and another young girl raised her hand to speak.

"Yes, Jessica?"

"Well, before my dad and I joined, we didn't get along," said Jessica. "I was always rebelling against him, and I didn't treat him with the respect he deserved. Now, I realise I was wrong."

"We're much closer now," added her father, Leo, "and we get along much better. I couldn't be more grateful to you, Candi."

"Thanks for helping me see that my dad just loves me, and wants me to be happy and safe."

Candi felt warm and tingly inside. "You're always welcome."

A young, blond man raised his hand.

"Yes, Nicolaj?"

"I had a lot of prayers answered. Actually, before I came here, I didn't even believe in God. It wasn't really my kind of thing to believe. Then, I joined the group, and suddenly, everything turned around for me. I wasn't happy. I was lonely, and I didn't think I belonged in this world. Back in Denmark, in school, I got bullied really badly. The other kids made fun of me, betrayed me, and even beat me up. I wasn't sure who my real friends were, because every time I made a friend, they'd, all of a sudden, turn their backs on me. Even my own parents didn't get me. When I turned eighteen, I moved here, and I joined this group. The reason I joined was to make friends, but I made more than just that. I found where I belong. I found a huge group of, not just friends, but a big family. I have everything I could ever want, thanks to you, Candi. I found happiness, and I found where I belong."

"You'll always have us, Nicolaj," said Candi.

"I know that now. Thanks, Candi."

Then, identical twin girls raised their hands.

"Yes, Amy and Audrey?"

"Our family just moved here from England, like last year," said Amy, "and we were hoping to make friends who shared our interests, and our religion."

"I was looking in the phone book, and I found the address for this church," added their mother, Jane. "We heard about this group, and we decided to give it a try."

"We're really, really glad we did," agreed Audrey.

Candi smiled and nodded. "I'm glad you made the decision to join. Moving to a strange country can be difficult, because you don't know anybody. I know how it feels. I was once in that place. I know there are a few immigrants in our group. We have Lena from Russia, Jordan from Jamaica, Nicolaj from Denmark, Joseph from Sweden, Elizabeth and Sierra from Norway, Chanel from Bermuda, Luciana from Chile, and Alyssa from England. Jane and her daughters are also from England, and I know we have a few Canadians in our group as well-Malinda, Chelsea, Haylie, and Jason."

"I'm French Canadian," said Jason.

"Were any of you scared when you first moved to America?"

They all nodded.

"It can be frightening to live in a place where you don't know anybody, and you have to adjust. That's such a big step to take, but you had the courage to take it. Now, look at you. You're all part of a big family of people who love you, and it doesn't matter where you come from. It's who you are as a person that really counts, and each of you are good, decent, warm, and kind-hearted people. Now, let's all hold hands as I recite our prayer of peace."

Everyone stood up, in a large circle, and held hands together. They all knelt down as Candi recited the prayer.

"Be generous in prosperity, and thankful in adversity. Be fair in thy judgement, and guarded in thy speech. Be a lamp unto those who walk in darkness, and a home to the stranger. Be eyes to the blind, and a guiding light unto the feet of the erring. Be a breath of life to the body of humankind, a dew to the soil of the human heart, and a fruit upon the tree of humility. Amen."

"Amen!" everyone repeated.