“Feliz Navidad! Feliz Navidad!” The Spanish III class erupts in a torrent of song and music. Shouts of joy and praise resound through out the hallways as students outside peek into the room to catch a glimpse of the mini-concert occurring inside.

Jorge Solis, Peoples Church painter and custodian, played the keyboard and sang tunes from his CD for the Spanish 3 class on Dec. 10.

“I really enjoyed all the music and singing,” Garret Horn, ’07, said. “I learned a lot of new songs and some more Spanish.”

For the past three years, Solis has visited and played for the Spanish III class.

“I first met Jorge three years ago,” Beatriz Foth, Spanish teacher, said. “I learned that he played music and was from Guatemala, so I invited him to play for my class. He’s great because he teaches the kids about Guatemalan culture and lets them sing in Spanish with him.”

In addition to his job as a painter and custodian, Jorge is a member of the band Grupo Basan.

“I began playing music at a very young age because my father was a musician,” Solis said. “Even though my dad made a lot of money as a musician, he wasn’t a Christian and played secular music.”

Solis grew up in a non-Christian home. His mom divorced his dad, and he moved to America with his mom in 1982.

“I started to play at nightclubs and was making a lot of money,” Solis said. “But then I had a car accident which changed my life forever.”

Solis broke his leg in seven places in the accident. The doctors were planning to amputate the leg, but Solis prayed for God to heal him.

“I said that if God was really real, he would heal my leg,” Solis said. “When God healed me, the doctors didn’t understand how my leg had been healed.”

After the accident, Solis devoted his life to God and came to work at People’s Church in 1991. He then started to write his own Christian music and play for churches.

“I play music for the Lord,” Solis said. “Even though I am not as rich as my dad, I have Jesus Christ.

For more information, e-mail Foth at [email protected].” “Brianna Stobbe, Photographer” “Rather than the typical class section, the Spanish III students enjoyed a special musical presentaion by campus custodian, Jorge Solis.” “” “” “Insert text here