Today’s #throwback goes ALL the way back to February 21st . Ok, so it’s not that far back, but it’s a special story with a special memory.

Actually, it’s more of a #throwback if I include the back story that dates to the 1990’s/early 2000’s in Puerto Rico. So, here goes!

I grew up on the island, singing in school talent shows and at my church, in the same way many singers get started. While in college, I started working at a Christian radio station. I still dreamed of being a singer, and enjoyed living my dream by singing in coffee shops, churches, conferences, weddings, you name it, I sang it! But through my radio job, I mostly got to interview OTHER artists.

That was great, but I still kind of wanted to be on the other side of the microphone being interviewed.

So, one day, my job was to represent the radio station and present a special gift to the pastor of a church in Caguas, Puerto Rico. We were doing a “Clergy Appreciation Month” contest, and the church went ALL OUT — they not only nominated the pastor, but when he won, they threw an all-expense paid cruise for him and his wife! AWESOME!

I was super excited to arrive for that special church service with a huge basket of goodies, that was just the cherry on top of the huge cruise surprise.

Wouldn’t you know it, I met a worship leader there named Daniel Calvetti. He was starting to have success, having recently recorded his first Spanish Christian music album with a record label that was highly respected in Latin America.

Wow! That’s so cool! That’s the dream, getting to record worship music and sing. I hope I get to do that someday, just like Daniel Calvetti.

Which brings me back to this #throwback photo:

In the picture, that’s Daniel Calvetti (far right) with my parents and me, backstage, before we got to lead worship together with two other awesome talented singers, Gracco Contreras and Hector Sotelo at Sugar Creek Baptist Church.

It was an awesome Sunday! Sugar Creek already had incredible Spanish ministry, but this was the Sunday they were making official their move into the main worship center. So exciting!

My favorite part was when the pastors of the English church came up with the Spanish church pastors and joined hands together, saying “we are ONE church!” (Yeah, I got teary-eyed!)

But, guys, I didn’t just get to be one of the singers, celebrating and leading worship at this event. At one point, Daniel Calvetti, the special guest, joined us, so the four of us were singing together!!!

(Pictured L-R: Gracco Contreras, Daniel Calvetti, me, Coppelia and Hector Sotelo).

It is absolutely CRAZY to me, to think back to all those years ago in Puerto Rico, when “radio girl with singing dreams met singer Daniel Calvetti” … to actually getting to sing and lead worship with him on the same stage.

Never try to talk yourself out of your dreams.

Even if they sound ridiculous, or seem like they are taking FOR-E-VER to come true. Sometimes it takes a little (or a lot) longer that we’d like. Sometimes things don’t work out exactly the way we thought they would.

But guys, dreams seriously do come true. And then, you can post #throwback pictures to remember and celebrate.

Love ya!

~Coppe

P.S. Ladies, speaking of Sugar Creek Baptist Church, I would LOVE it if you would join me for their #Avívame Women’s Retreat en español, August 12-13th, 2016 at Moody Gardens in Galveston. I’m super excited to lead worship for this awesome event again this year. It is going to be EPIC!

“Como decimos en Puerto Rico, va a estar BRUTAL!”