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Testimonials & Thank You's

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CHURCH REFERRAL... Jon teaches & DJ's in Hollywood! Hollywood Presbyterian Church 2008 June 14 Saturday 630-1030p! Don Bennett... Jon, Cathy Chang brought a group of three ladies all the way from Shepherd of the Hills church. She said it was a great dance because you kept them all dancing throughout the night. Dave did not know how to dance and he told you for the first time in his life he learned how to do a dance.  Helen Hi Border said she had a terrific time also. Vicki said she thought you were much better than the previous DJ because you knew how to teach and even though there were more gals than guys the gals still danced.  Andrea whose birthday song you sang said she went to a dance two weeks ago and only one guy asked her to dance all night and she was very hurt. But she said God really ministered to her through my words when I encouraged her to come to our dance. Then when she left she said she really felt great. Then she told me the same thing on the phone again today how much God ministered to her at the the dance through dancing.  It was a complete turn around from depression to joy. God really used you to minister to the hearts of the people.  Vicki said Jon is really a "class act". I think that really sums it up Jon you really are a "class act" You care about people and it comes through in your teaching and leading us through the Night. 
September 6, 2008...The dance was great! More complements for Jon... Hi Don, the dance this last Saturday was wonderful and I believe everyone had an excellent time. Good job as always. This is a great way of outreach that will draw many to Christ. Have a blessed week. God bless you, Andrea.     Hi Don, That was a great little dance you and company put on...Blessings....and see ya soon. Doug     Hi Don, It is we who attended the last dance who should be saying thanks to you and your wonderful staff!  I have NOT been on the PC much at all this past week.  That is why I am so late at getting this out to you.  I had intended to write to thank you just after having attended the dance and dinner.  It was outstanding as ever. I simply LOVE John Gaytas as the DJ!  He is not just brilliantly talented and with a more than superb ability to teach dance steps in a remarkably easy way, but he is classy and plays a marvelous variety of danceable music.  I love that he has so many opportunities for everyone to get involved so no one can go to the dance and sit out the whole evening. I also want to thank your incredibly wonderful staff who prepared, arranged and replenished the delectable dinner all evening.  I had a chance to thank Hi, but it was not even close to enough gratitude expressed -- since there could be no adequate or sufficient words.  Please do express them again on my behalf to her and all the other wonderful people who helped her. Thanks, Don, especially to you because I know how much of yourself goes into these great dinner dances that you direct and coordinate. The Lord alone knows of the love and concern that it takes to do what you to do for all of us to enjoy it as much as we do. As ever, I am so glad I came.  Here is to many more successful events!!!  Warm regards and in the Love of Jesus to you, Hi and all others involved in presenting such a wonderful evening event to all of us who were privileged to attend, Marianne Stickel
Thanks again, Don, for a very fun dance!  We appreciate yours and the staff's efforts!  I especially enjoyed the dance lessons.  I sure needed them! Have a blessed week! Cathy Chang
DANCER VISITING OUR SCHOOL: At 08:58 AM 7/18/2005, Ann Paris wrote:  Re: What a JOY to dance with you!  Jon, Your dance last night was a BLAST!  What nice people you have there at your studio. I wanted to get you my email address in case you take a group to Fla. Sometime.  I currently teach music in the public schools but I have also had the pleasure of doing free-lance choreography projects for musical theater productions and teach a senior citizen?s tap class and beginning ballroom at our local YMCA periodically.  I seldom get the chance to dance with people beyond the very beginning level so last night was fun! My husband plays trumpet in a big band out here in Daytona Beach, so sometimes at some of the dances he plays at, I help ?get the crowd dancing?, but even that is not very often.  We have 3 children ages 15, 13, and 10, so I am too busy to be able to dance more.  Someday when my responsibilities lighten up, I would like to pursue it more?but, anyway, thanks again for a great time!  I think of you often and am so very thankful for teaching me to dance, and better yet, for teaching me to teach.  You have touched a lot of lives, may God bless you as you continue to do so! Fondly, Ann Sharrer Paris  

BUDAPEST! VIENNA! PRAGUE! May 7-18, 2007! TRIPLE DELIGHT PICTURES!!!

® I wanted to thank you
for a marvelous trip. I couldn't have enjoyed myself any more than I did.  I learned so much in the art galleries and the palaces. I would travel with you again anytime. Thanks for all that you do. You are very wonderful and I appreciate all your efforts!!!!! Thanks in abundance, Carol Booher.     
® Jon - Thanks for letting me have the opportunity of joining your exciting tour! It has given me some excellent memories. Dan Mercado    
             
® Jon, That was one memorable experience! I thank you for a well managed yet inexpensive trip to a land that I had hitherto not set foot on.  If I thought that I was going to die before Christ returns, I would say that I'll take this memory to my grave. You have been given the gift of blessing people in there trek though this life. I sat down this morning and wrote my longest entry into my journal about this spectacular event. One of the most memorable experiences of all will be our dancing in the subway following our bon voyage ball and seeing the smiling faces of the natives as they vicariously joined in with us. I'm hoping that the Lord gave you a simple answer to the housing shortage that arose in Prague at the end.  I'm looking forward to knowing how He showed you the way to address this. Yours in Christ Jesus, Glenn Dunlop

FRANCE & ITALY! May 1-15, 2005 WOW!  SEE THRILLING FRANCE & ITALY PICTURES!

 


Dear Jon, Thank you for such a wonderful time! WOW!!  In spite of some of the little things that happened, Carole and I had a blast.
 
Everyone had enjoyed hearing of our adventures and I feel fortunate that I got to see so much and experience the flavor of the two countries.

want a copy of the CD of the trip, can't wait to see it.  Let me know when I should send my money for it.  I got my two rolls of film back yesterday and got some good shots of our trip.  Waiting for Carole's pictures now. 


I loved what you have written here and it helps me remember where we were.  Here's a couple pictures I thought you might enjoy.  Glad we went into the casino in Monte Carlo. 
That was fun. Ciao, Gayle
 

NEW YORK TOUR! SEE OUR PICTURES & BROCHURE FOR THIS YEAR'S DOUBLE DELIGHT!
2004 Dear Jon,
It has been one of the most enjoyable trip I ever had. I am looking forward to more dancing trips like this. I want to thank you so much for providing me with the facility to join such a group.  Never knew that such a group of dancers existed.  I only wish, that such a possibility for me, would have existed a long time ago.  How much I could have learned & enjoyed. Never too late to start.  You can believe, that your dance trip will be known by all my friends and people I know. I love to dance, I would like to know and do more. You are very knowledgeable, you certainly know how to organise this type of tour. My best to you, keep up this great work. Again, I thank you, Lucienne. God Bless You.


  

CHURCH REFERRAL... Jon teaches & DJ's in Hollywood! Hollywood Presbyterian Church 2006 May 13 Saturday 630-1030p! Don Bennett 323-255-1408... "John I must say you were terrific. Everyone was raving about what a great teacher you were. One lady said she had never danced in her life and she learned at least 4 dances. She was thrilled. Another person a guy said he had been to a lot of dances but this was the first one he really learned a dance he could remember. He said you were the best and he had been to a lot of dances where they had teachers. We must do it again John. From one vet to another, A Job well done"...Don.      Hi Don: Thank you for a lovely dance!  John Gatyas was a wonderful instructor. We enjoyed his teaching.  We may join you sometime in the future to carpool to his dance class on a Sunday night. Have a blessed week! Cathy         
Hollywood Presbyterian Church again November 11 Saturday 630-1030p:  
Dear Jon and Don, At the Veteran's Day dance with Don's church when Jon played "Spanish Eyes" I started to weep because my only association with that song has been my father, who used to play it a lot.  That was the eve of what would have been his 80th birthday, had he not committed suicide at age 64.  I'm grateful to now have an additional, healing association for that song.  I also really appreciated Betty's creative testimony and gospel presentation.  Top that off with a sing-along and testimony from the newlyweds who met through Don's group.  It was an uplifting evening!  I awoke Sunday morning with some more tears for my father and an opportunity to share those feelings with some of my church family during our Sunday morning class where we've been discussing sociologist Lisa Graham McMinn's book, The Contented Soul: the Art of Savoring Life.  It's good to take the time to acknowledge our pain and longings rather than just racing past them.      Spending the 80th anniversary of my father's birth with you all at Jon's Luau was honoring to the memory of my father -- a man who loved to dance and party.  Roann and daughters were pure delight.  The bliss on Roann's face as they danced to Shout to the Lord was evidence of a loving relationship with Christ.        I just want to let you two know how grateful I am to be dancing in the arms of godly men.  I feel welcomed.     Joyfully In Christ, Diana   Listen, Yahweh, take pity on me, Yahweh, be my help! You have turned my mourning into dancing, you have stripped off my  sackcloth and clothed me with joy. So my heart will sing to you unceasingly, Yahweh, my God, I shall praise you for ever. Psalm 30:11 
Hollywood Pres 2007 July 14 Saturday 630-1030p: Hi Don: I want to thank you for giving such a wonderful dance last night. The spirit behind the dance was very generous & giving.  It was one of the best dances I've attended for awhile... The variety of music was great.  The mixture of rock'n roll, disco, country & ballroom dance music was ideal.  I was pleasantly surprised & relieved that it was not mostly ballroom dance music.  And the food was perfect.... We were talking about the dance last night, I thought about a few things that may help for the next dance. I told a few friends at Shepherd how wonderful the dance was... I'm so glad I went... I also remember what a great teacher Jon Gatyas was from last May's dance.  We appreciated him giving mini-dance lessons throughout the dance. It brought back fond memories of the old Rocky Peak dances when Wiley used to give mini-lessons throughout the dances.  For the next dance, continue to have the good variety of music that you had last night, the great food & the $12 admission.  Also, Jon Gatyas was great. He had the right idea, teaching mini-lessons throughout the dance, especially for some of us who dance with 2 left feet!  Perhaps I can help you promote the next dance.  Thanks again for holding such a wonderful dance w/great fellowship! Have a blessed week!  Cathy Chang  Hi Don, it was nice seeing you at the dance and thanks so much for planning it. I believe everyone had an enjoyable time. I really enjoyed John in dance instructing. He is great and has a gentle, kind and peaceful spirit. I pray that God will bless you with your financial lost from the dance. Have a great summer. May the Lord richly bless you in all you do, Andrea

STUDIO... Email Message written from one friend to another: Dear Jean and Larry. I went to Psalm 30:11 at 4th and Atlantic in LB last night. Jon Gatyas, owner, dance instructor and travel arranger did not know of a place near where you live that he could recommend. In the meantime, I found people there last night who came from Santa Barbara, Arcadia, San Juan Capistrano, Mission Viejo, so it really is not too far to come. There is street parking-lots of light, and a parking lot across the street next door to a 7-11 and Jon has a night watchman for the cars. The dance floor (2nd story) also looks out on the parking lot providing extra security for the cars. He starts at 615pm with a class. February has been Samba. This lasts until 710 or 715pm. He keeps the group moving with mixers, heart dances, whistle dances, etc. Until people feel comfortable, there is a sort of extra dance floor if a couple decides to stay out of the mixers a time or two to store up some confidence. Jon also has lessons and activities during the week. With this note to you, I will copy him and ask him to add you his email list. I have traveled with Jon 3 times, twice on a cruise down the Mexican coast and in May, 1998 with Edward on the Queen of Holland from Amsterdam to Vienna- Rhine, Main, Danube. He rented a portable dance floor for the lounge and we danced every day and evening!! Fantastic! Love Millie

VIENNA TOUR... Dear Jon: Thank you for your letter and the enjoyable summary of our wonderful trip to Vienna.  Waltzing in Vienna was a dream come true and I enjoyed it so very much.  I want to thank you, Jon, for being a superb host and guide.  You were so attentive and helpful to all of us, and through it all you had such a positive attitude.  And of course you are a great dance partner and such fun to dance with! It was a fantastic tour with a great host and guide.  Thank you so very much Jon, for all of your efforts in making it a truly wonderful and memorable experience.  Yes, indeed, a lot was included at a bargain price.  I will certainly be traveling with your tours again and I am spreading the good news about Psalm 30:11 Tours. I want to buy one of the VHS copies.  Please let me know the cost. I'm glad you took so many good pictures, and I've made copies from your web site.  I have not as yet seen the picture you took of the ballerina and me.  If it turned out OK I'd appreciate having a copy, or just add it to your web site and I'll get it that way. I'm enclosing some pictures I took, including a few of Salzburg which I identified on the back side.  These are your copies to go with as you wish.  As yet I haven't sent any to other tour members.
Again, thank you Jon for a truly great tour!  Best regards to you, Donna Whitney



   

   


 

 


 

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