8-23-2001

1:15 PM

Billy and I just came back from being with Pastor Flemings and looking at the site of our "first" concert. While we were out, he took us to his church compound property where there is a children’s Day Camp going on. During the week, they will minister to over 1,200 kids, teaching them about the principles and Gospel basics. He had us stop and go out to a class that was seated on the ground and we took our picture with them. It is amazing, such a reverse fishbowl, in that we are the ones on view, though it seems like we are viewing them. The children are so beautiful, their faces untouched by Western facades and purposes. What you see is what you get, and they smile and wave genuinely. America, take some notes.
The field we will be playing on is dirt and dust, the size of a football field, in the middle of one of the town’s compound townships. We did not prepare for our gigs to be outdoors…no canopy for stage or mix position…power being wired and connected at each site, dust and wind becoming a factor in the use and condition of our instruments and our voices…so much smoke and dust…the breeze is good to get rid of the smoke, but it introduces the dust factor.

Also, there is an assumption here that the opening bands and choirs can use our instruments, which we have, of course, balked at from the start. Problem is, do we not then come across as saying “you are not good enough to touch or use our instruments” but the rented system you can use. We have not come here to make that kind of statement and we must guard against it, but at the price of our guitars…? Maybe these instruments belong more to God than they do to us…? What is the difference of us going to orphanages and townships where disease is prevalent and trusting God to keep us from harm, can we not also trust he will protect our instruments too? I guess I just got my answer. I wonder if Billy, Rich, Matt and Travis will see it the same or similarly…I know that Billy does, we've talked about it.


It puts “Let go, Let God” in a completely different light than I have ever known.

Pray that we will stay safe.