Arriving in Istanbul has definitely changed for me. The first time I showed up here, I was full
of wonder and suspicion. My eyes were
huge as I tried to take everything in.
My curiosity was overwhelming. I
also had some fear of the unknown. Over
the next few trips my suspicion and fear subsided. My wonder remained. In preparing to return I got excited, like a
kid on Christmas morning. I couldn't
sleep well before the flight. Every new experience
was like a gift to unwrap. But now...
now the experience is like walking into a different room in my own house. It's still home, but it's just
different.
I arrived on Friday, got settled in a picked up a few
things, like
cookies, that I needed to get back into the house when I return to
New York. Saturday was a little more of
the same until the band showed up. This
tour is with a band called "
No Longer Music." I've heard about them because they come to
Turkey quite often, but this is my first chance to work with them. I've used a few different term to try to
describe what kind of music they perform, but until I hear more of it over the
next 9 days I can't really describe it well.
It's edgy, intense and comes with quite a stage show. It's been good
getting to know them.
Our first concert was scheduled to be here in Istanbul, but
as with all things in Turkey it wasn't definite. Since Sunday was election day, getting
permission to do a large event was difficult.
Sometimes riots break out. The
people here are actively passionate about politics in a way Americans can only
dream about. As of Half an hour
ago our concert is back on after having
been cancelled. This is a result of
perseverance and prayer, lots of prayer.
So we're about to go into our first concert with a band of
people I don't know well, and a bunch of gear that the band doesn't know
well. A lot is going to depend on grace,
patience and professionalism, and everything is going to depend on God.
