Prayer request!

Hello, everyone. Last night just before our first show, my friend Jennifer (the A/V technician) took quite a fall, and she has broken her collarbone. The doctors believe that is the only part of her that is very badly injured, but they aren’t completely sure. She’s in pretty bad shape, and I spent the morning with her and helped the nurse bring her to a doctor on shore today. I also packed all of her things, because it is certain that she’ll be going home, and staying there at least a month, hopefully returning after she’s healed. Please pray for her as she’s on her own now, and traveling with that kind of an injury can’t be fun. Also, she wasn’t planning to return home so early, so pray that everything will work out when she gets back – that she will find somewhere to stay, and that the ship’s insurance won’t be a problem. I appreciate your prayers for her healing and her spirits (possibly the worst part about this whole thing is that today is her birthday), and I am going to miss having her here. I’ll let you know when I have more news. It’s a bit scary how quickly things can change.

On a lighter note, right now we’re on our way to Istanbul again for our overnight. I’m pretty excited because this time around not only am I not on in-port manning (1/3 of the crew always have to stay on board – it’s a rotation) but we actually have the night off as a band! Usually we’re playing jazz sets or big band and can’t get off the ship until late, but tomorrow night we have off, so we’re basically free from the time we dock in Istanbul until the time we leave the following day. I’m taking a tour in the afternoon and early evening of the first day, and then I think Marie and I are going to go out and see a movie. Exciting! It will be so nice not to have to rush back to the ship.

Tonight we play for Nicola Loud again, the violinist whose show and whose personality I really like. Our rehearsal went really well, and its always nice to have likeable performers to work with. A lot of the singers can be a bit diva-ish. But not Nicola – she’s wonderful, sweet and down-to-earth. And a darn good violinist. Well, off I go!