Yesterday was the much anticipated Delirous? concert. We have been looking forward to this for months. We bought tickets a few months ago, 2 for us and 2 for Ieva & Andis (Ieva’s birthday present). Yesterday was the big day. We left Talsi around 2pm. I ended up driving, which always makes me nervous. Chris is on crutches… go figure. (Long story, nothing broken, but if things aren’t a LOT better on Monday, he’s going to the doctor.) It’s kinda hard to drive a stick-shift car like that. Anyway, so off we went. After a quick & early dinner in Old Town Riga, Chris was off to a meeting and Andis, Ieva & I went window shopping & walking around Riga. It is actually a pretty city. I mean, it doesn’t come close to the charm of Prague, the history of Vienna or the size of London, but it is nice.

After we met back up with Chris we attempted to find the concert. It was at a place that a few had been to before but no one knew where it was really or how to get there. I was kinda concerned as it was set to start at 8pm and we finally got there at about 5 minutes till. We found some decent seats and prepared ourselves. Then the announcement came… The band was set to fly in from Ukraine that afternoon (on the one flight between Kiev & Riga for the day). I still haven’t heard the whole story but something happened and either the flight was cancelled or delayed, but they did finally get to Riga, 3 hours late… at around 8pm. Hmmm…. So what do you do? You wait! No big deal. The concert finally started at 10pm. I felt bad for the band having to do final set up and sound checks in front of the anxious audience, but it all went ok. Once it began, the nearly 2 hour concert felt like a mere 20 minutes long, not because they rushed or anything, but because Delirious, at their heart, is a worship band, and the concert was just that… a huge worship service. I left feeling like I’d been to church for the first time in so long, and felt so refreshed and alive. It was amazing. It wasn’t the lights or the effects or any of the stage stuff, but that everyone there was ready and willing to worship Jesus. Wow.

We had arranged to stay with at Dave’s apartment in Jurmala that night. (Also a YWAMer from Canada.) He gave us keys because (darn) he had to help the band tear down and pack up. I kinda know, but I’m not totally sure how YWAM got so involved in this concert… from picking the band up & taking them back to the airport, being their “cultural bridge”, setting up & tearing down the stage, taking the tickets at the door, and more. It was actually pretty cool.

We had planned to go to the beach this morning before we came home. Since none of us went to bed until 2am & when we got up it was maybe in the mid-70’s, we decided to just pack up this afternoon and head home.

Ieva’s the only one who’s well right now. In addition to Chris’ leg injury, I’ve got a cough I just can’t shake. I feel like I’m ripping my throat apart every time I cough, which is very often. Maybe I’ll get an appointment with Chris on Monday. Andis has a sore throat, too, but I haven’t heard him coughing so much… he just can’t really sing. Not good since the band is playing in church tomorrow morning. Chris can’t walk, Andis can’t sing, Peteris is still in the US, Agnese had a sore throat but hopefully she’s better now. Go Ieva!!!