We’re rolling on down to Texas over the next month. We’ll have two new friends riding the bus with us.
Rhys Duursma, whom we met while visiting God Squad in Glenrowan, Vic, AUST. He’s the son of our host family and drummer in the rock and roll band, The Quick and The Dead. During our short time with them, we found a commonality in our faith and music. Rhys is a contemplative and thoughtful person with a great sense of humor. He began to dialogue with us about coming on board for a time back in April. The timing worked out and he’ll be riding with us from Chicago through to Austin.
Sylvia Christensen is a native of Green Bay, WI and a starting her second year at UWGB. We’ve known Sylvia and her family for the last ten years and have watched her blossom into a beautiful woman. She’s gifted in music, compassion and has a deep desire to use her gifts and talents to impact others. Last summer when Sylvia was contemplating what to do with her future, we offered her an open door to ride and learn with us. This summer the timing worked out and she’ll be on board from Chicago through to Hot Springs, AR.
Our itinerary is as follows:
Aug 13 Milwaukee WI, Benefit concert for dear friends who are adopting a child
Aug 15 Waukegon Public Library concert Waukegon, IL
Aug 16 We pick up Rhys at Chicago O’hare, who will be riding with us through to Austin, TX
Aug 17 Music at Risen Savior, and later that afternoon Sylvia Christianson for her two weeks on the bus)
Aug 18 Indy, IN (visit with dear friends)
Aug 19 Lexington, KY Listening Session hosted by the Wayfaring Family. (We met Annie through Twitter. She and her family traveled the world for one year, and she writes a travel blog about their time on the road. It will be our first time meeting them in person) Also connecting with Sean Gladding and the rest of the Communality kinfolk.
Aug 20-22 Nashville, TN, connecting with new and old muso friends
Aug 23 Travel day, possible stop to visit the Hedlund family.
Aug 24-29 Coffeyville, KS, Humanities program with Coffeyville Community College, workshop on Australian Bush Songs. Super excited about this as Rhys is from the same town as one of Australia’s best known outlaws, Ned Kelly. (Coffeyville is where the Dalton gang was taken down.)
Aug 30-Sept 1 Hot Springs, AR Connecting with the Rogers family, like-minded kinfolk who we met through a music festival called Cornerstone. House concert on the 30th.
Sept 2 Monroe, LA Meeting for the first time, share a meal with staff and parking with New Life Community Church
Sept 3-5 Lake Pontchartrain, New Orleans, LA. (a few days of rest and exploration)
Sept 6-8 Lafayette, LA House concert, Stoked to visit with our former bus rider, Chaz Jones and his Masters Commission community.
Sept 9 Arriving in Austin TX and setting up life for a four-month stay. After three years full time on the road we are looking forward to this extended stay. We are hoping to use our time connecting with friends from past stop overs, and our main desire is to create and record a third album. On a side note, we are hoping to finish off some of our bus conversion, namely our bathroom shower and hot water heater.
So far 2014 has been an intense year, touring Australia, a two month trek across the country with fellow travelers, Greg and Jeffery, working at camp all summer long and now a one month trip down to Austin, TX. We have experienced the lows and highs of life, seen hope in the midst of hard times, met some of the most inspiring folks along the way, and found that through it all, as each day comes, we have just what we need, when we need it, sometimes to share and sometimes just for ourselves.
As we go into the mystery of the rest of this year, we would be so delighted if you would consider partnering with us. Your help on this leg of the journey would be affirming and appreciated. You can do so through our Modern Day Missions Fund.
Tillers & Travelers 