The Blog from Prague July 14-15, 2006

After a long day of flying which began on Thursday in Pensacola, all three flights of our Music Tour Team arrived in Prague on Friday afternoon. A couple of our groups experienced minor flight delays but everyone had a safe trip and all luggage and instruments arrived by midnight Friday.

Unfortunately, Joyce Butler had to cancel just a few hours before our departure. Joyce encountered some mild health complications on Wednesday and her doctor advised against travel.

Also, the wireless internet access at our hotel is temporarily out of order. Those of us who can access a dial-up service are sending brief messages to family and friends. Many of us hope to send photos from our next hotel.

Most of the couples are staying at the Hotel Prague on the historic city square. Singles are staying at the Grand Bohemia Hotel which is only a couple of blocks from the historic city square. The area around the square could be compared to the French Quarter of New Orleans.

After an early breakfast we departed for a guided City Tour. Prague is a city of 1.3 million residents, a majority of whom are extremely friendly and welcoming. All of us are amazed at the detailed architectural designs and the lively artistic culture of Prague. After years of military occupation, Prague is re-emerging as a cultural community that thrives on art, music, drama, and philosophy.

The focal point of our morning tour was Prague Castle and the St. Vitus Cathedral. Our tour guides were mostly history majors who were informative and engaging as they narrated our tour in articulate English.

As we were departing the courtyard at Prague Castle, Avery Morrison tripped and fell downhill, banging face first against a concrete wall, then falling hard to the ground. Paramedics were summoned to take her to a local hospital. She had a small laceration to the forehead and a broken arm. X-rays revealed a clean but complete fracture between her left elbow and shoulder. After consulting with an orthopedic surgeon here, the Morrisons opted to proceed with surgery. Avery was out of surgery and in recovery by 7 this evening. Dr. Andy White and I have just returned from visiting Avery. She is in good spirits and feels she has received excellent treatment and hospitality from the local hospital. Doctors want her to stay 3-4 days but she is hoping to be discharged by Monday evening.

This afternoon we presented our first concert. We sang at the Historic St. Nicholas Church, one of the oldest Protestant churches in Prague. Because of the church's strategic location on the historic city square, St. Nicholas Church host daily concerts. The church was closed during the German and Soviet occupation, at one time even used as a horse stable. But in recent years, the church has grown to 400 members and has been re-established as a center for Christian Social Ministry. After our concert, the pastor at St. Nicholas continued to express gratitude for our visit describing our concert as "the best concert ever hosted by St. Nicholas." Although we did not charge admission, our concert was advertised as having "voluntary entrance fee." A few thousand "crowns" were received which will help fund the ministry of the church.

Tomorrow is one of our busiest days. We will worship and sing at First Baptist Church in Prague tomorrow morning and then return to FBC for a full concert tomorrow evening. I am looking forward to sharing the sermon during the service tomorrow. The pastor's daughter will translate for me.

Our touring group is like one big family. Deeper friendships are emerging and everyone on the trip seems to sense the awesome opportunity we have to share the good news in song even as we learn more about the Czech Republic.