Lempafest!!

So this last week I was able to play my first music festival!!   Playing alongside some pretty amazing bands like Nuteki, MyradiantU, and Garbanotas Basistos was an honor in itself, and most everybody who listened liked and were impressed by my professionalism, stage manner, and songs.  Whoa! 

One of my friends from youth group was one of the main organizers, so I got there early to help out, and we built a beach!   It was one of the most difficult and fun things I've ever done. 

The kiddies had a great time

I also took a bunch of pictures, which I guess I will share with you:

English lady with the pipes

Martynas dancing it up

 

Jonas and I goofing off

Karolina and I played a Jon Foreman cover during the talent show.

Zipline

Part of my set

Lithuanian Group Sisters on Wire (They sing in English)

My faves were Latvian Group MyRadiantU (Also English)

Since the festival went through to Sunday, we decided to get together and have "church" in one of the tents on Sunday morning.  It was really fun putting people on the spot to pray, share, and read.  It was less fun being put on the spot to co-lead worship in Lithuanian, cuz I don't know very many Lithuanian worship songs, but that was kinda the first time I'd done it in a way I could be a little proud of, so that was exciting.    Lina shared her pretty awesome testimony of a pretty rough life as a young teen to being touched and transformed by God. 

My friend Alex with his group 4Given

Sunday my friends from the bands Sparrows and 4Given also played.  They didn't have the big flashy lights like the other bands, but they totally killed it and had two of the most fun sets both of which had us all dancing like crazy people. 

They also put me in charge-ish of the open mic at the end of the festival...most of the people were gone, but we got a bunch of people up to sing.  :)   And I got to sing a couple more of my own songs and covers.
And then it was over, but right as I wrapped up, this guy comes up to me, starts talking to me in Russian, and says I need to meet some people associated with the radio station...

So two days later they put me on for two hours, and I was able to share my testimony, my thoughts on songwriting, calling and Lithuania, and four of my songs.  It was somewhat surreal (and perhaps ironic) to have the director of Lithuania's biggest Christian radio station asking me advice on how to raise support...I told him about George Müller and to pray.  *shrug*

Me reading "Blue Earth"

All in all, the festival was really inspiring.  I saw people I knew putting together an amazing event and thought to myself:  hmm, I could do this.  I also was challenged to be more professional musically and in photography.  I also had a bunch of really good conversations with friends new and old.  So all in all, Lempafest was amazing, and I've already been invited to come back next year!