Date: 05 November 1996
To: RichMailList
Subject: [RichMailList 93]: West Palm Beach, FL 11/1 review

From: Lara Schroeder
Date: Sun, 3 Nov 1996 20:13:16
Subject: West Palm Beach, FL, 11/1/96 concert

Hello everyone,

Well, the WPB concert was very much like the Gainesville concert.  Rich
walked in from the side of the sanctuary, and it seemed like no one even
realized it was him when he walked on stage!!  

He started the concerts as he has others, telling us that since the teaching
job had fallen through he was just "hanging out" on the reservation, and he
was going to have class with US instead, and proceeded to give us his
"History of Christian Music." We sang the same choruses, and the set they
played was nearly identical to the other concerts.  We did get to hear "Jesus
Loves Me" on the hammered dulcimer, which was cool. 

He told the first part of the "sweater story" but didn't tell the last part
at the end of the concert!  (My sister thought he was crazy until I completed
the rest of the story for her).  I had spoken with one of the staff before
the concert and they mentioned that Rich and Mitch were really pressed for
time that night, so maybe being pressed for time he forgot. Rich also seemed
a little tired after a long week of touring in several states. They cut out a
few songs they had done in Gainesville, including two by Mitch (even the
lemonade song!!), I guess to cut down on time a little.  But the concert was
still about 2 hours long, and was such a blessing.

One funny story:  They had played a concert halloween night and said they
were trying to think of any "halloween" songs they could sing.  Instead they
started thinking about really scary movies (because Rich LOVES to be scared,
and is even scared of the dark because his "...deeds are evil..."), and the
last scary movie he could remember seeing was JFK.  Not because it was so
scary, but because that was something that happened in REAL life, not like
the "scary" horror movies out there.  He did tell us about going to see The
Exorcist many years ago, because everyone thought it would be cool to be
possessed!!!  He said that if that was what being possessed was, then he
didn't want any part of it!  He said something like "...the girl's head was
spinning around and she was spewing pea soup," but he was used to that from
growing up with his sisters!!!!  (My sister wasn't too thrilled with that
statement!!)

Mitch came out before the concert to set up the dulcimer,and I had a chance
to talk to him for a couple of minutes.  Out of all the concerts they've done
in the past week and out of all the people they've talked to, he remembered
speaking to my friend and I the week before in Gainesville!  (I was
impressed!) I asked if he or Rich were ever on the net or if they were aware
of our mailing list, and he kind of laughed and said, "Neither Rich or I even
know how to turn a computer on!!" I told him we kept up with concert dates,
what they were doing, etc. and that we were praying for them in their
ministry.

Anyway, the concert was wonderful and as I said, was a great blessing (silly
horror movie stories aside).  My sister wasn't really "into" Rich before the
concert, but I think she is now!  : )  She was impressed how he spoke his
heart and his mind, regardless of whether it might "offend" someone.

I look forward to seeing Rich again in April when he plays in nearby
Kissimmee (where I won't have to drive 2 or 3 hours!!), and in the meantime
look forward to reading about the other concerts you all have attended.

God bless, everyone!!

 - Lara Schroeder
   Altamonte Springs, FL