COUNTRY TRAIL BAND IN THE CZECH REPUBLIC

by Mila Markova

What a weekend (June 9-11, 2006)!

Some five years ago I heard Country Trail Band for the first time and I fell in love with their expression of love to the Lord through country music. Then I just wished my church could listen and enjoy it as well.

In the meantime the Lord led our family through sort of difficult circumstances. Three years ago I was diagnosed with cancer and had to go through drastic surgery, chemo therapy and radiation. Very soon after this treatment was finished my husband was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease and because he is comparatively young for this illness (58) it is developing rapidly. Music has always brought me great comfort and listening to Country Trail Band CDs played an indispensable role in my life; it brought me a lot of encouragement and joy.

Last year we went for a vacation together with my friend and her husband and I took some CDs to listen in the car. We enjoyed it very much and talked about inviting the band to our area. After some planning we really invited the Country Trail Band to have concerts in the North-East part of the Czech Republic . Three local churches cooperated on this event and tried to prepare everything for the group and concert visitors. During the weekend of 9-11 June, 2006, three concerts really took place.

I personally could be present at the first concert on Friday and it was an incredible joy. My friend's husband is a very self controlled man - and in the evening after the concert he said that he enjoyed listening to the songs with clapping his hands in great freedom for the first time in his life. I also was deeply touched and cried through 4 songs. People who seemed a little stiff to me in the beginning really enjoyed it very much. In the end of the concert the whole church rejoiced.

I could not be present on the second concert, but I could spend a day with the group. I really felt part of the day and I appreciate relationships individual members of the band have among themselves. So free, relaxed, with love and much joy and fun!

On Sunday morning we had the Band in our church. The concert was part of the Sunday service. While listening to the songs, all of a sudden I felt overwhelmed with the Lord's goodness to me. It was so strong that I hardly could take it in. The Lord gives me so much joy and is with me in spite of the difficult situation. He even made my dream come true - I could share with my beloved church all the joy of Country Trail Band 's music! What a miracle! It was like a tender touch of my Lord and His assurance that He is with me in everything, that He loves me and enjoys showing me His power and love.

After the service people kept coming to me and expressed their joy and gratefulness. They also are very interested to get the translation of the lyrics, so we are working on it and want to make it available to people as soon as possible.

In spite of the fact I have not fully recovered from my cancer treatment yet - I am still sort of weak - I was energized by this weekend and I am not tired at all. I am very thankful to the Lord and to Country Trail Band for such a wonderful weekend. We appreciate their sacrifice they made by taking such a long drive just to bring joy to us. Thank you Country Trail Band.