The National Stadium, Kigali, Rwanda.

In 1994 one of the worlds biggest atrocities took place in the nation of Rwanda a small country nestled in the centre of Africa. In a period of 100 days a million innocent people were brutally murdered by
their own countrymen. Husbands murdered their own wives and children saw their own parents shot before their own eyes. What's compelling about this genocide is that it didn't happen in the dark ages, it was 1994, the year Anna and I married, the time that our cutting
edge youth events were exploding, the year our futures were unfolding.

The Belgian colonisation was responsible for dividing one people group into two, the Tutsis and the Hutus, the former being given economic power creating huge tensions between the two, so much so that the Hutus who made up 90% of the population plotted to retaliate and wipe out all Tutsis.

Along comes Mark Zschech husband of Darlene and has an idea to have a huge initiative called 'Hope:Rwanda 100 days of hope' to in some way replace the this period of darkness.

We were guests at a 3 day event in the national stadium at Kilgali which was organised by the American preacher Joyce Meyer. Stu and I went on our own this time just to fit in with the band there. The stadium was electric every night with about 20 to 30000 locals rocking to Majesty and other d tunes. It was an honour to be part of the Joyce Meyer team who are an amazing bunch of people.

This event was part of hundreds of events happening all around Rwanda over 100 days from building houses to taking bibles into prisons to training doctors to housing orphans.

It was an incredible time for us and fantastic to meet the African people who we fell in love with. Next time well go back ready for business with the whole band. It heightened the fact again of how man can be evil to each other but in the end good does prevail because deep in the hearts of people we are made to want good not evil. This makes me realise that there is a God and in Rwanda I could see again that this great God is alive and lives in the hearts of many broken but joyous people.

See you again soon

Martin Smith



photograph © martin smith

Hammersmith Apollo, London.

The day began at 6am, I was racing the first Triathlon race of the season at Steyning in West Sussex, not far from where we all live. 9am and I was in the water, by 9:55:36 I was trying to warm in the van on the why back to church. A good start to the day, 3rd place overall.

As the governor of California once said, 'I will be back', today was to be my return to the throne or lowly drum stool anyway. As the boys and girls have all been touring America I have been at home with my girls, it was a great time chilling as a family but at the same time as many of you will know it was to be my first gig that I have ever missed in 14 years! It felt very strange I can tell you.

We have played the Apollo a few times before and today was a packed out crowd gathered for 'Mission London'. KT church in London put on a fine evening offering people the chance to find the 'Big Man' for themselves. Its such a privilege to serve people like Colin Dye who have given so much to the church in the UK and around the world over the last 10-15 years, thank you. Sometimes a small break gives you the chance to really see things from the other side of the fence, I can tell you, I'm sure glad to be back on board the Delirious? bus trucking around the globe bringing hope to a few thousand people by playing a few good tunes.

Thanks for having me back.

photography © tom redman

Toronto Airport Christian Fellowship, Toronto, ON.

Toronto Airport Christian  Fellowship, place of revival since 1994 hosting Fresh Wind 2006 and thousands of youth all crowded together, waiting with anticipation as Delirious gets ready.  All of a sudden a huge roar of cheers broke out as they took the stage.  They took us into an amazing place of worship where the Holy  Spirit completely showed up powerfully.  After a conference of awesome  praise, shouting, jumping, dancing, intense worship and passionate speaking,  the entire auditorium erupted into Holy Spirit Fire Tunnels!  Delirious  started jamming away and just continued to bring Glory to Jesus Christ and Holy Spirit came in greater measure.  Youth went wild to the sounds of Delirious jamming and to Holy Spirit touching and changing their lives. It was  awesome!

Duncan and Kate Smith

9.30am : woke up a little late, breakfast was meant to be at 9.00am and we were leaving for niagra falls at 10.00am ate quickly.

11.00am : having underestimated the time it takes to get 15 kids ready we left! I think the unspoken rule is to set a time an hour earlier than needed and hopefully everyone will be there! as a childless adult this tour has been quite an education for me.

12.00pm : arrived at the state park and was shown round by a lovely chap named Alan. We saw the American Falls and the Horse Shoe Falls, on foot and
then on the Maid of the Mist got a lot wetter than I thought I would. Niagra Falls Fact: 16 people have tried to go over the Horse shoe falls in a barrel and only nine of them survived.

4.00 pm : got back in time for the end of Tree 63's sound check, they invited me to jam with them we played Europe's " the Final Countdown " until the delirious boys were ready to check.

5.00pm : had dinner

6.45pm : had to do a meet and greet, I feel my social skills improving but still had a few awkward moments!

8.00pm : backstage got ready, prayed and warmed up.

9.00pm : Gig. Really warm reception, less nervous than I was at the beginning of the tour, still a few moments of what are we gonna do now? Look
at Jon and he shrugs his shoulders and smiles. Its been a real honor to fill in for Stew and learn his parts, and get to see what the guys do around the
world. I Still remember watching them play in a school hall in Littlehampton. But thousands of miles in a different continent there is still the same feeling and spirit of back then.

During the tour in the middle of "Did you feel?" the Delirious Wives and Kids come onstage and dance with us. Being Tree63's last gig supporting they decide to come onstage too dressed as children and sporting the South African flag.

11.00pm : signing. spent most of the time trying to avoid Jon drawing on me. said our goodbyes to the Tree63 boys. showered and got on the bus.

2.30am : got to sleep after staying up for border crossing to Canada, the one night everyone wanted to sleep we had to stay up!



photography © Tom Redman

I am Rosie Jupp, age 11 and my dad is Tim Jupp in Delirious! This is my day in the amazing Washington DC! capital city of America. Here's what I got up to:

We woke up from a good night sleep on the bus and were at a new venue. We then went in and had a lovely breakfast. I had a chocolate croissant! Then me and my family set off to Washington! It was about 30-40 min drive! When we got there we had a great tour around Capitol Hill .Then dad went off to a meeting with some chiefs of staff and senators whilst the rest of us went and had McDonalds for lunch as that was the only eating place we could find! Then we went to a Natural History Museum and saw some fantastic animals and looked around. Then we got a yummy ice-cream! Dad then met us 2 hours later near the Washington Monument which was huge and looked like a big pencil! Then we met the driver to go back to the venue, on our way back we stopped and saw the unbelievable White House! It was stupendous! Once we had got back to the venue we had showers and got all fresh! Then we all met up with the other families and sat down and did our diaries while the dads were doing the sound check. Next we had dinner which was nice and played around. We usually would go on stage but tonight was too late so instead we snuggled up in our bunks on the bus and watched Narnia. I then fell asleep and that was the end of our amazing day in Washington!

Nathan Goff Armory, Clarksburg WV.

Hi there, my name is Jeremy Limpic and this week I'm the 'Merch Guy' for a couple days while Paul Smith rests his poor soul in england.  Selling t-shirts is such tough work people don't last long around here.  I'll be lucky if i make it a few more days.  Well what can I say?  We rolled into Clarksburg and the show was held at the "Armory".  Now I didn't know exactly what an "Armory" was before this day, but I can testify that the armory lived up to everything I could ever have hoped it would be, and more...    There were military tanks out front, as well as dozens of other motorized vehicles, all painted camouflage.  Camouflage trucks, camouflage bulldozers, camouflage lawn mowers.  You name it, they had it, in sweet camouflage.  And to top it off,  National Guardsmen were there, live in uniform.  you guessed it, camouflage!  Apparently an Armory is a storehouse for military stuff?  I still don't totally know but I'm sure someone out there can help me out with that.
 
Anyway, we unloaded all our stuff and I was able to meet a guy from Zimbabue.  His name is Albert and he's only been in the US for three months.  He helped me setting up all the merch, and I have to say, he is another one of my heros.    This kid's got a heart of gold.  He likes hip hop and soccer and has a twin brother who also lives in West Virginia. Their dad is sacrificing so that they can go to college here, very touching.  I hope to see him again some day.  Plus he's very tall so it's great to set up banners and things up high when he's around because he doesn't even need to stand on a chair.
 
On a more serious note, I had an emotional moment at this concert.  Normally 'Merch Guys' are confined to dismal poorly lit foyer areas, where people only walk in when they're coming, going, or searching for a bathroom.  But not with Delirious.  We roll in style.  So we set up in the back of the concert hall.  During the show, they brought out their family, who are with them for this part of the tour (and let me tell you it's a big family, as other people might have touched on - Littlehampton = fertility).  As their families danced on the stage with them, I choked back tears because of the beauty of what I was seeing.  For me it's so refreshing to see whole families in something together:  fathers, mothers, and kids.  They were just jumping around, and in a strange way, it was healing for me.
 
We had a great teardown and were able to get everything back on the buses fairly quickly.  I asked the National Guardsmen present to 'perform their duty to the country' and help me carry my merch bins but I don't think they thought it was as funny as I did.  You know those jokes that are funny at the time but later on probably aren't all that?  Ya.  As we were carrying things out we didn't even see much of the huge bat that had been terrorizing Jon while he played bass during the Delirious set.  Albert, Men and Women of Clarksburg, and the Guardsmen of the Armory, we'll hopefully see you sometime again!  And thanks for a wonderful day.

Ford Field, Detroit, MI.

Today I woke up and it was pooring down wih rain. Tim made everyone on are bus cream cheese bagels they were so yummy! Tonight we were staying in a hotel for the night so went to get some cases for the time. The Garrard's, the thatchers, the Jupp's and us and Missy got on a mini bus and we drove to the Marriott hotel but before then when we were driving we ended up in Canada. We didn't realise how close Canada and America was then some cops kame on the bus and we had to show are passports and are visa it was horrible the worst thing ever. The driver got completely lost. Eventully we got there Ian had are room keys all ready for us. My family and the Garrards were on the same floor as us. They were beautiful rooms as we got in the room we all sat on the sofa ad watched t.v. Me and dad got some lunch we went to a shop and I picked out the fruit for me and mummy like pinapple, melon, grape's and water melon. Then we all sat down and ate it all of the food it was yummy! After that dad had to go out for sound check and I did a bit of my diarie. After that everyone went swimming it was really fun! There was a big lovely hot tub which was boiling. Then I had a bath and me and my dad went to the gig I was with Karen, Eden, Rosie, Harry, Milly, Poppy, Becca and Missy. Before the dads were on there were break dancers they were amazing girls and boys were spinning on their heads. After that we had a toilet run. Then the dads were on we were dancing like mad! After me, Eden, Rosie, Harry, Milly, Poppy and Missy hid in the closet it was really dark. After that we all went back to the hotel and had dinner in the restraunt. I sat with all of the kids we had fun the dinner was yummy! Then we all went up to our rooms and I was so tierd. It was helerious then I went to sleep in the comfy bed in the hotel.

Saturday 8th April

I woke up about 8.30am then went for breakfast with the others. After that we looked at big super cars that were wicked! Then we went for a walk down the river but it was really cold! Afterwards we got in a van and went to a gig this gig was in miday. We went on stage it was great the gig was at a football stadiam we were in a suiet it was beatiful we had our own seats. Then all of us went on a monaraile its a train that travelled to Greek town. We went to have lunch in Pegase it was lovely then we went back on the train and we had a little ride. After we got ready to go swimming and there were lots of teenagers there as well. After that we came back to our rooms and had a bath then my mum went to go and get some pudding so Eden looked after us for a bit daddy was not there because he was doing a gig. Then we did our diaries. We got all packed up and ready to get on the bus's. When we got on the bus's we went to sleep it was nice to be on the bus again!

The Vineyard Community Church, Cincinnati, OH.

6:45 a.m., baby crying in bunk beneath me. Quick jump out of bunk, feed Jackson (name of crying baby) careful not to wake rest of bus (especially Ian Cattle). Baby decides not to go back to bed. Carry him into front lounge. I can't fully open my eyes. Where are we? What state? Remember that we traveled through a time zone over night and so i've lost and hour. Rats! Its actually 7:45. Try to wake up Jon to switch with me and stay up with Jackson so I can have an extra hour of sleep as I've been awake most of the night. Jon's reply, "Of Course Honey". I wait patiently, tapping fingers in front Lounge as Jon falls soundly back to sleep in his bunk. Grit teeth. 8:15 all my children are up. 8:30 Jon is up. 8:31 Jon apologizes. Untangle kids hair, change nappy's, youngest girl wets herself. Perfect Timing! Teeth brushed, Shoes on, Down steep bus stairs. Into venue for breakfast. First mission accomplished, breakfast on time and relax.

Kids everywhere! Cereal Spills, Leftover eggs, American Grape Juice. Kids move to a nearby park. It starts drizzling. Kids don't care or even notice. Take time and sort my bus world out. Flip flops, dirty wash, baby formula, cameras, swimsuits, bottles, shampoo, CD's, suitcases. Sorted.

Youngest daughter wets herself again. Wonderful! 2:00 leave venue, pile into mini vans. Only a five minute drive to the hotel. Fantastic! Lost Driver. 50 minutes to hotel. Ugh! Pray for patience.

3:00 .....Shut hotel room door. Ah some space. My perfect, angelic husband takes girls swimming as i have an hour to shower. What a difference an hour makes. Make up on, hair clean, fresh clothes. Back into mini vans, make sure driver knows exactly how to get back to venue before we even step foot into the van. There are two mini vans, ours happens to contain 10 out of the 14 kids that are on tour with us. How does that happen?? Jackson is sick. Frantically find wipes. Martin does a 15 minute live radio interview on a cell phone with 10 kids under the age of 8 in our mini van. Complete success!! All kids perfectly behaved. How does that happen?

Dinner. Amazing. Love pesto. Feel revived! Children do daily tour diaries and consistently bug our tour roadies, manger and Tree63 boys. Poor men. Mothers eat and pretend not to notice.

Gig begins. Few songs in . Kids wait to go on stage. Over hyper, under sized, onto stage. They dance in the river and love the attention. Kids back to bus. PJ's on, bottles drunk, cereal eaten (and of course spilled again), snuggled in. And they are asleep .

Karen (Stu g's wife) offers to watch my kids as i sneak into back of the gig. I forget my pass once again and have to explain to security that I'm the "bass players wife" which is highly embarrassing. "Note to self......bring pass tomorrow".

And then it happens. All by myself, I creep into the gig and for 15 minutes my world comes into focus. Lights amazing, crowd amazing, sound amazing. For 15 minutes, I understand why I stay home 5 months out of the year by myself. I understand why I spend most of my birthdays, anniversary's, children's birthdays and sunday mornings by myself. Why sometimes I feel like a single mom.

What can I say? The only way to explain it is that I still feel that "thing" when the boys play. That "thing" that makes it worthwhile. Is it anointing? blessing? Who knows? What ever it is, it just makes me realize that its completely worth all the work. All the long distance phone calls, all the "when is daddy coming home's", all the adjustments, all the jet lag. I walk back to my bus smiling. Happy to deal with the early mornings, the lonely nights, the chocolate milk on white shirt stains as long as necessary. Just to see what God decides to do at the gig tomorrow night!

photography © tom redman

Riverside Community Church, Peoria, Illinois. 

So we wanted to do the tour diaries different. As the guys from Delirious love to do things as families, we wanted to write this from a family's perspective.

Teresa:    Every time Delirious (and their wives and children) come to our church I feel honored. This is not because of their fame, but because of their friendships. I can honestly say that I have never met such sincere and caring people as they are.   Through the conversations, the laughter, and yes, the music, you feel God present in their lives.   I loved spending time with all the wives and children and seeing how close this extended family is.   I was grateful for a beautiful sunny day and being able to have them over for tea in our back garden.   But, what I loved the most is seeing Andy having the time of his life and enjoying being around his English friends. It has been 10 years since he's been back to his home land and I know that he absolutely cherishes all the memories he's making with these guys. He knows that he can not only turn to these guys in hard times, but can also go to them and have a great laugh, and believe me; the British know how to laugh. So, in closing I would like to thank each of them for once again being true to who they really are, and for all the great memories.  

Ethan Age 7:   I loved riding on the dream center bus to my house with Delirious and there families and playing with everyone in my house and back yard. I also loved meeting up with my friends again, Harry and Noah. Drumming in the youth room with them was fantastic.

Clay Age 5: I enjoyed playing with the 2 foot wide football (soccer ball) having ice cream at the ice shack and playing in the park with all the kids from England.

Joy Age 15 months: She enjoyed running off with the little kids sweets from the gift bags.

Andy:

So as you can see we packed a lot into the day.   But it was time for the guys to hit the stage.   Tree63 did an amazing job in getting the crowd into worship and it was great to make new friends with John and the guys from Tree63. As Delirious walked on the stage, the 1200 people there jumped on board with them for an amazing ride. As Delirious were here in Peoria doing what they do best, in Nashville, it was announced that they had been awarded a Dove award for there involvement on the "Narnia" cd project.

There were so many great moments in the concert tonight. From all the new songs like Solid rock(loved the mega phone), Miracle Maker and Our God Reigns, to the pure classics like Mountains, Majesty, and a very personal History maker which included Martin leading the crowd into a full on prayer time for several minutes for   Dream Center Peoria (www.dreamcenterpeoria.org) which I am privileged to head up. Dream Center Peoria is what Mission bell is all about, taking the church out into the community and affecting our world. Thanks guys for seeing the vision and ringing the bell. The evening ended way too quickly but it was again an amazing evening to remember at Riverside. To top it all I will never forget just sitting in the tour bus, till midnight, with the Jupps and smiths (martin side) and just chatting and laughing (a lot) about life. I love these guys not just for there music but for what they are off stage. It's an honor to call the delirious families our friends.



photography © tom redman