February 6, 2008 (update)

Greetings from central Illinois; 

A warm welcome to our website for those who are visiting for the first time, as we are presently making many new contacts in the central Illinois area.  We look forward to a long-lasting musical friendship with those whom we are now just meeting through Salty Strings music.  We'd also like to say "hello" to our many friends we left behind in California, especially to those at Rim of the World Community Church, who we miss very much. 

It's good to be back in the Midwest and at "home" in John's parents house while they are wintering in Florida.  We will be staying here a few months until we can get our house in Running Springs sold or rented.  We have tentatively accepted a position as Music and Worship Leaders at Crestview Christian Church in Decatur, IL pending final approval by their Board of Elders.  We feel we can fill a definite need in this church, and the position has potential to grow in the future.  We're in the process of looking for "day jobs" that will help us complete our move, get our things out of storage, and be closer to the church (now a 2.5 hour drive each way, 1-2 times a week). 

We have made contact with numerous care facilities and have our first program scheduled for Feb. 14 at an assisted living facility near Springfield, IL.  It is very encouraging to us to have such a positive response from a large percentage of our new contacts.  We have talked with a couple of Activity Directors who have offered to take our brochures to their monthly meetings and help us "spread the word."  This is a refreshing change from the lack of response to our inquiries in California.  Our next step is to contact local Chamber of Commerce and community organizations to try to get "bookings" at public events.  Crestview church is also very committed to supporting our music ministry by getting the word out to other churches in Pastoral meetings and hosting public concerts.

Please pray for our house in California to sell quickly so we may be freed up and able to move forward  with our music ministries without financial pressures.  We're hoping in the months ahead that we can find a new and permanent home near our new church and also that we may be indeed an "answer to prayer" to them as we come to know new friends and grow in our ministry together.  Please feel free to contact us through the link on this page - we'd love to hear from you!

Thanks to God for the blessings He's already shown us, for all our old and new friends on our journey, and for the miracles to come!

John and Connie ~ "Salty Strings"

November 27, 2007

Greetings to all our friends and family - especially to those back in Illinois and Wisconsin - we miss you very much.  It's been awhile since we have updated this page, and much has happened in the last eight months.  We are done with our apartment except for a little bit of trim, and hope to be renting it out soon.  Even then we won't have the income to make ends meet.  John lost both of his part time jobs in the fires here in the California mountains last month, and it's not going to be easy to replace them.  Both were enjoyable work and had flexible schedules so we could accept music jobs.  Connie has been seeking part time work also that she could do while still going to school online for medical transcription (she still has about 6 months to go to complete her studies before she can look for MT work).  Any other jobs we have both applied for have been closed doors here, and nothing we have found pays very much.  We got by very well at $12-$15 an hour back in Wisconsin, but that falls far short here with a large mortgage and higher costs for everything from milk & eggs to hardware & building supplies (and ESPECIALLY GAS!)

As far as music jobs, we are finding less demand out here and lower available pay than in the midwest.  We had assumed that since everything else was higher, compensation rates would be, too.  Since March, we have only had eight paying music engagements.  When we bought our house, we had expected to be receiving some compensation from the church, but that fell through, and also was voted down again last month as the church just doesn't have the funds.  Attendance has been going up steadily, but giving is down as many folks are finding themselves in financial difficulties just as we are.

Please keep us in your prayers as we have some difficult decisions to make concerning our future. It is our deepest desire to return to having our primary occupation in music, and especially to be able to serve in a church worship leader position where we can give more of ourselves without having to struggle with finances so much.  We are seriously considering selling our house here, and moving back to the midwest where the cost of living is much more affordable, and we can be within a few hours drive to family & friends.  We are praying fervently that God will lead us, and give us wisdom and discernment as to where to go and what to do.

Thank you for reading - until next edition, God's richest blessings to you all.

                  John & Connie Nicholas

                       "Salty Strings"