Singing

Yesterday after a grey morning of school and drizzling, we headed over to the Seed of Hope to sit in on the staff meeting before the kids started coming. This was our third staff meeting so far and I love them. It starts off with singing, which is amazing. Someone just starts and everyone joins in. Their harmony is effortless and beautiful, and they just sing. There’s no self-conscious mumbling or mouthing of words, and they sing as loud and clear as they can, and no one is a bad singer. Next someone shares a ten minute devotion, and then everyone prays at the same time. Be it in Zulu or English, no one can really tell because it sounds like a beehive mixed with the clicking and hissing that comes with Zulu words. So awesome. And then comes my favourite part of the meeting, HUGGING! Everyone just gets up and hugs each other, which is nice because hey, sometimes you just need a hug. Even if you don’t know that person or only know their name, you hug ‘em. It’s great.

After the staff meeting the kids usually start showing up, squeezing their skinny selves through the bars of the fence or walking off of the road through the gate to the Seed. Yesterday I attracted quite a crowd with my silly faces and hand games and made many friends in the 4-to-5-years-old age range. At 2:30 South African time (which is really whenever they feel like they’re ready to start) Simunye time begins for 3-10-year-olds which I’ve sat in on a couple times and is a total riot. There is also the English class for 11-15-year-olds which the three of us go to sometimes, and yesterday’s class was AH-mazing. Musa, the teacher told us to get in groups of three and we were all going to sing a “gospel” song for the class. If we were in North America and this happened… Well it wouldn’t happen cause 9 out of 10 kids in North America sing like crap and I’m one of them! The kids were magnificent. Their voices are just so naturally strong and full and like I’ve said before, their harmonies will bring you to tears. They have such rhythm that they incorporate as they sing, some just light foot stomps, and some full out coordinated dances. This one kid in particular just got up there and owned the whole show. He opened his mouth and his voice filled the room, deep and proud and sent shivers up my spine. It was so crazy, and now I am mad that half of the people I hear on the radio are employed because they suck compared to 95% of the 12-year-olds down here. After hearing beautiful song after beautiful song in Zulu or English, the Canadians took their turn. We broke it out with a little “Lord I Lift Your Name On High” actions and all, and then finished her off with “Down In My Heart”. Once the kids got over our terrible voices, they liked our actions and joined in on the clapping. It was fun had by all, and hopefully I’ll be able to give you all a demonstration of some of our new African songs when we get back dance moves, clapping, cheering and all!

xo

Alanna