Today was our day to relax and recover from all of our travels to get here. We’ve been able to greet many of our friends who have come by to see us and we did do some separate things as well. Cathy went with Editha (Bishop Makaya’s wife) to the market. I went over to a recording session of the Tumaini Choir (Tumaini means “hope”). This was very interesting. Festus Ntahindwa who I have known since I first visited Kasulu in 2005 is a brilliant electronics tech. He is the one who installed the solar power system that we purchased for Kasulu Bible College in 2006 and Festus has also been the sound engineer for Kasulu Cathedral Choir for many years. Tumaini Choir is another choir that sings at the cathedral. They were recording the background vocals today for a new song they are working on. The interesting part is the studio that is setup for them to record in. 
It’s basically in what would normally be the living room of Festus’ home. The entire room is covered with sound proofing, including the door of his home, which has two panels, and inner and an outer one to cut down on exterior sound. It was great to see what he has been doing to make some very high quality recordings of the choirs. I’ve have some of his previous recordings and was wondering how he pulled it off. The thing that impresses me about many of my friends here in Kasulu is how resourceful they are. I don’t know of many people I have met that can do so much with the limited resources available to them. But here in this modest home, Festus had created a sound studio that works quite well.
Tomorrow we will go to Msagara parish to meet up with Bishop Makaya, who will be there for confirmations. At some point I know he is expecting us to sing. Cathy and I are preparing some songs, one of which has a chorus in Swahili so we can get the entire congregation involved. It’s always a pleasure to be available to do this during our trips to Tanzania. The worship here has so much “life in Christ” in it. 
It’s exciting and animated. I’ve often wondered what caused us in the western churches to loose our joy in the Lord during our worship. Now don’t get me wrong. I appreciate times of “solemn celebration” (though the terms do seem like opposites to each other) if for nothing else but to “be still” and know that the Lord is God. But I do believe that it’s possible to break out of the old mold every once in a while, or as one person told me years ago, “Bill, one of these days you are going to bust loose (in worship). I want to be there when it happens”. The friend who said that to me had noticed my hesitancy to take that step forward and take the risky chance that others might not understand what is happening when I really get “lost in wonder, love and praise” to God. Coming to Africa, I can see that my friend was right in identifying my hesitant heart. I’m still not sure I have ever broken loss as she probably envisioned it. In Tanzania, they really know how to loose their inhibitions and express joyfully their love for the Lord. I don’t know of anyone who has come to Tanzania with me who has not been deeply touched by the worship they have witnessed here. I’m sure there will be something special to report on tomorrow night.
Tonight we will have dinner again with Editha and then I’m sure we will go to bed early as we have a bit of a drive and a busy day tomorrow. I’m looking forward to it, and to sharing what we have experienced with you tomorrow.
Bill
Finish then thy new creation; Pure and spotless let us be:
Let us see thy great salvation perfectly restored in thee:
Changed from glory into glory, till in heaven we take our place,
Till we cast our crowns before thee, lost in wonder, love and praise.
Words by Charles Wesley, 1747