Another surprising day! We saw hundreds of plastic chairs set up around a stage at the Lutheran Diocese center yesterday. Rumor was that the choirs from around the area were coming for their annual competition at 9 AM. Caleb, Dale Sharon and I walked down to the center at 9 and yes there were choirs, drums buses and people everywhere. By 9:30 the PA system was set up. By 10 the Bishop showed up and blessed the proceedings. The rest of the Stiles came in by 10:15 or so, not missing a thing. By 10:20 AM the first choir took the stage. Then one after the other, choirs from the surrounding churches sang a processional song, a required song from the hymnal and songs of their choosing for about a 10 to 15 minute performance. It was incredible. We called it Tanzanian Idol only these folks had talent, enthusiasm and were doing for the sheer joy and love of God. The courtyard of the Diocese was packed with people. This is a picture of the next choir lining up to take the stage. The stage was very dark and I couldn't get a good picture.
We stayed thru 5 choirs and listened to the concert on Radio Furaha back at the apartment. I am sure that Handel would have been proud of the Tanzanian version of "Lift up Your Heads" from the Messiah. The real thrill is that the best choir we saw will be performing again on Sunday morning. Dale is preaching at their church. I had do pinch myself again to believe that we really were sitting among about 1,000 Africans listening to their music. Some was in Swahili and some in other tongues but it was all incredible.
We rested the in afternoon and headed to Kabili Farm at 3:30 for the Saturday afternoon volleyball game. This has been a tradition for nearly 20 years that every Saturday night the various foreigners are invited out to a farm 20 minutes from town. They serve tea and have a rousing game of volleyball. Caleb showed off his style and his bright shirt. Annica is hoping to get some horse riding in there next week.
After 3 or 4 games we raced back to the apartment to change and get to the International School for their International Dinner Night. Under the stars, the students gave a program of talents: singing, dancing and such. And then the parents of the school children supplied foods from all over the world at booths surrounding the central courtyard. We had sausage from Australia, pita from India, custard cakes from Japan and the list goes on. You could go from tent to tent sampling each of the foods from all the various families that attended the school. The only real challenge was that by the time dinner was served, it was pitch dark. Did I tell you it is dark here? At about 6:20 the sun sets and by 6:22 PM it is pitch dark. There is no twilight. I brought my dork lamp to dinner and we could see the delicacies we had chosen, but I don't know how the rest of the dinner guests figured out what they were eating.
Following the dinner, we walked the 3 blocks back down the hill to the apartment and I am finally able to blog after a busy day. Tomorrow is church at the far end of town and maybe soccer or basketball at the International School yard. We are all bushed and ready for a day of rest. Good night and stay warm.
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