Yesterday my roommates and I went to see the Mwangaza choir, a choir composed of 22 children (8-13 years old) from Uganda.
They were so great!!! Most of them are orphaned or have single-parent guardians, and they are traveling around the US to raise awareness for Africa Renewal Ministries.
Here's a video I found on YouTube of them dancing. They danced, and sang, and had so much fun performing for us! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2CuPAZ5YOzY&feature=related
What blew me away most was not their ability to perform well or their awesome costumes...but their JOY. Not just happiness, which is temporary...but these children were filled JOY. They lit up the room with their smiles. They had stories of why they wrote a few songs and they made my heart sad. One was a celebration song written because the Lord provided the family with food for Christmas Eve, and another was called "Reap What You Sow" written about a time when a boy was tempted to steal, but resisted, and his friend who did steal ended up with prison time and eventually death.
They have such sad stories, and have EVERY reason to be down about life. Most of them don't have parents, have to take care of their younger siblings, and don't know when their next meal will be. But even in the video they played, the children said that their stories were not meant to be discouraging, but they are in fact really great stories because they have been saved by the grace of God and they know the Lord.
They have such incredible stories, and are living proof that sponsering children really does make a difference. I wonder if they know how much of an impact they have on everyone who comes to their concerts.
Thought for the day: Do you have that kind of joy?
They were so great!!! Most of them are orphaned or have single-parent guardians, and they are traveling around the US to raise awareness for Africa Renewal Ministries.
Here's a video I found on YouTube of them dancing. They danced, and sang, and had so much fun performing for us! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2CuPAZ5YOzY&feature=related
What blew me away most was not their ability to perform well or their awesome costumes...but their JOY. Not just happiness, which is temporary...but these children were filled JOY. They lit up the room with their smiles. They had stories of why they wrote a few songs and they made my heart sad. One was a celebration song written because the Lord provided the family with food for Christmas Eve, and another was called "Reap What You Sow" written about a time when a boy was tempted to steal, but resisted, and his friend who did steal ended up with prison time and eventually death.
They have such sad stories, and have EVERY reason to be down about life. Most of them don't have parents, have to take care of their younger siblings, and don't know when their next meal will be. But even in the video they played, the children said that their stories were not meant to be discouraging, but they are in fact really great stories because they have been saved by the grace of God and they know the Lord.
They have such incredible stories, and are living proof that sponsering children really does make a difference. I wonder if they know how much of an impact they have on everyone who comes to their concerts.
Thought for the day: Do you have that kind of joy?
Love the video! So cool!
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