Just for kicks I checked the worship member page on the BVBC website. It looks like John is directing you to check out my blog, so I thought I might write something specifically for musicians.
Two weeks in and two to go. Earlier today I filled in my journal nearly everything I've done the past few weeks. There is LOTS and LOTS of music stuff. Three days a week I teach beginning guitar at Living Grace. What's cool about that is, once a guy comes comes back the second day, I have him teach a new student what he knows. I truly feel my purpose here is not to teach music to people, but use music as a tool to lead people to Christ. That being said, I've observed in the homeless men and women and among the people in the townships that they don't just choose to be homeless or poor, but they feel like they cannot do any better. In the townships especially, it's a sad circle- broken, fatherless homes, girls as young as 11 and 12 having babies. Music can be used to give people a sense of confidence and purpose. It helps build self-esteem. It's a neat way to show them they are valuable in God's eyes.
So anyway, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursday mornings, I spend about an hour and a half with these guys. Wednesday afternoons I spend about an hour with Melissa, teaching her piano. She wants to play in the praise band at her church (This is the entirely Afrikaans church I've been going to. I'm the only white person there. It's great!) Melissa is really sweet. I just love being with her. AND, she really wants to learn. Even without a keyboard, she manages somehow to practice. Last week she drew out a keyboard on a piece of paper.
This week I'll also be teaching some of the Hope2Africa kids some beginning guitar Friday afternoon.
South Africa needs a lot of help. There's so much going on here, which is cool, but so much has to be done. People are so enthusiastic when they hear I'm a musician. I hope they're not just being kind. I think there's a big need for music missionaries here. Eventually, we would like to see the churches here self-sustaining, some are already. I would love to see a whole generation of young worshippers here. The need is so huge. I hear people say they would love to learn guitar or piano or violin. 99% of the time, lessons aren't even an option because they just don't have the money. In some of the townships, if a child brings home an instrument, they will sell it for drug money.
Today I met with a local music teacher who wants to begin a music outreach. After meeting with her, I was excited too. This really is a big passion of mine- teaching kids music. She has assigned to me the task of developing a three month long curriculum for kids around 8 years old. Music volunteers instruct the kids and access their skill at the end of the program to see if they'd be good candidates for taking lessons in brass, violin, piano, etc. I've never done anything like this, but it sounds like an exciting thing to be a part of!!!
More later....
