Singing, Sandile and Chris

Kukhany O Kusha is known for its amazing choir, and anytime there is a gathering, of any sort, there is singing. Sandile is the choir master and is 28 years old. Chris in my choir director and is 28 years old.

It has been such a blessing to have Chris and his wife Megan on this trip. Their gentle spirits and caring hearts have contributed much, as has their gifts of music.

Chris bought a decent guitar from Craig’s List before we left and was able to carry it on the plane with no problems, even a detour to the Eiffel Tower. Every night we play and sing together with Sandile. The plan is to have a joint choir concert on Sunday with the choir from Kukhany O Kusha. I must say we have some pretty good talent in our team, and coupled with Chris’ leadership and Sandile’s vocal support we ain’t half bad.

Chris also bought an African hand drum at the market and Vuyo is getting proficient as a percussionist. I don’t think we will embarrass ourselves Sunday, but I hope we can sing prior to Kukhany O Kusha’s 40 voice choir.

I plan to buy a hand drum for Vuyo and Chris plans to present the guitar to Sandile as our parting gifts. It’s to be a surprise.

I think music has been the healing balm on this voyage. When things don’t go as planned, which has been the rule rather than the exception, and when it seems exhaustion and frustration are gaining a toe hold into our group, after the singing each night, all seems better. A peace seems to come over us collectively and we are able to put this amazing journey into its proper perspective. We have been allowed to walk with those who have known more grief and loss in their short years than most of us will know in a lifetime. We are seeing children with swollen bellies from starvation and have heard the stories from teachers at care stations who have been unable to provided food for 2 weeks now and have no idea when help will come.

While visiting with a hospice program yesterday, I noticed a hand written message hanging on the wall. Death is of life as is birth. And wile I firmly believe death is a natural process, there is nothing about it that feels natural here. The magnitude and the far reaching impact of the scourge of this horrible disease HIV/AIDS defies anything natural or ordered. I have great difficulty wrapping my mind around all of this.