The work finally begins. After a nice simple continental breakfast (mostly cold; breads, cold meats and cheeses, cereal, yogurt, fruit) and a small wait at the pool, Apostle Minga and Rector Anselme picked me up to take me to the church in Nyakirambo (a section of Kigali). A short 10-15 minute ride to the church from the hotel. Something of notice, they spell Salon like Saloon. I assure you they are not Saloons but Hair & Beauty Salons.
So we started just after 9:00 AM with all in black & white, a familiar scene for all New Apostolic overseas seminars, either with or without tie. Since tonight was service, ties were in order but I didn't put mine on until about 20 minutes before service.
The seminar began with a hymn and then an opening prayer by our Apostle. Welcome remarks were made to the 20+ Choir Leaders from across the country. Some travelled 6-8 hours. This is the rainy season although in Kigali they are not much worse for wear but you can imagine how it is in the villages where most roads are dirt and dust.
Our two main choir leaders were there. Priest Innocent from Kigali and Priest Frederic from Gisenyi (bordering Goma, DRC). Priest Innocent didn't make it last year when we were together so we nominated Priest Frederic as our lead National Choir Leader for Rwanda. They would love to do "music" full-time but it isn't warranted nor budgeted for. They all could create full-time jobs for themselves. As District Apostle Wagner said often, "With your ideas and my money, we could do things, couldn't we?" This was usually the answer for "no".
Much of the work on this trip I really have to see that they can do this on their own. So I am a "guide" and "observer" and will "butt in" where necessary. The morning (until 12:30 PM) included the logistics of organizing Seminar Centres with 10-15 choir leaders in each. Then the lead choir leaders present made their input and requests for how much time they feel they need (want) each year for Music Seminars. Fairly unrealistic but eventually possible when we have enough Seminar Leaders. Right now we have 2, Innocent and Frederic. Innocent is quite busy with work and/or studies so it probably is 1 1/2.
Lunch was baguette and sucree (pron sucray). Eventually you get sick of this stuff, but the French influence is very much in order with the baguettes very cheap and popular. I believe those two attributes are very much related. The more popular something is, the cheaper it is. The cheaper it is, the more popular it is. On the baguette was a little luncheon meat like bologna, and yes, I do eat it, although I probably shouldn't. After about an hour, back to work.
The shorter (due to service @ 5 PM) afternoon session included mainly consolidating the 4-beat pattern and then selecting topics for Thursday's presentations. Each choir leader is to conduct their own mini-seminar on Thursday on topics that have been reviewed in past seminars. Each is to last 5-10 minutes. We'll see. I guarantee you some will be 2 minutes and others will be 20+. It'll all balance out. We finished our shortened afternoon ~ 4:00 PM to give a little time before the 5:00 PM service start. I freshened up and then fell asleep with my head on the table in the office (sorry no picture of that).
About 4:45 PM, I got myself dressed and ready (add tie, tie shoes, etc.) and then entered the sacristy where Apostle Minga, his brother (priest responsible for the congregation) + Priest Frederic were waiting. Service began right on time at 5:00 PM for the 30 odd present. Mainly the 20+ choir leaders + another 10 from the congregation. A historical note; the church in Kigali was built under the guidance and diligence of DEV Addison, who is known around Rwanda, and the world, even when he was only in a country maybe one time. This is fairly unique to him. So this church brings back many memories of DEV Addison, especially the marble altar (see photo). When I think of DEV Addison, I also think of deceased Apostle Kiboba, who also worked diligently here in Rwanda after growing up in DRC and moving here as a District Evangelist, I believe. His wife, Evanice, still lives about 1 block away from our church here and we're looking forward to catching up on Friday afternoon as she is out of Kigali for a few days.
OK, I remember that Apostle Minga doesn't serve long, at least not when I'm here. The service was conducted in Kinyarwanda (the local language) and Priest Frederic translated into French for me (not simultaneously). With this extra work, the Apostle still only served about 10 minutes. The word was the same as Canada as the Apostles receive the current DSG (Divine Service Guide) that we do in the Western World. The remainder of the ministers in overseas countries receive a Word of Life Book where articles are used from two years previous, meaning 2009's book has the cooinciding articles from the 2007 WoL or DSG that we used at that time.So the word was, wait for it, those that were in service shouldn't have to.......Apostle Peter walking on water; those that follow precisely the Word of God will have a strong faith created from it added with our confidence (trust) and obedience, we are able to experience God's Miracles as well. So, yes, I was called up and served probably the same length as the Apostle but this time me in French and the Apostle's brother into Kinyarwanda. Shortly thereafter the Apostle brought us to the Lord's Prayer, the Absolution and the celebration of Holy Communion. May I make one comment here; Three-fold Amen way too slow. WOW! I will have to work on this one before I leave as it's one of District Apostle's pet peeves re: music overseas. The three-fold Amen should be sung in the same way, at the same speed in every country.
After service, it is fairly customary that when the Apostle is there, he brings greetings from the area where he just visited. Of course then the congregation thanks him (in unison) and gives 
greetings back to him to bring to his next "port". The Apostle called me to give greetings from our District Apostle, Apostle, my family and all of you (our brothers and sisters in Canada). Now after this is done usually the choir sings. The officiant and the brothers accompanying him go right to the back of the church (front door) and one by one each one is greeted. Basically I shook hands with the Apostle and then the one behind me shakes hands with the Apostle and me. This goes on until all have shaken hands with one another and we have formed a perimeter fence in the courtyard of the church (see photo). I love this custom. During the "shaking hands ceremony" the choir and congregation are singing the final hymn together. Again, I just love this. We could only get away with this in the warmer months in Canada or maybe in a place like Lindsay or Brampton. But, I just love this! (did I say that before?)
greetings back to him to bring to his next "port". The Apostle called me to give greetings from our District Apostle, Apostle, my family and all of you (our brothers and sisters in Canada). Now after this is done usually the choir sings. The officiant and the brothers accompanying him go right to the back of the church (front door) and one by one each one is greeted. Basically I shook hands with the Apostle and then the one behind me shakes hands with the Apostle and me. This goes on until all have shaken hands with one another and we have formed a perimeter fence in the courtyard of the church (see photo). I love this custom. During the "shaking hands ceremony" the choir and congregation are singing the final hymn together. Again, I just love this. We could only get away with this in the warmer months in Canada or maybe in a place like Lindsay or Brampton. But, I just love this! (did I say that before?)Shortly thereafter the counting of the offering (they always get the foreigner to sign, just to prove that he was there and the Canada brother is always coded #1, it doesn't matter who it is) and then the short ride back to the hotel after further encouragement to the choir leaders for their anticipated presentations on Thursday.
No comments:
Post a Comment