For those of you with RealPlayer installed on your computer, click this link to listen to the Christian Explainers while you read Peg's account of the visit.

This report is from the viewpoint of the SJA Choir's experience of hosting and singing with the Christian Explainers. For a history and biography of this gospel group check out Chuck MacDonald’s article at: stjoan.com.

The South African Christian Explainers and their exchange with SJA Choir brought global harmony. If you closed your eyes you were hypnotized with the soothing blend of their voices. With their 3 week second visit from Cape Town to Minneapolis they shared experiences that were abundant and gratifying. Many members of the Choir hosted the Christian Explainers both full and part time. The experience left many remarkable lifelong impressions. This musical gospel South African group came to share their music, give of themselves, and gather treasured friendships. The 3 weeks included making housing accommodations available, chauffeuring daytime and late nights, along with pleasurable mealtimes, lake walks, and sharing intimate family gatherings. People from all corners of SJA found an attachment to this loving group. Our own custodian Richard answered the call to Host with the Most! He was behind the scenes, always there for them when they looked the most bewildered. He met them many late late nights at the church center, as they returned from singing engagements, with coffee and refreshments always their guiding light. They felt very secure in his hands. All this because they bonded and Richard admired them dearly as they did him. He emphatically said they left a lifelong impression on him.

The Christian Explainers touched so many of us. The stories heard from our choir members: Carol, Karin, Harriet, Jane, Jeff, Matt, Anna, and many more spoke of their grateful nature, how open and approachable they were, the eagerness to learn from our lifestyles & customs, total trust that came unconditionally. Wheels, an EMT in Cape Town, shadowed an EMT here during one free afternoon. Another singer, Jeanine, shared her songs by even singing a “clic” wedding song to my daughter and her fiancé. Jeanine, a very intuitive young woman, was moved by the closeness of family members. It was obvious that, through a home stay, closer observations make it possible to better understand each other. It’s through these kinds of sharings that the bonds of developed friendship are sealed.

The choir experienced, first hand, a spellbinding rehearsal last week. They embraced us instantly, pulled up chairs in a line facing us only a few feet away and dug right in. We shared music from their 1997 visit. Phambili quickly recalled when Wilmont the director walked us through the rhythms. He along with Gerald has written most of the songs they sing. Specifically one we have adopted is our regular “Solmandia”. Gerald was the primary soloist. His charm immediately captured you. He was serious and dedicated to his music. The eight singers, with their harmony, overpowered us. Yet, they graciously fine-tuned our voices to theirs. We enjoyed every moment and willingly cooperated giving them all we had in us. Most impressive was the vocal unison they achieved. This group has sung for almost a decade together and with years of hard work they have acquired a level of professional quality. Their voices blended almost into one. Beyond even that was the powerfulness. It was stunning! What a thrill it was! As we practiced we realized the joy of sharing these moments and what a gift it was to participate together.

Their schedule with the choir involved the Thursday night practice before their Sunday night performance at SJA. They also, sang Sunday morning in our Earth Day celebration mass. Sunday Mass participants were graced with the glorious gospel words sung from their instinctive spirits. Not only were their musical skills personified but also a deep spiritual strength. Sunday night’s concert was a testimony to their faith. The songs came from pure voices fill with love and devotion. In their crisp blue & white gowns and suits they dazzled us with harmonious gospel sounds unlike we’ve ever heard before. They are internationally known for their award winning sounds and lyrical poetry.

We concluded their visit with our year-end choir party Monday night. That was their finale after an exhausting rigorous schedule of singing at other churches, schools, and even peace conference events. Bruce Henry and Dan Chouinard entertained all of us and songs were song arm in arm!

Each day they put in solid long hours giving anywhere they were asked to perform. Many of the engagements were last minute and from their generous hearts. We hope we will be united again in the near future. The manager has enjoyed the email exchanges and said he depends on that contact. I believe the exchanges will be greater on both sides given this tremendous accomplishment. Many thanks to Anna Vagle for orchestrating the bulk of it. But again at St. Joans, her efforts were combined with others to paint a picture of collaborative ministry. As they sang their last song “We are Greater Blessed than Blessed”, we here know we were the ones who truly were “blessed”.

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Peg LaSota comes from a photography background. She now works in the digital world, computer instruction, and with "videography" and the restoration of family films. She is enthusiastic about capturing family memories and preserving them digitally. Along with that, her time is spent with her family and her love for learning Spanish, piano, recorder.....and of course singing with the choir!

Rick Spaulding is a photographer specializing in digital photography for the theater and works for National Camera Exchange. He is also an antique dealer and eBay afficianado who enjoys collecting marbles but his true joys in life are his two boys and his beautiful wife, Tinia.