Tanzanian choir performs to raise money for clean wells
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Speaking only Swahili, Tanzanian farmer Ernest Mwalo is sharing his faith in God and gratitude to new American friends through jubilant songs.
A week after his first airplane flight from his east African homeland, the sinewy, 50-ish father of four is performing in 26 concerts across MetroWest and into Boston with the Pommern Village Choir to raise money to build drinking water wells for his rural village.
"People are treating us as sisters and brothers. They welcomed us here joyfully," Mwalo said through an interpreter a few days after his Oct. 10 arrival. "It is my first time to fly in an airplane. Before, I worried a lot. I didn't know people would be so kind. I am learning a great lesson."
The choir's visit was arranged by the Plymouth Church, United Church of Christ in Framingham as part of "a ministry of hospitality" to promote understanding around the world, said Rev. Peter Cook, senior minister of the church on Edgell Road.
"We want to help them get clean water and provide hope of better things to come. We want to facilitate that process any way we can," said Cook. "I believe we're all finding great joy and feelings of community and a sense of belonging from this."
While staying with families from Plymouth Church, choir members of the Pommern Lutheran Church recorded a CD of 14 church hymns and songs to raise funds and took several sightseeing trips with their hosts.
On a warm Tuesday afternoon, church and choir members mixed at a poolside barbecue at Susan and David Ellis' Brook Street home. As children splashed in the pool, Mwalo and several choir members sitting around a table began an impromptu concert, gently swaying and singing in rich, resonant voices.
Cook said members of both groups were "deeply moved" on a trip to the Black Freedom Trail in Boston when the choir stopped by the old African Meeting House and sang the Tanzanian national anthem as passersby listened. While visiting Faneuil Hall, choir members stood up in a restaurant at the request of an American from Texas and sang a song to the delight of the lunch crowd.
For Cook, the positive reaction of strangers to the choir's songs proves "music is a universal language."
"We might not understand why but music breaks down barriers. Sometimes I think in America we go to work every day and lose our sense of joy. I think our connection with Pommern demonstrates the belief at Plymouth Church that we can make a difference in the world," he said.
On her first trip abroad, Raheri "Rachel" Kilawa is surprised by Americans' "hospitality to strangers."
For the 42-year-old school librarian and mother of 5, "Singing is our way of preaching."
"When I sing, I hope American people will receive the word of God. The kindness we have seen here will be brought home to share with our children and families," she said through an interpreter.
Before coming to the U.S., 27-year-old Adam Kihaka, who raises pigs and hens on a 3-acre plot, said he'd heard Americans "cut down all their trees and have negative attitudes toward religion."
"I had no knowledge about America. Now I see they have good conditions with forests around the house," he said. "I hope the choir's music can change that attitude about spiritual things to something good."
Cook said the choir's visit is the result of a growing relationship between his church and Pommern village. It was initiated 10 years ago by parishioner Robert Ahern who worked with Global Volunteers to build and repair schools for village children.
Upon visiting Pommern in 2005, Cook "fell in love with the people and the place." After his return to Framingham, church members raised $7,000 to finance village building projects. Last summer Cook and 16 church members including his son, visited Pommern village where they helped with local projects and raised another $30,000.
"When people engage in this sort of mission, their lives have a sense of purpose and direction," he said.
Since then, Plymouth Church and leaders of the Pommern Lutheran Church organized the current visit hoping to earn enough money to construct eight wells which cost about $2,200 each.
Rev. Himidi Sagga, senior pastor of Pommern's Lutheran Church, said the growing relationship with Plymouth Church has brought material progress as well as a deepening awareness that music expressing love of God brings different people together.
"We are learning from our friends here. When we go back we should tell people to keep our environment clean and plant trees so we can improve our lives," he said. "But we must tell them we have received kindness and love here. That has moved us."
For Cook, the choir's coming concerts combine fundraising for a worthy cause and the message of both churches that differences can be overcome through good deeds and love.
"I invite people to come share our joy. If anyone feels discouraged or has lost their hope, come to these concerts and experience the power of being in a loving community," he said. "People are always taking about differences. At these concerts, people will be more aware of what we have in common."
