Ronald's Branch Choir

Ronald is a young returned missionary who is earning money in order to pay back loans from the Perpetual Education Fund, which will then allow him to take out another loan to continue going to school.

He invited us to come to choir rehearsal at the Nsambya branch this afternoon, as the choir is preparing to sing in this Sunday’s branch conference. We arrived at 5, as various young people wandered in over the next hour. They found a plastic chair from inside the converted house/church and brought it out into the shady area on the grass. An electric keyboard was set up near a window so that the power cord could snake in between the metal bars to the outlet inside. Ronald seemed to have hymn #226, Improve the Shining Moments, memorized, and gave instruction to the choir members as he played. Although very quiet, the choir members produced a sweet sound. That seems to be the Ugandan way – the spoken word is very quiet, as is the singing. One must really pay attention and listen closely to hear what is being said. It is my observation that the spirit can be felt just as strongly sitting on a plastic chair on the green grass of Uganda listening to a 12-person choir, as can be felt in Salt Lake City’s Church Conference Center listening to the Mormon Tabernacle Choir!

The rest of our day was filled with errands to Shoprite and Game (think Raleys and Target) to look for a hand mixer (I burned up one that was loaned to me while making oatmeal cookies- apparently, it was only tough enough to whip egg whites), ice cream for FHE Sunday night, bucket, and shower curtain. Unlike Raleys or Target, one is lucky to find the item in question (nevermind the whole idea of trying to find your favorite particular brand!). We scored: the hand mixer for 50,000 shillings and the bucket for 6,000 shillings. The quest will continue for other items not found today.