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SIDEBAR
Zimbabwe Choir Hopes to Sing at Assembly 15

ASUNCION, Paraguay — Choral Sounds, a 55-voice Brethren in Christ (BIC) choir from Zimbabwe, wants to sing in Paraguay in 2009.

The choir, drawn from several churches around Bulawayo, shared its music during worship at Mennonite World Conference's Assembly 14 in Zimbabwe in 2003. Now the youth and young adult choir members and their director, Lusani Nkomo, plan to accompany president-elect Danisa Ndlovu, to Assembly 15 in Asuncion, Paraguay.

They remember the thousands of people from around the world who came to their country in 2003. The Zimbabwean singers believe it is important for them to join the global Anabaptist family at the next assembly, said Ndlovu, who was attending MWC Executive Committee meetings in Asuncion in August.

The choir launched fund-raising effores at the Bulawayo Central BIC Church in July. They presented a program featuring traditional a cappella songs from their repertoire and they invited donations.

“The difficult challenges people in Zimbabwe face does not kill the spirit of giving,” said Ndlovu. “People will give what they can afford.”

Fund raising for choir's proposed trip got a good start with a $10,000 (US) donation from a member of the Seventh Day Adventist Church.

“The BICC enjoys good relations with other Christian churches,” reported Ndlovu, who is the Zimbabwe BICC bishop.

Zimbabweans, in addition to the choir, hope to go to Paraguay in 2009. A hurdle for all of them besides finding the money will be getting an entry visa since there is no Parguayan embassy in Zimbabwe, noted Ndlovu.

Despite numerous challenges, the choir rehearses every Monday night. They continue to prepare to sing locally, as they do regularly, but also with dreams of sharing their music in worship services in Asuncion in 2009.

— Ferne Burkhardt, MWC News Editor

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Photos available on request:

1. Waiting in line with the hope of purchasing basic food stuff in Bulawayo (credit: Barbara Kaercher).
2. Koinonia delegation member Pascal Kulungu (left) and store owner between empty shelves in a SaveMor food store in Bulawayo. (credit: Barbara Kaercher)
3. Yvonne Snider Nighswander playing with children in a displaced people project outside of Bulawayo. (credit: Dan Nighswander)
4. Pakisa Tshimika bringing greetings and presenting MWC gifts at BICC General Conference. ( left to right: Danisa Ndlovu, Mesach Krisetya, Pakisa Tshimika. credit: Barbara Kaercher)
5. Introducing the Koinonia team members at General Conference. (left to right: Mesach Krisetya (Indonesia), Pascal Kulungu (DR Congo), John Byers (USA), Dan and Yvonne Snider Nighswander (Canada/South Africa), interpreter, Beatriz Barrios (Uruguay), Barbara Kaercher (Germany))
6. Overflowing crowd at the BICC General Conference (credit: Dan Nighswander)
7. Offering taken for Zimbabwe BIC missionary work in Botswana (credit; Barbara Kaercher)
8. Waiting in line for a meal at the conference (credit: Barbara Kaercher)
9. Children at the conference (credit: Barbara Kaercher)
10. Leaving after the conference. (credit: Dan Nighswander)