Embracing the Joyful Noise: Overcoming Discrimination as a Tone-Deaf Singer

Hey there, fellow music enthusiasts! Today, I want to share an inspiring story about a personal journey of acceptance, perseverance, and the power of finding your voice amidst adversity. I am a tone-deaf individual who has faced discrimination in Australia for my inability to hold a tune while singing in church. However, in 2023, during my volunteer work in Tanzania, I discovered a community that embraced me and my unique voice. My transformative experience is due to the Uamsho Gospel Choir at St John’s Anglican Church Musoma in Tanzania. This is the real deal as far as African Gospel music is concerned and the US African American Church choirs look pretty average compared to the enthusiasm that Africans bring to their music and dancing.

My passion for singing led me to try to participate in church choirs back in Australia. However, my tone-deafness became a constant source of discouragement. People urged me to sing quietly or not sing at all, making me feel as though my voice was unwelcome in the realm of music. This discrimination left me feeling disheartened, questioning my abilities.

A Serendipitous Encounter:

In 2023, I embarked on my second volunteer journey to Tanzania, a land known for its vibrant music and rich cultural heritage. Through fate’s gentle touch, I found myself joining the Uamsho Gospel Choir at St John’s Anglican Church in Musoma. This is one of about six choirs at this church. Even small village churches will have one or two choirs. It serves as an activity especially for young people – an alternative to Youth Groups. My first practice was on Saturday 1 July 2023 after a day facilitating a workshop and I was tired. But the vibrancy of the dancing and singing energised me. I was shocked to learn I would join next morning after one practice These guys can dance and have a natural rythm I lack. It is hard work as you will see.

As I nervously took my place among the talented singers, I was taken aback by the warmth and acceptance I received. Unlike my previous experiences, the choir members celebrated the joyful noise of their voices, irrespective of their tunefulness But they were excellent. My first time in the choir was on Sunday July 2 2023 and you can see me in the choir singing here.

Not only singing but dancing to support the experienced singers who sing while the rest of the choir does the choreography.

I quickly realized that the Tanzanian approach to music was rooted in the biblical notion of praising God with exuberance and authenticity. The Uamsho Gospel Choir understood that the essence of singing lies not in technical perfection but in the genuine expression of love, devotion, and worship. This revelation breathed new life into my musical journey, to embrace my unique voice wholeheartedly.

Psalm 98:4-6 – “Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth, burst into jubilant song with music; make music to the LORD with the harp, with the harp and the sound of singing, with trumpets and the blast of the ram’s horn—shout for joy before the LORD, the King.” This passage reminds us that God values the joyful noise of our praise, emphasizing the importance of expressing our adoration without reservation. And here is an example of it from last year at a service I attended (WARNING if your idea of typical Anglican singing is choral music do not click)

Psalm 100:1-2 – “Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth. Worship the LORD with gladness; come before him with joyful songs.” These verses highlight the significance of approaching worship with gladness and joyful songs, emphasizing that our worship should be rooted in authentic expression rather than technical perfection.

1 Samuel 16:7b – “The LORD does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.” This verse speaks to the essence of acceptance and reminds us that God sees beyond external factors, embracing our heartfelt offerings of praise.

My journey from facing discrimination as a tone-deaf singer in Australia to finding acceptance in the Uamsho Gospel Choir in Tanzania is a testament to the transformative power of embracing one’s uniqueness. Through the biblical texts that support the notion of a joyful noise, I have discovered that my voice, though different, had the power to uplift and connect with others in worship. My experience teaches us the importance of creating inclusive spaces in our communities and valuing the genuine expressions of love and devotion, regardless of their technical perfection.

Remember, dear readers, let us celebrate the diverse voices among us, for it is in the joyful noise that we find unity, acceptance, and a profound connection with the divine. Sing your heart out, embrace your uniqueness, and let your joyful noise resound.

Keep making a joyful noise!

_{HT to Chat GPT for your assistance.}

May 2024

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Honour and Shame (Working as as Consultant 2)

Personal Reflections

I have just completed the third session of the leadership program I started back in early May. The numbers have come down to what I realistically expected they may be when I had suggested it back in April. We had 13 at session three but it did not impact the discussion or interaction and may have actually enhanced learning outcomes.

Session three was about Organisational Leadership, which I explained to them is a huge topic and one we could only scratch the surface of. A smaller group meant some good role plays and exercises to get my point across. Comparing the organisation to a human body was well understood as we discussed systems and how each of them worked in a system and in smaller systems within the larger diocesan system which employs them all. 1 Cor 12:12ff was the text used to help them understand the concept and a few role plays were easy for them to get the idea.

This all led to how organisational management develops culture and their focus as leaders was to develop a good culture in their workplaces. However we discussed how this is different from the culture previously discussed between African/Asian societies and western culture – collectivist versus individualistic ways of operating.

I advised them that there would be matters discussed that may be out of sequence as it was impossible for this topic to flow and that systems, human resources, communications, finances and change while all separate topics may overlap with this big topic.

Feedback to some of the questions was excellent and I was even interrupted a few times as people wanted to speak and make suggestions (this is a big thing so they are obviously comfortable).

What did surprise me was the readiness for change. People understand they have no strong direction because the diocese has never had a strategic plan. Most had been involved in consultations last year about the strategic plan and I did assure them that the training they are voluntarily attending will help them in the implementation of the strategic plan as each of the heads will be required to develop plans for their own units.

Guilt/Innocence and Honour and Shame

The practical implications of the different worlviews has impacted some of the other things I am doing. Having a greater awareness of honour and shame in this culture has impacted my sermon series on Ruth. The biblical narratives are set in similar cultures so when reading Ruth, looking at the story through that culture changes lots. Boaz honoured Ruth by redeeming her through the purchase of Elimeleck’s land. While we may miss that in our western cultural lens clearly there are other things to understand from a different cultural framework.

From the first session which discussed this at length I have now had a month to process much of what was discussed. Nepotism in our culture (Guilt/Innocence) is always seen as wrong. We are individuals and believe that individuals should all be treated equally. In a collectivist (Honour/Shame) culture favouring people according to the place of honour is a given and it would be shameful to disrespect someone by not honouring them.

Honour has to do with age, position in a family (grandparents, firstborn gender), position in society/church/employment, gender, wealth (land, herds), power and types of honour (good v bad honour) https://honorshame.com/kinds-of-honor/

Some of the discussions we have had have highlighted to me how people in the course with different types of power or status responded to what were for them difficult questions in a group setting. Questions such as you are employing someone and a relative who is qualified has applied and there are five other candidates, some with better qualifications. Who would you choose. Reflecting now, I put individuals in a group setting in great difficulty because on the one hand they knew what the answer I expected was but eventually culture won out but I could see the discomfort they were in. Had I asked them that privately, I would have received the answer I was expecting but in a group setting it would have been shameful to have said the relative would not be preferred. It is just the way things are.

Do we westerners with individualist values have a right to trample culture, even say if it is development aid money that says you act according to our values? It is a big question.

Recently I was at an event for 500 women across the three Anglican Dioceses in this region. There was an opening church service which went for two and a half hours and was great because of the singing. At the end it was speeches of welcome. It took an hour as I sat there understanding that as each person was asked to stand (the three Mothers’ Union groups 100,100 and 300 were stood as groups) I could see how they moved up the honour scale. The office bearers of each MU group from Tarime, Mara and Rorya, significant others who were visiting who were employees or office bearers, through to clergy, choirs, myself, the wives of bishops who were all asked to speak as was I and then each bishop. Each bishop and wife were then brought to the front and given a gift followed by me and a few others. So in the honour scale I was behind the bishops. It is the first time I have understood a number of things like why the bishop insists I sit in the front of the car when we travel together and he takes the back seat.

I also discussed failed leadership. While people may bring dishonour to themsleves or their organisation again it seems like it is not discussed but everyone knows. So a recent employee who was terminated was used as an example of bringing dishonour to the agency they led. Checking in with some of the senior staff wondering if that was going overboard I was encouraged to be open as the culture tends to hide bad behaviour.

So this course I am facilitating on leadership has impacted me as much as I think it has impacted the participants.

A lot of time is spent giving honour in formal settings. The above example took just under an hour and looks inefficient from our western individualist culture but is the done thing here. It also explains all the gifts I received in my early years here when visiting on behalf of Anglican Aid.

We nowhere finished the big agenda and continued the following week. We touched briefly on delegation at session four and had some excellent role plays.

Two sessions to go and I have an accountant doing some basics this coming weekend.

Sunday is Church. And What an Experience!

Three cathedrals in Rorya, Tarime and Musoma and three village churches in Tarime. Services ran for an hour to three hours in the cathedrals. Visitors visited the following churches (Taken froma whatsapp message)

Jodie McNeill – Musoma with Kim Kelly, Mandy and Eddie

David Morgan Rorya Cathedral preaching with Jim K, Lucy Lim amd Michael Charles

Rev Robin Vonk Tarime Cathedral preaching
Dr Dorothy Prentice Tarime Cathedral 8.30am translator
John Sandeman Tarime GAMASARA Parish
Barbara Stephens Tarime GAMASARA Parish 9.30am
Craig Roberts Tarime KITAGASEMBE Parish 9am
Elizabeth Roberts Tarime KITAGASEMBE Parish
Ruby Roberts Tarime KITAGASEMBE Parish
Fiona McLean Tarime NYANSURURA Parish 9.00am
Kevin Barraclough Tarime NYANSURURA Parish 9am
Steele’s 9.30am Tarime

The photos tell the stories although Rorya and Tarime photos are scarce.

Rorya is a Diocese which was established in 2010 out of mara Diocese. It covers one government district and on my first visit in 2017 had no electricty and water was fetched from a nearby creek. Anglican Aid has undertaken some water projects supplying wells including one in a village near the cathedral. The first bishop died in 2020 and Bishop Musa Yamo Masala (Musa) was installed as bishop in 2021,, having come from Mara Diocese where he was principal of Bunda Bible College

Unfortunately the group going to Rorya had a flat tyre five minutes from the church but still got a full service with unbelieveably 15 choirs.

David Morgan at Rorya Cathedral

To view a video of David Morgan preaching (well the start) just click

To exerience some of the music at Rorya just click and watch two conservative middle aged Sydney Anglican men transformatively worship like the locals click above. This may change worship music and style in Sydney for the better. Apparently Lucy Lim was airlifted by the locals but I am told no visual evidence of this is available.

Robyn Vonk preached at St Luke’s Cathedral in Tarime with Dorothy Prentice translating for him.

_{Robin Vonk and Dorothy Prentice on the steps of St Luke’s Cathedral Tarime with the translator}

Meanwhile in Musoma Jodie McNeill preached and gave an invitation to anyone who would like Jesus to be their good shepherd. A young man responded and Jodie later had the privilege of baptising him after lunch after the Dean asked if he would be willing to do that. I took photos and videos so the following will give a flavour of what all others experienced in cathedral worship.

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_{Interviews of visitors during announcements – Kim Kelly, Helen Hoskins (translating), Mandy McNeill and Jodie McNeill. Rev Canon Gaspar Kasanda translated the sermon.}

^Communion

_{The Fire choir}

Videos can be viewed by clicking on the links below

All photos in the album are here for those wanting more

After the service the church elders provided lunch and a time of greeting each other. A meeting about partnerships occurred (at their instigation). The hospitality extended to gifts being given to each of us.

Then the young man who had made a public commitment in response to the message was baptised by Jodie the video of which can be seen at the link.

Prior to leaving Musoma, the group visited the Bishop’s house (where I am staying) before heading off to Tarime in threatening weather. Apparently it bucketed down hail as well as rain during the choir festival, put on especially for the Archbishop of Sydney. We arrived in miserable conditions in waterlogged grounds. 500 young people were in the church on the property singing away. Those there described it and the rain in superlatives.

Bishop Mwita Akiri, his wife Mukami and daughters Mugure and Mbayo hosted all 19 of us in their home for a late dinner. Akiri’s home he built many years ago but was based in Dodoma for over ten years. His wife and daughters still live there but came up (1,000kms by bus) to greet us. Again prodigious hospitality under a covered African alfresco sky.

^{Mukami, Mugure and Mbayo Akiri}

_{A purple shirt? Not on our tour}

_{Bishop Mwita Akiri welcoming us to his home}

For journalist John Sandeman’s take on the day read The Other Cheek He was at the choir festival and has photos.

Retirement? or Retyrement!

What is retirement? We have transitions in life that are formally recognised, even celebrated. I remember my four year old graduating from pre-school and thinking really? We have transitions from primary to high school, graduations from year twelve and university all marked by symbolic events. Completing paid work after forty years for many is marked by a farewell gift, acknowledgement of services rendered and goodbye.

Retirement has its own jargon. We speak about ending paid work as “calling it quits”, “a golden handshake” which often is associated with redundancy, “going out to pasture,” “packing it in,” “being pensioned off” and “throwing in the towel.”

For the last nine years I have worked for Anglican Aid, an agency that connects donors from churches in Australia where we enjoy an abundance and the developing world in Africa, Asia, and the Middle East and Pacific, where money can make a huge difference in poverty alleviation. During nine years I formed hundreds of relationships both in Australia and overseas, many whom I have met personally. I have visited 21 countries and developed relationships with many amazing people, especially where oppressive cultures made life difficult for so many. So in the lead up to finishing at Anglican Aid I sent emails to many people overseas to let them know of my departure and wish them well. I received many acknowledgements and well wishes. The standout came from an 80 year old Zambian, Rosemary who in her email wished me well but added:

“People like you do not retire but Retyre – just put on new tyres.”

Rosemary, who sent me this pearl is 80 years old. She runs a school in northern Zambia. Now an 80 year old woman running a school for 600 kids is unusual enough, but this school was started by her after she retired as a Regional Director of Education!

The background to this is retirement, a husband dying within a year of retirement and all her assets as a middle class woman being confiscated by her husband’s family (its a cultural thing). Finding herself in a slum in Lusaka she saw kids not going to school and commenced teaching two kids with limited resources. The rest is history, the school being tweny years old has been supported by many in her wide network from the United Kingdom and more recently Australia. We met Rosemary through her son in Australia, concerned that his mother had this huge responsibility and he was concerned that she was ageing and needed help. When I met her in 2016, I was surprised at the network around her which included a board comprising the elite of Zambian civil society including judges and others. She didn’t appear to be slowing down or ready to slow down.

And so to the two photos above. Pino coladas and living the good life after a life of work.

The two tyres one which I had replaced last week. One still looks good and still has a lot of tread in the middle but was wearing on the edges so was replaced because technically it was not roadworthy. The one on the right totally worn out out. Driven by a 19 year old who did “burn outs.” They are a bit like us. Perhaps the totally burned out tyre is at the end of its useful life and so eating, drinking and waiting for death may not be unreasonable. However completing paid work does not mean we are at the end of a productive life.

Most people completing work today are generally in good health, can expect to live maybe twenty years and have lots of time. No longer working full time provides lots of options. Maybe a bit worn out but still plenty of life left. I will discuss some of these next time. Others, maybe due to the type of work, health issues or other circumstances sigh with relief when they can complete work and look forward to a retirement that may allow restoration of physical health and strength and allow time for activities that have been subjugated due to work commitments.

So in Rosemary’s words,I am being retyred. My post paid work plans are to head to Tanzania where I will be assisting Bishop George from the Anglican Church of Tanzania in Mara Diocese, near Lake Victoria. My initial visit will see me overseas for six months from early April till October. A holiday in Europe will break that time for about six weeks and then back to Africa.

Next time I will discuss more about the concept of why retirement should see relatively young and fit retirees being retyred.

On Graduation … from Paid Work

Usually called retirement I left my last day of paid employment on 23 December 2021 after 49 years, 7 months and 6 days. I am still technically on the payroll as some accrued leave is paid out till March 2022. For all intents and purposes I am as it is commonly called “retired.”

My final staff meeting had me lead devotions based on 1 Samuel 7 especially verse 12 – “Then Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen. He named it Ebenezer, saying, “Thus far the Lord has helped us.”. 
That verse appeared on Prayermate that day in Spurgeons daily morning devotions. A coincidence? I think not.
On 30 November I had what I thought was a routine blood test. Next day I received a call from the doctor telling me to go straight to hospital. That drive had my life flashing before me as I pondered what was so serious that a routine blood test required immediate investigation.
Death is not something I fear. I trust my future to Christ. However I have so many plans for the future and serving God is one of them. Seeing grandchildren grow is another.
I have seen God at work through my grandson who has challenged leukemia since he was 19 months old and how he and his parents together with outstanding medical care have maintained his life despite four years of uncertainty. I don’t think I could endure what he has been through is another thought that has come to me in that month.
But my life has changed. No more structures around work. Plans to volunteer in Tanzania and looking at what my days bring.
So really this blog after many years of not posting a thing (since 2017 when all I had were good intentions and no time) is to record what retirement looks like and how I manage.

On New Year’s Eve 2021 I reflected how hard 2021 has been personally. I write this after the 2022 AGM at church. But back in 2021, the last thing I needed was to be a warden. Try as I might I could not avoid it. It provided a lot of work and looking back, satisfaction in working with two other extraordinary people to get so much done in a year. Our Acting Senior Minister was amazing and he really provided a leadership style that got a lot out of everyone serving in 2021. Even though we were locked down from June to November a lot did get done.

Work kept me busy. My 4dpw part time role really saw me doing full time plus hours as I planned my exit and needed to complete an accumulation of eight years work to leave the agency with some systems going forward. A new accounting system introduced from December 2021 had to be bedded down. Development of a human resource system to replace a lever arch file. New email system and other systems as well as training the new person responsible for finances and a Chartered Accountant we contracted to assist us with complexity.

On new years eve I wrote in my journal (which started in late December) “This has been the hardest year of my life by far. Its like a confluence of events that have converged simultaneously. None of them on their own were challenging apart from the situation of our grandson and praying for him and trying to stand beside his parents interstate during lockdown and helpless to do much other than pray and provide moral support.

So 2021 ended with things I am grateful for as noted in the journal:

My last staff meeting

• God’s faithfulness to me
• A wife who has cared for me and our children
• Our four kids as they have shown resilence in the face of COVID
• For the way son and daughter in law have cared for and sacrificed for their son
• For a new grandson born in the last week of the year
• For Corinne’s wedding and a husband who is very caring of her and has supported her during difficult times
• For Anglican Aid and all it has taught me especially helping my spiritual growth. For my church and an amazing effort in raising funds for the building
• Friends at Alstonville who have we have spent time with while living in Bangalow
• For an amazing health system for my grandson and latterly for myself.
• For life. I take it for granted but was reminded when I received a call to go to A&E that every breath is God’s gift
• For being able to complete years 1 and 2 of the PTC course
• For plans to serve the diocese of Mara
• For being able to leave Anglican Aid in good hands with Tim