Watoto Children's Choir - Coastal Church- January 2012

My first ever blogpost was about the Watoto Children's Choir from Uganda. I am really blessed to attend an exciting Church which hosts a lot of amazing events. Watoto visit Coastal Church every year or so and it's always a new group of children all with a terrible history but a promising future. I honestly get very teary-eyed listening to these children speak about what they've been through. Watching them sing and dance always makes me homesick for Africa; although the children are Ugandan, not Malawian, there are so many similarities especially in the singing and dancing and the huge smiles on the children's faces.

The most emotional part of the evening was when a lady who attends the Church met her sponsored daughter on the day of her 40th birthday. There wasn't a dry eye in the entire Church.

I got a picture taken with two of the little girls. So cute!

I took a video of the kids singing one of my favourite African gospel songs. It's called Hakuna Mungu which means "There is no God like you".

I can't even begin to do justice to Watoto with my words; here's the website.

http://www.watoto.com/

Who Switched Off my Brain?

Yes, sometimes I wonder who switched my brain off. It turns out, it was me. My Church hosted Dr. Caroline Leaf, South African brain psychologist, for a 3 -day seminar weekend. It was so worth it, despite the fact that I had to get up at 8am on a Saturday morning. Dr. Leaf spoke with such enthusiasm and she and her husband were a great team. I learned a lot. Here are some of the main points:

• We aren't a victim of our biology; it's possible to renew our minds. 
• Science is catching up with scripture 
• We are wired for love, fear is a learned action 
• We are designed for deep, intellectual thinking and to constantly learn
• 75-98% of mental and physical illness comes from our thought-life
• We were not designed to be in default mode but to be exceptional

One of the scriptures Dr Leaf chose to emphasize what she had been talking about came from Psalm 139:14:  I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made

I enjoyed her talks so much I bought her book.

And I got it signed.

I'm ready to switch on my brain again:)

Bill Strickland at Coastal Church

What an honour to hear Bill Strickland speak at my church! To be honest, I had never heard of him before but he had the audience hooked from his first sentence. I'm always interested to hear about people who've turned their own trials into blessings for other people. His talk was definitely inspirational and I look forward to reading his book!

 

http://www.bill-strickland.org/

The Olympics are Here!

I somehow managed to wake up at 6am to see the torch relay. My Church had a free pancake breakfast for the community before that.

 

  

The passing of the torch was followed by celebrations near the Vancouver Art Gallery. 

 

Of course, Vancouver wouldn't be Vancouver without a protest or two! At least it was pretty peaceful.

 

  

Free zip-line rides for everyone! I'm thinking of trying this! 

  

  

A lot of festivities and fun things happening on Granville Street all day and night!

 

 

  

  

On the podium!

 

Watoto Children's Choir

I had the honour of seeing these Ugandan children perform at Church today. It was amazing! I rarely see so much energy on stage. The kids were all between the ages of 9 and 13 and had lost both parents to the AIDS pandemic yet they managed to have big smiles on their face and spoke of their hopes and dreams for the future. It was truly inspiring!

http://www.watoto.com/