I'm home!

I thought I'd drop a note to let you know that I arrived back at Manchester Airport at 10.30 this morning after a long journey! The flights were very smooth and punctual and I look forward to showing people my photos and sharing what I have been doing.

Thanks for all your prayers and support!

Emily

Happy Christmas!!

I thought I'd wish you all a very

Happy Christmas

God Bless,

Emily

Masengo Church

Last night's recording was at Masengo church which is going to be the main University Church for the Anglican University which is currently in development.

I had the same issues over an electrical loop although we were in the vestry at first and once we moved into the main church, my equipement wasn't getting any more interference. It was a good recording session and the young people were enthusiastic and worked very hard at their song. I was able to do a bit of overdubbing as well, giving me more chance to mix the song in a more effective way when I need to back in the UK.

Please pray for the recording sessions all week, that they would go as smoothly as possible and that if there are any issues with electrical loops or other barriers, then I'll be able to overcome them and record effectively.

Thank you!

Exx

Recording!!

I am recording choirs all week, which is proving to be an interesting experience as I only have limited equipment and can only do a certain amount with what I have got. I hope to be able to use it to its fullest potential however, and then I will mix what I have recorded, once I get back to the UK. Here's a photo of the recording session last night at the Anglican church at Ipagala. It was a trying experience as I had a fair amount of technical hitches with eqquipment - the major one being a ground loop which prevented me from recording anything until I had set up a DI box which allowed me to lift the signal and therefore breaking the loop. There were other hitches but I hope to have got enough recorded to be able to work with when I am back. There were 2 choirs wanting to be recorded and so that gave more pressure on timing, especially when the equipment wasn't playing ball!! I am at another church tonight.

Exx

Music Workshop in Ipagala

I led a music workshop on Saturday afternoon and 11 youth choir leaders were in attendance. I really enjoyed teaching this group, and they are all keen to understand more about music. Music education is lacking in Tanzania as I have mentioned previously and it seems to me that it is not lack of enthusiasm for understanding, more lack of opportunities to learn. I am running a follow-up workshop with the same group this coming Saturday.

Please pray for that and also for the recording work I am doing this week

Thanks,

Emily

Under 5s at the Canon Andrea Mwaka School

Hi, I thought I'd post a picture of what I was up to this morning! I helped out with a group of 3-5 year olds at the International School in Dodoma, which is actually 10 mins walk from where I am staying. It is a Christian school, which is run by the Diocese of Central Tanganyika. I did a few songs with them and joined in with some other activities also. A huge issue in Tanzania is that of education. It is seriously lacking and that can be a huge issue on a day-to-day basis when people haven't been taught to problem-solve and think for themselves. What they are doing at Canon Andrea, is teach from the English syllabus. There are many missionary children as well as local muslim and christian children who attend. I will post more next week but a thunderstorm is brewing and the internet connection keeps going off! Thanks,

Emily

Village Life

I thought I'd post a brief update today! I spent all day yesterday at a village just outside Dodoma, which was a very interesting experience. I was aware of some things, but not others, and so I found that the villagers are very spread out across the land and have "complexes" which are their own bits of land with their house and a places to keep livestock. Many people live together in one complex, and men in the village have more than one wife. There were many many children all over the place! It is a stark contrast to the UK, as these people have built their own houses, and what you see is what you get. They were grateful for our visit and incredibly welcoming, and also asked if people back home could pray for them. There are many Christians in the village and a few people met us at the Anglican church. They send their greetings to the UK. I thought I would post a picture of the children waving to you!

Please do remember these people in your prayers, as they serve to remind us that many people in the world live in poverty and struggle to survive with the smallest amount of resources.

Thank you

Emily