I have been blessed to see several "flash mob" renditions of the Hallelujah Chorus on U-tube over the last few weeks, and have been longing to hear the whole Messiah.  I just discovered I have a total Messiah CD  and have been listening to it with joy in the words and delight in the wonderful music.  As I've been listening I remembered the first time I was ever in a choir that sang the Hallelujah chorus.  It was at Tambo - sometime after 1964 when I first went there.  How I enjoyed it.  Then I began to think of the different pieces we sang, and how often in that music, as I was singing I felt the power and presence of the Lord in the music.  As I listen to my CD,  I was wishing I could hear the entire Messiah sung by our Tambo Choir, or a  group of believers.  Not trained opera type singers, but sweet voiced singers, the music pouring out of believing and praising hearts. 

Gloria Stairs that was, reminded me of this also.  How she was so moved when the total audience stood to their feet at Tambo.  I have no memory of every hearing the Hallelujah chorus live so I was astounded.  What a glorious praise to the Almighty Father. I think almost everyone in the choir, if not all, were deeply moved.

 I love that even today it is sung by men and women who though they despise the name of the Lord or only know it to use it in vain, but they love this music.  When it  is sung, or even just played I believe every heart that hears it quickens with joy and adoration.  How like the Lord to use this gift to Handel to keep Him in our minds and hearts even when we try to deny Him. 

I remember being in choir at Tambo as being one of the real high lights of my time there.  Everyone was involved.  You couldn't say, I'm not interested or I cannot sing.  It was a requirement.  I always thought everyone could be taught to sing, to carry a tune because I saw Dave Lotz work with each group til they knew their parts perfectly.  I bet many of the Tambo choir members could still sing their part in some of the music we sang. 

I remember one of the older girls singing  "I know that my Redeemer Liveth" - it still brings tears to my eyes as I remember.  I remember singing "He could have called 10,000 Angels" and the first time, as we sang, I was fighting to not break down sobbing at the message of the song.  Music is so powerful - one of the divine gifts given to mankind to remind us of our Father, Creator, Redeemer and Lord. 

Satan has tried for all time to destroy that gift in the world, to corrupt or mar it, but for all that, God continues to use music to praise, honor and worship  Him.  And it flourishes in this world, bringing joy and and a deep to deep response of worship to our creator. 

I remember also, one Easter Morning, just as the sun edged the top of the mountain, being awoken out of a sound sleep to the song  "Christ the Lord is risen today" over the school loudspeaker.  I know I leapt to the window, looking eagerly for the Lord coming down for us in that minute. 

Thank you Mr. Dave Lotz and all those others, Mrs. Hurst, and even the students  Anna Foster and Gloria Stairs in my day and other's my mind has forgotten for one of the best parts of Tambo life.

Just recently WORLD magazine had an article about abuse in a Missionary school in Africa. I read it with great sorrow in my heart and tears welling up inside me. But I want to say, emphatically, during the years I was at Tambo High School, in Bolivia, from Spring 1964 to graduation in 1967, to my own personal knowledge there was no abuse of any sort going on at TAMBO. On the web page set up for giving a forum of expression to those abused in Africa, it was indicated that TAMBO was going to be investigated. If this is true I am heartbroken. But, I personally want to speak for the interactions I had at TAMBO.


I was an outsider, and as such, created somewhat of a stir with the authorities at TAMBO. At the time I felt it, and was at times bitter. For me, the coming back to school after a furlough of Mr. and Mrs. Dave Lotz began a positive and healing change for me personally. My differences within the school in fact had much to do with my own casual and ungodly outlook at the time. I'd begun to be a Christian on the outside but ceased walking with God in my heart. I believe the staff realized this and were fearful that my unrepentant heart would cause trouble with other students, especially those I was friends with. However, I praise the LORD always for giving me the privilege of going to Tambo. The friends the LORD brought to me were a strong factor in my wanting to serve the LORD, in fact.

I was never perfect - but a boy who began to pay attention to me, Paul Hale, spoke often to me of faith, and urged me to let the LORD rule and reign in my life. Girls who came along side, Gloria Stairs and Anna Foster are two I've kept in loose touch with over the years, but many others also, never in word or deed showed any interest in 'rebelling' but rather made me want to love the LORD.


Many things also touched me long term.  Mr. Metzgar shared how God healed his beloved daughter Charlotte at a young age. He also shared about God speaking to him how taking things home from work, pens and paperclips is what I remember, was stealing. One of the staff taught on being responsible for the area around you - not carving on the desks, not throwing papers down on the ground. Then we put the message into practice covering the whole school grounds picking up trash. VERY effective for me. I still cannot throw stuff out the car window!!!!

Bill Gothard's teaching about honoring parents in dating and not dabbling in any form of witchcraft was very timely for me. I'd not ever been interested in astrology, but had been reading a book about how to control other peoples thoughts. My dad found it and threw it away, but with the teaching from Mr. Gothard I learned why.  In Africa I saw how dealing directly in Satan's territory brings havoc in lives and nations.


I confess, I did not get along with every staff member equally, but though there were some misunderstandings that caused me some trouble, it was that only - and since growing up and having children of my own I understand more.


I personally praise the LORD for taking me to TAMBO. And I want to speak for the staff there at that time. I do feel now and even did then, that it was not God's plan for a family to have children and then post them off to a boarding school while they did work for the LORD. And I felt very strongly that it was horrific for husbands and wives to be separated for months at a time. I know their hearts were to serve the LORD but I believe God's plan was for families to live together, and children raised by father and mother - at least in the early years. But, my friends at Tambo, who went to school there from grade one all are very positive and loving about those school years so I believe God honored the intent of their parents hearts.

It is unfortunate that there were people willing in the African school to abuse those young lives. I deeply grieve for them - in fact I've been praying for the victims of that abuse but also for those who sinned against the children, and the authorities who took the knowledge of abuse casually. I know God is mighty to forgive, but repentance does not follow forgiveness, rather repentance is followed by forgiveness. I know, as I've done my own share of sinning and needing God's divine restoration. And I also believe where repentance is not evidenced there will be a meeting with the LORD regarding those areas. I say this fearfully, as I know my own need of repentance and keeping my own heart right with God.

But in praying what came to me, was the word in the Romans 12:19 Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.”

Only in remembering God is in control and will deal with each of us according to our lives, have I been able to let go of my own rage against those who destroy the lives of children. We are called by God to stop evil when we see it and are in a position to do it officially before the Law, and following in the body of Christ, God's plan for the church /Spiritual leaders to deal with sin - but in the end I have to leave it there. I pray for repentance.


We, the body of Christ, need to become serious before the LORD GOD ALMIGHTY.