Two years ago, as we closed our last Worship Seminar, I prayed for a team for this summer. I had people praying for God to raise up some great musicians and wonderful hearts to help us out. As time drew near, I was beginning to wonder what God would do to make this happen. We began thinking of how to fill in gaps in the team needed to teach the various instrument and vocal workshops. Then one by one or two by two, God began to supply the team that we needed. Up until a couple days before the seminar, God kept working and helping us find the translators that we needed to make it all work out. In the end we had an awesome team of musicians, MKs, pastors, and translators. We also had a team of deacons and cooks working in the background making it all happen. So all we can say is that Our God is Great! 
Overall we had 41 students in attendance. 29 of them had never before attended this seminar and were beginners in the language of music. Tanzanians for the most part are super musical and great singers. They even play guitars and keyboards quite well, all by ear. To introduce them to the world of written is huge goal that we have. We begin teaching quarter notes (one beat notes), the grand staff, and some other basic musical terms. It’s amazing how much they learned in 4 days. By the end of the week they could somewhat sight read the chorus of “Leaning on the everlasting Arms” with a twist. It was pretty cool since they had never before heard that song. 
Over the past few months I worked on translating “How Great is our God” and by the end of the week they had it down pretty well. As students walked back and forth between classes I often heard them humming the chorus to this “new-to-them” song. If we had decent internet here I’d post videos but for now you’ll just have to take my word for it.
We spent a lot of time teaching about worship being a lifestyle, about leading worship services in such a way that the musicians and choir members don’t “steal the glory from God”. We had many example services and had them write service plans out in practice. I was often thankful for the little mistakes that were made in these services so that we could discuss them and teach each other through simple mistakes.
A highlight was Sunday morning after our seminar, our teachers worked with two different local churches in making and leading a worship service in their churches using many of the things we talked about in our seminar.
Another highlight was having Gideons from the States on our team together with Tanzanian Gideons and having them hand out Bibles to all the students at the seminar. 
As we said good-bye at the end of it all, the students hugged and shook hands with their teachers. It was a special service at the end where the Tanzanians gave small symbolic gifts to their teachers.
It’s hard to believe that the prayers and planning of two years are already finished! Praise the Lord for all that He has done.
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