The Local Music Scene
Our family has had the opportunity to spend time with some local musicians for a few months now, learning the Sakalava language and culture and discovering their musical talent. Ladis, the lead singer, is the oldest son of our home-stay father, Papa Armand (the post from last New Years shows Papa with a huge smile, holding the turkey and chickens above his head with pride). Matis plays lead guitar, Edme plays backup with a traditional Malagasy guitar, and Fabio and Lino play percussion. Since Rebe began learning to play the guitar last October, our new friends have encouraged her along the way. She admits that their African rhythms are brilliant, and that there’s a sharp learning curve between Sakalava music and, “It is Well, With My Soul”.
As a family we have chosen to encourage and empower their musical makings. Most Saturdays they visit our house, relax on our deck, play music and share a meal with us. It’s been a blessing to build these friendships and they have been generous in sharing their knowledge of the local culture (especially the culture of the younger generation) with us. They often play music at local ceremonial rituals, and many of their songs deal with traditional culture and values, including the honoring and veneration of their ancestors. We have had several occasions to learn about their understanding of God and spirituality and share the truth of the Gospel. They have many points of connection, like their belief in a Supreme Creator, that we have been able to build on. Please pray for these guys as they are eager to understand who they are in light of who God is.
Here is a video of them that we recorded at the beach just down the road from our house:
Recently, we gave them a Sakalava version of Daniel 3: 28-29 which our team leader, Rosina, translated. In English it says, “(they) yielded up their bodies rather than serve and worship any god except their own God… for there is no other god who is able to rescue in this way.” This is the first attempt at giving Groupe Tsinfitaka (their band name) some Sakalava scripture or worship lyrics and having them put it to local rhythms. Remember, there is little Sakalava Christian culture; no songs, no scripture, no hymns, poems, or songs. When we gave them the words, there were many other Sakalava kids (and teens) on our deck, and we were able to share with them the context in which the words were written. The words are about Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego refusing to obey Nebuchadnezzar’s commands to worship false gods. They then spent the rest of the afternoon creating the song, every single person on our deck singing the words over and over, imprinting them on their hearts and minds. This was two weeks ago, and just today I heard one of the kids (Tegha-14) singing the song as he was helping us clean our yard. Friends, this is exciting! We are looking forward to the day when we have enough songs to make the first Sakalava Christian album and looking ahead to the day when we will sing these Sakalava worship songs with our brothers and sisters before the throne of God above! Here is the first one:
-Bryan
This is beautiful!
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Awesome! Love the sound. What a ‘God inspired’ opportunity.
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I agree, Mom. This idea is from the Lord…love you.
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Bryan and Rene, could you add my mom to your email list? normatackett@live.com
I have been sharing your updates with her for some time and she is faithful to pray for you and your ministry daily. I am encouraged in my personal walk with your updates and we will continue to pray for you all as you serve our awesome God!
Much love to you all, Jan
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Hey Jan! Thanks for the encouraging words and for the prayers. I would love for Aunt Norma to get our updates… we can’t add her to the list, though. All she needs to do is go to our website (www.mcreynoldstribe.com) and enter her email at the bottom left of the homepage, under the heading “follow our blog.” Once she does that, she will receive an email every time we post something. It is good to hear from you, please say hello to everyone up there!
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Thank you for sharing! God is at work before our very eyes.
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Wow thanking god with you- thanks so Much for including the song. Praying for your music guys and in awe how god is using you all to influence culture by partnering w local musicians. So awesome!!! Keep looking up- May The Lord continue to hold you fast and tight and renew you each day in his goodness love and grace. Praying for your kiddos.
Love, Suzanne
Suzanne Wilson suzanne_e_wilson@yahoo.com 512.632.1182
Sent from my iPhone
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It’s so great to hear from you Suzanne…give the family and the church our love. We miss you guys. We’re excited to see what God is up to with the relationships we’ve formed with these talented friends and musicians. Grace and peace, sister.
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Wow, that was so beautiful! God is good all of the time.
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God is good. We praise God for your encouragement and prayers…blessings, sister.
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This is SO AWESOME! What a surprising, beautiful, way for the LORD to bring his words to a people. Thank you for opening your porch, your food, and your creativity to the these young men, and for following the always-ingenious ways of the holy spirit. I love you guys. So eager to come for a visit.
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Yes, yes. We are eager for you to visit us. Love ya’ll…
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Hi Bryan and Rebe,
We’re always so encouraged by your blog posts! How exciting that the gospel is spreading through music!
I’d like to use this story and photo on http://www.mtw.org/news and on our Facebook page. Any objections to that?
Thanks!
Melanie
Melanie Benedict
678.823.0004, ext. 2280
http://WWW.MTW.ORG
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beautiful music! praying for you and the sakalava people!
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It’s great to hear from you. Thank you for your prayers and for following our journey…rebe
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Life is a dance…God’s love is the music. Thanking God for you and your ministry, for hearts that break for what break’s His and for putting feet on your faith and stepping out of the box to reach these wonderful sisters and brothers. May God bless you and keep you and shine His face upon you. Will continue to lift you up in prayer. Diane 🙂
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We thank you for your continued prayers and encouragement. It’s pretty amazing what God is doing through music and translation! His Word is on the move and we are thrilled to be part of His plans in Madagascar.
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