Watoto African Children's Choir

Last evening, we went to see the Watoto African Children's Choir at a local church.  I had heard about the choir being in town only through a posting on my often-silent Ottawa-area-parents-who-have-adopted-from-Africa yahoo group.  We decided to take a chance and rallied the family for a concert outing.

It was a beautiful evening.  We loved the music.  We loved the children's smiles and carefully spoken English.  We loved worshipping in a church that had as many dark-skinned faces as light-skinned faces.  We loved hearing the stories of despair turned to hope--narratives of redemption--that were so close to stories that our own could tell.

 (This photo was taken from http://watotochoirs.wordpress.com/2012/05/21/watoto-the-best-sleep-centre-manitoba/).

We brought home four tired but excited children, one extra doll made by HIV-positive women in Uguanda (Abby was the winner of a giveaway!), a CD that has been playing pretty much non-stop in our house today, and a little extra joy in all of our hearts.

Andrew also brought home a little extra motivation to practice his drumming and his dance moves :)

If a Watoto choir is ever in your area, I would highly recommend that you attend the concert.  I don't think you will be disappointed.  (If you are a reader that lives in the Ottawa area, there are still a few more opportunities to see the choir.  Check here for concert times and locations.)