Singing and music is always a big deal at Mennonite gatherings and this is surely the case in Asuncion. The range of groups that perform and of songs that we sing is striking. I have become particularly pleased by the sound of the Andean Pan flute.
Caution: old guy writing. The singing is complicated. Our most frequent pattern is to sign a single song sequentially in different languages. Frankly, I get confused and find myself waiting for the verse in English. I have noticed that the volume goes up when we get to the verse in English.
There must be a formula for the optimal size for a large group of people singing together. I suspect that 7,000 is well beyond the optimum unless the space is particularly well designed for group singing. Mostly the musicians in the front,with the related amplification, carry everything along. I have noticed that even when they don’t, it is hard to hear the rest of the audience.
The other thng is that most songs go fast and I find myelf looking for something slow enough that Ican get emotionally connected to the song before moving on the next song in the next language.
Am I a bit dissappointed? Yes, I am but it is a disappointment related to very high expectations. There have been some wonderful times of singing. Perhaps, like everything that crosses such divergent cultures, this too, takes time, patience and practice.
George Lehman
11:30 a.m. Thursday
I need to add a p.s. to my post. This morning when I went into the worship service I decided to forget about the translation devices and just “go with the flow.” I missed catching some instructions and a joke or two but soon I was caught up in singing “Lord you have come to the lakeshore” and then a German song “Father, I will love and praise you.” I stopped trying to sing words but simply sang whatever seemed to come out of my mouth. Much better.
A few minutes later, in the middle of a presentation about the building of the Trans Chaco Highway, the power went out in the main auditorium. What to do? The answer was obvious. The singers returned to the stage and for ten minutes we did the low tech version of “Alabere’” and “Grosser Gott, wir loben dich.” A bit confusing but good. The lights sort of came back on we proceeded with the service.
By the way we eat our meals in a parking garage which is still on emergency power. I have no idea where the food is actually prepared. We will soon see how we cope with this situation. I suspect we will do well.
