Spring

It's been a long winter--even in Central Texas.  We have had more rain than usual--thank goodness!  And, quite honestly, more cold than usual.  As March started, however, the temperatures gradually warmed, and spring seemed to be a reality.  The garden centers have been stocking their aisles with so many tempting plants, and even though I have lots of seeds started, I broke down and bought a tomato plant when I spotted the heirloom "Brandywine"  at a local nursery.  And as an appropriate companion, basil.  Mind you, there are tomato and basil seedlings growing in flats on the warm driveway pavement (and brought into the garage at night) but I thought I would take a chance with Brandywine and basil, and planted them on the last day of winter.

Spring began officially on Saturday, 20 March, and--we had frost!  I checked the thermometer when I got up in the morning, and it read 31 degrees--so I rushed back to the garden to check on those two plants that relish hot weather.  Here are the results:

Obviously, it was a little cooler in the garden than up close to the house, or it was below freezing for a period of time.  So much for trying to rush spring during this atypical winter!

I decided I ought to record the event as a reminder that, even if the garden centers stock summer flowers and vegetables, there is no guarantee that they will survive until spring truly arrives.

On the way back to the house, camera in hand, I came across this delicate buttercup growing fearlessly surrounded by the menacing thorns of a prickly pear cactus.  Surprised by nature once again!  Enjoy.

A Fascinating Evening

Last night our church hosted the Mwangaza Children's Choir as this group of Ugandan children stopped in New Braunfels for their "Hope for the Nations"  2010 Tour.  This group of 22 talented eight to thirteen year olds charmed the appreciative audience with their singing (and dancing) and infectious enthusiasm.

With the exception of "America the Beautiful,"  all of their numbers were original Ugandan praise songs, some sung in English, some in native languages, and all accompanied by enthusiastic drumming.  They even invited to audience to sing along with them in one number, which actually worked very well as a "new"  song began to sound familiar:

     Savior, he can move the mountains

     My God is mighty to save,

     He is mighty to save.

     Forever, author of salvation

     He rose and conquered the grave,

     Jesus conquered the grave.

          ("Mighty to Save")

Mwangaza (the Swahili word for "shining light")  is a missionary and fundraising branch of Africa Renewal Ministries, dedicated to raising a new generation of Christian leaders for Africa.

I have to admit, I did not know what to expect from a group from Uganda, the nation that has recently legislated (under the influence of a group of Americans) that homosexuality in Uganda is a capital offense.  As I watched the energetic and spirit-filled children singing, I wondered how many of them might at some point run afoul of such an oppressive law.  During a brief presentation about the work of Africa Renewal Ministries, I learned that 50% of the population of Uganda is under the age of 15!  Fifty percent!  Such is the effect of the AIDS epidemic in East Africa.  Surely as this young generation reaches maturity, such repressive legislation will be replaced by a more humane recognition of the spirit of God in all of God's children.

After the concert we hosted three of the girls and one of their chaperones for the night.  What joy these "young ladies"  (as their chaperone called them) brought to our home.

I don't imagine that "Shake Your Body"  will become a standard in American churches, but it certainly sounded right as the children sang--and danced:

     Shake your body to the Lord

     Hallelujah

     Shake your body,

     Shake, shake,

     Hallelujah

     Shake your body to the Lord

     Hallelujah

     Why don't you rise up and

     Dance to the Lord?

Amen.