Earlier on in the week I informed a couple of the team
members (Mark and Allison) who live here in Swaziland that I had no intention
of bringing my guitar back with me to the U.S., and asked if there was a need
for this guitar here or if they knew someone that could use it. They immediately looked at each other and
simultaneously exclaimed, “Thokozani!”
As it was instantly apparent by their reaction that this was a
no-brainer, I inquired further about the man who they passionately agreed upon.
Thokozani is a member of the Development Team here in
Swaziland looking over many of the carepoints in this area. Over the past 18 months, several different
teams have taught him to play guitar (and have done a pretty darn good job if I
say so myself). Ever since his first
lesson, he has told Mark and Allison that one day, he will buy a guitar. He had started saving up his money, but with
family expenses coupled with the huge costs of getting a purchase-worthy
guitar, it seemed like it was a distant dream of his to one day have one of his
own.
On Thursday afternoon, Thokozani showed up to the carepoint
under the ruse that he was only there to help with distribution of backpacks to
the kids (as he normally doesn’t serve at the Mkhombokati Carepoint). Completely unsuspecting, he walked into the
new building where I had just finished up leading the kids in VBS songs. Mark and Allison called Thokozani over to us
and introduced me to him. I can honestly
say that I rarely meet anyone who likes to smile as much as I do, but this man
had teeth from ear to ear the moment he walked in the room. After only a few minutes of talking to him,
you were instilled with his passion and joy.
It was obvious that Thokozani loves developing relationships and it was
no mystery why everyone was such a fan of his.
Now it was time for me to have a little fun with him. I told him that I had heard through the
grapevine that he actually knows how to play the guitar. Half abashed and half ecstatic, he told me
this was true and that he loves playing.
When I asked if ‘I were to hand him the guitar right now, would he be
able to play us something?’, he immediately took up the challenge…..
And he did not disappoint!
After a minute or two of his song, I was ready to get to the
fun part. I asked him where he had
learned to play, which he corroborated everything I had heard before. Then I asked him:
“Do you practice often?”
“No, I don’t get to that much.”
“I see, do you have a guitar of your own?”
“No, no I don’t”, he replied.
“Well, that guitar is yours.”
With the guitar still strung over his shoulder, he
stopped. I think every ounce of blood
and energy instantly went to his brain, as he tried to think of every other
possibility of what I could have said, assuming maybe he misunderstood me. Finally, he replied “Really?”
After several assurances that the guitar was really his, he
went began spinning in circles (guitar still on) and screaming.
The most remarkable part of it all, though, was what he said
next. He told me he was so excited to be
able to help out at the carepoints now.
To be able to come lead worship for them, as well as doing the same at
his church. It was powerful to see
someone who has been given a long wanted gift immediately turn around to
exclaim how he is going to give it right back to God.
I later showed him everything that was included in the case:
the tuner, the extra strings, the chord charts, extra picks, and the capo. And with each item, that never ending smile
grew bigger and bigger. I’m incredibly
excited to see what the future holds in store for this young man.
Tyler O.
