However, he had a sense of comfort knowing that he carried the prayer in his pocket, which he would use as a weapon of protection should the need arises, but his main aim was to ensure he would get home to save the rest of the family and not just himself. He had the best interests of his family at heart. By midday, Fanu arrived in Nengara and was relieved to see life on the mountain. He took in a sigh of relief before collapsing on the mat under the baobab tree in the centre of the yard, panting for breath and extremely thirsty. The dogs ran to him and almost licked his face off with delight at his return.
Chapter 26
At the king’s compound, the families of Goza gathered together straight after dinner to pray in the new prayer room before they went to bed. Mara had had another visit from the Angel of the Lord instructing her to teach the people a song of worship that they should sing before they began to pray. The Angel had said that this would enable the Holy Spirit to come down and empower them to pray more effectively.
The Angel also told Mara that there would be more songs to come so that she could teach the others how to sing them but that they needed to make instruments, such as harps, tambourines, rattles and drums to play to the rhythm and tune he was teaching her. Mara wasn’t sure the people could actually sing and wondered whether it was easier just to stick to praying than to sing as well. She sighed and read the song trying to apply the tune to it as follow:
Let your Shekinah Glory encompass me, oh Lord
Fill me with your Holy Spirit to overflowing
Melt my heart to become like yours
Touch my tongue with your power
Turn my words into flames of fire
To speak as your oracle
Chorus
Make me an example of your saving grace
Make me an example of your saving grace
When Mara had recited the song over and over to herself, she felt confident that the others would be able to learn it with ease as it was a simple song and she jumped to her feet and announced to the congregation that she had a song to teach them.
Mama Mondo was the first one to jump on the bandwagon and said, “Mara, I think a song is a good idea, let’s get started and let’s have some fun with it. People are too serious; one would think the evil spirits are coming today!”
Mara replied, “That’s the spirit, Mama Mondo, now we need to split ourselves into parts according to our singing abilities and the tones of our voices to create harmony. Otherwise we are going to turn ourselves deaf!”
Everyone burst out laughing as they knew full well what Mara meant. Most of them were tone deaf and it was painful to hear them attempt to sing. Mara had her work cut out and she knew it too well! However, that was the least of her worries, she was more concerned with their full participation and buy into the whole activity.
The choir was in full swing as Mara had managed to get some to play instruments, especially those who did not have good singing voices, and others were to sing alto some to sing soprano and some tenor. However, they did not know all that, all they knew was that it was working and nice music was being made, although it was early days yet to perfection. As it was a school night, Mara spent only an hour rehearsing with them and left for bed.
She was well pleased with the results and had had so much fun with it. For a moment, the entire group of people had forgotten what was at stake or why they were doing this, because there was a sense of love and unity among them and they all enjoyed rehearsing and laughed hard at each other’s mistakes whilst learning the song. The adults remained to pray for another hour for themselves and their families and neighbours before they also went to bed.
Mara fell into a deep sleep and the Angel of the Lord visited her again around three o’clock in the morning and said to her, “Mara, wake up I have another song for you to learn and sing with the people.” Mara first thought she was dreaming, but she was now so familiar with the voice of the Angel and rose up to find a pen and paper and wrote as the Angel spoke;
In these days of evil
Sanctify me to be pure
Holy, righteous and true
In these days of evil
Let me stand without bending
Let me stand without leaning
Onto the world
For the world is falling
And those who lean on it
Will fall with it
Into a heap
A rubble that will never
Be put together again
Chorus
Let me stand, oh Lord
Through it all
Let me stand
As the Angel was departing, he said to Mara, “See to it that everyone gets involved in learning this song also and use the two songs to prepare you for times of prayer and you will see the manifestation of the glory and power of God in the prayer room.”
Mara said, “Thank you, I will do as you ask.” She fell back to sleep as it was yet night-time.
Early in the morning, the Goza people got up to their usual run of the mill. The kids got ready for school after having their breakfast and ran off to school as usual. On their way to school, Mara was teaching them the songs and they sang merrily all the way. The teachers heard them sing as they approached the school for the first time
