An ethnomusicologist held a seminar in December that had a profound impact on the Gabra at Kalacha.

Gabra Man

The focus was music and it lasted for 5 days. In that period of time over 40 Gabra men, women and youth gathered together for a time of studying God’s word and music development. In the past years the Gabra believers used songs that were mostly translated from trusted hymns and songs that had been used from outside the Gabra culture.  During the seminar, the people gathered to learn to develop music their own way to in order to worship God and celebrate what He’s done for them.

During the seminar one man stated, “We didn’t get much to eat or drink because of the drought, but we sure feasted together in the word.” Another man summed up the time by saying “I love this teaching! We can’t stop now though, the rains haven’t come and we need to keep praising God until they do.” (Two weeks later the rains did come, in abundance).

The seminar resulted in a number of new songs that are being sung that are distinctly Gabra. One elder recently shared, “These songs are just too good to keep here at Kalacha; let’s take them to other Gabra up in the Hurri Hills.”

The rains came and even flooded some areas. In one day in January it rained 3 times as much as in the previous 12 months. God was good to the Gabra and provided the much needed moisture to allow the grass to grow and give the animals the grazing they need to keep going.

With the TIMO team finishing in Kalacha in April there will still be one couple to continue the work there and another couple to continue in the Hurri Hills with both the Borana and the Gabra. Pray that the Lord will raise up Gabra to take the message of Christ farther on. A number have been going into other villages so pray that this will continue and that God will create a people movement amongst the Gabra to raise up people for His name.

PRAYER POINTS

• Pray for the TIMO team that is leaving Kalacha in April - that God will give each of them direction.
• Pray for the one Kenyan couple who are considering staying on.
• Pray that the Gabra believers will be emboldened to reach out to the greater community.
• Pray that the Gabra will continue with the songs they’ve created and that Gabra believers would take these new songs and use them as an avenue to share their faith.
• Pray that God would enable the believers to stay true to their calling, to stand strong and not be pulled back into the old traditions. 
• Pray for a people movement for  Christ among the Gabra.