Pastor Roland’s Blog

Nine and a half years ago I started seventh grade in South Africa. My family had just moved back to South Africa after spending eleven years in Omaha, NE. I was born in South Africa, and we had visited twice to see family while we lived in Omaha, but I wasn’t prepared for the culture shock I would face upon my return. I left all my friends back in Omaha, and was now in what was at the time more of a foreign country to me. I started seventh grade at the beginning of the South African school year which starts in January at an elementary school called New Germany Primary School. It was the most frightening day of my life. To start it off, as part of my school uniform I had to wear shorts that were only half way down my thigh in front of all these girls at school. I also had to wear a Speedo to co-ed swimming lessons a couple of days a week. And to top it off my mom walked me all the way to the door of my class room on my first day of school, holding my hand, in front of all of those same cute South African girls in my class.
Yet, in the midst of the scariest moment of my life, a kid in my class befriended me. His name was Babuyile Shabalala. He was an amazing friend! He bought me snacks at school, introduced me to all of his friends, and just accepted this new American kid with a funny accent. He always told me that he was the grandson of the lead singer of Ladysmith Black Mambazo, a Grammy Award winning men’s choral group from a couple of hours away from where we were attending school. I left South Africa and Babuyile two years later, but always remembered him, his great friendship, and what he had told me about his family heritage.
The story continues nine and a half years after I first met Babuyile. My grandma and I had seen that Ladysmith Black Mambazo was coming to Nampa, and she asked if I wanted to go as a part of my graduation present. We were able to get close to front row seats. Last Tuesday night was the night of the concert. It was amazing! I had always admired their beautiful voices dancing through different harmonies and rhythms, but to hear it in real life was unforgettable.
At intermission I also bought some CD’s and a DVD of theirs. After the last song of the night had ended I dashed out with grandma to get them signed by the group. Three members of the group were signing everyone’s CD’s so I also got in line. When I got up there I double checked with one of the group members to make sure that the group was all related to each other. The guy I talked to said yes, and then I told him I knew Babuyile, my friend from all those years ago in New Germany, South Africa. He was pretty shocked to hear that I knew him. He told me to wait a couple of seconds and then I could go back stage to meet his dad and grandpa. My grandma and I followed some of the guys back into the change room and we found all of the guys gathered together. Sure enough, there was his dad and grandpa. I told them of the connection I had with them and all of us couldn’t stop smiling. After shaking hands with each of them, and talking to his dad and granddad for a while, we got a group picture together. I was able to get Babuyile’s e-mail address, and I have now regained contact with a friend I have been trying to contact for years.
Now that I have had some time to reflect on that joyous night, I can’t help but think about how great it is going to be to reunite with Jesus and the other members of the family of God once I get to heaven. I was so excited to see the Shabalala family from the group Ladysmith Black Mambazo, but when I see Jesus, it will truly be a time of unimaginable joy.
Jesus has promised us that those who believe in his name have been given the right to become children of God, as noted in John 1:12 – “Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.” As children of God we will one day have an awesome reunion with our Father. I was excited to have the connection I did with Ladysmith Black Mambazo, but I am even more excited for the day that I will join the multitude in heaven and have the most amazing reunion possible! I hope and pray that each and every one of you is firstly going to have this heavenly reunion, and secondly looking forward to it! If you aren’t sure that you are, feel free to come chat with me to figure out how you can!
Pastor Roland