TARBORO —
Halloween was filled with first-time experiences for the Ugandan Thunder African Children’s Choir. On their first visit to Tarboro, the choir sang and danced with Stocks Elementary School students, and dressed up in costumes to experience an American tradition: trick-or-treating at Piggly Wiggly.
“One of the great joys of my life is seeing these children experience the ‘Aha’ moments, like their first ice cream and French fries,” said Ted Moody, founder of Pennies for Posho, the Christian humanitarian organization that sponsors the Ugandan Thunder tour.
The 22 children in the choir are from the Royal School and Orphanage in Mityana, Uganda. Moody said the children are “delightful” and always appreciative, telling him, “Thank you, Big Daddy” (their nickname for him) when they get off the tour bus.
The joy and enthusiasm that the children expressed in their singing, drumming and dancing Wednesday afternoon was contagious. Stocks students were all smiles after joining in the dancing during the choir’s last song.
“It was splendid. I got to dance up there with a Ugandan boy. He taught me a new move,” said Jah’nas Harris,” a 2nd grader.
“I really liked their dancing. I don’t see people dance like that a lot,” said Joey Askew, also a 2nd grader. Sha’kira Whitehead, 2nd grader, twisted and turned on the dance floor with choir member Florence Kukiriza, 14.
While the choir had fun, dancing, drumming and singing tunes such as “The Lion Sleeps Tonight,” they also shared an inspirational message with the audience in songs such as the hymn of faith “Amazing Grace.”
“Their message is that there is hope no matter how dark things seem,” said Moody.
Kukiriza’s favorite song is “There Are No Orphans of God.”
“I don’t have my parents, but I know that God is there with us to be our Father,” Kukiriza said. During a question and answer session, Stocks students were surprised to learn how little the orphans have yet how happy they seem.
“They’re just thankful for what God has gave them,” said Tiara Lanier, a 2nd grader.
For Christmas, the orphans receive only a piece of chicken, one of the two times a year when they eat meat, Moody told the children. Kukiriza, for one, has acquired a love of chicken and French fries in her time in the United States.
“I like Krispy Kreme doughnuts, chicken and French fries,” 10-year-old Jackline Nanyonga, another choir member, said. “We don’t have Chick-fil-A, McDonald’s, Wal-Mart [in Uganda].”
The mainstay of Ugandan children’s diet is posho, a cornmeal-type starch sometimes served with beans, Moody said.
“The next time you put food in your mouth, you need to think about what you have,” Connie Crowe, 2nd grade teacher, told her class of students after the choir’s performance. She recruited the choir to come to Stocks after learning they would be in town for a concert at First Baptist Church, where her husband is the pastor.
“We have been learning about places all over the world and getting a chance to meet people from the continent of Africa has been so exciting for all of us,” Crowe said.
Kenny and Brenda Honeycutt, owners of Piggly Wiggly, got a chance to meet the choir later Wednesday afternoon. The children serenaded the Honeycutts and their customers with the Gospel song “I’ll Fly Away” before receiving goodies.
Brenda handed out bags filled with candy to the children donning their Spiderman, princess, butterfly, ladybug and honeybee Halloween costumes. As she handed out the candy, Brenda noticed all the children looked at her with appreciation and said, “Thank you, mum.”
“Any kids that come in today, cashiers have some candy to hand out to them,” said Kenny. While the Ugandan orphans weren’t the only ones receiving Halloween candy at the Tarboro supermarket, the experience was special for them because it was a first-time treat.
The choir is on an 11-month tour of 23 countries in the United States.
“It’s a life-changing experience for them because of the great difference in culture and economy. They get to experience a lot of things,” said Moody. Among the choir’s educational and recreational activities while on tour are visiting the Georgia aquarium, the St. Louis arch and the incline railway in Chattanooga, Tenn.
The tour raises money for Pennies for Posho, an organization that aids 5,000 children in 11 orphanages in Uganda. Moody has been taking a different group of Ugandan children on tour every year since 2004. Each child in the choir receives a full high-school scholarship.
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The Ugandan Thunder African Children’s Choir expressed joy in their singing and dancing in front of an audience of students at Stocks Elementary School Wednesday afternoon. Tarboro was one of the stops on the choir’s 11-month tour of the United States.
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Sha’Kira Whitehead, a 2nd grader at Stocks Elementary School, danced with 14-year-old Florence Kukiriza, a member of the Ugandan Thunder African Children’s Choir, during a special performance at the school Wednesday afternoon.
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The Ugandan Thunder African Children's Choir went trick-or-treating for the first time at Piggly Wiggly in Tarboro Wednesday afternoon. They sang "I'll Fly Away" for supermarket owners and customers before receiving goodies.
Ugandan Thunder visits Stocks
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Here is your chance to celebrate your graduate’s Special Day by announcing their graduation in our Congratulation Page.
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Hats Off To Our Graduates!
The announcements will appear in The Daily Southerner on June 7, 2013.
Deadline for placing announcements will be Tuesday, June 4th by 5:00pm.
All ads must be pre-paid. Information can be dropped off at our office 504 W. Wilson Street, Tarboro or call 823-3106. - Early college seniors graduate
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Hats Off To Our Graduates!
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Dr. Deborah Lamm, president of Edgecombe Community College, received the national ACT Career Preparedness Award on behalf of the college Tuesday. Shown from left to right are Dr. Jon Whitmore, ACT CEO; Scott Montgomery, ACT vice president; Sid Baker, education program specialist, NC Office of the State Superintendent; Dr. Lamm; and Virginia Edwards; editor-in-chief, Education Week.
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Edgecombe Community College receives national award
Edgecombe Community College (ECC) received a national award Tuesday night for its efforts to prepare students to be successful in careers and the workplace.
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Edgecombe Community College receives national award
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14-Under softball tryout
The Tarboro Parks and Recreation Department and Edgecombe County Girls Softball League will be having tryouts for 14-under girls fast-pitch softball Wednesday, May 29 from 7 - 8:30 p.m. at Farmington Park in Rocky Mount. The is located at 319 Wellington Dr. There will also be a tryout Thursday, May 30 at Indian Lake Sports Complex on field 1 in Tarboro from 6 - 7:30 p.m. There is a $10 fee for Tarboro residents and a $35 fee for non-residents. For more information call the sports complex at 641-4202, Kathy Webb 252-813-4697 or Jamie Lindsey 252-883-0883 or sftbllgrlunc@hotmail.com.
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14-Under softball tryout
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My 13 years have been lucky
It was 13 years Sunday that a drought was broken in Big Spring, Texas, After that, we ate Mexican for dinner with a gathering of family and friends.
The next day, a Saturday, Stephanie and I joined one another in marriage under a beautiful little gazebo by Comanche Trail Lake, fed by the historic spring from which the community draws its name.
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My 13 years have been lucky
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Corbett/Chasse Wedding
Brittney Joyce Corbett and Kenneth Robert Chasse, Jr. were united in marriage on April 6th, 2013, at 5:30pm at the Imperial Centre in Rocky Mount. The Rev. Carrol Bradbury officiated the ceremony.
The Rehearsal Dinner was hosted by Shirley and Donald Foreman, Grandparents of the Groom and also Elisha and Kenneth Chasse, Parents of the Groom, at Pizza Inn in Rocky Mount.
The Bride is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. William Durwood Corbett of Macclesfield, NC. The Groom is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth Robert Leonel Chasse, Sr. of Pinetops, NC.
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CURTIS LEE DAVIS
PRINCEVILLE — Curtis Lee Davis, 60, died Sunday, May 19, 2013. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, May 25, 2013 at the St. Luke Missionary Baptist Church (2225 N.C. Hwy 97 East) with burial in the Morning Family Cemetery.
Arrangements under direction of Dickens Funeral Service. - IRENE EVANS
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CURTIS LEE DAVIS
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Great fondue
My husband and I love to entertain. We also love fondue. I have 4 or 5 fondue pots. I use them regularly. Some of them I have had for a long time.
Fondue began as a way to use up old, hardened cheese. The original fondue was cheese with wine. You then dipped hardened pieces of bread into the mixture. In America, the 1950's was the height of the fondue craze. However, it appears to be making a comeback. - Budget Friendly Deliciousness
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Edgecombe Events May 24
Edgecombe Events should be submitted by noon the day before publication. Items eligible include notices of local meetings and activities of non-profit organizations, clubs, schools and civic groups in the community. Information should be brief and typewritten, neatly printed or via e-mail. Questions? 823-3106 or e-mail: events@dailysoutherner.com. Leave a daytime contact phone number.
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Edgecombe Events May 24
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Edgecombe Garden Club honors members
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Hostess Barbara Getzug described her specially designed flower arrangement of mock orange, snowball, purple columbine, and many varieties of roses. President Pauline, Hostesses Gloria Wall and Louise Fleming did the table arrangements. They contained wiegelia, azalea, ivy, mock orange, and ligustrum. - DAR AWARDS
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