I guess just about every Christian woman in the Western Cape knew famous recording artist and song writer Babbie Mason would be in South Africa, in Johannesburg and Cape Town as part of the Beauty for Ashes conferences. I had no idea, but after a week fighting flu, I was more than ready when my friends urged me to come out to the Saturday lunch and session of the meeting. Once there, and without checking the program, I paid for one session since I wanted to go and see the beached whales near my home. When I opened the schedule,I was happily surprised to see Babbie Mason was there to give a concert. I promptly paid for the rest of the event and settled down to enjoy the speaker and Babbie's music and ministry. I have loved her music and collected her records but I also have another special memory. Years ago I was in Uganda at a conference and Babbie and her husband Charles came to the meeting. As I remember, they were there for another engagement but when asked to come to us they agreed. It was not one of those high profile events, just the end of a church conference, but Babbie had the crowd on its feet. It meant so much to me because I had just been contacted and told my father was close to death. So far away and with so many miles to home before I would know one way or another what happened to my Dad, I allowed Babbie's music and words of encouragement to fill my heart with strength for the journey ahead. All of that memory flooded my heart as I listened to her sing again.
Being here in Cape Town is a great place for me, because it is where God wants me to be. It is also a place to which people love to come and I have enjoyed concerts with many Christian artists and heard world famous Christian speakers here. What made this encounter even more precious was that I was able to give Babbie an African print tote-bag, made by the women with whom I work. She graciously accepted and said she would treasure the gift. Thank you Babbie Mason. You are one of God's treasures and gifts to women everywhere.
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