Source: Meredith Moench, OM News, September 13, 2013
“You know, we’re still not healed from wartime here in Kosova. We’re still not really laughing,” said 19-year-old “Nora.” We’re sitting in a crowded cafeteria of teenagers. Nora seems undistracted.
Two nights before, Nora stood in that same cafeteria and stunned the room as she sang for the Arts Camp Student Talent Show. Her voice was strong as a diamond, precise on the highest notes, piercing. She closed her eyes as she stood at the microphone and let her voice do the work.
OM arts camp director “Malachi” hoped to create a special space for young Kosovar artists to develop their art forms. In a country lacking artistic support and development, Malachi’s vision is to break cultural and religious barriers with the God-given power of the arts.
Through a spiritual reflection each morning, he turned the students’ gaze inward, and pointed them to their need to know the greatest artist of all: their Creator. Each evening the students and teachers were mutually given the dignity of sharing their art form through performance, and experiencing God’s presence in the creative expression of others.
For Nora, it was singing that sparked her opportunity to attend camp. “Music is really helping me. It’s like it brings peace and joy deep inside a person. I want to heal people, because when people are hurt they do bad things. By healing people we can make things better,” she paused.
“I know that I’m not healed yet, but this camp has started to help me. It’s difficult to forgive. I haven’t forgiven the Serbs yet,” said Nora. “But I choose the way of God; I choose the way of healing.”
ยป Read full story. Several other recent stories from OM also highlight the power of music to touch hearts. See Dance for France and Singing Tourists.