Participants: Yvonne Lewis (Host), Subusiso Victor Mosondo, Gail Mosando
Series Code: UBR
Program Code: UBR000012
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00:01 Have you ever met a power couple that's on fire for God?
00:05 Well, stay tuned and you will... 00:07 My name is Yvonne Lewis and you're watching 00:10 Urban Report... 00:32 Hello and welcome to Urban Report... 00:35 you know... once in a while... you meet a couple 00:37 that's dynamically on the battlefield for Christ 00:40 while accomplishing great things in the world... 00:43 that's a fair statement about Sibusiso Victor and Gail Masondo 00:48 Victor is a famous musician in South Africa 00:51 he produced and arranged the music for the 00:54 2010 World Cup Closing Ceremony as well as the 00:58 100-year Celebration of the ANC or African National Congress 01:03 and he's currently visiting Berklee Music College 01:06 here in the U.S. working on developing 01:09 a curriculum and a college for South Africa... 01:12 Gail is an author of her memoir... 01:15 "Now this feels like Home" she's former Manager of the 01:19 Group "Take Six" she's an International Speaker 01:22 and Lecturer, Chaplain, and Women and Child Advocate... 01:27 Victor and Gail... welcome to Urban Report... 01:30 Hi... well thank you... Thank you very much... 01:32 Yeah... Yeah... 01:35 I'm so glad that you guys are here... 01:37 it is not often that we get to really meet 01:43 couples of your caliber... and this is not to gush you up 01:47 but this is just... actually to really extol the virtues 01:51 of our Great God... who's done some great things 01:55 through you... so let me kind of... 01:57 let me ask you a few questions first Vic and... 02:00 instead of Sibusiso which would get my tongue all twisted... 02:04 I'm just going to call you Victor... 02:05 That's good... 02:06 Victor or Vic... because my tongue will get all twisted up 02:09 now, you had the opportunity 02:13 to produce and arrange the music 02:16 for the 2010 World Cup Ceremony 02:18 and you've done so many great things musically... 02:22 how do you... how are you able to maintain 02:26 your Christianity when you're out in front like this 02:30 on the battlefield... how are you able to do that? 02:33 First of all... for me... what was important is 02:38 God really wanted me from the beginning to be a 02:41 witness for Him in places where other people 02:44 would not go as such... so, I'm one of the people whom 02:49 God wanted to bring a witness first by giving me the gift 02:54 to excel in music so that I can be the kind of 02:58 person that people want to work with... 03:00 and with that... then comes the package of 03:03 while doing all this work... people cannot help 03:06 but ask the questions... because of the interaction 03:08 and the lifestyle that they pick up... 03:11 about "who am I?" really, and that's always an opportunity 03:16 to bring about the gospel and tell people 03:19 that I am a believer... and this is how it works... 03:22 Oh, I love that... see we're supposed to be 03:25 "in the world" but not "of the world" 03:29 and so, we have to interact with people 03:32 that are out in the world and yet we are mandated 03:35 to let our light shine... so you're saying that 03:38 when you go and you're working with 03:40 with these... with famous musicians 03:43 and all that... that you are given an 03:45 opportunity to share 03:46 the gospel... because you are the kind of person 03:49 that they want to work with... Yes... that's all it is... 03:52 it's all the time that I found that God has always put me 03:55 in kind of situations... in work situations... 03:59 that I will not design for myself 04:02 but right in the middle of this because there's someone 04:05 or some more than just one person 04:08 whom God wants to reach through whatever we do... 04:11 just the interaction and talking and working... 04:13 it's so... it's always going to put opportunities that you see 04:17 to minister... That is great... that is great 04:20 can you give us an example of a situation where you... 04:24 you've had the opportunity to share the gospel 04:26 in the workplace? Yes, sure... I remember 04:29 that it was one of my friends... and we took a break together 04:35 after having done... just working on a Set... 04:38 and then we took a break together 04:39 and then he had to take a smoke as such... 04:42 so he looks at me and says, "You don't smoke... do you?" 04:46 I said, "No, I don't smoke. " 04:48 and then he says, "You don't drink either... 04:50 what's the matter with you... 04:52 that you're still doing 04:55 all these things with us and we're enjoying 04:58 your company in a world where people 04:59 do a lot of these things... " 05:01 and that was very easy for me to say, 05:04 "Listen, first of all God has really wanted me to 05:07 look after this temple... so that He can work through it 05:10 when I'm sober... I can do better work 05:13 than when I'm not sober... " and then... from there... 05:16 the conversation started... and he ended up saying... 05:19 "You know what... I love you... but I always 05:21 hate working with you... but I always want to... 05:23 because you remind me... of where... I should be... " 05:27 I said, "Where's that?" He said, "Well, you know... 05:31 I'm supposed to be in Church and I'm supposed to be ministering, 05:34 and that's what you do to me. " I said, 05:37 "Well, then I'm more glad about it... now that I know... 05:40 I'm going to be even be more on you... " 05:42 Oh... that's great... that's great... 05:45 and that's the thing that is so important to remember 05:48 that wherever we're planted... we can really be... 05:51 even though you didn't come across... like saying, 05:54 "Don't smoke that in front of me... " 05:56 or "Don't do that... " you just had a quiet witness 06:00 and yet... people see something different in you... 06:03 Aren't you an Elder also... at the Seventh-day Adventist Church 06:06 in Johannesburg... is it? 06:08 Yes... in Sandton... 06:09 in the Sandton Seventh-day Adventist Church 06:14 in Johannesburg... yes, I'm an Elder there... 06:16 Oh that is so great... see this is why... 06:19 we really want our viewers to know that... 06:22 no matter what position you're in... 06:24 whether you are getting to do great things 06:27 or just... just wherever you're planted 06:30 that's what God really wants 06:32 you to do... Yes... yes... 06:34 Tell us some of the other artists that you worked with 06:38 in South Africa... 06:40 In South Africa... I worked with also others like 06:45 Ladysmith Black Mambazo who is... kind of 06:48 better well-known as well in other parts of the world 06:52 and also the musicians... I'm talking about there 06:55 like Mama Miriam Makeba as well Oh yes... Miriam Makeba... 07:00 Sakhile 07:02 and there are quite a few more of the 07:05 South African Artists that I've worked with... 07:06 Oh, that's awesome... that is awesome... 07:09 you're here... in the States now and you're visiting 07:14 Berklee College of Music... 07:16 Berklee is an outstanding music school... 07:17 It is... it is... 07:18 Tell us what you're doing with them... 07:20 Well, I'll tell you what... we're developing a curriculum 07:23 for a special... because we want to build 07:26 another college in South Africa as well... 07:29 but we're trying to really come up 07:30 with a curriculum that is going to really help 07:33 in terms of how music is being taught 07:36 and to really just develop the educational part of music 07:40 and also come up with something that will be 07:42 so unique... I do not believe 07:45 it is just only for South Africa 07:47 but also for the rest of the world... 07:49 in just the evolution of how music needs to be taught. 07:53 Wow, that would be incredible if we can incorporate 07:57 some of these principles and lessons over there... 08:01 that would just be incredible... 08:04 Yeah... Now I'm going to switch to 08:06 your lovely wife... Gail... 08:08 and Gail just recently wrote her memoir... 08:15 "Now this feels like Home" 08:17 tell us about your journey Gail 08:20 You know, Yvonne, it's been an interesting journey 08:23 and it's not until you really start to write 08:26 that you really understand just how blessed 08:29 and how everything is ordered... 08:31 everything in your life is just ordered 08:33 and so I start with looking at my life as gifts... 08:38 special people, places and occasions 08:41 that I run into these last... 08:43 I'm not going to say how many years... 08:46 but these last years... and just how God just placed me 08:52 in places I never would have been 08:54 and had me meet people I never would have thought 08:57 of meeting... it's such a gift, He places you before the 09:01 kings and queens of this earth... 09:02 Yes... and also, the special occasions 09:05 you know that you can forget... 09:06 and you can sometimes see your glass half empty... 09:10 when you review... you'll see that 09:12 it's really been half full and so... 09:15 I've had an amazing time... just reviewing and 09:18 looking back over my shoulder... 09:21 Give us an example of one of these 09:25 gifts... in terms of a person or an event 09:29 or something like this... give us an example... 09:31 In the chapter... "The Gift of Welcome" 09:35 I really recognize that coming to South Africa 09:39 was not something that I wanted to do... 09:41 in fact when the invitation came in '94... 09:43 I refused it 3 times... and then when I accepted it 09:47 it was one of those, "Okay, I'll go... " 09:49 and... but you know... it was like... 09:52 it was really a dreading... to go... 09:55 Why did you not want to go? 09:57 I was going through a very difficult personal time, 10:02 Okay... and I had still two... 10:05 my daughter was about to enter College 10:07 and my son was in Elementary School at the time 10:10 and I was just an emotional, mental, physical, 10:14 spiritual wreck... and that's probably an 10:16 understatement... Hmmm... 10:18 You know there are times when the enemy comes in 10:20 with such a force... Hmmm... hmmm... 10:22 and you don't really recognize it as being warfare... 10:25 because sometimes you're not as spiritually... 10:27 I wasn't as spiritually mature at the time... 10:30 to be able to really understand that we are at war... 10:34 and the enemy is at war with us... 10:36 and so it was a dark time in my life... 10:38 and so traveling half way around the world 10:41 just didn't make sense... Yeah... 10:43 I finished Executive Producing a project called 10:45 "Handel's Messiah: A Soulful Celebration" 10:48 and that won a lot of awards... 10:52 Oh, that is still one of my absolute favorite projects 10:59 The Messiah... because... Soulful Celebration... 11:02 I mean... that was just a huge success... 11:05 and it just... it changed... when you have the 11:10 the classical way to hear the Messiah 11:12 and then you have the Soulful Celebration 11:14 and it is just amazing... and I was looking for it 11:18 actually recently because it's timeless... 11:21 I mean... it's just timeless... Thank you... thank you... 11:23 so anyway... I just had to say that... 11:24 Yeah... I got a chance to work with some wonderful people 11:27 I would like to take all the credit 11:28 but you know... a great team of folk that came on board 11:34 to make this possible and from Mervyn Warren 11:38 Yes... to Quincy Jones to... 11:41 Yes... you know we had an ensemble 11:43 of over a hundred artists both secular 11:45 as well as Christian Yes... 11:46 because of the awards that that project received... 11:50 it's 20-years-old this April... 11:52 April 2nd is when we went in the Studio and recorded 11:55 the Hallelujah Chorus... which is a cornerstone 11:58 of Messiah Project... Yes... for sure... 12:01 and when we got our Grammy for that project 12:03 I remember Placido Domingo coming behind stage 12:06 and saying to us... Mervyn and myself... 12:08 "If Handel were alive... this is how 12:10 he would have wanted this sung... " 12:12 so we were really pleased but on the heels of that Project 12:16 I was invited to come to South Africa... 12:18 and again... because of what was going on in my life 12:22 that was the last place... you know... democracy... 12:26 was still very new to the Country... 12:29 and we believe what we see in media, don't we... 12:34 whether it's true or exaggerated whatever we see... we believe... 12:38 The only thing that I recall seeing about South Africa 12:41 was just what was happening in the Townships... 12:44 in Soweto... and Alexandria and other places 12:47 so you know... I say, "I'm a product of the '60s... 12:49 why would I want to throw myself 12:51 back into the Civil Rights Movement 12:54 of another Country?" and so... 12:56 that was another thing 12:57 I had on my mind... You're right... you're right... 12:59 I arrived in South Africa... and in fact... 13:05 I hired my husband because of his resume... 13:10 and he had just been slated... he was working actually 13:14 he was touring with Dizzy Gillespie 13:16 and Mariam Makeba on their European World Tour 13:20 but he had come back and he was highly recommended 13:24 before I even engaged and said, "I want to do the Project" 13:26 he was highly recommended as, "If you should be interested" 13:31 Hmmm... hmmm... "this is the man 13:33 that should do the Project... " I love it... 13:35 and so I met the "Cream of the Crop" 13:36 of the South African musicianship at that first... 13:40 my first visit... but I began to... 13:43 that first visit... I was also meeting 13:47 other South African Luminaries, and I got a chance to meet 13:50 the former President... Nelson Mandela... 13:54 and I remember... when I was sitting on stage... 13:57 he came up to me... well he motioned me... excuse me 14:00 to come to him... and the first word he said to me 14:03 was... "Welcome, welcome... " and it wasn't the usual 14:07 you know... kind of casual... it was almost like 14:10 there was something else under that "Welcome" 14:12 and every South African I would meet after that was like, 14:16 "Welcome home... " and "welcome back... " 14:18 as if I had left and now was coming back... 14:22 and the most gracious welcome I received in South Africa 14:26 was my... after my husband made me 14:28 an offer I couldn't refuse... after two years 14:31 of working on a project we did together 14:34 I received a welcome from 14:37 his uncle which would become my uncle... 14:40 and the words were... "Welcome" 14:42 I began to realize that... isn't that what God does to us 14:45 when we finally wake up and come back 14:47 to where we need to be... Come on... come on... 14:49 He says, "Welcome... " He says, "Welcome... " 14:51 Yes... and so that has stayed 14:54 in my heart... the gift of "Welcome" 14:56 Oh... how beautiful... 14:57 and that... you know... 14:59 then I kind of didn't understand 15:00 for so many, many years that when we embrace people 15:04 when they come into our presence we're actually welcoming them 15:07 making them feel at home... 15:09 and I was given that gift... 15:10 Oh, that's beautiful... that's beautiful... 15:12 Okay, so... you know I got to go off a little bit on this 15:16 "how you guys met" deal... okay... so Vic... when you first 15:20 when you first met Gail... what was your impression of her? 15:25 First impression was... a hard worker and creative 15:32 Hmmm... hmmm... and also a great visionary... 15:35 which was very, very... you know, for me, 15:37 those were things that were so like... 15:39 "It's going to be very easy to work with someone like that" 15:42 Yes... yes... someone who knows what they're 15:46 looking for as opposed to just trying to work out 15:48 how things should go... and... yeah... 15:52 So, did you guys have like an instant feeling of teamwork 15:58 when you started working together 16:00 was it... did you communicate readily 16:02 or was there... like a conflict? 16:05 We had great communication 16:08 we spoke a lot and we don't remember conflict at all 16:14 as much as I remember that we sat, we spoke, 16:17 we listened to music, we discussed, 16:19 and it was more like we know on a mutual basis 16:22 that we're looking for something spectacular... 16:26 Ah... and so, conversations were 16:29 very much on that... and, of course, 16:32 the roles were very clearly defined 16:35 so... there's no room for any... 16:38 it was... "You walk in this lane and I'll walk in this lane... " 16:42 So, at what point did you decide to walk in the same lane? 16:47 It's when my telephone bill killing me... 16:51 We wish we had e-mail or Twitter or... 16:56 we only had Ma Bell and he had MOM South Africa 16:59 I remember when the conversation changed for me on the phone... 17:04 it took us two years... it was two years to complete 17:08 the Project... and Victor was always very professional 17:12 and very easy to work with, but I remember 17:15 we were talking about something and he asked me... 17:17 "So, how did that make you feel?" 17:19 Hmmm... and I almost dropped the phone 17:21 because... it was rarely that I would hear a man ask 17:24 and then he waited for me 17:27 he didn't edit my answer, he just waited for me 17:31 to give a complete answer, and then we started 17:34 talking about his family, my family... 17:40 we started comparing notes, 17:41 his father passed away in '83... 17:43 my mother passed away in '83... 17:46 we both share a birthday in June 17:48 so those kinds of things started creating 17:53 an interest... yes... Okay... great... 17:59 so, after this two-year period and this first Project 18:03 was completed... 18:05 did you guys get together as a couple 18:10 after the Project was completed 18:12 or in the midst of it... how did that work? 18:16 We completed the project... Hmmm... hmmm... 18:21 but of course towards the... 18:23 when the Project was coming to an end 18:25 you know... you can tell... when you got a 18:28 positive and negative magnet it just... kind of like... 18:34 gravitated towards one another... 18:36 so, you try to keep it professional 18:39 but you know exactly 18:40 that there's something else developing here... 18:43 Yes... yes... yes... you know... one thing that is 18:46 so great about you guys is that... 18:49 you travel all around the world, Japan and... I mean... 18:52 you've just have been to the UK... Gail was saying... 18:55 "I have to go to the UK to do something... " 18:57 I mean... you just travel around the world... 18:58 how do you maintain... your relationship 19:03 when you're... many times going in different directions 19:06 how do you maintain that connection that you have? 19:11 You know what... communication 19:14 is a good thing and also, 19:16 it's almost like... whenever we're working on 19:20 different projects... the time that you spend apart 19:25 doesn't really mean... really apart... 19:27 and as much as we're catching up 19:29 with what's going on and technology has made it 19:32 even easier these days Right... 19:33 it just will be a whole lot of communication and knowing that 19:37 when she takes off to do something... 19:39 I can be able to say... you know, to be a support system 19:42 and be able to say, "Wow, well done... " 19:44 and then let that continue and so it really is an... 19:49 also just maintaining that whole life of... 19:52 even when we don't see one another at that time... 19:54 to pray for one another... Yeah... 19:56 Hmmm... and... because that's one thing 19:58 that's quite important... 20:00 And to pray a lot when we are with each other... 20:02 I think that that's the scene... you know I... 20:07 Victor comes from a very powerful family... 20:11 in South Africa... his father... he's a PK actually 20:15 he's a Pastor's Kid... Oh... okay... 20:17 but he grew up with the... what's the word... 20:20 the really understanding of the power of prayer... 20:23 I remember the first time as a couple after marriage... 20:26 and praying and he's a prayer warrior... 20:29 and I was a New... you know... I'm a New Yorker... 20:35 we do everything quick and fast, 20:37 and so... we were on our knees praying 20:41 and I was kind of looking... at least 20 minutes had passed 20:46 and then it came to... like a half hour... 20:48 and this was our morning devotion, 20:50 and then I looked up and it was like almost 45 minutes... 20:53 and so I'm thinking we prayed for... 20:55 we prayed for everybody... 20:57 we rebuked the devil and I'm in Africa now... 21:01 so I have to pray for the little children in Africa... 21:04 and then I looked up and then he said "Amen" 21:08 and I started to rise up... and he pulled me back down 21:12 and I'm thinking... we're going to start over 21:14 and he said, "No, now we need to wait" 21:17 one of the things in my relationship... 21:20 Victor tends to be... he works hard... he plays hard, 21:23 he prays hard... Hmmm... hmmm... 21:26 and one of the things that I have gained... 21:28 in my life with him... is the ability 21:32 to really understand just how loving 21:36 God really, really, really is... 21:38 Oh, come on... come on... I like that... 21:40 that's a reflection... a man who loves God... 21:43 that reflection kind of... it can't help but 21:45 Baby... look at me... it can't help but gravitate 21:49 it can't help but gravitate and roll off... 21:53 you know it's an influence and so my life with him 21:56 when we are apart by miles 21:59 I'll always know I'm still in his heart 22:02 and he knows he's in mine... 22:03 and yes there has been the blessing of technology 22:06 where you can text... where you can Skype 22:08 where you can e-mail... I'm not as technically... 22:11 I'm a little technically illiterate 22:14 compared to what's going on 22:16 but I think... once you have established 22:19 a relationship with God individually... 22:23 then the relationship collectively... 22:27 it's smoother sailing... it's not all smooth... 22:31 but it's smoother sailing because I don't have to explain 22:36 to him when I say, "Baby, I need you to pray... " 22:37 he doesn't have to have all the details 22:39 of what that means... 22:40 Hmmm... hmmm... or if he writes me or texts me 22:44 "Pray" I know... and the times that we are apart 22:47 the times that we are together is even sweeter... 22:51 so, that's what makes it rich... 22:53 Oh, I love that... I love that, now, Gail, you have been doing 22:58 some Chaplaincy work as well... besides the speaking 23:01 and writing... you've been doing some Chaplaincy work 23:05 is there any particular situation 23:08 that kind of stands out in your mind that you... 23:10 any experience that you've had recently 23:13 that you'd like to share? 23:14 In the gift of "Goodby" in my book... I talk about 23:17 my first patient at Sandton Clinic 23:21 Sandton Clinic... just to back up a second 23:24 I didn't mention that I also got very ill in South Africa 23:27 on my first trip... and had 8 inches of my intestines 23:31 removed because of the disease Sarcoidosis... 23:35 and so... that was a battle 23:38 for about 4 to 5 years... 23:40 in that hospital... 23:43 Sandton Clinic is the Hospital 23:45 that I was taken to... and then I was asked to serve 23:47 as a Chaplain at the very same hospital 23:50 years later... and so I walk into the ICU 23:53 and I'm going to meet a patient named Juanita... 23:56 and Juanita had on her bedside table... 23:58 every book of religion you could think of... 24:02 everything... and she was actively searching 24:06 this woman had battled cancer for more than 10 years 24:11 she was a TV Producer in South Africa 24:13 that climbed Kilimanjaro... but you could sense the fear 24:18 in her eyes... because her body was ravaged 24:21 with cancer... they showed us a diagram 24:24 and there was no spot on the diagram 24:26 where cancer had not appeared... 24:28 and was appearing at that time... 24:30 and she had tubes in her mouth so she couldn't speak 24:34 and so I came in the bedroom I mean... next to her bed... 24:37 and I said, "I understand your name is Juanita... 24:40 I'm a Chaplain here and your doctor actually asked me 24:44 to come and visit... is there something I could read 24:47 on this list of books... and she pointed to her Bible 24:51 and it was underneath all the other books... 24:54 and I pulled it out and I read Psalm 23... 24:57 that started a five-month relationship 25:01 she stayed in ICU... and I remember that so vividly 25:05 because Juanita didn't necessarily trust anymore... 25:10 her trust in people... her trust in all the other 25:13 little g-o-d-s and her trust in the Creator God was shaken... 25:17 Hmmm... and God just allowed me 25:20 to just speak as girls... once those tubes were out 25:24 we developed a friendship... Yes... 25:27 and then she wanted to know "Why did I believe 25:31 in the Creator God?" you know those doors 25:33 that Victor was talking about... it just... God opens up for us 25:36 Yes... yes... and I was just able to share 25:38 about having been in Sandton four floors down... 25:41 and angry at God at that time in '95... 25:46 very angry... 25:47 and I'm from a foreign country, didn't know anybody... 25:50 and God, through the power of the Holy Spirit, 25:54 spoke to me... the only thing He said audibly in my voice was 25:58 "Gail I love you... and you will have to trust me on this... " 26:02 every time I would meet Juanita after that... 26:05 that would be the question... "Does God love me too?" 26:08 "Does God love me too?" Hmmm... 26:10 and through that particular time in my life 26:14 I was able to affirm and re-affirm to Juanita 26:18 "God does love you... " 26:19 and she soon passed... and I was asked to officiate 26:24 as her Chaplain... they said, 26:25 "Now, you're her Chaplain" to come and officiate at her 26:29 Memorial Service... and one of the things 26:31 that I was able to say... because she did have 26:34 Christian-believing friends in her life... 26:36 I was able to re-affirm to her family and to her friends 26:40 that I believed with all my heart 26:42 that Juanita accepted the Lord Jesus Christ 26:44 as her personal Savior... 26:45 Amen... before she fell asleep in 26:48 eternal rest and so... that stands out... 26:51 Amen... yes... yes... You know what... 26:53 I could talk to you guys all day... 26:56 I mean we could... I wish we could... 26:58 I know... I wish I could too plus I miss you... 27:00 but I'm going to have to say, "Thank you" 27:04 thank you so much for sharing what you did... today... 27:06 you guys are such a blessing and I pray that 27:10 our viewers really got blessed like I did... 27:13 because you have so much to share... 27:15 May God bless you as you continue to serve Him... 27:18 Thank you Yvonne... Thank you... 27:21 One of my favorite Scriptures and I apply it to marriages 27:25 Ecclesiastes 4:12 where it says, 27:27 "A cord of three strands is not quickly broken" 27:30 today you've witnessed a couple that's doing great things 27:34 in the world and on fire for God... 27:36 how are you... and your significant other 27:38 working for the Lord? 27:40 If you don't have a significant other... 27:42 what are you doing for the cause of Christ? 27:44 We may not be international like the Masondos... 27:48 but we can do great things for God... 27:50 wherever we're planted... 27:51 Thanks for joining me on Urban Report... 27:54 It's a blessing to have you... 27:56 and we hope that you'll be blessed 27:58 by the Programs that we offer... 28:00 You know this Program wouldn't be the same... 28:03 without you... God bless... |
Revised 2015-05-21