Kalimba Magic NEWS

The Kalimba Doctor
Another Kalimba Doctor Success Story

Here is a story about a born again kalimba.

"Back in 1975 Bruce and I left Alaska to follow his dream with our two young sons. We bought a 34 foot sail boat and were living in Oxnard figuring out how to live on board the boat with little ones and a friend who was to be our navigator. On our way down the coast searching for the boat we visited with my cousin Barbara and Lowell and their children. Barbara is an amazing musician. We have been dear friends, as well as cousins, all our lives. She knew how much I wanted our boys to have music, but Bruce's guitar and my flute would not do well on the salty venture. So she gave me the Kalimba that was on her piano that we might have an instrument that could withstand the sail.

"And it did! Seven months sailing around the coast and in the harbor in CA and then 28 days at sea and more months around the islands of Hawaii, in the cane shack on the Big Island and then came home with us.

"Any children we met in the harbors could play it, and it gave me strength and comfort in some really difficult as well as joyous times.

"It didn't matter if any of us knew anything about playing the instrument, it gave us music regardless of our knowledge. It came home with us and has been enjoyed by students as well as family. It resides now on piano in the living room, a bit rusty and undoubtedly in need of care, but reminding me of Grace under strain, and melody throughout changes and challenges.

"It has been one of the most wonderful gifts I have ever received. I sent my cousin a copy of the Western Friend that had your article and she was quite thrilled. It's been fun to remember today, thanks for asking. Blessings in your journey and ministry!" —Betsey

But the story doesn't end there. Last fall, Kathy Hyzy, the Friend who introduced me to Betsey, and editor of Western Friend, secretly absconded with Betsey's old kalimba and sent it in to The Kalimba Doctor for a complete tuneup. The rusty tines were cleaned up a bit, the painted tines were chipped and repainted, several buzzes were fixed and, of course, all the tines were tuned. And we included a tuning chart so Betsey could see exactly what notes the tines were tuned to. We shipped it back to Kathy, who gave the born again Hugh Tracey Treble Kalimba back to Betsey as a Christmas gift.

This is what Betsey wrote to me:

"What a wonderful gift to have my old kalimba renewed! I've never known which notes were which, nor seen a book, nor heard anything so remotely incredibly beautiful with kalimbas as the CD. What an inspiration! Thank you for the beautiful ministry!"
—Blessings, Betsey

Learn more about the Kalimba Doctor.