The Spirit of Ubuntu -- All good things must come to an end

July 12 through 18th with the Mdluli family in Daveyton, South Africa.
We spent our last week with the Mdluli family in Daveyton, and it was the busiest week of our journey.   Vusi Mdluli is one of the Elders at the Daveyton Church of Christ.  He and his wife Lenah are two of our closest friends.  Lenah is a seamstress, and has made many of the African outfits that we proudly wear.  They have two daughters in college.

Our last week was a whirlwind of activity.  We had dinner with Mpho and Kgosi Letlape at Melrose Arch; we had breakfast with the Nkwana and Dudu Nyamane at their home in Benoni; we squeezed in a dinner and play (Shaka Zulu the Musical) at the State Theater in Pretoria with the Mdluli family; we visited the Matutu family in Vosloorus -- this is one of the congregations we helped to build a new church building; we drove about 100 KM to see Maphike and Nick Mahlangu, and met their 6 year-old daughter Simphiwe for the first time.  We went shopping for post-world cup bargains at the Bruma Lake Flee Market; and  we got lost in downtown Johannesburg on our way to dinner with Owen and Mikki Maubane.  Finally, we worshipped with the Daveyton Church of Christ on our last day -- a fitting time to give thanks for a safe and enjoyable trip.

Below is a collage of photos of the friends we tried to spend some quality time with during our last week. See our complete photo album at Facebook.

We are happy to be home again in the USA -- back to summer weather, baseball, and driving on the right hand side of the road. Our visit to the Land of Ubuntu has renewed our bond with our South African brothers and sisters, and also taught us some new lessons about hospitality. 

Our stated purpose for going on this trip was to attend the World Cup Soccer Championship.  It turns out that the World Cup was only an excuse to spend the time of our lives with our friends we love  in South Africa.  We are now masters of the vuvuzela, and more informed soccer fans.  But more than anything else, we increased the number of friends we have in the the motherland.  We look forward to the opportunity to be the same generous hosts to South African friends traveling in America.

The Spirit of Ubuntu -- Reflections on a wonderful odyssey

We are in the final week of our wonderful odyssey.  Last week was a renewal of friendships and events that touched our hearts to begin our love of South Africa.  Often we are asked what we like so much about being here. Looking back on our six weeks helps to summarize the essence of our love for our South African friends.  There are two outstanding qualities that have captured our hearts -- hospitality and love of cultural roots.

The tradition of the African people of this region is grounded in hospitality unlike anything we have experienced anywhere else. The highest honor that can be extended to a friend -- or stranger -- is to host another in the home. No matter how humble the dwelling, a visitor is the guest of honor. Two significant gestures underscore this hospitality. The first is to offer every guest some refreshment or a meal. In fact, it is an insult to refuse the offer of tea or a meal, even if it means the family must sacrifice to do so. The second is to provide comfortable sleeping accommodations, even if it means giving up the bed of the host during the visit.


July 4th -- a visit to join others in blessing the home of Vuli Cuba in Kyalami, South Africa.
In the week leading up to the World Cup Final, we had the joy of visiting with a business colleague, who returned to South Africa following the end of Apartheid.  He arrived in South Africa about the same time as we did.  Our goal was to help reestablish IBM South Africa.  His goal was to help rebuild the country and to become a successful entrepreneur.  Our paths crossed when I hired his consulting firm to do a study for IBM to help guide our efforts.  Today Vuli Cuba is a successful business leader, and father of a growing young family. He is deeply aware of his cultural roots as the member of a Xhosa clan of chiefs.  This cultural connection keeps him grounded as he extends his business efforts in a global arena.  We were honored to  visit with him and share a meal with his family.




July 4th through July 7th with Sister Beauty Lubala  and family in Crystal Park, South Africa.
Sister Beauty Lubala is a church member at the Daveyton Church of Christ, and she typifies the second quality we encountered in large measure during our visit.  She and her family smothered us with hospitality during our stay with her.  We were highly honored with a typical African breakfast, lunch, and supper, as well as the best sleeping accommodations in the house.  One of her sisters stopped by to help ensure that we were well taken care of.  We enjoyed the visit with her family, including her daughter and grandchildren.  The entire family made our stay very warm and comfortable.



July 11th -- Worship with the Mamelodi Church of Christ.
The fondest memory we have about our South African church family is the one we have of the Mamelodi congregation.  Johannes Leriba and his wife Esther were among the first people we met in the church.  They had a vision of constructing a church building in Mamelodi, and had little more than their faith to rely upon to reach that goal.  After meeting them and the leaders of this congregation, we launched our first fundraising effort to help them complete the constrution of the church building.  They will always have a special place in our lives as we consider what can be accomplished with the faith of a mustard seed.  It was a great pleasure to have the honor to deliver the Sunday message when we visited with them.
 


July 14th -- Dinner with Hamilton Ratshefola and his wife, Mapulita.
One of the great joys of our stay in South Africa has been to visit with friends who have become business leaders in the New South Africa.  Hamilton Ratshefola was the business executive to whom we transferred my responsibilities when I left in 1998. He continued the track record of success that we established in helping Black IBMers assume leadership positions in IBM South Africa.

Like some others we have previously introduced, Hamilton has since left IBM and is the CEO of Cornastone Consulting Group.  His company has grown in several directions as a software development, and services company.  the future growth of this company is not limited to South Africa, but they have a vision of leading the way in several sub-Saharan African countries.  We are so proud of these visionary business leaders.  In addition to their cultural perspective, they have also not forgotten the bridges that helped them to cross early hurdles to success.  We are proud to be counted among their friends.

This is our final posting from South Africa. We leave on Sunday, July 18th. We will post the completion of our visit from the USA when we return.

The Spirit of Ubuntu -- Spain beats Netherlands in World Cup Final

Spain is for the first time in its history, the new World Cup champions, after beating the Netherlands 1-0, with a goal scored by Iniesta only three minutes before the end of extra-time, when many thought the game would go into a penalty shoot-out.

Before the game started, Soccer City stadium erupted into light and music for the World Cup closing ceremony, with singers performing a medley of local music from urban hip-hop to cappella chorals. Colombian superstar Shakira performed her song Waka Waka, the tournament’s official anthem, with local band Freshlyground, as well as Ladysmith Black Mambazo, a South African cappella act.

Former president Nelson Mandela and his wife Graça Machel got a standing ovation from a 95,000 strong crowd when they were wheeled into the stadium in a golf car, in a brief appearance at Soccer City.

We viewed the match from a big screen presentation at a restaurant in a local shopping mall.  Every TV in all of South Africa was tuned to this history-making final match.  It is estimated that there were 500 million viewers all over the world.  In addition to the first World Cup on African soil, each of the teams in the final had never won a World Cup.  So, a new champion emerged from this contest.

South Africa’s triumph in being host to the World Cup can no longer be questioned. The cost and the lasting effect, however, are yet to be determined.  Every day and every night during the Cup, the South African Broadcasting Corporation has called on its people to “feel it, it is here.”

We can say that we were among the nearly 500,000 visitors to this history-making event -- we feel it, it is here!!!  The pride of being African during this overwhelingly successful event -- hosted in nine cities, 10 stadiums, and a host of tourist attractions all over the country -- is something we will carry with us as a memory of a lifetime.

We have one more week to spend with friends and reflect on our fantastic journey.  Stay tuned for our final missives.

The Spirit of Ubuntu -- What a Fellowship! Returning to Johannesburg

The real blessing of this trip has been the wonderful fellowship with our friends here in the land of Ubuntu.  For those who have been following our journey, we have truly experienced the real meaning of Ubuntu -- "I am because of who you are."

Here is an update of the friends who have been hosting us during this incredible journey.


June 21st through June 27th -- Lillian Barnard and Family, in Sandton, South Africa
Lillian Barnard was one of the young people hired into the new IBM South Africa during our stay in the 90's. She, along with her son Caleb, her mother and sisters have become close friends that we have maintained contact with over the past 15 years of her IBM career in South Africa.  We have watched her professional and family growth over the years we have known her.  Joyce visited her in Paris when she was there on a professional development assignment with IBM.  She recently returned to South Africa after 7 years abroad, and is now the Director of Business Partner Programs for all of Africa, based in South Africa.  We are so very proud of her growth, and feel like we are a part of her family.  We really enjoyed the week with her mother, son, and younger sister Memory, renewing our acquaintance and enjoying their fellowship.



June 27th with the Church of Christ in Soshanguve, South Africa
One of first congregations that we established a relationship with was the congregation at Soshanguve.  We spent the day with the congregation on June 27th, and had a wonderful time seeing old friends.  Many of the children who were a part of our exchange program that brought 30 teenagers to the USA in 2000 are now young adults with families.  We had a wonderful time revisiting our memories and meeting their children and learning about their progress as working professionals and members of the church. 

I had the privilege of speaking at the morning worship service, and we spent the entire afternoon and evening with the church leaders. The church has continued to serve the community while facing the challenges of a developing country.  They too included time for a World Cup soccer match in the course of the day.  Throughout our day, the love of God and the fellowship of the saints made us feel right at home again.


June 29th -- Hanging Out with Young Folks from the USA and South Africa
Traveling out of the country is always made more comfortable when you can connect with others from the USA.  It is good to compare notes and share insights to make our visit more enjoyable. 

Before leaving the USA, we had the privilege of meeting some young men in Columbus who wanted a few pointers about traveling in South Africa.  They are avid soccer fans, and packed more activity into one week than you can imagine.  They arrived on the 24th, attended 2 soccer matches, including the USA loss to Ghana, visited a Game Park for a Safari, and traveled to Cape Town.  We were able to catch up with them for an evening at Monte Casino, an entertainment center in Four Ways, near Sandton, South Africa.  No gambling, just good food and fellowship.  We were happy to help them with their itinerary, and Memory Barnard provided the entertainment segment of the agenda.

We are looking forward to the remaining days of our journey.  It is hard to believe that we have ben here for a month.  We have 2 weeks remaining.  These 2 weeks will include the Finals of the World Cup, and more fellowship with friends.  We are truly blessed!

The Spirit of Ubuntu -- `Hand of God' Reappears to Send Uruguay Past Ghana to World Cup Semifinal

The “hand of God” reappeared at soccer’s World Cup last night, this time to take Uruguay into the semifinals for the first time in 40 years.  The hopes of all Africa sank with a heartbraking loss on Friday evening.  Ghana had the chance to become the first African team to reach the semifinals of the World Cup Championship.

With Uruguay and Ghana tied 1-1 and approaching the end of extra time in Johannesburg, striker Luis Suarez stopped a goal-bound header with his hand, earning a red card and giving Asamoah Gyan the chance to win the game for Ghana from the penalty spot.  Gyan’s kick struck the crossbar, sending the match into a penalty shootout that the Uruguayans won 4-2 when the Ghanaians missed two more efforts from the spot.

The World Cup championship will move into the final four stage after today's matches, pitting Argentina against Germany, and Paraguay and Spain.  The winners of these matches will join Netherlands and Uraguay.  This has been a championship of upsets and early exists of powerhouses like France and Italy.  Yesterday, Netherlands defeated Brazil, for what may have been the biggest upset of the championship.

The exitement of the world's most popular sporting event has not disappointed us.  Being here in the midst of great fans, and the world's best soccer has been like nothing we have experienced.  Even though we are watching most of the games on TV, the whole country stops when matches are broadcast.  While ticket prices are beyond the means of the masses of South Africans, the Fan Parks, and broadcasts in malls, restaurants, barber shops, and every place there is a TV has engaged the entire nation.

Stay tuned, ths will only get better.

The Spirit of Ubuntu -- Bad News and Good News in USA v. Ghana Match

In what was the most thrilling and most watched USA match in the World Cup, the USA team met the agony of defeat against the Ghana Black Stars.  The U.S. men's national team's 2-1 loss to Ghana on Saturday was the most-watched World Cup match among households and viewers, according to ESPN.

The bad news is that we were supporting the USA team and they lost.  The good news is that there is still an African team in the competition, and now we will join the millions of fans across the continent and around the world to support the Ghana National Team.  Ghana became the Pride of Africa as Asamoah Gyan's extra-time winner sparked huge scenes of celebration across the continent.

Ghana will make history if they beat Uruguay on Friday and become the first African team to reach a World Cup semi-final.  All of South Africa is throwing their full support  behind the Ghana team.  It is so wonderful to see how the South African supporters have embraced this team, even though the South african team was eliminated in the Group Match stage.  The promise of the rise of African soccer is already beginning to resonate as fans talk about their expectations for better perfomances in 2014 when the World Cup will be held in Brazil.

We are all proud to be African and support the Pride of Africa in their next match against Uraguay.

The Spirit of Ubuntu -- A Great Day to Be an American!

We witnessed what may have been the biggest win in USA team history. It certainly was the most exciting. Landon Donovan's goal gave the USA a 1-0 win against Algeria on Wednesday and sent the Americans to the second round of the World Cup. The team took first place in its group for the first time in 80 years and will face Ghana on Saturday in Rustenburg.This was the most exciting day of our trip.  Below are some photos of our day.



We were greeted by enthusiastic attendants at the Park and Ride location.  They all wanted photos with the American supporters.  After South Africa was eliminated, many of their supporters are now following the USA.







We were really dressed for the ocassion -- showing our colors and waving our flags.  Everything was well-organized at the stadium.  We were driven from the Park and Ride lot to the doorstep of the stadium and no cost.  We were thinking that a shuttle bus ride, or at least the parking, would have cost plenty in the USA.  Here all of the hospitality for the match was provided at no charge.













At the stadium, there were thousands of USA supporters.  Of the 35,000 plus fans, there was perhaps a larger contingent of USA supporters than Algerians.  The news reports that more tickets were sold in advance to Americans than any other country.  We were in good company.  All the supporters had a "YES WE CAN!" attitude.  We screamed and blew our vuvuzelas until we were hoarse.  It was all worth it when the USA team scored in the final minute of play.


The highlight of the day was that Bill Clinton was at the match.  He drew almost as many cheers as the USA team.  When he appeared, in the stands, it appeared that all the USA fans turned away from the field to get photos of him. We were sitting near where he was located, and managed to get a photo of him as well.  I guess when you're as popular as Bill, it isn't hard for folks to be distracted -- even if he has no history of being a great soccer fan.  On this day, we all were the most vocal soccer fans in the stadium.

The Impossible Dream Ends for South Africa with a 2-1 Victory over France

South Africa's Bafana Bafana soccer team is out of the World Cup but fans celebrated victory over France on Monday evening. South Africa is the first host country to be knocked out of the World Cup in the first round, but football fans in Johannesburg say the country's first win against France has given them reason to celebrate. Despite the outcome, many said they were now confident that the standard of football here would improve because the World Cup had been played in Africa.

With their boys gone, the country's focus turns to making sure the second half of the tournament goes off as well as the first. Officials estimate 432,000 fans have traveled to South Africa for the World Cup, much higher than the 350,000 predicted before it began. (FIFA originally forecast 450,000 visitors but revised that number down because of security concerns and cost.) An event that was supposed to be riddled with theft, violence, and logistical disasters hasn't been. Minor problems pop up here and there, but so far South Africa's World Cup is a success.

Our attention now turns to the fortunes of the USA team. We will be in attendance on Wednesday, June 23rd, when USA meets Algeria. This is a high stakes game, and a win will propel the USA team to the next round.

The Spirit of Ubuntu -- Traveling from Pretoria to Cape Town

June 13th through June 15th -- Michael and Michelle Rosenberg, in Eerstrus, South Africa

We ended our stay in Pretoria with the Rosenberg family in the township of Eersterus.  Michael Rosenberg is the preacher at the Eersterus Church of Christ.  Michael and Michelle (center) are very active with community outreach. They support an old age home, and volunteer as supporters of their children's school.  We have watched their children grow up from a very young age.  Now they are grandparents like us.



June 15th through June 21st -- Deon and Marietjie Manuel, in Cape Town, South Africa

We completed a full day journey from Pretoria to Cape Town on June 15th.  This was 15 hours of driving.  As we crossed the Karoo Desert we could see snow on the mountain tops in the distance.  We were welcomed by Deon Manuel and his family.  Deon was one of the young men I hired at IBM when we lived in South Africa in the 90's.  He has moved on from IBM and now heads up his on consulting firm.  He and his family are a real delight. They are faithful members of the Church of Christ. 




One of the joys of worshipping in Cape Town is the memory of the beautiful singing. 

On Sunday, June 20th, we worshipped with the congregation at Athlone.  Once again, I was honored to deliver the message for this wonderful family of God's people.  The minister there is Peter Manuel.  He has served this congregation for more than 30 years. 

In addidtion to the congregation in Athlone, he  has developed a missionary program and they have established three new congregations in Namibia. 

Peter and his wife Kathy were the very first people we were introduced to in the Church of Christ when we first moved to South Africa.  Thy have two daughters and one son, Deon, whose family hosted us during our visit.  We love them dearly.

USA vs. Slovenia: At World Cup, Americans rally for 2-2 tie

The American team mounted a furious rally, including goals by Landon Donovan and Michael Bradley, to claim a 2-2 draw with Slovenia on Friday.  At the end of the match we were as exhausted as the players -- watching a big screen presentation at the Canal Walk Mall in Cape Town.  Hundreds of shoppers joined the 45,000 fans in cheering for every important play.  Amidst this excitement, I discovered that my wife -- a world-class shopper in a mall with over 400 shops -- is now a true soccer fan.


As American visitors, we are something of an anomally, and folks are always surprised to hear our "accent" and inquire where we are from.  But we are blending into the crowd with our vuvuzela, and up until today, our South African colors to also support the local team.

Maurice Edu's volley splashed into Slovenia's net in the 85th minute Friday, and for an instant, the U.S. national soccer team believed it had punctuated an epic comeback with a late go-ahead strike.

On a call that will be reviewed, examined, scrutinized, second-guessed and analyzed for weeks, if not years, to come, the referee waved off Edu's apparent goal, leaving the exhausted teams locked in a 2-2 draw in front of a pro-American crowd of 45,573.



With a victory over Algeria (0-1-1) in Pretoria, the United States (0-0-2) will secure passage. It can also advance with a tie if England -- also 0-0-2 but with fewer goals scored -- loses to Slovenia (1-0-1) or earns a tie but fails to erase the Americans' two-goal edge in overall tournament scoring.

It marked just the fourth time in U.S. history that the national team had earned a point after trailing by two goals at the half (1-30-3).  Said goalkeeper Tim Howard, "I feel fortunate to come out of it, still alive to go through" to the round of 16.

We will be in full voice, vuvuvuzelas blasting, on next Wednesday when the USA meets Algeria in Pretoria.  We have tickets to that match, and it will be the most important match for USA supporters.  We have been here now for just over two weeks. We have watched 21 soccer matches -- only missing 2 matches while we were traveling in country.  This is truly an experience of a lifetime. 

GO USA!

The Spirit of Ubuntu -- We found our friends from Ohio!

Meeting friends from the USA Helps Make Our Visit more Like Home.


We are now in Cape Town.  We spent the day yesterday reconnecting with some friends from Ohio.  Our friends, William and Pat Carter from Dayton, Ohio, are now living in Cape Town working with the Peace Corps.  They visited a few years ago, and decided to return to offer their assistance as Peace Corp volunteers.  We had a wonderful reunion and got some time to go to the beach for a look at the sunset. It is still very chilly here.  It is difficult to get used to winter in June, but the friendship helped to keep us warm.


The highlight of our visit with William and Pat was the introduction to Wendy Ryan.  Wendy is from Falls Church, VA, but a native of Trinidad Tobago.  She visited South Africa five years ago, and was touched by the overwhelming need of women suffering from HIV/AIDS.


In January 2006, Evangeline Ministries was founded by missionary Wendy Ryan in Cape Town, South Africa to help women and men who live with HIV and AIDS develop skills to help them earn a living for themselves and their children; and to give them hope as they live with this disease — all in the name of Jesus Christ.

Evangeline Ministries works in partnership with the Living Hope Community Center Trust to offer skills training in the form of sewing classes, computer classes and business classes. Additionally, the program generates income for the women and their families as they sew and sell attractive African inspired handbags.

We are so impressed with what Wendy is doing that we promised to join her effort and determine how we can help when we return to the USA.

The Spirit of Ubuntu -- Our Hosts Make This a Real Homecoming

I want to pause and take the time to recognize our hosts on this wonderful trip.  We are wonderfully blessed to have friends to host us a half world away.  Below are brief profiles of our hosts so far.  We will update this as our journey continues.

June 2nd through June 4th -- Daniel and Sophie Ledwaba, in Soshanguve, South Africa.

Daniel is a an entrepreneur and preacher with the Church of Christ in Soshanguve.  They have two adult children and two grandchildren.  They own and operate an electronics repair business.  The Church of Christ at Soshanguve has been a key participant in our missionary work.

The Ledwabas have been very active in our missionary activities.  They helped to organize two major exchange trips to the USA.  The most prominent trip was to host 30 young people - The Voices of Praise from the Motherland -in a tour of several states in 2000.  We provided these youngsters with the "exerience of a lifetime." 

Now Daniel and Sophie are helping to make this a trip of a lifetime for us.

June 5th through 9th  -- Dennis and Dolena Malepa, in Gaborone, Botswana

Dennis Malepa is a preacher with the Broadhurst Church of Christ in Gaborone.  His wife, Dolena works in the Environmental Agency of the Botswana Goovernment.  They have four children -- 2 girls and two boys.  Their youngest is a 17 year-old in high school.

His family helped to make our first trip to Botswana a memorable one.




June 10th through June 13th -- Dolphy and Johanna Montoedi, in Atteridgeville, South Africa.

Dolphy and Johanna (far left and far right) were among our very first friends when we lived in South Africa in the 90's. 

Dolphy is retired, and Johanna works for the Tshwane City Government. They are pictured here with their children and two grandchildren. We enjoyed our stay with them and reflecting on the days when their children were in high school.


We will provide an introduction to our remaining hosts as our journey continues.  We are wonderfully blessed to share the hospitality of these Christian friends.

Team USA remains A Determined and Spirited Underdog

The USA soccer team surprise mighty England with a 1 - 1 draw in their opening match on Saturday.



The #14 ranked USA and its young team fought the mighty #8 English on Saturday, resulting in a tie in what was called “the most anticipated game in U.S. soccer history.” Both critics and historians alike favored England to win and the numbers supported their claims. Of the 9 meetings between the two teams since 1950 the U.S. has only managed to win two. The first being in 1950 when an inexperienced and hastily prepared American squad of school teachers, dishwashers and mail carriers defeated the then 23-4-3 post war English team in what came to be dubbed the “Miracle on Grass.” The second win came more than 40 years later when they beat the English in a qualification match for the 1994 World Cup. USA midfielder Landon Donovan responded to critics saying “man for man england is the more talented team” but pointed out that his teams camaraderie will play a major determining factor in the matches outcome.

U.S. national support for soccer has always fallen below the worldwide average but after matching the performance of England on saturday and the chance to advance to the second round granted a win on friday against Slovenia. Americans are growing increasingly curious of a sport knocking on its front door. US soccer fans even managed to outnumber British fans at Soccer City Stadium saturday in Johannesburg A reported 8,000 tickets were sold in America for the match as opposed to 6,000 in England.

We are here to watch African history unfold, but I could not avoid casting my full support for the USA team in this match. We will be attending the USA vs. Algeria match nex week.  I am looking forward to the deafening experience of a stadium filled to capacity with the most avid soccer fans in the world.

Stay tuned as this 64-match tournament unfolds with great excitement.

South Africa Scores First Goal in World Championship

South Africa's Tshabalala a hero after scoring World Cup's first goal.



His name is Siphiwe Tshabalala, but South Africa will simply remember him as a World Cup hero. At 55 minutes into the opening game of the 2010 World Cup, Tshabalala scored the tournament's first goal.

To get all the firsts out of the way, it was also the first time South Africa has scored a World Cup goal on their own soil, the first time an African nation scored a World Cup goal in their own continent and the first time 85,000 fans at Soccer City Stadium had a reason for celebration.

South Africa's team entered the match ranked 83 in the world, facing the Mexican team ranked 17th. The South African team held on for a 1 - 1 draw. They are still in good position in their group after France and Uraguay ended their opening match with a 0 - 0 draw.

The USA team opens their play today against England. The excitement of being in the middle of the world's most enthusiastic sports fans has made this trip one of the most enjoyable for me and my wife.
We will add our voices to the supporters of the USA team.  The reports are that more tickets were purchased by Americans in advance than any other nation.  Maybe the word is getting around that this is the most popular sport in the world.

All of South Africa comes out in force whenever any African team is playing.  Nigeria opens against Argentina later today.  That promises to be another match that will keep the revellers up all night.  There is no way to describe the energy that has captured the entire population.  Add about 2 million visitors, and you have the ingredients for a world class party -- wherever two or three are gathered.

More to come!

South Africa is Ready! Don't Miss the Opening Event.

A week ago, we arrived in South Africa.  There were detours and road construction everywhere.  Our first thought was, "They aren't going to finish this in time."

A week later, all the construction sites are gone, traffic is moving a lot smoother, and the entire country is abuzz with the sound of vuvuzelas (a long horn that is blown  during matches to support the home team). Thousands of fans have poured through the streets to shout their support for Bafana Bafana and create a wall of vuvuzela noise. Everybody is indeed ready.

The opening concert kicked off the festivities tonight with Alicia Keys, Black Eyed Peas, Hugh Masakela, John Legend, Soweto Gospel Choir and Angelique Kidjo. The millions of people are surely waiting in anticipation.

On Friday, June 11th, 2010 at 2:00 PM local time, a 30-minute ceremony having 1581 world-class artists, dancers, musicians and performers will begin at Johannesburg at Soccer City stadium. It will be followed up by opening match between hosts South Africa and Mexico at 4:00 PM.

DON'T MISS THIS OPENING CEREMONY AND MATCH!

IT WILL BE SHOWN ON ABC AND ESPN. 

Tivo it, set up your DVR, or your VCR for us old school folks.  This is the event of the century for the African continent. You will want this in your archives.

A Botswana Sunrise

Botswana proved to be the perfect diversion to prepare us for the upcoming exciement.



An early morning dirve in the Chobee  National Game Reserve can change the worst disposition. The cold wintry breeze and the beauty of the river is very refreshing.  The sunrise was breath-taking.
Driving through the reserve to observe the early morning activity of nature's creaures in this region helps one to appreciate the natural order and reguvination of creation undisturbed.

Click here to see the album.

The birds greet everyone, as they awaken from their slumber.  The predators begin to survey their opportunities for the day.  The smaller animals gather to protect themselves, and the larger ones take their rest.  At the end of the day, all are seeking the refreshing renewal of the river or the safest water hole.  The stunning sunset capped off a complete day on the river and in the park observing the beauty of this region.

We enjoyed this diversion before the ear-splitting exciement of 64 World Cup Soccer matches.  On Thursday, we head back to South Africa to prepare for the World Stage that South Africa has prepared for the most popular sport on the planet.

Stay tuned, this is going to be anexciting first for the African continent.  The buzz all around the region is, "We are ready to welcome the world to South Africa!"

Welcome to Botswana! -- A travel adventure

We left South Africa for Botswana on Friday.  What an ordeal! 

This was a 4 hour trip by road to the South Africa/Botswana border.  Little did we know that the internal borders in African countries have become security gauntlets because of the World Cup.  Everyone going and coming is scrutinized, and all luggage is searched by hand.  We had to register our computers -- model, type, serial number -- to leave the country. And then show proof of ownership when entering Botswana.  There are road fees, rental car border crossing fees, and more paperwork to verify who we are staying with (name, address, and phone numbers). All the processes at these border crossings are based on hand written forms and manual entries into the computer systems.

After our 4 hour drive to the border, the crossing took 2 hours.  We were more exhausted standing in the multiple queues than from the drive.  But all is well that ends well.  Our hosts were very gracious and accommodating.  The Malepa family lives in the capital of Gaborone.

We attended worship sevices with them on Sunday.  This was a special occasion for me because the tradition in the churches is for the guest of honor to deliver the sermon for the day. I was prepared for this invitation, and enjoyed the opportunity to share a lesson titled "What Matters Most -- Love."

During worship services, a small boy -- 3 years old -- became fascinated with me, and insisted on giving me his two coins, rather than place them in the offering.  I accepted his gift -- which amounts to less than a 1 cent USA.  I will treasure these coins from this little boy named Prince.  His gift only served to prompt us to be more generous.  He was such a blessing to us, and shared our blessing with the congregation at the Broadhurst Church of Christ in Gaborone.

On Monday, we leave for a short safari here in Botswana.  We will share photos in our next post.

Former President Mandela may attend opening match

We arived in South Africa on June 2nd.  The entire country is fired up for this world class event.  Everyone is shouting "Bafana! Bafana!" -- the nickname of the South African national team.  Bafana means "the boys."  Everyone is shouting their support for the home team.  No African team has advanced to the finals of the world Cup.  If enthusiasm counts for anything, the South African team certainly has the support of the nation to go a long way.  Even former President Mandela has joined in the exciement.

Mandela Might Be At Opening Game
Chris Bathembu, BUANews


Former president Nelson Mandela might be in attendance at the 2010 Fifa World Cup opening match between South Africa and Mexico on Friday 11 June, Sports Minister Makhenkesi Stofile has confirmed.


Speaking to the SABC in Pretoria on Wednesday, Stofile said Mandela had personally requested tickets for the match, which takes place at Soccer City Stadium in Johannesburg.

"He demanded his tickets for the opening match and the final, and Fifa had agreed to that demand," Stofile said.

There were fears that the 91-year-old statesman would not be able to attend the event due to age and health considerations.

'Exciting moment'

Mandela was present in May 2004 when Fifa made the historic decision to award South Africa the right to host the world's biggest single-code sporting event.

At the time, Mandela said he felt like a "young boy" expressing his excitement.

Fifa President Sepp Blatter on Wednesday said it was important for both Fifa and South Africa that Mandela attended the opening match.

"For Fifa and for South Africa it would be a very exciting moment if Mandela is attending this first World Cup in Africa," Blatter said.

South Africa -- Prepared for the Big Stage

Nine South Africdan cities and ten stadiums  have been built or renovated for the biggest soccer event in the world.  Take a look at these venues.  During our trip, we will see many of these and witness the best soccer in the world with friends all over the country.


Cape Town
Cape Town, at the foot of iconic Table Mountain, is a cosmopolitan city with beautiful natural surrounds.
Green Point Stadium



Durban
The city's "golden mile", a four kilometre stretch of beaches, restaurants and promenades, holds pride of place in culturally varied Durban.
Durban Stadium



Johannesburg
The city is a financial Juggernaut on the African continent. Pulsating with energy and drive, Johannesburg is a hub of culture and excitement.
Ellis Park Stadium



Johannesburg Soccer City
For a long time Soccer City was the only South African stadium dedicated to the beautiful game and is a fitting finals venue.




Mangaung/Bloemfontein
Mangaung/Bloemfontein's open spaces reflect the openness of its people - friendly, warm and quietly dignified.
Free State Stadium



Nelson Mandela Bay/Port Elizabeth
Nelson Mandela Bay/Port Elizabeth has a 40 kilometre stretch of immaculate beaches in a protected bay.
Port Elizabeth Stadium


Nelspruit
Surrounded by some of the country's most spectacular game reserves and the famous Kruger National Park, Nelspruit offers more than just a world-class football stadium. Nelspruit is the capital of Mpumalanga Province.
Mbombela Stadium


Polokwane
Polokwane is often described as a vibrant, busy and colourful wonderland in a sea of grasslands, surrounded by scenic mountains.
Peter Mokaba Stadium



Rustenburg
In the heart of the savannah bushveld is the city of Rustenburg, brimming with natural beauty at the foot of the Magaliesburg Mountains.
Royal Bafokeng Stadium



Tshwane/Pretoria
Tshwane/Pretoria's rich and colourful heritage makes the city come alive with a unique blend of new and old.
Loftus Versfeld Stadium 


Click Here to read the full article about these destinations.

USA Defeats Turkey in warmup match

Two weeks before they open their 2010 FIFA World Cup™ against England, United States players rallied from a woeful first half for a confidence-boosting 2-1 victory over Turkey on Saturday.

Read the full article here.

Returning to the Land of Ubuntu

I will be blogging for the next few weeks (June 1 through July 18, 2010) from South Africa  -- the Land of Ubuntu.

I had the life-changing experience of living in South Africa at the end of the Apartheid era, and the birth of the New South Africa.  One of my most thrilling moments was meeting Nelson Mandela and shaking his hand. He was such a warm and engaging man with wisdom and charm to fill any room.  His enduring stamp on the future of that new nation was the call to everyone to live with the "Spirit of Ubuntu -- I am because of who you are."

This is a collaborative challenge to those who were once adversaries to combine their respective strengths into a new, and stronger nation.  Recently, Morgan Freeman played Mandela  in the movie "Invictus."  This movie was set around the South African Rugby Team and their quest to win the Rugby world cup in 1996.  I was living in South Africa at the time, and witnessed the impact of a nation coalescing in support of a sports team.  When the South African Springboks won, the unity of purpose extended beyond sports into the fabric of the nation.  The response was invigorating, and led to one and all, asking with a smile, "How do you like our new South Africa?"

I am returning to the Land of Ubuntu to enjoy the World Cup Soccer matches from June 11th to July 11th.  I don't know what the chances of South Africa winning may be, but I do know that this nation has accepted the challenge of stepping onto the world stage to host this great event.  In the Group Matches, I wll be cheering for Team USA.  If our team advances beyond the Group Matches, we will be there to support them.  Most of our time, however, will be spent with our South African brothers and sisters -- renewing the bonds that link us to the motherland.

I look forward to sharing our "once in a lifetime experience" back to the Land of Ubuntu.