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.