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.
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