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.
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