We have had a wonderful adjustment in our first stop in this worldwide voyage. We have adjusted to the jetlag and learned a lot about the history and culture of South Africa.
We have visited Museum Africa, which featured various exhibits from Alfred Martin Duggan-Cronin’s photography from 1919-1939 of Southern Africa to “Gandhi’s Johannesburg, Birthplace of Satyagrha (passive resistance or soul force) to Jurgen Schadeberg’s “Tales from Jozi”, a photography exhibit of urban life in South Africa. It was an experience that has contributed to some cultural intelligence for our mission.
Yesterday we had a unique “tour” of Soweto beginning with sharing “fat cakes” with Mutodi and his extended family. Then we went to see Nelson Mandela’s house (Desmond Tutu’s house was on the same street… the only two Nobel Peace Prize winners who lived on the same street). Next we visited Regina Mundi and were blessed to stumble upon a youth choir practice (hopefully I’ll attach a clip later). Mutodi drove us all over different parts of Soweto where I re-connected with many that I met last year. Although many were surprised to meet this smiley, white, American girl in the township last year, many more were surprised to see me come back and bring my sister.
Today we visited with Mutodi’s family some more and are about to go to an evening service at Little Falls Christian Centre a short walk from Mutodi & Leslee’s house.
Tomorrow we are catching a Greyhound (same name as the States bus company) to Maputo, Mozambique to visit with Lisa Frist. She has arranged some great, youth ministry opportunities so it should be very exciting. We’re still trying to coordinate our travel arrangements to Malawi. We are a bit anxious about possibility of taking a bus through Zimbabwe… it’s so unstable now. Keep us in your prayers.
Mutodi & Leslee Neshehe have offered to keep their place as a home-base while here in southern Africa. So if you want to send us a letter, package (Leslee misses peanut butter candy), or get a phone message to us, this is their information:
c/o Mutodi Neshehe
PO Box 651056
Benmore 2010
Republic of South Africa
1 comment:
Hi Heather and Hope - I'm traveling vicariously through you all. I'd love to know the weather, the smells, the colors you see. Are people friendly to you - as Americans and as strangers? Do people greet each other with handshakes? Hugs?
And --- how much is gas there for those who drive?
Cheers -Maggie
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