Earlier this month Nelson Mandela, former president of South Africa, turned 91 years old. Born on 18 July 1918, President Mandela devoted his life to the struggle of his people. Spending more than 27 years in jail (18 years of which he served on Robben Island) as a political prisoner, President Mandela made significant sacrifices in an attempt to achieve equality for all South Africans under the Apartheid-era Nationalist regime. In South Africa, he is revered as a national hero, as well as a sort of “savior of the nation.” Perhaps not dissimilar to how Americans view figures like George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, and Martin Luther King, Jr.

One of my goals this year is to familiarize myself with South African culture. I am a little embarrassed to admit that my prior knowledge of the “Rainbow Nation” was limited to say the very least. I am currently about two-thirds of the way through President Mandela’s 750-page autobiography, Long Walk to Freedom. I am thoroughly enjoying the book and love that I’m learning more about South Africa’s complex and difficult history. Each time I read about an unfamiliar figure I immediately take the opportunity to look him/her up online and to enlighten myself in the moment. I have tons and tons of books on my “reading list,” but I think the next one up is South Africa’s famed, Cry, The Beloved Country by Alan Paton.

Note: Have you ever wondered why he’s called Madiba? Well, as I recently learned, Nelson Mandela hails from the Xhosa tribe of the Transkei region of South Africa. Within the Xhosa tribe, he is a member of the Thembu people. Within the Thembu people, he is a member of the Madiba clan. Addressing President Mandela as “Madiba” (his clan name) is a sign of respect!

…yep, that’s what I wore to sleep last night. Winter is in full swing here in Johannesburg, and it has been pretty cold! According to my roommate, temperatures last night were around -3°C (about 27°F). Keep in mind we don’t have any sort of heating in our houses…!

I’m told that there are really only two seasons here in Joburg: winter and summer. I’m not quite sure when summer will arrive, but (as of last night) I hope it’s soon!

On a happier note, tomorrow marks our first business training with our third partner: Weltevreden Chapel. Very exciting! Please keep us in your prayers!

President Obama recently made his first trip as President of the United States to sub-Saharan Africa. Following visits to Moscow and Rome, the American President spent a day in Accra, Ghana–speaking to the Ghanaian Parliament about the future of the continent. Here are some highlights from his speech:

“…we must first recognize the fundamental truth that you have given life to in Ghana: Development depends on good governance. That is the ingredient which has been missing in far too many places, for far too long. That’s the change that can unlock Africa’s potential. And that is the responsibility that can only be met by Africans.”

“As for America…our commitment must be measured by more than just the dollars we spend…the true sign of success is not whether we are a source of perpetual aid that helps people scrape by–it’s whether we are partners in building capacity for transformational change.”

“Aid is not an end itself. The purpose of foreign assistance must be creating conditions where it’s no longer needed.”

[Speaking directly to Africa's youth] “You have the power to hold your leaders accountable, and to build institutions that serve the people. You can serve in your communities, and harness your energy and education to create new wealth and build new connections to the world. You can do that. Yes you can–because in this moment, history is on the move. But these things can only be done if all of you take responsibility for your future. And it won’t be easy. It will take time and effort. There will be suffering and setbacks. But I can promise you this: America will be with you every step of the way–as a partner, as a friend. Opportunity won’t come from any other place, though. It must come from the decisions that all of you make, the things that you do, the hope you hold in your heart.”

President Obama focused on four main areas throughout his speech: democracy, opportunity, health and the peaceful resolution of conflict.

The speech was not too controversial in content, but interesting nonetheless. Regardless of one’s personal opinions about President Obama, he definitely has a way with words. He also gave a little shout-out to the work that President Bush did in Africa–so kudos to him for recognizing his predecessor’s efforts and successes : )

 To read President Obama’s full remarks to the Ghanaian Parliament click here.

As many of you know, the United States celebrated its 233rd “birthday” on July 4th of this year. Our Independence Day happens to be my absolute favorite non-religious holiday. Perhaps it’s because I’m deeply patriotic…or maybe it’s just because I loooove fireworks : )  Could be a toss-up.

Regardless, I was worried that celebrating the 4th of July overseas would trigger a sense of homesickness. Inevitably, it did a little bit, but I was incredibly blessed to spend the holiday with some wonderful friends (both American and South African!). We had an especially good time sharing our American traditions with our eager South African friends. All in all, we had a lot of fun!

For a more thorough description of our holiday festivities, I’ll refer you to Greg’s blog : )

Our second local church partner is a small church plant in an area of town called, “Cosmo City.”  Cosmo City is an incredibly unique place.  In South Africa, there is still a significant problem with informal settlements (areas of land where people build make-shift shacks in which they live, but the areas are not designated [or equipped] to serve as living spaces). “Homes” located in informal settlements seldom have access to electricity or running water. They are often seen as temporary housing situations, so they are not sturdy (or warm). In an attempt to relocate people from informal settlements into better housing, the South African government has invested R3,5 billion ($438 million) into an experimental mixed-income residential area referred to as “Cosmo City.” There are three types of houses offered in Cosmo: fully-subsidized (free), partially subsidized and fully bonded/market price. The idea is to create an appealing environment that is affordable to all different types of people.

Interestingly enough, many of the streets are named after American cities and states.  And, I’m not even kidding, the main street to enter into Cosmo City is called Tennessee Avenue   I couldn’t even make that up if I wanted to…! 

The first time I explored Cosmo I stumbled upon the intersection of South Africa Drive and Tennessee Avenue. My heart jumped with delight. The intersection of these two roads seemed to be the perfect metaphor for my life. And to top it off, there was a temporary tent on the corner of South Africa and Tennessee where some community members were holding a Sunday afternoon church service. Too perfect for words! God has such a way of making me smile and rejoice in His sense of humor.

To read more about Cosmo City, click here for an article published back in 2005, or here for an article published in 2008.