Celebrating Nelson Mandela Day in Soweto

"Madiba" - Nelson Mandela's 97th birthday was celebrated 18 July
He said, "What counts in life is not the mere fact that we have lived.
It is what difference we have made to the lives of others that will
determine the significance of the life we lead."

Painted faces on LDS kids in Protea Glen, Soweto, celebrating Mandela Day

 

It was another busy week at work, Bob dealing with a steady flow of missionary issues and Martha dealing with multiple apartments with no hot water (including our own) and with new leadership in wards and stakes, plus practicing the piano 2-3 hours a day to prepare to accompany the branch choir and, as if that weren't enough, she was also asked to speak in sacrament meeting Sunday, and Bob taught the gospel doctrine lesson again.

We also went to out to dinner twice - on Tuesday with the Waltons to celebrate 3 of our 4 birthdays (within a week) at the Cattle Baron Steak Ranch, and Friday at the Cape Town Fish Market in Eastgate with President Robison of the Ghana MTC and his wife and 3 couples who are good friends of theirs visiting from the states, while the Ghana MTC is closed for maintenance. We introduced Waltons to the world's best steaks and the other couples to kingklip, the world's best fish, and no one was disappointed. In fact, they all gave rave reviews to the meals!

Saturday was Nelson Mandela Day in honor of his 97th birthday, and there were celebrations and service projects throughout the country. Our branch had an activity, combined with the ward we were recently split from, and we decided to attend because they really needed us (especially Martha at the piano) for choir practice afterward. It was extremely well attended  There were over 100 people there, and half were probably primary age and half the rest were young adults. 

 

Teams gathered in the four corners of the "Hall" (cultural hall)



Activities continued outdoors on the car park (parking lot/basketball court)

 

They randomly split everyone into four teams by giving everyone a colored sticker. Martha was on the pink team (mostly teenage and YSA girls) and Bob was asked to be one of three judges to determine winners of each event. Sister Mbobo, who was there with three generations of her family, and three YSA women on her committee, did a great job with the competitions, starting in the "Hall" and finishing out doors on the car park (parking lot).

 

Martha ran the 3-legged race with Brother Moyo,
our favorite deacon, and exulted at the finish line

 

 

We arrived at the starting time of 10:00, but they didn't get started with games until closer to 11. We thought it might last a couple of hours, but it was still going strong at 2:00, when we had to leave to address some apartment issues, including meeting a plumber at our own flat, to get our hot water restored. It turns out the activity lasted over 8 hours, until well after dark! The purpose of the holiday, we're told is for everyone in the country to donate 67 minutes of service and volunteerism, in honor of the 67 years of Mandela's struggle for freedom and democracy in South Africa. Mandela believed that every person in the world has the ability to change the world for the better, no matter how small their contribution. We were surprised that the 67 minutes for our branch turned into more than 8 hours, but it proved to be a wonderful team building and unifying activity for the saints here in Protea Glen. A rousing success!

 

The activity started with a song and prayer in the cultural hall and I was asked to give the spiritual thought. I hurried and found these quotes from Nelson Mandela on my iPhone that I combined into my message:

“There is no passion to be found playing small - in settling for a life that is less than the one you are capable of living,” and "It always seems impossible until it's done."  

 

Sister Mbobo (do you love the outfit?) directs the activities



Representatives of the four teams compete in bobbing for apples

The older sisters were in the kitchen much of the day preparing a feast, but we had to leave before it was served. And the choir practice afterward, needless to say, never materialized.

 

The roads in and out of Soweto were one big traffic jam. We didn't know why at the time, but we found out later that Winnie Mandela, Madiba's ex-wife, was speaking in a major rally at their former home
property in Soweto to mark the occasion.

Not only was Saturday a long day, especially with no hot water, but Sunday proved to be almost as long, as we got home after 4:00, eight hours after we left home. Choir practice lasted from 12:30 to 3:30, as Sister Redebe insisted on practicing until most of the choir members got out of the branch council meeting to join us. They never did. Will the choir be ready for next week's branch conference?






Martha's talk and Bob's lesson Sunday both were very well received with many compliments. Martha spoke about becoming as a little child, and she shared life experiences that she learned from three of the greatest teachers she has known, her three children.

We love and miss our family so much, but we love being here with our South African family, especially the wonderful Protea Glen Branch and Glen Ridge Ward members in Soweto.