South Africa:: 30 years later

Kay and I are in Pretoria, South Africa. Pretoria is just outside Johannesburg. We are here with 33 leaders of our ministry around the world working together on building a stronger global ministry that can sustain the Great Commission in amazing ways.

We first came to South Africa 30 years ago. We had lived in Nigeria for about 9 months and traveled to the first All-Africa Staff Conference. It now has the distinction of being the only-ever All-Africa Staff conference. No other one was ever held. Jennifer turned 2 years old on the flight back from Johannesburg to Nairobi, Kenya. We celebrated on the airplane with the only cake we could find to purchase – a fruitcake! But I guess 2 year olds don’t know the difference! So we have very funny and interesting memories of our first trip to South Africa.

We have not been back in 30 years. Yesterday, Kay and I were walking around the beautiful gardens in the guesthouse where we are staying. Kay commented that the air just smells like “Africa”. There’s just something about being on the continent that we’ve not felt anywhere else we’ve lived or traveled. Whether West Africa, East Africa, or South Africa, it’s a similar feel – a “rural feel” even in a major city, the way people interact with each other, even the smells in the air.

We spent Saturday visiting with friends Stefan and Marié Dell, and Kenneth, Monica and new baby Peter. Kay easily slips into Grammy-mode wherever she is. Monica thought Grammy Kay was great at reading books. Newborn Peter found Grammy Kay’s lap a great place to sleep.

I have placed some photos online. Click here to see some of the beauty we’ve found here at the Schoongezicht Guesthouse where we’re enjoying Afrikaner hospitality.