This is the week before Christmas here in Cape Town. Yet, you don't see many Christmas decorations anywhere, even in the malls. On television, there are no advertisements to "buy this gift or that gift for that special person", and, I have only seen one Santa Clause. There are a few (3-4) homes with lights on the outside between our home and the church (about 10 miles).
The house we are house sitting has very few Christmas decorations. We will put what we can up. I have yet to see a nativity scene.
The only thing that seems to go with Christmas are plans for the family to be together. In other words, they somehow have not attached the commercialism with the celebration.
Of course, being in bright sunny, warm summer days could effect it somewhat. People are in the ocean at 7 AM across the street from the house we are in.
The church, however, does celebrate Christmas which will include a Sunday morning (23rd) Christmas message, a Sunday evening family picnic followed by a Carol by Candlelight service with a message. On Monday afternoon (24th) we will make the rounds of a few retirement homes and sing carols and I will give a brief message.
Then we will have a one hour service on Christmas morning (25th) at 9AM. It is said to be the largest service of the year.
The elections here are also very different from what you seem to be getting in the United States. In fact, almost all the news we get from America is about the election. Here you need to go on the web to find out what is going on.
They have just finished the pre-election here. President Thabo Mbeki, who has ruled since 1997, was defeated yesterday by Jacob Zuma. This all happened in the African National Congress which took power with Nelson Mandela in 1994. The winner of their pre-election congress is usually the president. However, Mr. Zuma has some corruption charges currently against him in court, so it should be interesting. Thabo Mbeki and Nelson Mandela are from a Xhosa tribal background, while Jacob Zuma is of a Zulu background.
There is a little nervousness here. One political evaluation is that Zuma"does represent a hope among the vast majority of the black underclass that he represents some kind of redistribution."
What that means, no one yet knows.
Speaking of Nelson Mandela, a real national hero here, yesterday, Barb, Rich and I went to visit the prison on Robbin Island which sits in the middle of the Cape Town Bay. It is the place where many black political prisoners were held until 1991 when apartheid officially ended.
The photo above is how it was years ago, because today it is no longer a prison, it is a national monument. That's the yard where Nelson Mandela was held for 18 years. The men are breaking rocks. That did that all day. But, that is also the yard where Nelson Mandela was involved in the 'Open University'. That and the lime quarry were where educated, professional black leaders passed on their experience and education to others who had not had the chance to study. They did this one on one. Many men learned to read and write while in prison. Many of these men went on to become leaders in business, education and the government.
When Nelson walked out of prison, he was swept into the president's office as the black majority were allowed to vote. Instead of a blood bath against the whites who had held them down, President Mandela led a movement of reconciliation that continues today. He has become the very symbol of the word world-wide!
Continue to pray for this country.
Ron and Barb
It was very moving to hear our guides, all former prisoners, describe life in the prison. It sounded terrible. Yet, they had such pride in what has happened since their days in prison. They all seem to share with the growth of the country and reminded us that this country has really changed in the last 15 years and still has a long ways to go.
