Saturday, May 19, 2007
At the beginning of April I realized I would be in Stellenbosch, near Cape Town, for a New Testament conference on Passover, so contacted the local synagogue beforehand and asked if a service would be held, explained who I was and why I asked. I was offered a seat for the service and invited to a family Passover Seder by a delightful couple, Jerry and Bernice Rosendorff. Jerry explained that he was a retired physician in the quaint little European, cobblestone street town. After dinner we played bowls, the European game where you roll small heavy balls on the floor with the object of getting closest to a key ball.

I’m nearing the end of my stay in South Africa and double booking my time to say goodbye to everyone. My neighbors and I have been counting the days leading to Pentecost and prayed tonight thanking the Lord for the 43 day. Here’s a picture of the fence post ribbons we’ve tied to keep track of the days. I’ll be back in the U.S. for the 49th day and the great celebration of the 50th day. I’m amazed to have almost spent the whole spring festival season here in Africa. The leaves are changing, turning yellow, orange and red as autumn turns to winter. The temperature is expected to drop to minus 4C on Monday night. If my fingers thaw out, I’ll try to write again before I leave on Wednesday. I’m so thankful to you for all the email and correspondence during my stay.

South Africa has 49 million inhabitants. Many landed in the country as part of the slave trade generations ago. The rich international influence from India, Asia, Europe and different parts of Africa is seen in food, architecture and language, particularly in Cape Town. The Xhosa language is major African language there, and it includes five different clicking sounds. In the year 2010 the World Cup will be hosted by South Africa and the population during that time is expected to double. They're making plans.

During Peter’s visit we went to Market Theatre in Johannesburg before setting out across the country and saw a performance entitled, “Shirley Goodness and Mercy,” an autobiography about a national film personality that starred in the show. It was about growing up in the Apartheid years from the perspective of being “coloured,” described by the writer as, “not as low as being black and not has high as whites, but somewhere in-between.” It was set in Soweto, the huge black township near Johannesburg and gave great insight to this culture. Peter and I had dinner at Gramadoelas beforehand a place to spot dignitaries and celebrities and eat authentic South African food. We took a picture and sat a table away from the Dutch ambassador.

This weekend my neighbors will get together, as is our tradition now, on Shabbat or Motzei Shabbat; anywhere between 15 to 25 of us not counting children gather for dinner and fellowship. Friday night is the thirty-fifth day in this biblical festival season leading to Pentecost. It will be one our last times together as my time is coming to a close and I'm making plans. I return to the states on March 23rd!