I headed over to the Rosebank Mall today to stroll through the Sunday African Rooftop Market. Elizabeth sent me a request for a few things and for a variety of reasons I love this market. I have a great deal of appreciation for people who take the time to produce products with their own hands. I enjoy talking to the artists as each has a story and most have developed their craft under the tutelage of an older craftsman. There are artists representing nations all across the African continent. Seeing all that diversity in one place is quite inspiring. I have to exercise extreme self-control and remind myself that I can’t take all of these pieces of artwork home with me. I do find myself though trying to figure out how I can manage to get a few of the large Zimbabwe stone sculptures home with me.

While I was there, I decided to get the front page of a newspaper laminated that Guide Ncube had given me a few weeks ago. In 1987,The Sunday Times had done a follow up article on Matthew Marais and Laura Russell a month after losing their parents. Guide’s father Neville had kept the article for many years until he passed away. Guide then graciously entrusted it to me so I could take care of it. I decided that it was best to laminate it so people could continue looking at it without causing further deterioration. As one looks at the photos of Matthew & Laura as children, you can’t help but be reminded of the loss of innocence they suffered. Knowing both of them as adults one can’t help but admire their strength of character and courage. I’m very proud of both of them and appreciate their support in publishing the story of The Community of Reconciliation.

Around noon, I met with Tshidi Gunguwo who is the sister-in-law of Tatenda Gunguwo of Voice of Peace in Harare. Tshidi heads up an organization here in Joburg for trouble children. We decided to meet on Tuesday so I can learn more about what she’s doing. From there I headed over to meet with Guide one last time and show him the photos of our time with his grandfather Stephen at Mbezingwe. I also shared with him about our extraordinary meeting with Brian Oldrieve from Foundations for Farming. Guide wants to return to Zimbabwe and farm and I’d like to see him enroll in the school there.

This evening Dave Russell called me and again I was astounded by the connectedness of global relationships in the most extraordinary ways. Dave told me that he and Delia hosted Victor Nakah the President of the Zimbabwe Theological College at their home a few days ago. If you look back at my May 5^th blog entry, when Thabani and I were in Bulawayo, we decided to drop in and surprise Victor. Elizabeth and I first met Victor in St Louis last year. He was speaking at a church there and we decided to drive over and meet him. How Dave and Delia know Victor I have no idea! I will find out more on Thursday when I head over to their house for my last meal before leaving the country.