We've arrived in Capetown

Hi Everyone,We've arrived safely in Capetown.... a spectacular day's drive on the garden route, capped off by a last minute cable car ride up to Table Mountain. So satisfying.Now, let's back up.... An incredible concert in Knysna! After the frigid (yet, verbally warm response) in Grahamstown, we expected the mostly white audience to be likewise cold. BUT, last night's audience was wildly, wildly warm.... we were forced to offer two encores (compelled by everyone in the audience stomping their feet!) Very nice. Also there was the director of the AIDS center for orphaned children. She could run any company in America I think! Very impressive, very big heart.... big vision for the children under her care.The contrasts in this country are so overwhelming that I still cannot really express my thoughts in writing. And, I daresay, everyone on this tour feels similarly... you see mile after mile of horrible shacks.... no water, no electricity.... then, you encounter totally first world areas that rival anything in the U.S. or Europe. Yes, we see these contrasts in Philadelphia.... yes, we've seen them in other tours (Brazil and Cuba, most especially)... but, this is totally mind boggling.... that the vast wealth of the country is controlled by under 10 per cent of the country... that unemployment among black Africans is around 50 per cent.... that the level of AIDS infection is so high.... well, this just overwhelmes the senses (and the heart). I hope to be able to articulate my thoughts better in the coming weeks and months.Anyway, we love being here... can't wait to return! (And, that's a pretty universal sentiment also).

Knysna Aids Council

The Knysna Aids Council, in a small house, only a few blocks from Main Street does so much more than testing and counseling. Under the astute and thorough administration of Millicent, it cares for children, provides training for young people, visits prisons and continues to network so that its reach can stretch further. The K.A.C. is not associated with a church, but its 12 staff members are Christian and feel called to their work. While visiting, we were chauffered to the tiny home of Nombulelo Fonti, who is conected with the K.A.C. Nombulelo, HIV positive herself for 14 years, provides childcare for little ones whose caretakers are too ill from the disease to provide consistent supervision. Nombulelo lives in one of the all too common township neighborhoods that is, though not as poor as Kliptown, certainly in great need. The children we met were delightful, naturally. They joined us in song and graciously accepted our small gifts. Once again, a lesson in humility was provided for all who visited.

A few pics

Nathan at the console of the great organ at St. Mary's Cathedral, Joburg

A nice giraffe in Pilanesburg!

Tim Starn, Carolyn Gerrish and their son Michael in the middle.... freezing, in search of wild animals!

We're in KNYSNA!

Hi everyone!! Well, sorry to be remiss in writing, but I've had zero internet access for 48 hours. We're now in Knysna, on the Indian Ocean (gosh, it's hard to fathom that, isn't it!!!) Just beautiful, beautiful weather and a gorgeous place. Plus the opening of the oyster festival.... I've already slurped my first 2 dozen!

ANYWAY, let's back up.... two days ago we left Sun City for the Joburg airport and a flight to Port Elizabeth. Not a long flight. Anyway, YESTERDAY, we drove from "PE" (as it's called) to beautiful Grahamstown for the Grahamstown Arts Festival, which is billed as the biggest arts festival in Africa, but seems MUCH bigger!! We had an exhausting day of walking the town, through hundreds of craft stalls and almost as many exhibits of African dancing, singing, etc. Our concert last night was a sell-out and was held in the very old local Methodist Church. In the audience were the governer of the Eastern Cape province, somebody from the American embassy, the conductor of the Joburg Philharmonic, and hundreds of others... mostly white audience. Which is interesting in that, like at Bryn Mawr, the audience was receptive, polite, but not exuberant.... far cry from Kwa Thema!! BUT, we were really, really well received and countless audience members came up to us to tell us how much they enjoyed our singing.

Afterwards was a 4th of July celebration, S. African style. Fried chicken, etc. But, it was REALLY late... we didn't finish dinner till after 11 p.m. or so, then had a long drive back to PE... a few cranky people (HAHA)! Was a short night for sleep, but heck, sleep's such a waste of time, isn't it!

This morning's drive was just glorious... over huge gorges, along the sea, through ancient forests, the occasional baboon along the road. It was one of those "pinch yourself" days.

Knysna is a beautiful town... more later.... because I must run!!!

Hope all of you back home are well. We do miss you (seriously)!