December 9, 1999 - Greetings from Namibia

Greetings, Everyone -

When we landed in Windhoek last Sunday, the whole African section of the plane broke out in loud ululation - ungnagicalahoton - the same cry American Indian women make when they want to honor relatives, homeland and all good things! Then they all started up a chorus of song in praise of Namibia.

I was met by the Bahai's at the Windhoek airport where we did a quick run thru of the schedule. Then I had to jump back on the same plane to fly down to Cape Town, South Africa. I had a window seat and could look down on the stark desert landscape below. Just before we reached Cape Town we flew over mountains, and I could see all of the horticulture of the Afrikaans in the mountain valleys below. Cape Town is situated in the middle of steep mountains right on the tip of the continent.

I was met at the Cape Town airport by NSA member Michael - a wonderful chap originally from Australia who has been in Cape Town for 31 years teaching mathematics and, along with the other Bahai's, surviving apartheid - by strictly adhering to principle. We went to the Baha'i Center, where I met many of the local believers, including one of my daughter Kimimila's buddies that she served with at the Baha'i World Center! I asked some folks about how to locate my mom (Patricia Locke), and they said that it might be tough to find her amongst 7,000 attendees at the PWC. Anyway, I registered at the Conference and Michael dropped me off at the main hall where I wanted to attend the talk by Nelson Mandela. When I walked into the entrance, I saw my mom checking out wind chimes! So then we were able to get front row seats to hear "Madiba," the affectionate name for Nelson Mandela. I have to run out the door now but will try to continue from here later....

  Love, Kevin