Some call Johannesburg the crime capital of the world, and that may be but I have to say that for the few days I’ve been here, I can only begin to tell of the kindness I have received. But first let me tell you about summer here… It’s been fantastic, the temperatures have dropped to the 70s for my stay. Every afternoon around 4 or 5 it has rained. I’ve done about 15km walking through the city but haven’t been hit by rain yet. Although I did find something else, ICE:

(that’s the actual music that was playing- like Tel Aviv American POP is hot stuff)

Ice skating ended in quite a tragedy, I knocked my camera off the wall just after that last shot. Sad cakes. Grace, I empathize with all your lost cameras. “Lens Error” Ouch! I prayed for my camera and it started working again, but only long enough for me to say goodbye. I bought a Canon 100SX for R2899. I don’t even know if that’s a good deal but I land in Mozambique tomorrow sooo. I’ll miss my A650, even more because it was a gift (thanks f&f, you all rock). Anyhow, I’ve got one now, not as awesome, but still a nice camera.

Pam, this is for you:

Two stories. Yesterday I ate at a little shop in a local mall. Today I walked by and Eve, my server from before, stopped me and said “excuse me, you left your pen here so I kept it in case you came back today. Who saves a pen for a customer? She laughed at me for always taking pictures of my food. Eve is from Zimbabwe, a teacher and accountant but she started working tables here in SA 6 months ago because it pays better. What a blessing after just having broke my camera (and you know how I love pens!).

On my walk home I ran into Justice, my shuttle driver when I arrived. He remembered me and gave me his sympathies for my camera- he said he knows I’ll be blessed in Mozambique and as we parted ways he said God bless you for caring. For being the “crime capital of the world” there sure are some amazingly kind people here. I told my friend Jen this morning that they either really like me or the think I’m fantastically stupid- or possibly both!