The Thursday before the Easter weekend we drove down to Durban, South Africa. The country side was incredibly beautiful.

Before getting to Durban we stopped at the Blood River monument. It was here 470 Afrikaaners held back 10,000 to 12,000 Zulu on December 16, 1838. The words say in Afrikaans, "The Victory".

There are 62 life size wagons made of bronze. They represent the 62 wagons formed in a laager to defend against the Zulu attack.

December 16, 1838 was known as the Day of the Covenant. The 470 Afrikaaners had made a covenant with God, that if they would be protected and win the battle they would worship God forever and keep December 16th as a Sabbath. It is now named the Day of Reconciliation.

Picture from inside the laager

We stayed in Ladysmith a city named after the wife of Harry Smith Cape Colony commandant. She was said to be a Spanish beauty. This is picture of town hall with one of the cannons used to protect the city during the Anglo-Boer War.  Ladysmith was under siege for nearly 4 months by the Boers.

Of the 12,500 British troops in Ladysmith during the seige in 1890, over 3,000 would lose their lives.

The Dutch Afrikaaners came into this area having migrated from the Cape Colony in 1837 to get away from the British. This is a picture of a caste made of Afrikaaner wagon wheel ruts.

This is picture of the Weenen Voortrekker cemetery. Before the Battle of Blood River, the Zulu King Dingane had massacred Piet Retief and many of the Voortrekkers in the area.  At Weenen, which means "weeping" some 500 Afrikaaners were killed. It wasn't until the Battle of Blood River that the Zulus were defeated.

In Durban we attended a Zulu performance of dance.

The beach at Durban usually has some very good surf. We were not disappointed on Saturday.

Ladysmith is a very Victorian city.

We stayed in Ladysmith at Buller's Rest, named after General Buller who finally broke the siege of Ladysmith.

Winston Churchill was able to be part of the relief of Ladysmith. Mahatma Gandhi was also present in Ladysmith as a stretcher bearer.

This little monument is located in downtown Ladysmith.

Our last Saturday in Johannesburg Mom and I drove over to the Johannesburg Botanic Gardens. It was a beautiful day.

It was very difficult to say good-bye to our friends at the Cosmo City Branch.

Sister Dube and Mom.

Mom and her Primary nursery friend Dorcus.

First counselor Lucky and his wife Agnes.

Branch President Dube and family.

The countryside around Durban is known as the Land of a Thousand Hills.

We made the trip to Durban with Bryan and Tina Jackson. Great traveling companions.

Mom teaching her last piano lesson in the Area Office.

With Tsepiso and Kanya, two of your Young Adults who recently got married.