There are still many Mandela pictures and signs around Johannesburg. I've mentioned before how enterprising Africans are. Last week I came across a young man who was painting tennis shoes.

He had set up his table right in front of a shoe store. 

If any of you want some Minions on some tennis shoes, let me know.

Saturday, I went exploring. I've read a couple of books about the Anglo-Boer War (there were actually two wars). Each time the British won, but in the end the Boers (Afrikaners) got self-rule.  One of the battles in the 2nd Boer War was fought in a valley of the Magliesberg Mountains on December 13, 1900.  Those are the mountains you see in the distance and that is the valley to the right.  It is called the Battle of Nooigedacht ( which, I think, means "New Day").

Getting up to the valley was a little difficult in our compact Nissan.  One local farmer told us, "You can't take that car up there;"but I wanted to get close. The valley where the battle took place is just in front.  The British had become complacent in fighting the Boers, but the Boers had started fighting a guerrilla war. So when the British camped in the bottom of this valley, the Boers took the high ground and just pummeled them.  Jan Smuts, who would later become a South African Prime Minister, stated,
"I do not think it was possible to have selected a more fatal spot for a camp."

This was the end of the road for our little Nissan and as close as I could get to the battle site. The Boers killed 64 British, captured 54 soldiers and confiscated 118 wagons. A Boer guerilla fighter, after going through all the confiscated wagons looking for loot stated, "We were refitted from head to heel."

I guess I should have stopped when I saw the sign. I'm thinking about renting a 4x4 for the next exploring trip.

How cute is this little guy? You can see why Mom loves working in the Primary.

Future missionaries of the Church. Notice even the youngest boys wear their white shirts to Church.

Mom and Dorcus sometimes work together in the Primary.  They have more fun in the nursery than the kids--dancing, singing, playing with play doh, coloring and blowing bubbles.