Robben Island

Grey for the color of the cells in the prison at Robben Island.  Apartheid was a terrible thing.  What precipitates a thought in one person that he is better than and must take dominion over another because of skin color?  It always baffles me. 
This morning we rose early again and caught the shuttle to the waterfront where we boarded the ferry to Robben Island.

1961-1994: Apartheid Republic of South Africa

• 1961-1991: Maximum security prison for political prisoners
• 1961-1996: Medium security prison for criminal prisoners

Our prison guide was a political prisoner from 1978-1982.  He was an anti-apartheid politically active student at the time of his arrest.  Mandela was already there when he arrived.  Our guide shared his personal experience and it was very moving.  We toured the prison and saw the cell in which Mandela had been housed.  There were many interesting facts and personal stories of how the prisoners actually made a conscious decision to triumph in this situation.  Many of them consider it a blessing to have been there.  The older, well educated gentlemen turned the prison into a 'university' where they taught the younger men mathmatics, geography, philosophy, etc.  They actually flourished in this place of terrible adversity.  Learning about the results of apartheid was one of the things we were hoping to do.  It was a good experience.

On a sunnier, lighter note, we spent some great time with Catherine, Julianna, and Rebecca, Adrian, Louie in our hotel room.  Sadly they are leaving tonight to return home.  We will miss the laughter and tic tac toe games they play with Papa.  Today they presented him with a gift.  It is a tic tac toe board in a South African motif.  Many games have already been played to 'break it in.'  The deal is he must take it along to the Conference Grounds next summer so they can play without always having to find paper and pencils :)

Now we are waiting for news from Josh to learn of our newest great grandchild.  Maybe it's a girl, maybe a boy.  We are just so excited to be great grandparents again.  And then in another couple weeks Jessica will present us with our new little great grandson, Judah.  How blessed we are.

Next post will have baby info.