17th April

For they themselves report what kind of reception you gave us. They tell how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead - Jesus, who rescues us from the coming wrath. 1 Thessalonians 1, 9 & 10

The unhappy cape

Somebody gave me the following address of a hotel in Mauritius: "12th March 1968 avenue." I am curious and ask the porter: "What happened here on the 12th March 1968?" The porter is pride to answer me: "Ah! Sir, you know it is a great day for us Mauricians, it is the day of our independence." He explains to me that a lot of their ancestors were slaves who came from Africa to cultivate sugar cane; and that the island was a French colony during two centuries and after it was an English colony. In the north of the island there is a place called "the unhappy cape". This is a place which reminds us of the landing of our invaders. "Sir, you see that there are dates and names which are very important in our small country."