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Dr. Nelson Mandela and wife Dr. Graca Machel, students from the Leschi School, and Nickole Evans.

Friday, December 10, 1999 at 8:00 A.M. I had breakfast with Nelson Madela, his lovely new wife Graca Machel and 700 community non-profit leaders and young students from the Leschi School.  One speaker summed up Dr. Nelson Mandela's work as that of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and Abe Lincoln of the United States of America all rolled into one person. For more information about Dr. Mandela's visit see http://www.mandelavisit.com/.

When Dr. Mandela walked in there was a silence among the crowd, and then clapping that lasted over five minutes. As I looked around their were tears in the eyes of many of the adults in the room.  When Dr. Mandela spoke, his voice was so strong and firm, and he told no lies. He was honest with the people of Seattle.

When Dr. Mandela walked in he looked frail and unsteady on his feet. When the Leschi School sang the South African National Anthem he stood and danced to the music. We all stood and danced to the music. Truly a gentle man.

This will always be a very special moment in time for me. To be in the presence of peacemakers is a dream come true. Dr.Nelson Mandela is truly one of my heros and his work and life has truly inspired me to work towards peace and human justice.

by Nickole Evans  www.tcfn.org/nickole or e-mail inteam@jrsummit.net

M for the mechanic who fixed broken South Africa

A  for the artist who created a vision for his people

N for the navigator who Mandela still guides people over the dangerous rocks of our time to the shores of justice and peace

D for the doctor who healed the wounds of apartheid and created a true democracy for his people

E   for the educator whose life is a lesson in freedom

L   for the lawyer who knew the difference between bad laws and good;

A   for the architect who has built "beautiful and lasting" bridges between the people of Seattle and South Africa.

composed by students of Leschi School Choir Ensemble

Nelson Mandela, 1994 Inaugural Speech

Our deepest fear is not htat we re inadequate,

Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.

It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us.

We ask oursleves, "Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented and fabulous?"

Actually, who are you not to be?

You are a child of God.

Your playing small does not serve the world.

There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you.

We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us.

It is not just in some of us.

It is in everyone.

And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.

As we are liberated from our own fear our presence automatically liberates others.