Arriving about July 18, Sears, his wife, and one of their children were near Johannesburg on an initial six month visa. Intending to go on to Kenya, they stayed in South Africa. This was during the period of Apartheid and just as some new laws segregating people were coming into play: Reservation of Separate Amenities Act and the Bantu Education Act. Sears suffered a heart attack a few days into their stay. After recovering they stayed in Kampala Uganda at the home of Hand of the Cause Músá Banání just after Enoch Olinga left for Cameroon. In April 1954 the Sears went on Baháʼí pilgrimage with quick stops by Marguerite in the States sharing that pioneering doesn't magically transform someone and on return their other son also moved to South Africa. Among his comments of things Sears learned on pilgrimage was an attitude of service in pioneering: "Over and over again these general principles were reiterated: pioneers going to Africa must efface themselves, they must realize that in going to Africa they go to teach the native African people, not the Europeans or others who have migrated there. Pioneers must show by actions, not by words alone, that they love the Africans and have come to Africa to serve them and show their love for them.… and (reporting the words of Shoghi Effendi) "to select those taught carefully, teach them thoroughly, strengthen them in their understanding. Give them the message in such a way as to create in them a desire to teach. Then the task is accomplished. Then let the whites disperse."