And finally, the first picture of my next grand daughter by Kirsten and Howie... looking forward to her arrival in June!
Saturday, January 29, 2011
I have been accused of not sharing pictures of my Grand Daughter Ella... and it is true, you see more of our puppy Baranabas than of Ella... so this page is in honor of a precious little girl that celebrated her 1st birthday this month!! LOVE YOU ELLA... can't wait to spend time with you in 5 months!!
And finally, the first picture of my next grand daughter by Kirsten and Howie... looking forward to her arrival in June!
And finally, the first picture of my next grand daughter by Kirsten and Howie... looking forward to her arrival in June!
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
"One Life To Live -MAKE IT COUNT!"
With a focus on discipleship this year, CIA (Christians In Action - the school youth ministry program at Knysna High School) started off with an explosion of praise and worship at the first meeting for the year. Last year this ministry was held during the last period of school, this year it is held during an 'interval' ('extended morning break' for you Americans).
About 250 students gave up the opportunity to visit with friends & eat a snack to praise and worship Jesus with Theun's band!
This ministry is a collaboration of Knysna Churches and Youth For Christ. Each grade was introduced to the pastor and teacher responsible for their discipleship. Upcoming grade camps and leadership camps were announced and Nathan gave away 2 Bibles in a quiz to assess what the students remembered from the meeting.
With a focus on discipleship this year, CIA (Christians In Action - the school youth ministry program at Knysna High School) started off with an explosion of praise and worship at the first meeting for the year. Last year this ministry was held during the last period of school, this year it is held during an 'interval' ('extended morning break' for you Americans).
About 250 students gave up the opportunity to visit with friends & eat a snack to praise and worship Jesus with Theun's band!
This ministry is a collaboration of Knysna Churches and Youth For Christ. Each grade was introduced to the pastor and teacher responsible for their discipleship. Upcoming grade camps and leadership camps were announced and Nathan gave away 2 Bibles in a quiz to assess what the students remembered from the meeting.
School is back in session, and the hostel is back up and running. God has again given us the privilege of overseeing homework time for 34 students this year.
In an effort to encourage them to include God in their lives 25 Bibles were distributed (returning students received one last year), and a challenge was issued to complete "The Book Of Hope" - 9 Bible studies around issues youth face. We excited to see the Lord work to change lives this year!!
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
Holiday Guests...
Just a quick update... Our holiday season was filled with visitors! Starting with Dane (Nathan's son) and then the Botswana volunteers before Christmas (already posted story and pics). Nathan's best friend, Warren, and his teenage niece and nephew came down from Johannesburg for a week... in between their visiting with their own family we enjoyed late night movies and a Jubilee Creek hike with them... it was refreshing to watch a brother and sister get along so well!
An unexpected phone call came from Nathan's mother's cousin (he has a HUGE extended family), telling us that they were coming to George for a spell, and wanted to catch up with us... what a treat! Norman and his wife went through the list of this cousin and that cousin and who is pastoring what church, and who is leading worship at what church... who is living where... I am still confused as to who is who, but Nathan kept it all straight!
On Jan 4th was a "Special Delivery" all the way from Australia... a Coober Pedy hat (complete with an opal in the hat band)!! Nathan has been praying for God to bless him with this exact hat for longer than I have know him. In October when we heard that his cousin was coming for a visit we asked if she could locate one and we would pay for it. The shop down the street from her had only one hat left by the brand... of all the styles available, the only one in stock was a Coober Pedy in Nathan's exact hat size! As much as Nathan was looking forward to his new hat, he was excited to see his cousin Leslie and her partner (who attended the same school as Nathan years before)... again talk was all about who is doing what... and I am still confused!
It is nice to have such a small family, 2 sisters, 3 nieces, 1 nephew, 2 Uncles, 1 Aunt, 2 cousins, 2 daughters and one grand daughter, but listening to stories of family gatherings from Nathan's side leaves me wondering if I missed something!
Nathan feeding Barnabas ice cream with his new hat on!
An unexpected phone call came from Nathan's mother's cousin (he has a HUGE extended family), telling us that they were coming to George for a spell, and wanted to catch up with us... what a treat! Norman and his wife went through the list of this cousin and that cousin and who is pastoring what church, and who is leading worship at what church... who is living where... I am still confused as to who is who, but Nathan kept it all straight!
On Jan 4th was a "Special Delivery" all the way from Australia... a Coober Pedy hat (complete with an opal in the hat band)!! Nathan has been praying for God to bless him with this exact hat for longer than I have know him. In October when we heard that his cousin was coming for a visit we asked if she could locate one and we would pay for it. The shop down the street from her had only one hat left by the brand... of all the styles available, the only one in stock was a Coober Pedy in Nathan's exact hat size! As much as Nathan was looking forward to his new hat, he was excited to see his cousin Leslie and her partner (who attended the same school as Nathan years before)... again talk was all about who is doing what... and I am still confused!
It is nice to have such a small family, 2 sisters, 3 nieces, 1 nephew, 2 Uncles, 1 Aunt, 2 cousins, 2 daughters and one grand daughter, but listening to stories of family gatherings from Nathan's side leaves me wondering if I missed something!
Nathan feeding Barnabas ice cream with his new hat on!
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
Youth Week!!
Everyone is excited except for Barnabas...
Youth Week is a Christian Youth Camp run by Youth for Christ, South Africa. Each year about 600+ young people come together from around southern Africa, to participate in a week of fun, sports, learning, worship, spiritual growth and relationship building. All set in the wonderful facilities of the YFC Cyara training centre in the Magaliesberg.
Overall, Youth Week promises to be a life-changing experience that will set the tone for a dynamic year ahead. (http://www.yfc-cyara.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=77&Itemid=92)
With great expectation and anticipation parents give last minute instructions to the 31 kids leaving for Youth Week.
For some kids it was a relief to find that there was a familiar face in the crowd.
Busses arrive...
Last minute instructions given by Uncle Philip (Centre Director) while waiting for final students... "use toilets now, your next opportunity is only in 4 hours!" (being kids, they all said they didn't need to) "bring a jersey/sweater, you will get cold on the bus"... (I'll be fine in this t-shirt)
Finally a 'send-off' prayer by Nathan for safety and God to give them a week of experiences that will radically change their lives... (after pounding the pavement to find sponsors for 11 of the students, he has a vested interest and we will be praying all week)
And they were off to pick up a few in George, and then... 18 hour ride to camp!
Youth Week is a Christian Youth Camp run by Youth for Christ, South Africa. Each year about 600+ young people come together from around southern Africa, to participate in a week of fun, sports, learning, worship, spiritual growth and relationship building. All set in the wonderful facilities of the YFC Cyara training centre in the Magaliesberg.
Overall, Youth Week promises to be a life-changing experience that will set the tone for a dynamic year ahead. (http://www.yfc-cyara.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=77&Itemid=92)
With great expectation and anticipation parents give last minute instructions to the 31 kids leaving for Youth Week.
For some kids it was a relief to find that there was a familiar face in the crowd.
Busses arrive...
Last minute instructions given by Uncle Philip (Centre Director) while waiting for final students... "use toilets now, your next opportunity is only in 4 hours!" (being kids, they all said they didn't need to) "bring a jersey/sweater, you will get cold on the bus"... (I'll be fine in this t-shirt)
Finally a 'send-off' prayer by Nathan for safety and God to give them a week of experiences that will radically change their lives... (after pounding the pavement to find sponsors for 11 of the students, he has a vested interest and we will be praying all week)
And they were off to pick up a few in George, and then... 18 hour ride to camp!
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