Without sometimes realizing it, you brush shoulders with someone who will forever change your life.  By Shoulder Brush, I mean, sometimes it literally means, seconds... or minutes, hours or during a period of years. I write this blog because Martin and I met with my Aunt and Uncle today, whom live in Australia and whom I haven't seen since May 2001. It was such a glorious meeting. We had great wine, great food and just a great conversation.

They would brush shoulders with me, now and again growing up and they installed so many core values into my life.

They are one of the best roll models of how a marriage should be (according to me), how I would want my house to be run, and how I would want to go on vacations (they took me with time and again)… 

Then there are the silly things, floss before going to bed, always use gift wrap paper that is big enough and ‘new’ (even if it was used) to let the receiver know you really care! If you visit with friends be home before your husband, and make him feel like the KING of his castle!  

Anyhow, just wanted to brag with my great family! 

McGregor

Martin & I drove to McGregor Thursday morning (we had a LONG weekend due to holiday’s in SA).  We met up with two friends, Andre & Retha who drove from George (from St.Louis to Springfield) to see us. What makes it so great is we have two other friends, Johan & Elsabe that lives in McGregor and has a coffee shop – Villigares there.

 

We spent our entire day in this little quaint town. It has one tarred road, no traffic lights, and they still have a water lay system that runs through the town, to water their gardens.  You get the farmers, the Brittish and the people who no longer care to live in a busy city life sociaty, and don’t forget the tourists.

 

McGregor is about as far as Tulsa from Joplin, except that you drive into the mountains, past wineyards and the only thing that is remotely close to I 44, is you pay TOLL.

 

Anyhow, we had a great time visiting with old friends, and talking about how good God is in our lives. It is not always easy, but it is good.

Saturday! Wonder and greatly antisipated day - I love Saturdays. I can sleep in and do not have to go to work.

We are getting settled in more every day. Martin finally got his cellphone on contract and we also got 500MB per month on contract which means we are BACK in the GAME of the WORLD WIDE WEB.

These photos where taken about a month ago but I just think they are beautiful. We took them one Sunday after church at Dolphin Beach, just look at the Table Mountain View! 

Iska & Etienne

My best friend in South Africa got married on April 12th. It was a fantastic day for a fantastic couple! 

Martin & I got to attend the wedding in Magaliesburg. I was one of her 3 brides maids and had a great time with the girls. I flew up the Wednesday after work and had some time with Iska before the big day. 

We got to visit with Tollie & Heidi, Elsabe and some of our other South African friends whom we have not seen since being back in the country! 

Learning to SHARE, in SOUTH AFRICA

Our country has experienced a growth spur the last few years, everywhere you look the little old farms are being changed into housing developments… There used to live one family and cows, now there lives 200 families with at least one car.

This growth has been good but it is teaching us to SHARE in more than one way… The biggest lesson we are all learning is to share POWER (electricity).

Our country doesn’t have enough POWER for everyone, this might sound funny, it did to me in the beginning but it is TRUTH. They (Eskom, our electricity company in South Africa) call it LOAD SHEDDING. This might continue till 2013 till they have enough POWER saved up again.

‘Luckily’ Pep’s Central Office, where I work has a generator. Every Wednesday afternoon (according to the load shedding schedule) for a couple of hours we have dark hallways and no coffee at lunch time. But at least we can work…

On Thursdays from 8am-10am we have no power at our apartment, ‘luckily’ we are at work during that time.

LEARNING (forced) to SHARE in this beautiful country, full of its own corky problems (like all countries have).

Easter Weekend w/ Family - update

The long weekend, Easter and birthday is over and I have to say, it was a very good weekend.

We went to church Friday morning and then after wards took my mom to Dolphin Beach for a birthday pick nick. It was a great day for a pick nick, Table Mountain was clearly visible and with almost no wind, the day was perfect. After we ate, we bought ice cream and sat on the sidewalk eating, while being entertained by Ilze.

Saturday, Martin stayed home because he had to preach Sunday night… (He did so well you guys would have been so proud) We drove to Houtbaai, to eat fish and fries (chips) at the harbour. The wind was blowing to much so that Ilze got up on Sunday ant the first thing she said was – I HOPE THE WIND DOESN’T BLOW AGAIN!

Sunday was a early and long day. We went to church, had lunch with my parents, Martin’s parents and the Besselaars (they are friends I grew up with who have 2 children). After lunch Martin & I went back to church to prepare for Sunday night church. There were almost no technical volunteers so I did ‘easy worship’ (I don’t know why but I go into a stress ball when I have to that, I don’t like it to say the least). Martin talked about STORY and how God is the writer of our story, he got a lot of his material from Donald Miller.

Monday we slept in and went to a goat & cheese farm with my dad’s step brother who is also the Senior Minister at our church, Lofty & Petra and their son Rian. We had great cheese cake and Martin took beautiful pictures.

My parents are staying till Monday.

Thank you for all of you’alls birthday messages. I feel loved and even though we are so far away from you’all my spirit feels close.

Know that we miss you more than words can say.

PS. Passion is coming to Cap Town in August 08, for those of you who would consider combining missions with a visit

We had a great, very busy weekend.

Friday night our woman’s ministry had a great time of ministry. We dressed up and wore beautiful feathered masks. We talked about the different masks we were as woman and how with Christ, we need no mask.

Saturday afternoon we went for a hike. There’s a ‘koppie’ (little mountain)– Leeukop, next to Table Mountain that we climbed out! The wind was insane and it felt like it was going to blow your clothes from your body. We made it and it was a great adventure. (Martin kept saying Johnny needs to do this…J)

Friday, March 21 is a holiday in South Africa, Freedom day, my mom’s birthday and Good Friday. My parants are driving down to visit us this coming week! It is going to be great.

My you have a great week and enjoy the last bit of winter!