Back to School

Today the kids went back to school.  They've had a four week winter break!  This was Josh's first day at The King's School West Rand.  Ruth Anne has been at King's since grade 2 (now she's in grade 9).  We were going to put Josh in King's next year for grade 1, but his class is completely full and there are 40 kids on the waiting list for grade 1.  So, when a space opened for the year (grade 0 or kindergarten), we moved him from Little Discoverer's.

Josh was very excited about going to "big" school with his sister.  At 6:30 this morning, while he was sitting at the table eating breakfast, he looked out the kitchen window and asked, "Why is it dark outside?  When is it morning time?"  We got to school, he met his teacher, then he headed to the playground.  Surprise!

He seemed to have a good day.  He saw his friend, Keon, that he knew from Little Discoverer's.  He learned the letter "A."  And his class is making sock puppets tomorrow.

Ruth Anne got her exams scores from last term and did well.  I don't really need to say it, but...she was not as excited to be at school as Josh was!

JK

Josh's New Do!

Josh has been dying to get his hair braided (plaited).  He's been asking and asking.  So finally I organized with a lady in my Bible study, Tryphina, to plait his hair.

Friday morning, I took him up to the stables to meet Tryphina.  After several minutes of discussion between her and some of the other groom's wives, and in a language I didn't understand, it was decided that she would sew his hair instead of plait it.  I think, since I didn't understand what they were talking about, that his hair was just not long enough.

Well, Tryphina started on Josh's hair at about 10:45 am.  I went off to ride Ivy quickly while Ruth Anne watched.  When I was done riding, I joined the group...the groom's wives plus their children stayed around watching, as well.  His hair was about half way finished.  It was definitely a painful process...as you can see by the grimace on his face!

Just before noon, his hair was done!  He loved it.  Ruth Anne told him that he was "looking so good, man."  But Josh said, "No.  That's not what you're supposed to say.  You're supposed to say, 'OH Yeah!"

Winter Feet

June, July and August...the 3 coldest months of the year in Joburg, South Africa. And, we are now in the middle of them!
One young lady who rides at the same stables my daughter and I do, said, "I now have my winter feet." I knew exactly what she was talking about. Starting in June (or when the first cold front hits), I get my "winter feet." That is, my feet get cold and stay cold all winter long! Sometimes they are colder than other times...but they don't really warm up until September! I don't go without socks (awake or asleep) until late October or November. Ok...I don't shower with my socks on.
Just so you are not confused...houses in South Africa have no central air conditioning or heating. So, the temperature outside can get warmer than the temperature inside the house!
My two best winter friends are my tea/coffee cup, which warms my insides as well as my hands, and my hot water bottle. As I type, my hot water bottle is sitting on my lap. I usually keep it filled with hot water all day long. My kids put their hot water bottles in the bed to keep their feet warm when they go to sleep!
All this to say...I do actually love winter in Joburg. The skies are a clear blue with no clouds. The sun warms you up and there is no rain! I can live with a cold house when the weather outside is so gorgeous!
Blessings,
JK

Life Boring??

I know I haven't written anything for a while.  I don't know...I guess I feel like nothing exciting has gone on...just the same old routine.  Maybe life is just a little "boring."

And yet, when I got to thinking about it this morning, my days are quite different.  On Facebook, I get a question of the week to answer.  This week's question was, "What do you spend most of your day doing?"  As I thought on the question, I realized that there is not one thing I spend most of my days doing.

I don't spend most of my days working on the computer.  I don't spend most of my days in the car.  I don't spend most of my days grocery shopping.  I don't spend most of my days cleaning or washing or cooking.  I have a really flexible schedule.  Each week has its routine.  And, each week has things on the schedule that can't be changed.  For example, every Monday morning our team gets together and prays about the week ahead.  Every Wednesday afternoon I lead a Bible study.  Every Monday afternoon, I take Josh to speech therapy.  But, other things in my schedule change.  I don't always grocery shop on the same day.  Some days, Kurt and I go out to lunch.  Some days I have to stay home and get a Bible study prepared.  Some mornings I get to go with Kurt to a Bible study in Soweto.  I guess that is the beauty of being a missionary and a mom!

So...I may not have much to write about on my blog that seems really exciting.  But...my life is definitely not boring!!

See you soon!

JK

The Heart of a Child

When Ruth Anne was very young and said really "cute" things, I always said, "I should write that down."  But, I never did!  Now that Joshuwa is saying "cute" things, I'm still forgetting to write it down...except this time!

Every night, I read Joshuwa a Bible story, sing a short song, and then he says a prayer.  This one particular night, after our routine, we began talking about something as I was walking out the door...I don't remember exactly what how the conversation started.  

But, Josh said to me, "Everybody loves Jesus."  I had to reply, "No.  There are some people who don't love Jesus."  To that he said, "Oh!  How sad!  I must pray for them."

So, if you are one that doesn't love Jesus, please know that my son prayed that you would come to love Jesus just like he does!

Blessings,

JK

Term One - Athletics

Hello Everyone!

Wow! We have been so busy lately! School has been hectic, especially this term for my daughter, Ruth Anne.

Before I begin, I must tell a story. The first time my husband, Kurt, and I came to South Africa, we came for the "All Africa Games" in 1999. Basically, the "All Africa Games" is pre-Olympics for the continent of Africa. We stayed with a family whose son was in the Olympics in Atlanta and was competing in the "All Africa Games." The first night with the family, I asked them what their son did in the Olympics. The mom replied, "He's an athlete."
"Ok." I thought. "Should I ask, 'In what sport?'" But, as I contemplated asking, she continued, "He runs the 4oo." "Oh!" Light dawned...an athlete runs...that must mean he is in Track & Field!

Well...I learned that lesson well. When we moved to South Africa, Ruth Anne entered grade 2 (same as in the States). The first term...school is divided into 4 terms with 2-4 weeks break in between...the children were taken to the "athletics" stadium for a fun day. Parents were invited to attend. So, Kurt and I went. Ruth Anne ran the 60m sprint and came in 2nd place. We were excited for her. The next week, we received a notice that she had made the athletics team! And, she has been on the team ever since.
She's spent her years running the short-distance sprints and added long jump a few years ago. But, this year, she found out that she could run longer distances and loved it! They had an in-school competition and she won the 800m race by a good margin. So, she began running 800m along with 100m and long jump.
So, this term has been full of athletics practice everyday until 3, netball practice one day a week and horseback riding! Ruth Anne's last competition against several high schools, she won the 800m (pictured).

Josh also had "Sports Day" at his school. He ran several fun races. It was a joy to watch all the kids have fun running and cheering. The parents even got to run. Kurt's race and my race are NOT pictured on this blog - for obvious reasons!

Now, this first term is coming to an end. Our kids will get a three week break. I'm sure we will continue to be busy...but maybe we can sleep in a little bit later for the next three weeks! Yea!!

Blessings,
JK

Necessity or Luxury?

A computer...many would consider it a luxury...especially here in South Africa. Many only have a computer through work. Some have one at home, but don't have internet access; and if they do, it's usually dial-up (which is charged per minute). There are few with ADSL like we have. Schools don't require children to use a computer for school work.
Each Monday, our team meets for prayer. The other missionary family on our team was having problems with a computer, laptop, they just bought. Out of the two weeks they've had the computer, it's spent a week in the shop. And it still wasn't right. So I prayed for them as they faced the frustration of a broken computer...new computer...and their meeting with the technicians. I even thought then, it may be a "luxury" but as a missionary, it really has become a necessity.
We use it to communicate with family and friends in the States. We send out prayer updates so our prayer partners know how to pray for us. We communicate with other missionaries and our bosses! We have many forms for our organization to fill out on the computer and send in using the internet.
I think if you ask anyone in the States, computers are a necessity...but could we get along without it? Yes, we used to...a long, long, time ago. I taught computers for a couple of years while living in Virginia. I saw a student of mine about 10 years after she had been in my class. She told me she remembered me talking about the internet and how we would use it to send messages and letters to people by computers. She said she thought that was the dumbest thing she had ever heard! Now look where we are today. We hardly send letters by mail anymore. We use the mail to get packages of things we bought over the internet!
So...has the computer become a necessity? Or is it a luxury? A need? Or a want?
Well...Monday, after our prayer meeting, I came home, went over to my computer to check email. When I touched it...the screen turned blue with a large error message in white. It said to restart the computer. When I did, it wouldn't restart. A file was missing! Oh, no! I take it to the shop. The diagnosis...my new hard drive (6 months old) has crashed! And only some of my information could be retrieved. Now I'm using my daughter's computer until I can get a new one!
My answer? A computer is definitely a necessity...otherwise...how could I post this message on my blog!
Janna Kay

My Friend

My Friend, Blandinah and her son, Emmanuel

This is my friend, Blandinah. We met at her wedding! We were invited to the wedding by her husband, Pastor Aaron. They were married in a village about 4 hours from Joburg. The wedding lasted 2 days! Sunday night, after the last celebration, we gave them a lift back to Joburg. Blandinah had never been to Joburg! About an hour outside their village, she fell asleep and only woke up at her house in Joburg.

Imagine...being in a small town then waking up to a city of 9 million people! What a shock, I'm sure!

Over the first year of their marriage, Blandinah and I became good friends. She fell pregnant and our family was so excited about the baby.

But...she left Joburg to go back to the village before Emmanuel was born. In their culture, the wife returns to the village to stay with the mother-in-law in order to learn how to care for the baby! Ok...think about it...going to live with your mother-in-law...for months...to learn about caring for babies! For some people, that is quite scary! For some, it may be more scary to go to your own mother!

Anyway...Blandinah returned to Joburg. Emmanuel was precious and we enjoyed spoiling him!

After a few months, Blandinah returned to the village. She returned to take care of her mother-in-law. Wow! I still have a hard time with that part of their culture. Didn't she need to be with her husband? Didn't he need to spend time with his son?

However, I recently found out that she was not only caring for Aaron's mother, but she was finishing high school. I am very excited for her.

She came back to Joburg during the Christmas/Summer holiday. It was good to visit and see her again.

She is leaving tomorrow to go back to the village. This is her last year of high school. After this year, if she passes all her exams, she will have her degree and will return to Joburg to stay! I am so glad she is determined to finish. I know it must be difficult having a husband and baby and needing to study. I am sure she will do well.

But I will miss my friend.

Blessings, Blandinah. I pray that the Lord will help you understand and remember the information you study and help you recall that information when you take exams.

Janna Kay

Stress Free

I don't normally read "Fwd:Fwd" emails, but a friend sent one about reducing stress...I don't have much stress...but I thought I would read the advice it gave. I was surprised by the number of suggestions listed that have worked for me...and there were a few I need to try. I've compacted the list...thought I'd share it with you all! Blessings!
1. Pray without ceasing. Talk to God on the spot. Try to nip small problems in the bud. Don't wait until bedtime to try and pray.
2. Go to bed on time...get enough rest! Get up on time so you can start the day unrushed.
3. Say "no" to projects that won't fit into your time schedule. And, delegate tasks to capable others.
4. Allow extra time to do things and get to places. (My husband is great at this!)
5. Simplify and unclutter your life. Remember less can be more!
6. Live within your budget and don't use credit cards for ordinary purchases.
7. Eat right.
8. Carry a Bible or good book to read while waiting in line. (My husband and I hardly go anywhere without a book.)
9. Get organized so everything has its place. (I even organized a cooking calendar...so when someone asks "What's for dinner?" I can tell them! It has helped me tremendously!)
10. Take your work seriously, but not yourself at all. (Ok...this I could definitely improve on.)
11. Everyday, find time to be alone.
12. Write down thoughts and inspirations. (Blogger is a great place to share those!)
13. Keep a folder of favorites Scriptures on hand.
14. Do something everyday for the "kid" in you.
15. Laugh. Then, laugh some more!
16. Make friends with godly people.
17. Talk less and listen more.
18. Be kind to unkind people. They probably need it the most.
19. Develop a forgiving attitude. Most people are doing the best they can.
20. Every night before you go to bed, think of one thing you are grateful for that you've never been grateful for before and share that with God. (This I must start doing!)

Hope this encourages you. Maybe you know of some other ways to reduce stress or simply make each day easier & better! Love to hear from you!
JK

Oops! I Did the Wrong "Meme!"

My mom with Joshuwa.

Well, Angie...I thought when you tagged me that it was for the same one you were tagged for! Sorry!
Now, I have to think of 20 things my mom taught me. (The other took a lot less thought!)
So...here it is: My list of 20 things my mother taught me!
1. To smile and share that smile with others.
2. To enjoy having people in my home.
3. To be involved in church wherever Jesus leads.
4. To drink coffee black!
5. When it comes to cooking, to clean up as you go!
6. To read my Bible through (although I didn't do it in a year; it took 3!)
7. To enjoy being short.
8. To LOVE shopping!
9. To love working with youth.
10. To appreciate and learn sign language.
11. To be a Baylor Bear!
12. To find joy in life.
13. To treasure my family.
14. To enjoy crafting.
15. To love reading.
16. To love "murder mysteries."
17. To be dependable.
18. To praise my kids.
19. To support my husband.
20. To love the Lord, Jesus!
Thanks, Mom! I love you!

Ouch! I've Been Tagged

Ok...it doesn't hurt at all to be tagged! Who wants to be next?

Four jobs I've had:
1. Working in the payroll dept. for American General Insurance Corp. (now AIG)
2. Teaching Math in Texas (grades 8 & 9)
3. Teaching Math & Computers in VA & NC (grades 6, 7, & 8)
4. Missionary in South Africa
Four places I've lived:
1. Houston, TX
2. Ft. Worth, TX
3. Durham, NC
4. Joburg, South Africa
Four movies I've watched over and over:
1. You've Got Mail
2. Ever After
3. Pride & Prejudice
4. Flicka
Four Shows I watch:
1. 24
2. Animal Cops Houston
3. How Do I Look?
4. Clean House
(Except for 24, these shows are on South African satellite TV)
Four Places I've been:
1. NYC
2. Mexico
3. Zimbabwe
4. Cape Town, SA
Four people who email me regularly:
1. Barbara Myers (our cluster prayer advocate & I'm team prayer advocate)
2. Mom
3. Angie Lechner
4. Wanda Andrews
(I do IM regularly with others like my dad, my brother, Bronnie, friends from NC, and Kurt...yes...that way I don't have to go all the way outside to his office!)
Four favorite things to eat:
1. Mexican food
2. Chocolate chip cookies
3. Popcorn
4. Pineapple (You can get it with chili powder at the market!)
Four things I look forward to this year:
1. Riding Ivy (my pony)
2. Family coming to visit us in SA
3. Holiday at Moolmanshoek (& horse riding every day!)
4. Losing 4 more kgs (8.8 lbs) - I had gained way too much weight in America last year!

Pictures

Ok...here a few pictures of Joburg this summer. For those of you used to green, it may not seem all that lush...but we've had an exceptional amount of rain so compared to normal summers here...it is very green. The winter is especially brown in Joburg, so it's nice to see the green grass and the beautiful flowers.

Rain, Rain, Go Away!

And please don't come back for at least a month!!
Ok...I know rain is important and it is a wonderful blessing from the Lord.
But...I haven't seen the sun since Friday and it's been seen sporadically before that! I feel like it's been raining solid since November! Yes, we've had some sunny days, but not like we are used to during Joburg summers.
On the upside...it is so green here! For those of you that have visited during the winter months when we get absolutely no rain, I know green is hard to imagine!
As soon as the sun comes out, I will go outside and take pictures. The grass is lush, the bushes are full, and the trees are a deep green! It really is beautiful!
And...come winter, we will all be wishing for a little rain and a little more green.
So, although I would like to see the sun and feel it's warmth on my face, I am enjoying seeing the the beautiful hills of Joburg filled with green.

Time Flies!

Wow! I can't believe it's been a year since the last time I wrote! The year simply got away from me. And so much has happened. I'll catch you up...quick!

Our family went back to the States for 4 months. It was our "Stateside Assignment" with our mission organization. It was a time to visit Baptist churches and share with them about our ministry in South Africa. It was a time to gather more prayer support. It was also a time to visit with our families.

We took 2 trips during out time in the States. We went to NYC with my parents and my brother. We saw "The Phantom of the Opera" and "The Lion King." We also did some sight seeing. We went on a cruise with Kurt's (my husband) and his family...sister, niece, brother & sister-in-law and other niece. Ruth Anne and I went horseback riding in Cozumel and then the whole family (Kurt, Ruth Anne, Joshuwa & I), along with Kurt's mom went on a dune buggy ride off the coast of Mexico. We really enjoyed our time with family.

The kids went back to school as soon as we arrived back in South Africa. Kurt even started school...as the teacher! He began teaching at the local Theological College. We were able to get Joshuwa into speech & physio therapy. He is talking so much clearer now! Ruth Anne took over training her young horse, Roxy.

Christmas arrived. We stayed around Joburg most of December. We got away for 3 days, staying at a place called Moolmanshoek. Kurt rode a horse one day, but Josh, Ruth Anne, her friend, and I rode 3 days in a row! It was great!

Ruth Anne passed grade 8 and began grade 9 on January 9th. She seems to like her classes. Joshuwa is in grade 0 (Kindergarten) at the same school as last year. He loves school!

Enjoy the pictures. And, I promise to keep writing...all year long!

Blessings!

Janna Kay

Silence is Golden !!

Last week, I went on a silent retreat for 3 days. I thought to myself, "Three days! How am I going to make it?! I need to use my 25,000 daily words (my husband read that men use 2,000 words daily and women 25,000). If I don't use my words, my head will be so full it will explode!!" I knew that would be a mess no one would want to clean up!
Well, I decided when we arrived at St. Benedict's that I would do my best to make the most of the experience. We met with a pastor who was our leader. He showed us ways to focus on the Lord and enjoy the solitude. He guided us in ways to pray and how to listen for God's spoken word to us. He even allowed us to rest! He encouraged us to take naps!
I have to say that it was a great experience and something I wish I could do every year! It was wonderful spending time with the Lord and not feeling rushed. One of the most freeing things I learned is that if my time with Him is not as productive as I think it should be is ok. God is honored by my faithfulness to meet with Him consistently each day. He is pleased that I desire to be with Him. Yes, my mind will wander or I may doze off in the early morning hours, but I show Him love by setting aside time with Him.
And no, my head did not explode...it is still attached to my body! The strangest part was not being able to talk while eating meals. Otherwise, silence was not hard...it was definitely golden!

Walter E. Sloan

Walter E. Sloan was my grandfather.
He was a wonderful man.
He loved his family like no other.
And was a dedicated Astros fan.

His children were important to him.
He was proud of all they did.
He gave needed support to them.
At 96 bowled better than a kid!

A world class traveler he became.
And saw many different places.
No two countries were the same.
Neither were the faces.

He took special care of his wife.
He became her eyes and ears.
When she got confused with life,
he would calm all her fears.

My granddad experienced so much,
in a century of changes galore.
He only changed, as such;
He loved his wife and family more!

Ok, as you can tell, I'm not much of a poet. I just wanted a way to remember my granddad who just passed away at 99 years old! I am thankful that he lived a full, healthy life and that I got to be a part of it for almost 42 years!

A "White" South African Wedding

You may be asking why I put the word "White" in the title of the post. Well, here in South Africa, there are 11 different official languages with 11 different cultures. Now, the white population, English and Afrikaans speaking people, have similar cultures. The wedding we attended this Saturday involved Afrikaans families, but English was the spoken language. And even though, white South Africans have a westernized world view, it is not United States view. There are differences...Thus, my post for today!
We were invited to the wedding of a fellow pastor's daughter. The first thing I noticed is that you are not escorted into the church (or chapel). The groom and several groomsmen were standing in the foyer, putting on their ties and jackets, and talking with the arriving guests. Also, it didn't matter on which side of their church you sat; their was no groom's side or bride's side. I asked a recently married friend if this was the norm. She told me that in some weddings of the wealthier people, they will escort women guests to their seats.
The parents and grandparents did come in right before the wedding started but were not seated as part of the ceremony. Although I do not know if this was normal, the church was not decorated with an abundance of flowers. There was one large floral arrangement at the front of the church. That's it!
The wedding ceremony began with the entrance of the Flower Girls. The Page Boy walked in along side the girls, but not holding the rings. He was the Page Boy, not the Ring Bearer. Much of the rest of the ceremony was like weddings in the States. The only other real difference was the signing of the "register." This ceremony took place at the end of the wedding, however, I was told by my friend that many do this in the middle. The bride and groom sat down at a table in front of the congregation and signed the register. The "register" is like the marriage certificate in the States. However, in South Africa, it must be signed by the bride and groom on the day of the wedding in front of the presiding minister.
At the end of the wedding ceremony, the bride and groom left the church as we threw rose petals at them. But, the reception was still to come!
The reception was run by a Master of Ceremonies...my husband, Kurt! This, to me, was a great idea. He announced the arrival of the bride and groom to the reception. He directed everyone to begin eating their starter (appetizer). Then, he introduced the Best Man, father of the bride, and groom before they gave their speech and toast. He gave directions on how dinner was being served and when everyone had eaten, he introduced the cutting of the cake, throwing of the garter and bouquet and first dance by the bride and groom. Of course, my husband told a couple of funny stories along the way! Besides having a Master of Ceremonies, the reception held a few other differences from US weddings that I have attended. The cake was not tiered. There were layers, but they were arranged separately and on pedestals of different heights. And, there was no groom's cake. The cake was not served to the guests. Other desserts had been provided during the meal.
But...even though there were differences and this wedding was not as formal as weddings in the States...it was beautiful! The bride was gorgeous, the ceremony perfect, the reception a delight!
May Megyn and Raymond enjoy their life together, centered in the love of Christ our Lord!! Blessings to you both!
(By the way...I did attend the wedding of one of our black pastors. Maybe, I'll enlighten you on that ceremony...one day soon!)

Teachable Moments

Yesterday, I was reading my Bible in Mark, chapter 4. I got to the part where Jesus is inside a home and some said to him that his mother and brothers were outside wanting to see him. Jesus' reply was to ask, "Who are my mother and my brothers?" His reply to this rhetorical question was, "Whoever does the will of God, he is my brother and sister and mother."
I always thought this was a rude way to reply to his mother and brothers until I got to thinking about what was not recorded in the Bible and the situation Jesus was in. He was surrounded by people and busy teaching them. He did not get up and go outside and ask that rhetorical question. His mother and brothers could not have heard him. He used this moment, the statement about his family to teach those around him something new. He saw this instant as a "teachable moment" and he couldn't pass it up! (I always like to believe that afterwards, Jesus goes out to see his family or he invites them in with him.)
How many "teachable moments" have I passed up? How many have I taken? A friend of mine took an opportunity to share God's fatherly love with her grandson as they were talking about finding Nemo. Her grandson made the observation that Nemo's dad went to great lengths to find Nemo. My friend replied that God goes to great lengths to bring us to him, because of His great love for us! Wow! Would I have thought of that?
Tonight, I had my opportunity. Ruth Anne received one of those chain emails...you know the ones...they start out with "Fw:Fw:Fw:" in the subject line and end with "send this to ten of your best friends." Well, this one told of people who died because they didn't forward it on and ended with "if you don't send it to ten people in 3 hours after reading this, you will die." What is a 13 year old to think? In Ruth Anne's words it "freaked" her out! She didn't want to send the rubbish to her friends, yet it put the fear of dying in her. She said to me, "I want to trust God. But it's so hard. I don't want to die." I took that opportunity to share with her about Abraham. I told her it took many years for him to develop trust that even though God asked him to sacrifice his only son (from Sarah), Isaac, God had a plan! And God did! He stopped Abraham before killing Isaac and provided a ram for him to sacrifice instead! Abraham had faith! But, that faith was developed over time. Abraham made mistakes along the way. His faith gave out on several occasions. Ours will, as well. I told Ruth Anne that this was just one step in her walk of faith with God. She found a verse 8 in Psalm 4 that says, "In peace I will both lie down and sleep; for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety." I encouraged her to take a step of faith. Trust God in this verse. Lie down and sleep, trusting Him to keep you safe...and alive!
It was a great moment with my precious daughter. How I look forward to more teachable moments like this, with both my daughter and my son! I pray that I would not miss others that God gives me!
Blessings!

For the Love of Riding

Horses! I just love them! My parents bought a ranch when I was 13 and my dad and I would ride for pleasure. I really didn't know what I was doing, but loved being outdoors on a beautiful animal!

When we moved to South Africa, Ruth Anne made friends with a girl that rode horses. Ruth Anne was 8 at the time and fell in love with horses and riding...I think she comes by that naturally! Three years later, my dad bought her a pony, named Ivy. She rides beautifully and competes in dressage.

Now, I've started riding Ivy. Yes...I am very short and fit nicely on Ivy! But, really, Ruth Anne has been gracious enough to share her pony with me! I am having the best time. Ivy is a great pony and I am learning so much from our instructor, Sheba. I actually competed in my first "Fun Day" dressage competition...and came in 1st place!!

This picture shows me getting ready to enter the dressage arena and getting final instructions from my daughter, Ruth Anne.

Visitors from Home

I love South Africa. I love where I live, Joburg. But, I am still a foreigner. We have made some really good friends here, but I still miss church family! Church people have always formed my closest family since I can remember. Here in Joburg, that is not the case. Even among missionaries, something is different (maybe it's us!). I think it is because, in the States, you see people at church more often than once a week. You develop close friendships when you see each other and work together often. Missionaries don't have the luxury of seeing each other very often. Although, some are able to form close relationships despite the distance.
All that to say, I absolutely love it when teams from the States come to visit and help us with our ministry! In fact, I'm sitting here eating a bowl of "grits" right now! It is instant grits...But it still tastes like home! We had two teams with us in July and August. One was from our home church, The Summit, in North Carolina. The other was a team from Mississippi.
One of the most wonderful things about teams is that you not only see old friends again, but those on the team you didn't know before become new friends. Family has come to see us in South Africa!
I just want to take this chance to say "thank you" to the Summit Church and Church of the Highlands for making these past two months exciting, fun and memorable. And, I want you all to know that your ministry with us in invaluable. You are able to do things that Kurt and I can't do alone! You all have touched many lives, children and adults, while you were here working with us. I don't have the words to say "thank you" adequately. But, know this, you are so appreciated and loved! God has used you here in a mighty way! Thank you, also, for blessing us personally with a part of "home."

Just a note...Thinking about close friendships...How do you develop a close relationship with God? It is the same principle. Spend time with God. The more time, the closer the relationship with Him will be! He love us! He wants us to spend time with Him. He wants to be close to us!
Blessings!