Finally..

Back online!

Well, after almost 2 weeks of the phone line being down after being struck by lightning (long story), Telkom finally got in gear & restored the line..

So that means I can finally post those pics..but the connection's still a little slow & my computer's acting up slightly, so let's see how things go..

So much going on here in the last couple days. A lot of the ones usually around here travelled, so I'm the only driver right now, so if it's not pick-ups, then it's "drop-offs", or OR or FR or some other r..

Anyways, thus my abscence..(or former abscence rather..)..

Welcome back (he said to himself)!

PMA grad.

The PMA (Professional Missionary Academy) 2009 semester came to a close by the last week of September..

The Africa students (of which I was proud to be one of) were treated to a week-long retreat & excursion/activity time..it was pretty far-out...

Pics coming soon..

Crash!

You'll never know when your life can just end..

We lost dear Jacob & Gansan (our 2 faithful house-help, who were more like brothers in the Lord) after they were hit by a car the Saturday before last (9 days back)..

The suddenness of the event was such a shock to us all..

I'm telling you, your life & spirit will change when you lose someone. Now I'm contemplating life again & everything comes to focus, as far as what's worth living for & what's not. It makes you want to treat every day as a gift. You look at everything & everyone so differently.

Sorrow so has it's uses, I'm starting to see. You lean on Jesus & you appreciate your bretheren like never before.

Please pray for the families of these 2 (they both have a young wife & 2 small children each), that they'll be comforted & look to Heaven during this time.

pics..

here's a few of our Cape Town Vacation..

The area where we stayed called the Victoria Wharf...a collection of hotels, restaurants, malls, etc. Our Hotel (called the Table Bay Hotel) was actually right on the waterfront & boasts the title of "Best destination on the Cape"..


complimentary wine served at our Table Bay Hotel rooms..


Bikini Beach..


relaxing over S.African beer/cider w/ a view of Gordon's Bay to our left..

Enjoying Turkish & Spanish Cuisine..

Gordon's Bay..

Cape Town!

I'm here on a week vacation in Cape Town..

The Lord has done phenomenal things for us (details coming)..

I recommend every reader of this blog visit this place..it's simply aMAzing! The beauty is exquisite & it's like it's own kind of paradise...pics coming.

Talented?

This taken from the e-mail just in from Celly:

To All Gauteng Homes from ASH I (Woodlands)
Re: Leo Party August 30th Sunday, 8:30pm, 18 on up.

Dear Gauteng Homes,

We hope you're well and happy and recovering nicely from flus, mumps, colds,
bumps and scratches of any kind.

We wanted to host a Leo party for our many awesome Leos in the area. To do
something a little different we wanted to make it a talent show so you have
a week to prepare something that you can do that others may, or may not know
about. Everyone must participate. You may have 2 others join you if you'd
like but no bigger than groups of 3 so that we can have a lot of variety and
avoid the whole home doing one thing.

Feel free to add props, costumes, stunt equipment and anything else that
will make this fun. If you ask the Lord what to do and put your heart into
it, it's going to be legendary! ;)
Due to our neighbours having a workday on Monday we'll need to keep the
volume down after 11. Thanks for your consideration of this.

We would like to charge 10 Rand for drinks (which will be provided) but if
you put enough effort into your talent, the charge will be waived.
The Leo's will be the judges and they will decide if you qualify!

Looking forward to seeing you all!

The Ash (Woodlands)

Let's see what I can come up w/?

Catalyst, 2009

The DTP (Discipleship Training Program) for 17 year olds commenced satisfactorily & was a multi-faceted success, Thank the Lord!

Up from last FDTP on many fronts--The program itself had an upgrade, we had a better facility to host the program & between the 2, it seems the teens were better able to assimilate & process all the Word classes, Workshops & Vocational Studies given/provided.

With the Change Journey & Offensive programs, it was interesting to see the training of the Family given from a more professional stand-point, with thorough focus given on each of the different pillars & aspects of Family life & Missionary living...Not that these elements weren't represented before, but I guess with the latest vision imparted & shared by all the attendees even before the program started, it helped point "hit home" more this time, I feel..

Cool.

Enjoy the pics (placed in no special order)..


Staff & Attendees on the final day before the closing ceremony

All 14 Catalyst 2009 attendees



Dude corner

Gina, Andrew, Jenny, Mikey, Lisa & Sam

Some of the attendees during our first witnessing day...


During a Sunday "Braai" (S.A. word for grill/cookout/bbq)


The attendees came to certain VTs (Vocational Training classes) or Workshops dressed smartly, depending on the subject matter taught (i.e. business studies, Public Relations, CGO, etc.) Don't they wear it well?

Mark Merour--A sharp & studious individual...this guy's gonna go place. Look out world!

Almost there!

As of tomorrow, we're heading into the last week of the FDTP..

After that I'll be back to blogging more regularly, as well as posting news/stories/testimonies of the program, etc. For now everything's jam-packed, as far as my days/work goes..

Til then, then! Stay tuned!

You're all in my prayers!

2 links.

This being somewhat of a repeat of the last post..

..except I have 2 links that will enhance the points made on the last post..

-Anj extoled my sister, Lisa's virtues, coupled w/ a better B'day greeting than even I could've given at: http://whackywhazzo.blogspot.com/2009/08/lola.html

-for a full pictorial in daily Power-Point slides of the academy we're holding here in S.A. simply click on the following link http://thinkteen.familymembers.com (this one for missionary members only).

For everyone else, I'll soon be posting pics..(don't I always say that?).