Christmas after-thought..

Got this from my Mom..

Good gifts for anyone to give..for the New Year as well, not only for Christmas..

MERRY CHRISTMAS...

Below is the txt I sent w/ my C'mas e-card (or will send, when our connection is fixed..)to my friends in Nigeria...but the wish goes out to all of you just the same..:

Wishing you a relaxing & invigorating Christmas season & a thrilling New Year w/ Jesus..

My prayers are with you that this year will be a combination of your hopes & heart’s desires come true, as well as your destiny realized.

I’ll be praying for your health, safety & prosperity (those practical things that we all need) as well as for those of your family.

God willing, I’ll be seeing many of you sometime soon. Even though I haven’t been there w/ all of you over the last several months, I wanted to also say thank you again for your help & support to Family Care Eduvision’s missionary & humanitarian projects over the course of this year. May God continue to bless you & repay you for your generosity & kindness.

Merry Christmas,

Brian

Today's infostore quote..

The humble are not afraid because they’ve already accepted that they are nothing, that they know nothing, and can do nothing without Me and without the love and help of others.
--Jesus

Euro pics!

Had a great time w/ my fam in Europe..1 week in the UK, 1 week in Belgium..

My sister Lisa came down from Iceland & Phebe & her son, Dorian (who I met for the 1st time), came across the ocean from Atlanta(GA)..

Some photographical evidence follows:

Looking further..

while out on my trip (just the 24 hour travel from S.A. to UK), apart from enjoyable flights & silly musings at the Cairo airport, I had a good look at a lot of people & noticed a few things..

--a lot of them looked very sad..many looked downright miserable..

--saw at least 3 people crying at different airports that day (I'm not talking about goodbyes)..I prayed for each of them that God would touch their lives & give them lasting happiness..

--saw a blind girl busking at the train station when I got off in West Dulwich..It was freezing cold that day, but there she was singing a rather pretty sounding opera & even smiling, although she couldn't see (or make a decent living)..

As I myself was exhausted (virtually sleepless night that first Jo'berg/Cairo flight), lugging around large suitcase up flights of stairs, juggling change, calls, tickets, oyster, etc. I didn't really stop for people that day, but more committed them to the Lord in prayer..

The conclusion is that it was yet another confirmation of the sad state of so many in the world today. It's all I can do to keep plodding along & try to encourage those I come across every day..(as I did only thru prayer that day)..it's no wonder I've chosen the life I have..

Random lounge thots conjured at Cairo airport...

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(Tues morning, 17th of November)

After landing in Cairo (en route to London--don't ask) at 5:00 a.m., while having my breakfast at one of the airport cafeterias, I came up w/ the following:

--It’s roughly 5.20 Egyptian pounds to the dollar, if you wanted to know..

--On the back of the cafeteria crew’s t-shirts: “I’m here for you!” That just cracked me up. Why not something more tame like “I can help” (I guess Wal-Mart took that one)?..

--Was tempted to have “Egyptian sweets” but due to the fact that I’d sampled most of the same “varieties” at Small World (Lagos) earlier this year & felt like “food-food”, I Settled on Fresh strawberry juice & Ham & cheese Bagel (mouthwatering?)..Plus, how I could hurry to “dive” into the culture, when I hadn’t even left the airport?

--Is it too much to ask for a view of the pyramids while one dines on Egyptian goodies? Apparently. No such fortune for me. They’re probably not even visible from the airport at all, but I wouldn’t know, as, because I’m in transit, I’m only allowed in terminal 2.

--Irony: The internet (which is free) isn’t working in terminal 2 today. Only terminal’s 1 & 3. We have repairs & Murphy to thank for that.

--I noticed in the airport staff interactings that Egyptians are quite lively people. Similar to Italians, or Lebanese. I guess Egypt also sits on the Mediterranean.

--I shall have to return one day to see the many sites of my possible fore-fore-fore ("Are you through?" "Great-great Aunt!"--Tell me you got that..) fathers..

P.S. Egyptian music videos remind me of “Bollywood love songs”.

P.P.S. I hesitate to say Egyptian yet again, lest I turn it myself..

Drakensburg, oh Drakensburg..

A small part of the gorgeous grounds we stayed on..

breathtaking Drakensburg area...




The hike:

No joke!--better sign!

myself, Tiago & Samuel...

Feeling the power of the mountain..
Feeling accomplished after our climb we "pause to pose" at the summit (well, near summit anyway)..


How to successfully become a horsewhisperer in 4 easy steps:

Step 1: Approach horse slowly--whispering!

Step 2: Stroke horse gently while whispering (even if only to yourself quietly--you MUST whisper).

Step 3: After having successfully befriended said whisperee, give it some grass to solidify the friendship (whispering at this point is optional..)


Step 4: If man/horse bond doesn't prove permanant, simply switch horses & start the "whisper" process from scratch.

Happy Whispering!

Finally..

Leilani & myself..we were in the same group..

A casual photo shoot (is that one word?) by the "willow"..

w/ the PMA/CGO team getting my certificate...

Steve films while we enjoy the near sunset..


"Yaaaaaayyy!!!"...it's just the beginning, really..

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?).

FDTP 2009..

Explains my abscence from this blog (Funny how I seem to use the same events that make my blog, as excuses for not blogging..)...

But we've just concluded the first week of the month-long "Family Discipleship Training Program" for 17 year olds..(a month long college course taken just before reaching the age of 18, that prepares individuals for missionary living in the Family International)..

Thanks to your prayers, it's gone great so far. I haven't posted pics, as I haven't shrunk any yet & the bandwith here in Laezonia's quite limited..but when I shrink, I shall post.

More soon!

P.S. It's still freezing.

P.P.S. Lisa turned 30 yesterday. Wow..we're no longer children..she's the second of my siblings to pass the 3 decade mark (she's gonna kill me for this) & I'm to join them next March. As they say, time waits for no one..heh..

I'm praying she has a wonderful year & I pray you all join me in praying for her (I pray you pray, heh). She's still serving the Lord in Iceland & is giving of herself every day in a VERY cold place. God bless her!

COLD!

This is my 2nd "July-winter", but that doesn't make it easy..

Thanks be to God, we're starting the FDTP at the end of July this year, so we'll be going into August mainly, when it already starts warming up..

I suffer mainly first thing in the morning & again at night (only when going outside, my room has a heater, TG..). During the day it's still good & warm (although you'd never know by my eskimo outfit)..

Please help us pray that the Training Program for 17 year olds will be an immense inspiration & time of learning for them & us as well..

More prayer requests coming!

S.Africa!

I arrived here safely this morning at 4:00 a.m. local time..(3:00 a.m. Nigerian time time) after a 5hr & 15 minute flight on Arik arilines...The plane & services were downright impressive..It was a nice, mostly empty flight, so I got to lay down as I slept, making the short 3 hour night rest I had just a little more comfortable..

Got through immigrations & had picked my luggage by 5:00 a.m. & by 6:30 I had had B'fast at Mugg & Bean & was already calling to let them know I'd arrived..Was picked u by 8:45...the aiport wait turning out to be nearly as long as my flight from Abuja, ha..

I miss Nigeria already..I'm here in & S.A. & I'll be here for a while..It's here at Plot 6, w/ the large grounds & 6 Rottweilers that I'll be spending the next month & a week preparing for & conducting the FDTP 2009. After that, there'll be a good few adventures here in S.A. to speak of that should take me at least through to the end of 2009...

I shall keep you posted..

A Miracle of Comfort & Healing

This taken from the "Family Life" section of this month's 'Link' magazine (if you'll enjoy it half as much as I did, u'll walk away touched & inspired):

By Sherri, Mexico

Enrique is a friend who we've known for close to a year. He was interested in our work, and offered to donate some toys for one of our Christmas benefit programs. I had been trying to visit him since then, but it never seemed to work out.

I finally got through to him one day over the phone. When I asked him how he was doing he explained that his two-year-old son was having surgery the next morning for a tumor in his leg. He admitted to me that he was very scared, and I assured him that we would pray for his son.

We prayed that night and the next morning. When I called him to ask about the outcome of the operation, he sounded relieved, saying that everything had gone incredibly well and he thanked us for our prayers. We kept in touch over the next few weeks, and after the crisis was over I made an appointment to visit him.

When we arrived at his office he was waiting for us.

"Thank you so much for what you did for my son and me," were his first words.

We were a little confused as to what he was referring to, but thanked him and sat down.

He then explained to us why he had been so worried about his son's operation. The tumor had been sitting on top of a major artery in his son's leg, and the artery would have to be cut and then re-attached, an extremely high-risk procedure. It was so dangerous that they had sought out the best specialist in Mexico, and had brought him all the way from another city to perform the surgery.

The night after I called him the first time, he had gone out to eat at a little stand in his neighborhood. He was mulling over his worries as he ate, when two little boys of about six and ten years old sat down next to him and ordered one crepe for the two of them to share. He bought them some more food, and they began to talk.

"Do you have children?" the little boy asked him.

"Yes," he replied. "In fact my two-year-old is having surgery tomorrow."

"Tell your son that he is going to be okay," the boy replied.

Enrique thought that was a bit of a strange remark coming from a child, but agreed to pass on the message. As he got up to return home, the younger boy again called out after him, saying, "Tell your son that I'll be with him in the operating room tomorrow."

Enrique again thought that the child was very odd, but he was so preoccupied with his sadness and concern that he could spare no energy on trying to figure out the comment.

The next morning, as planned, his son was prepared for surgery. At 7:00 AM, as they were wheeling the little one away, he began to cry hysterically, "Daddy, don't leave me! Daddy, come with me!"

"I'll be with you soon, I promise."

Tears filled Enrique's eyes as he and his wife sat down to face the torturous wait.

It was supposed to take five or more hours, but after one hour and fifteen minutes the specialist came out, announcing that the operation was over, and had gone amazingly well.

"Go to your son," he said. "I have paperwork to do, but I need to talk to you, because something inexplicable has happened."

When the little boy awoke from the anesthesia his father joyfully whispered, "How are you? I was with you in the operating room, wasn't I?"

"No dad, you weren't," came the matter-of-fact reply, "but there was a little boy with me."

Enrique went pale.

He was still in shock when the specialist entered the room and got right to the point.

"You saw the test results, and so did I. They all showed that the tumor was wrapped around the artery. But when I went in this morning, the tumor had detached from the artery! It was only superficial, and very easy to remove. I don't know what happened, but it was a miracle."

At this point of the story telling Enrique had tears in his eyes, and so did we.

"You see," he concluded, his voice breaking a little, "those two little boys were angels. I went back to the neighborhood and asked around, and no one had ever seen or heard of them."

He felt that both these miracles were a result of our prayers, for which he was so grateful.

Suddenly composing himself, he sat up straight and said directly, "I've brought you here to find out how I can help you."

After a quick check-in with the Lord we presented our Home's needs: finances to help cover our monthly budget, funds for the construction of a new building for our humanitarian project, and a new fridge and freezer for our community. Without a moment's hesitation he agreed to cover all three needs, and took us out the same day to buy the two appliances.

Because we had shown concern for his needs, he was willing to help us with our own. But above and beyond all that, the Lord was concerned about him and his family, and showed it by performing a miracle of healing for his son and by sending two little angels to deliver a promise of protection and safekeeping.

Yankari/Lagos

w/ friends we made at the park..we split the cost for this game drive..


Keeping up w/ tradition, I took Christina to Yankari National game reserve for 2 days.

Yankari was relaxing & invigorating in that whole "nature-dwelling" kinda way..Lagos was a good time of fellowship & was also Mary & my official farewell party hosted by Angela & the team there.

The day after we got back we took off to Lagos w/ most of our home to spend the wknd w/ the team down there.

Great fun, the whole week.

Just before swimming in the Wikki Warm Spring below...supposedly a constant 31 degrees celsius, but the water's cooled off considerably over the last decade..


W/ our guide, just after we got back from the Safari--the stick's to ward off Baboons..


Fish Eagle--taken near the river.

"wen he was a young wart-hog...wen I was a young Wart-Hooooooooooooooooog"...(not me, Pumba!)

Sis so far..

Christina's been here a week & 3 days & so far we've:

--Walked the 8 kilometer span at the HASH, held along airport road, w/ a bbq after-dinner..

--Seen Strabag 8 times (at least)..(pool, drinks, etc.)

--Visited our schools & IT training centre in the making..

--Seen Angels & Demons at Abuja's one-&-only movie theatre at 'Ceddi Plaza'..

--Had brother/sister bonding over (and get this) an Indian dinner at a Japanese restaurant in Maitama..wow..(it was actually pretty good, tho..)

--Conducted a visitation project at Abuja School for Handicapped (just today, actually), which Christina herself largely sponsored. Tx, Stars!

--Were treated to a Mexican meal bought & cooked by Christina (w/ a bit of help frm her brother, but hey..), complete w/ some Brazilian drink for good measure..

More to come..

Enjoy the following pictorial (that's an order!).





Abuja 'Craft's village'


w/ some of our Primary students


Christina took this one


at our IT centre just finishing construction..