Spring Is In The Air

Hi guys. Yes I did say Spring is in the air. Here it is Spring. The flowers are blooming the weather is warmer and we have finally gotten a little rain. Last week I celebrated my first birthday in Africa. I was so blessed by my family and friends in the States, by the missionaries here, by new South African friends and of course by my husband and children. It was a very special birthday. Some people were asking questions about how we celebrate birthdays in South Africa. The answer is basically the same way you celebrate in the States. Children's birthdays tend to be a little more elaborate. I celebrated by having a spa day. With a massage, pedicure and manicure. Very relaxing. These things are a lot cheaper here than in the States. It was great.

Now that it is November we are coming to the end of school. Remember that we start the school year in January. It is very different to end in November. We are used to ending in June and doing all of the end of year stuff then. It is going to be a very busy November. We are trying to get Christmas together in November also, more added pressure. The children are all doing well in school. Emily has made a friend and this weekend she went to their family farm. She has seen impala and other animals that live at the farm. We met the friends dad the other night and he asked us a lot of questions about what we do here and about Christianity. We had a good discussion with him and hope to continue talking to him in the future. Leah has been taking guitar lessons with one of the missionaries that lives next door. She really likes it. She makes the rounds around the IMB offices, talking to all of the adults. A regular chatter box. They seem to love it. Micah is still playing Cricket. He is really quite good. The 3rd week he went to practice he got the trophy for best player. Amazing how fast they can pick stuff up. About 2 weeks ago he kicked a soccer ball through one of the guest house windows and has had to work that off. They really are just normal kids but have done so well adapting here. They have finally stopped telling us everyday they want to go home but we still hear it. We all have our good and bad days.

November is the month for birthdays in our family. Happy Birthday to Abbey our niece, Dad, Grandma Grapes, Andrew and Roy. David will be having surgery on his left foot on November 13th. He has arthritis in his toes and the surgeon is going to straighten them out. He isn't excited about having surgery but he is excited that his foot will be fixed. He will get the other one done in January some time.

A lot of you have been praying for me to find a place where I can minister. Well I have been working in the home school room here and am enjoying it. I have also been given the opportunity to go to Micah's class, all of grade 4 and 2 at the girls school and talk about what Thanksgiving is. It will give me an open door to talk about thanking God for all that we are blessed with. I also have an opportunity to go to a preschool that has poor children with AIDS and minister to them.

Since November in the month for Thanksgiving I would just like to say thank you to all of you that read our blog and that have been praying for us. November 7th is our 1 year anniversary with the IMB. We have been blessed by your prayers and have really felt the presence of God throughout this year. Our God is an awesome God. I know that some of you are going through some trials right now. Know that there is hope. Look to Jesus. He is still there. If there is something specific that we can be praying for you about please write us and let us know.

Praise/Prayer Requests:
Praise - the children are making friends.
Praise - its warm finally and raining.
Prayer - David's surgery November 13th
Prayer - for "W" as we continue talking to him about Jesus.
Prayer - Tracy doing Thanksgiving talks at schools.
Prayer - end of the school year craziness.
Prayer - for our colleagues at home on their stateside assignment.
Prayer - for the IMB leadership as they are making a lot of changes.

Have a very blessed Thanksgiving Day. Watch the parade for us.