Green ID Book

On December 22nd I received a message that my green ID book had been finalized and was ready at our local Home Affairs office. Within 15 minutes we were all loaded in the car and heading downtown. We're so thankful to finally have this ID book! When the offices open again I'll go back to the licensing department to see about getting my Texas license converted. I'm long past the due date and they have the right (and possibly the obligation) to make me retest in South Africa, but my hope is that they will do what was originally told to me and simply convert. I've been driving over 20 years but the thought of testing makes me very nervous. The average person here fails their written and driving test several times before passing. Derek played a role in exposing corruption in the department about 7 years ago as workers we knew were being failed until they were willing to bribe. Our local department has been shut down twice for corruption since we've lived here. So as you can imagine, I am praying for God's favor in every way imaginable regarding my license.

I love Christmas in Africa!!

We are truly blessed. In one fun filled weekend we are surrounded by Derek's family, our church family, and our missionary family!

Christmas Day started bright and early with the kids opening gifts and then off to church we went. I love Christmas carols and am now thoroughly accepting of singing and sweating at the same time. I love Christmas in Africa!! It's usually hot enough to swim and the kids love spending the day with the family God has surrounded them with. We had a great day with this bunch of American missionaries. They are wonderful friends and we love them dearly!

Christmas Eve

We spent a wonderful Christmas Eve with Derek's parents. With our crazy schedule, his parent's busy ministry schedule, Kirsty's equestrian farm, and Riaan's work we don't often all get together. This was a great day as everyone got to visit and spend time together. The kids even picked peaches and plums in the orchard. We are grateful that we live close to one set of our parents whom the kids can see throughout the year!

Holland to South Africa and back again!

We recently spent the evening with Ton and Dora from Holland as they had some down time while visiting South Africa. Ton and his wife founded the Dutch group, Eyes for Others which is devoted to working with children and the disadvantaged population of South Africa. Each year Ton and his wife travel to South Africa on multiple occasions to assist Dutch teams for outreach into various communities. We always have a wonderful time with them and walk away renewed in our own efforts to share the love of Jesus.

End of year school events

Kyla was an angel in her school's nativity concert. As always it was an adorable affair and Kyla was a star!

Matt's concert was fantastic as well. We had our own little drummer boy! He ended up having a fantastic year after getting off to a rough start. He starts Grade 1 in January.

Malachi was asked to introduce was of the classes during his assembly and did a great job. We were so impressed as he took the podium and confidently called out each name. When it came time for him to play the piano with his teacher he was a little less confident and waited until everyone else was finished but did a great job! He starts Grade 3 in a few weeks.

Choosing which school our children attend has been our greatest struggle. Education is not free in South Africa although the cost of rural school varies greatly from private ones. In our city there are options for English, Tswana, Afrikaans or German speaking. We have never wanted our call into world missions to hurt their education or put them in dangerous situations and we've spent many hours in prayer seeking what God would have us do. Our boys currently attend a school established by the King of the Bafokeng people as a school of excellence for the Bafokeng nation. That would include most of the children in our orphan care program although only a handful have applied. It is a small school with two classes for each grade level and is taught in English and Tswana. With the assistance of the royal family over 60% of the attending children pay little or no school fees and with the schools nutrition program these children are secured at least one meal a day. Our family must pay full tuition and this is our single greatest monthly expense. For the safe environment of the school, for the quality of education and teachers, for the interaction with the children in the community, this is our best option for schooling and one of our greatest areas of trusting God to guide us. He has never given us a promise to provide for this cost, but we know He will instruct us if we need to make a change. I wish I could say there has been no stress involved 42but on my part there has been plenty. God and I are continually walking a tight rope of trust it seems. Last year before school began I was praying one night and said this to the Lord, "You know our options. This school is it. Please show me that you can provide for this. Or show us another way." I was expecting an answer I just didn't have any idea what it would be. Within a month we were sent a gift from a contributor to be used however we wanted. It covered the cost of the boys school for 2011! I don't know how long God will provide for this but I know He will either cover the cost each month or show us another way. I am incredibly grateful that we can trust Him to take care of us however He sees fit.