first 2 weeks

Sorry it has been so long since we have been in touch but it has taken a while to get internet access, now that we are up and running we will update you more regularly.

It has been an interesting and very very busy two weeks since we arrived. We have moved into an apartment with a nice view but noisy wildlife - frogs, birds and cool little monkeys. The car we have bought is a 2004 Toyota Tazz very popular here (looks like a 1980’s Corolla) it’s a quality wee motor but A/C is the only luxury – there isn’t power steering!

Karen started work at Murchison Hospital and is slowly finding her feet – the spectrum of disease is very different but presents many challenges for the year ahead.

We have been to Norwegian Settlers Church and are getting to know people. The church is very friendly and active in the community. We have been to their youth and we joined a small group this week of young married couples, some of whom have young children who just wandered around the room or got passed around depending on age, while we did the study. So no excuses for those of you with/expecting babies!

Stephen is hoping to start studying with South Africa Theological Seminary and is getting various jobs around the church.

It’s been a good few weeks but there have also been lots of challenges – at one stage we were driving around in an uninsured car, but don’t worry it is not a criminal offence here! There has been an endless stream of difficulties with setting up a bank account and other administrative problems some of which are still not fully resolved. Also our boxes we shipped here with clothes, kitchen things and some electrical items are stuck in customs in Johannesburg - they want to manually search them and we don’t know when we will get them back and if everything will still be in them. Please, please pray about these issues.

We will be in touch soon. S&K