Seasons Greetings!

Happy Christmas Everyone! Hope you are all well and enjoying the frosty weather. We had a lovely afternoon at the beach and then went swimming here at the apartment. Thanks to everyone who sent us cards and gifts they are really appreciated. For those of you who had given us some money before we left we have distributed it in a variety of ways - Christmas gifts for the patients at Genesis Care Centre, Tshirts for the children at Asissi Childrens Home, an outting to the Snake Park for the Overcomers at church and Bible reading notes for kids at Junior Youth. Thank you all for your support - it has been great to be able to respond to a need whenever we see one and there is still some left to spend in the New Year. Have a wonderful Christmas, Love Stephen and Karen.

Christmas Chaos!

Wow the South Coast has been invaded by holiday makers! The traffic was so bad yesterday the police were directing traffic at every set of lights in our area. It is bizarre though wearing shorts and listening to Christmas music about snow and sleigh bells in the shops! Tonight was the Carol Service at church, a little different from what we are used to but very interesting to see how they tried to create the atmosphere. Everyone had a lit candle but it was still bright outside!!!!

Last Sunday we went with Seeds to decorate the Genesis Care Centre and then we went to Assisi Childrens Home to do a Christmas Party. The kids were so cute as they stuffed marshmallows and other goodies into their mouths but the food was soon forgotten when we brought out the toys and gifts! We have lots of cute pics we will put on flickr for you to see.

Enjoy the Christmas chaos wherever you are
K&S

Summer Camp

Wow it was hot! Very hot! Summer Camp was a great experience there was great teaching and the worship was fantastic. Many of the kids we took from Norwegian Settlers were strengthened in their walk and some made committments for the first time. It was a tough week lying about by the pool or river in 30-40oC! Thanks to Nivea Kids Factor 50 I didn't get burnt. It was encouraging to see 1000 teenagers on fire for God and the potential they have to impact the world. The challenge for us as leaders is to channel that enthusiasm in the other 51 weeks of the year.

I discovered something very interesting this week - if your battery runs done on your XDAIIi mobile you loose everything, yes everything - all your contacts, all your telephone numbers, all your photos and videos EVERYTHING! So please would you all email me your contact details or if you don't want to hear from me - don't!

On the up side I learned how to make balloon animals at a kids club this week and it's great fun:-)

Hope you are all managing to keep warm! S

2 little girls

Hi all, I am just back from a fab weekend in Pietermaritzburg visiting a friend. The weather was beautiful and we had lots of fun - sightseeing, picnicing, eating out and of course shopping! Stephen is sizziling in Kimberley at Summer Camp they arrived yesterday after an uneventful 16hr drive and they get back Thursday, Please remember them as they travel and that the kids will be encouraged through the camp.

The church was broken into today, well actually the girls involved say they walked in through an open door but they set the alarm off and the armed response unit and one of the pastors arrived on scene. What they found was a sorry sight - two little girls malnourished and unkempt, ripping open Christmas presents that have been collected for the Childrens homes looking for food. They were suitably chastised for breaking in but shame they are very much in need. Our Pastor has offered to help them and the armed guards took them to the shop and bought them food before driving them home. Please pray for these little girls that they will come back to the church this week and accept the compassion and help being offered to them and their families, and also for all the other kids in this country whose Christmas wish list consists only of food rather than toys.

I hope you all enjoyed the photos on flickr - if you haven't seen them then you haven't emailed us yet!!! Do so and we will send you a guestpass. If you are confused as to where they are - there is a little info if you click on details.
Thanks guys K x