Our March 2008 Newsletter

THE MISSION FIELD COMES TO US

Plettenberg Bay. Beautiful sunset, distant mountain peaks kissed by the setting sun, the sound of waves crashing a few hundred metres away, wide sweeping beaches, and the supper table laden with jasmine rice, Thai curry, beef in oyster sauce, sweet and sour prawns and fried rice. Sitting round the table about to tuck in: Nick and Trish (of course), but also Yaa, Aneck, Noi, Jupe and Jeaw. Who????? Five Thai Buddhist friends of ours who visited us in South Africa for a couple of weeks in February. (See photo taken at Robberg)

What a great opportunity to gently witness to our friends as we spent 2 weeks in a holiday home together. One morning Aneck watched the Jesus DVD with Jonty and had several questions which Nick and Jonty were able to answer. But it was also fairly hard work as we had Thai culture and language thrust upon us 24/7 and played tour guide to our culture-shocked friends.

God has an unusual way of answering prayers. As a result of the hospitality we showed them, when we return to Thailand, these Buddhist friends of ours will be collecting us from the airport, organising interim accommodation and a car for us, and helping us find a house in Lampang, the new town we’re moving to. We feel very blessed.

HAPPY HOME ASSIGNMENT

The sun was beating down on my head and shoulders. My mouth was dry, my heart pounding and my legs leaden as sweat stung my eyes. What had started as a niggling twinge in my Achilles tendons had turned into a screaming pain that could no longer be ignored – and I still had 11 kms to go! But I did it: after 5 hours and 44 minutes on the road, I completed the Two Oceans 56km ultra marathon in Cape Town and received a bronze medal for my efforts. This was just one of many highlights of our 7 months in South Africa.

Trish caught up on scrapbooking, she attended courses, lost 6kg, went on a walking tour of Tuscany, and still managed to keep the family going. We also did a marriage course which has been very enriching.

The kids have had the best time of all. Jonty has attended a wonderful nursery school, Emily has enjoyed Moms and Tots and Clamber Club, and Nina tripled in age. She arrived as a three-month old baby and is now walking (well…only 2 steps at a time, but its walking!).

It wasn’t all sunshine and roses, but its been a great opportunity to catch up with some of our friends and family all over the country, and to enjoy the South African lifestyle. We are feeling refreshed (as refreshed as one can be with three small children), restored and ready to head back to Thailand.