Monday, December 25, 2017

Merry Christmas 2017

We decided to spend Christmas in Cape Town this year. This may be our last Christmas in Africa, and Cape Town is a favourite place about a 12 hour drive from Maseru. Charis was with us the previous time we were here, just before she left to live in the US. Cape Town is very diverse and offers many adventures. Our plan, though, is just to rest and enjoy the ocean and views (okay, and the malls) as the last time we were here we did the mad tourist rush. 

Dakotah is a great little traveller, reading in the back seat.
Today is Christmas. Dakotah and I took a walk along the beach around 7:45 am. It's fun to walk and talk with her. Maybe it's more accurate to say that I listen while she chatters away. We saw a seal  pup come up on the beach yesterday and were concerned about its health. This morning we returned to that spot and found rocks covering the seal's body. That made us sad and it was the first thing Dakotah told Beth when we returned from our walk. 


At around 9:00 we all went down to the hotel restaurant for breakfast. I was pretty proud of my Christmas creation and actually ran up two flights of stairs to get my phone from the room to take a picture. A themed breakfast. BUYA!

Doesn't that look delicious and somewhat healthy? Yum!!
Last night we drove past a Hill Song Church and decided to attend one of their Christmas services today.They held services from Christmas Eve until noon on Christmas Day. The service started out like a pop concert with loud music, smoke and lights. Then there was a comedy routine where the pastor and two other men told Christmas jokes (corny, but funny). The service ended with a message and prayer. We were glad we attended.
Christmas morning @ Hill Song Church
Tonight we went to the V&A Waterfront, a popular tourist shopping area. Although stores were closed, we enjoyed the Christmas decorations, a light dinner, and a ride on the ferris wheel. The city lights were gorgeous. 



V & A Waterfront










































Saturday, December 23, 2017

Christmas @ Meriting #4

It's been a LONG time since I've last written on this blog. We are still in Lesotho and loving life here, although our jobs have changed. Beth went from teaching for Beautiful Gate to Mission Aviation Fellowship to spending the last year teaching the younger Geurink girls until they are able to return to the US. This is my second year teaching first grade at the American International School of Lesotho (AISL). We expect this will be our last year here, and we are feeling the beginning pangs of saying goodbye to people and countries (both Lesotho and South Africa) that we have come to love. 

It's December 
now and Christmas is around the corner. We will not be at our home in Lesotho for Christmas, but I wanted to share a few pictures of our very simple Christmas decorations and the beginning of summer at our home. We currently live in AISL teacher housing. We love the quiet and our new community. Life is good. God is great!




Beth hung garland in the shape of a tree. Gifts
hang on the coat rack.  





Dakotah made this poinsettia with torn paper. 




 
Our dining room looks out to the back patio.


We planted grass seed in the front garden and it is beginning to fill in!

I made some flowers out of soda cans to decorate our patio table.