Christmas eve footie match with the family! |
newest member of the QPR fan club! |
we don't think we need to go into every detail but just to say that it was so wonderful to be able to share Christmas with our three sons, Chris, Josh and Arron (who flew in from Honduras especially to be there), as well as Chris' wife Claire and their three children (and thus our Grandchildren). Christmas is always a special time but we've often missed out on the real family gatherings whilst serving at the Village of Hope for all those years.
it was great to catch up with Josh' girlfriend, Haddy, as well as both sets of our parents, sisters (and brother-in-laws) as well as nephews, nieces and great nephews and nieces too. our family really has grown and it's incredible to be part of one that so embraces us when we return from our escapades but also encourages us into what we feel God has for us in the future.
Maz and Honi checking their facebook status! |
we flew into Cape Town between Christmas and New Years and were not only greeted by the bright shinning sun, which we had missed during our English summer and dreary but warmish (for England) autumn and winter, but also by a wide array of faces of wonderful people who we had really missed during our ten month travel time. thanks to Jen and Laura for taking the time to meet for breakfast on your last day in Africa and for Mel, Babs and Shannon for making us feel very welcome as we returned to a country we had grown to love since our first visit in 2005.
our Jeep! |
after picking up our beloved Jeep Wrangler (now sadly sold to fund our next trip to Madagascar, and beyond) in Grabouw we ventured to the stunning Paul Cluver wine estate where Inge and her wonderful family were willing to host us for the first week of our return. we were joined that evening by Dan and Lucy, recently engaged friends of ours who had been enjoying some winter sun, and wine, vacating their jobs in London for a few weeks.
gogo in the informal settlement |
our friends aly and ross |
our early arrival into Cape Town was timed with the visit of the England (and Wales, there you go Trefor) Cricket team who were due to play the second of four Test Matches against the current world number one team, South Africa, at the absolutely awesome Newlands Cricket Ground which sits in the shadows (dependent on the time of day, mostly it was hot hot sun for the duration of the five day match) of Table Mountain, the iconic backdrop to one of the worlds prettiest cities.
ben stokes' bat and gloves at lunch day two |
selfie with dan and lucy at the cricket |
the rest of the match (we mean the remainder of the near on four days) had little to write home about, so we won't, only to say that it ended in a draw, of which everyone seemed happy, and we go on to 'The Wanderers' with England still leading the series 1-0.
stunning location for a cricket ground |
now the cricket has ended, for the time being, we've had the opportunity to meet up with some friends and ex-colleagues from our time here in Grabouw. it seems funny now packing up our lives again, ordering shipping tea chests to fill with the odds and ends that we had shipped here in 2008, plus a few more bits and pieces. we are grateful to our good friends Sandy and Ali for hosting us again, they always make us feel very special.
some old friends! |
so it's with our heads held high, expectation in our hearts and with warm blessings to share with both you and yours and with encouragement to you to really really seek to serve your fellow man with all your hearts and minds in whatever way you feel you can and to seek to make the world a better place and to know God in all His (or Her) fullness in 2016.
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