- The Finnie family in Blighty, December 2021
- Dean and Paula pastor The Gathering together
- The Gathering
- Baptisms at The Gathering
- Preparing to serve at The Gathering's Soup Kitchen
- Soup Kitchen Welcome To 2022 lunch
- Serving hands - the heart of The Gatheirng
- Thankful Thursdays
- HOPE Home Based Care Team
- Gathering Ground
- Staying fit as a family
- The Helderberg - The prettiest of the mountains we face
Patrick was discharged and sent home today which is a bit of a shock. It's less than a week since the amputation and he is still in so much pain! Dean's main concern now that he's home is the level of care Patrick will receive and who is going to dress his wound each day. Patrick is staying with his daughter Mabel for a while and she has a drink problem and is not wholly reliable. Please pray about this, Patrick really needs tiptop care.
Dean received a telephone call early this morning informing him that Michael's daughter -Michelle- had been raped and murdered. Unfortunately, Michael learnt of this from the news last night on E-TV. As the day progressed we gained more information and it transpires that Michelle was raped and murdered on the 1st May but the police say they were unable to locate any family so allowed the story to be broadcast in the hope of family coming forward. However, we also learnt from Michele's boyfriend that he approached the police soon after the incident and as such the police were fully aware of the family's whereabouts.
Dean didn't get to see Patrick over the weekend so will go tonight. However we did hear this morning that one of the women in CNP has died.
Patrick Update
Patrick is in so much pain after the amputation. His leg was removed just below the knee, so he will be somewhat unbalanced when he has recovered. Dean has never seen anyone literally writhing in pain before and it was quite distressing to see him in this state. Aunty Kuku has agreed to visit tomorrow so Dean will take her in the afternoon to see Patrick. Unfortunately their grandson Enslen has been dumped on her again. Enslen is seriously disable having some form of palsy and having him in the home puts a huge burden on Aunty Kuku.
Patrick Et Al
Patrick is scheduled to have his leg removed tomorrow (12 May) and he is really upset about this. Whilst Dean was with Patrick, Paula arrived with Joel which appeared to brighten up Patrick's day.
Lots Of Illness
Lorraine was taken to hospital last night as her stomach had swollen dramatically.
Ben collapsed in CNP this afternoon, Dean wasn't there but thankfully another volunteer was and he's a Dr so was able to help. The ambulance was called and Ben is now in hospital, so Dean will see him tomorrow.
Hospital Visits
The reality for Aunty Kuku (Patrick's wife) is that she's enjoying the break from him and is reluctant to visit the hospital (although this may in part be because she is not very well herself).
Patrick is in a lot of pain but doesn't want to stay in hospital - quite understandable! Please pray that Patrick will get a thorough 'MOT' and a very thorough bed bath. Unfortunately due to his amputation and stroke, Patrick finds washing and showering almost impossible. We're also left feeling that the health service here are only interested in addressing his symptoms and not the underlying problems, please pray into this.
We're both well and Dean is just about recovered from his bad back. He recently acquired a new mountain bike (see the piccy) and as he was getting used to the new seating position etc his back obviously stretched, no permanent damage but a bit sore for a few days.
Judy's House
Plett Lagoon
Getting Ready
Last weekend we had Joel's birthday party at a little indoor play centre. Joel had about 8 friends there and they all had a ball. It was great too for the parents as we could sit and chat over coffee whilst the kids ran themselves ragged in a totally safe environment. We'll be back there again!
Photos Of Zim Friends
The photos are of friends from Zimbabwe whom we haven't seen since our departure in 2003. Some of these friends are still faithfully plugging away in Zimbabwe and a few have moved to Jo'burg to be a part of a new church plant there called God First.
Travelling Across SA
Getting Ready
Bible Study Outing
Prayer Items
Under The Weather
Joel & Duwayne
Encouraging Weekend
Roller Coaster
Tough Week
Busy As Ever
This afternoon we went to a braai with another English couple who are getting involved in a variety of social action projects and it looks like we may be able to develop some positive links and share resources which would be great.
New Beginnings
Where Was God In The Tsunami?
We've just heard that the latest death toll for the tsunami is now 280,000 and rising. We've also heard many questioning the where's why's and how's of God and his role in the tsunami. We believe that the creator God needs no defending and we have no intention of defending him. However, we would like to offer some thoughts to those that would ask the questions; how could a loving God allow the tsunami to kill so many? or where was God whilst the tsunami was killing thousands.
However, let us make it clear that this is a personal perspective based on our faith in God.
Items For Prayer
Breakthrough
Missing Blogs
Wheelchair at last!
Dean took Patrick and his 2nd daughter to the physiotherapist again today and the physio commented on how well Patrick is progressing. We then had a conversation about our attempts to acquire a wheelchair to no avail. Amazingly the physio said that we could take their brand new one (just had to fill in a few forms) and they would get another one for themselves, Brilliant!!! Patrick and his family are well chuffed! Now we need to find someone who could build him a ramp from the street to his front door.
What will this year have in store we wonder? If any of the previous years are anything to go by it should be time to buckle up and hang on for the rollercoaster is about to be launched....
Dean has been back in CNP since Tuesday (as well as visiting a bit during the Christmas break) and learnt that three folk died on Christmas day.
Lonely This Christmas (no apologies to Elvis or Mud)
Happy Christmas!
Don't forget the one who's birthday it is..... Jesus Christ
Lots of love
Dean, Paula & Joel
XXX
The Night Before Christmas Eve...
Christmas Buildup
Reconciliation Day
We had a good week. We met up with Maurice & Wendy (friends from Zim) and spent time catching up which was great. Then later in the week Pete & Ash came for tea with their 3 boys. Their youngest was born after we left Zim so we hadn't met him and Ash hadn't met Joel so it was a great afternoon catching up. Pete is now leading God First Christian Church in Jo'burg, well worth a visit if you're in that neck of the woods!
We've just enjoyed 2 nights away without Joel and it was brilliant! We missed him dearly but it was so nice to be able to do normal things without him. We ate lunch when we wanted, Paula could have a cappuccino without having to share the froth, we went to the cinema but best of all we got to lay in in the morning!!!! Joel was a star by all accounts and was a credit to us.
World AIDS Day
Pray for those in your community who are HIV+, you might not know them by name (or even realise that some of your neighbours are HIV+) but they need your support.
CNP Thanksgiving
True to 'traditional' African time, the CNP Thanksgiving started about an hour late, but was good fun nonetheless. We finally got to meet Chris Nissen himself (a surprisingly humble man) as well as some of the other key players in establishing the houses for the community. Dean felt very honoured by the public comments that were made about him, we both felt that this was real recognition of the impact that God is having in the community through the church.
Overview Of The Week.
England 32 South Africa 16
Where Did That Week Go?
CNP Update
The church currently have a team out from Penge in London and they're looking at what the church is involved in. As part of this some of them will be spending a bit of time in CNP with one of their main jobs being to fix the swings for the children. Hopefully this will be a real blessing to the community.
Back On Line
We had a great time away with our friends Mark & Leanne and their two children, Kelly and Matthew. We'd not seen each other for almost 2 years so they'd not met Joel and we'd not met Matthew.
Friends From Zim
This Week Shot Past
The highlights have been Roger & Shirley's visit on Tuesday including a trip into CNP. Roger was soon playing cricket with some of the lads (he was out for a duck!). We visited Patrick & Katrin, Aunty Poppy, Mama Jane and Dina each of whom said they really appreciated meeting Roger & Shirley. In the evening they took us out to a seafront restaurant in Gordon's Bay which was great. We really enjoyed meeting up with them and it's always good to see people out of context.
Family News
Hospital Visiting .... Again
Another Year Older!
Visiting And Building
Death In The Community
Awesome Weekend
Cycle Of Poverty
Spring Has Sprung
Dean visited Patrick last night and enjoyed a brief chat, he is doing well and was sat in the chair next to his bed which is really positive. Dean will be taking Chris Nissen folk again this week to see Patrick and he is really looking forward to seeing his family again. Continue to pray for swift healing and strength of spirit as he recovers.
Hospital Visits
Latest News
Late last week Dean took a group of ladies from CNP to see Patrick in the local Govt hospital. Patrick is waiting to have a leg amputated as gangrene has set in due to his diabetes. Patrick was chuffed to see so many friends and family members.
Answered Prayer
Minton and his wife were released from custody last night. We're not sure yet as to whether charges have been dropped or whether there is insufficient evidence to detain them further. Either way it is good news as the case is obviously very weak. Minton and his family are now having two weeks away to come to terms with all that has happened but also to be away from the community in which the tragic events took place, they don't feel safe there at present.
Joel's Day Out
We took Joel to the Cape Town Aquarium on Saturday and he really enjoyed himself. The highlights for him were being able to stand against the tanks and watch the fish, sharks and seals come right up to his face. The seals were particularly impressive with their acrobatics and Joel just giggled the whole time. Afterwards we had lunch at the Aquarium restaurant and there were 3 seals on the quay immediately below us, needless to say Joel was enthralled.
Arrest Update
The police now have a further 7 days in which to investigate the murder and then there will be a further court appearance at which time Minton & Womisile will either be released due to lack of evidence or a trial date will be set and they will be moved to Pollsmoor.
Please continue to pray for Minton & Womisile and for justice to be done.
Church Under Attack
Over the weekend a dispute took place in a Shebeen in Nomzano which left a young man called Malibongwe dead. The community then sought the perpetrator and murdered him next to Malibongwe. This is a growing problem in the townships as the communities do not trust the police. It transpires that Malibongwe is Minton's 'son' (culturally) and somehow it has been alleged that Minton and Womisile have committed the murder. However they say they were in bed at the time of it.
Prayer Items
We're having a really good week and want to share some prayer items with you, but firstly we'll give you a bit of news. A major breakthrough tonight...Paula has gone to church on her own in the car. She hates driving and is never too keen to drive at night so this is a bit of a first. Dean went mountain biking again tonight and managed to stay on the bike this time. Steve and Jonathon (fellow riders) are very fit so Dean feels a bit of a lemon trying to keep up. However they're very patient and encouraging, Jonathon tried to persuade Dean to join a 25km race at the weekend but Dean declined!
Fun & Laughter
We had a lovely family day today - one of those days that you wonder how it could have been so happy when nothing particularly significant was planned! We went to church as usual in the morning and Joel had a great morning in creche. He then slept for over 2 hours after a huge lunch - great for his parents!! In the afternoon we went for a walk and came back past a proper skate boarding and bike ramp area.
August Marches On
Winter Has Arrived!
The big news is that our visas have been approved until 2007 so it's good to know we're legally here! Dean will drive to Paarl to get the passports stamped in the next few days.
What A Week
We are settling in well and are very pleased with our house. The rain has arrived -only a month late- and is persistent so it is a bit depressing. I think we'll be swimming out of our front door this afternoon! Dean started work this week, so is slowly starting to develop a strategy. It is frustrating at first, particularly as the main woman he was hoping to work with has now got full-time work, so isn't around to help and Dean doesn't speak Afrikaans! Lots of prayer needed.
The Holiday Is Over
Settling In
After A Long Silence We're Back On Email!
We've missed a huge chunk of what happened in our final few days in the UK but this should bring you up to date with what's happened since...
We're safe and well and finally settling into our home here in South Africa. Our first week has been quite stressful, however, we have now completed our dealings with immigration and now have to wait 30 days for our visas. It only took 4 visits (an hour each way), 1 desperate call to Crosslinks (Brilliant as always!!) and endless form filling! but we appear to have jumped through each hoop successfully.
-
►
2022
(129)
- Dec (5)
- Nov (8)
- Oct (4)
- Sept (3)
- Aug (5)
- Jul (2)
- Jun (8)
- May (19)
- Apr (44)
- Mar (19)
- Feb (6)
- Jan (6)
-
►
2021
(72)
- Dec (1)
- Nov (5)
- Oct (4)
- Sept (1)
- Aug (6)
- Jul (3)
- Jun (4)
- May (5)
- Apr (26)
- Mar (9)
- Feb (4)
- Jan (4)
-
►
2020
(170)
- Dec (10)
- Nov (1)
- Oct (7)
- Sept (15)
- Aug (20)
- Jul (29)
- Jun (27)
- May (29)
- Apr (23)
- Mar (8)
- Jan (1)
-
►
2017
(59)
- Dec (1)
- Nov (3)
- Oct (5)
- Sept (2)
- Aug (3)
- Jul (7)
- Jun (16)
- May (6)
- Mar (6)
- Feb (4)
- Jan (6)
-
►
2013
(64)
- Dec (7)
- Nov (4)
- Oct (2)
- Sept (4)
- Aug (1)
- Jul (4)
- Jun (6)
- May (3)
- Apr (26)
- Mar (2)
- Feb (1)
- Jan (4)
-
►
2012
(99)
- Dec (9)
- Nov (7)
- Oct (5)
- Sept (5)
- Aug (7)
- Jul (1)
- Jun (6)
- May (16)
- Apr (26)
- Mar (7)
- Feb (3)
- Jan (7)
-
►
2011
(96)
- Dec (9)
- Nov (5)
- Oct (11)
- Sept (4)
- Aug (6)
- Jul (7)
- Jun (7)
- May (9)
- Apr (10)
- Mar (6)
- Feb (4)
- Jan (18)
-
►
2010
(151)
- Dec (17)
- Nov (13)
- Oct (9)
- Sept (10)
- Aug (17)
- Jul (13)
- Jun (16)
- May (14)
- Apr (15)
- Mar (4)
- Feb (10)
- Jan (13)
-
►
2009
(149)
- Dec (20)
- Nov (19)
- Oct (20)
- Sept (17)
- Aug (5)
- Jul (18)
- Jun (19)
- May (13)
- Apr (4)
- Mar (6)
- Feb (5)
- Jan (3)
-
►
2008
(158)
- Dec (22)
- Nov (12)
- Oct (11)
- Sept (10)
- Aug (5)
- Jul (15)
- Jun (11)
- May (17)
- Apr (16)
- Mar (18)
- Feb (8)
- Jan (13)
-
►
2007
(179)
- Dec (12)
- Nov (15)
- Oct (18)
- Sept (21)
- Aug (9)
- Jul (7)
- Jun (16)
- May (10)
- Apr (11)
- Mar (26)
- Feb (17)
- Jan (17)
-
►
2006
(198)
- Dec (24)
- Nov (23)
- Oct (20)
- Sept (6)
- Aug (26)
- Jul (21)
- Jun (8)
- May (16)
- Apr (11)
- Mar (13)
- Feb (14)
- Jan (16)