- 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
Vandalism!
Mr & Mrs Mapanda Return
It's great to have them back and we're grateful to our awesome God for making straight paths for them. They belong to us (Tree of Life) and we're delighted to have them home!
Despite having been gone for just a few weeks I had forgotten what it's like chatting to good friends who are grounded in scripture, they truly are a breath of fresh air.
10th Blogoversary
We've been a bit lax with the blog over the last few years and we'll make no promise to be better at it because that would most likely be a lie. We do love the blog and enjoy it but sadly facebook has largely taken over.
Eisteddfod
Truth be told Joel's a little disappointed in himself because it's the first year he's not got a Cum Laude, but the judge was very clear that the bar was set a lot higher this year and she was marking them accordingly.
Next stop the Music Eisteddfod on Friday in which he'll be playing his own interpretation of Stairway To Heaven by Led Zep. He's going to be amazing!
Non-Return Valve
In fairness, once the municipality had been convinced that our sewage problem was of their making they acted well and reasonably swiftly to install the valve.
Hopefully this will be the end of sanitary products etc. winding up in our garden when the storm drains burst and flood the sewers.
Zimbabwe Thoughts
I loved every minute of being back in Zim, despite the constant power cuts, water shortages and shocking roads. I loved how the locals don't waste their time complaining and moaning about how bad it is but rather get on with life. I loved every minute of being back there because it made me realise just how much of my heart I left there when we were thrown out in 2003.
Westgate Revisited
This morning I went to River of Life Westgate, the church we were instrumental in planting back in 2002 with a team from River of Life Mount Pleasant.
Those were exciting times as we gathered at Westgate as a small team with a giant vision to see a church planted and a variety of social outreach projects established.
A Special Day
Ever since we left Zimbabwe so abruptly in 2003 I've longed to return to see our many friends that we never got to say goodbye to.
So to be here for the wedding of our dear friends Ziggy & Mercy and to get to meet up with Linus, Emilia and Shepherd was a real privilege.
The Passing Of A Legend
I never had the privilege of meeting Nelson Mandela, but I did have the awesome privilege of knowing Uncle Paul and I now treasure the few occasions I got to sit with him and listen to his stories about his life and growing up in this amazing but divided country.
Macassar Protests
Well for the folks in Macassar the issues just got very real and tensions will only rise in the coming months.
SANRAL (South African National Roads Agency Limited) had obtained a court order to remove squatters from some land in Lwandle but they had no plan in place as to what to do with those displaced by this action.
They say a picture speaks a thousand words and this picture doesn't disappoint.
Let The Games Begin
How about you?
Thanks to Andy for sending us the bunting and inflatable hand. Much appreciated mate!
The Cotton Picker Eli
We had the privilege of attending the school's Music Café even this morning in which Eli was performing his first ever piano recital. We're very proud of he's doing given that he only started learning in January.
Love Your Neighbour?
This picture looks like a scene from the dark days of the apartheid era, but sadly it's not. This was taken yesterday right here in the Helderberg Basin as some squatters were evicted from private land.
The tragedy is that the private land is owned by SANRAL (South African National Roads Agency Limited) which is in fact a govt owned public company) and so the govt and law enforcement agencies refuse to get involved hiding behind civil law and neglecting their duties.
Special Times!
Today my joy went a bit further with my boyjie as we went unicycling together on the road and then turned off to ride around the disused farm dam near our house.
Happy Birthday Sunshine!
It's scary to think about how quickly the years slip by but it's definitely a privilege and a joy to be your parents and we're enjoying every minute of it.
Joel chose to go as Mr Stink from the book of the same name by David Walliams. We had so much fun making him and his clothes dirty, cutting his shoes open and generally just making it up as we went along.
The biggest problem we had was finding rabbit droppings that Joel could use as ear plugs.
David Walliams has definitely been a big hit in our house having helped Joel to a few Cum Laude at Eisteddfod and now helping with Book Week.
Read more about World Book Day here.
Miles 4 Smiles Assembly
Totally inspirational special school assembly at Helderberg International School led by Braam Malherbe to motivate the students to raise all they can at their Operation Smile sponsored event next week.
One of our church members is doing a photography degree and for one of his assignments he asked if he could photograph us in the garden.
We were well chuffed to be asked and well pleased with the results!
You can see more of Chadlee's photos and designs on his blog.
The Best Start Ever...
That's not to say it's been perfect or without it's issues and problems, there have been plenty of those. No, it's been the best start ever because when I step back and look at the bigger picture so many amazing and wonderful things have happened that I feel incredibly blessed.
Granadilla Season
The dining room smells divine!
Anyone got any granadilla recipes?
Sewer Inspection
Still, we've had a man out to inspect it and that alone feels like progress. It only took two years of trying to get this issue sorted, and we've only got this far after getting in touch with our local Councillor who put us in touch with the right person at the municipality.
New School Year
Delia I Am Not!
Like Hazel I made two cakes, one came out very well (see left) and once it was iced etc. it went down a storm.
New Year's Day
It's exactly six years since I've been to a Palace game (see Palace Result - With A Difference) but what an occasion it was. I got to take Joel to his first ever match and he absolutely loved it! As a dad and a Palace fan it made for a very special afternoon for me and one I'll never forget
Blessing Jar
So here's how it works... each time you receive a blessing from God, no matter how big or small, no matter how important or trivial it may seem, you write it down and pop it into the blessing jar. Then at the end of the year you revisit the jar and the blessings it contains.
The joy of this is that there are so many blessings that you've completely forgotten about, and it is truly a joy to look back on the year and remember just how blessed you were.
Are You Good Enough For Christmas?
Rather, I want to take a moment to think about what the Christmas story really is.
We all know that it's about God coming down and living amongst us, experiencing our pain, grief and joy, but there's so much more going on in the story.
Madiba's Legacy - What It Means To Us
Thankfully Madiba never showed the slightest interest in the celebrity-esque manipulation of legacy. Madiba transcended that kind of nonsense which is why his legacy will only grow from what it already is.
So what does his legacy as it exists so far, mean to us?
Christmas Tree
Our eldest niece is on her way to the airport as she begins her marathon flight with Turkish Airlines out to join us for Christmas and we're all excited to see her again.
Let the festivities begin!
To All Political Aspirants...
These supporters will also be joined by an unprecedented gathering of world leaders, many of whom will be left totally bewildered and gobsmacked by the tributes that pour in to honour Madiba and his legacy.
Mandela, Terrorist Or Freedom Fighter?
There is a small minority of people who pop up on every social media site leaving comments about Madiba being a terrorist. I'll leave you to guess the cultural background of this small group of people. For myself I get a bit tired of it and the racism that underpins this view, so here I'm going to look at this argument and expose it for what it is.
At a simplistic level (I use simplistic in the pejorative sense) Mandela was a terrorist by simple virtue of the fact that on 12 June 1964, he and two comrades were found guilty on four counts of sabotage and conspiracy to violently overthrow the government. Mandela had admitted the sabotage but denied the conspiracy to overthrow the government. The rest as they say is history and Mandela spent 27 years in Robben Island and Pollsmoor prisons.
8th Birthday Party
It was all very noisy and very messy. Everything an eighth birthday party should be.
Hopefully all the kids have gone home exhausted because we certainly are!
Eli can't wait to celebrate his actual birthday on the 21st now.
Junior School Concert
This morning we had the pleasure of watching the junior school perform in their Duets Concert.
Joel was the interloper in the concert getting to perform his favourite solo piece; Stairway to Heaven by Led Zeppelin.
All the children did very well and we were very proud of Joel.
Music Award
Only three awards were given for music in the junior school this year so Joel is understandably very pleased with himself.
Way to go Sunshine!
Spotted Dikkop
These are quite common in the South Africa but it's the first time I've seen them so close to home.
I'm guessing a bit of derelict ground like this is perfect for it as it seeks out lizards and other small creatures to eat. Especially as the water table is saturated after the floods, which has driven many small creatures up to the surface.
Immigration
Blog Action Day
As a taster, I'll leave you with a question to consider before the day:
Holiday Time
Thankfully the house sitter is well sorted so at least Rosie will be well looked after even if we forget something else important.
R.I.P. Aunty Poppy
Aunty Poppy was one of my first real friends in South Africa, very quickly she won her way into my heart and before long I regarded her as my South African mother. She loved me and my family with a passion and could never wait to see any visiting members of my own family from the UK, particularly my Dad!
His Splendour Was Like The Sunrise
It was great to take some time out and just chill, free from distractions and the busyness of life. It was also great to reflect on the adventure God has taken us on in those years.
Family On A Mission Together
We're also excited about some of the changes being brought about amongst us and we can't wait to see what God has in store as his plans unfold for us all.
Women's Day Outreach 2013
Ephesians 3:20 tells us that God is "able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine according to his power that is at work within us"; we know this in our minds but do we really actually "know" this as our experience?
Square Pegs
We were both asked quite early on about what was different with this trip than previous trips back to the UK. This seemed to be born out of the fact that many folk commented on how happy and relaxed we appeared.
From Britain With Love
Tonight at our home group meeting we'll be showing the short film we made of the various responses folk gave to camera about our Roadshow presentations.
All we can say to those of you that spoke to camera is "Thank You!".
Been & Gone
We really did hit the ground running and by the end of the first week we were exhausted but absolutely thrilled with what we'd achieved.
The Final Curtain
It was a truly great evening with an incredibly diverse mix of people from the vicar who was responsible for Paula getting saved through to a complete stranger and his cousin who had seen the event advertised in the parish magazine.
London Town
In this photo the Shard certainly makes it's mark upon the capital.
Below it's interesting to see the view of the All England and to get the close ups of the TV camera crane.
We're really enjoying our Roadshow events and are particularly enjoying the variety of different contexts in which we get to present about Tree of Life and our amazing friends in South Africa.
Today we were in the well heeled town of Cobham and had the privilege of sharing our Roadshow with a lovely bunch of folk from St. Andrew's, Oxshott.
"What A Refreshing Change"
Many moons ago there was a certain brand of cider with the sales line: "What a refreshing change".
We reckon that this could be a good way to describe Christians Abroad.
In our recent meeting it was such a pleasure to be asked things like:
"How can we partner together to better serve the church?"
"What are your expectations of us?
"What is Tree of Life hoping to gain from this trip?"
These are refreshing questions to be asked by the leaders of an organisation that really cares about and for us and they are questions we've never once been asked before!
"Strike Three.."
Rather we've just finished our third Roadshow and once again it went really well. We were with Tuesday @ 2 a group of older folk who are a powerhouse of prayers.
We've been thrilled by the turnout for each of them so far and it's been great to reconnect with many old friends.
Aunty Poppy
She recently had a major heart attack and home life is very hectic and stressful for her.
Please pray for Aunty Poppy!
One More Sleep!
I guess we're at that point where things that haven't been done aren't going to get done.
Thankfully our Roadshow presentation is all finished, though that hasn't stopped me from checking it every few minutes to make sure it still works. Must switch tablet off!
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