My Induction

Above: Pastor Don on the left, myself and Pastor Roy on the right

On the 27th of July 2008 I was inducted as a student pastor into my home Church, Jeffrey's Bay Baptist Church. It was a great service, one where I had my mum sat their in the congregation (I have to say, I couldn't stop thinking about everyone back in the UK; I so wish everyone could have be their). I've been feeling that God has been calling me into the pastorate for a long time now and at last things are coming together. God really blessed me in the service; not only was I officially inducted but also, Louise and I were together prayed for by so many people. As a couple we recognize that we are both called into this position, I know that without Louise's support it’s unlikely this would have happened. However, I'm also very aware that God calls the shots and brings all things about; Louise and I hope to serve and glorify Him wherever we can. When it came to the moment of prayer, mum joined us, together with Dad, who represented my family here in SA and just so many people from our Church; what love and warmth we both felt.

Wilderness

Wow, what a beautiful place Wilderness is? It’s been really cool to explore more of SA. While mum has been here with us, we got together with Louise’s folks for a little holiday in a place called wilderness which is very close to a town called George in the Western Cape. It’s a place where you have the coast on one side and mountains on the other, the views were amazing.


Our accommodation was right on the seafront and gave us frequent opportunities to see whales, dolphins and all kinds of local birds. To wake up and watch whales while eating breakfast is pretty cool eh?


We filled our week with many activities from visiting a safari to meeting ostriches at an ostrich farm (I even got to sit on an ostrich, poor thing!). The safari gave me a chance to see my first ever white lions and white tigers along with many other fantastic animals. The ostrich farm, and the guided tour enabled us to learn all about ostrich farming including how they incubate the eggs (we all got to stand on a bundle of eggs, man those suckers are strong!); we were even shown how they make feather dusters out of the various different ostrich feathers!

Another day on our holiday was spent up in the mountains; we travelled up on the power van (a single carriage diesel rail van) from George; the views from the mountains were just great. We all had an amazing time away but it didn’t end their, on out travels home we stopped of in Plettenberg Bay and a wild cat rescue centre where I got to stroke a cheater (not forgetting licked and nibbled!!), what an experience!

Splash in more ways then one!

So, Billabong has come to Jeffrey's bay. I took mum to super tubes (one of our beaches) to watch the contest. We enjoyed lunch together watching the dudes riding the waves and doing all kinds of tricks.

The highlight of the day though was the moment when mum and I shared a wave with the surfers. Busy photographing the action we were hit by a big wave that came on shore, much to our horror! I managed to lift myself out of the water rather quickly and only suffered a slightly wet side of my shorts, mum however didn't quite respond as quick and ended up taking an early bath. I'm not sure whether she got wetter as the wave came in or as it went out, but anyway she got a rather wet bum!! It's great to be able to laugh such things away and mum was a great sport and did so. I don't actually think she will ever live this one down!!

Check out those shorts!!

All ended well for us both however when we decided to leave the beach and go for ice cream (anyone who knows mum, knows that ice cream for her has magical healing properties!!).

Birthday Girl!

One year older and wiser!!

Yes, this last weekend was Louise's birthday. We actually spent most of the weekend celebrating which was nice. Saturday Louise and I met up with the folks, my mum included, we had a great lunch together at Potters Place here in Jeffrey's; the food was great, the company was great and we all had a blast!

Sunday, the actual birthday, started with Church then a nice walk on the beach in the mid-day sun. Louise and mum were busy doing the usual, collecting shells, saving washed up fish and putting the world to rights!!

'Will their be a shell left on this beach once mum's finished?'

'Mum and Louise sporting the latest "hipsters" while doing beach aerobics!'

Later we again joined the folks, it was then that Louise got to open what was a great number of gifts; wow, my wife did well this year, COOL. We all eat far to much cake (What ya meant to do on birthdays, eh?) and just chilled out enjoying the amazing view from the folks place. The weather has been glorious over the weekend which just added to the enjoyment, not bad for mid-winter.

'Gran, ya gorgeous!'

'Wow, that was a strong puff, even Gran's blown away!!'

'What's in here then?'

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MY BEAUTIFUL WIFE!

Winter!!

Mum now believes that we do have winter here in SA, it's been cold here for the past few days and today wet.
Sadly mum has been under the weather with a tummy upset, however I'm pleased to say that she seems to be getting a little better.
So, what with the weather and sickness we've not done that much lately. Saturday we did all go out to Humansdorp a town just outside Jeffrey's. We enjoyed some little nik-nak shops and had coffee in a nice little coffee shop. Oh yeah, mum changed the habit of a life time and brought herself a new hand bag!!

News from mum

She's having a great time on her excursion. Having reached the highest point in all Africa via some bumpy four wheel driving, the report is that all is breath taking (in more ways then one!). I'm looking forward to viewing the many photo's that she's taken. What an experience she must be having?