Here’s a news update from my family in South Africa. Its full of encouraging news, which is by far the best Christmas gift this year. I can’t wait to go back!

December Newsletter

Hello all

2006 is almost history! Already!

The last few months have been rather interesting. Mary and Jake almost flooded the entire house. They started running bath water in one bathroom, and then went to bath in the other bathroom! Well – we mopped!
Jake sank his teeth into Siya in the middle of the shops. . .
Simon stuck a raisin up Siya’s nose. . .
Simon asked me why I had dogs hair growing on my arms.
The kettle started to boil with insufficient water in it, so Jake asked if the kettle was farting???
Oh the fun there is to be had . . .

On a more serious note: Sinakekele as been “adopted” by Grace Family church. Sinakekele is now a ministry of Grace, and it is feels SO good to belong. I have been attending Grace for about 8 months and am just so very happy there. I really do believe that this relationship is an important milestone for Sinakekele, and also believe that this relationship is no coincidence.

Our long term lease with Pastors Salina is in the process of being finalized, and our plans are with the architect. In the new year we will look at how we can raise the funds needed for the building.

I do believe that 2007 is going to be an exciting year.

I would like to say a very BIG thank you to all our supporters, and our volunteers. To everyone who in any way has helped Sinakekele during the course of 2006. Thank you, Thank you. You are all very special to us and we value your support.

KIDZ NEWS:

The kids are all doing really well. Everyone has been really healthy and I am very thankful for this. Simon has been seeing the occupational therapist weekly and has an assessment lined up with the speech therapist for January.

I think the highlight of my year was getting all 4 children into Broadacres Pre School for 2007. I had booked Simon in there as they have small classes, and include music into their curriculum. The principle also runs an integrated learning therapy class for children with learning problems, which is just what Simon needs. The costs are a tad higher than the other preschools in the area, but Simon needs the extra care, and I figured we would just “bite the bullet”.

Anyway, the principal phoned me to advise me that an American couple will subsidize Siya’s school fees (so he can also now go to Broadacres), AND provide Simon with a years free extra music lessons, AND the principal herself will subsidize the two little ones school fees. SO instead of having the 4 kids spit across 3 different schools they will all be in the same school and 3 of the 4 will be subsidized. This has been the absolute best part of the year for me. Sounds silly I know, but it really made my day, my week, my month, my year! The classrooms are log cabins set in this tranquil forest setting with a waterfall, chickens, birds… it is so lovely, and I know the kids are going to love it!

Tazz and Justin are on holiday now and are doing well. Justin has been selected as a prefect for next year, and his best friend is head boy. He had an accident on his motorbike about 2 weeks ago. I am SO thankful that he is alright. He had a few scrapes and bruises and that was it. He swerved to avoid an oncoming bus which was turning a corner on a downhill and going over the line into the oncoming lane. It was raining and he over swerved and lost control of the bike. Fortunately he swerved into the pavement and no other vehicles were involved. I am thankful that there are still good people around, who stopped to help him, phoned me, stayed with him until I arrived and helped us to get the bike home as well. I thank God for his protection over Justin’s life.

Tazz is enjoying the holidays. She goes into Grade 9 next year and is still really enjoying high school and the variety of sport.
Simon and Tazz both celebrated birthdays. Simon turned 5 and Tazz turned 14. Fun was had by all.

Kylie started walking and is doing well. She and her Mommy have moved on now, but I would ask you to please keep them in your prayers.

OUR NEEDS:
Still the same:
Monthly funding to cover running costs, finances to build, Volunteers and much prayer.
I have gone back to work to help cover the costs, but that’s OK, I see the work as Gods provision. I am sure it will only be for a season, and for me personally, it is just too hard to imagine that God is not in control.

And from my heart:

To each and every one of you, I wish you a very blessed Christmas. Take hold of the true meaning of Christmas. Embrace the gift of salvation. What a gift!

Take 2007 and use it to make a difference.

As always, thanks for your continued prayer and support.

Yours in God’s service.
Ruth

Posing for pictures after we open gifts is alway such an ordeal. Dad can’t smile for pictures, Mom takes at least five hundred hours to decide how we should sit. Michael and Andrew threaten to leave. It’s all just terrible, but always good memories.

Jenn and I.
The sister I never had.

My Mother and I

Andrew and I. Bad news white gangsters.

Our Family

Yes. I know boys. I’m really funny. (Brothers in their cute new shirts.)

Misbehaving while Michael tries to take our picture.

This is my favorite Christmas carol. Its dark and beautiful.

It came upon the midnight clear,
That glorious song of old,
From angels bending near the earth,
To touch their harps of gold:
“Peace on the earth, goodwill to men
From heavens all gracious King!”

The world in solemn stillness lay
To hear the angels sing.
Still through the cloven skies they come,
With peaceful wings unfurled;
And still their heavenly music floats
O’er all the weary world:
Above its sad and lowly plains
They bend on hovering wing,
And ever o’er its Babel sounds
The blessed angels sing.

O ye beneath life’s crushing load,
Whose forms are bending low,
Who toil along the climbing way
With painful steps and slow;
Look now, for glad and golden hours
Come swiftly on the wing;
Oh rest beside the weary road
And hear the angels sing.

For lo! the days are hastening on,
By prophets seen of old,
When with the ever-circling years
Shall come the time foretold,
When the new heaven and earth shall own
The Prince of Peace, their King,
And the whole world send back the song
Which now the angels sing.

I can’t write sentences. It’s killing me. I have a hundred thoughts fluttering around my head like schizophrenic butterflies, but nothing. I feel very uncreative, and…oh please no!…cliché. But you know what? We’re letting lose around here. I’m going to sit here and type and I’m going to post whatever comes out. Buckle your seatbelt, or bail out now!

If there was a time of year that would make me most appreciate being a Christian, that would be Christmas. Maybe it’s because its raining in Sarnia. Christmas feels weird this year. It feels really gross.

Don’t get me wrong, I love “Christmas”, or at least I thought I did. I love traveling to Ohio and seeing all my Mom’s family. I like running down the freezing unheated hallway of the lodge we rent in order to get to our bedrooms. I love listening to everyone talk. (Even though it makes me feel like I’m a five year old at some sort of writer’s conference with C.S. Lewis, Charles Dickens and Walt Whitman.) I love getting gifts for people, and yes, I like getting new things. I like being reminded of the Christmas story, and imagining it in new ways.

But it all feels really strange.

First of all, this year Christmas songs playing in the mall, creeped me out. They didn’t annoy me, they terrified me. Is that weird? But I think listening to “Santa, Baby” and “Santa Claus is Coming to Town” and “Jingle Bells” repeatedly in the mall has either killed my soul or subtracted ten years from my life.

Parking lots and traffic made me want to retreat like a hermit into my home. People are insane.

Buying gifts didn’t feel the same, and I know getting gifts won’t either.

What is this strange holiday that everyone seems to be celebrating? What a crazy societal phenomenon. How did this happen? What are we celebrating at Christmas, really?

Ok. When I stop just being angry about this, it just makes me really sad. Christmas has become a disgusting reminder of how messed up we are. Even the things that I “love” about Christmas, although not bad, really has nothing to do with Christmas. Sure, I love getting together with my family and seeing them, but that’s not Christmas, that’s loving my family. Like really, what do people who aren’t Christians celebrate at Christmas? (scratch that, what do Christians celebrate?) “Friends and family” or “the spirit of giving”? Sure that’s nice sounding, but it feels so dead. The spirit of giving? Giving to who? Your friends and family? The people who are well off as you.

So I’ve become all depressed.

But there’s something amazing about feeling this crappy about Christmas. I realize how much I have to celebrate. Imagine life without Christ, (I’m closing my eyes and picturing Masonville Mall in London this evening.) I’ll wander through the parking lot, and realize how much I have to be thankful for. Its not til I feel so empty that I realize how much has been filled when God came down to earth.

Joy to the World.

Why are Bethany and Maria dancing? (In such wonderfully fashionable pink leggings and purple cords?) We’re just really excited! Andrew and Bethany are going to get married next Christmas! Bethany has been my friend since the day I was born. She was my first visitor in the hospital, and I’ve been lucky enough to have her as a friend ever since. Andrew’s my friend too! And now Andrew has engaged Bethany and it’s all very exciting! :) So many weddings, folks!

Well exam season is almost upon us, and I think the level of sanity has just about hit rock bottom around here.

Sarah and I dress up in our Value Village dresses for the Embassy Leadership “Black and White” Christmas Party…


…and Keith and I practice for the next winter Olympics?

…and convince Sarah and Skylar to join a pair’s syncronized ice skating event? Ok. So that’s not actually true, but Keith called it, “Spin Your Woman ‘Round” which I find highly offensive. I’m certainly nobody’s “woman.” :) You can get the whole story here. I promise I will be serious again soon, and grant you all more normal or thought provoking posts. (Although, I’m sure I have no idea what thoughts are running through your mind right now. :)