Tuesday, January 3 (New Years Eve, Dinners, and CAMP!!)

     Normally, for New Year's Eve, we bring the new year in with the Taylors, playing Wii and watching the Space Needle fireworks.  This year, the Taylor's are still back in Gig Harbor, and we're half way around the world, so that didn't work out quite the same.  Instead, our new church, Church of Christ Johannesburg Northwest, hosted a four-hour dance party, where I discovered a love of dancing.  Dave Pocta, the youth leader, has, for the last decade, be compiling a list of clean dance songs for parties, so it was the fun of dancing, without the dirty dancing to ruin it.  After the new year, we all had communion together, at 12:30AM.

     Also at the dance were a bunch of Americans, ranging in age from 11 to 30.  They are here to help start a summer camp program with with Church of Christ South Africa, with counselors as well as campers coming to get the program running.  This was something I really wanted to go on, but it had been full for a few months before we found the church.  The only way I (or Teresa, Jonathon, or Becca) would be able to go, was if there were drop outs or no shows.  So I started praying.
     Sunday afternoon, we had dinner at the Harvey's house with the Stea's, both of whom had kids and counselors staying with them, so we got to meet some Americans from North and South Carolina, Florida, and Georgia.  Camp was a highly-talked-about subject (surprise, surprise) and I got to learn a bit more about it.  Before this year, Church of Christ South Africa really didn't have a summer camp program, so they were teaming up with Church of Christ Americans to start one.  The first year, Americans were leading it, with American and South African campers, and South African CITs (counselors-in-training).  The second year, Americans and South Africans will co-lead, and the third year, South Africans will lead.  The campers and counselors will be driving about an hour and a half away from the church to spend five days worshipping God and building relationships.
     Monday morning, having asked for rain and now preparing for it (an allegory from the movie Facing the Giants), I was working on a packing list, making sure everything could be thrown into a bag if word came that someone had dropped out.  Teresa came into the room as I was mumbling about sunscreen and what-not, and said "You might as well put your stuff in your bag now, since you're going." That took a second to register, since it was not quite what I expected to hear at that moment (I expected something more along the lines of a groan about my mumbling, or something), but I ran out and into Mom and gave her a bear hug.  She laughed at my enthusiasm, and my bouncing, and my "Thank You God", but explained that, yes, a girl from Botswana had dropped out this morning, so there was room for me.
     This little guy was hanging out on our wall  
     Monday evening, we had our Pastor and his wife and kids over for dinner.  Becca and their daughter, Elana, are quickly becoming fast friends.  Pastor Justin and Irene remind us a lot Pastor Jeremy and Diane.
     This morning, my alarm was set for 7am, but I was up and finishing packing by 6:15.  Needless to say, I'm a little excited.  What an answer to prayer!  Can you join us in praying that spots will open up for Teresa, Jonathon, and/or Becca?  We're all old enough, and they'd love to make some new friends.

     Also, would you please consider giving to the Taylor family?  They're moving as missionaries to Swaziland in late March, and they're still working on fundraising.  Go to robandjennifer.wordpress.com to read their full story, and to give.