Unsung Heroes

This is for Leilani and Gina, and the others on the Mada Team. You are our unsung heroes! Working hard every day without a thought for yourself. Serving the Lord with your all in spite of the difficulties of being on a far-flung mission field. God bless you guys. I love and admire you so, so much.

Christmas/New Years 08

Okay, so it's not Christmas anymore. I know, I just wanted to put up some pictures since I haven't yet done so. I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and New Years! For myself I have to confess that the last week(s) of December weren't so enjoyable for me. Yes, as most of you know I was very sick, so I missed out on a lot of the festivities. I tried to attend most things like Christmas dinner, but the pain ruled out most of the fun. I had a kidney infection, well I'm sure you get the picture. Anyway, I'm better now. And I actually got better in time for New Years so I got to enjoy the party...yeah!!! Because I was sick I have no Christmasy photos to share with you. But Joy and I had the bright idea to take these on the 31st, so there it is, me and the tree.

Sisters? Twins?

I don't think that Joy and I look very much alike. I guess it's obvious we're sisters. But we don't look like twins much less the same people. Especially since going out regularly to the restaurants people keep mistaking us for the other one. It seems to happen more to me. I'll be out and one of the waiters will look at me all surprised and say, "Oh, you cut your hair!" (shock and horror in their voice) Or people will ask if I was wearing a wig last time...
Joy and Noah go as a team and Steve and I as another team. One day Steve and I did the lunch hour at Mug and Bean where Joy and Noah usually go. The waiters thought Steve was Noah without the painted clown face and they thought I was Joy with a drastic hair cut. The really funny part was the next day when Joy and Noah went back to Mug and Bean. People told Noah confidentially, "You know, the other day your girlfriend was with another guy!" (most people think Joy and Noah are engaged, don't ask me why) Joy was met with disapproving looks and someone told her, "I saw you with another guy yesterday." and basically asked "what's going on." Poor Joy had to explain that it was me(her sister), and no she wasn't cheating, and no she was not even engaged to Noah.
Well, that's life when you have a look-alike sister! But I love Joy and think she's wonderful, so I don't mind when people think I'm her.

Bitter or Better? You Choose.

This evening Steve and I went to Spur to do the dinner hour. It's usually from 6:30--9:00 with the busiest time being somewhere in the middle. Tonight however, the restaurant was rather quiet and more on the empty side. So it was slow, not many people and not much business. I do prefer things being more busy as time flies when you're occupied and having fun.
Some of the people we met were sour, stuck up, or mean. Seeing people like this was a little discouraging to say the least. It's hard to keep smiling when people are rude and snappy. But all this just made me think: do I want to be like that?
Do I want to be remembered by people I meet as an unpleasant character?
Do I want to be remembered as rude and mean, selfish and unloving?
Do I want to be remembered as the person who ruined an other's day?
Or:
Do I want to be remembered as a pleasant and cheerful person?--Someone who's considerate, well-mannered, kind, and loving? I want to be remembered as the person who brightened an other's day! I want people to see Jesus shining through me.
When you really stop and think about it you choose who you're going to be. You can let circumstances get you down, cause you lash out at others, or; let it make you into a better person. Like the story of the two old people, you can choose to be bitter or better!

News

Being here in East London has been a lot of fun, new, and challenging too.
We got to go to the beach this Monday. I love the beach! And living so far inland in Pretoria makes me like it all the more. Before coming down to East London I hadn't seen the ocean in more than a year. We only got there in the afternoon so it was windy and cold. Joy and I didn't go in the water. The cold wind didn't stop the boys though. They swam and had lots of fun while us girls kept warm on the sand. I wish I could've taken some pictures but sadly we have no camera.
Last week Joy and I did face-painting for a children's birthday party. We had never done face-painting before so this was a first. Of course like you we've painted our faces for fun or even others' faces for dress-up, but never professionally. The kids were so excited to have their faces painted even very young ones. We didn't get to do anything fancy. There were so many kids all waiting in lines so the teachers told us just to keep it simple and quick. Almost every girl wanted a butterfly and the boys wanted dogs. Some of the little one were so cute. One little girl was scared and she even started crying when getting her face painted. The hour went by so fast and before I knew it it was time to go home.
It's going pretty well at the restaurants. We've been going quite regularly to certain ones and the waiters and managers are friendly and welcoming. Today Steve and I did the lunch hour at two restaurants next to each other. I think because it was a public holiday there were so many people.--All over the mall and everywhere! Things were a bit noisy and hectic. It was a slower day with not many people wanting to buy our material. But it makes one happy for the times when it does go well.
Bev's car also broke down today so I'm not sure how this next week will pan out for us. We were counting on a vehicle to get to our different functions. Bev needs transport as well, as she does the gift wrapping at the mall everyday. I'm sure we'll make it...I don't know how, but we'll work out something.

Brendan and Kiara

Latest pictures of those darling rascals. Oh how I miss them!

Restaurants, Tiredness...

Today I helped Bev at the gift-wrapping table and I got to do some Christmas shopping as well. Later in the evening Steve and I went to Spurs to do the dinner run. We go around offering to make balloons for kids, and while Steve makes the balloons I talk to the parents and get to show them our different material. Steve and I were at tables till almost 10 and we just got back home 10:15.
Now I'm so tired! I can feel tiredness in every molecule of my body. Sigh. I'm looking forward to a hot shower and my cozy bed. Good night all!