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!
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
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.
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.
Sunday, December 14, 2008
Friday, December 12, 2008
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!
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!
Thursday, December 11, 2008
Christmas Time
Christmas time comes once a year,It's here and then it's gone.
But if we have Christ in our hearts,
Christmas will live on.
Christmas time, oh Christmas time,
Always live in my heart and mind.
Lord help me not to go astray,
But to live each day like Christmas day.
Monday, December 8, 2008
Gift Wrapping
Today we went out to help Bev(Steve's mom)with gift wrapping. We wrap gifts, charge a little fee, and get to sell our tools at the table. It's more fun when people have time and you get to talk and witness to them. Selling our products always brings out the witness anyway, and so many people love our material. Bev had another project to attend to so between Noah, Steve, Joy, and myself, plus hired help we had everything covered.
Things were slow as it's Monday. Noah and Joy went out shop to shop to promote our material. It went well and they were able to meet a few really nice people. Joy and I went out together a little later but because of lunch break none of the managers were available and most people didn't get their paychecks till Friday. We had fun anyway witnessing to people and trying to spread a little of the Christmas spirit and cheer to brighten their days. Many wanted to buy a CD or book but couldn't till the end of the week. No matter--we left them with the Christmas Activated mag and a smile on their faces.
Things were slow as it's Monday. Noah and Joy went out shop to shop to promote our material. It went well and they were able to meet a few really nice people. Joy and I went out together a little later but because of lunch break none of the managers were available and most people didn't get their paychecks till Friday. We had fun anyway witnessing to people and trying to spread a little of the Christmas spirit and cheer to brighten their days. Many wanted to buy a CD or book but couldn't till the end of the week. No matter--we left them with the Christmas Activated mag and a smile on their faces.
Sunday, December 7, 2008
On The Road Again
Travelling down to East London ended up being better than I thought. I usually get really sick on buses and am miserable most of the ride. This time was a lot better. We boarded the bus in Pretoria around 5pm and went to the station in Jo-burg. On the way one of the drivers made an announcement about tickets and who should get off or stay on at the Jo-burg station. So according to what he said Joy and I were supposed to stay on the bus and go straight to East London. This is a little relieving as changing buses can be quite confusing at a busy station.
So we get to the station and I got out to make sure Joy's suitcase wouldn't get taken out of the bus. But there's this guy, trying to help, and he's just pulling everything out of the bus and not listening to anyone. Ok fine, have it your way. I got Joy's suitcase and waited so I could put it back on the bus. Next thing I know, amidst all the confusion of people milling about with bags and wondering where to go, one of the bus drivers starts shouting for East London passengers to go to another bus up ahead. I was like, what can't they make up their minds? I managed to call Joy who was peeking out the bus window and we grabbed out stuff and headed for the new bus. It was indeed going to East London and apparently taking a more direct route. PTL, at least we were on the right one. We were directed upstairs and were pleasantly surprised to find it much nicer than the first. The seats soft and comfy, you could push them back very far, and there were footrests--cool! We couldn't sit together but we settled down as best as we could and prepared for the next 10 hours or so.
I was so thankful for being in such a nice bus. I hardly got sick and was able to sleep a couple of hours at a time. We had two proper stops in the middle of the night. One at Bloemfontein around 12, and the other somewhere in the boonies (at a town that I can't remember the name of) a while later. It's nice to stretch your legs a bit especially on these looooong trips. The facilities are also a lot nicer, and easier to use since they're not in a moving vehicle.
Joy and I were able to witness a bit to the people we were next to. The lady I was sitting next to just had her sister pass on and now she was going home. And the lade across was a grandmother taking home two of her grandchildren. She told me a testimony of how the Lord protected her during a hijacking.
Our bus arrived in East London ahead of schedule. Very amazing as we had left late and had some long unexpected stops. Joy's phone battery had died so we borrowed a friends' to call the boys and tell them we had arrived. So that was our eventful, or rather uneventful, trip down to East London. Steve and Noah came to pick us up. I was so happy to see Steve and Noah teased about "capturing the moment with Kodak"--but I didn't care.
So East London here we are.
So we get to the station and I got out to make sure Joy's suitcase wouldn't get taken out of the bus. But there's this guy, trying to help, and he's just pulling everything out of the bus and not listening to anyone. Ok fine, have it your way. I got Joy's suitcase and waited so I could put it back on the bus. Next thing I know, amidst all the confusion of people milling about with bags and wondering where to go, one of the bus drivers starts shouting for East London passengers to go to another bus up ahead. I was like, what can't they make up their minds? I managed to call Joy who was peeking out the bus window and we grabbed out stuff and headed for the new bus. It was indeed going to East London and apparently taking a more direct route. PTL, at least we were on the right one. We were directed upstairs and were pleasantly surprised to find it much nicer than the first. The seats soft and comfy, you could push them back very far, and there were footrests--cool! We couldn't sit together but we settled down as best as we could and prepared for the next 10 hours or so.
I was so thankful for being in such a nice bus. I hardly got sick and was able to sleep a couple of hours at a time. We had two proper stops in the middle of the night. One at Bloemfontein around 12, and the other somewhere in the boonies (at a town that I can't remember the name of) a while later. It's nice to stretch your legs a bit especially on these looooong trips. The facilities are also a lot nicer, and easier to use since they're not in a moving vehicle.
Joy and I were able to witness a bit to the people we were next to. The lady I was sitting next to just had her sister pass on and now she was going home. And the lade across was a grandmother taking home two of her grandchildren. She told me a testimony of how the Lord protected her during a hijacking.
Our bus arrived in East London ahead of schedule. Very amazing as we had left late and had some long unexpected stops. Joy's phone battery had died so we borrowed a friends' to call the boys and tell them we had arrived. So that was our eventful, or rather uneventful, trip down to East London. Steve and Noah came to pick us up. I was so happy to see Steve and Noah teased about "capturing the moment with Kodak"--but I didn't care.
So East London here we are.
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