Home in South Africa

Wow, you blink your eyes and time just flies by.  It feels like just yesterday that I arrived in Cape Town and yet tomorrow I head back to Manila after 6 wonderful weeks of being home.  

It was very special to have Meg Cosper (fellow teacher at Faith Academy) come home with me for the first 10 days.  I loved showing her around Cape Town and it gave me an excuse to go and see all the beautiful sights as well.  

Checking out the penguins at Boulders Beach

Wine Tasting at Fairview Wine Farm

On top of Table Mountain

At Hillcrest Berry Farm

I got to go up to Johannesburg for a long weekend and go away with my Sending Cell.  I feel so blessed to have such an amazing group of people encouraging me, praying for me, looking after my finances and just being amazing friends.  It was also great to touch base with my sister and her family in Joburg as well.

Just some of my Sending Cell with their fantastic kids.

Then it was a quick one night only visit to Gonubie to see my brother and his family.  Even though the time was short, it was wonderful quality time and I got to meet for the first time my new niece, Debs.

My brother Dave with my new niece Debs.

Hanging with my niece and nephew, Rachel and Stephen.

I also got to spend a wonderful night away in Franchhoek with two of my very best friends to celebrate Kim's 40th Birthday.  It was so much fun and very special to spend such wonderful quality time together.  I feel very blessed by their friendship.

A wonderful time with Kim and Fiona.

It is amazing to see God's hand in all things.  While I have been home I have been having some stomach trouble.  The doctors first of all diagnosed me with a stomach ulcer but when the symptoms persisted I had to go for a gastroscope and was diagnosed with a hiatus hernia.  Now that I am on meds I feel so much better.  I am so glad that I was able to be in South Africa and with my family during this time and it was able to be diagnosed and sorted out before I return to Manila.

I had wanted to spend most of my time in Cape Town to be with my parents while my father is undergoing chemotherapy.  I am thrilled at how well he is doing so far and I have had some very special times with them here.  It is going to be hard to say goodbye tomorrow but I know that God is taking care of them and we are just trusting Him for one day at a time.

With Mom

With Dad

So now it is time to go back to Manila to begin another school year at Faith Academy. I'm very excited to meet my new class.

A few prayer requests
*  Please pray for safety in travel as I head back to Manila tomorrow
*  Pray for the next couple of weeks as I set up my classroom at get organised for the new school year.
*  Pray for the new teachers that will be starting at Faith and our new Elementary Principal Trevor Maxwell.
*  Pray for our 'All Staff Retreat' that will be taking place next weekend.
*  Pray for my new little bunch of 1st Graders.  The first day of school is August 1.
*  Continue to pray for my father that God would have his healing hand upon his body.