An email from a friend

I hope you are well. I'm writing and sending this email to probably everyone I know, but I'll spare you the details and bcc everyone. This is specifically aimed at South Africans but if you're not a Saffa chances are you know a few, so if nothing else this will be a good read :-)

Today I have a challenge for you….

Please bear with me this might take a while but I really want to ask you is to stick it out and read the rest!

So a few nights ago I took a friend to the airport. She's now living in the UK and she and her husband have decided to stay there permanently, why, because everything in South Africa has gone to pot, everyone is negative about the country, crime's getting worse, the rand is falling etc etc etc, we all know how the story goes, we hear it everyday.

Driving back from the airport I just wanted to cry as people seem to feel so hopeless and negative!!! Then I got stuck in a horrific traffic jam as the traffic lights where out and no one seemed to give anyone a gap. I just realised again how selfish people are and how very few people are even willing to compromise even in something as insignificant as a traffic jam.

So there I was stuck in awful traffic, in the dark, in a really dodgy part of town, moaning in God's ear, and about to give into despair. So I asked God whether or not I'm crazing trying to be positive when everything around me seems to scream the opposite, and all God seem to give me was a scripture: "be still and know that I am God".

So first thing I had to do was to shut up, be still, and just believe!! I decided there and then that I will not allow the negativism that seems to be all around get me down!!!! We live in one of the most beautiful countries in the world, and then get to live in the best city ever, and I know what I'm talking about I've been to quite a few others.

I know everything's not perfect in our country!! I know most of us know someone that has been affected by crime, directly or indirectly. I have two family members that have been shot in separate incidents and one of them died; I have friends that have been hijacked or their homes burgled!!! I know the reality of how bad crime is, but I also know the power of forgiveness, and you know what, I REALLY believe our country has a hope and a future. I really believe God wants our country to be a great place, a country where we take care of one another, a country where we all take part in building a nation!!!!

But it will take team work, we need to stop jumping ship when the going gets tough, and stop believing every little bit of doom and gloom we hear!!! How can we build a country when our teachers are leaving, who will educate the next generation, or who will tend to the sick when there's no more doctors left to do so, how will we bring the information age to Africa if there's no IT specialists to implement it!!!!!!

And there's little things like Eskom that's keeping us in the dark, but look at the bright side ;-) we are at least learning how to become more environmentally friendly, I mean if you know anything about solar power this is the time to start your own little business! I can see millions being made by people with the right ideas.

So this is my challenge to you! For every negative thing you hear, think or say about the best country in the world… think of a solution to the problem and stop fussing about the problem. Force yourself to see the beauty, the hope and what this country could be if we just all worked together. Start dreaming about what the future might hold…

Imagine what it would be like if all children had a proper education, where there are enough jobs to go around because of a brilliant economy, and there's no need for some hungry hopeless dude to steel your handbag because he actually doesn't know how to do anything else! Just imagine how it would be living in a country where the colour of your skin really doesn't matter, where it doesn't determine the work you do, the area you live in or the friends you have!!! Imagine living in a country that sets the example to the world of how a democracy really works!!! Just image…… just dream about that for a moment……

You know all of that is possible it really is!!! But we all need to do our bit!! Get involved with something bigger than yourself!!! If you ever wanted to get involved with a charity or financially support an organisation you can trust but don't know how, give me a shout I'll help you find your fit and hook you up with the right people!!!

There's something so fulfilling about being involved with people that have so much less than you have, with children whom the world has forgotten, seeing their smiling faces and them being so thankful for even the smallest thing….. We can all make a difference, even by just helping one other person!!!

We are all called to be God's hands and feet whether you believe it or not, and He wants to give you a life that has real meaning, and personally I find more meaning in being involved with orphans. For someone else it might be getting involved with animals, or children and sport, or the elderly, or the homeless, or whatever you have on your heart. I know that our lives are meant to have more meaning than just working and going home and doing it all over again tomorrow!!!!!

So to repeat my challenge…. How can you be the solution??????????

Rocking the boat!!!

Being in love!!!
Taking the dive.
Trying to get it right!
doing nothing while others work!
...and sometimes rocking the boat.

This is what these weekends are all about.

After Cherise's Kitchen tea I drove to Klein Paradys where everyone had already set-up camp. What a great feeling to arrive and just enjoy a little weekend away. We took our famous diving pic again with a bigger group of friends, but as you can see it proved to be a bit more difficult as every ones posing skills weren't as sharpened as the Smithies and Rothmann's were. We also played around in the rowing boats. Some of us can gently rock the boat and nothing will happen but when others (no names will be mentioned) try ...disaster strikes!

NO TEA?

After my team building thingy I had Cherise's kitchen tea to go to. I did not expect to see her all "dressed-up". ...Well as you know, a girl can't share these kind of things with the whole world.

So, all you get is a few pics...

Now I can breath!

Hey everybody... or should I say everybody that still read this blog???

Sorry, I've been gone for a bit! Life has just been craze, but now I can finally breath. All this madness started after my birthday, we first had a 2-day team building thingy, then Cherise's kitchen tea even though it didn't involve a kitchen or any tea. After that I got in my little car and drove into the sunrise (yes, that is correct) all by my lonesome to join my family and friends on a camping trip... I'll share with you later what happened after the camping trip. Now I first have to show you some pics of our team building thingy.

Happy to be 23!

I may not be able to say this in a few years, so let me do it now: I am truly happy to be another year older. It has been an amazing week of birthday celebrations and the big finale was last night when I held a little get-together at my house.

Me & Caroline

Landi & Caroline

Elsa, Dirk, Me & Edu

Mari, Christelle & Ruhan

Johan

I thank God that it happened quick

I thank God that you didn't suffer

I thank God for every moment that we shared

I thank God for every dance I had with you

Til we meet again

I love you!

Fuzzy about Fringes

Fringes, layers, short, long, curls, straight...

This is my most recent dilemma. I need a haircut before I go on camp and I have a hair appointment pending at 2 this afternoon. Looking through old pics I decided that I really need to get back to the fringe, I mean it really softens my face and makes me look pretty ... or does it?

Is it the fringe that makes me look good in photo's? Or is it the fact that I was really happy in all the pics that I look good in? What is it that makes a person beautiful in a picture? I mean we don't takes pictures of someone with a headache or someone on their death-bed. Isn't it a bit strange to anybody else? We don't have our picture taken when we just woke-up with a messy hairdo or after we just done a 10km run, wouldn't that be more real, more you? How good is my fringe going to make me look then?

Sorry, that was just my little rant for the day!

Any thoughts?

"holiday" shopping

Oh Happy Days!!!
I can't say that I'm a BIG fan of shopping but there is Magical when it is in the preparation of the year ahead. I found this funky little camping pillow that rolls-up just like a sleeping bag(It's for the gazillion camps I'm going on with Metaministry). Then there is the ever-handy flip-flops and lets not forget that you can't really take that pretty little clutch, not even your decent sized corporate purse is going to do the job. You need something that is going hold your snacks for the road, your camera and some other can't-live-without-goodies. So YES, you thought right, I just HAD to get a new bag. I also got Coco some lovely doggy treats to chew-on and keep busy while I'm gone.
Well, my feet are a bit sore and Coco is begging me to go to bed so that she does not have to nap alone in my dark room, so let me say...


Good Night!

My Contribute!!!

This is my contribute to Mari's blog!!!

Here I am, Lord, and I'm drowning in your sea of forgetfulness

The chains of yesterday surround me

I yearn for peace and rest

I don't want to end where You found me

And it echoes in my mind, keeps me awake tonight

I know You've cast my sin as far as the east is from the west

And I stand before You now as though I've never sinned

But today I feel like I'm just one mistake away from You leaving me this way

Jesus can you show me just how far the east is from the west

Cause I can't bear to see the man I've been come rising up in m again

In the arms of Your mercy I find rest

Cause you know just how far the east is from the west

From one scarred hand to the other

I start the day, the war begins, endless reminding of my sin

Time and time again Your truth is drowned out by the storm I'm in

Today I feel like I'm just one mistake away from You leaving me this way

I know you've washed me white, turned my darkness into light

I need Your peace to get me through this night

I can'tlive by what I feel, but by the truth Your word reveals

I'm not holding on to You, but You're holding on to me

You're holding on to me

Jesus , You know just how far the east is from the west

I don't have to see the man I've been come rising up in me again

In the arms of Your mercy I find rest

Cause You know just how far the east is from the west

From one scarred hand to the other

One scarred hand to the other

From one scarred hand to the other

Casting Crowns

Alter and the door