Merry Christmas!

Greetings from hot and sunny South Africa!  Local people are heading to the beach and preparing to braai (cook-out) to kick off the start of summer vacation!  Popular Christmas songs echo through the grocery stores, although it doesn’t seem like Christmas at all!

I have been reading from the book of Isaiah, meditating on God’s absolute love for His people and the mercy He shows, despite unfaithfulness.  Isaiah 43: 11-13 reads:

I, even I, am the Lord, and apart from me there is no savior.
I have revealed and saved and proclaimed.
I, and not some foreign god among you.
You are my witnesses, declares the Lord, that I am God.
Yes, and from ancient days I am he.
No one can deliver out of my hand.  When I act, who can reverse it?

Amen!  We are His witnesses.  Witnesses of His love and mercy, and His unfailing faithfulness from the beginning of time.  At Christmas we celebrate God’s love for us through the birth of our savior Jesus Christ.

On the home front, we have survived Alberto’s Bible Core Class!  With an A- on the final, he had a strong finish.  For now, we have some time to relax and braai.  Our good news is that we have just bought a car!  Now we are looking for a house to rent.  Counseling class starts for Alberto Jan 10, and the new school year starts for the kids late Jan.

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Alberto finished his first of three classes! Bible Core Course offered a rigorous overview of the Bible which included reading the entire Bible out-loud, preparing many outlines and reports, sharing in front of an audience, acting King Xerxes in a play about Esther, and working with children in the poor community of Avian Park.  Needless to say, it was a lot of work, and we are all so proud of him for finishing strong!