The Halls at the top of Table Mountain with Cape Town
and the Atlantic ocean in the background.
“A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices,
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn.
Fall on your knees, oh, hear the angel voices,
O night divine, o night when Christ was born! ...”
Dear
friends,
This year we’ve asked each member of the family to share
with you one or two highlight of this very eventful year, as well as something
they like about Christmas.
Rachel (13 yrs): “The beach
holiday in South Africa was one of my highlights, especially seeing whales,
dolphins and seals. And collecting hundreds of beautiful shells. As a birthday present I also got to pet some
baby cheetahs at a Wildlife Farm.”
“I love that we can be with family and friends at Christmas
to celebrate the birth of Jesus. Thinking up and making gifts to give to my
family and friends. Christmas carol cd’s that are on all the time, and
Christmas movies.”
Acacia (10): “Something I
really liked about this year is all my new friends at the school in Denmark,
where we went for three months, and getting to have play-dates with most of the
girls in my class. And being in a really cool summer-house for 4 days with all
our cousins, grandparents, aunts and uncles. There was a small pool outside, a
Jacuzzi and sauna inside, and we could walk down to the beach.”
“I love the Christmas music that you can worship with, and
baking Christmas cookies and making Christmas cards. And all the decorations
and the Christmas tree.”
Mikaela (8): “One of my favorite
things this year from America, was to go ice-skating with my grandma and
grandpa in Portland, because I had never tried that before. It was a bit hard
in the beginning, but then I got quite good at it. And to go snow sledding in
the mountains in Idaho was so much fun too. Even though I was born in Denmark
on a snowy winter day, I could not
remember ever seeing snow before.”
“My favorite part of Christmas is that we give gifts because
Jesus was a gift for us. I like the Christmas tree, how there is an angel or a
star at the top. I got to decorate most of our tree this year. And I love the
full stockings on Christmas morning.”
Naomi: “My favorite thing is that I had my birthday.
I’m 5 now! I had a butterfly cake, lots of presents, and ice cream, and all the
kids got to swim in our pool – it’s not too deep, I can touch the bottom. And I
can swim now, all by myself!”
“I love Christmas!!! - Why?
- Just because! … Because I like
to pull things out of the stocking, and I like the tree, and the beautiful
manger scene that daddy’s grandma made a long time ago.”
Jette: “I think that aside from
being with family in USA and Denmark again after four years, one of my
highlights was how my family spoiled me on my birthday. We were at the beach
flat in South Africa. They brought me tea in bed before fixing a nice pancake
breakfast. My husband took me out on a lunch-date, and I got to walk on the
beach at sunset with him too. Then the girls prepared a special bath for me,
with candles, little lavender twigs, and lots of small white and pink flowers
floating in the tub… I should have many birthdays every year!!”
“Another highlight would be the one-week Alaska cruise that Lyle
and I were blessed with together with about 16 relatives from Oregon. We had so
much fun with everyone, and what fantastic scenery; hour after hour, day after
day! Mountains, fiords, glaciers, icebergs.. “Then sings my soul, my Savior,
God to Thee, How Great Thou art, How Great Thou art!”
“Christmas is a great time. Seeing the children’s excitement
with everything, and the challenge to stay focused on the Christmas message in
the midst of the fun and busyness. I love the candles and the Advent wreath as
well as all the fantastic Christmas Carols, new and old, Danish and English.
The message of Emmanuel - “God with us”- just never ceases to amaze me!”
Lyle: “This is a hard task for
there were many highlights; all the friends we re-connected with, visiting my parents
in Japan, seeing family in the USA and Denmark, spending 36 hours in
Istanbul,where this fun photo was taken…
One of the highlights for me was my travelling alone by car
from Kabwe to Cape Town (2,200 miles), picking up a few hitchhikers and ministering
to them, days of self time and thought and seeing the millions of new flowers
that carpeted the vast plains of Southern Namibia and the northern part of
South Africa. In that part of Africa 3 out of 7 years there is basically no
rain but yet after years of drought the roots/seeds still blossom. Though the world seems to being dying in many
parts the earth still brings glory to its Creator. It was just a joy to my soul
to see that part of God in that little part of his splendor.”
“My favorite part of Christmas is the rainy season here
where everything becomes green and of course all the folks who come to our
house for coffee or dinner is always a pleasure.”
“Always remember that if you would like to come out for a
great ministry and adventurous time in Africa you are most welcome. Karibuni.”
Merry Christmas to you all and many
blessings in the New Year.
Much love from Rachel, Acacia, Mikaela, Naomi, Lyle and
Jette
