Irenenenene

Three days before I leave for Kenya, I get a call from AIM (the mission organisation we are traveling with) to say that my flight to Korr had been booked for the time I was flying to Kenya, but this was the one flight that could not be changed. So I had two options: 1. I could not go 2. We could try to rebook the flights to Jo'burg and Kenya for the day before and I would have to try and get another day off work. This meant a bunch of scrambling for Shirley, as it was her last day in Cape Town as well. She did manage to get both flights sorted, but only one was sent through to me by Monday morning. So I still had to run after the travel agent to send through the flight to Kenya. Praises to God, Who has organised everything in His plan to work out in such an amazing way. I can truly say: "I have tasted and seen that the Lord is good." Now, as I leave tomorrow, I know that my path has been prepared more than I can ever know. I also know that even in the face of opposition I

I think it finally grabbed hold of me - the travel bug. After listening to a number of friends who traveled the world recently, or who moved to various parts of the globe, I also wanted to do the same. When I spoke to my mom the other day I was conveying my itinerary for Kenya and mentioned the flight from Jo'burg to Nairobi. It only then struck me that "I'm going to Nairobi!" and finally, finally I'm excited for the trip. Thanks for all of you who contributed to the mission, much appreciated. I have managed to raise most of my support by this stage, I think today I'm still R300 short, but I'm still sewing and that should cover my part. Please do not hesitate to give more, should you have decided to give to God's work, the team could really still use a few thousand Rand. God really has blown me away with the generosity of people and in the process kept me humble. How often do I not trust Him to provide for me, and yet in this big venture He has been mo

Enjoy!

Browsing my favourite fashion blog today, I cam across this link. It's lots of interior and industrial design as well as architecture and a bit of fashion. For the not-so-post-modern minded, maybe still worth a visit, only to admire the lampshades done by Mario Salvucci . Amazing stuff!!

To all who supported me in planning Raoul's and Hannah's wedding a BIG thank you. I couldn't have done it without you guys. To be honest, I brought it on myself, when I asked all of you to pitch in, but I did not anticipate all the extra sewing way back in April. Also, come to think of it, I now know where to hire table cloths for much less than the usual price, where to have flowers done (thank you Lehane and mom), what the buttonhole pins cost (to pin the flowers to lapels) and that simple is often more effective than a big hoohaa. Thanks also to all the Wartons who wave pitched in with cleaning up without asking or having to be asked. You guys are the best! Oh, yes, the correct boning arrived two weeks after the last post, and I could use it in Hannah's dress after all. I don't know how much she could breathe, but she survived the day and now can relax on her honeymoon - breathe in all the air she can. She looked absolutely gorgeous - thanks to Enno and her magic

With the preparations for Kenya and all the sewing, I hardly have time to think, let alone write. I have a few things that I still want to write about, but they need to stew a little , so watch this space... Many of you ask how my plans for Kenya are coming on, and all I can say is: "I think fine." The team still needs to raise about R140 000 (yes, the amount of zeros are correct). All donations welcome :) I would also value your prayers, as I don't quite know what to expect. So I can't really say whether things are going well or not. Sewing-wise : I have taken on a little more than I can comfortably handle, so will again be shining in my absence from this blog. Late nights coming up, but we have been given an extra day off on Friday, since one of the family members of the owners of the Academy is getting married. What a pleasure - not only being invited to the wedding, but having an extra day off as well. The lessons will need to be made up, and the hours will need

Hi there Sorry to have neglected all my avid readers…. The past month or so has been very busy with work, marking and sewing. Work – yes, going very well, still enjoying dishing out work to other people. Marking – not so much enjoyed, since I see my own shortcomings in the work. Sewing – Hannah’s dress is taking form and we had our first fitting last week. On top of everything, Hannah and I baked some Christmas cookies, which turned out so well, I’m going to bake a whole bunch more. Tasting will be held at my place soon… On the church front, I have signed up for a mission trip to Kenya . This does not take away from the business in my life, in fact it adds to it. I’m getting very excited about the prospect of seeing the word in action and to experience the mission field for myself. I’ve always admired those who do this full time – day in and out, year in and out. I admire their faith and perseverance, their faith in hard times and their prayer life. Although recen

I was reading through Isaiah and compared it to Revelation and noticed the following: There is only one thing that will quench the fire of the destruction of the Lord – the WATER of His salvation, found in the wells of His love or in the river that flows from His throne within the temple (Rev 22). Another piece of interesting information is, that the voice of the “Son of Man” is like rushing water as well (Rev 1:15), which brought me to the following conclusions: Firstly, if the water can quench the fire, and the water comes from the river out of the temple, flowing from God’s throne, it starts with the voice of God, who sits on the throne. His word is the water. Secondly, He is the one who can quench the fire of His destruction, by His word. Thirdly, flowing out of point two, the Bible is the water and bread, the food to eat and the water to drink to abate God’s wrath. The water which flows from His mouth to bring salvation, and which douses the flames of the fir

This I wrote a few days ago, but as an introduction I must say, that it might confuse some people on why I can say all these things. Please read to the end and I hope it will all make sense. About a year ago I came to a crossroads in my walk with God. Feeling completely abandoned by Him, because He did not give me ALL I wanted. I was plunged into despair and wanted to renounce Christianity completely. There were things that God did give me at that time, but not the one thing I did desire at that time – a husband. Needless to say most of what I had to come to terms with, revolved around this issue, and I’m glad to say that the following will shed some light on the issue and on a revelation I had never had before. Before I start with the explanation, let me quote Charles Spurgeon from the book “Prayer and Spiritual Warfare”: “When God reveals anything, He wants us to believe it”. So, here is the revelation and some further thinking and outworking behind it…. What has God rev

This is a piece I wrote in April as part of my devotion. Taken from Isaiah 14, the following stood out for me: All who say: “I will make myself like the Most High” will find the throne occupied and the mountain taken. They will be toppled from the height and unseated from the throne. If you fall into the hands of the Most High, woe to you! There will be no pit deep enough for your humility, “But you are cast out of the tomb like a rejected branch” – even in death you will be humiliated and shamed. The warning goes out to ALL nations – is His hand stretched out against us? Isaiah 14:26-27 There is also a promise: if Zion is established and we are her people, we will find refuge within her because God is within her. Isaiah 16:5 God will establish a throne – IN LOVE – a faithful man from David’s house will sit on it (the throne is occupied). What a promise do we have! We do not have to fear kings in this world, who may try to destroy us, because our King is eternal a

hahaha yesterday I was looking for pictures of street lights in the fog, but I noticed that the cameras do not really do it any justice. I also was thinking that I need to invest in a good digital camera and that just take a bit of money, unfortunately. All coming though, all coming though

The other night I was driving through a bit of mist on my way home and it reminded me of my time in Swakopmund, where that happened quite often. I like driving and walking in the mist. Everything is fuzzy and you can concentrate on your thoughts much better. Sounds are muffled and there is nothing quite like a street lamp's reflections through the fog. Trees look more imposing and the grass greener. Yes, a little nostalgia helps as well. I did get quite sentimental about my teaching days in Swakop. There were numerous times I walked to and from the school in the mist. Although walking in the mist at night is not recommended, it does give new perspective on life and thoughts, and is much better than during the day. New perspective in the way that thoughts become clearer, but also the past can be analysed much better. Nostalgia always needs to be brought into perspective with the present and with the future, otherwise, what is the point in looking back? Yes, the days were good, but t

Thoughts on Isaiah 4 Starting off with “In that day” and how the filth of the land is shown, how the nation is in disgrace and continues in their sin – how women debase themselves to “take away [their] disgrace”. Isn’t it true how we often prostitute ourselves to things, because we want them to take away our iniquity. Instead there is only one answer…. Found just in the next verse – “in that day” gives a complete different picture of the beauty of the Lord’s chosen one. The one question that arises is, whether it’s the same day, the same time, or a contrast to the previous time? The contrast certainly is there, since “the Lord will wash away the filth of the women of Zion ” and will restore her by judgment, and cleanse her by fire. Whether it’s the same day, I cannot make out. There is a “contradiction” for you: cleansing by fire and water at the same time – a washing and a judgment. Even in revelation, the final judgment will be by fire. How and what that fire is, I don’t kn

Thoughts on Isaiah 61: 4-11 Compare the passage to Isaiah 1:7+8, 28-31 I have come across the following opposites: Isaiah 1:7 states that at the moment of writing, the country is desolate and that the cities are burning. The fields are stripped by foreigners and laid waste. Yet the promise come to Isaiah that good new is at hand that the mourning will be comforted and everything restores to its previous glory. These mourners will rebuild the ruins and restore the devastated places. The vineyards and flocks will be tended and shepherded by foreigners. It is amazing how the destructive force of the foreign people will be turned into a servant of Israel . Instead of breaking down, they will have to help rebuild and restore. Isaiah 1: 29 Israel is reprimanded for the “sacred oaks” which have become idols and therefore the curse was that they themselves would be a thirsting oak “with fading leaves, like a garden without water”. In Isaiah 61:3b, the people will be “called

No, not new technologically, but about 13 years old, yet so technologically advanced that it hasn't been copied; real intelligence and agility, able to jump in and out of windows without crashing, able to feel at home in different environments..... I'm talking about our cat Josie, who climbed into Inger's laptop bag the other night and wouldn't get out (cause it was nice and fluffy...)

Yesterday it was the traffic and a power cut that a whole day to fix - someone dug up a power cable and the Office block managers promised one hour, then made it 2:30 and by 3:30 nothing had happened. Even before the traffic and all the rest of it, our cat Josie was in a fight with another cat and all the fluff covered the lounge carpet. This morning I was woken by 4 very friendly mosquito's and I think in the process of me jumping on my bed trying to kill them, I woke up my house mate, Inger. So, since "mozzie glue" does not do the trick in keeping them away from me, more drastic actions are needed. I even have a bite on my lip! BUT through all these mad things, I'm reminded that I'm not in control of my life and that The One who is, will keep me from worse things. Jesus IS my husband first and foremost and that is the important thing.

Yes, yes, the "idiot end-user" has joined the ranks of bloggers. Partly because I'm bored at work -oooh maybe I shouldn't say that too loud, and partly because I need to get some ideas written down so that I can work out things for myself, which is always a good idea. So, in order to figure things out and where I'm headed in the next few years, I'm starting to write.