Happy New Year

Hi everyone,
Hope you are all doing well, and, as the Basotho say, "cut the New Year well." We had a nice time at the farm. We got their Sunday evening around 6. We had supper, visited for a while then had a short service around 10:30. The plan was, according to S.A. tradition, to hold the services from 11:45pm to 12:15am as the new year came in, but several people were sick, and everyone was tired, so we did it earlier. I think just about everyone was in bed asleep by 12:00.

Wednesday last week Nt. Kali and I finished hauling things back from the conference. We took a load to Matukeng, and then a load of mattresses back to Uncle Piet's house. On the way back to Matukeng, we picked up two outhouses that are no longer being used at the old conference grounds on Uncle Johan's farm. One of them will go to Ha Motheho, and the other to Ha Seleso. In Maseru, we also bought most of the things for the orphans' Christmas gifts.

Friday Nt. Kali and I went to Ha Hlalele to give Christmas gifts to the orphans from Malimong and Ha Hlalele. The 3 most needy children from each congregation were chosen to receive the gifts. Each one received a hygiene package (soap, toothbrush and paste, lotion, laundry soap, shoe polish, and deodorant for the older ones), clothes (most will get a new school uniform), and then something special based on their age, sex, needs, etc. Most of the ones in school will get a school bag/backpack. Others will get a soccer ball, a wash tub, or another toy. I had hoped to be back to Matukeng by 11:30 or so, but nothing EVER happens fast at Malimong or Ha Hlalele. I think it was nearly 2:00 before we got back!

Saturday we worked around the house. Actually all week Steph was very busy putting things away, organizing, cleaning, throwing away, etc. I cleaned up the front porch, worked in the study, and did some filing. We had a nice picnic supper on the front porch. It would have been perfect accept for a cool breeze that made our hot food cold in no time. We enjoyed our selves, though.

Sunday was a big day. We had been invited to the Roma church for a special celebration for the Sunday School children. The theme of the service was "The Importance of Children in the Church." The highlight of the service was the graduation of 5 youth from the children's Sunday School into the youth department. Often we seem to lose youth at this critical juncture, so Nt. Matsaba (the pastor) had this special celebration to encourage them and formally accept them as youth. Each one who graduated had to say a Psalm from memory. They received a graduation certificate and a gift from the church. I preached on the theme using verses from the story of Samuel. I also talked a little bit to parents about the importance of discipline and godly parenting using Eli and his sons as a negative example. After the service a nice meal was served to everyone. The service was very nice and VERY long! (I think 4 1/2 hours plus the meal!)

After the service there, we hurried back to Matukeng, loaded a few things, and went to the farm for the New Years celebration. We had a very nice evening visiting with fellow missionaries, and people from Uncle Piet's Afrikaans Bible study. Supper was rice and potjie. Potjie is a vegetable and meat stew cooked in a black iron pot. It gets it's name from the Afrikaans name for the black pot--potjie pronounced poikey. For dessert, someone brought a delicious apple cake.

Yesterday we just relaxed. I worked on Michele's computer, wrote an e-mail or two, took a nap, went with Uncle Johan to check on the cows, played outside with Kaitlyn, etc. Steph relaxed some too, but also baked and decorated a birthday cake for Micah and Kaitlyn. Geises' never had a chance to celebrate Micah's first birthday back in November, and Gwen had brought special decorations from America ,so we decided to use them. It was lots of fun even though it was about 2 months late.

Today we're in Ladybrand. Steph had blood work done again, and we have business to do. On Friday Kaitlyn has an appointment with the pediatrician in Bloem for her 12 month check up. (She was in the hospital when it was supposed to happen.) Steph also has a dentist appointment to get a broken tooth fixed. It will be a long, busy day. Wednesday I'm planning to distribute orphan Christmas gifts at Matukeng and Ha Motheho.

I guess that's the news from our world. Hope you all had a great New Years celebration.

Love to all,
Glenn, Steph, Kaitlyn