Tuesday, March 8, 2011

Travel and Celebrations

Amazingly, March is already in full swing, and I am in the throws of preparing to visit my parents in Arizona. My dear mother is celebrating her 80th Birthday, and Peter thought this was a great reason to go for a much overdue visit.

In all the years mom and dad travelled back and forth to South Africa, they used British Airways, and so I am able to use their miles to travel to Arizona. I am blessed with a three week visit, and look forward to catching up with my folks, Andrea and with good friends.

Andrea's Christian College has had a name change to 'Arizona Christian University', and with the name change has come an increase in the majors they can offer. So Andrea is now able to study Journalism, which is what she had wanted to study all along. She is really thrilled about this. To celebrate the 50th Anniversary of this College, President Bush has been invited as the speaker and this celebration takes place while I am in Arizona. Andrea will be singing in a massed choir for this occasion, and she will have very proud grandparents and an equally proud mom sitting in the congregation.

I checked to see if there were any Dragon Boat Teams in Arizona for Cancer Survivors, and sure enough, there is a Team. And, they are having a festival while I am there, so I will be able to paddle with them! It will be great to experience another Team and see how they do things.

I am very grateful to the Lord for the chance to have this break away from my responsibilities here. I would be grateful to all of you for your prayers for my family here in Cape Town. Peter will be on his own with the children and their many varied activities.

I have started the Tamoxiphen medication and pray that the side effects will not be dramatic. I have been grateful for a six week break free of treatment or drugs.

Peter and Calvin are away at the moment, taking meetings in South Africa. Among them are the Africa School of Missions, Kwa Sizabantu Ministers Conference and Jivanadi Mission in Natal. It has been a while since Calvin has had the chance to travel with Dad, and I know he has benefitted greatly from this time. Home schooling provides wonderful opportunities for this.

Christopher is really enjoying his school experience, and we are pleased with the school and the stand it takes. Daniela is faithfully plodding through her school work, and hopes to finish early next year. We were blessed by a visit from Olivia Lederle, herself an ACE home school graduate. She has been instrumental in helping us with the set up of the administration of ACE. She has also helped Daniela with planning out her year so that she can finish High School early to mid next year.

God is good, and blesses us with friends that can help us in areas we are weak. I am encouraged to know that I do not need to be able to handle it all on my own. Thank you to all of you, who pray, encourage, write letters, emails and just generally support us with love and care.

Gratefully,

Lenora