Malibongwe!

Dear friends,

I couldn't think of a title for this blog, but as I'm sitting here, the church band is rehearsing the song entitled "Malibongwe". I wish you could hear how beautiful it sounds with people singing from all different races. Blacks, whites and coloured in harmony. The Zulu word Malibongwe means "Let Him be praised".

I must first apologize (or apologise) for the silence. Piet and I have been having such an awesome month that we have forgotten to sit down and write about it. We have been going non-stop and have hardly even had a chance to enjoy our new house.



Family Photo at Shangan Village



  

September 19^th we started our new ministry at the Barn
September 26^th we moved into our new house
October 1^st my parents arrived
October 2-6^th Kruger National Park
October 7-14^th Drakensburg
October 17^th Parents left
October 18^th Back to ministry




Zip Lining in beautiful Drakensburg!

 We had a really great visit with my parents for two weeks! It went by so quick that we felt sad sending them back to America. We spent four days searching for the Big 5, and another week in the mountains playing lots of Bingo!

So now here we are back to work and preparing for next year’s Year of Your Life program. Our application deadline is less than a week away so we are just praying that God will bring us the right people into our program.



Besides being in the office to prepare for YOYL, we are keeping busy as Piet has joined the church worship band, we are regularly attending our “Committed Couples” cell group, and involved in all 3 church services on a Sunday, and not to mention trying to run an olive business on the side. So we are definitely not bored! Recently we were able to give a bit of support to a choir group here in South Africa from some of the profits from the business.



What a handsome man I married!!!



Halloween is next week. It’s funny because all the years that I (Leah) lived in America, Halloween never seemed like a huge deal to me. I grew up thinking that as long as I didn’t dress up like a witch or a ghost Halloween is a perfectly acceptable holiday. I've recently been seeing many photos from the US on Facebook of pumpkins, Halloween costumes, and decorated homes. It reminds me that it's so different here, especially in a country that has witchdoctors and practices animism. Since moving to South Africa, my perspective has changed quite a lot and I've seen the dangers of celebrating Halloween. All of the local churches here have “Celebration of Life” services on or around Halloween to discourage participate.

That being said, our church is having a Celebration of Life service this Sunday night with the theme of “I’m so Glad I’ve Found YOU”. We are walking in the spirit of praise and celebration and life.

In other news, I’ve had a few requests for our newest address. You can send mail to the church at:

                Piet and Leah Bakers
                The Barn Christian Fellowship
                PO Box 635
                Bromhof 2154
                South Africa

Have a blessed week friends and family!

Sending our love from Africa!

The Bakers