Weekends are often filled with hanging around the house not doing much or hiking or watching movies. But this weekend was a nice change.

Yesterday Katie and I went to Clarens where there are nice little shops and restaurants. We didn’t buy anything or get any food there but it was fun to walk around and get some coffee and be somewhere different for a change.

Today (Father’s day) we had a great commisioning church service for our summer interns who are here for the next two months. Two other staff and I lead worship which went pretty well. Afterwards Katie and I spent the rest of the day babysitting Thrive’s interim directors kid’s. It was a great day to take them out so we went to the One Stop and took them to the play gound, inground trampolines (I wish these were in the states), and little animal farm.

It was really nice out and kind of warm so we went to Wimpy to get some (you scream, I scream, we all scream for…) ice cream. Katie and Silas (3 year old) got their ice cream and went out side and Ellie (1 year old) and I hadn’t gotten ice cream yet. Just after I got mine I started for the door until the woman at the counter was saying “Sir! Sir! Sir!“. I didn’t realize she was talking to me but by that time (because of her persistence and volume) everyone, which was a lot, was looking at me when I turned to see what she was calling for. “Happy Father’s Day!“… there was a slight pause until I could make out… “Um… thank you… but I’m not a father.” I couldn’t stop laughing when I left. Apparently since I had a cute one year old little girl in my arms that I must have been the father… but no.

It will be quite some time until someone can say “Happy Father’s Day!” to me… and it be true.

(click to enlarge)

Tomorrow is Katie’s birthday so for today I planned a little day getaway as a surprise for her. I will say that I wasn’t sure what to expect weather-wise because earlier this week it had snowed but interestingly enough it was a high of 72ºF. Who would have thought? We left bright dark (sun wasn’t quite up yet) and early at 6:30am so that we get do a horseback safari at 8am. We grabbed a bit to eat afterward at the resort (pretty good food and inexpensive) then we did another little safari with our own vehicle on the Spionkop Dam Game Reserve and headed home. I loved it and Katie also had a great time. Happy birthday Katie!

Here’s a few photos today…

Here are some more photos…

Normally people wouldn’t dislike having a lot of ladybugs around seeing that they are apparently a sign of good luck.

I beg to differ.

In every window frame, door frame, even the top of the curtains in my room. EVERYWHERE, there are ladybugs. I’m even at the point of ‘googling’ the phrase ‘how to get rid of ladybug infestation‘. So I have a couple options: get DOOM bug killer spray and spray nearly my whole house or spend a little more time and vacuum. I think I might end up doing the latter just because I don’t want to get sick from the spray, especially since we’ve been having some heavy winds.

So in the end… Ladybugs ≠ Good luck!

This is a very very very small amount of them...

What’s the worst bug infestation you’ve ever had in your home?

I’ve sent out my email newsletter just now and if you’re not on the newsletter mailing list you can see it here.

Here are few things gone over in the newsletter

• Leadership Summit Curriculum update
• Building relationships with local Basotho
• Training Leadership Summit Coaches
• … and a few prayer requests

Enjoy the newsletter.

Oh yeah! Sign up to get this newsletter in your mailbox. Click on the green box above!

We have a new Leadership Summit coach, Mile. He’s been with us for four months and is doing an incredibly job.

Learn more about Mile and Leadership Summit here.

“Won’t you bring me to… FUNKY TOWN?”

That’s right! Who of you grew up in the 60’s and 70’s? Afro’s, silk shirts, bell bottoms, and my favorite… the aviator glasses!

Tonight was a bit of a taste of the disco fever! It was a staff members birthday and she requested to have a disco party. Now’s the time the creativity comes in when there are parties like this. Disco ball made of styrofoam and broken cds and multicolored strobe lights from the corner store in town. I DJ’d the night and kicked it off with a great disco music video medley I found on Youtube.

So what did I do to dress myself up for this event… well…

The only problem now is that I’m not a big fan of the “stache” but I’m even less of a fan of completely shaved face. So I’m holding out on shaving until it grows thicker before I even out the mustache. I always wondered what I’d look like if had a mustache like my dad.

I want to know what you think…

Honest opinions… dishonest opinions… even the first little thoughts that pop into your head when you read any of my blog posts… what you think about the photos… questions you have about what’s going on… or even really out-there random questions…

I really do want to know.

That’s why there’s a big bigger respond button below this post and a big comment box for you to write whatever your heart desires.

I know there are plenty of you reading [or at least just looking] at the pages of my blog.

What do you want to know? I wnat to know what you think… Let’s here it.

Yesterday we had a great cultural experience. We went to a Nladi, a village in Qwa Qwa, and visited a group of sangoma’s and traditional dancers. They practiced everyday for weeks to present their dancing for us. They did an amazing job. It was truly a ‘once-in-a-life-time’ experience. Here’s some photos and here are a bunch more…

[click photo to enlarge]

How long does it normally take to repair a TV? A few days…? Maybe a week…? Let’s try seven weeks!

Africa is a little bit slower when comes to… everything! Which isn’t bad, necessarily. You couid say that they were just “taking their time”, but to be honest, that’s a bit of an massive understatement. Fortunately, I now have a newer model of the TV I originally had and I guess that’s a blessing in disguise so I’m happy.

But now a days, what does it take to make us happy? Where is the line for you when you are content with how life is going (fast or slow)? When is it that we finally can sit back and be just happy?

I don’t know if happy is the word I want to be using… how about joyful?

Although I didn’t have a TV for so long and no internet for sometime AND wasn’t too happy about it, I was joyful. Joyful to have silence and spend time with my Creator.

But as soon as I hooked my Xbox up I was stuck again. I wish I was more addicted to God than my TV or computer.

What will it take?

Here’s are some photos I’ve taken that I think would be cool desktop wallpapers. Feel free to make them your background.

[click on the thumbnail to enlarge, then right-click and 'Save Image As']