Prayers and thoughts for Japan

The old adage still stands: "Time flies when you're having fun." I know I'm having a good time here in Switzerland. Though I am having fun, I would just like to take a moment to think of Japan and this crisis their country is going through. They truly have my heartfelt sympathy. If there is something you can do to help with their situation, don't just sit there, do it. We only have one earth and we need to help one another out in times of need. I know they are in my thoughts and prayers daily.

Doing better

Hey there all

Hope I didn't scare the kids with my last post. I admit it was pretty depressing. At least now that I'm feeling better I can look back and appreciate the poetic side of myself.

God knows how to lift me up, and so He did. I am ever thankful to Him for the grace He has given to me. He really lights up my life.

I'm still in Switzerland for a week and a bit.  Not sure what the last part of my trip holds due to my being essentially penniless... I had a good time, lived it up and now I'm just going to have to coast. Hope my friends don't mind! Speaking of friends, my friend C is making supper and wants me to join her.

If you're drinking a glass of wine, enjoy one for me, I'm not allowed. Doctor's orders you know.

Cheers or as the Swiss say Proscht!

Remembering is refreshing

Ah how refreshing to remember that God's love is greatest. Truly there is no other like it. He paid with His life to save mine. This evening I went with the mom of my host family here in Switzerland to a women's meeting. They have this meet every second week. The pastor and his wife teach from the word, there is a bit of praise and worship and lots of chatter before and after. It is so wow. From the moment I walked into their church I felt the love. Truly, only God can do such a work in the heart.

They are praying for a revival and I believe they will get one, not just in Switzerland but throughout Europe. There is a tangible love and kindness flowing from this part of the body of Christ that I have seldom seen elsewhere. They are part of the Isaac Network (worldwide) and share the same vision, a big vision. God has used this church to encourage me, refresh me, and reignite a passion in my heart for Him.

This is one thing in Switzerland that I cannot take a photo of but that I will remember the most. As I often quote: "God is good, get to know Him better".

The struggle

Today my heart is broken and the cold slips through the cracks
Like sand pouring through my fingers it feels like my sanity is slipping away from me.
Today I'm battling depression and with God's help
I will win!

Noah's lot or mine?

I went to the Bodensee with Willie (who had the afternoon off) and the two dogs.  He took Cody, the cute black dog from my previous post, and I took Noah.  It was really lovely to look at the geese on the water and to watch the dogs play with other dogs in the park.  Noah took it nice and slow, being an old man and all. He stopped every so often to sniff at the various scents. He's quite a honey.

Noah (an oupa now) is tired after playing.

When the dogs were tired (Noah actually) we headed back to the house.

After a short rest Willie and I hopped onto bicycles and headed to Jumbo, which is a large hardware store a few kilometres away. I can't even remember the last time I rode a mountain bike so I had some trouble with the gears, yay fun... Being very unfit, I huffed and puffed all the way there and back! Above all that I had to remember that I need to keep to the right since the Swiss drive on that side of the road. Freaky!

Back at the house now, I'm relaxing after enjoying a piece of cake (Swiss roll but they don't call it that here..) and some decaff coffee.  LEKKER Nê!

In Switzerland at last!

The town of Arbon

 Hey everyone

I finally made it to Switzerland! After a number of trips to the Swiss Embassy in Pretoria, postponing my flight and a lot of stressing, I finally got a Shengen Visa.  I flew with Swiss Airlines. The flight in economy class was comfortable but not enough to make you think you are in business class or something better. I got the feeling they wanted me to know I'm in economy class but then again it could all just be perceived on my part. Nevertheless I got here safely.

View from my room.

The photos you above are of the view from my room. I am staying at a friend's house in Arbon, a little town next to the Lake of Constance/Bodensee. Across the 'Bodensee', on a good day, one can see Germany and Austria. I hope to take a boat trip across sometime. There is snow on the mountains but as you can see it has cleared up in the town.

As I sit here I can hear the church bell ringing. It rings for quite some time at 11 o'clock daily. This usually sets the dogs to howling. Cody, my friend's dog, is next to me howling right now.

Cody begging for a treat from the breakfast table.

My friends have two dogs (Cody and Noah) and two cats (Michy and uhmm well I forget).  Michy (the cat) I have renamed 'Push-button-kitty' because everytime you touch her she makes a sound kind of like a toy does. She is very old.

Michy a.k.a. 'Push-button-kitty'

I haven't explored much yet as I'm shy of the cold or of getting one as I already have the sniffs.  I will let you know as soon as I have braved the wintery weather.

Well that's all for now. Thanks for reading!

Show time!

Although I want to be a famous singer one day with all the flashy lights, and posters with my name on them.. ah.. if only.. it's not my turn yet...

It was however Jesse Clegg's turn last night and he and his band rocked our socks off at the Lyrics Theatre in Gold Reef City! The word to describe how incredible the show was has not been invented yet although, to sound snobby I will use superb. By the end of the show we (the crowd) were on our feet in an electrified atmosphere and would not take no for an answer when we called out for an encore. It was hands down the best rock concert I have ever been to. The lead electric guitarist, Thomas (I think), totally blew my mind as he tuned his guitar right in the middle of a song and still played every note as he was supposed to.We were so psyched to get a photo with him after the show.

Have you ever heard his music? You can find some of his songs on Youtube by clicking on the following link: Jesse Clegg on Youtube.

I hope that your New Years' celebrations were as awesome as mine, if not better. Let me know what you got up to. Have a happy 2011!