Ottaway Family: November 2016

It seems hardly possible that we have been back in South Africa five weeks and we are already over half way through our pre-Christmas stay.

If we had harboured any thought that we might have a good rest or holiday, we were quickly reminded that we come here to participate in life in our local church and community. It has been a busy and fruitful time. As our good friend Linda, the pastor’s wife says, ‘we pick you up from the airport and drop you off at home-group.’ Well it isn’t quite like that – we usually have 48 hours before we get back into the groove.

In these five weeks, I am already half way through an 8-week study of the book of Isaiah and we have quite a house full each Wednesday morning. At our first Sunday at church we were asked to take over the home-group again which we are happy to do. So amongst other things we are having a discussion about heaven, what happens when we die and what Jesus’ second coming may be like. We will conclude with a look at the new heaven and new earth.

We had a wonderful 10 days with Sarah, Samuel and Keira over half term. Chris was unable to join the rest of the family due to his paramedic studies. Sarah found the long flight more than a little bit challenging with two children, especially on the return leg when Samuel was violently sick all over her and the surrounding area but I hope these experiences did not detract from some great times spent on the beach and at a few of the local beauty spots.

We visited the Lion sanctuary for lions rescued from terrible captivity, picnicked at Kirstenbosch, the national botanical gardens, visited the penguins at Boulders Beach and breakfasted at Mugg and Bean before calling in on the Waterfront, Cape Town’s re-modelled harbour - great for shopping and meandering with fabulous views of Table Mountain.

Whilst she was here, Sarah preached at an evening meeting, took part in a ‘hot spot’ with the young ladies of the church where they could ask her anything and finally she was the speaker at a ladies conference. This was an extremely blessed morning, with a wonderful breakfast and a great word from Sarah with a very good response and many opportunities to pray for people.

Once Sarah had returned home and quiet had descended again on our home, we picked up the threads of our normal life which for Christopher involves a fair bit of golf, some bowls for both of us interspersed with beach walks and enjoying the amazing landscape, animals and birds in this part of the world. It has also been a great time to catch up with my writing and learning Afrikaans.