Newsletter November 2018

I ended last by saying, in Africa you must never lose your sense of humour. This bread truck helped me find mine today.

For me, Ilne, this last month was very special. Lots of memories that will carry me with joy:

At the end of September, my two sisters came to visit. My sister from the states had to come to South Africa, and then they both got on a flight to see us here. What a special time, also for the children with their aunts. The last two days, we left all children behind, and just spend some time together, in Zambia’s tourist city. These are memories, I will hold onto for a long time:

Then two weeks later, our church family organized a woman’s retreat. For the first time in many years, I could go. Both these times, Carl took the care of all the children on himself, and made it possible for me to slip away. I love being mom, but it is very intense, and slipping away for a few days, is a real deep breath. Especially, if it is a time to really focus on God, and who He is, and how wonderful He is.

This is the Dam Wall of the Kariba dam. My first visit.

In between we celebrated Isabel’s third birthday. She is one very lively and busy young lady of 3 now. We thank God every day for the Joy she brings to our home.

She has started with regular speech therapy, to try and convince her to speak. This is her skill that still is the furthest behind. Part of it is probably begin a fourth child, and everyone speaking for you. But even her understanding, is very little.

Now, I will hand you over to Carl:

As you read this I hope to be in South Africa. Alone. I have been struggling for a while.

And so the conclusion came after seeing the symptoms. I have a burnout. When I look back it has been coming already a long time. I don’t want to go in detail now, I first have to find the root cause and that’s why I have to go. According to what I have read up there is a long road to go, this three weeks will hopefully help however to make a turning point. So I might need a lot of prayer and also Ilne who have to carry the house and the work alone. Please pray for a miraculous healing and for finances to cover the unexpected costs.

Ilne: I have really been pushing Carl to take this break, because I really believe that this will be good for him. He has come to a crossroads where many people have come to before; many choose to ignore the problem or escape in so many ways (alcohol, games, internet, TV). Carl has chosen to press the STOP button, and stay at the crossroad until he can figure out how to move forward in a journey where He is close to God, filled with Joy and Peace, and walk in the calling that God has on his life. So, the children and I are praying for him, cheering him on, and believing that God will touch him in an amazing way. He read me this quote that says that it is not a sign of weakness to burn-out, but more a sign of bad decisions made in zeal and passion, and Carl has really been giving all of himself for a very long time. Please pray with us.