It's been an unusual week!  A church donated $12,000 to the Life Skills Program.  That makes us $29,000 total: the $26,000 we asked God for, and some left over.  We serve an incredible God! 

Friday, I attended the monthly SIM prayer meeting.  I made brownies, with chocolate chips sent to me in a care package from the States.  Then, that evening, I went to a dinner party at Susan's.  I bought a meringue and we made a Pavlova dessert with whipped cream and fruit.  It was lovely.  I am learning all kinds of new recipes.

Nelson Madella died Thursday.  It was such a sad thing, though he had lived to 95 years. Everywhere I went, there was evidence of the respect and love that everyone in South Africa had for this great man.  Friday night when I was driving through St. James, there was a sign outside one of the shops that said it all: "Rest in peace, Madiba."

This morning, my neighbor, Gina, and I went to a Christmas bazaar, then decided to go to Constantia to the mall there...over the mountain.  I had never driven over the mountain and was rather afraid to do so because of the winding, narrow road.  But, with Gina with me, I wanted to try it...and I did!  Woohoo!  We found the mall and I did a little Christmas shopping, then we stopped for coffee (for Gina) and hot chocolate for me.  It wasn't until I arrived back home that I realized I didn't have the present.  I remembered leaving it on the chair next to me at the coffee shop.  But, I didn't pick it up again and left it there.  I went to Gina's and her and another neighbor, Angela wanted to go back to the mall with me.  Angela doesn't have a car and Gina doesn't drive hers much, so they were both glad to get out and go.  We didn't find the present; it was gone and no one turned it in.  We checked all of the stores we had visited but no one had seen it.  One of the stores we visited was a French pastry shop.  It had wonderful things and Gina and I both took something home.  I had not driven across the mountains until today and now, I've done it twice! That's a huge accomplishment for me!  Thank You, Lord! "I can do all things through Him who strengthens me."