First of May

Hey! Today is our wedding annversary - 17 years and counting...happy anniversary to my wonderful wife Janene. I don't know what or where I'd be without you.

And talking about where, here's an update on life in Dubai. We still don't really like it very much - hot, dusty, expensive, greedy and bad driving! In addition, there's all sorts of stuff going on at work and we need some serious prayer. One of the issues is that rental is payable annually in advance here in Dubai. The company pays it and then recovers it from my salary over 12 months. There is talk that this will cease and that we'll have to find the annual rental ourselves, a completely impossible feat. I know that God is in control and need you ask you to pray that he makes a way for us.

Church is also not doing so well. The one we've been going to is far away, uncomfortable, temporary and long. The music is OK but neither Janene nor I have enjoyed the teaching - the impression we get is that there is not much preparation and plenty of repetition and there is so much time given to ceremony and announcements and worship and words and, and, and, so that an hour or more has elapsed before the message. I think the pastor is going through a difficult time at present due to issues concerning the venue and it is certainly having an effect. He is a really nice guy and he comes across as an ethical person but we're battling with the teaching and the service length. We tried the Baptist church over the last 2 weekends. Music was dismal but the message was good the first Friday. The second one wasn't so hot. I guess the old adage about there being no perfect church holds true - especially in Dubai. Some confusion over what to do but confident that God will sort it out. Things will probably be better once we finalise and move into a permanent venue which, it seems, is a tricky thing over here. We have a nice home cell with a good leader and this makes a difference. Boy do we miss HCF and the Hendrikse's home cell!

My knee is progressing well. The surgery was about 14 weeks ago and the pain is far less - more like discomfort now. I am out of the brace and able to walk up stairs right foot first again - a bit difficult but getting there. Coming down is another story...! God has undertaken and the healing process has begun. I am even able to ride my motorbike again (for short distances).

I no longer have to juggle the crutches at the urinal and they have been relegated to the storage area.

Its getting hotter here and we've had to start using the air con. Getting up to around 38 - 40 degrees during the day. Our kitchen, the hottest place in the house, seems to stick around 30 degrees - I cooked supper the other night and nearly cooked myself. I don't know how J manages.

J has been feeling exhausted and has also had blocked ears and some sort of infection - also needs prayer.

I gave her some gift vouchers for our anniversary, so she's either going clothes shopping, skiing, or a combination of both. She really enjoys the skiing.

And talking of which, it was Casey's birthday last week and she went snowboarding. She seemed to have a great time and J went too. I'm told that snowboarding is more difficult than skiing. Anything beyond tiddlywinks looks difficult to me at the moment.

We're sending the kids back to SA during the holidays. They'll be there from 6th July to 15th August - staying with the grannies in JHB and my sister in Durbs. It would be great if they could spend some time with their school friends in Hillcrest and we'll try to arrange.

And that's about all I can think of for now, so I guess its time to log off. I wonder if logging off one's blog could be called blogging off?

Cheers

Stu