Wonderful Sunday Preaching
Terry and I are priviledged to attend a
church with incredible teaching, caring pastors and a group of people as diverse as the city from which they come! Part of the reason I love to come to the church is because of the sheer number of
South Africans and the best part is that sometimes Pastor Theo invites special guests. Today he invited Allan Bagg, pastor of one of the 'plant' churches that Pastor Theo has founded. It is inspiring to hear the Word taught with such authority and with a fresh perspective. I teased Pastor Allan after the service that he gave Pastor Theo a run for his money with the sheer depth of his teaching.
Tomorrow night Pastor Theo has organised for the leader of the African Democratic Christian Party, Dr. Kenneth Rasalabe Joseph Meshoe. We are looking forward to hearing him! Pastor Theo has known this man for over 20 years and is impressed with his stance for Christianity while working in parliment.
Labels: Christian Family Church, Pastor Theo, Terry
Christmas is Done - New Year Here We Come!
The last of the gifts have been taken from under the tree, which now lies bare (except for the cats who think the tree is their personal resting place) and next week Tuesday the decorations come down, and packed away for another year.
This is always a weird time of year for me. Being self-employed if I don't work I don't make money, but the kids are home and it is so easy to stay in holiday mode and mood; but I have actually done some paying work this week, and will reap the benefits to that in January.
One thing I appreciate so much about being here in San Antonio is the sheer number of South Africans that surround me, mostly from church, but there are several couples who don't attend our church, or don't go to church at all and they live close by. To that end, one of my friends, Liana and her American husband are having a 'South African' get-together at their house on New Year's Eve. It is a family event and I am sure there will be a 'braaivleis' (barbeque) and biltong (jerky) and each family was asked to bring a dish to pass. I am making something called 'Melktert', literally milk pie, which is a mixture between a custard pie and a milk pie and liberally sprinkled with cinnamon. Tastes yummy!
I am also thinking of making sosaties. Sosaties are similar to kebabs: skewers of meat (venison, lamb or chicken) interspersed with onions and dried fruit (such as apricots) and marinated in a thick, sweet curry sauce. Sosaties are sensational hot off a braai as the marinade browns and becomes wonderfully tacky. Sticky sauce from ear to ear is testament to a good sosatie!
So, whatever your plans - whether solidly American, British, South African, or a hybrid of all - have a wonderful New Year's Eve!
Labels: Afrikaans, America, Christian Family Church, New Year, South Africa
Corban - Rest In Peace
Almost every Sunday morning since January of this year, I have looked after a 'special needs' child named Corban. Corban was unable to speak or move without assistance, but his lovely green eyes would track my movements and when I talked to him he would still himself, and listen.
This Sunday morning Corban was not in church - an unusual occurance and tragically in the afternoon, Corban passed away.
Timothy Corban Swan went to be with the Lord on December 17, 2006. Born in San Antonio on September 18, 1994, his interests denied his limitations: swimming, reading, music and long walks with his dog Boaz. He is missed by his parents Annie and Tim Swan, his sister Courtney, his grandparents Margaret Forbes and Ray and Helen Schumacher of Kansas City and a long list of aunts, uncles, cousins and dear friends. Corban was blessed by an extended family who provided him further loving care: Pilar, Cirenia, Marisol, Alicia, Jane, Irma, Georgeanne, Debbie, Lulu, Mrs. Rogers, Mr. Deemer, Ms. Suggs, Ms. McDonald, Dr. Hall, Dr. Pfeiffer and Dr. Amen.
In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be sent to The Christian Family Church Children's Building Fund, 15600 San Pedro Suite 400, San Antonio, Texas 78232. You are invited to sign The guestbook at www.porterloring.com Arrangements with Porter Loring Mortuary.
I'll miss you Corban - rest in peace honey.
Labels: Christian Family Church, Corban, RIP
Formal Evening
Last night, our senior pastor, Beverley, had a birthday celebration for her 50th birthday. The party was held downtown at a really cool hotel called La Mansion del Rio, a 4 star hotel right off the Riverwalk:
It was a formal evening and so I bought a beaded, sequined gown and Terry dressed in his best suit. Warrick took this photo - not the best and I am hoping there are photos from the actual evening that we can get. There were plenty of photographers there last night!
The food was excellent (Filet Mignon), the company great and the music reminiscent of the 1950's - we listened to jazz all evening and then the dance floor was opened at the end of the evening.
The best part was getting out all night sans kids in an adults-only evening; dressed to the nines and with people we know and love. I can't wait for the next event!
Labels: adult, Christian Family Church, Terry
Nicaragua - Here He Comes!
Tomorrow afternoon Warrick will board a plane for his first Central American trip. He has flown to Europe several times, flown all over the USA, and also flown in Africa, but this is his first 'south of the border' trip! Apparently the team he is with is working with the local pastors to minister to kids - there are over 15,000 street kids in Manauga (the capital) alone. On the last full day the team will have the opportunity to climb a volcano, something Warrick is looking forward to.
They won't be roughing it though! Not like when I would go into the African interior and then live in the mud huts - these pictures are of the place Warrick will be staying:
Labels: Christian Family Church, Nicaragua, Warrick
Slumber party
Well we survived the slumber party! The girls finally went to sleep at about midnight and were up bright and early on Saturday morning. You can always gauge the success of a sleepover by how tired the kids are, and Teagan was still tired today! Thank goodness they can sleep in tomorrow morning.
Teagan had a great time, even though the weather was not terribly cooperative. Like the rest of the USA, we have been hit by a cold front and although we cannot measure up to (or is that down to?) the -20 or greater temperatures that the northern states have experienced, we hit 26 on Friday night. Driving to church this morning was an adventure - the temperature was 30 and it was raining. Plenty of accidents on the freeway as less experienced drivers (well less experienced in freezing temperatures) tried to maintain their normal speeds and then found themselves colliding with each other. And Texas uses sand/grit which really does not do much in helping with the freezing conditions. We should be warming up some though.
Next - our wedding anniversary coming up this weekend!
Labels: Christian Family Church, Teagan
Working and Meetings
Well, I started the Mother's Day Out two weeks ago and already our enrollment has more than doubled and we hired our first full time staff person (YAY!!) Interestingly enough we are getting a whole bunch of 2 year old kids who all come from the same neighbourhood, and who all know each other. Apparently their parents all attend the same Muslim Church. Has anyone heard of a Muslim Church before? I asked whether it was a Mosque and one of the moms said no, it was a church because their prayers are different. The moms also wanted to know whether we taught the Bible in our class and was very excited when we said yes. I wonder if these are perhaps Muslim Christians? Any one have any insight on this?
Meetings have been the centre of our lives lately, meetings for church activities being the number one culprit. We are revamping the Children's Ministries, from the buildings to the curriculum which obviously requires a lot of planning, and the meetings aren't going to end any time soon.
On the home front the kids celebrated 100 days of school yesterday, and we are halfway through the school year. The kids don't know it yet, but this summer we are moving (yet again!) As much as we love this house and this neighbourhood we simply live too far from the church, from my work at the church and really from all our friends. We live on the North-West side of town, the church is on the far North-East side. We spend about $80 to $100 a WEEK in gas! So, I am on the lookout for a house in a subdivision that is less than 5 minutes from church - it also happens to be where the Children's Pastor lives and about a half dozen church members! In fact there is a house available right now that is in our price range and is huge - 4,048 square feet! (Houses in San Antonio are really cheap!) I am sure when it is time to move it will no longer be available, but boy, it sure would be nice.
Labels: Christian Family Church, Turnstone Lane House
Mother's Day Out
OK, so here in San Antonio many churches offer a service called Mothers Day Out, a programme that can run anywhere from 2 to 5 days a week for about 6 hours at a time. It is not a pre-school, and children as young as 6 weeks can attend the programme. (Where was this when my kids were little??!)
Our church started their programme last summer, and in November I was approached by the children's pastor to take over the directorship of the programme, and expand it both with the number of children and also the number of days we will offer the services. Today was my first day, and it went off very well even if I say so myself.
Right now I will have to do some teaching, but the idea is that I will hire the teachers and make sure the curriculum is in place, my main job is to direct it, and administrate.
It was weird to actually go to a job too! I have not worked outside the home in eight and a half years, but seeing this is only twice a week (for now) it is very do-able.
Labels: Christian Family Church
Plays, Presents and Parties
Whew! We are done with the Christmas madness! All that is left for us to do is pack away the Christmas decorations, which we will do on January 2nd.
We had a wonderful Christmas though - no boredom allowed in the Smelker household this season. Terry, Warrick and the girls had parts in the children's Christmas play for church (Terry had the lead). We had three performances, and all of them went off very well, with only minor technical glitches. (Pictures to follow later). It was a bit of a sacrifice on the kids part to be in the play because we had two performances on Christmas Day, so the kids had to wait until the afternoon to open their gifts. I don't know what was worse - the girls at church with me waiting to come home and open their gifts, or the little boys at home looking at the unopened gifts and knowing they had to wait for us before opening them!
All of us received the 'perfect' gift, Warrick FINALLY got his cell phone, Teagan received her potters wheel (and is already offering lessons on it), Hayley received a princess castle, Garrick some Star Wars toys and Carson a wooden train track for his Thomas the tank engine and friends. I got, among other things a compilation series of "The Chronicles of Narnia" (CS Lewis is my favourite author) and Terry got some games for his PSP. We are blessed!
I will add some photos as soon as Terry downloads them from the camera.
Labels: Christian Family Church, Christmas, play, Teagan, Terry, Warrick
Christmas in full swing
I am not sure how much I will be able to blog in the next couple of weeks as we gear up for one of the busiest Christmas seasons ever. Terry and I are helping with the children's Christmas play (which will run December 24th and 25th), Terry is also playing one of the parts in the play. We have rehearsals several times a week. Warrick's wrestling season started in full swing this month, Hayley has swim meets and Teagan still has her pottery lessons. Between Christmas parties, meets, school functions and church functions, our lives have become insanely busy! I am lucky to get near my computer just to check email right now, let alone anything else, and don't even ask about the house! I NEED a housekeeper!
But, I love this time of year - I love the lights, the trees and their trimmings and the excitement of the kids (and their parents!) and would not swap the busyness for anything. I am most of all thankful that we, as mere people, have the chance to celebrate our Saviour's birth, that the God of the universe thought enough of us to come to earth to redeem you and me. I know December 25th is not the 'actual' date of his birth - but I celebrate it nonetheless.
Labels: Christian Family Church, Christmas, play
Who Sat Where?
Last night our church was privileged to have Lisa Bevere come and speak to our ladies (Women of Worth) as a guest speaker. Once a month, Pastor Beverly hosts this event and she sets it up as a television interview. Lisa spoke about two of her books, "The True Measure of a Woman", and "You Are Not What Weigh".
I had never heard Lisa speak before, and she was awesome! Funny, quick-witted and above all beautiful! Bold too. I was lucky enough to sit in the front row (I was an official helper) and at one point she got up to demonstrate a point. Next thing I know she is strolling towards me, and then sat on my lap! She was talking about her youngest son and his freedom to sit on her lap every morning, and I was her guinea pig.
The one thing I appreciated more than anything was her uncompromising attitude when it comes to the Word of God. She spoke the Word, and can recite scripture so naturally, you know that the Word is lodged in her heart, and not just her head - she is living the Word, not just speaking it.
If you have never heard her speak, or read one of her books, I would highly recommend you get to listen or read. She is filled with wisdom and is entertaining besides!
Labels: Christian Family Church, God, Jesus, Lisa Bevere
