Hi everyone! Just wanted to say thank you to everyone who has left a comment on the blog over the last few weeks. Please keep doing so, we find them all really encouraging.

Well, it's been a particularly busy week here. We are still trying to sort out the mortgage on the house, so have had several trips back and forward between different sets of lawyers. We still can't figure out what they all seem to be doing, other than creating a need for us to pay them!

In between all of that, we have been busy with a lot of childrens' work. I led my first ever kinderbond (a weekly event that attracts hundres of kids), so spent most of wednesday feeling sick with nerves, but I actually really enjoyed it, and it seems that the kids did too. Nathan did a great job pushing boxes round the stage, which variously represented Noah's ark and Jonah's whale! I'm sure I'll get to return the favour at some point...We are also getting stuck in with preparations for the Kinderbond Christmas event, the Sunday School Nativity play and party, and the Christmas party at the GANG (the whole church youth group). Nathan is getting a band together ready for the Kinderbond Christmas special, whilst I have been overseeing rehearsals for a Muppet play. We are certainly expanding our skill base!

We are also beginning to prepare a 6 week course for new Christians, which we have been asked to start in January. It's very exciting for us both, in terms of being able to help lay good foundations in people's lives, and being given the chance to stretch our skills in teaching.

This week was also a difficult week for the whole church, as one of our youth (part of the GANG) was murdered on Friday night, in one of the townships here in Worcester. He had been returning home with 3 friends (who are all in our youth small group, Next Level), and stepped in to try to break up a fight with people he knew. Unfortunately they were carrying knives, and he was stabbed to death. The townships on a Friday night are so dangerous, with so many people drinking through the night, and most people carrying knives. Our lads are routinely out late to avoid the drunkenness and violence that happens in their own homes, waiting untill their parents have fallen asleep before they return home. We are just trying to encourage them to avoid getting involved in any fights. Please pray for their protection, and that they would experience comfort in their grief, and healing from the terrible things that they witnessed.