Graduation!

We went this past weekend to the graduation of Kieren's friend, Aimee.  She graduated from her 'creche' or preschool in Ocean View and it was a graduation and Christmas presentation.  Aimee's mom is my great friend Bernadette and it was fun to share their special day!

 Aimee and Kieren

 Iver, Bernadette, and Aimee Terry

The proud graduate, Aimee!

Pictures from Hillsong Sisterhood on Saturday

Quite a Pleasure

Was reflecting yesterday on how special it was to be a part of Hillsong's first day in their new building.  It was a miracle to watch the whole thing come together as they gave themselves about a month to totally revamp the building from a former nightclub, then women's lifestyle center, into a church.  There are still bugs to be sorted out, but it's ready for life.  They had SO MUCH FAITH that it would all work out.  To be there when something is born is a unique part of life.
With Grace Community Church, our home church, we missed all the firsts.  We missed the famous 1st service at the YMCA.  We missed the first service at "St. Michaels".  And even though I helped with some of the work, we missed the 1st service in the space they are at now.
Those are such important moments, and often are talked about for years, so to be there at Hillsong on the 1st day was quite a pleasure for us.  We're thankful for what that church has been and will continue to build into our lives.
And, yes, if you're paying attention, you realize that they also hosted "The Sisterhood" on Saturday with over 3,000 women in attendance.  I know, they're insane!!

By the way, we have an important Ubuntu update on that blog, so check it out: Elite Christmas Clinics.

Cheers, Casey

Weekend Update

Brain Dump

My friend Katie Hobbie has an incredible blog and sometimes does something fun called a 'brain dump.'  It's a stream of consciousness dump of all that is in her brain.  It was a FULL weekend and I'm ready to dump it and move on to a beautiful Monday morning, so here you go!

Friday was pretty busy still, not sure what we did all day, but I know I was already feeling fatigued and tried to take some time to rest.  Oh yeah went to the library at Cornerstone Christian College and took out like 20 books (no lie, and more explanation soon) and then started reading books, went through a couple and really liked them, reading about the writings of John in the New Testament.  Friday night we hung out as a family and had a YUMMO dinner, all the Princes were happy even Ntokozo who is hard to please!  Rented a GREAT movie called 'Skin' and you just must see it.  Saturday woke up and took my View women to the Hillsong SISTERHOOD (more pics to come on that) and it was a wonderful day.  Came home and rested for a bit and then went to the preschool graduation of sweet Aimee Terry, her mother Bernadette is one of my closest friends in Ocean View.  I was there to take pictures and it was so sweet and the kids sang Christmas songs and had a nativity scene, really got me in the Christmas spirit.  Came home and made a salad dinner (also yum, I am REALLY enjoying cooking lately and STARTING to get a bit good at it) and then rested as a family.  So nice to be together.  Sunday morning woke up and had church at Ocean View Methodist and I just LOOOOVE my church so much, the worship has been really lively lately, they love the old-school worship songs but sing them with such PASSION that you can't help but love that time.  Watched Kieren and her boyfriend Dante in the living room while sermon went on - they are fun friends and then chatted a bit with my OV peeps after church.  Then was picked up by friend Rose Jenkins (Michael's sweet sister who lives here now) and we went to the city for Hillsong Church as they dedicated and opened their new church building!  It was a bit crazy but so special and felt anointed and historical.  We were so proud of that staff who have become our friends and are doing incredible work for the Gospel, and people are just so excited to be a part of a CHURCH which I think is pretty profound and it was full of laughter and celebration.  Kieren loves church there and the kids church is just amazing and the people who watch her there love her so well, we are very blessed.  Lunch afterwards with Hillsong friends and then back home for a quick rest.  Bernadette then hosted a birthday party for Aimee who just turned five, so I went over to their house in the View to celebrate and watch kids run around on a crazy sugar high - at birthday parties here they give the kids SO MUCH SWEETS and it's hilarious.  Then dinner together as a family and ANOTHER church service at Ocean View Methodist, a special one called a "Memorial Service" where we remember people that have passed on in the year and take a moment to bring any pain that we find during the Christmas season to Jesus.  I totally was WIPED and didn't want to go but did and helped out with service and it was very meaningful to many people there, I also got to serve communion which always is such a privilege and makes me feel so close to my people that I serve, and I just thought with each special face that I love these people so much and love that our lives are intertwined.  I wouldn't want to be anywhere else this Christmas season but with my Ocean View community, even though I know there will be times of missing family and friends in the US.  There is so much to celebrate and so many wonderful things ahead in this new year.  I am thankful and happy, and our home still is full of laughter, even though Ntokozo's 'teenager' side and attitude comes out more, there is so much love and life is full and wonderful.

New phrase I will start saying a bunch.  Love my life.  LML.

Lots of love!
Sarah

Big Day Tomorrow!

Prayers for us tomorrow!  We are taking a group from Ocean View to a Hillsong Church event in the city - a women's event called the Sisterhood.  Bobbie Houston who is one of the head pastors at the HEAD Hillsong in Australia is coming to speak and I know it's going to be a very special day!  Hillsong has rented a bus for us and we think we will have 80-90 women with us.  I am so excited to share this special event with them and love that they will be pampered and loved by the incredible women at Hillsong.  Pray for us!!

Love,

Sarah

Back to Basics

We had a great meeting last night with our head pastor at Ocean View Methodist, Kyle, and a couple at our church, the Levendalls, who have been leaders forever at OV but are moving to another town at the end of this year.  They have been heading up the 'youth' as they call it at our church for MANY years, and now because of the move they have stepped down.  When we first came into the church, they had heard we had a background in youth and so the entire church assumed we would step into that role - and they thought wrong!  We wanted to be VERY intentional when we came to Ocean View, and make sure we only stepped into ministries and opportunities that we felt called to by God, or else we would be doing too much stuff very poorly!  So we have stayed away from the youth and watched from a distance.  Over the year I have realized that the youth at our church is a small group and not very enthusiastic about much at all, especially God.  Being a teenager in Ocean View is particularly challenging and there are temptations and pressure we couldn't even imagine in the United States.  However, some churches in our community have vibrant youth groups, we just don't happen to be one of them.  With the Levendall family leaving, we began to pray about taking on this ministry for the coming year and have felt God calling us to these kids.  Really what I see is that the church misunderstands the youth because their culture and way of 'doing life' is so alien to the adults in the church, and so they ostracize them and judge them from afar.  The church separates itself from the 'bad' youth; in effect it is the new apartheid, or separateness. 

We feel very called and passionate to step into this role for a few reasons.  We want our church to see God's heart for the youth and to step into their lives in love and action.  We want to raise up leaders in the church that are passionate about youth and have a great time reaching out to them.  And we want to learn more about the youth and their 'world' that even to us is so foreign and scary.  So we had a great meeting last night and learned a lot about the history of the youth at Ocean View Methodist, and at the end of the night said a desperate prayer to God for understanding, wisdom, grace, and vision.  We need your prayers as we step into this role over the next year!  The youth traditionally meet on Friday nights, and we will continue with those meetings most weeks, also joining with other churches in Ocean View for joint youth services monthly.  We will take them on outings, invite them to our house, and just listen and care for them.  We will call specific people to be leaders in this ministry and mentor them as they learn to understand this new world alongside of us.  And biggest of all, we hope to engage the church with a vision to stop the new apartheid and reach out to the youth of our community.  We want our church to be known for vibrant youth who love God, and that we are a church that loves the most broken in this community, which certainly are the youth.

Please pray for us in this new endeavour, and I mean REALLY PRAY!  We need it but are very excited about this new chapter.  It's something that is in some ways familiar to us, the basics of our ministry, but it will be completely new in so many ways, so we'll see what we find!!

Lots of love,
Sarah

WE ARE HEALTHY!

I am almost scared to say it, but then I remembered that we have GOD and aren't scared or superstitious!  The Prince family is HEALTHY and even HAPPY!  Kieren turned into her old, happy, and playful self yesterday and we had a blast of an afternoon and evening together.  She is laughing and talking and singing.  Oh, and she is singing her first song now, Twinkle Twinkle Little Star!!  She doesn't know ALL the words, but she brings it a beauty I have never known with that sweet voice!  Thanks be to our God who has healed us and given us joy in this new day!  Good stuff happening!!

Hope you are well today and that God blesses you with just a fraction of the great joy we have in our home!

Lots of love,
Sarah

This is the Day

Today I was running around doing many random things, but my schedule opened up so I could go and attend the HIV support group that I have helped to lead ever since we were in Cape Town in 2008.  It was a beautiful day today in Cape Town and there was just some joy in the air, even when I walked into the door of my friend Bernadette's house.  Many members of the group were there today, and even a couple who haven't been in months.  We shared food, talked, and closed our time together in prayer.  It was simple and fun.  As I was sitting there watching my friends laughing, talking, and teasing one another I was hit with how profound this group is for those who attend.  In this group, in their own space, they all belong, have confidence, and show their true selves.  Most likely for most of the them, they spend many of the other hours of their week hiding in shame and loneliness, but not when they are with one another.  They are truly a family and with one another they belong and are special.  What a gift that I get to be there and love on them.  Tomorrow the entire globe will come together to celebrate World Aids Day and to spread knowledge and awareness.  Here in Ocean View my friends will gather at the free clinic to encourage others to get tested.  My friend Alleta will share publicly about her status and empower others to know their own status.  It is remarkable and courageous, and these are people truly living with AIDS, not dying of the disease.

Images from etnies.com and learn.swancoll.ac.uk

Thanksgiving Celebration

Kieren and Sarah enjoying some time on the trampoline

Ntokozo with Briley, the daughter of our missionary friends Courtney and Joey Lankford

Kieren enjoying a REAL biscuit - they don't have those here!

Casey and Sarah

Ntokozo and Sarah

Kieren happy!  I told you it happened!!

The adults gathered and enjoying our FEAST!

Weekend Update

Hello everyone!

It's another Monday morning and I am strangely chipper today!  Just finished my workout and I don't know how I have this energy as Kieren got up at 5am AGAIN today - she is still having trouble sleeping, but overall improving in her health.  I think her asthma is the main cause of a lot of her ailments at this point, and it's hard to know when to call the doctor or just do another round on the nebulizer.  Either way, Kieren and I had FUN together yesterday.  That's right, I said it, we played and laughed and I saw glimpses of my fun daughter again!  She is an emotional being and I think has been so sad at  being sick, but yesterday definitely was feeling like herself again for part of the day.   I honestly think she has grown up in the past two weeks, but I didn't notice it because she was hidden by her pacifier and 'lovee' at ALL times.  Kieren has the greatest smile - it is HUGE - and it's nice to see it again around our house.

A new first in the Prince home on Sunday - Casey got his first migraine headache!  This was NOT something I wanted to share with him and it was sad to see him suffer all day.  Headache meds only dulled the pain a bit,  but even when he ventured out Sunday night for a planned birthday dinner for a friend he was almost silent all night.  I miss my crazy Casey!  He was sleeping this morning when I left, but I am hoping the night brought some relief.  What is the deal with the Prince's lately?!?

Other than our ongoing illnesses, it was a great weekend.  Ntokozo finished up all her exams in high school (they still have almost two weeks of school still where they do NOTHING) so we celebrated with a fun movie and dinner at home Friday.  Saturday was friends and our Thanksgiving celebration with Americans and then Sunday was resting at home and dinner out.  With all my free time on Sunday, Ntokozo and I got the grocery shopping for the week done and I planned out meals (done at 4am when Kieren decided to be awake coughing).  Now I am ready for this week - how DOMESTIC am I?? 

Looking forward to another great week ahead.  Casey will be gearing up for an upcoming Ubuntu clinic that will be held in December and I am working on various church stuff and continuing to devour books.  It is going to be a good one!

Lots of love,
Sarah

Why Didn't Anyone Tell Me?

Okay, so why is it that no one told me how EXHAUSTING it is to have kids?!?  We are having a time over here with sick Kieren.  Poor thing, she has been sick so long she is just SAD.  Actually, as I write this, it is Sunday afternoon, and I don't want to jinx it, but I think she might have made a turn towards health and happiness again because she is actually HAPPY this afternoon for the first time in like 2 weeks.  I'll keep my fingers crossed.  Thursday was a long day, however, and by the afternoon I had just come to the end of myself.  We are so blessed to have Granny Jacoba with us, because she helped with Kieren for much of the day, but I was still DONE by the evening, and it was Thanksgiving on top of that.  I thought it would be no big deal that we were postponing our Thanksgiving celebration for Saturday, but for some reason not being able to share that day with our families, and then not being able to call because of internet problems was really heartbreaking.  Then Thursday evening I had my final Parenting workshop at Ocean View Methodist to lead and I just didn't have it in me.  I considered many times just cancelling, but I am working on making my 'yes's be 'yes,' so I put some random things together and dragged myself over there.  We ended up having a large crowd and even some men, which made it worse for my then guilty heart.  But I opened the night with confession about my fatigue and how this week has taught me only that I'm not sure I'm strong enough for this parenting stuff.  We prayed together and spent the night discussing some great scriptures, sharing stories, and just learning and leaning on one another.  I prayed with my friend Dalena who also almost didn't come and was having major problems with her adult children, and so we just laid ourselves out before God.  We even had a random drunk guy come in and give a mumbled speech to us; which was really sad because he was really telling us that kids follow their parents and to not be like him.  The guys prayed with him and escorted him out; but I bet that didn't happen at YOUR bible study this week!!  It was crazy, because at the end of the strange night I was revived and encouraged.  And then on Friday night, one of our favorite families, who were there on Thurs, randomly stopped by and took Kieren for the night.  SO SPECIAL.  That's how it works around here, people just pitch up and help out without even asking.  It was humbling.  Kieren is so loved and we are so cared for, and all that I experienced this week just underscores one of my main teaching points of this workshop as a whole, that we care for kids TOGETHER as a family and church community.  It was amazing to experience that for myself this week!

Check out my rand-o notes from the workshop by clicking here.

Lots of (community) love!
Sarah

Update Video

This took forever to put online, but it's finally here!  Enjoy!

Pictures at www.quotablecards.com

Kieren Update

Poor Kiers!!

She has been battling for the past week and we are only seeing small glimpses of hope - but we take whatever we can get!  I took her to the doctor AGAIN yesterday because she was screaming of an unknown pain for hours - so unsettling!  We saw a new doctor because our normal one had patients and it was SUCH A BLESSING.  Because of Kieren's time in the hospital and many doctor visits in the past year, she became terrified of even walking into a doctor's office. 

We bought her a play medical kit to talk and play about doctor tools, and have seen some improvement in her anxiety, but still she is so upset at the doctor (totally normal for any kid!).  So we went to see a new guy, Doctor Levine, and he was incredibly compassionate and WONDERFUL with Kieren.  He was very gentle and talked her through every part of the examination and she only cried at the throat gag check (I cry too then....) and was so quiet and calm the rest of the visit.  PRAISE!  I was so proud of her and thankful for this new doctor.  They really don't have many specialized pediatricians here, so this guy is such a great new part of our team :)  He even called us this morning to check on Kieren!  So she now has a bad ear infection and the bronchitis hasn't cleared.  We are continuing our same course of antibiotics and hoping to see results through the weekend.  In the meantime we try to manage her pain, but she is just SAD.  SO SAD.  She cries at everything and just wants to sit on the couch with us - very strange behavior indeed.  It is heartbreaking to see your little one in this state, especially for so long!  She is just miserable, and Casey took the two-hour night shift when she was up screaming and in pain.  Needless to say, Casey and I are DEFINITELY struggling from caring for her and just sad also!  Luckily we have Granny and she took her all day yesterday.  We have different plans today and through the weekend, so hopefully we can keep her distracted while her body heals.  Prayers for this sweet girl!  I miss her laugh!!

Love,
Sarah