Staff retreat blessedness

Mike and I (Marie-Eve) had the opportunity to go with our staff to a work retreat for 2 days and spend quality time together to dream, pray and refocus ourselves on this wonderful ministry the Lord has called us to.

Even with a broken toe, I attempted to participate in as many events as possible!

This nail challenged seemed nearly impossible, until we figured it out and gained speed at doing it :)

Jeremy became really intense and wanted to win so bad.

The pool was a relief as the heat was almost unbearable.

I was the saddest at not being able to do this rope challenge, but everyone did so fantastic.

Our first colored Christmas

In my last blog post I noted how our Christmas deserved it own post, maybe because I was hoping that the words would eventually come to me about what had just happened?!?  Either way, this was a unique Christmas for which I still don't exactly have words for!  I hope the pictures can help you get the picture. 

A white-Christmas: NOT
So we're here, half way across the world,  and all I can think of is "when is it going to snow?"  This whole warm Christmas is so confusing to our Canadian brains, we are still battling the thought that Christmas came and went.  We tried so hard: we played music (let it snow, let it snow, let it snow), we decorated...

My $2.50 tree...  not bad eh?

On Christmas's Eve I even made snow!  After all, it's not Christmas unless there is snow.

Snow cones?

Snow cold...

Christmas morning
On Christmas morning we read the Christmas story.

ok we read it after posing for this picture

Vincent was insistent on "seeing", but there wasn't pictures...

Then we opened presents

Dinos are a big hit right now

Some of us could use some help with wrapping

WHAT?!?  A dino car?

We also gave presents 

Our friend Mawande Mani actually clapped opening his Bible :)

New shoes for the beautiful Claudia

Then we opened our packages from home

Green tea excitement

And we ate chocolate

Braii time
Christmas day we also hosted the braii of the century (South African word for BBQ)!!!  We cooked, baked and BBQ for hours...  And all together had a wonderful feast with our African brothers and sisters.  

Our friends who have a pool let us use their house (they were not home during the holidays).  A pool party on Christmas.  I'm telling you, we tried... but it didn't really feel like Christmas to us.  

Martin

looking good :)

Some of the Xhosa people we invited said it was their best Christmas ever, and it was very cool for us to have been able to do this for them.

Pastor preaching it

Our kids really enjoyed it too, even tho they were really tired after. 

I also have hilarious footage of the whole thing, do let me know if you want to see it.  So there, you have it.  Our first colored Christmas.