Where In The World and Why

Clarendon High Matric Mom & Daughter Evening

2012-01-21T15:24:00.000+02:00

Marie and Nicole attending a matric mom and daughter evening. Both looked stunning.

Chirstmas 2011 Cape Town

2011-12-25T09:11:00.000+02:00

After a great braai we all got around to the serious business of open gifts.

Marie's sister and brother-in-law who we have not seen for a number of years are visiting so it was a great evening together. Elise made sure we had a Christmas tree as for the past few years we just used a local twig with some decorations.

Cape Town December 2011

2011-12-21T08:54:00.000+02:00

The holiday this year began with a trip to Durban to pick up our car which was in for repair of a blown head gasket as a result of a cracked radiator. This picture is of John & Danè Benn travelling to East London. They had just witnessed me display a bit of road rage driving through the Transkei. A bit embarrassing to say the least. They were on their way to East London on honeymoon.

Stuck in traffic just outside Butterworth.

We met Paul Wright, the pastor of the bikers church in East London, on the road just before the Titsikama toll plaza. If you want to know more about the walk that Paul is doing please follow the link to his Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/pages/Hope-for-the-Highway-Big-Walk/180606948684767?sk=info

The amazing view from the balcony at the home we are looking after.

Coffee and croissants at the Olympia Bakery in Kalk Bay after church on Sunday.

My mom-in-law treated Paul and myself to a round of golf. So yesterday we played 18 holes at the Rondebosch Golf club after finding a good deal on the Internet. Played some good shots and holed a put from off the green. Also did not embarrass myself off the first tee in front of the clubhouse.

News from the Eichstadts

2011-10-21T20:15:00.000+02:00

Marie WritesThis has been a much quieter year for me in so many areas. Last year I stood in at Sophumelela Aids Centre for seven months as Project Co-ordinator. This was a great experience and I really learned a lot in regards to working in a South-African cross cultural environment.

A wonderful blessing to me was to help out at a Project Management Consulting firm. It was a great way to end the year and taught and encouraged me in relationship to teamwork and leadership. I am really grateful for the opportunity to learn from Louis and his team.

Currently I only work every two to three weeks for two days only. Jaco is a Neurophysiologist and flies down from Johannesburg and I do reception work. I also volunteer as a councillor at Breath of Life which is a ministry to Abortion Vulnerable Woman. This is a wonderful way to sharpen my counselling skills and training again. I am also involved in a fundraising team for our Hope School that is part of Sophumelela centre. We had a tea that raised nearly R30 000-00 and in November we will run a Christmas Craft Fair.

Nicole is in Grade 11 and it is quite a shock to the system to realise our girl has only got one more year in school and if all goes well she will be heading off to university the year after. That’s right: university!! She would like to become a high school teacher with History and Drama as her main subjects. Rowing season has started and this will be Nicole’s last season to participate. She received half colours for her rowing acheivments.

Nicole also had the opportunity to participate in the Eisteddfod (competitive festival of the arts e.g. Drama and poetry.) I always enjoy going to watch her ‘perform’. We are also very proud of her as she has improved in her academics and got another Academic Merit. This term she will really have to work very hard as we will be looking at bursaries to help her to go study in 2013.

Neil is just starting with building another home for Restore Home Trust. This will be the only one this year. Even though you want to build so many houses for so many people there are a lot of technicalities and legal matters to work through before the work can start. So we are very happy to get started at last. During the year he has helped a lot with computer related issues at First City and Sophumelela Clinic.

Neil is also currently working on a possible project in Natal which will involve bring a design international design team out to work in conjunction with MMM. To design a master plan for the development of a church site on the N2 near Port Shepstone. We are looking at a team from eMi (Engineering Ministries International) spending two weeks on site to develop the plan and related documentation which would include a fund raising brochure to assist the church.

While the eMi team is here Neil would like to see some professional SouthAfricans also join the project and work alongside the team from eMi to see how they work and then incorporated this much needed aspect of ministry development into the services that MMMSouthAfrica offers. There is a tremendous need for good planning of projects in South Africa particularly in Christian ministries.

My mother got very ill whilst on holiday and Neil and his dad had to go fetch them and bring them to us in East London. I did a three day road trip with them down to Cape Town when my mother was better to travel. My half-brother Jurie (age 59) passed away and Neil’s granny also passed away at the age of 102!! A highlight was a visit from Frank (our friend from the ships and Bremen).

We just celebrated Canadian Thanksgiving and next month we will celebrate American Thanksgiving! Having international friends is truly wonderful!

Praise:

Thanks for good health and strength.

This has been a really tough year financially. We had to really cut back but we are so grateful for the faithful support and our churches, friends and family.

Prayer support as we see Nicole grow in all areas of her life.

We can stay in a wonderful house in Cape Town again and this year my sister and her husband are coming to visit. Have not seen them in four and a half years!!! So exciting!

Prayer:

Our walk with the Lord as we face problems so many times instead of facing right up to God.

We already put feelers out for ministry opportunities in 2013. Let the right doors open.

We have to renew our efforts in area of support raising. May we be let to the right people and that we can form a strong focused team. This is the most difficult part of being in ministry especially in the current financial climate and not being ‘out’ on the field.

The Nahoon River in Flood

2011-06-10T13:03:00.000+02:00

Some more pictures of the Nahoon River in Flood

The Abbortsford Causeway, East London, South Africa

2011-06-10T11:21:00.000+02:00

Pictures of the Abbortsford causeway this morning and the rain is still coming down. This morning I heard on the radio that the water was flowing over the Nahoon dam spill way at a height of two metres.

Tea Time - All on the Weighless Program

2011-06-05T16:05:00.000+02:00

Having friends for tea. Made these quickly this afternoon.

Maxine - Whatever It Takes

2011-05-31T19:05:00.000+02:00

I will be on TV whatever it takes, no matter how humiliating.

Hope's High Tea 2011

2011-05-23T19:39:00.000+02:00

Marie helped with the arranging of "Hope High Tea" over the weekend. It was a great event at which those who attended were extremely generous and R26 000-00 was raised for Hope Education.

Somwhere in the Karoo Near Oudtshoorn.

2011-05-23T19:22:00.000+02:00

Can you spot the Ostrich!

Coffee Break. Does anyone know where we are?

On the way to Cape Town we followed the Garmin on the little yellow roads. Great drive through the Karoo seeing a very different part of the country.

Maxine & The Toyota Dog

2011-05-23T19:08:00.000+02:00

Do I have a future in television?

Just a little more practice and I can also make my owners some money.

Half Colours for Rowing

2011-05-23T18:52:00.000+02:00

Today we received a phone call from Nicole to tell us that her achievements at rowing have been recognised and received half colours for rowing. Well done Nicole we are proud of you. We will post another picture once the banner is attached to the blazer.

Nicole is 17.

2011-04-08T14:55:00.000+02:00

Nicole has turned 17. We had a great day together on her birthday with family and freinds. We look forward to the next few months and all that is in store. I think this is the age you are able to get your learners licence. I am not sure the roads in East London are ready for this. I am not sure if I am.

Maxine

2011-04-08T14:35:00.000+02:00

Maxine has been in training now for a number of weeks and she has made good progress. I was able to go and watch the training today and I must say I was impressed.

ECRA Regatta: Buffalo River, East London.

2011-02-08T08:25:00.000+02:00

Nicole did well this past weekend and won he skulls race.

She also did well in the doubles and won the race here as well.

The Dogs Will Play

2011-01-27T20:35:00.000+02:00

Every day at 17h00 when I sit at the computer Maxine reminds me that I need to outside for a while and kick the ball so that she can get some exercise.

The Master Baker

2011-01-27T20:27:00.000+02:00

Nicole baked desert the other day. it looked a good before it went into the oven. A bit burnt when it came out. Still tasted good. The oven is now fixed ready for Nicole to try again.

Cape Town: A Few Days Off

2010-09-13T18:34:00.000+02:00

We stayed with Peggy & Andre in Pinelands who have renovated a house to run as a guest house. Andre has also renovated some old cars and Marie is particularly found of this Austin.

These guys use a hoarse and cart to fetch rubbish in Pinelands.

The view from the grass outside the home of the friends that we are staying with now.

Enjoying a great afternoon in Cape Town.

In His Majesty’s Service: A Salute to the MV Doulos - International - OM International

2010-03-23T17:40:00.000+02:00

In His Majesty’s Service: A Salute to the MV Doulos - International - OM International a great article about the Doulos written by Debbie Meroff

New lease of life for MV Doulos

2010-03-18T13:43:00.000+02:00

JOINT PRESS RELEASE – FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

The 'servant' ship will continue to bring hope to Singapore.

SINGAPORE – 18 March, 2010

Ownership of the MV Doulos, listed as the world's oldest ocean-going passenger ship, was officially transferred today to Christian businessman Eric Saw, Director and Chief Executive of BizNaz Resources International Pte Ltd in Singapore.

Image: MV Doulos shortly after dry-docking in Singapore in November 2009, looking in remarkably good shape for her 95 years. (Courtesy of OM Ships International)

This is by no means the first time that Eric Saw has had contact with this unique vessel. "My family and I have been on board the Doulos on many occasions whenever she visited Singapore," he said. "But it never, ever occurred to us that we would one day be the stewards of this remarkable, historic ship! We see the Lord's hand and will very clearly in this transfer of stewardship, and pray that we will be worthy and faithful stewards."

OM Ships Director of Marine Operations Mark Dimond signed on behalf of the organisation. He said, "When I first joined MV Doulos as a 3rd Engineer in January 1978, I had no idea that the vessel would end up serving for so many years. God used my time with the ship to teach me so much about Himself, and it has been a privilege to see how God has spoken to so many others who have visited or served on board over the years. I wish Eric Saw God's blessing on his future plans."

Following the signing of official paperwork, a handover event celebrating the ship's 32 years of service and giving thanks to God for His faithfulness took place on board the vessel at a shipyard in Jurong, hosted by the remaining crew including Captain Dirk Geuze, who recently joined the vessel during its extended time in Singapore, Harald Smit, Company Representative and Technical Manager, presently serving on board as Chief Engineer, the last Director of Doulos, Seelan Govender, as well as Mark Dimond, and attended by Eric Saw and a number of other invited guests. On Friday 19 March, Eric Saw will in turn host a thanksgiving dinner aboard his Stewords Riverboat.

OM Ships International's CEO Peter Nicoll, who was unable to be present at the handover, said, "The process of decommissioning Doulos and selling the vessel has proved to be complex and challenging. Our hope from the beginning was that a way could be found for the ship to be preserved, and I am delighted that agreement has been reached with Eric Saw. We are thrilled that Doulos will continue to be of service to Christians and the wider community in Singapore, and are thankful to God for opening this door."

After renovations, Eric Saw plans to have the ship accessible to the public, but from a fixed berth. Even though the ship has avoided the scrap yard once again, it does now seem that her sailing days are over. The plans include an exhibit on board telling the story of the ship's remarkable history and roles as an onion carrier, coastguard vessel, migrant ship, first-class cruise liner and most recently, floating book fair and home to an all-volunteer international Christian community of over 300 people from around 50 countries.

"Subject to approval by the various authorities, we would like to have themed restaurants and cafés, a bookshop and a banquet room for seminars, conferences and weddings," said Eric Saw. "We also plan to have the ship play a role as a maritime museum with conducted tours. From a Christian perspective, we hope to host a small Bible School for lay persons which we hope to eventually establish on board. It will essentially have non-certification courses that busy lay persons can attend to grow in their Christian walk. One thing we will strive to achieve is to continue with the wonderful culture that has been so evident whenever someone comes on board the Doulos—a culture of love, friendship, and fellowship. This will be a hard act to follow!" A change of name is also in Eric Saw's mind. Having felt clearly led to the Bible verse Isaiah 49:6, he says, "Our plans are to rename her Doulos Phos where she will, in her new role, be

both a servant and a light."

Eric Saw also operates the Singapore based 'Stewords Riverboat' (http://www.riverboat.com.sg/), a non-motorized Mississippi-styled riverboat moored at the city's Marina South Pier which is a venue for a wide variety of functions and events, including 'Breaking Bread', a café themed around Bible-inspired food and fellowship.

Over the last 32 years, MV Doulos has welcomed over 21 million people on board, during 603 ports of call in over 104 countries. During that time, the vessel has covered more than 350,000 Nautical Miles—equivalent to sailing around the world 16 times! Operated by OM Ships International since 1978, the ship has served well, 'bringing knowledge, help and hope' to millions of people in and around the world's port cities.

CEO Peter Nicoll stated, "We recognise God's faithfulness through these 32 years of wonderful service of the 'servant'—Doulos—as an outstanding OM ministry. Many lives have been transformed, both of visitors and those who have served on board."

OM Ships International continues to operate Logos Hope, launched into service in 2009 and presently serving the island communities of the Caribbean. For latest news and further information, visit http://www.omships.org/.

Ken Miller

Director of Communications

OM Ships International

And on behalf of:

Eric Saw

Director & Chief Executive Steward

BizNaz Resources International Pte Ltd

At 95 years old, Newport News-built MV Doulos again avoids scrapyard - dailypress.com

2010-03-15T07:06:00.000+02:00

At 95 years old, Newport News-built MV Doulos again avoids scrapyard - dailypress.com

Hope Preparatory School

2010-02-18T15:34:00.000+02:00

Daily Dispatch Online Follow the link and have a look at the story of the opening of new school. It is great to be a part of community with a passion for making an impact in the lives of children

Buffalo/Selborne Regatta

2010-02-12T16:30:00.000+02:00

Nicole on her way to the starting line for her skulls sprint.

Leading the race by a length.

Crossing the finishing line well ahead of the competition.

Finishing second in the quads.

The Buffalo Regatta 2010

2010-02-10T16:44:00.000+02:00

Nicole will be rowing in the Buffalo Regatta in two events over the next three days.

ECRA Champs - U/16B Quads

2010-01-23T11:12:00.000+02:00

Nicole is rowing today and we were able to watch her team win the race this morning. Nicole is second from the left.