HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas season and are enjoying the beginning of 2006!
Whew... I have neglected my updates for a while, so I guess I have some catching up to do...
I just returned to South Africa after a wonderful two weeks spent in Colorado and about a week spent in Santa Barbara. I enjoyed time with my family skiing in Breckenridge for a couple of days, cooking, playing tennis, board games, and some competitive rounds of ping-pong! We celebrated Christmas Eve at our house with extended family and I enjoyed the opportunity to catch up on people's lives and give updates as to what has been happening in South Africa. I left on the 27th of December for a week in Santa Barbara where I brought in the New Year with some of my best friends from college (see above picture!)
I arrived back in South Africa on Friday and am here to stay for the next year. It was really hard to say goodbye, but I am excited to dive into ministry as we are busy planning and organizing for the upcoming year. We are moving into a new office space next week and are anxiously anticipating the purchase of a farm to serve as a retreat center and leadership academy. Three new staff members are joining the team in the next few months. There is a lot to look forward to and plenty to keep us busy!
As we start this new year, I would like to take the opportunity to thank all of you for your continued prayers and support. It was such a joy for me to get to reconnect with a lot of you while I was home and I look forward to keeping in touch and knowing how I can encourage and pray for you this upcoming year. I will be adding entry's to this blogsite 1-2 times a week with updates and ways to be praying. I often send out an email notifying you that I have added a new entry. If you would like to be taken off of this email notification list please let me know and I will remove your email address. Thank you, again, for your support and please keep me updated on how you are doing as well!

Love and Prayers,
Jen