Holiday/Debrief Update

Hey all,

 The sun is very hot and Christmas hustle and decoration abound. Its strange at best to think that it is Christmas in 4 days and its thirty degrees out side!
We will cook a turkey and remember you all.
Christmas is God’s scandalous grace put on man’s calendar. Let us not forget that!

I just returned from a week of debrief at a riverside house in neighbouring St. Francis Bay. The whole awakening team was together for the very last time. It was a time of reflection, which gave us a chance to look back and absorb the many different challenges and experiences of the past three months.
Money, faith, church, The Cross, justice, action, scripture, leadership Genuinity, lukewarm, election, worship, discipleship and of course the list continues on and on and on.

There was a chance for self and team evaluation and on the last day a particularly special time of “Rock Star Awards.” Which is simply put, a time we shared of honest thanks, goodbyes and encouragements for those on our team whom we by Gods grace and blessing had the opportunity to serve and walk with.

I must take the opportunity to single out my ministry team: Mary, Alexis and La, whom I find I will miss more than originally thought. Thank you all for walking with me. Literally. It was awesome.

We also took the time to look to the future. The future here in Africa and also beyond. This is exciting and troubling for me, as I look forward to the difficulty that will shape and grow in Swaziland this January but also need your prayers (REALLY) as to some important choices that are to be made after the year is complete.
The Lord has promised to guide me always and I will trust in that.

I will also spend the Holiday seeking and relaxing. It is very busy here and especially dangerous but we are being careful and enjoying it without too much trouble.

The last thing I would like to say is that my good friend Tyler Bussanich, who earlier in this trip had you could say an “encounter” with Gods Discipline and was no longer with us will be returning to S.A. on Monday!
God is faithful and powerful and He has redeemed a brother and friend as he done for me (and all of us!)  so many times when we stumble.  I rejoice. I am so glad to have him and look forward to it. He a passionate, good guy. Pray a safe journey.

Thank you all, until next
Grace Blair.