Johannesburg

This post is way overdue, and we apologize for the delay. We've been pretty busy since we arrived in Johannesburg, and we only got Internet at our house this week, so up until now our online time has been somewhat limited.

Anyway, we are here! We arrived over three weeks ago, and are settling in well. There are a million tiny blessings that make life here kind of wonderful, things like:

• cheddar cheese (and a thousand other great products!) in the grocery stores
• affordable clothes at the malls
• malls!
• no more constant sweating
• cheap restaurants
• paying by credit card
• communicating in English

Of course, there are also lots of challenges, like:

• learning to drive on the left side of the road (Deron's doing great -- I haven't been brave enough to try it yet)
• being on high-alert in a high-crime city
• figuring out what church to join and what ministries to get involved with
• adjusting to new, more challenging roles, especially in the Member Care realm
• missing our friends in Abidjan

But all in all, we are doing well and we do like it here.

Our Home

Here are a few pictures of our new town house and neighborhood:

(this a shopping center a couple of blocks from where we live -- it includes a grocery store, video rental store and several fast food restaurants)

Our Baby

Last week we had the opportunity to visit the doctor who will deliver our baby in July. He is really nice and funny and we like him a lot, but unfortunately the hospital is about 45 min. away from our house, so that's not too convenient!

Here is a 3D ultrasound photo of the baby (it shows her facial profile with arms clasped and curved up around her face). Isn't it precious?! We can't wait to meet her in person!

Our Prayer Requests

Please pray for us:

• that we'll have wisdom and balance as we prepare for life with a baby, media responsibilities, Member Care responsibilities, outside ministry, and every day life stuff (chores, etc.)
• that God will direct us to a church where we can grow and learn, but also truly minister to and through the church body
• that Deron will have wisdom and energy as he's now looked to as the primary professional counselor for our missionaries in this part of the world (he's already had several opportunities to do some pretty heavy-duty counseling sessions)