Big World/Small World Days

So, when we first arrived, the kids attended a couple weeks of school and for the past two weeks, they have been off school.  They have one more week of holiday, and then they will begin Term 2 next Monday!  (School goes January to December here).

While we delay getting into a routine, it's actually been fun to set up our lives.  We joined Virgin Active Health Club where John will swim 4 days/week.  Kate signed up for horseback riding at Chartwell Stables.  (She made her first jump there and was very excited)!  Kate will do cross country running and occupational and physio therapy; John will do cello lessons, orchestra, and a service club.  Oh yeh, and we hope they will also do their homework!

In addition, we found a good place to buy meat (did you read what was discovered in store-brand "mince" here?) and a farmer that delivers organic produce.  Our pictures are hung and plants are potted.  Michele has unpacked, obtained our TV license, set up an account at a video store (since internet streaming is impossible), found barbers, hairstylists, doctors, dentists, and some yummy restuarants.  However, after 3 unsuccessful hours at the SA Revenue Service, she still has not been able to secure her own tax ID!    Despite being initially very upset at the SARS inefficiency, she came to peace by accepting that it's all just about expectations.  She is learning to adjust hers.

...We're settling into life here!

John has been given the green light to begin attending seminary when school resumes.  He will study the New Testament every morning from 6-7am at a home near his school and then walk with his classmates to school which starts at 7:25am.  He's excited and we're happy for him to have this great opportunity!

Kate continues to make friends wherever we go.  Saturday, we were at a Mandarin restaurant and after she ate, she went over to observe the fish in a big tank.  Within minutes, there were four other children gathered around and she was telling them everything from Khabarovsk to Alpine.  So many people comment on her cheerfulness and beauty.  We are so thankful she is settling in so well here!

We feel abundantly blessed.  The people are so warm and kind.  The weather is gorgeous.  We have no sense of the seasons though:  we left Utah in WINTER/spring and have arrived in SA in summer/FALL.  Since everyone here is talking about the impending winter, we've decided it must be September.

Here are some great outings we've had exploring Joburg and surrounding areas:

Bryanston Market, Walter Sisulu Botanical Gardens

At the top of the Witpoortjie Falls (Lethe-goes to school and church with John.  She moved here from Ghana right before we arrived,  Kate, John, and Caryn-our amazing and gifted au pair who moved here from Cape Town to work with us)

 Lifestyle Garden Centre

Cradle of Humankind 

Reptile World

Putt Putt Golf, Build-a-Bear at Sandton Mall

And just one more...A small world event:  Yesterday at church, we met this young man named Will (pictured here with his mom).  Will's parents moved here a few weeks ago.  He will be here for a month and then head to a church mission in LA, Spanish speaking.  It was fun to learn that his Teacher's Quorum advisor was my brother Steven and his Sunday School teacher was my sister-in-law Denise in Overland Park, Kansas, USA!

Hope your world is feeling small, but not too small and routine, but not too routine!
Love, the Stitts