The Performance of a Lifetime

Okay, so it's the only performance of his lifetime, so far, but Jake's concert this past Friday night was definitely something to remember. His nursery school had a big production (around 150 people in attendance) and Jake's age group sang three songs. The picture is of Jake with his friends Craig and Ethan, enjoying their post-concert treats.

Now being the good Nazarene he is, Jake chose not to do any of the dance movements, even when reminded by his teacher... you know Methodist nursery school. But the video tape shows that he did sing the songs... and swat at the moths... and pick his nose. I think every kid has to do that in at least one concert in their lives, right?

We had a great time watching him in his first performance, and also enjoyed the company of fellow missionaries David and Patti Cramer, who couldn't resist coming out for such a big event. They definitely got their money's worth. :) Not many of the pictures turned out due to the lighting, but the video tape turned out okay, except for Daddy demonstrating why people choose to buy tripods. Any of you are welcome to come over and watch the video any time!

Jake's Quote of the Week

"No mommy, you can't put cookies on the table. Did your mommy say you could do that?"

(Mommy put a cookie directly on the table, not on a plate or napkin. This deeply offended Jake, and he let her know.)

Praises and Prayer Requests

Jake has a follow-up appointment for a hearing test tomorrow, just a little over a month after his surgery. Although we don't notice a dramatic difference in his responses to us, we are praying that the test shows that his hearing is returning to normal. Please pray that these tests go well tomorrow, and if not, that God could heal Jake's hearing.

Please also remember the following in prayer this week:

-- We have been having a lot of car trouble recently, our car is going into the shop tomorrow for the third time in the last week. Please pray that the mechanic would solve the problem this time and that we can escape with our bank account in tact.
-- Jake was diagnosed with tonsilitis last week (although we're wondering if it was strep throat). He is better now, but the doctor has said that if he has a flare-up again, that we should consider having his tonsils removed. Please pray that God could heal Jake and give him a bit of a break from these health issues.

Until next time,

Jeremy, Tricia & Jake

Hoppin' Into Spring!

Yep, that was a short winter. It was pretty much just June - August, and now it's starting to warm up again. This past week was all in the 70's, and it is sunny about 95% of the time here. The weather is never bad in Joburg, it's just that the nights can sometimes get a little cold with no central heat in the houses.

Anyway, the weather turning for the warmer has been the highlight of an otherwise blah week. Yes, sickness has struck the Johnson household again, and Jake was very sick on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, but is feeling a bit better today. Hopefully he will be back to normal so that he can get back to school tomorrow. He has a big concert coming up on Friday that we don't want to miss!

Well, the picture you see there is the other reason that Jake wants to make sure he is well for next week… he gets to start gymnastics classes! The guy in the picture is his teacher, Max. Jake loved his free introductory lesson and can’t wait to go back to the “circus” as he calls it. We hope to have a full report for you next time.

In other news, we had a great experience today in our first live interview with one of our LINKS churches (Fort Osage). Pastor Will Silva (who we knew in KC) called us and was able to put the call over his church’s sound system so that we could interact with the church. It was great! Jake even got in on the fun and sang them a song. If anybody else wants to try something like this, we are open to it!

Jake’s Quote of the Week

“Mommy, I want to go outside in just my toes.”

(Kids here play outside in bare feet A LOT. Jake is now getting in on the fun.)

Praises and Prayer Requests

We’re thankful for spring and for a bit warmer nights. We’re thankful that Jake seems to be recovering nicely from the flu. We’re thankful that we had a safe and productive week.

Please remember the following in prayer this week:

-- Health for the Johnson family. We have never been so sick so often in our lives!
-- The 3D program that Tricia is working on. She is rapidly getting the program off the ground. Please pray for the program and also that God would continue to work in the lives of those he calls.
-- The upcoming accounting system changeover in Africa Regional Finance. It looks like it’s slated for October.

Until next time,

Jeremy, Tricia & Jake

SA All The Way!!!

Jake is sporting the South African flag (sort of) facepaint in this picture, and the thumbs-up is symbolic of his week. He really had a great week this week!

Jake went to school every day this so that he could practice for his upcoming concert on the 22nd. He has some songs with motions that he does with his class. He is a thundercloud and the yellow stripe in the rainbow for his concert. He's singing the songs and doing the motions at home, so we know he is excited to perform.

Then, Friday night, we went to the mall for dinner (they have a really nice food court!) and unexpectedly ran into a school fair in the middle of the mall. Jake got his face painted by a clown working to draw kids into the booth of one of the expensive private school. Jake also got a free water bottle, so he was pretty pumped.

On Saturday, Jake went to a free trial leasson at a gymnastics place close to our house. We weren't sure if he would go for it or not, but he loved it! We're going to go ahead and sign him up, since it's really cheap and it's a good way for him to work on his coordination. So it looks like Jake will be a gymnast for a little while. It's kind of cool that things like that are so much cheaper than they would be in the United States, that way he actually can have the opportunity to do it!

Well, that about does it for his week. Daddy and Mommy just had a pretty normal week at the office, nothing too dramatic there!

Jake's Quote of the Week

"I miss Teacher Sharon, but sometimes she puts some of her favorite Deers in time out."

(Jake's class at preschool is called the Deers. We can only guess which one got put in time out.)

Praises and Prayer Requests

We praise God this week for Jake and what a blessing he is in our lives. We feel so privileged to watch him grow in size and as a person. We laugh so much with him around and are so thankful for this gift with which God has entrusted us. We just pray for wisdom to care for him as he should be.

Please remember the following in prayer this week:

-- Tricia's continued battles with her allergies
-- Unspoken request

Until next time,

Jeremy, Tricia & Jake

Hello Again!

Yes, we missed a week somewhere in there, although it seems that only a week has gone by! Time is just going so fast lately. Next week it will be 8 months that we have been here! Our three year internship will be over and we'll be home for our commissioning and home assignment before you know it.

The picture you see this week is Jake with his "favorite" baby from the orphanage, Lindiwe (Lindi). Jake is having such a good time going there each Tuesday and playing with the kids. Jake plays with the babies occasionally, but mostly plays with Bongi, Benolo, Tabile, and Phiwe (pronounced "Pea-way"). Bongi and Benolo are both two and then Tabile and Phiwe are both five.

Things are going well for us at work, Jeremy had some big meetings this week to get some fairly major things sorted out and running smoothly for the Region. Sorry that's not too detailed, but the details can't really be shared at this time. Tricia is also doing a lot of work in contacting those interested in missions across the Region and also working on planning her first "cross-cultural orientation" here in South Africa. The "cross-cultural orientation" is a seminar about working cross-culturally and is one of the preliminary steps in becoming a missionary with the Church of the Nazarene.

Jake's Quote of the Week

"Dear Jesus, Mommy doesn’t like ear-crocodiles or ear-pirates or ear-whales, but she likes dolphins and they eat fish. Amen."

(Don't ask, because we don't know.)

Praises and Prayer Requests

Everyone has been well for the most part this past week! Jake did have one evening where he spiked a 103 degree fever, but it was gone the next morning. Tricia has also felt much better over this past week, as her allergies seem to have subsided for the time being. Thanks for your prayers!

Please remember the following in prayer this week:

-- Change and progress is a good thing... but it also brings stress. Please pray for us as we get into the "meat" of our jobs.
-- Unspoken request

Until next time,

Jeremy, Tricia & Jake