A Quick Update

Hello everyone... yes, it has been over a month now. We actually started to write this post over two weeks ago, and didn't get around to finishing it. We are pretty swamped right now, so here is the "highlights" version of what has been going on over the last month (in no particular order):

1. Jake had a concert at school, in which he was a duck, and sang loud enough that Mommy and Daddy could hear his voice over everyone else's, even 10 rows back from the stage! We included a pre-concert and post-concert picture of him here.

2. Tricia's best friend Amber had a baby boy, Levi Rush Dickson, on November 5th. For the curious, you can see pictures at http://ladickson.blogspot.com

3. Jeremy went on his first trip outside of South Africa in the 22 months that we have been here. He spent 4 days in Nairobi, Kenya working with the Africa East Field leadership and World Mission Communications team to set a strategy for how media can best be used on that field in the future.

4. Jake has been practicing riding his bike without training wheels and is getting pretty good at it!
A video clip of one of his rides is below. Here's what he is saying during the ride: "Hey, I'm all right! Oh no, here we go again... oh, we're making a turn, ya lousy bike. My bike is lousy! Oh, watch out, comin' through. Comin' through... whoooooaa." We don't know where he has heard the word "lousy" used in context, but it sure was funny!

5. Tricia is starting to feel a little bit better as far as nausea goes, but those twins have her worn out almost all the time. Please continue to pray for her pregnancy.

6. Jake is going to be having surgery to put tubes in his ears again, as he is having problems with his allergies and hearing again. He has his surgery on Wednesday of next week, so please remember him in prayer as well.

7. We are getting a chance to head back to the U.S. for Christmas this year, so we are leaving on December 8th and will be back in South Africa on January 2nd. Please pray for safe travels for our family during this time.

8. We met a young couple from Canada at the mall tonight, here with Athletes in Action. The guy is a professional soccer player and they are trying to organize the Christian professional athletes here in South Africa for some big outreach activities during the 2010 World Cup, which will be held here. It's always nice to make new friends!

Well, that's about all for now, we'll write more when we get a chance!

Jake's Quote of the Week (or is it Month?)

Worship Leader: "Who wants to go to heaven one day?"

Jake (in a loud voice, after the "amens"): "Not me!"

(And yes, the whole congregation heard it.)

Until next time,

Jeremy, Tricia and Jake

We're Pregnant... With Twins!

Wow. We are shocked. After over 3 years of trying to have more children after we had Jake, God has blessed us with two at the same time! Their due date is April 18th, though the doctor said that they will deliver them by c-section at least three weeks early, so around the end of March. We can't wait, but hope that the twins wait as long as possible!

Well, this a blessing that has us a little nervous, but we are overjoyed and so, so thankful at the same time. We know that twins presents a whole different set of challenges, starting from extra precautions in pregnancy, and proceeding up through sending both to college at the same time, but we know that the One who gave us this blessing will see to all of those little details. Right now, we're just trying to get these goofy grins off our faces! :)

Tricia has been feeling that good 'ol "morning sickness" for the past 7 weeks now, and it isn't just in the morning, either! It seems that two makes the problem a little worse than one does! Please pray for all five of us as we go through these next several months of pregnancy.

Well, we are so thrilled that we have such an extended network of family and friends that can be praying for us and sharing in this with us. It is difficult to be physically removed from everyone during this time, and we know that once the babies arrive, we are going to wish that we were able to share everything with family and friends (including sharing diaper changing duty!). As always, your prayers will be greatly appreciated!

Please feel free to share the news with your churches, we want our LINKS family to be aware and share in this with us as well.

Jake's Quote of the Week - Special Edition

Since we told Jake the news, he has really been on a roll:

"Mom, can you get muscles on your shoulders? I need to get bigger muscles so I can hold two babies."

"I can't wait until my mom lays two babies."

"I am so excited, I'm going to jump around like a kangaroo!"

"I'm not going to talk nonsense when the babies come, because then they will grow up and talk nonsense too."

Praises and Prayer Requests

Well, no need to be redundant here. We don't really have much else on our minds right now. :)

Actually, we would still very much appreciate your prayers for our ministry here in Africa.

Until next time,

The Johnson Five