So . . . Club Mykonos . . .

We sure did enjoy our few days there (even if the nights were not so great because of Dusty’s not sleeping; and Lande’s and Nate’s under-the-weatherness for a few days)! The weather was pleasant, the wind was not too strong, the amenities and activities are sufficient for our family . . . We wanna go again.

Here below you see a contented little dude, hanging around while his family is . . . can’t remember . . . probably eating . . . And on the right you can see the older two playing a game, while the other three are “watching” what is going on.

Our accommodation had two bedrooms, two restrooms, a kitchen, and a living room. We could sleep the whole family there. It was really quite comfortable. Also, you can see from the pictures below how pretty our view was. The room had a balcony with a view over a pool and west over the Langebaan lagoon. Looking far enough one could see where the lagoon meets the sea.

(Sorry this post is taking so long. I’m obviously still a bit of a dumb bunny when it comes to this technology stuff, ‘cos I keep losing pictures while typing stuff and trying to update information. Then it’s a whole long shlepp again to find the picture and re-insert it . . . )

Anyway, here in this spot there used to be a picture overlooking the Club Mykonos resort from our balcony, and next to it there was a sunset picture looking west to where the lagoon meets the sea (also viewed from our balcony).

We played Putt-Putt, drove a ways to drive ATV’s (Nate wasn’t feeling too well, so he stayed with Mom and Dusty), played in the video arcade, braved the summer heat on the tennis court, enjoyed an indoor swimming pool, blew a few Rand on pool, rode a pony (the kids did, anyway), spoke about using the sauna and playing squash (sorta like raquetball), and also visited a fossil site not too far from the resort.

Oh, look–I got the picture back in without deleting anything. Let’s hope the picture stays in now. Thanks, Barbara, for the tip on getting the photo in, and for helping with the other one!

Anyway, I’m going to quit while I’m ahead. You can get an idea from this how it was. Hope you enjoy the blog!

pretty wild flowers

We wanted to share with folks some of the beauty we saw during the Spring wild flower season: we went to a flower viewing area not far from where we live. It’s quite amazing to see the flowers appear “out of nowhere.” For most of the year one sees just low shrubs and grass. Then, when the right time has come, the flowers just appear. In some areas that is after a winter of rain; in other areas it is after a season of very warm days and very cold nights. And they come in various pretty colors: orange, yellow, white, blue, purple . . .

It’s interesting to see how important timing is to God. He says that there is a time for everything under heaven, and that he has made everything beautiful (appropriate) in its time (see Eccl. 3). God’s word through Paul is that Jesus came in the fullness of time (Gal. 4), and died for the ungodly at the right time (Rom. 5). God exists outside time, but, having created time for his purposes, he uses it to accomplish what he has in mind. And what he does at the proper time is, spiritually speaking, like pretty, colored flowers in their season.

We all experience times of much rain or little, much heat or cold. We do not appreciate those times, usually. But may it be that we trust God to accomplish the beauty of his work in and among us, during those wildflower times.

The Cullie’s were blessed with a trampoline by the generous gifts of Mr. Keith & Miss Martha and Miss Sue of the Berclair congregation in Memphis, TN. The kids have been enjoying it immensely, spending time on it in heat and cold, and when dry or wet.

Here you can see some of ‘em on it. At this point Dustin was still a wee little thing–even wee’er than he is now–so he wasn’t out there with the bigger ‘uns. Now for the sad, even if expected, news: Dad gets wiped out on that thing in two minutes flat. His thirty-something years have been hard on him, apparently! And the kids say he jumps funny!

This blog update is the first one I’m doing here, so it’s a test. Not too bad, eh? The previous posts were done for us by Barbara at Sunset. There has been very little action on the blog because we’ve not been feeding her any information, even though she’d been asking for it all along–so, it’s my fault there’s been no action all these months. But Barbara has now finessed me the information on how to do the updates myself, in meticulous detail because that’s what I needed. (She’s probably had enough of getting ignored by me.) So, now there will be just as few posts as before!

Actually, looking forward to communicating more frequently via this blog. With all our love,

Rod, Lande, and kiddies

Our family recently was impacted by the fallout of the mistreatment of mainly foreigners at the hands of South Africans.  A couple with a three-week old baby, along with a cousin, ended up stying with us for a few nights after they were chased out of their home in Du Noon, a suburb close to where we live in Table View, Cape Town.  Here are Michael, the cousin, holding Roony, and Melissa, Roony’s mommy.  Melissa’s husband, Solly, was at work.  Some of the other Christians in the congregation, like Craig and Saldri, stepped in to help by purchasing some necessary items such as diapers and formula (in picture) and baby clothing.  Other families around here also took some people in.

We praise God that their little shack (literally-this is not hyperbole: Solly and Melissa and Roony live in a wooden shack not much bigger than our bathroom) remained intact, and all their possessions were there.  They had removed some electronc equipment, which they managed to get stored somewhere else.

They were really thankful for the help they got from the various folks here.  While Solly hadn’t yet returned from work after his night shift, Melissa invited five friends (all from Zimbabwe) to join us for the assembly at Vic’s house the Sunday after they had moved back into their home.  The Zimbabweans were happy to meet Mark, our friend who is staying with us currently, because Mark grew up in Zimbabwe and cna talk their language.  While the nature of the assembly was no doubt different to what they are used to, we hope they were encouraged by their visit.  Again we look forward to God’s sovereign work to save people, no matter what the circumstances.  god is always at work-may all of these folks end up spending eternity with God!

The reality of Acts 17 comes in sharper focus in this kind of situation-God has determined the boundaries and times of nations, so that they may seek him.  These five found themselves displaced from their country because of the horrendous things going on there, and therefore were here in this area at this time to be invited to join with a protion of God’s church.

And they might one day-finding themselves saved-head back to Zimbabwe, to their own people, and tell them what great things God has done for them (Mark 5).  And so their movements can be used by God to save people.  As another biblical writer put it: they are here “for such a time as this.”

In the meantime, South Africa has to look at itself:  Why, if this is supposed to have been xenophobia, are 21 of the 62 people who lost their lives (sorry, were murdered), South African?  Indeed, the family staying with us are from the Northwest - they are not foreigners!  May God heal and transform us!  May we pick up more effectively this ministry of reconciliation (2 Cor. 5), and let God restore and heal all our relationships.

Map of Cape Town

OUR MISSION

Having been blessed with much growth over the past decade, a decision was made by our sponsors, Sunset Church of Christ, in Springfield Missouri, that rather than becoming a mega-church, with God’s help the goal was to plant as many new congregations as possible. And now after much hard work by the Cullingworth family, and thanks to the receptive hearts of the people here in South Africa and God’s grace, the Good News of Jesus is spreading in the Cape Town area.