Nuusbrief / Newsletter - January 2554

Dagsê aan al my vriende en vriendinne daar in Suid-Afrika. Ja dit is al weer 'n nuwe jaar en 'n nuwe maand. Soos julle weet is ek al weer terug hier in die Ooste. Was dit vir jou weer 'n gegroet daar in SA voor ek weer Bangkok toe vertrek het, om maar net weer op 'n vliegtuig te klim na Penang in Maleisië. Hier geland het ek aan die werk gespring om Jonathan-hulle te help pak en toe breek nuwe jaar vir die tweede maal aan.

Ja dit was weer vir jou 'n groot gegroet daar in SA voor ek weer die lang vlug aangepak het Asië toe. Hier geland het al die bekende gesigte my sommer weer laat tuis voel. Ek het ook die gebeds groep uit SA hier ontmoet en 'n dag saam met hulle spandeer. Dit was, soos julle kon raai, vet pret gewees. Maar voor ek my oë kon uitvee was ek alweer op die vliegtuig op pad na Penang.

Die vriendelike gesiggies van Danelin en Alissa, Jon en Cally se dogters, het my op die lughawe ingewag. Die eerste ding wat hulle egter van my wou weet was, of ek vir hulle biltong saam gebring het. En het hulle die biltong geniet. Toe breek die groot gepak aan. Kyk het ek nou vir jou gesweet in die warem weer. Die drie maande in SA se koeler weer het my sag gemaak vir die hitte hier.

Gelukkig is die gepak onderbreek deur die Sjinese nuwe jaar. Ons moes al Jon en Cally se ooms en tannies gaan besoek en almal het vir ons kos voorberei. En daar word nie 'n nee dankie, ek is versadig aanvaar nie. Ek moet darem sê die kos was heerlik. So, as alles goed verloop, beplan ons om so die 14de Februarie uit te vlieg na Thailand toe.

Dan net duisende dankies vir die lekker tyd daar in SA. Dit was waarlik iets besonders vir my gewees. Ek verlang darem so 'n bietjie na julle almal, maar kan nie wag om Ranong toe te gaan nie.

Liefde groete,

Philip อํานาจ

Leeu-dans vir Sjinese nuwe jaar /

Lion dance at Chinese new year

 

Groot gepak / The Big Pack

Good day to all my friends in South Africa! And so a new year and a new month has started and as you know, I am already back here in South East Asia. Before leaving for Bangkok, I had a great send-off in South Africa. I arrived here and had to, almost immediately, get on another plane to go to Penang in Malaysia. On arriving in Malaysia I got stuck in with helping Jonathan and the family pack up and also celebrated new year for the second time.

Prior to my departure, there was a big farewell before I embarked on the long journey back to Thailand. As I landed here all the familiar faces made me feel so at home. I also met up with a prayer team from SA who were in Bangkok and spent a whole day with them - as you guessed, it was really great. But before I could even settle, I was on a plane to Penang.

There the friendly faces of Danelin and Alissa, Jon and Cally’s daughters, greeted me at the airport as I arrived. The first thing they wanted to know from me is whether I brought biltong with me! Unnecessary to say, they enjoyed it a lot. And then we got stuck in packing up their entire home. And did I perspire in that hot weather – the 3 months in SA’s much cooler climate softened me for the heat and humidity here.

In the middle of the packing, we were interrupted by the Chinese New Year. This celebration is very traditional in Asia, with the result that we had to go visit Jon and Cally’s uncles and aunts, who prepared the special delicacies. “No thank you I am stuffed” is not an option but I must say, the food was delicious. If all goes well, myself and the Kwok family should be flying out to Thailand on the 14th of February.

I just want to say a very big thank you for the wonderful time in South Africa. It was truly something special for me. Even though I miss you a little, I can't wait to go to Ranong.

Loving greetings

Philip อํานาจ