Years roll on

It has been 2 years since my last post on this blog and so much has happened since then. The highlight of these 2 years has been getting married to a wonderful woman of God, Cara. We got married in October last year in Mtunzini, her home town and also the place we got to know each other for the first time. 

In the past 2 years lots has happened as I have said. South Africa hosted the Soccer World Cup in 2010, was interesting and beautiful to see phenomenal unity in the country during that time. Out of the overflow of that there were even rugby games in Soweto, which saw black and white braaing and drinking together outside spaza shops and in people's back gardens. 

Another big highlight in 2010 was the birth of a dream. My friend Regardt and myself have been talking and dreaming together for close to 10 years now. It has always been in line with starting a restaurant or coffee shop of some sort. By the beginning of 2010 we had decided that we would want to start with a coffee roastery. 

In 2010 we got trained on all things coffee - barista skills and roasting. Daniel joined us is the venture, which we rigged up on his folks' farm, Rosenview, in a 100 year old wine cellar. We started roasting and selling in September 2010. 

Another highlight in 2010 was a 3 week holiday in Mozambique with Cara's family. We flew to Vilanculos from Jozie, in a tiny plane, and drove up to Inhassorro. The house was on the beach directly across from Paradise Island and the Bazaruto Archipelagado. What a treat it was! I love Africa, and this was truly a beautiful and restful trip. 2011 was a very busy year, it passed extremely quickly. The highlight definitely was getting married to Cara. We got engaged in June in the Mfolozi game reserve, on the banks of the river. We were up in Natal for Cara's 10 year school reunion. 

We decided on Natal for a wedding venue because of its beauty and we wanted to share this place with our friends and family, most of who had never ventured so far north in South Africa. It was a wonderfully festive weekend, one of those that you wish will never end. Cara and I had an awesome honeymoon in Kosi Bay, Ponto de ouro (Mozambique) and Phinda Private Game Reserve! What a treat! Back home in Cape Town we moved into a flat in Rondebosch in College Road, with a lovely view of Devil's peak and UCT. 

2012 has started with a bang with a lot happening, but the most exciting so far being out pending trip to Kenya in April. Cara and I will be visiting the Nyeri district, just North of Nairobi. There are many coffee farms situated there, around Mount Kenya. We will also visit the Nairobi coffee exchange. We have 2 days before the rest of the missions team arrives in Nairobi and we join them on a 10 day mission to the Bungoma region in Western Kenya. We are very excited and look forward to seeing what God wants to do through this mission. 

Today is Corne Potgieter's wedding just outside Wellington and just after that we will drive to join my parents and family in Yzerfontein for the weekend. Through the past 2 years God has been working intensely in my heart and life! Most of the time it has been an uncomfortable process, but I hold on to the hope that it's for His greater glory and will see many lives changed for Him as we walk forward in faith. 

I love Jesus with all my heart and trust to live more boldly for him every day. He gave his life for me (and you!) and I am still learning and growing in the realisation that there is no better 'thank you' and response than to give my life for Him, He is the way, the truth and life!