(I begin pretty much every one of my blog's bysaying something about how an update is way overdue, we've been very busy and internet has been slow or non-existent...so this one will be no different, because, as always, it's true! I've actually tried posting this blog about 4 times over the last couple weeks...maybe today will be the day I'm successful! )

 

 

Hard to believe we've been back in Swaziland for more than a month already. Ellie frequently asks when we can get on a big plane and go back to Grandma and Grandpa's house and see all her cousins. Things are of course back in full swing with life and ministry here. Since the Thanksgiving holiday isn't celebrated here, the Christmas season starts extra early, and we've already planned, prepped and pulled off two Christmas parties for the Timbali women, which included lots of fun, dancing, presents, and the key ingredient for any Swazi party: lots of meat! Last week I sent off 1200 Timbali purses to the US for Christmas sales. Ellie had her Christmas program at school 2 weeks ago, and now is on summer break until the end of January. We did take time to celebrate Thanksgiving by having 24 people from AIM teams over to our house! Pretty soon we'll be able to slow down and really enjoy a relaxed Christmas season, which I'm looking forward to!

 

Let me say a little more about our Christmas parties...

Our first one was for the 55 women who sew for Timbali in the Engculwini area of Swaziland. Not only was it a Christmas party, but it was also an 80th birthday celebration for one of the women, Ruby Nkambule. In a country where the average life expectancy hangs right around 30 yrs, 80 is something to be celebrated. Regardless of her age, Ruby's life is worthy of recognition...

 

Ruby grew up as a pastor's daughter in the same area where she still lives. She worked as a school teacher for many years, and I hear her students loved her. She's never been married, or had any children of her own, but has had up to 8 children in need of a loving home, living with her at different times. Currently she cares for 5 orphaned great neices and nephews. At 80 years old she still volunteers her time and energy at her neighborhood care point, helping to feed many children every day.

 

Ruby likes to stir things up and cause a little trouble and a lot of laughs wherever she is. Ruby is my "swazi mother" and when my parents visited a couple years ago, the first thing Ruby said to my mother was, "I am number ONE! You are number two!" Sometimes when Ruby sees me coming to return some of her bags she has sewn that need fixing, she runs away and hides. When we play games at our retreats, she's the most competitive of them all...and usually has to be reminded to play by the rules. Last year she won the limbo at one of our events!

 

Ruby really is a gem, and a great picture of someone who gives of themselves to help so many others. When the car I was driving was stolen last May, along with many of our possessions, Ruby gave me 50 rand because she felt so bad (that's about $7 USD, and she makes about $70/mo). Last year Ruby was blessed by several American women who raised money to help build her a new 2 room home (her old one was literally falling apart) and I can't think of anyone who deserved it more.

 

I'll end with a few pictures...