We’re currently in the process of shipping a container here from the States. This will be the second container we’ve shipped here and so far it’s still just as confusing as the first one. The import/export laws are pretty impossible to figure out, so I never really know if I’m doing things right until I get a call telling me a form needs to be filled out or the container won’t ship. I’m currently running into an unforeseen issue with one items so place pray for favor with the US Customs Office. Update: All issues have been resolved. Praise God!

The main cargo in the container are 30,000 curriculums that we had printed for our AIDS prevention classes. It’s been a long time coming that we’ve wanted to be able to hand out full color magazine style books to kids in these schools. We’re also bringing over 2 wave runners. Now before you get to thinking I’m going to out on the lake every weekend the main reason we’re bringing them over is really for financial reasons. As most things are, wave runners cost double here than they do in the states. The idea is buy used ones in America and sell them over here for a hefty profit. On this shipment there are two that we bought for about 3,000 each and we’re hoping to sell them for around $6,000 each bringing in around $12,000 for the ministry.

On a personal note, my dad bought me a grill that we put on the container, so in about a month it will be barbeque time for me. Why not just buy a grill here? They cost twice as much!

Even though is was a busy year the last few weeks I have welcomed the sound of silence around here. Something that isn’t too common around here. With the ministry being closed for the holidays and almost every staff member going back to the states to visit home I’ve been all alone around here. Most days consist of me just trying to relax, which you would think be easy, but pretty much every day I fight opening up the laptop and getting some work done.

With one week left to go until the ministry opens it’s doors back up and the big machine starts rolling I’m trying my best to do what I can to not think about work. I guess it’s time to catch up on all my Tivo’d shows and watch all the DVDs I can get my hands on around here. Only time will tell.

It all happened so fast I’m not even sure where the last few months went. There were so many projects to finish up before the end of the year that everything seemed to run together and before I knew it the year was over. By far, the two biggest and toughest projects were the 2 AIDS Prevention curriculums I designed. One was a magazine style which came out to be about 50 pages and another was more of a journal with around 125 pages. To pile on the pressure a bit more we’re printing 15,000 of each curriculum, so I prayed I just didn’t blow it. I’ll know in about a month when all 30,000 arrive on a container shipped from the America.

A few of the other projects that rounded out the year was our annual Christmas card, our year-end newsletter called Story Tellers, and finally rolling out the new website. Apart from finally launching the new website I think the Stories Tellers “coffee table” book was the highlight of the year for me. Everything seemed to come together and it turned out pretty much just how I envisioned it. Which isn’t always the way things go. If anyone wants a copy of it let me know and I’ll try and mail you one.

It’s been almost two weeks since everybody headed home to the states and left me on the property all alone. Without anyone else here there isn’t much to do. There’ll be days I’ll wash the truck or go into town, but for the most part I’m pretty much in my house all day long. I think I’ve watched every DVD I own… at least twice now.

The rest and relaxation has been great, but I will say that not being in the routine of a weekly schedule has really messed with me. Usually you have your Monday - Friday workdays then the weekends to relax. Now that I just relax all the time I have no idea what day it is when I wake up. I guess that’s because it doesn’t really matter. Wake up at 10, do anything for the rest of the day, and bed at 2AM - repeat.

Everyday feels like a mix between Saturday and Sunday, which I have dubbed “Sunturday”. On one hand I know I can just relax, but on the other I feel like a work day is just around the corner. Maybe I should just stop thinking about it and enjoy my Christmas break!

Story Tellers, a collection of stories from people whose lives have been changed over this past year was my last project for the year. I finished it up last week I am really happy the way it turned out. It’s got a very simple and clean design with some powerful stories inside. It’s at the printer now and should be going out to our mailing list by the end of the year.

As I said this was my last project for the year, so now it’s time to relax. It’s been a long time coming that I get some needed rest. For most of the year I felt pretty much behind on most everything, just barely hanging on and getting things done in the nick f time. I’d like to say that next year will be different, but I’m pretty sure this year was supposed to be different to.

My mind just doesn’t seem to quite get the whole, “work is 9-5″ thing. I mean, here I am on Christmas break and I can’t stop thinking about work. What’s worse is that I’m actually doing some of it now. I don’t know why, but I just can’t relax. I don’t know if it’s that if I don’t do anything work related I feel lazy, but I need to try and figure it out. If not, next year’s work is going to be here later tonight… and that’s not good.

When Josh headed back to the States for the holidays I got myself a new roommate. He found this kitten about a month ago and has since raise it. It’s now my turn to take care of it. He’s a fun little guy that always wants to play. My ankles are attacked relentlessly anytime I walk around the house and even at 2 AM he wants to climb all over me and play. Right now it’s still fun… we’ll see in a couple more weeks.

It’s not often I get mail from people back home, so it was an exciting surprising when I checked my PO Box and found a Flat Jake, aka Flat Stanley. It’s from my nephew Jake, of course, and it was my job to take the little guy out and around South Africa. As luck would have it I headed into the village this week to attend one of the graduating village classes. As you can see the kids were all about getting their picture taken with Flat Jake.

A couple of us were lucky enough to take Niel’s 4 wheelers out for a little run in the mud this weekend. I guess this one of the few good things about the rainy season being here.

Score one for Craig’s List. In just 1 day of putting my queen size mattress and box-spring set that has been sitting in the guest bedroom of my house in Jax for about 3 years on Craig’s List I had about 10 people wanting to buy it. And with the help of one of the guys that lives there it has already been sold.

The set had been sitting in the guest bedroom of the house since I left it behind when I first moved out here. I never really thought about selling. I was always just trying to give it away to friends, but no one every need it. Well, it’s gone now… and I even made a little cash out of the deal.

This was my first experience with Craig’s List and with what I’ve seen so far, I like it!

After my quick trip to the States a couple weeks ago where I spent 4 days on the ground and 5 days in the air I came back to a work load that I was not looking forward to. The first curriculum that I just finished up took me about 8 weeks to complete. The next one I have to do needs to be finished up in about 3 weeks. The reason for the hard fast deadline is simply that a container is leaving November 1st from the States and both curriculum’s need to be on it. It’s that simple. To make the deadline even a bit more challenging I’m heading up our annual Youth Camps this year where we’ll have around 450 kid with us over 9 days.

I know it sounds like I’m complained, but I’m really not. I don’t mind tough deadlines. To be honest it’s those that I usually hit. As for the camps. I don’t really enjoy all the preparation, but I know I’ll be having a blast once the kids arrive.

Well, that’s it for now. Time to get back to work.