John and Bethany Arndt

So here in these un-united states of Africa, we don’t have anytime minutes, peak, rollover, or contracts really. And smart phones are also very sparse. Yes, we still love our simple, gummy button Nokia’s. We simply and often not so simply use airtime, paying per minute. We buy phone minutes at the grocery store or gas station, along side our milk. So gone are the days of chatting for pleasure or even taking time to decide plans via the phone. Text messages are the main form of communication and I email with my colleagues as much as possible. The cost of airtime is not cheap on the whole either.

This is why I am calling all Blackberries. Blackberries are the smart phones of South Africa and they would allow us to talk via Blackberry to Blackberry for free, not to mention internet on them is radically cheap! Do you have an old Blackberry sitting in a drawer or desk, now that you use your I-phone? They cost around $400 still here. :0

If you do, would you consider mailing it to my Dad, as he is coming here in two weeks. You can send it to:

Joe O’Connor
1335 Centennial Dr. SE
Salem, OR 097302

I would not be able to thank you enough!!!!

We just celebrated how He came for us. He left royalty and universal dominion to transcend into helplessness, defenselessness, pure weakness… With this standard of humility we have a lot to live up to.

Emmanuel: God with us.

And now 1/1/11? Oh my word. Time is a phenomenon.

My holidays were simple & lovely. My first Christmas away from home, yes in 28 years. And as expected, the Christmas package from home is still sitting somewhere in the South African postal system… perhaps I will see some gifts by Easter.

I was thankful to spend Christmas with John and his amusing & amazing family. All 9 Arndt family members were together for xmas, for the first time in 5 years! While it was 80 degrees out and we visited the beach on Christmas day, we also enjoyed carols by candlelight, amazing meals, games, and baby Claire who captured everyone’s gaze, at virtually every moment.

I am praying that more of earth will receive her King this year. That many more hearts will prepare Him room.
The wonders of His love are for the taking people… grab them, ponder them, delight in them…at the very least research them…

I implore you.

Hahaaaa-apppp – yy New YEAR!