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18 December 2004

My dear Friends,

Just to let you know that we are back on our previous tel. # and e-mail address.  Praise God for that.  We are so thankful for every little thing that is working for us.   Thank you - thank you - to you all - for your prayers - you might think it is a small thing you have done- definitely not-your prayers sustained us  and still do.    He will bless you for feeling with us and for us.  By now all our children are informed where we are and we are in contact. We are ever so great full to Janse, Antoinette and their son Paul - for the accommodation they have given us in a cottage on their farm. 

It still feels like a nightmare - I often said that I do enjoy the occasional nightmare - because when I wake up - I can say " Oh I'm so glad it is not true".  This one however - is a real nightmare - and it still hurts.  This thing (this situation) we have to handle  joyfully - believing that this pain will eventually lead to LIFE. A new and confident trust in Him alone.

A few days ago - I just had this tinge of hope in me - that we might be back on the farm - please do not get me wrong - I am not  like the double minded man  who is uncertain in all his ways.   I just do not want to miss an opportunity to pray in that direction if God is still planning to get us back there. He will make His plans for us mortals known - soon - we will see His hand guiding us in the right direction.  So many of our friends would like to see us back there.   Many of the black farm workers came to where we are and just sat with us in bewilderment - what now - they do not want to continue working for the new lady owner.   In the mean time Danie's beautiful crop - is rotting on the lands and nothing is being done about it.   This person who  moved into the house - came  with two beds and a table, pots and pans, a two plate stove and and iron(for ironing clothes).   How do I know this?   The house girl that worked for us - came here yesterday and said that she cannot work there any more.   They made her work from 7 in the morning till 9.30 in the evening - without a lunch break.   Then she had to do security guard duties at night as well.  Most of the workers have left the farm.  Not that we rejoice in this kind of thing - no - it is just such a disruption of people's lives and of the whole economy of the country. 

We know that our pain may have come from an evil source outside our own will - but we should now - as a family - not concern ourselves too much with where it has came from - but where it is leading us again this time.    Some of you were concerned that we will be bitter - no -  we will allow ourselves to ask questions and feel the pain and even grieve until this emptiness and weight in our hearts will make room for joy again.  Praising the Lord in adversity - heals the heart.   I have experienced His protection and love so often - I will never doubt Him.    Thank you for pointing things out in our lives - we will not harden our hearts - we will receive and learn the next lesson well.  We want to pass on to the next class - a higher level of responsibility and accountability.  It would be foolish to say it is easy - therefore we need Him so much. Please hear us - we will never say that our experience and pain is worse than any other  people. We are being taken through this course as well - so that  we can understand other people's heartache. Sometimes I feel like asking the angels if they are not tired of looking after the Slabbert family?

In my previous letter I said I will fight for justice - I have changed - rather God changed my heart and now I say: Please Lord help me not whine for justice - but by Your grace to follow Your example. 

Be richly blessed my Friends - we appreciate each and every letter we have received.

Love in our Messiah's Name.

Hanli - Danie and Hano. Hanel and Nicolaas will join us soon.   

Thank you for your kindness shown to Hanel in the States - some of you I have not even met.  Be blessed.  

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