First, there were more people than we had expected, and secondly there was enough food for everyone, and even more to point of having seconds. You mention it, braai'red sausages, braai'red chicken, pasta, potatoes, crisps, drinks, etc. Thanks to Maggie who had come to collect me and my wife had told us not to leave our grandkids at home.
The occasion was very international. I could hear a number of different languages being spoken because there were those of our friends from Ethiopia, Tanzania, Gabon, South Africa and us from Malawi.
Ulli at one point read from Phillipians 2 - which talks about Jesus Christ stripping off himself of the heavenly glory and coming to live amongst us. Then he reminded us how sometimes we cling on to earthly treasures at the expense of the eternal treasures God has for us after this world. Ulli shared with us his family's experiences of the recent robbery at their house, in which a number of their things were taken away from the house - television set, DVD, camera, etc. In such an experience, Ulli said, as he had told his wife and children, that he was very happy and thankful for God's safety and protection of their lives, because anything could have happened to them. And Ulli put forward the following question: Why did Jesus come down to us? Jesus Christ came down to save us/die for us, and rose up - giving hope for those of us who believe in him/we will live with him in his father's glory. On the wall of the house of Ulli and Heide, there we saw a cloth on which was an image of Jesus carrying the cross, and written on it were the words: "Born to die". Pointing to those words, Ulli explained that Jesus' work did not just end at his death, but that resurrection from the dead followed, and went to heaven where he sits on the right hand of God. Thereafter, Ulli explained to us the importance of the coming Christmas season.
Rev. & Mrs. Thipa, Stellenbosch University, RSA
