SERVING THE LORD WHOLEHEARTEDLY

April 2004 Update

“…..What does the Lord your God ask of you, but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in all His ways, to love Him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and all your soul.” Deuteronomy 10:12

Dear Friends
What a privilege we have to be Christians. The Scriptures promise: “delight yourself also in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart” Psalm 37:4 and “but seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.” Mathew 6:33

We were also able to visit other friends and tour museums and battlesites. On the last day of our two week tour, we drove 1600km, arriving back after 3am to be re-united with our cats in Cape Town. This was a typical Hammond holiday: 6000 kilometres by road and 16 meetings!

The children have also joined in on many of our outreaches, distributing Gospel literature in shopping malls, in townships and squatter camps, presenting the EE Gospel presentation and helping to feed malnourished animals in squatter camps during film evangelism.
They have also joined in on numerous mountain climbs. For the first time 4 year old Calvin managed to make it all the way to the top of Lions Head. And Christopher, just before his 8th birthday joined us for a 7 hour mountain climb all the way up and across the full length and breadth of Table Mountain, descending in the dark. Christopher is a daily reminder of God's Grace and Mercy. He is our miracle boy and a living testimony that God answers prayer. From the time he was diagnosed with kidney failure, even before his birth, and since the doctors gave him no chance of survival, at birth, the call went out to our friends to intercede. Despite still being one of the kidney patients at the Red Cross Children's Hospital here in Cape Town, needing regular monitoring, Christopher is surprisingly healthy. Some of our men who were struggling on the gruelling Table Mountain hike commented afterwards how seeing “that little boy striding determinedly up the mountain” helped inspire them to keep going on this strenuous hike!

However, Christopher does get sick quite often, and has Lenora in tears. He is a determined young boy and does not let his renal failure hold him back. In fact, Christopher joined the missionary team in our soccer evangelism in Khayelitsha, when we beat the home team 5 - 0. So, thank you for continuing to pray for our Christopher. The testimony of Theodore Roosevelt and his resolution to overcome his early infirmities by making his body fit and healthy against all odds inspires us for Christopher, and it is our earnest prayer that, true to his name, Christopher will bear the message of Christ to many people.

As the New Year dawned there was much excitement in our home as Andrea's Tabitha gave birth to a litter of five kittens, under her bed! When the mother fell ill, we all took turns with syringes to feed the kittens a mixture of egg yolk and milk.

In October one of the kittens, Sophie, who had been adopted by Tim at our mission, gave birth to a litter of six kittens, under Tim's bed! This made the mission house a primary destination for all the children in the fellowship (and many of the adults too). These energetic little kittens, full of bounce and curiosity as they explore, are absolutely delightful, and several people have observed how relationships and productivity at our mission headquarters have improved since the kittens came to work. Much of the correspondence, writing and mailings are undertaken with cats purring on laps.

From the Home Front - Lenora’s Letter
Andrea: The last twelve months have seen our oldest daughter mature into a young lady. She has embraced growing up with open arms and delights us with her sense of responsibility and initiative. In our home school, she has improved her writing skills and continues to be a keen reader. She took part in the annual cookery classes our girls do with other homeschoolers and we welcomed her culinary contributions from France, China and Morocco onto our dinner table. It was her last year of art lessons at art school, but she added hard shoe to her Celtic dancing discipline. Andrea continued to take ice skating lessons, improved her piano and singing skills greatly and participated in the Girl Guide movement. The highlight in Andrea’s Celtic dancing was winning a silver medal at a Feish in soft shoe and participating in the annual concert. The choreography was beautiful and we look forward to further concerts. The year end musical concert saw her performing two solos as well as a duet with me. On the piano she played a duet with her sister Daniela and played two pieces on her own as well. As has become a tradition, she once again joined her Granddad at KwaSizabantu Mission for the Youth Conference in December.
Daniela: Daniela has flourished this year in our home school setting, and has discovered a real love for reading, especially anything to do with Horses and Cats. She battles regularly with the fact that we cannot move out onto a Farm and own several horses. The pictures on her walls bear witness to her love for these stately animals, and I have promised to look into lessons for her. The most significant development this year has been her skill on the ice. She skates twice a week now, with two different coaches and participated in her first Gala. She skated to the theme song of Toy Story, and wore a cowgirl skirt and vest. It seems she has found the sport for her, and we plan to develop this next year. We are blessed to live only 10 minutes from the (only) ice rink in Cape Town. For Daniela it was her first time at the cookery school, and though I had my doubts about her stamina to endure four hours at a time of cooking, she did well, and we all enjoyed her cuisine too. By October, Daniela had completed all the needed requirements for her Golden Hand in Brownies and has therefore graduated on to becoming a Girl Guide as well. Musically, her flare on the piano brings us much joy, and she too participated in an annual musical concert by playing a duet with Andrea and performing two solos.

Christopher: Christopher has just completed his first year of formal schooling. In fact, it has been a year of firsts for many things in his life. He joined our music studies by learning to play the recorder and by taking classical guitar lessons. Both disciplines have gone well, and he participated in a musical concert as well. We were thrilled to watch him play the recorder with two other boys, as well as playing a solo piece. He bowed ever so nicely at the end of his performance. Christopher also experienced his first soccer season and helped his team by scoring a few goals. Skating lessons continued to be part of his schedule, but most importantly he has made tremendous progress in reading.

Calvin, our very energetic 4 year old, keeps us alert at all times. He participates in our school day on an informal basis and goes with the busy flow of our daily routine. His creative imagination keeps him entertained when no other family member seems to be available. He is never without a question to ask, and nothing gets by him!! As a friend noted the other day: ‘Lenora, you have Peter Hammond on one end, and Calvin on the other, how DO you do it’?!!

For me it has been a pleasure watching the children grow and settle into our home schooling life style choice. It is my fervent daily prayer that God would help our children grow in all areas, in spite of my own inadequacies. There are several activities I would like to try and incorporate for next year, and I trust in God to give me the right balance of choices. It has also been the second year I have sung in an ensemble group. We have had a few performances and concerts, and with some of the parts I sing, I have felt frequently stretched out of my comfort zone.

If you read our family news last year, you will remember that I had the privilege of attending my niece Lenora’s wedding in Austria. She and husband Alois have been blessed with a baby boy. This, makes me a Great Aunt!

Having Mom and Dad here for up to 7 months at a time now has definitely been ‘one of the Lord’s all things’ (Matt. 6:33). They have been such a help in times of stress and have offered encouragement and counsel in our ministry during very trying times. The road we take in our ministry has been a rather lonely one to take of late, and we take comfort in the blessings of true friends God sends our way.
Thank you so very much for standing with us, for praying for us and for supporting us. Your friendship and encouragement is greatly appreciated. May the Lord abundantly bless, guide and protect you and your family as you celebrate the incarnation of Christ.
“For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulders. And His name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end…” Isaiah 9:6-7

Peter, Lenora, Andrea, Daniela, Christopher and Calvin

HAMMOND FAMILY NEWS UPDATE

"He has shown you O man what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God." Micah 6:8

Dear Friends

We trust this finds you all well and that the year 2004 is off to a good start. As the months roll by, we thought we would attempt to keep you updated more regularly this year, with some of the highlights.

Hospital visits
Two of our children, Andrea and Christopher, have been to the Hospital this year and in fact for Christopher it has been two trips. No, nothing related to his kidney failure this time, although the reason for his first visit was certainly unusual. Peter relates the story:

On 13 March, Christopher and Daniela accompanied me to the gym. I had just finished showering after my workout, and as I came into the gym, I could tell that something terrible had just happened. There was complete silence. Nobody was doing any exercises. Everyone was looking towards the back of the area, which had most of the treadmills and exercise equipment. A horrible feeling came over me that one of my children was somehow involved in this.

As I turned around I could see Daniela weeping. And then looking towards where she was facing, I saw one of the gym instructors carrying Christopher in his arms. Christopher's leg was at an awkward angle and he was bleeding from a deep wound in his leg. It was clear that he was in great pain.

As we laid Christopher on the counter and began to do some first aid and bandage up his wound, the story came out. After swimming, Daniela and Christopher decided to go into the adult section of the gym and started using the step machines. Christopher's leg slipped through one of the cracks and ended up getting mangled amongst the machinery. As he screamed in pain people rushed to help and broke away part of the equipment to get him out. It was while being helped out that the deep gash was made in his leg. It also seemed as though his bone could be broken or fractured and probably some tendons had been cut.

As I carried him to the car and raced him to the nearby hospital we were praying fervently.

The hospital closest to our home is where I was born 44 years ago. (And where my dear mother died recently) As I carried Christopher from the car, I clearly remembered rushing my mother through the same doors after her heart attack. A nurse was walking out as we rushed in. She hesitated, stopped and turned around. Plainly our arrival had changed her departure plans.

An X-ray established the very good news that no bones were broken or fractured. Further investigation by the doctor revealed that, incredibly, no tendons had been cut. Although the wound was deep and looked severe, we praised God that no bones were broken and no tendons were cut.

Lenora and her parents rushed over to keep Christopher company while we waited for the surgeon to arrive. (As Christopher had chosen to be injured during a major rugby match no surgeons were immediately available!) They finally put him under anaesthetic after 9pm.

Lenora spent a sleepless night by Christopher's bedside in the rather noisy children's ward. The next morning they had a long wait before the surgeon could evaluate Christopher and authorise his release, because the Argus Cycling Tour was on, and the doctors were busy all morning sowing up injured cyclists! Just to complicate matters, en route to the hospital, my car had a flat tyre and I had to speedily empty my boot of literature boxes to get at the spare tyre and change the wheel.

The funny thing was that just the night before, Christopher had climbed all the way up the mountain to the top of Lion's Head and back, without so much as a scratch. The next day he ends up in the hospital from an injury at the gym! But Christopher was brave and took everything very well. He has certainly had more than his fair share of hospitals and operations in his eight years.

Christopher's next operation was a routine Tonsillectomy. I (Lenora) think this was more traumatic for him as the recovery took so long and the pain was worse than he had expected. The amusing thing, in the children's ward, was that every time we saw one of his old surgeons or doctors and they enquired as to the reason for Christopher's visit, a 'mere Tonsillectomy' was considered a picnic after all the complicated various surgeries he has been through.

Andrea's tonsils also needed removing, and for her as a thirteen year old the recovery was longer and the pain worse. She relished all the ice cream and coke though!!

Joyful Celebrations
On 25 March, Lenora and I celebrated our 15th wedding anniversary. A joyful occasion with much gratitude to the Lord for 15 great, eventful years together and for 4 beautiful children!

The 3rd of April marked my 27th spiritual birthday. It was in a cinema in Pinelands, 3rd April 1977, when the Lord did a work of grace in my life, granting me the gift of faith and repentance and I publicly committed my life to Christ - the first time I heard the Gospel. Twenty-two years ago I first crossed the border into Mozambique on the first mission outreach of Frontline Fellowship - on a 250cc off road motorbike with 1000 New Testaments and the 16mm Jesus film.

Caring For God's Creatures
At the beginning of March, our family joined the SPCA as volunteers. The children thoroughly enjoyed the orientation training at the SPCA headquarters, and the next week Daniela had her first job in fund raising. Her team in Pinelands had the distinction of being one of the four most successful in that Saturday collection.

Our family's next call up for the SPCA will be to help with preparations for their annual Horse Show.

Both girls continue to enjoy their chosen sports, and Andrea earned a Bronze medal in her last Irish 'Feish'. Daniela has had her first Ice Skating competition and won the silver medal in her category. Both girls are working hard towards the Royal School of Music exams in Piano. Christopher continues to flourish more and more in our home school setting and Calvin goes to a pre-school twice a week. With them, he gets to participate in Gymnastics and a weekly outing to the Library. He loves showing us his chosen books during our family reading time.

I continue enjoying the privilege of having my folks nearby. They are such a great help in so many ways. Mom is invaluable in helping with the children's extramural schedule, and Dad is regularly immersed in counselling, writing, committee meetings and preaching. We celebrated Moms Birthday in March, and look forward to attending the 'Handel's Messiah' performed by the Cape Town Philharmonic this Easter weekend.

Thank you so very much for standing with us. We are very grateful for your prayers, for your encouragement and support. May the Lord be your strength and shield.

As we remember our Saviour's death on the cross for our sins, may we be ever mindful of our calling. We pray your Easter celebrations of our Risen Lord will be meaningful and restful.

Yours for the fulfilment of the Great Commission

Peter and Lenora Hammond
P O Box 74
Newlands, 7725
Cape Town
South Africa

Hammond News December 2002 - Praise God from Whom all blessings flow