Family News Peter & Lenora Hammond December 2004

Thank You for Praying for Lenora - July 2005

MOUNTAIN MARATHON MINISTRY

“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

2004 was off to an adventuresome start, as most years are with the Summit course. This leadership camp designed to prepare young people for the onslaught of humanism in high school and at college has become a firm favorite for Andrea in particular. She, and two of her best friends, attended the lectures and participated in the sports and outreaches with great enthusiasm. They enjoyed meeting young people from all over South Africa, the United States and as far afield as Ireland. Summit 2004 was our largest yet of these camps and the impact is far reaching. Daniela too enjoyed this time of fellowship and our boys came along and attended the fun outings, like swimming with the penguins. Peter and I were jolted awake one night during the Summit to a loud 'thump'. Calvin had fallen off of his very high bunk bed right on to the concrete floor! We really expected major injuries, but he was just fine. We are certain the Lord has assigned extra guardian angels over our children!

Our other major course of the year, the 3 week Great Commission Course was held in June / July and one of the highlights for our children was the 9-hour hike clear across the full length and breadth of Table Mountain. The last 5 hours of the hike took place in the dark. It was Christopher's second hike of this kind, and Andrea and I joined in on this mountain marathon as well.

We have just concluded our third year as a home schooling family. This lifestyle decision has changed the way we approach most things and I am becoming more and more confident with each passing year as I try to choose the best materials for our different children's needs. We have opted for the more eclectic approach this year and have found this to work very well. Andrea has developed a greater love for writing and has enjoyed her literature program the most. Even after reading time with Dad, both Andrea and Daniela enjoy reading on their own for hours in bed - until I demand ‘lights out!’

Daniela and Christopher have done well in their studies and I have enjoyed seeing their development in each academic area. Calvin attended a pre-school three days a week, which has been a milestone for him. His teacher reports that 'Calvin is very comfortable in relating with adults, but needs to enhance his relationship skills with peers'. Calvin has been so accustomed to relating to all ages, mostly older than him, that his first year at pre-school was a learning curve on how to relate to those his own age.

On the health front, Andrea and Christopher both needed their tonsils removed this year. Christopher's leg got stuck in an exercise machine which necessitated several stitches, and a night in the hospital. Apart from that God has blessed us all with good health. Christopher continues to receive regular care at the Renal Clinic. His renal function is decreasing as he grows, but a kidney transplant is not anticipated until he reaches puberty. God has sustained him with good health, and we count each day as a blessing from the Lord.

 

At the end of May, my nephew Thomas was married to Sandra. The wedding took place in beautiful Mondsee, Austria and was conducted in the church that the wedding scene in the movie 'Sound of Music' was filmed. The Lord provided for Andrea and I to attend the wedding and to visit with family and friends in Salzburg. It was Andrea's first visit to Europe, as well as her first opportunity of meeting her European cousins. She then stayed on for a further 4 weeks and helped out at the farm, which my niece Lenora and her husband Alois run.

 

Andrea helped with the Bed and Breakfast part of the farm, as well as looking after the domestic animals. She enhanced her German skills and got to know her Austrian family. What an experience it was! I attended a school reunion. This was a true walk down memory lane for me. It has been 28 years since my family and I left Austria to live in the United States. Seeing all these grown up, but familiar, faces brought back many memories and the evening was spent sharing many stories. I had come the farthest for this reunion!!

Peter, having just returned the day before from a 3-week ministry tour juggled the children's schooling, extra-mural schedule and the mission. With the help of some meals from friends he did a sterling job during my 2 ½-week absence

Outside of our daily classroom routine, Andrea and Daniela have again been very active in Celtic Dancing. Daniela, 11 this year, won a gold medal (and many silver medals) and has graduated from Bun grad to Tus grad. (The only way you move from level to level is by medalling in gold) Daniela has added hard-shoe dancing to her discipline. Daniela also participated in a choreography competition and came second. Andrea, 13 this year, has also won silver and bronze medals. She works very hard at hard-shoe dancing and was again awarded a certificate for dedication and hard work. Daniela also passed level one exams in ice-skating and is participating in her first ever Ice Show. 'Cinderella on Ice' is a very large undertaking and the opening night is on December 16th. There will be nightly shows (except Christmas) until January 9th. This is a huge time commitment, but also a great experience for her.

Andrea grows from strength to strength in Tennis and also joins me at the gym every week. Both girls passed the 'Royal School of Music' exams in grade two for piano, and Andrea continues with voice lessons. Andrea has become a leader in our church for the junior youth programme and both girls are very active in their Girl Guides pack. This year the Girl Guides celebrated 75 years of Guiding with a special thanksgiving Church service in Pinelands in which our girls participated. In May we added quilting to our bi-monthly routine. We are joined by two other home schooling families in this venture and it has been a thrill to see the girls so creative in their sewing.

Christopher, 9 this year, has continued his fencing lessons. He also continues with his classical guitar and recorder lessons. Granddad continues to teach Christopher how to play chess and they have built model cars together. Calvin, 5 this year, was introduced to gymnastics and has, with great enthusiasm, finally learned to swim on his own. Calvin too, has had his first lessons of chess with Granddad. The boys have improved greatly in their Scripture memory work, reciting whole Psalms at a time. Peter also takes the boys to the gym, up the mountain, into the forest, down the river and for shooting practice.

My parents returned to South Africa in October, for another 8 months. This is their third term in their South African home. This time though, they have adopted a 3-month-old puppy named Mitch. He has been a very welcome addition to our family, and though our cats resented his boisterous invasion at first, they are reluctantly accepting him into the fold. Peter, Daniela, Christopher and Calvin took Mitch on the SPCA's annual 'Wiggle Waggle Walkathon' - a fund-raising fun walk for pets and their people. For Mitch's miniature legs it turned out to be a marathon and he slept through the night for the first time after that adventure.

My Dad is an invaluable help to our ministry as the elder Statesman, and Mom is a tremendous support to myself and the family in more ways than we can count. It is one of Gods many blessings to be such good friends with my own parents, and to have them join us as we persevere on this ministry path (or obstacle course!).

I have enjoyed my third year of singing in a small ensemble group. We have sung for charities and in churches this year as well. God is enabling me to do some writing for Christian Action magazine and for a local home schooling magazine. I hope to develop this further in the New Year. I am humbled that God would allow me to home school our children and thankful that He is allowing us to grow as a family in this venture. Daily, I thank Him for the opportunity to know my children and to have the chance to walk this path with them. Peter takes Andrea for History and Geography and Daniela for English literature. This, along with his devotional times with the children in the morning and evenings has enriched us, as a family in ways I did not think was possible.

We had 50 people - many precious friends, family and co-workers - at this years Thanksgiving supper at our Mission House. It was a wonderful time of celebrating God's goodness and grace in providing for us in hard times and protecting us from many dangers. It has also been a joy to host many special friends in our home this year.

Peter was away on 7 ministry trips this year, he was a keynote speaker at 16 conferences and seminars and completed two new books: Character Assassins and the Discipleship Handbook. Both these books have received a tremendous response. Peter was also awarded an honorary Doctorate in Divinity by a Theological Seminary in the States. He is working on several history books and a Doctorate in History.

For the first year in his 22 years in Missions Peter has been without a motorbike. Last year it was stolen by a Nigerian crime syndicate. Then the insurance payout was needed to pay staff salaries last December. Finances haven't allowed us to replace his motorbike yet -much to the disappointment of Calvin and Christopher who always enjoyed riding with their Dad.

Amongst one of the more unusual answers to prayer this year, our one-year-old kitten, Stanley was found after being missing for two months! Peter and the children put up posters with Stanley's picture all over Pinelands - even on the local police station's missing persons board! Every local vet and animal rescue group was alerted to our search. Finally, 2 months to the day he went missing, a local vet called us to come and collect our long lost kitten. Stanley was very thin and had evidently been through some adventures, but was otherwise healthy and very happy to be back home.

This year was also the first time Andrea and Daniela had letters to the editor published and were interviewed on radio. Our family has joined the SPCA (The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) as volunteers and were encouraging people to adopt some of the many playful puppies and cute kittens in the SPCA kennels, and to support the work of the animal welfare groups. Daniela has particularly enjoyed volunteering at the Horse Protection Unit of the SPCA. Make sure you log on to Peter's new 'The Bible and Animals' web page: www.TheBibleandanimals.org .

You may notice the new Hammond family crest that Peter designed with the children. It reflects the Viking ancestry, English flag and German colors of the Hammonds and the Swiss ancestry of the Bathmans and our desire to be Christ centered, Bible based and serving Christ wholeheartedly.

 

The road in our ministry has been trying this year, at times more resembling mountain climbing in a war zone, but also one of growth in areas that needed it. God has strengthened our resolve to continue serving Him, in whatever capacity He has planned for us. May God give us the strength to be faithful in hard times, grateful in good times, enduring and gracious during battle. May the victory be His alone. Thank you for standing with us. We are deeply grateful for your loyal support, friendship and expressions of encouragement. May God grant you peace during this season of festivities and may our hearts and our focus be ever on Him Who came to give us hope and eternal salvation.

“May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else, just as ours does for you.” 1 Thessalonians 3:12

Lenora Hammond

Hammond News December 2003 - Serving God Wholeheartedly

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