EDUCATION, EXPLORATION and EVANGELISM

“ I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine making request for you all with joy, for your fellowship in the Gospel from the first day until now.” Philippians 1:3-5

Dear Friends and Family!

We pray your year has been filled with many wonderful stories of thanksgiving and that you are all well. 2007 for the Hammond family has been filled to the brim with travel, changes and adventure.

In February, we had the privilege of hosting our long time friends Floyd and Diane Peede. It was such a treat to be able to host them, and take them to all the wonderful sights around beautiful Cape Town.

The next few months of the year found us preparing for the monumental opportunity of traveling Stateside as a family. Ministry invitations, the marriage of our friends and co-workers in Tucson, and the opportunity to meet family and friends in the USA and supplement our children’s home schooling with a lot of field trips, meant working ahead in school and making all the necessary arrangements for being away for such a lengthy time. We left South African shores in April and arrived at our destination in Virginia tired, but full of anticipation.

Our first hosts, Homeschool Legal Defence veterans, Christopher and Tracy Klicka and their 7 lovely children blessed us with wonderful fellowship and an extensive tour of Washington D.C. We took in many battlesites, the Air and Space Museum and as much of the rich history of our forefathers, such as General Robert E. Lee and President Theodore Roosevelt, as time would allow. Ministry opportunities in Pennsylvania allowed us to travel to 'Amish Country', where we enjoyed viewing rural farm life as it is for these dear 'Horse and Buggy' folk.

From there it was on to visiting with friends in Florida and being able to take in the wonders of Walt Disney. Our friends Diane and Floyd looked after us, and took care of our every need. What a treat this was for us as a family. Ministry at Dr. R.C. Sproul's St. Andrews Chapel in Orlando allowed for wonderful fellowship especially for our children. Our hosts, the Johnson family welcomed us into their home and hosted a large gathering of like-minded people for us to get to know.

After a long flight to Arizona, we enjoyed participating in the wedding ceremony of Tim and Ashley. Tim, our longtime co-worker (Tim joined at our first Great Commission Course, January 1998) and Ashley (our dear friend and tutor) celebrated their nuptials on May 5th. Andrea and Daniela were bridesmaids and enjoyed getting to know Tim and Ashley's family. Peter presented the message at the ceremony. Arizona also provided an opportunity for a reunion for myself and dear friends Stacey Kinkel, Jan and Ron Gilbert and Kay Hilder. Missionaries Joe and Heather Rice, and their four children, who had lived in South Africa for 9 years, joined in on the reunion as well. It was a tremendous time of catching up and renewing old friendships.

From Arizona we drove through the night to California for ministry with Dr. Robert Morey. We were generously hosted by co-workers, James and April, and enjoyed the wonders of Sea World together. The drive north to San Jose afforded us the opportunity of visiting the Ronald Reagan Museum in Simi Valley. He was the first President I was old enough to vote for and it was wonderful exploring this part of our history in the magnificently laid out Museum. Peter pointed out to our children how Ronald Reagan won the Cold War, the role of their grandfather in Bible smuggling behind the Iron Curtain and the role of Rhodesia and South Africa in resisting Soviet expansionism in Africa. Peter was involved in the hot part of the Cold War in Angola. How different the world would be if the West had not won The Cold War against the Soviet empire.

Further north, in San Jose, we met our good friends in this western corner of the United States where we have established a Frontline Fellowship office. A full day of exploring San Francisco and the Golden Gate Bridge was thoroughly enjoyed, as well as the marvel of the California Redwoods in Muir Forest. They are some of the tallest and oldest trees in the world - some over 2000 years old!

Peter and Calvin traveled on to Omaha, Nebraska for the Turning the Tide Biblical Blueprints Conference and Church services. It was an anointed time of ministry and fellowship. Andrea, Daniela, Christopher and myself flew to Austin, Texas to meet long time friends Fred and Kathy Lewis. These dear friends have been supporters and encouragers for many years and it was a rare treat to spend a weekend with them. Their family live on a lake and introduced us to the joys of wakeboarding, waterskiing and tubing! This time was one of God's generous blessings upon us as we enjoyed rich fellowship and loads of fun .

We met up with Peter and Calvin again in Colorado and enjoyed several days with our good friends at Summit Ministries in Manitou Springs. On the drive there we were able to meet up with long time Tauernhof co-workers and friends Carl and Esther Bobb and family. Our children were also able to meet their Colorado cousins Daniel and Jesaja and Aunt Linda. We enjoyed a day together visiting Focus on the Family and the Air Force Academy (where Calvin would like to study). The girls and I even drove through snow (in May!) to attend the Champions on Ice show in Denver.

The long flight across the United States and back to Cape Town gave us ample time to reflect on the blessings, opportunities and 'once-in-a-lifetime' experiences we were able to enjoy as a family. Aside from sharing in ministry with Peter and having many educational field trips to museums and monuments, one of the more unexpected outcomes of such a journey is that our children were able to rub shoulders with other home-schooled families. Here in South Africa they often feel like oddities and it was good for them to experience fellowship with other like-minded families, and to see that they are perfectly well adjusted kids (with good social skills to boot!!). This US tour was a unique opportunity to learn and grow spiritually, mentally and in character, and to enjoy fellowship and ministry with so many precious friends. Calvin also used the opportunity to witness to many strangers.

After landing on our shores again, life raced on at break neck speed as we all attempted to catch up on things. Calvin made the Western Province Gymnastics team this year and has completed most of his grade 2 work. This year he joined Peter on two mission trips to KwaZulu and a road trip to the Eastern Cape. He frequently trains children in the Evangelism Explosion Gospel presentation and Way of the Master Ten Commandments. Among his many mountain climbs this year he conquered Devils Peak with Peter.

Christopher, alongside working through grade 5 and some of grade 6 this year, has taken up an interest in film making. His editorial skills improve with each movie, although sometimes his siblings grow weary of being the subject of said movies. He moved up from Cubs to Boy Scouts and enjoys the weekly adventures.

Daniela passed the medal tests to skate on the Junior Synchronized skating team. They went on to win provincials and nationals. They are now preparing to participate in the French Cup as well as the Spring Cup in France and Italy in February of 2008. This means we are at the ice rink 5 days a week, sometimes as early as 5:30 am! Daniela continues to develop her artistic skills, Irish Dancing, sewing and is preparing for her grade 5 Royal School of Music exams in piano. Daniela is now trying her hand at Drama and participated in a year end play. Fortunately for all of us, her culinary skills continue to be tested out on us as well!

Andrea is half way through grade 11. She is unwavering in her quest to study English Literature and is found frequently on her laptop ensconced in writing projects. She too is preparing for Royal School grade 5 exams in piano, continues on in Irish Dancing and takes Self-Defense classes. Her very active social life keeps the Hammond taxi service in business!

Frontline Fellowship hosted our annual Great Commission Course and Biblical Worldview Seminar in picturesque Franschhoek this year. We enjoyed a record attendance and got to know people from far and wide. It was one of our wettest winters in years, which added to the excitement of the night hikes through rivers on the mountain - which our children joined in on.

In between family commitments, running the mission, ministry opportunities and travel, Peter managed to complete a new book The Power of Prayer Handbook. We are hoping to finish a book on Reforming our Families by the end of the year.

The saddest part of this year for Peter was conducting the funeral service for his eldest sister Kath. She had battled with heart issues for some time, but her death still came unexpectedly. In the midst of all the grief, Peter used this opportunity to minister to the souls of his family in the Transvaal and England who came through for the funeral. My Dad travelled up to Zambia to take Peter's services and seminars there to enable Peter to concentrate on his English family. You can view the Memorial for Kathleen on our www.frontline.org.za website Memorial page. Peter also grieved the loss of two great mentors this year with the passing into glory of Dr. James Kennedy and Ian Smith.

For Thanksgiving this year, we hosted 50 guests at our mission. It was snug, but the fellowship and time of thanksgiving for all the Lord has done in and through our ministry was a memorable experience. My parents were greatly missed, as they will not be able to join us here in the Cape until January. Mom's ankle needed extensive repair and therapy in Arizona and travel was forbidden by her doctor. We miss their input, support, counsel, help, fellowship and blessings. It has been many years since we have spent a Christmas apart from them. We even missed celebrating Dad's 80th Birthday with him, but plan to make amends for that upon their return.

ITMI board members Jan Gilbert and Jewel Nothum put together a very special celebration for Mom and Dad, to commemorate 25 years of In Touch Mission, as well as to celebrate Dad's 80th. We are grateful to all our friends who had a part in making this event such a memorable occasion. Our ministry trip to the USA would not have been possible without my parents taking over many of our responsibilities here in Cape Town those 5 weeks. Dad preached at Livingstone Fellowship and helped with Frontline and Reformation Society duties. Mom looked after our home, garden and cat colony.

Thank you for all your love and encouragement. Your prayers and support make our work possible. You are greatly appreciated.

“Being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.” Phillippians 1:6

Lenora Hammond