The Hillegas': August 16, 2014 Update

Hello Friends and Family,

It has been a little under two months since our last blog post. A decent amount of stuff has happened since then.

I (Zach) went to Singapore for a week at the end of July for a Finance Manager meeting with some other Finance Managers within Stoller Group. I am thankful for the opportunity to work for a global organization and to “broaden my horizons” in visiting new places as my Uncle Barry likes to say. Work for me is busy but good. I am growing a lot and enjoying my time.

Kait’s dad and sister visited us for a week and left this past Thursday to go back to the USA. We had a nice time with them (which included a safari and some sight-seeing) and look forward to seeing them again soon. Jim blogged about their stay here.

Wyatt is 10 months old and is cruising (standing and walking with something to support him). He loves to eat, he loves to be held, and he is close to the age where discipline will begin.

Bruce is learning his ABC’s, colors, shapes, animals, his first Bible verse (Romans 5:8 – For God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. – Bruce says “Christ died of us” - close enough!), and some catechism questions. He talks all the time and enjoys “family time,” which includes going on walks on the golf course, singing, dancing, Bible reading, and watching a “family movie” where we eat popcorn and drink Coke while watching an animated film. Bruce and Pop (Kait’s Dad) were bunk bed buddies during Kait’s family’s stay here, and Bruce loved every minute of it. Every morning around 6 AM, Bruce would give Pop a kiss and then subsequently "blind him by the light!"

The Lord is so good and has provided us with opportunities to love on our neighbors, our maid, a missionary woman in the area and even a Muslim bike shop owner from a nearby town. I pray that He (God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit - the living, triune God of the universe who commands everyone everywhere to bow down at His feet and worship Him alone) will give us many more opportunities to declare His praise.

Oooh…and Kait is 13 weeks pregnant. We are expecting baby #3 at the end of February. We saw the little one on an ultrasound a few weeks ago. All of us are excited to have our first South African baby. The main issue we will have to contend with is that he or she will be confused when we jam to “Born in the USA,” but we will do our best to graft him/her in like the Gentiles (our ancestors) were grafted in to the church.

“Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD, the fruit of the womb a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the children of one's youth. Blessed is the man who fills his quiver with them! He shall not be put to shame when he speaks with his enemies in the gate.” (Psalm 127:3-5 ESV)

Love,

The Hillegi

P.S. Here are some pictures