The Value of Persistance

The saying says to treat all children as if they were your own. So goes Sister Amelia, whom the older girls call Sister Granny. Such a term of endearment. This was my first visit to what is called a creche. Driving through the poorest area of Luanda with roads at times almost impassable we arrived at a gate and once opened entered into a space that had been lovingly created to care for the poorest of the poor. Sister Amelia took us through this facility and would point at the tables or the chairs and say "do you see those tables? I kept going to the Ministry of Transportation and they gave them to me." Her story so revolved around her persistance to accomplish her call from God. The land, the facilities, the tables and such come from a sweet woman going before man and continuing to ask. I felt as if I were living the bible story of the persistant widow. What a woman! What a gift she is to all who have the honor to meet her! I had this honor and my life will forever be changed.

Company Christmas Gathering in Luanda



Vicki is ready for Christmas!

Our driver Ricardo and housekeeper Luciama enjoying the festivities.



Marit and Margaretha enjoying a conversation in Norsk.

Bente and Ernst enjoy some neighbor time.

Our neighbors Julliette and Kjetil and family.

Chris was thankful for all the wonderful food, friends and fellowship!

Erik and Stein keeping a watchful eye on all the festivities!

Some of the yummy food we had.

Face painting for the children meant we had a visit from spiderman!



The annual Statoil Company Christmas party was held on Saturday Dec. 4, 2010 at Atlantico Sul in Luanda Angola. This year Statoil employees plus service company drivers and the wonderful people who work in and around our homes were invited. The food and fellowship was wonderful. After dinner there was a DJ and a clown who provided music and entertainment for all. The evening was filled with the sounds ofa latin style music and a warm summer breeze which inspired everyone to join in a group train dance as well as dance challenges and a fun game of musical chairs, where the winner was hoisted up onto the shoulders of his fellow colleagues. We want to wish everyone Feliz Natal, God Jul and Merry Christmas!

A baby is born!

On November 26, 2010 a new addition graced our lives here in Luanda. Little Kara is named for our daughter who was also born on this date in 1979. Little Kara decided not to wait to be born in a hospital and arrived enroute and was delivered in the car with the help of her Grandmother. Her Papa, Ricardo was with Vicki doing the normal Friday errands. This Friday ended up being anything but normal. It was an incredible day for us all! What a blessing! We want to welcome Kara to the world and pray God will watch over her and keep her.

American Womens Assoc. Thanksgiving Lunch

Nov. 17,2010 was the American Women's Association Thanksgiving Celebration and Bazaar. The room was decorated with the sights and smells of a down home Thanksgiving. You could smell the turkey waititng to be served. First things first though, we began with shopping. Everything from handwoven baskets, African dolls, embroidery and jewelry. All locally made and  proceeds help to support the local Angolan ladies who made them. After shopping we sat down to a wonderful Thanksgiving feast! Everything from turkey to pumpkin pie and everything in between. Good food and great fellowship! As the celebration was ending the skies decided to open up and send one of the biggest rains I have experienced here in Luanda. I was so amazed at how the streets flood with water everywhere. Thanks to Ricardo, our wonderful driver, I was delivered safe and sound back home. Happy Thanksgiving From Luanda Angola!



International Day

The Luanda International School hosted the annual "International Day" on Saturday, 20 Nov. 2010. It was a sunny day and we got to see a parade of the different nations!  There was also dancing, sign language, fashion modeling, and food!  The best food was either the bacalaua from Portugal, the beans from Brazil, the sausage from South Africa, the meat and onions from Nigeria, the laks and lefse from Norway, the Guiness Stout from Ireland or maybe the pumpkin pie from the USA.  It was fun to experience all the different nationalities that attend the school and to have the opportunity to taste and learn about  their heritage and culture.  It was also interesting to see the grounds of the school for students ages 5-18.