Hand in Hand

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I have been very encouraged by friendship.

 Actually, to be totally honest, I have been blown away.

For those who read my blog regularly , you will know that our eldest son has been selected to travel to Bulgaria to take part in an international Maths competition. 

This is an enormous privilege and honour and we are thrilled on many levels. 

Along with much maths training and fun we have to raise a large sum of money to pay for his trip. 

So, we have set about trying to raise the money. There are three key areas of fundraising here. Firstly large corporate funding ; secondly our own personal fundraising and then lastly the three Sweet Valley boys chosen to go , fundraising as a group!!

So we have begun....

I have taken on two new adult beginner art classes. Doug has taken on some extra work too.

My art classes are really popular and I am looking forward to these .

James has also spent some of his holiday walking dogs, watering plants and feed ing pets to earn some extra cash. He has a few car washing jobs and a window cleaning job to complete. All in all people have been generous and kind. 

These little bits of work have been very good for us all and for James to do.

Working for money is a good life lesson.

The thing that has totally blown me away and has surprised me has been those people who have taken James under their wing so to speak and have blessed us and him with either a one off donation ; or by donating a worthwhile thing to be used as a raffel. Two fab friends are going to organise a benniffit concert in their garden for us.

Another has offered her fab sports equipment for James to sell and get something from it.

 Wow!!

I am so overwhellemed by people and their love and support.

Thank you very much.

I did not anticipate this amount of support and kindness. 

Friends holding hands and encouraging and supporting.

Thanks you!!

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Becoming all things Maths

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Becoming all things Maths

This year our school entered the top Maths pupils into an international maths competition. Our eldest son James was entered along with some of his friends.

There were 250 children from around the Western Cape, South Africa. We though it would be a great opportunity to have some more maths experience and enjoy time doing something he loves.

We never in our wildest dreams expected him to actually make the team.

Round two came along and James was selected.

Then the call….. Your son, James has been selected to represent your province and country in the Bulgarian IMC – International Maths Competition.

And so there it is. Our minds were totally spinning with shock and delight. What an experience. The team of 4 boys get to travel to Bulgaria with the chaperones fromhttp://www.elkanah.co.za/

16 children were selected from the 250.

The spend 7 days away where they will be eating, drinking and doing all things maths.

As Christians we are so aware that God has blessed James with his special Maths thinking brain. He is a hard worker and he has enjoyed excellent maths teachers over the years at his school. Each has built another block in his exceptional experience of Maths. Things like Living Maths which is offered at school also played a part in building all things maths.

We thank Jesus for this opportunity for James. He has a good friend who also made it and so they will travel together. Another school friend is off to Hong Kong. Three boys in total made it from Sweet Valley Primary which is another testimony to the excellent maths teaching at this school.

All things maths !

All things Maths is the motto for the term ahead. We have some serious fundraising to do as a family. We need to raise about 

R20 000 .

We met last night with the other two families and thrashed out some great ideas for raising funds.

The boys are part of this process. They are going to be so enriched and grown by this entire experience.

One of the things that thrills me about this strong Maths gift in James is that in the greater South African context, our country desparately needs people who are strong in Maths and Science. Coming from such a broken history, we would be thrilled if God were to use our James in a powerful way in this beautiful land of ours- South Africa – For His Glory!!

If you would like to donate some money towards all things Maths and James’ journey, please let me know on Caren.falconer@gmail.com