Our last weekend in New York

Friday, Thomas went to the sessions (on preaching) alone and Jawé and I spent the morning doing some school work.  All the wives of the church planters were invited to spend the afternoon with Shari Thomas (a church planter's wife but also the founder of Parakaleo (http://www.parakaleo.us/about.html) - a lifeline for church planting spouses.  It’s a ministry designed to provide ongoing training, coaching, and relational support to empower spouses for their vital role in kingdom work.)  It was a great afternoon of sharing and encouragement. 

The rest of the weekend was full of visiting and sightseeing...

Friday evening, we were invited to dinner with Naldus and Santie Pienaar.  (They are family of friends back home.)  Naldus drove all the way from Basking Ridge, New Jersey (about a 45 minute drive) to come and fetch us (and bring us back!)  We had lekker lasagne and Mrs. Balls chutney.  :-)  But the best part was just getting out of the city and having good conversations with what felt like friends - although we just met!

Saturday morning, we were on slow-go.  But we did manage to watch the rugby online.  Although we were disappointed that the Boks lost, we were still very Proudly South African in Jersey City!

Go Bokke!

After the rugby, we decided - on the spur of the moment - to treat ourselves to the Circle Line (a boat cruise around the whole of Manhattan).  Unfortunately, we missed the boat (long story) and traveled to the station of the Roosevelt Island Tram.  It's a cable way to Roosevelt Island.  Definitely a must do when you are in New York!

Roosevelt Island Tram.

Sunset from Roosevelt Island.

Then we traveled all the way to the Brooklyn side of the Brooklyn bridge and walked over to the Manhattan side.  We were too tired to go home for dinner, so Anton treated us to dinner on his last night with us in New York.  Another great day out!

Brooklyn Bridge.

Farewell dinner with Anton.

This morning (Sunday), Anton left to go back to SA and we went to Trinity Grace Church, Tribeca (http://tgctribeca.com/).  Another couple attending the Intensive (Brandon and Amy and little Aiden) was also there and we decided to have lunch together.  Jawé and Aiden had such a great time of playing together!

Trinity Grace Church, Tribeca.

Afterwards we visited the 9/11 Memorial.  It struck us that the 9/11 attacks did not only affect America, but actually the whole world, as people from 70 countries all over the world died in this tragedy.

9/11 Memorial.

9/11 Memorial.

We hung out in Battery Park for the rest of the afternoon until it was time for the Downtown Redeemer Church service...

Battery Park - Jersey City skyline in the back.