This one is going to need a couple of tissues to read.  It is the true story as happened to Hanli’s Mom and Stepdad.  When there is too much darkness in our country, we sometimes fail to see the light that shines - here is your reminder for Christmas: 

Dear Jules and family; Avo family

“…and prove Me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.”

Last night Danelle phones me. She’s Zak’s niece.

“Erna, your ‘phone is going to ring tomorrow morning at a quarter to seven. I cannot tell you why. But make sure you’re awake and sitting next to the receiver”.

I set my alarm for 06:30. I’ve just had my morning coffee when the ‘phone rings.

“Good morning Erna. This is Jeremy Mansfield of 94.7 Highveld Stereo. I believe your partner, Zak, needs a very costly operation, and you’ve been doing some fund-raising. Tell me, how’s it been going?”

I know what this is about! It’s the RAW Christmas Wishlist program! They want to give us money! What to say? My innate greed fights with my conscience: just answer vaguely, don’t be too clear. See how much you can get. Why not? They want to give it away… don’t spoil the program. But honesty prevails, and I hear myself saying,

“Jeremy, you know, people have been wonderful! Within ten days of sending out the first email in which I asked friends and relations for help, the cost was covered. And even then, people have kept on giving. They’ve said they’re sure there’ll be hidden costs, and we’ll need more that we think.”

“Erna, that’s great, but I believe that some of the money comes from life savings?”

“Yes, my 90-year-old father-in-law’s savings. He did not want me to cash in my retirement annuity.”

“Well, Erna, I have someone here who does not want you to use those life-savings. Stephen Kloppers of MedTronics is on the line. Stephen then told me that his company, who distributes the device Zak needs, had decided to donate it - all of the ZAR 96 301,50 of it - plus the services of the expert technicians who do the adjusting!”

I tried very hard to concentrate on what he was saying, but I do not think I heard it all properly. I was dumbstruck, and shaking like a leaf. This was just TOO MUCH. Afterwards, when I started coming to my senses, I called Danell. She giggled gleefully. “Wonderful, isn’t it. Now listen. I sent in both your emails. The one asking for help and the one thanking people for their contributions. They already knew that you’ve collected sufficient funds. But Stephen Kloppers told me that that is why the company is willing to donate the device. If you did not have the funds to cover the costly back-up after the operation - rehabilitation, physio-therapy and so on - the device would be wasted on Zak. So relax!”

Hmmmm… yes…. I see. God knows what we need, better than we do ourselves. I do hope I remember that the next time I’m tempted to complain about anything.

My prayer for you this Christmas is that you, too, will know that “… my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus”.

With love from my grateful heart!

Erna

First let me just say in case it has slipped your mind…It’s December! A month of celebration. Did you know that the most awesome people are born in December. People born in December are driven, kind, gentle, warm, giving, loving, friendly, sweet, nurturing…sound familiar…of course it does -  I just described Jules and I…the golden pair, the black chick and the white chick…the Avo Queens…our names fill your heart with joy and gladness…at the sound of our voices you delight in our existence. It’s okay we know this to be true.

So before I launch into my reflections of 2007, just a gentle reminder . There are two dates you need to keep in mind the 24th and the 31st. And yes, we do accept expensive gifts. We live for your calls, with wishes of good health and propserity it is the least we can do for you. Allow you to submit at our throne.

Okay enough of our wonderfulness.

2007 at an end, and what a dynamite year, some much has happened to me personally and in the Avo space, engagements, marriages, death, new team members, new clients, new growth and so much more. Yes, it has been hard, it’s been challenging, it’s been exhausting but it’s been beautiful. It has demanded of me, it has stretched me, challenged me, reduced me to tears, humbled me, strengthened me. I remember sitting with Jules on December 31st last year and saying 2007 is going to be my year. It has been. Not quite as I had expected. We would all prefer plain sailing, it’s been everything but that. I would not change a single second for the world. The journey I have travelled this year has brought me full circle.

I am so grateful, for every tear shed, every smile, every laugh, every moment of despondency, every moment of victory, for every friendship made, for every friendship lost and for the pain of that loss.

I am deeply grateful for the opportunities presented to me in 2007, thank you. May the year ahead be filled with as much joy and challenge, may I be pushed beyond what I believe I can endure…it is only in times of struggle that I will grow with my darling precious Avos alongside me cheering me on.

Avos you have achieved so much this year. Well done. Celebrate your achievement, celebrate each other. May 2008 bring your joy and happiness, peace and love, propserity and thankfulness.

With much love E

And for the newly married Avos…GET ON WITH IT WILL YOU!!!!

Hi Avos

I just want to say thank you for giving me a chance to work with you. I never thought I could work in a company like Avo - since I left school, I’ve always worked for retailers.

Which I thought was good enough for me, so you guys you gave me the opportunity to show myself here. I’m still getting to know and learn things with you guys, so bear with me, I will do the best I can with the Avo’s because I’m getting there slowly but surely.

I’m enjoying working at Avo, people here are supportive (and a little bit crazy!…).

Looking forward to what the next few months bring.

So, I’m sitting here wondering how it got to the end of the year so quickly.

I remember many of us thinking (way back in January) that there was another year ahead that was going to take it’s own good time to get us through it… . Well, be careful what you wish for as they say!

Here we are at the beginning of December and most of us planning to take leave in the next few weeks, and I (for one), am dumbstruck by the feeling of “What, only how many days left till I go on leave?!”.

That’s not to say it hasn’t been a full and busy year, it’s been go-go-go since day one and it’s still buzzing!

Hey, at least (most of us…) have been kept out of mischief!

Anyone else wondering how we got here so soon?…