It was sun, glorious sun, day in and day out. And there was just sufficient cloud to make some of the days bearable and to give the sun burned skin a break.  The guests all reported their best holiday weather ever. Three holiday teams, each with its own flavour, organized a program of activities for each day of the Western Cape holiday period.  Mark and Heike Moore and their young team led the first 10 days, followed by “Pirate Pete” and Rene Meissner and a team from Pinelands Baptist. Ron and Bev Mallory from His People with their team took us the end of the holiday period.

Each team brought their experience and their passion to organizing a creative program of activities, all with the purpose of sharing God’s love and his word with all who stayed at Carmel, from the youngest to the grandparents. Each day there was a Bible centered time for each age group: sharing and application being the goal of each session. There was the fun of creativity in art for the little ones, robust activity using intellect and energy for the tweens and for the teens, sporting fun and some  “hanging out together” especially in the evening hours. Many events drew the families together to enjoy the fun and laughter of water sports,  a talent Show, “a Minute to Win It”, a “Sherlock Holmes” mystery evening, “Who wants to be a Chocolatier?”, “a Choc Dice and Beetle Drive” to name a few.

Christmas Day was great celebration.  Nearly 200 of us met in the Carmel barn and celebrated with carols and scripture and an encouragement and challenge led by Gary Almeida, our new Ministry Coordinator. “Old Year’s Night”, “the Last Time”, ended around a fire on the park lands, with tea, coffee and hot chocolate, some fun items and family activities and finally with praise and worship, and a short challenge for the New Year. The evening came to a close as most enjoyed American “smors” together!

The two celebratory meals on Christmas Eve and on New Year’s Eve were once again outstanding. You should click here to enjoy the menus, even if it is vicariously!

Although this was a very short holiday period we were delighted that our caravan park and guest house was very busy and virtually full most of the time.  There was a lovely festive atmosphere at Carmel. Along with the participation of most of the children in the team events, many families enjoyed a scrumptious lunch and cups of coffee and Lynnie’s delicious cakes in “Coffee @ Kaye’s”, our new coffee shop in the hall area.