November 26 marked the U.S. Thanksgiving holiday. Thanksgiving brings families together from all over the country to share in meals, stories, games, and fun. Thanksgiving also helps each one of slow down enough to take time and give thanks for all that has happened in our lives over the course of the year. Despite being in South Africa, all of us who are part of the East Mountain community also took time to share in a time of thanksgiving and fellowship. Families from South Africa, England, and the United States gathered at the EM House and celebrated together as the family of Christ, rejoicing in all that God has done in our individual lives and in the ministry here at East Mountain.

Friday and Saturday also brought the final class in the 2015 Cape Town Course in Discipleship & Mission. Gabe Smith, East Mountain’s co-director, facilitated the final class, which was on homiletics. Saturday evening, we held a small ceremony celebrating the five people who completed the 2015 course in its entirety. As we have now officially closed down the Port Elizabeth and Cape Town Courses in Discipleship & Mission for this year, we eagerly anticipate continuing to move forward with providing training and equipping modules for Christian leaders in South Africa in 2016.