TMS Spring Banquet

Last Friday, March 30th, was The Master's Seminary Spring Banquet at the Ronald Reagan Library. Andrew Zekveld, one of my good friends who is a first-year seminary student from South Africa asked me to accompany him. It was great to be able to support him and be a part of this time of refreshment and relaxation for him because of all the hard work he's put in this semester. Also, because I was a homeschooler, you can imagine how excited I was to be invited to a formal event that I had to dress up for...very exciting ordeal for me because, think about it, I never had a prom, winter formal, nothing!

My wonderful Mom pre-arranged her morning so that she could give me a manicure and pedicure for the event, she did a great job. I also made appointments to get my hair done by the greatest stylist in the world and to get my make-up done by Clinique. You have to hear about God's KINDNESS to me in this matter. He knew I really couldn't afford both appointments, so my mom was eager to let me take out a loan from her because of the rarity of occasions like this, and because of her compassion for me for the fact that I never went to a prom. :) Anyways, God allowed my stylist to be over an hour late for my appointment with her (she had accidentally scheduled me for SATURDAY morning, not Friday), and so she insisted that she style my hair for free that day. Isn't God good? He knew I really couldn't afford to get my hair done, but He let me anyways, for free! He's such a doting Father! Can you believe that after the incalculable gift of salvation, He doesn't stop giving or caring, even caring about the small things of this world, like hair-dos? Thank you, God!

The stylist did my hair PERFECTLY, just like I wanted it done. :)




Andrew picked me up promptly at 2:45 pm, giving us enough time to drive up to Anton and Marietjie's place so that we could carpool to the Library from there. The four of us really had a blast. We stuck together the whole afternoon and evening. So much laughter! Thank you God for the blessing of friendship!

Air Force One! Definately the highlight of the museum.

Andrew bought a copy of this photo for both of us. His pose is quite presidential, don't you think?


The afterglow of the Air Force One tour.

The view from the back of the Library is so beautiful. I love this shot of the four of us. We took this during the cocktail hour before dinner. (I must say that the shrimp was amazing, as were the cheese, crackers and bread.) This was where I had the opportunity to meet more of Andrew's friends and seminary professors. I had already met quite a few during the tour of the museum. I was surpised how many other South Africans there are at our church and seminary! I'm beginning to realize that all South Africans are happy, jolly people, and the ones at our church LOVE each other and LOVE God and LOVE the gifts He's given us.

Dinner was quite amazing. Gourmet salad, filet mignon and grilled salmon, mashed potatoes, cooked vegetables, WONDERFUL bread, and a tri-dessert plate and coffee! Andrew and I sat at a table with Anton and Marietjie, Dr. and Mrs. Drew, a couple who are Anton and Marietjie's neighbors (I'm blanking out on their names right now), and another seminary student and his date.

Apparently Mr. Clayton Erb is a friend of Dr. Drew's. When I expressed my excitement at Clayton coming to visit our table, Andrew just went ahead and took a picture of him! :)

These are all the South Africans in attendance that evening. Well, Holly Drew and I were at least South African for that picture. :)

After dinner Jubilant Sykes and Christopher Parkening performed a mini-concert for us. It was SO enjoyable. I think it was my first time listening to Jubilant in a smaller intimate setting like that. A few songs he went ahead and sang without a microphone...MAN his voice is powerful! When they both stepped off of the stage the whole audience gave a standing ovation and called for an encore.

Christopher Parkening also shared a short version of his testimony with us. He's a real cool guy.

After the banquet Andrew and I spent a little bit of time at Anton and Marietjie's, eating ice cream and talking.

Thus concluded our wonderful evening at the Spring Banquet!