zooming in and out

While enjoying our grandchildren here in Brazil we started to prepare for our big trip. My “salwar kameez”, the Indian clothes I had bought during my previous trip to India, I put in my suitcases already. The gifts for our children and grandchildren in the Netherlands are almost all chosen. The interview for a documentary about our life on the Dutch television is booked, to shoot in the south of Holland for 3 whole days. Our visas for Australia are printed. The course to give in Haiti later this year is being prepared, and oh yes, the power point presentation for the lessons I teach in June through a videoconference from Brazil to the University of the nations in Kona, Hawaii are translated into English and can be sent. . .

Many different countries, with children in need everywhere. We are almost ready for a trip of 2 months, to mainly teach students from the various Children at Risk Schools in India and Australia, to multiply the ministries to children at risk. It will be a long journey, but what a privilege to do this together now.

However, our emotions quite torn, for example between enjoying our new little granddaughter and worrying about the immense problems the families face in Haiti. Sometimes I feel like a lens of a camera that zooms in and out. And I pray that it is God, and not me, who handles the zoom button, and who helps me focus on the things that really matter in life.

Will you also pray with us? Thanks!

We are grateful for a group like you, friends who are supportive and pray for us. We love it when we receive your cards and emails, and to read your stories. Thank you so much for thinking of us, praying for us, writing us and supporting us. What an encouragement! It makes it easier for us to continue.
God bless you!

Naiomi Joy, our granddaughter is born

Yes, Naiomi Joy is born, wednesdayevening 11 o' clock

She is beautiful!

A proud me! I had the privilege to assist in the birth, what an amazing daughter we have, she did so well! And what a miracle, this little perfect babygirl!

And a proud grandfather

Iara really liked her little baby sister ... for the first 15 seconds. After that, she was more interested in her new toys!

A proud mom, now of two beautiful daughters.

What a great family!

Gran awards

Just some nice pictures (from some proud grandparents!) that Jonathan and Johanneke made for us. We are expecting the birth of our fifth grandchild any day now, exciting!

Prayer points from 2 Thessalonians

Today I read 2 Thessalonians and it surprised me to see how Paul wrote some prayer requests that we would like to ask for ourselves! Especially now with everthing we are preparing for the school in Haiti. (They are taken from The Message translation.):

• Pray that our God will make us fit for what he's called us to be, pray that he'll fill our good ideas and acts of faith with his own energy so that it all amounts to something. (1:11)

• Pray that Jesus himself and God our Father, who reached out in love and surprised us with gifts of unending help and confidence put a fresh heart in us, invigorate our work, enliven our speech. (2: 16,17)

• Pray that the Master takes us by the hand and lead us along the path of God's love and Christ's endurance. (3:5)

Please will you pray with us?

Video made by Marios team in Haiti

We are working hard to prepare for a school that we will offer in the second half of the year for about 100 young people in Haiti. Vijone, the pastor in this video is right, there is hope for Haiti, hope given by God!
It will be a school of 3 months in which we will combine classes from:

• The Discipleship Training School (Basic Bible School of Youth with a Mission)

• The Children at Risk School (a school we give each year in Brazil to train people working with children in need)

• The Foundations of Community Development School (we offer this school this year for the first time in Belo Horizonte as well)

• The Teachers Training School.

It is a big challenge to organize, while the work here on the YWAM base in Belo Horizonte continues as well with 3 different schools starting soon. Will you pray for wisdom? Thank you!