Our Children at Risk (CAR) students were given the task of teaching a seminar about how to help children of refugees with their trauma. One of the leading organizations working with refugees in Holland had organized the evening in a local church and asked our students to give this presentation. We have great materials for a presentation such as this, but before launching into the seminar, the CAR students tried to help participants reflect on all the losses refugees have suffered, imagining how that might feel.
It´s really impossible to sense the loss refugees have experienced, but this interactive exercise was used as an imaginary bridge to their reality.
Your life on 16 slips of paper
Everyone received 16 pieces of paper on which they had to write their 4 favorite people, 4 favorite things to do, 4 most important possessions and 4 dreams for the future. Soon the slips of paper contained the names of husbands, wives, children, parents, hobbies like ice skating, running, cycling, photography, things like laptops, washing machines, cars, cameras and dreams like marriage, having kids, a new job, etc.
Only 4 left
The atmosphere was nice—people smiled as they wrote all those things down. But when the next part of the exercise was announced, people suddenly became very quiet: Your neighbor would randomly choose 4 of your 16 papers, and you would tear up the other 12.
“An attack happened in your city, and you had to flee”, one of our students explained to the group.“ Those 12 things and people on your little papers, you just lost…” You heard people gasping. “But the four remaining pieces of paper you neighbor selected, you can take them back—you still have them”.
Quickly people looked at what was written on the remaining papers. Some thanked their neighbor: “You saved my brother”, I heard one whisper, “I’m so glad to still have him”. But the atmosphere felt loaded. Wide eyed, they looked at our students who gave each participant a balloon.
Popping balloons
“Please blow up the balloon and write the four items you still possess on the balloon. The room was very quiet as everyone was busy and still in shock trying to imagine what would happen next. Suddenly a few of the students went around and popped all the balloons. “As you were fleeing your city, your group got attacked, and now you have lost those last 4 things”, one of the students explained. “How do you feel now?”
“I am so angry”, called out a blond-haired lady.
“I feel scared, fearful”, another said quietly, “seems there is no reason to continue living”.
“I feel as if there is no more hope for me, I lost everything”, said a young woman with tears in her brown eyes.
“Angry, fearful, depressed, hopeless…” Suddenly the penny dropped—yes, that is how refugees must feel. Only for them it is not just an exercise with 16 pieces of paper, but their everyday reality….
"There is Hope" booklets
We sometimes give this kind of introduction for people in western countries who have not gone through a collective trauma, in order to help them understand a little bit of what refugees experience and identify with refugees’ feelings. Then we can explain how the “There is Hope” booklet can be used to help children deal with their trauma. Children who have suffered so many losses need a lot of help.
We teach parents, caregivers and teachers to listen to the children’s stories as they proceed through the booklet, in order to give them closure and new hope. It helps the kids see that God loves them, that He is with them and willing to help. God has not deserted them but wants to comfort them. In all the fear and uncertainty, Jesus remains the rock and point of reference in whom they can trust. Children learn to put their hand in the hand of Jesus.
Refugee camps in the Middle East
Our students did a great job, and it served as preparation for the three months of practical outreach among refugees in the Middle East, where they are scheduled to give this same presentation (but without slips of paper and balloons!) to parents and caregivers of children in the refugee camps.
Lecture phase is finished
The three-months lecture phase of our Children at Risk school at the Heidebeek base in Holland passed so quickly. Besides practical experiences as described above, the students received a broad spectrum of classes about Children at Risk, how to help them, how to structure different ministries, some pitfalls and best practices. The course is registered at the University of the Nations (the training arm of YWAM). They had to write book reports, make journals, take tests and develop projects. At the end of the course, we were so proud that all the students had passed with flying colors—so we celebrated!
Now the students are away for an international outreach, using the things they learned during the lecture phase. We plan to visit them in June, then move with them to the next country in the Middle East. Please pray for protection on the whole group!
Hungary, Switzerland and a national revival conference
Next week Johan and I are going to Budapest, Hungary, where we have been invited to give a few workshops at a conference called “Reaching Europe’s Children”. Many participants come from the eastern part of Europe and represent many churches and mission organizations. We have also been invited to teach in a YWAM school in Switzerland this July. Between these two programs, we will be camping in a rented camper at an annual revival conference with two of our grandchildren. This is quite a happening, as the conference draws over 50,000 Christians from all over Holland. We are looking forward to this special time!
Health struggles
Over the last few months, we have been spending some extra time with doctors and at the hospital. First, Davi became very sick when he came to stay with us over the weekend. We rushed him to the local hospital, and they sent him straight to a specialist at the main university hospital. They soon admitted him with a kidney infection. As he is prone to such infections, we were happy that it was detected just in time. They put him on strong intravenous antibiotics, and a few days later he was able to go home feeling a lot better. But on a diagnostic scan, they detected something strange on his stomach. They scheduled a special test to identify this, and just yesterday we got the results. Everything is okay--what a relief! Please continue to pray for his health.
l (Jeannette) needed to look for a better brace for my foot that is partially paralyzed, because the last brace I got fits in only one pair of shoes and is too hot for the tropics or even summer in Europe. Looks like I have been successful finding an appropriate one. But, as I had already given away most of my old shoes, now I have to go shopping for new shoes! That is certainly something to look forward to! 😊
I also had to get some skin cancer spots removed. This is something I must be very careful about in the future. Would you please keep this in your prayers also?
We thank you for the ways you participate with us—in prayer, with gifts and in communication. We wish you all God´s richest blessings!
Prayer points:
Your life on 16 slips of paper
Everyone received 16 pieces of paper on which they had to write their 4 favorite people, 4 favorite things to do, 4 most important possessions and 4 dreams for the future. Soon the slips of paper contained the names of husbands, wives, children, parents, hobbies like ice skating, running, cycling, photography, things like laptops, washing machines, cars, cameras and dreams like marriage, having kids, a new job, etc.
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| With the staff of the Children at Risk School |
The atmosphere was nice—people smiled as they wrote all those things down. But when the next part of the exercise was announced, people suddenly became very quiet: Your neighbor would randomly choose 4 of your 16 papers, and you would tear up the other 12.
“An attack happened in your city, and you had to flee”, one of our students explained to the group.“ Those 12 things and people on your little papers, you just lost…” You heard people gasping. “But the four remaining pieces of paper you neighbor selected, you can take them back—you still have them”.
Quickly people looked at what was written on the remaining papers. Some thanked their neighbor: “You saved my brother”, I heard one whisper, “I’m so glad to still have him”. But the atmosphere felt loaded. Wide eyed, they looked at our students who gave each participant a balloon.
Popping balloons
“Please blow up the balloon and write the four items you still possess on the balloon. The room was very quiet as everyone was busy and still in shock trying to imagine what would happen next. Suddenly a few of the students went around and popped all the balloons. “As you were fleeing your city, your group got attacked, and now you have lost those last 4 things”, one of the students explained. “How do you feel now?”
“I am so angry”, called out a blond-haired lady.
“I feel scared, fearful”, another said quietly, “seems there is no reason to continue living”.
“I feel as if there is no more hope for me, I lost everything”, said a young woman with tears in her brown eyes.
“Angry, fearful, depressed, hopeless…” Suddenly the penny dropped—yes, that is how refugees must feel. Only for them it is not just an exercise with 16 pieces of paper, but their everyday reality….
"There is Hope" booklets
We sometimes give this kind of introduction for people in western countries who have not gone through a collective trauma, in order to help them understand a little bit of what refugees experience and identify with refugees’ feelings. Then we can explain how the “There is Hope” booklet can be used to help children deal with their trauma. Children who have suffered so many losses need a lot of help.
We teach parents, caregivers and teachers to listen to the children’s stories as they proceed through the booklet, in order to give them closure and new hope. It helps the kids see that God loves them, that He is with them and willing to help. God has not deserted them but wants to comfort them. In all the fear and uncertainty, Jesus remains the rock and point of reference in whom they can trust. Children learn to put their hand in the hand of Jesus.
Refugee camps in the Middle East
Our students did a great job, and it served as preparation for the three months of practical outreach among refugees in the Middle East, where they are scheduled to give this same presentation (but without slips of paper and balloons!) to parents and caregivers of children in the refugee camps.
Lecture phase is finished
The three-months lecture phase of our Children at Risk school at the Heidebeek base in Holland passed so quickly. Besides practical experiences as described above, the students received a broad spectrum of classes about Children at Risk, how to help them, how to structure different ministries, some pitfalls and best practices. The course is registered at the University of the Nations (the training arm of YWAM). They had to write book reports, make journals, take tests and develop projects. At the end of the course, we were so proud that all the students had passed with flying colors—so we celebrated!
Now the students are away for an international outreach, using the things they learned during the lecture phase. We plan to visit them in June, then move with them to the next country in the Middle East. Please pray for protection on the whole group!
Hungary, Switzerland and a national revival conference
Health struggles
Over the last few months, we have been spending some extra time with doctors and at the hospital. First, Davi became very sick when he came to stay with us over the weekend. We rushed him to the local hospital, and they sent him straight to a specialist at the main university hospital. They soon admitted him with a kidney infection. As he is prone to such infections, we were happy that it was detected just in time. They put him on strong intravenous antibiotics, and a few days later he was able to go home feeling a lot better. But on a diagnostic scan, they detected something strange on his stomach. They scheduled a special test to identify this, and just yesterday we got the results. Everything is okay--what a relief! Please continue to pray for his health.
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| Celebrating the Dutch kings birthday with some of our kids and grandchildren |
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| A day at the beach in Johans birth place, Zeeland, in the south of Holland |
We thank you for the ways you participate with us—in prayer, with gifts and in communication. We wish you all God´s richest blessings!
Prayer points:
- Pray for the refugees and their children in the camps, who often lose all hope.
- Pray for the students as they try to carry the hope of Christ to those camps.
- Pray for the safety of long-term and short-term workers in the Middle East, and also for us when we go in June.
- Pray for the lectures and seminars we are privileged to give in schools and conferences in different countries.
- Pray for our health and also for Davi.
- Give thanks for God´s love and faithfulness.
