Golden people having our back and students from all over the world

“I just finished your book God's Heart for Children, and I cried so many times when I read how God helped you again and again, even though you got into all kinds of demanding situations,” said Raimundo from the Amazon region of Brazil, during a teaching session on Zoom. “Thank you for teaching me now,” he continued, “it is such an encouragement to hear you speak after all the stories I have read and heard about you!”

Wow, how beautiful! It touches me that a book I wrote more than 20 years ago can still deeply encourage people in their faith, and what a privilege that, even though it is online, we can continue to teach so many international students.
 

Students in Porto Velho watch Johans teaching together

This week we are teaching our second week of classes via Zoom at the Children at Risk School in Porto Velho, Brazil. Sometimes we even teach in two schools at the same time. With the online classes via Zoom, this is of course now an option. In general, it is still possible to find a time that is reasonable for us and for the students, but when the meetings become very international, in many different countries at the same time, it sometimes happens that we sit in front of our screens from 1 to 5 o'clock in the morning… Oh, we should not do that too often! 😊
 

I teach here in Portuguese

More than fifty new students

In the meantime, we are also busy organizing the next online seminar, to encourage missionaries working with children in need, anywhere in the world, and to teach them principles and skills they need in their ministry.

We were a bit skeptical ourselves at first: would students still want to take online courses? Isn't everyone getting a little tired of those Zoom screens? But on the other hand, it is still exceedingly difficult, if not impossible, to travel to developing countries, which is where we have the most students.

So, after prayer, we have set up and offered another online course. And we have already received more than fifty registrations for the course that will run in November! Awesome!
 

Thirty nationalities

The students, most of whom are (young) missionaries and already work with children in need, are again a very international group.

From Africa we have two groups of students from South Africa and Nigeria, as well as students from Mozambique, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Gabon, Madagascar, Togo and Uganda.

From Asia, we have a few groups from Cambodia and India, along with students from the Philippines, Kazakhstan, Pakistan, Thailand, and Vietnam.

Then there are students from South and North America: Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Mexico, the USA, and Canada; of course, Europe is also represented with students from Romania, Slovakia, Germany, Sweden, Switzerland, the Netherlands, and England.

How wonderful to have such a varied international group--but also quite a challenge!
 

Golden people!

A few weeks ago, we were able to celebrate that the NGO Rescue and Restore from Holland, that has partnered with us for many years, has had more than 100 meetings and in the meantime had folded and sent tens of thousands of newsletters, for the foundation, for the work of Youth with a Mission in Belo Horizonte, as well as for us! This is our 180th newsletter!

We have been missionaries for 41 years now and Jacob van Bodegraven, treasurer and one of the founders of Rescue and Restore, has been our contact person in the Netherlands from the very beginning. How cool is that!?!

Most of those more than one hundred meetings were held at Jacob and Elly's home—gallons of coffee and soda were served, the donations for work and for us personally were kept up to date and sent monthly, appointments for speaking engagements during our home visits were arranged, prayers were lifted up, and some more newsletters were folded and sent! Wow, how blessed we are by loyal friends like Jacob and Elly! They are worth their weight in gold! Thank you, Jacob and Elly!!!

In the photo you see us together with them and some other close friends. These are all very special and lovely people who together form the board of Rescue and Restore and are committed to serving God and helping children and families in need by using their specific gifts. What a wonderful team! We are so grateful to them and thank our Lord God that we get to work with such wonderful friends!
 

Surprise visit

Because of Corona we have not been able to hug our children and grandchildren living in England and the US for almost 2 years. We miss them all so much. But to celebrate my birthday in October, Johanneke surprised me with a visit from England for a few days! How nice that was--the best possible birthday gift! The days flew by as we shopped together at our different favorite stores 😊, cycled and chatted for hours!

 
To Denmark, (if possible…)

Early next month we have been invited to teach about working with children in need at YWAM Copenhagen. We have already bought our tickets, but it remains unsure if we will really be able to go or whether the Corona rules will be tightened up again. We are really looking forward to having physical "3D" students in front of us again, not just on a screen. If we are unable to go, we'll continue with Zoom.

Hybrid lessons

Looking to the future, we don’t think we will completely stop offering Zoom classes, because we see that we reach a large group of students whom we would not have been able to train otherwise. But perhaps the best thing is to combine a mixture of lessons on Zoom and lessons in the mission field, where you can give the students practical experience. We will see!
 

Christmas

The log cabin that we built next to our house is now completed and painted. Davi has stayed there several times, as well as other family members. We’re so happy that it is now possible! During the upcoming Christmas break, Davi and Dilma hope to come and stay with us for a few weeks.

We’d like to wish you all a very meaningful Christmas, where the celebration of the birth of the Lord Jesus, our Lord and Savior will be the centerpiece, where we will take time to thank and honor Him. Jesus, the light that shines in a dark world, then and now, gives us hope for the future, meets us in our wavering faith, and gives us love for those both near to us and far from us. Glory to God!

Much love and lots of blessings!

Prayer Points

• Pray for the students who will participate in the seminar online. That the internet connections continue to work well, and the lessons will really be a significant help and blessing to them and their work.
• Thank God for the wonderful team at Rescue and Restore, who have been faithful in their support for so many years.
• Pray that we will be able to keep peace of heart and adapt easily and flexibly if our class schedule must change again because of Corona.
• Thank God for the miracle of Christmas—God who became man, to save us.

A mix of online and “in person” classes, with lots of prayer!

In the previous letter we had asked for prayer for Johan's prostate surgery, and we are grateful that it went well. The operation was a month later than planned, and the hospital stay was a bit longer than expected due to some complications. Luckily things are going well now, and Johan is running his daily round again! Thank you for all your prayers!

In the meantime, our garden office/guest room is almost finished. Next week, if it is not raining too much, we hope to paint the outside white.
 

Holiday with Davi and Dilma

Davi has already stayed there several times, and it's really fantastic that he can roll into the shower with his wheelchair in the adapted bathroom!

It is also nice for Dilma that she now has her own room (Davi's old room) when she stays with us during the holidays and on some weekends. Previously she always slept on the couch in the living room, and this is so much nicer!

They recently came to visit us for a few weeks in August during their vacation, and we were able to do fun things together--cycle a lot, eat ice cream and go to the pancake restaurant.
 

Week in Zeeland

This holiday we also went back to Johan's “roots”. We spent a week in Zeeland (a province in the south of Holland) where most of Johan's brothers and sisters still live. We had exchanged homes with one of Johan's brothers for the week, and we enjoyed exploring all the beautiful places in Zeeland, which everyone always talks about, but which I had never seen before. And of course it was great to see so many brothers, sisters and family, in the open air, on a Zeeland dike, close to the sea!

So we are gradually getting used to living in the Netherlands again and are discovering many beautiful places in our own little country.
 

 

Online classes and seminars will continue in the coming months

In the meantime, teaching continues online, and more online seminars and classes are planned for the coming six months. But like so many of us, we would really like to have personal contact with our students. We miss that greatly.

Exciting journey

We have been invited to travel with a group this coming September to a country where there is a lot of suffering and trauma, especially among the children. For security reasons, I can't be clearer here and name names. But we would really appreciate it if you would pray for this too. The intention is that we will teach parents and teachers about trauma processing among children, and in this way be of help and encouragement to them. But it is still very uncertain whether this trip will be possible, or whether we will have to postpone it for a few more months.

The first Children at Risk Schools are running again

We get great reports from Brazil, where several Children at Risk schools are now running with Brazilian students on site. We were able to teach in the Belo Horizonte and Salvador schools via Zoom. There will soon be another Children at Risk school in Porto Velho, in the Amazon region, led by our good friends Andrew and Eliane, who also lead a work among poor children in Jodhpur India.

The work among children in need continues

We enjoy all the wonderful messages from students and friends who, despite the difficulties Covid brings, are doing wonderful work among children in need and their families.

A great example is the base in Belo Horizonte, with its various community centers, the Light House and the Rock House, where hundreds of poor families are helped with their basic necessities, and where the gospel is heard loud and clear. Or like the beautiful work that the House of Rescue team has re-started among the people living on the streets and in the juvenile prisons.

Or like Inacio and Mila, who were our students in the Children at Risk school in Angola in 2001. They have set up an excellent work and are able to help hundreds of children.

Or like Mario and Lika, friends of ours from Brazil, with whom we have worked together a lot. They have moved to South Africa, where they and their team help and reach out to the poorest families in the slums with the good news.

Or like Jay, a Lebanese friend, who has been working with children and their families in Beirut for many years. He helps the local population but also many Syrian refugees. In addition to food parcels and practical help, he was able to give Bible studies to many small groups, where he sees people choose to trust God and give their lives to Him.

It’s great that despite these difficult times with the Coronavirus, so many children and their families are still being helped.

Uncertain

Various Youth with a Mission locations are starting their schools “in person” again, but by now we have all learned that Covid can mix up our plans. Especially for international students, it is, of course, still super difficult to travel to another country. So the major international meetings are all still online. We are grateful this is possible, but long to meet each other face-to-face again! Cautiously, plans are being made for 2022, but the Coronavirus has behaved erratically, and we know that it is not predictable. We don’t really know if we will be able to go back to meeting physically in the near future.

A “winter” of prayer

I read a story of a missionary who worked in a mountainous region, touring mountain villages every 6 months to teach the gospel. But during a very severe winter it didn't work out; there was too much snow, so he couldn't get through. He wondered what he was still doing there as a missionary, now that he couldn't get to the people anymore and could only pray for them... But to his surprise, when spring started and he could go through the mountain passes again, there had been a revival in those villages. People had begun to seek God, had read the Bible portions he had left with them, and had come to faith! His winter of prayer had contributed to a breakthrough!

I hope, now that we as missionaries, aid workers and volunteers are unable to go to countries such as Myanmar, North Korea, Afghanistan, Haiti, South Sudan or areas such as Tigray in Ethiopia, there will be extra prayers worldwide for the people in these places. If we persevere in prayer, perhaps after this time when we can't do much more than pray for the lost in these locations, we may be surprised at what God will do through our prayers!

Will you pray with us?

Prayer Points

• Thank God with us that Johan has recovered well after the operation.
• Thank God for the opportunity to conduct online classes and seminars. Pray for the next courses and many new students.
• Pray for our planned trip in September, for God's guidance and protection.
• Give thanks for the Children at Risk schools that have already started with national students. Pray that international schools and conferences can be held again in the not-too-distant future.
• Give thanks for all those wonderful students, staff and friends who continue to work with children in need. Pray for protection, health, energy, and financial resources.
• Pray for countries like Myanmar, North Korea, Afghanistan, Haiti, South Sudan and areas like Tigray in Ethiopia, that the people there will feel an urge to seek God, and that they will find Him…

We wish you God's rich blessings!

 

A surgery, some construction, and online classes

We would like to start by saying thanks to everyone who, even in this trying time of corona, has been connected to us in prayer, financial support, and encouragement. It has meant so much to us! Thank you!
 

During the last few months, we have received many incredibly sad messages from friends all over the world, but especially from Brazil and India about sickness and people dying because of Corona. Of course, you have all seen in the news how critical the situation is in many places.

Recently I read a prayer on a Bible App (The Message Study Bible Notes), based on the book of Job, which really touched me and reflects a little bit of how Johan and I start the day with prayers for the world in need. Here I quote:

Dear Lord,

Help me to see that you are sovereign over the circumstances of my life,

even over suffering that seems impossible to understand.

Help me to see that suffering as a sacrament,

something that can be a means of grace,

drawing me closer to you,

and you closer to me.

Grant me the honesty to ask heartfelt questions.

Grant me also the humility to realize that what I need

isn’t so much an answer but an embrace.

Embrace me, O God. Please.

Lift me from the ash heap and gather me in your loving arms.

Hold me close. Wipe my tears. And make me whole . . .

Will you please pray with us for the people in need close by or far away?

Teaching online continues

During the last couple of weeks, we´ve been teaching online in different locations. In Brazil, Johan taught in the Children at Risk school in Belo Horizonte. This time it was just for Brazilian students. They arrived two weeks early to go in quarantine together so they could be a “bubble” in the classroom together. But unfortunately, the practical outreach classes cannot be done because of Corona, and most teachers had to share online. It´s hard, but hopefully next year things will be back to normal….

Brazil, Mexico, Barbados

Johan also lectured online in Borel, a favela in Rio de Janeiro and in a DTS (Discipleship Training School) in Tijuana, Mexico. And I was invited to speak online at a church in Barbados during an all-night prayer vigil.

Sometime later this year, we hope to start offering our online seminars again. This week we´ll have an international Zoom meeting about this.
 

Construction

In the meantime, we are taking some online Bible courses ourselves and working on our construction project, often with the help of friends, building our garden office. This will also function as a guestroom and, as it will have a wheelchair accessible bathroom, will be especially useful for our son Davi when he stays with us on weekends and during vacations. It is quite a job, but the floor insulation is placed, and the central heating is hooked up. Now we just need to do the painting, install the shower and toilet, and finish a lot of other little things. 😊 We are happy the shops here in Holland just opened again after the lockdown, so now we can go and quickly buy something urgently needed instead of having to order it online and wait a couple of days. It is really starting to come together!
 

Postponed (???) surgery

Johan has been having problems with his prostate for several years, having to go to the bathroom frequently both day and night. Tests showed that there is no cancer. Last year he got some specific medicines which helped a little, but now the doctor has strongly advised him to have surgery to diminish the size of the prostate. The original plan was for the 18th of May, but with all the hospitals full to overflowing because of COVID, they are probably going to postpone it for a while. Please pray for this situation, and for a speedy recovery for Johan.

Visiting Brazil?

Our original plan was to go to Brazil to be with friends and family and teach in the schools there. But the way things are developing right now with COVID, it doesn´t look like a wise plan yet. We did both get our first vaccination and hope to get the second one next month. But the situation in Brazil with COVID is quite out of control, so we´ll have to wait and see.

Our kids

Our kids in Brazil, Michele and Romeu, are reaching out to vulnerable children. Schools have been closed since March of 2020, which is terrible for all children and especially for the underprivileged ones. They are also helping poor families with food packets.

Our kids in England, Johanneke and Jonathan, are planning to lead the Documentary and Filmmaking School in September. They hope to get an international group of students for this great hands-on experience. They plan to come to Holland on furlough in July with their 3 daughters. Looking forward to seeing them!

Our kids in the USA, Pieter and Melissa, still do most things online. The oldest two children go to school half time, but the youngest one still has just online teaching. Pieter has worked from his office at home for over a year.

And our kids in Holland, Dilma and Davi, have now both had their two vaccinations. This is wonderful, especially as Davi has such fragile health. Their places of employment, a gift shop and a restaurant in a neighboring city, are open again, so they can resume their work. We are so grateful for the staff of the assisted living home (where both Davi and Dilma live) who have succeeded in guiding the whole group of young people with special needs through these turbulent times.

Prayer points

• Please join with us in prayer for countries that are in great need right now like Brazil, India, Yemen, Lebanon, and many countries in Africa.
• Let us pray that vaccines will be made available for everyone worldwide, and that no dangerous mutations will start spreading.
• We give thanks for the opportunities to teach online. Pray for the seminars we hope to offer again later this year. 
• We are thankful that Johan’s prostate problems are benign, and please pray for the upcoming surgery and his rehabilitation.

We wish you God´s peace and presence, consolation in times of sadness, strength when you grow weary, and the ability to receive His love and give it away to others!

With lots of love!

 

The Netherlands is now our official country of residence again!

This season has been a very hard time for many people here in Holland. The government needed to continuously give more restrictions as the infection rate of COVID-19 wouldn´t go down despite all previous measures. It is easy to understand how this deeply affects the lives of so many people. We continue to lift all these people who are experiencing such difficulties in prayer. And we are grateful for the good health we ourselves have had so far.
 

Another blessing during this time has been the fact that our daughter, Michele and son in law Romeu, with their two children, were able to come from Brazil. The last time they came on furlough was three years ago. With all the constant changes because of COVID-19, it was uncertain until the last minute if they were really going to be able to come at the end of November. And now again, there are a lot of hurdles before they can return to Brazil this week.

A whole year out of school
 

Their kids, Igor and Eva, didn´t attend school last year. They just had online classes. School stayed closed for a whole year in Belo Horizonte, and according to the mayor, it may take a while before schools open again. This, of course, is a heavy load on parents and children. So when they arrived here the end of November, the kids were so happy to be able to go to school and meet some friends! Sadly, after three weeks, school shut down here in Holland also ☹…
 

Dutch language training

But we tried to make the best of the situation; Michele and I improvised Dutch language training here at home. All the while, Romeu was helping Johan with construction😊.
 

Construction

We are building an extra room onto our holiday cabin here. Davi, our son who uses a wheelchair, comes to spend weekends and holidays with us. When he recently got a new wheelchair, we were in for a shock as he couldn´t pass through the doors anymore. The new wheelchair was a lot wider than the previous one. Johan ended up cutting part of the door posts away. But as a more long-term solution we decided to build an extra room and bathroom with easy access for wheelchairs😊. We ordered a prefabricated log cabin to fit next to our little home. Johan and Romeu have been terribly busy preparing the foundation with insulation and a concrete slab. It was a lot of work, but with the help of two experienced friends they were able to pour the concrete last week!
 

Continuing with online teachings

We have already started online teachings this year for the DTS (Discipleship Training School) of the YWAM (Youth with a Mission) base at Heidebeek in Holland and the biblical seminary of WEC in Holland. And last week we were able to give a workshop on trauma at a big conference about refugees with participants from all over Europe.

We are also preparing for possible online courses this year, because traveling to give classes in person may still be very restricted for a while!
 

The Netherlands is now our official country of residence again!

On the January 4, 2021 we became official residents of Holland again after having lived abroad for over 40 years.

But our work with children at risk continues!

This change of address doesn´t mean we’ve stopped our missions work. Our work in missions continues normally. Over the last years this has changed from leading a local YWAM base with lots of different ministries for children at risk, to the coordination of courses, seminars, and training for missionaries with a call to children at risk.

We are now transmitting to others the experience we acquired over all those years through a platform we call “Children at Risk Training”. We give courses, seminars, and training in many countries around the world, or like last year, online training to students from over 40 countries. Most of our students are full time missionaries who work with the poorest children.

We are so thankful for all the people who have been a support to us in various ways through the years and we are counting on your continuing participation, for, hopefully, many years to come.

We wish you all God´s richest blessings!

Prayer points.

• Around the world there are so many families facing great difficulties. Let us pray together for those who in this Corona time face extra challenges on a physical, economic, spiritual, or emotional level.
• Let us pray for the children, especially for the children in dysfunctional families, who are even less safe in these difficult times.
• Give thanks for the fact that we were able to reintegrate into Dutch society and for the cozy holiday cabin we have here. Join us in giving thanks for continued opportunities to train others working with children at risk.
• Please pray for our students who live in developing countries and work with the poorest of the poor.