Many of you will have heard about the accident in which he suffered third-degree burns to his left leg, and you prayed for him too. This was the same leg on which he had had a large open wound on his knee for two years, which just would not heal. The doctors had just decided to remove his kneecap to close the wound, which would have made his leg shorter, when he burned it. Although he felt no pain due to his paralysis, he had to be taken by ambulance to a specialist burns hospital. It was a blessing afterwards, because they knew how to close the wound on his knee there, using skin grafts and special antibiotic cream. Now his leg is completely healed! It's truly a miracle — we are so grateful to God!
Swimming!
Davi had not been allowed to swim for two years, something he loves to do. What's more, right after the wound had completely healed, the burn center organized a swimming day for patients and their families. We all enjoyed it so much!
99 students
After teaching in several Children at Risk Schools in India, the USA, and in the Netherlands earlier this year, we have spent the last few months teaching online. We had two large groups of students: one group of sixty-four students from thirty-one different countries taking the course in English, and another group of thirty-five students from eight different countries taking it in Portuguese. It was wonderful to be able to teach and encourage so many students once again, together with eleven staff members from eight different countries.
Teaching from experience
Many of our students work with some of the poorest children in the most challenging circumstances. It is wonderful to be able to pass on some of the principles we have learned during our 36 years of living and working in Brazil. Johan often tells them, 'It's good to learn from your own mistakes, but it's even better if you can learn from ours.'
We also invited experienced missionaries to deliver different lessons. We believe it is very important that the teaching is given by someone who has experience and has done it all themselves, as this is so much better than theoretical stories from books.
Life-changing!
Thus, the courses become very varied. At the end of the online courses, we usually receive excellent feedback. Students can often apply the lessons immediately and some even describe the course as life changing.
Major expansion
In order to educate many more young missionaries about working with children in need, we hope to offer three different modules of our online course in four languages next year: English, French, Portuguese and Spanish.
We are planning this with a large group of experienced missionary staff members who work with children in need. Each staff member takes 10 students under their wing, holds online conversations with them in small groups, conducts one-to-one interviews and reviews their homework. We are also considering translating all modules into Brazilian Sign Language (LIBRAS).
There is still a lot to organize and translate, but we are looking forward to it. The dates for the three modules in 2026 have already been set:
Module 1: 13 April – 1 May
Module 2: 8–26 June
Module 3: 19 October – 6 November
Students can complete the course independently, but it is also great when entire teams from YWAM bases participate, as they did in the last course in Cambodia and Angola. For more information on these modules, please visit https://www.childrenatriskschools.com/online-seminars.
Taking the course while your city is at war.
This time, we also had students from Goma in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Just a few weeks earlier, the rebel group M23 had attacked the city, resulting in thousands of deaths and forcing hundreds of thousands of people to flee. The boys, who worked with street children, had also had to flee. Sometimes they would sit in a car to attend classes, and sometimes in a shop. Sometimes the electricity failed, in which case they watched the lesson later on the YouTube channel. However, they were always among the first to join the Zoom call at the beginning of each lesson, and they also faithfully completed all their homework on Google Classroom. It is such a privilege to be able to encourage students from all kinds of countries and difficult situations. We are always able to remind them that God loves them, their country and the children they work with. That He wants to guide them with His Holy Spirit. That he sees them — really sees them.
News from us
We send this newsletter by email four times a year and this letter also appears on this blog each time
You also have the option of receiving a link to our blog via WhatsApp every time a new letter is published. This makes it easier for us to share prayer points and pictures. This is a special WhatsApp group where Johan and I are the administrators and are the only ones to post messages.
If you would like to receive it by WhatsApp from now on (four times a year, plus extra prayer points and photos), you can scan this QR code:
Or you can click on this link: https://chat.whatsapp.com/IJZj0WPY7yHBWHzNZtxIQU
Granddaughter in the house!
There are big changes in store for our little house, as our eldest granddaughter, who is 19 years old, is coming to live with us. Her parents are moving abroad, and she would like to stay here to complete her pastry chef training. This is so exciting, we are looking forward to it!
Blessing!
It is always special to receive a list of everyone who has supported us financially in the past month. Our hearts are filled with gratitude for such a loyal group of friends and family who support us and our work.
What is unfortunately not always visible, but is even more important, is all the people who pray for us and the students we get to train.
Thank you very much for all your help. This is how we all try to follow Jesus, seek His guidance and obey Him so that His kingdom may come. We pray this blessing over you all:
May the love of God pursue you
May His blessing surround you
May His tender grace fill you.
Prayer points
- Thank God for the miracle of Davi's completely healed leg.
- Pray for the students who participated in the courses, so that the lessons will bear lasting fruit in their work with vulnerable children and they will receive wisdom in their ministry.
- Pray for protection and strength for students in difficult circumstances, especially those from Goma in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and those in other conflict areas.
- Pray for wisdom, coordination, and the right people to expand the online modules into multiple languages (English, French, Portuguese, Spanish and LIBRAS), and for all the preparations needed for this.
- Pray for a happy transition period for our granddaughter.
- Thank you to all the faithful donors and prayer warriors.
