Newsletter July 2011

Dear friends,

After a wonderful time in Holland, we are now back in Brazil for more than a month. A question that people ask us every now and then: “As YWAM base leaders, what do you guys do exactly, what are your activities in a regular week?” Maybe it is time to have a look over our shoulder…

Monday: We start every morning with an hour of Bible reading, prayer and reflection. Then Johan fixes breakfast, including soft boiled eggs and coffee with whipped hot milk! We go over our weekly schedule together and have a time of intercession. At 8:30 AM we are ready to go to our office, comfortably at our own home, each one behind our own computer. Like always, there are lots of emails to read and answer, which we mostly do in between major tasks. Last week the newsletter of the YWAM base of Belo Horizonte was written and edited, and this week I’ll get to send it. Since last year we have two separate newsletters, one for the base, and one which is our personal news (this very one). Initially this creates a little more work, but eventually other people will be taking over the base newsletter. So I quickly send the base newsletter to the YWAM mailing list, jump in the car and go to the Light House, our community center in one of the slums, where I am teaching for two mornings in the FCD (Foundations in Community Development School). This is one of the three schools we are offering on the base. Johan and myself teach regularly in those schools. I get there at 9:00 AM sharp. Johan continues at home in the office, preparing for a meeting he will have on Wednesday morning, and also for a sermon on Thursday evening. Between things, he solves administrative issues with some of the staff. Today he gets the job to cook lunch. We try to keep that as practical possible, and have a load of little food containers with rice and beans in the freezer in order to prepare lunch fast. When I get home at a quarter to one, all I need to do is to sit down and eat. It`s delicious!

In the afternoon we have a meeting with our base council, a group of 15 people that carry together the responsibility for the base, which today consist of 8 operation locations and 100 fulltime missionaries. We host those meetings in our own home. I quickly prepare some coffee and snacks and at 1:30 PM we are ready to start. We normally finish at 5:00 PM, but today it extents till 5:30.

In the evening we spend a little more time to bring our emails up to date.

Tuesday. After breakfast and prayer, I’ll check my emails before I rush off to teach again in the FCD. Johan needs to do various things at the bank.

In the afternoon we have our weekly meetings with all the department leaders. We take time to pray together, do a training session, and discuss various subjects that relate to the functioning of the work.

At 6:00 PM we put our sport clothes on. Johan goes for a run, while I go to the fitness center on the next corner of our city block. My left foot is partly paralyzed, and I use an orthopedic piece to keep it straight. But on the treadmill I can hold on to the handles, and happily keep going for a few kilometers. After an hour we are both home again and fix dinner. Today will be extra special, because we are receiving a couple of young leaders from one of the departments of the base. It will be a cozy evening in front of our fire place that keeps the place comfortable during the winter months.

On Wednesday I take an extended time to put my correspondence in order. I read and respond scores of emails. In the meantime, Johan has a monthly administration meeting with representatives of each ministry.

In the afternoon I have a reporting time with our communication team and right after start preparing our new weblog for our congress and seminar about human trafficking we are organizing for the end of September – beginning of October. Johan sits down with the missionaries that will staff the Children at Risk school with him, which starts at the end of August.

Wednesday night is separated every week to something special for just the two of us. Today we decide to rent a DVD. Johan prepares a special hamburger sandwich, which he proudly calls McLukasse . We enjoy a good movie together.

Thursday: Two masons are coming to do some repair work on the house. Well, that will give some extra excitement. We sit together to decide all that needs doing. Then we go over the details for the afternoon meeting with the team that will organize the congress and seminar about human trafficking. Johan finishes his Bible study in Power Point for the service tonight, and downloads a clip from YouTube. On Thursday evenings we have our weekly service with staff and other members of our YWAM community. Tonight is going to be extra special because of the graduation of our DTS (Discipleship Training School). I fix lunch today and make a cake and coffee at the same time for the afternoon meeting.

So in the afternoon we decide a lot of things and leave with the sense that the congress and seminar about human trafficking will be very special indeed.

In the evening there is a sudden rainstorm. Trees are knocked over, rain pours down, and the city becomes chaotic as in many neighborhoods the electricity is cut off. Our service starts half an hour late in an improvised room, because the main auditorium got flooded. But the enthusiasm and excitement is contagious. The little film and the preaching from Johan is well accepted, and we finish the evening with two huge chocolate cakes!

On Friday I need to go with Dilma to the doctor because of her medical insurance. They need to confirm if she is really deaf. They phoned the other day and asked to talk to her so they could ask about her deafness, well that was a bit complicated to arrange!  Johan takes us there by car so he can swing by the flower market where he buys some beautiful roses for me in honor of the Brazilian Valentine’s Day on Sunday 12th of June.

The remainder of the day is spent in doing more emails, the writing of an article about human trafficking, and a Skype meeting with the people of Notforsale, the organization that will provide the teachers for the congress and seminar about human trafficking at the end of September.

At night we relax in our easy chairs with a good book and some magazines.

On Saturday I visit the fitness Center again, while Johan takes his mountain bike and goes cycling with some friends in the mountains. After our workout, we go to a big construction depot to buy materials for the house.

In the afternoon Dilma comes home. During the week she helps in the Sower House, the project with the deaf children. Today they had an extra program for the moms of the kids. I update our blogs in English and Dutch. Johan fixes some lights around the house, and Dilma makes 3D postcards, her new hobby.

In the evening I watch a part of the ER series, and Johan reads a book.

Sunday. In the morning we go to church. Have a late lunch around 3:00 PM, and in the evening we go to another church to give a presentation. When we get home it´s a bit late and time for a cup of tea, and soon we roll into our beds because tomorrow will start a busy week!

I hope this will give you a little bit of an idea how our lives are organized. We are very thankful to able to work here and give leadership to this YWAM base with its 100 staff and various houses and departments that attend to hundreds of children at risk with the love of God.

Without the support of those who pray, give and participate in various ways, this would not be possible. We are very thankful to those of you who help us in any way.

May God bless you all richly.
Johan and Jeannette Lukasse

Prayer and thanksgiving points:
• Thank God for the lives of the young leaders we have the privilege to train and mentor here at the base. Pray that they will reach their full potential in God.
• Thank God for the team preparing the congress and seminar about human trafficking. Pray that many people will be motivated to reach out to children forced into prostitution.

Just some nice pictures:

Bruno’s wedding! Bruno was one of the ex street kids who lived in the Restoration House from when he was 12 years old. Now he is a missionary to children at risk himself! He married a beautiful girl and together they plan to work with children in need in Vitoria, a city at the coast of Brazil. It is a wonderful party where we meet a whole group of our ex-street boys and girls, who all have become missionaries. What an encouragement!

Eva, our youngest grandchild, who had her first birthday.

Together we admire her birthday cake!

With our grandchildren "western style".

Little house on the prairie? No: our wonderful family!

Presentation in English and Dutch, furlough 2011 in Holland

Presentation we gave during our furlough in 2011 in Holland

View more presentations from JeannetteLukasse

Our furlough in Holland

At the beach in Holland in February, so cold – it´s winter!!

At the end of January, we went on a three month furlough to Holland. It was great to be able to spend time with family& friends and also do presentations around the country. We had various opportunities to share in different churches, seminaries, schools and also at the YWAM bases in Amsterdam and Heideek. We were also invited to women´s & family meetings. Johan and I also had two opportunities to give interviews; one on a radio program and another with a newspaper agency while we were in Holland.  We visited many people and received many into our home. It was a great time and we enjoyed every minute of it. It was a time to renew friendships and strengthen bonds.

We were deeply encouraged by so many who actively participated with us – standing with us in prayer, keeping in touch and blessing us with financial support!

With the students from a missionary course.

Teaching at the YWAM base, Heidebeek, where we did our DTS (Discipleship training School) 31 years ago.

In the presentation we gave all over Holland, we shared about the needs of “Children at Risk”.

Our definition of children at risk: “Children who are at risk are those who are unable to reach their potential that God has planned (dreamed) for them”.

Why would a ministry with children be so marvelous and important??

1.      Because of the Great Commission: Preach the gospel to all. This includes of course - Children who in various parts of the world make up more than 50% of the population!

2.      Children have their whole life before them; this is contrary to adults, whom in most part – have already lived a big chunk of their lives!

3.      Children are more accessible and open to God.

4.      Children are like arrows, they can go further than we can reach. It’s our way to influence the future.

5.      Jesus gave priority to children.

6.      The devil also prioritizes children!

Prayer points for Children at Risk:

• 1 billion children live in absolute poverty.

• 35.000 children die daily because of malnutrition and preventable diseases

• 15 million are orphans because their parents died of AIDS.

• 40 million babies are aborted each year around the globe.

• 100 million children live on the streets worldwide.

• 10 million children and teenagers make a living as prostitutes and each year, another million are forced to join their ranks.
• Approximately 100 to 200 million children do not go to school because they are victims of child labor.
• 300.000 children are soldiers in various armies and militias around the world.

 

The last month of our time in Holland was more relaxing, where we were able to spend time just with close friends and relatives. We also had quality times with our children and grand children, as we were altogether in one place for the first time in 6 years!

Pieter and Melissa already live in Holland with their children. Dilma came together with Johanneke and Jonathan and their 2 daughters in the beginning of April. Michele and Romeu and their children traveled with Johan and me and stayed also in Holland for three months. Davi has already been living in Holland for the last three years. He surprised us in this trip by deciding to  get baptized. What a full load of blessings!!

Davi ´s baptism!

In April it was hot enough to have water fights in the garden!

Of course we did a lot of shopping J But what to do with all of these grandchildren??

A small segment of the Lukasse family! Beginning with Johan’s parents they are already numbering 117 members!

Against such number, my sister´s and my own family cannot compete yet, but we are tryingJ

Look at how far we have come!!! (36)

We are now back in Brazil for almost a month - lots of work and challenges are before us!

To al who have participated with us and who are praying and supporting us, we say a BIG THANK YOU for your encouragement and love! We wish you Gods richest blessings.

Do continue to stand with us in prayer!

With lots of love,

Johan and Jeannette Lukasse

Graduation in Haiti, furlough in Holland

Graduation! The school is finished! 

38 Haitian students worked very hard to get their certificates.

The graduation was a marvelous celebration. All of them had been able to get a new suit for the occasion and looked stunning.

Our flight back home to Brazil didn’t suffer any problems. The country of Haiti remained peaceful.

Arriving back in Brazil however caused a reverse culture shock. It took a while for us to feel at home again. There were so many experiences, thoughts and memories to process. Not everything had been easy, we had struggles and setbacks, but we were also able to see many victories. And above all: What a privilege to have been able to train such a high motivated group of young Haitians in the area of reaching Children at Risk.

We are so grateful to God for what He has done for us and through us. And we would like to thank all of you who participated in prayer, donation and encouragement! We wish you all God’s richest blessings.

After the graduation, the boys threw off their warm jackets.

In two weeks we plan to travel to Holland for a furlough of three months. It has been 4 years since we last did that. It will be a time of reuniting with friends, family and supporters, and lots of sharing in churches and cell groups. We are looking forward to this! Please keep us in your prayers!

Our last week in Haiti (we hope!)

Dear all,

Just a short email about our ups and downs in Haiti! This week is already the last week of the course we have given here. The students have one test to do tomorrow afternoon and then they are ready! Well congratulations to all of our 38 students! They have worked terribly hard and had lectures during the last few weeks from half past five in the morning until noon and then from half past two sometimes up to 9 o´clock at night!

Johan just let them choose whether tomorrow they want free time or some last lectures from him, and they chose the classes! Saturday, Christmas day, is the graduation we are all looking forward to. The students hope their parents and families will come, and also all their pastors from the thirty different churches that we are networking with. Everyone tells us how special it is now here in Haiti for a university course to do training in the area of "education and community development”. For the graduation all the students have been outfitted with a very elegant dark blue suit.

One of our happiest and youngest students (19 years) is Esther Pricilla. But last Sunday we had to bring the terrible message that her father, who was the pastor of one of the 30 net work churches, had died in a fatal motorcycle accident. She has seven sisters and one younger brother. As the oldest, it is now expected of her that she will maintain her family financially. In a country where 80% of the population is unemployed and survive on less than $ 2 per day, this is a difficult task. Fortunately with the diploma of the school that we will give her, she has an almost 100% chance to get started with a new job in January. Will you also pray for her and her family?

The political situation here is very unstable. There were elections on November 28, but many people believe it was not a fair election, as lots of fraud happened. The country has had already one week of many revolts, when no one could be on the street, no one could go to work, not even the doctors and nurses in the hospitals, no clean drinking water was being brought to the tent camps, shops were closed, planes did not fly anymore, it was chaos. Then they promised again to count the votes..., that has happened and they will announce the outcome probably after Christmas, December 26th. It is expected that there will once again be major uprisings, or even a civil war. Our flight back to Brazil is scheduled Dec. 28, so we may well be in big trouble. Will you also pray for this situation?

We give thanks for the fact that our health is very good: Johan’s knee is almost healed and I have no problems with my back anymore.

We wish you all a very happy and blessed Christmas Season! Our Savior is born!

Love, Johan and Jeannette

Grandchildren in Brazil, Christmas in Haiti

We feel so rich when we look at our grandkids. Between two trips to Haiti we are spending some time in Belo Horizonte so we can finish this year in an orderly fashion. Lots of meetings, and I really miss my new laptop, which couldn’t be fixed here and needed to be sent to Holland. It should work as the machine was only 5 months old when it broke down.

Eva, the youngest at 5 months

If we promise them candy they’ll sit still for a few moments so we can take a picture...

But even between all the busyness we try our best to enjoy our grandkids. All six of them are actually here in Brazil right now which is rare to happen. It is great to have grand kids. Tomorrow we are going to have our farewell party, and an early Christmas.

Tuesday we are traveling back to Haiti for another three weeks of lectures in the Education and Community Development Training School. Christmas will be in Haiti, in the Caribbean. Sounds romantic, but the reality is a bit different. We are taking a suitcase full of medicines against Cholera. The number of infected people keeps growing. And because of the election on the 28th of November, the political climate is very tense.

So the 7th of December we plan to arrive in Haiti again. The school continued normally during our absence, with the help of some Brazilian staff. Well, you have to define normality: they passed through a hurricane, were frightened by an aftershock of the earthquake, are in the middle of a Cholera outbreak, and live in a climate of unrest because of the elections. But on the other hand, we are receiving good news about the students, who continue to grow in the knowledge of God, His love and faithfulness and a deeper understanding of His ways and intentions for their lives and country. Yes there is hope for Haiti!

Please pray for our trip and our stay till the 28th of December. Pray for:

• Our health.

• Against the Cholera that already killed many people.

• Against the instability after the elections.

• For the students who will finish the Education and Community Development Training School on Christmas Day.

We wish you all a wonderful Christmas!

Me with Hannah, the oldest at 4 years of age

Newsletter november 2010

Dear Friends,

Lots of tears were flowing, followed by an even more intense time of praise and deep expressions of gratitude before the Lord. I got goose bumps all over. What a privilege to be in Haiti!

Rodolpho, one of four staff, praying with a child

During the month of October we were in Haiti running a three month training school, together with four staff , for a group of 38 Haitian young people. We lived in tents just like 1.3 million Haitians. This last week, the subject was post counseling and bereavement, followed by a practical time when the students could teach the same principles to a group of children from a local primary school.

Johan giving classes to our Haitian students.

Most of our students, just like the children, had been trying to cope with their losses by just not talking about the earthquake anymore, acting as if nothing had happened and pretending to be strong. Now they had to learn to recognize and come to grips with their losses and learn to pass through the “valley of the shadow of death” in order to allow God to comfort them. This powerful collective experience brought great unity and strength to the group.

After three days of classes and application on the subject, we went to a local primary school of 15 minutes walking distance. During 2 days the students started putting in practice the principles they had just learned themselves. We were using a little booklet specially written for the very reason of counseling children after the earthquake in Haiti. Every one of them spent a number of hours with 3 to 5 children. Those were very special moments. One boy of 13 years old said that he lost both his parents during the earthquake, but that until now, months after the earthquake, nobody had ever talked to him about it…. We got to hear many similar stories. But what impacted us the most was to see our students being transformed from receivers of blessings to transmitters of hope, comfort and love…Yes, with young people like that, ready to be used by the Lord, there is hope for Haiti!

One of the students praying for one of the kids.

Before we were able to embark for Haiti we had all kinds of setbacks: I had a major crises with my back, my new computer broke down, our finances were tight, and on top of that suddenly Johan’s knee got very thick and developed what the doctors diagnosed as septic arthritis, something quite dangerous that needed a surgery to clean it.

All this happened three days before we were ready to leave for Haiti! Hundreds of people started to pray. It was so encouraging to receive so many messages through email, blog and facebook. And God started performing some miracles: Johan was cleared to travel one week after our planned date, I was able to borrow another laptop, my back stopped playing up, various people pitched in financially, and we were able to swop our tickets to Haiti for a week later than planned! Thank you Jesus!

Haitian student talking to one of the kids.

BACK AND FORTH

The best way to combine the school in Haiti and leading the base in Belo Horizonte was for us to go the month of October to Haiti, come back during the month of November to Brazil and then return to Haiti in December again to be there for the last weeks of the school.

During the month of November we are busy meeting with the leadership of the base including the leaders of the 8 different operation locations here in Belo Horizonte, as well as wrapping up the children at Risk School which is currently running here with a wonderful group of 10 students; 6 foreigners and 4 Brazilians. We are so grateful for the wonderful group of leaders and staff we have here at the base in Belo Horizonte who dedicate themselves in being living examples of the good news to children and families at risk on the streets and in the poor communities around them. We feel so privileged to be able to be part of all this.

Besides all this we are planning to spend a couple of months next year in Holland with family, friends, church, and do a number of presentations in churches to make more Christians in Holland aware of what is going on as well as giving a report.

CHRISTMAS

This year, Johan and I are planning to spend Christmas in Haiti, so we can bring the school in Port au Prince to a closure together with the staff and students.

We all wish you a Christmas full of a deeper understanding of the Love of God in Christ Jesus, and may the new year be full of significant victories for the Kingdom of God!

With lots of love,

Johan and Jeannette Lukasse

P.S. For more pictures and regular updates please do visit our facebook.

PRAYER POINTS:

• Thank God for restoring our health. Please continue to pray for His protection in every way.

• We give thanks to God for the wonderful students in Haiti and Belo Horizonte. Pray that they will let themselves be mightily used by the Lord.

• Thank God for the leader and teams of staff in Belo Horizonte. Pray that God will continue to bless and use them.

• Thank God for our time and Holland and thank Him for this opportunity.