Difficulties, but also some positive results of the Corona crisis.

Johan and I pray daily for the pain that is caused by the Corona virus worldwide. For the people that became sick with Covid-19, and for their families and friends. But also for the other painful results that this pandemic brings, like the frustration when weddings cannot happen as planned, or funerals with social distancing, when people are craving for a hug and consolation. The pain of not being able to meet in bigger groups, or not being able to go to school, loss of jobs and income for basic needs. Or the loneliness of the aging population, fear gripping people who are in high-risk groups, chronic stress for an uncertain future, and so many more similar situations.

This could drive us to hopelessness, but that is exactly what we are praying against: May God give each one who identifies with any of the above situations new hope, resilience and even peace and joy—not the joy of the world, but the joy that comes from the deep knowledge that God is with us, loves us and encourages us to continue to trust Him.
 

Positive results

While we acknowledge all these disappointments and pain, we also see beautiful things happening through it all! In our own lives, despite being unable to travel, many more students are being reached and equipped for working with Children at Risk. This is happening through online teachings, of course.

Online we can reach much bigger groups of students; during the last training in June, we had 128 students participating, representing 39 countries. We rejoice especially in the fact that students from difficult access countries, where there are such huge needs, were able to participate! Going physically to so many different places would have been impossible for us.

YWAM (Youth With A Mission) is an international movement with over 20,000 full-time staff in over 160 countries. Most of our students were from YWAM, but we also had young people from churches and other organizations participating. It looks like we still have plenty of work to do. 😊

Also, the fact that our income comes through gifts from friends and family helped to keep the cost of such a course very low, as we don´t need to generate a salary. We could offer the whole seminar for US$5.00, which is the cost of registering and generating a certificate with the UofN (University of the Nations, the international university of YWAM). This low cost enabled students who work in areas with lots of needy children to participate. Many of them would not have had the time nor resources to travel to another country to do a Children at Risk School. Now they could easily participate, and they truly appreciated receiving a certificate from the UofN.

It was also incredibly positive to work together with other leaders and staff from Children at Risk Schools around the world. Together we formed a group of facilitators so each could take care of 10-12 students and give them personal attention. That worked really well and also created a deeper sense of connection among us.

And for us, it speeded up offering online training, a desire we have had for quite a while. Suddenly this lockdown motivated us to get it ready! We have been pleasantly surprised with all these positive results!

You guys rock!!!

We received a lot of positive feedback from the students after the course. The following is just one example:

“WOW-AMAZING! I have done a few courses and a lot of meetings on Zoom in this season and this is truly the best organized and prepared, I was so impressed. Good communication, through the Google Classroom and WhatsApp and emails. Very clear. Very good prepared with all the homework after the lectures regarding the topic, loved the feedback on personal homework too. I loved that we had small groups and that you guys even made time for a, a one on one (personal video call). I felt very included and personal cared for in a big course, which I think is so impressive to do when it is online and with so many participants all over the world. You guys rock!!!”
 

Once more

There were a lot of people who had wanted to do this first course in June but were too late signing up. So for September we have scheduled another Introduction for Children at Risk Seminar. If you know people who could benefit from such a course, please help us spread the word. Here is the link with information and access to the application form: https://www.childrenatriskschools.com/online-seminar 

Then for the students who have completed either of these Introduction courses, we plan to offer a second module in November this year. 

Our children and grandchildren

We were so happy to have been able to visit our children and grandchildren who live in England and the United States in February this year, just before the Corona lockdown. We see this as a special present from the Lord. We had originally planned to gather the whole family this year for Christmas, as we haven’t all been able to be together since 2011, but that will not be possible now.

For Romeu and Michele and their children, it is still very uncertain whether they can come to Holland from Brazil on furlough. They had already bought their one-way tickets. But in these strange times, nothing is certain.
 

We see Dilma and Davi regularly, and during the summer holidays they were able to stay with us for two weeks in our cabin in Ermelo in Holland, where we have been living since December last year. Especially Davi, with all his health issues, belongs to a high-risk group, so it is a blessing to be close to them, as they both live in the neighboring town of Putten, less than 4 miles away.
 

We are so thankful for all those who have continued to support us. Especially in these uncertain times where everything can change from one day to the next because of the Corona virus, quarantine, and social distancing. We pray God’s blessings over all of you, and his protection physically, spiritually, and emotionally.

Lots of love from Johan and Jeannette
 

Prayer points:

• Let us continue to pray for all those who are directly or indirectly affected by the Corona virus.
• Give thanks for the courses we can give online.
• Pray that many people who work with vulnerable children in difficult places will find a way to participate in these online training sessions, so many more children and families will be reached with the love of the Lord Jesus.
• Please pray for us and our children and grandchildren. We miss each other a lot, especially in these trying times.
• We also request special prayer for the health of our son Davi. So far it has been going well, but with all his medical challenges, he is part of a high-risk group.