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.
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.
