Category: blog

Psychological Assessment
By Jurgen & Katja

Psychological Assessment

We are glad to let you know some progress has been made in our application with Africa Inland Mission (AIM).

In May we have been assessed psychologically to ascertain our suitability as missionaries. We received the rapport a week ago. We are positive about the results and feel encouraged.

The pychologist’s rapport is a useful tool for the mission organisation to get a better picture of who we are and where we are best to serve. The findings of the psychologist also include some tools and tips to help us in our preparations and on the field.

The next step is an interview with representatives of AIM Netherlands and of the leadership team of our church in Holland. It is important to check that we all agree on important points – i.e. what are the roles of the missionaries, church and mission organisation? Lastly there is a final interview in England, after which we can become members of AIM.

Another Move
By Jurgen & Katja

Another Move

It is almost half a year since we left England to return temporarily to the Netherlands. We had hoped to be sent to the mission field this spring, but we have learned this is not so. If we become members of Africa Inland Mission (AIM) and serve on one of their teams, we expect to go to Africa no sooner than in 2014. We have changed our mindset and accepted that we are in Holland for a longer time than anticipated.

A longer stay means we are in need of a long term house. It was very difficult to find a house, but the Lord has provided. Next month we hope to move to the center of Den Helder, the northwest tip of the Netherlands. Jurgen and Issa have already started to build a closet and two desks for the new house.

The past few months have not been easy. There was much uncertainty as to when we would be able to go to Africa, whether we would be allowed to continue home education, and with respect to our new house. We are thankful that these things have all worked out, but we would very much appreciate your prayers for peace in our family. Although we see ourselves grow in the capability of adapting to changing circumstances, it can still feel like tidal waves are coming over us sometimes. That is not a nice feeeling. We won’t give up, but please don’t give up on praying for us either!

Meeting Up
By Jurgen & Katja

Meeting Up

We have been living in Den Helder for one and a half month now and have found our way back to the church, supermarket, swimming pool and library. We enjoy being close to family and Dutch friends.

Much has happened over the last one and a half year, so it is time to meet up with some people. Last week we gathered with some friends who are willing to help us in our missionary task, whilst staying in the Netherlands themselves.

Coming monday we will see the elders of our church, and later this month we hope to have a second interview with Dutch respresentatives of Africa Inland Mission (AIM). After this interview and a psychological test it will be decided whether we can join AIM as members. Then we will enter the next fase: orientation on the possibilities on the field.

On the Seashore
By Jurgen & Katja

On the Seashore

n Thursday 22 November we arrived in Den Helder (The Netherlands), where we have lived before our move to England. Friends, who are away on a 5 month mission trip, have borrowed us their house. The house is quite big and there is a playground out front. Jurgen even has a seperate study!

The coming months will be used for study as Jurgen starts his second year of Theology. We would also like to take the time to strenghten the relationships with family and friends. Our contact with Africa Inland Mission (AIM) will be intensified. An interview will be planned for January and we begin our orientation to the possibilities for us within AIM.

To prepare ourselves further as a family, we will study a special online curriculum about Bible story telling, a way in which many peoples are introduced to the Word of God.

Accepted at LST
By Jurgen & Katja

Accepted at LST

This week we received a letter of acceptance from London School of Theology. Jurgen can finally begin his second year of study. We are very happy about that. For the Diploma Level Jurgen needs to complete at least 9 modules.

The first module is titled: ‘Encountering God and Neighbour’ and deals with our relationship with God and our fellow man. Many Old Testament books will be studied, especially Genesis, Micha and Proverbs.

The theological books in this module relate to questions of origins, possessions, Old Testament Spirituality, poverty and guilt.

A Cozy Little Cottage
By Jurgen & Katja

A Cozy Little Cottage

On the third of October we moved from West Farm Cottage in England to a little cottage in Holland. The journey took us about 20 hours. The first few days were spent unpacking boxes, but now we have settled into our nice little cottage. The cottage, which used to be a pigsty, belongs to Katja’s mother who moved to the old farmhouse three years ago. The children have quite some room to play, and the ducks have found their way to granny’s pond.

Since last week the children’s lessons have been resumed. All goes well, although it is not an easy transition for us. We miss England and our friends there, and we have not returned to the Netherlands to stay. We all realise we are only here temporarily.

Please pray for our family as we settle back into Holland, especially for peace as we seek to trust the Lord to unfold His plan with our lives

One more time…
By Jurgen & Katja

One more time…

Time flies, especially when it is almost time to say goodbye. We have now less than two weeks ahead of us before we return to the Netherlands. It is a time of looking ahead, looking back and goodbyes.

We look forward to spending time with family and friends in Holland. We also long to smell the salty air of the sea, to walk on the dyke and the beach. It will be good to be back, but at the same time we realise things will not be the same as when we left. We are not returning to Holland to stay, it is just a pitstop before we move on to our destination.

Looking back we are enormously thankful to have been in England these past 13 months. We have experienced what it is like to make a fresh start in a different country with a different culture. We have had a taster of living away from loved ones. We feel we leave richer people in many ways. We have gained more trust in the Lord to take care of us when we go to the mission field, as we have experienced his care over the last year. We know God is faithful!

Then goodbyes, certainly not the easiest part. Having become richer means we are leaving behind people who and places that have become very dear to us. So we hope to enjoy every minute of what time rests us here. One more time to the swimming pool, going blackberrying, goodbyes in church, one more meal with friends… thank you all so very much for being part of our lives!

Application LST
By Jurgen & Katja

Application LST

Last week Jurgen was notified that the last marks of his studies have been determined. Jurgen received an overall mark of 61%, with which he is glad. It has not been easy to study at university level for the first time – and in English – but his efforts were rewarded.

Now that the last marks are known, the application for the distance learning course of the London School of Theology can be posted. This was taken care of yesterday. Jurgen hopes to commence his second year of study shortly after our arrival in Holland next month.

Although we regret that Jurgen can no longer study at Trinity School of Ministry, we are thankful for this next step. Distance learning frees us to be wherever we need to be and for Jurgen to study at his own pace. Thus we have the time to invest in our contact with missionary organisation AIM and to orientate ourselves as to where the Lord wants us to serve him.

Continuation of Home Education
By Jurgen & Katja

Continuation of Home Education

29 August 2012

Our planned departure to Holland is drawing near. It is time to make plans regarding the education of our children.

In England we started to home educate our children. We are very content teaching the children ourselves. Being able to choose what, when and how they learn is a great privilege.

The children have an abundance of subjects to study. They not only learn about the history and culture of Holland and England, but also about world history and cultures around the world. The company we purchase most of our curriculum from, Sonlight, is very mission orientated.

The children also enjoy being taught at home. They like it that they learn a lot in a relative short time, and they appreciate the time spent together as a family.

Furthermore we do not want to put the children through all too many changes in their schooling. In Holland we will be living in several places and do not exactly know when we will go to the mission field. Home education provides us with stability and continuity, which is much desired. We expect to teach the children ourselves on the mission field also, making the transition less impacting when education stays the same.

However, laws and regulations in the Netherlands regarding the education of children are quite different from England’s rules. In Holland children are subject to compulsory school attendance, with only a few exceptions. The only exception that can apply to us is making a formal notice of objection to the orientation of the schools within reasonable distance of the home. A Compulsory Education Officer (CEO) checks whether the exception is lawful. Depending on the CEO and the local municipality home education can be made very hard. If you would like to read more about this, you can visit the website of the Dutch Home Education Association. Your prayers concerning the safeguarding of the home education of our children in Holland is much appreciated.

Back to the Netherlands
By Jurgen & Katja

Back to the Netherlands

21 August 2012

There is an important change ahead: after having lived in England for 13 months we will return to Holland. We had not expected to go back so soon, but our financial situation has urged us to go this autumn.

Since Jurgen will continue his studies by distance learning, we no longer need to live in England. Over the last year the euro has dropped considerably, so our money is worth a lot less in pounds. Our housing costs have also increased, which prompted us to think hard about finances. Finally we have come to the conclusion it is no longer wise to stay.

We hope to go back on October 3rd. We will then live in a small holiday cottage that belongs to Katja’s mother. After that we will return to Den Helder, from where we moved here a year ago. Missionary friends have offered us to use their house while they are away on a 5 month mission trip. They hope to return in the spring of 2013, by which time we hope to know when we will step out into mission ourselves.

We look forward to seeing our family and friends in Holland again, but we will certainly miss the many friends we have made here. We count ourselves rich to have been embraced by the people we have met in school, church and in so many other places.