Newsletter Jurgen & Katja Hofmann, March 2024

It is a privilege to update you again on our adventures on Madagascar.

The Time has Come!

February 14 is already a month behind us. That was the day we, after three years, finally could set foot on home soil again. We had a good trip and were picked up from the airport by David Pavlotzky and Susanna Geerstma. Lovely to see familiar faces again. Of course, we did have contact with them while we were still on Madagascar … But actually seeing them is much better.

We get to enjoy a nice house in Oudewater, Utrecht. The family we rent this house from has made it available especially for missionaries coming on leave. The house is named ‘Elim.’ Elim was the place where the Israelites were allowed to rest just after the exodus from Egypt. Very appropriate, then.

Schoolwork and Other Commitments

Vanya hopes to take her final exams. Issa too will take an exam (English), That means, especially in the first few months, it won't be a holiday for them. They are well into their material, but that doesn't mean they can sit back and relax.

It does take a bit of arranging. Many sweet people want to see us, and of course we want to see them too. But then, little children grow up, and now they don't always want to come along because, so they say, they will soon fall behind with their schoolwork. Rightly so, but not always nice for those who want to see us. After all, we are mostly talked about as the 'Hofmann family,' and then it can be a bit strange that only part of the clan comes to visit. Very occasionally, this also means that I (Jurgen) visit alone, because beside being mum, Katja is also a teacher. In the run-up to the exams, she has much to do. Fortunately, this is well understood in the Netherlands. In Malagasy (rural) culture, people think of these things as weird, after all the family is one.

Guest Speaker and Presentations

During the leave, we also hope to visit many groups to talk about our work on Madagascar. We’ve noticed that maintaining contacts can become more difficult the longer you stay away—and three years is quite a long period. That is why we give several presentations, across the country. Meanwhile, the weekends in March and April are already packet. We are really looking forward to catching up with everyone again. We have a page on our website where you can see where we go. Would you like to invite us too? That is also possible on this page:

https://www.jurgenenkatja.nl/agenda/

Confronting

At the time of writing, we are in Den Helder for a week. In the meantime, we have already seen some of the family again. I will visit my parents in Schagen shortly. During our leave in 2020, we could only see each other a little and since then my father has become weaker considerably (dementia). Life goes on and people around us get older. It is not always easy to be far away and then get news of sickness, and death. We experience this on Madagascar from both sides. Dear people from the village passed away when we were in the capital city and whilst in the ‘inhabited’ world, we sometimes receive messages that acquaintances, friends, and family in the Netherlands or somewhere else have passed away.

Joyful Anticipation

We live in a broken world, but it will not always be so. We know from God's word that the Lord has promised to make all things new. What a wonderful day it is going to be. We can look forward with joy to His return. Already we may experience glimmers of His kingdom. It is incredible to meet all of our brothers and sisters again. Last Sunday we were in our home church, the evangelical church ‘de Ambassade.’ All the sweet hugs, big kisses, beautiful gifts, and happy looks did us an awful lot of good.

And what about the beautiful walks in the dunes of Den Helder and on the dike! Getting a breath of fresh air together with dear friends in the fresh air of Den Helder … Freezing!! But, when you then get to see the sun set over the North Sea, yes, we see a piece of heavenly kingdom.

Revelation 21:5
And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.

Work

A word about the work on Madagascar. By now it is clear to many of you what work we get to do on Madagascar. Last year we also started to put audio recordings of the Bible stories on micro-SD cards. We then give those cards to trusted brothers and sisters in the villages. They often cannot read that well, and so they put that card in their phone or radio and learn the stories by heart just by listening to it.

Now, it would be very easy to ‘just buy’ 100 of these micro-SD cards on the internet. But then again, these cards are not free, gratis nor for nothing. On the other hand, many of us still have such cards lying around somewhere. Most of us need 32gb or bigger cards in their phones. That 4gb card has become too small. Too small for you? But fine for us!

Now, if you still have such a card in the drawer of your desk, kitchen cabinet, pencil case, or junk box? We would be delighted to take them of your hands. You can send the micro-SD card in a (stamped) envelope to our address for the next few months:

Titus Brandsmastraat 20, 3421CC Oudewater the Netherlands

Thank you!

We are grateful to be back in the Low Lands for a while. We hope to organise another ‘lunch meeting’ sometime in the coming months. This will then be on a Sunday, after the church service. We would like to take some more time, over a bowl of soup, to tell you all about the works God is doing on Madagascar. In that setting, it will also be easier to answer questions. We will keep you informed.

Of course, you can also find out where we hang out during other days. For that, you can take a look at our calendar:

https://www.jurgenenkatja.nl/agenda/

We hope that, after reading this letter, you, like us, are also looking forward to what the future holds. We can make plans but one thing we know for sure: “what the Lord intends, happens.” (Proverbs 19:21)

We feel privileged to have so much support in our work. Thank you for your prayers, compassion, and support!

Together with you, we want to keep trusting in the Lord! For God is good, always! And always God is good!

We sincerely wish you God's rich blessing!

Katja & Jurgen
Vanya, Issa, Abbey, Dani en Simeon Hofmann.