Blog nr. 8 Almost going to Brazil

Hei hei, Velkommen,

Soo……. Haha it’s been a long while. Christmas and new years has past and we are back at base. Where we had teaching and a week full of outreach prep and fun!

A lot has happened during Christmas break. We would drive to Greece but, we never made it. A boy from DTS had a stroke so we had to go to the hospital where he needed an operation. Luckily everything ended well and we are so thankful to God that it happened while we were still in Germany and that only his speech has been affected. He sadly cannot finish his DTS and cannot come on outreach ☹ We miss him very much! But we know God has a plan for him and never leaves him alone.

So we spent Christmas in Slovenia where it was so beautiful and also very nice weather. 😊 On our way back the car broke down…… twice….. The first time we could spend three nights at Delia’s place which we are super thankful for. We also went to her youth group where we talked of some of her friends and just the youth that was present. The second time that the car broke was an hour before new year’s. So the first two days of 2020 we spend on a parking lot in front of a Burger King. This was…. Challenging. Sleeping in a car and spending two days in a small space is not for me. But, eventually Stian was able to fix the car and we were on our way to Skien again.

Than we drove to Grimmerud for the Workersgathering. Here all bases of Norway came together to exchange information and worship God.

After the workersgathering we had a day off which was really nice. After that we started a week of teaching about cultural and missions. This was a very good week. We learned a lot about missions. One of the things that stood out for me the most was how they said: ‘’Make sure that no matter where you are, no matter for how long, make it your home.’’ Beside that they also said it is good that when you are somewhere to not do things out of being there temporary but doing stuff for the long term. Like when we are on outreach. We should not do things with in our mind that we are only there for two months but, with the idea that it will carry fruit much longer and that we have to build relationships.

Than I went home for the weekend. It was amazing to be home for a while. To sleep in my own bed, Dutch breakfast and dinner and to see family and friends again! It was also really good to be back in my church again and sing Dutch songs and to talk Dutch 😊

Past week was a week full of preparations for outreach. Because we are leaving Wednesday at 01:00 AM. Only two days :O We are really looking forward to it and are super excited. Last week we talked about our expectations and talked about some frustrations we might had from the Greece trip. But, we also just played some games and handed in our book reports.

We also did an encouragement round which was so good. Everyone needed it. I noticed that it is so important to tell people what they mean to you. It is so good to tell people why you are thankful for them in your live and how they influence you.

So I am so thankful that you read my blogs and that you are supporting me in prayer and some also financially. And one thing is not more important than the other. I am just very thankful for all of you! <3

Love,

Leonieke

Prayerpoints:

- Outreach. That we will have a safe journey and an amazing time. That we can adapt to the

heat and culture very fast. Beside that also that Juliët will arrive save and quick since she has

to wait for her visa.

- For Chris. That his health will go in a rising line and that his speech will be back at his old

level very quick and that God will show His plan to him.

- For unity and the connections in the group. That they will stay strong and that when there

are struggles that they may leave/talked through.

- Contacts in Brazil. That we may build good contacts and relationships in Brazil and enjoy the

country.

- For our family and friends. When we are not online all the time anymore or call. That they

don’t worry too much.

- For the base. When we leave there are a very few people who will be at base and a lot of

these people that stay at the base became our friends so we will miss them and they will

miss us. That the base keeps on growing and they have an awesome time.

- For the new DTS students (the new DTS started since the 9th of January) that they may grow

and learn a lot in the time that they are here.