Greetings from Holland. Well, I’ve had a pretty relaxing Monday, and thought I’d take the time to write a blog update. Don’t worry, it won’t be as long as the last one was. I will have the apartment above De Fakkel to myself for the next few days, and hope to seek God and spend time praying and in the Word–not that I need the place to myself to achieve that, but I know it frees me from distractions. I thought I’d get a blog entry out of the way immediately. If any of you in Leeuwarden reading this were thinking of stopping by for a visit and wanna see me–still don’t hesitate to come over–but that’s what I intend on doing with my ’spare time’ for a few days. Who knows, maybe some more studious blog entries might result out of that time alone. But I do need some direction from the Lord about how to use my time here for these next few months.
Anyway, I got to go to a conference put on by the Navigators and SoulSurvivor called “Momentum” yesterday. It began on Friday and lasts until Tuesday, but Dan Slavin,
Ardy and I drove down there for the day. It was great fun time. I saw some of the FIRE Ede people—since two of them—Sue van der Linden and Corinanne Haring preached and taught at one of the conference seminars! Who better to teach on singleness than a couple of “experienced singles” (the brochure/schedule’s words, not mine!). As well, I got to meet Andrea Pool—another one of my Dutch Xanga subscribers I’d never met in person. Only in the world of blogging can people you’ve never met in person come up to you and ask you about your life because they’ve been reading it online.
“How’s your toe?”
Classic.
Also, on the way back Frank Pot called last night with a potential place for me to stay this summer in Rotterdam, beginning on the first of August. Anyway, the place is a two bedroom apartment, but as of yet, I have no potential roommates. This Saturday I most likely will take the train up to Rotterdam (I’m in Leeuwarden right now) in time for a weekly prayer meeting at the FIRE café, along with some time of working on the building. Frank plans on showing me this apartment and talking heart to heart and seeing where we’re both at with this vision.
Anyway, the apartment will be 350 euro a month, two bedroom as I said, and fully furnished and utilities included. I “can” afford it, but would not have enough money for food since as of yet my monthly support level is very limited, and my savings are such that I only would have rent afforded for two months and that’s it, no groceries or any other expenses. But, God is a big God and I have seen him do more amazing things than provide roommates or a few hundred euros.
I’m excited for all this, even if it takes some more time to pick up momentum, I know from past experience (The Bridge Youth Centre in my hometown years ago until now) that it’s totally worth it when things in the Spirit finally break through after much prayer. Just an encouragement for those of you following along in my life with this: Frank told me on Thursday night at the Summer School planning meeting, that it has cost a total of 6000 euro to renovate the café, and only about 75 euros were paid for by FIRE Netherlands. So he’s not shaken. If he’s not then neither am I.
Also, as for the Summer School, at the meeting I recall being told we only had a couple of people registered early. When Frank called last night, he told me we had 30 new registrations since that planning meeting! That’s further along than we were last year, and a good number in just a few days. So please pray! The cost is 235 Euro per person for the total Summer School.
If you are unable to make it, please seriously pray about the possibility of sponsoring or providing towards the cost of other people who want to come but have limited finances. I will post a blog entry after this one exclusively about how to do that if you feel this is something you want to help others participate in.
There is a blog prepared here for more information on the “Fire for Life Summer School 2006”. If you’d like to know more about it or are interested in attending.
Blessings and tot ziens.
