Since years I am writing a public year review in the last week of the year. In 2017 and 2018 I wrote about our work among the Roma. In 2019; over our move back to the Netherlands, in 2020; my first book was published and in 2021 my parents had their 50th anniversary (with lots of photo’s) and we opened our workspace in Wageningen. This is the blog for 2023.
This year I summarized this year in 20 images. I trusted that you all were fine with being shown in the picture. If you do see yourself and do not wish that, just let me know and I will remove the image. Enjoy the images!
- Playing along with Winfried Guettner in an old church in Swarzenborn, Germany. January ’24
2. Laurens is an artist and is showing his monsterbook to his grandpa. (Jelle’s dad)
3. Our friend and pastor Jenn came for a visit. Great times. She has been pastoring our kids during our time in Croatia and beyond.
4. Celebrating Marijke’s birthday in Germany. She is currently writing a substack. If you like to follow her: That is possible: (click on the link)
5. Ann Vogelzang came for a visit in April. We know her from our shared Toronto time. 2010- 2011. I think this is the best picture of all. What do you think?
6. The garden of abundance is the best place to hang out. Here our friend Flora with her sister who visited her.
7. A small impression of a women retreat. I do host four weekend retreats a year. And it is a wonderful experience, each time over and again. Read more with Google Translate. It really is impossible to translate everything. If you like me to host something for you or a small group, just ask! Theworldaroundmytable.com/contact
8. Our dear friends Claire and Rob also came for a visit in the Garden of Abundance. A serious bikeride for those two. Sweet memories now.
9. Early breakfast photo with sleepy eyes;-) Julia’s daughter came along for a night or two, before she journeyed on to be with Mercy Ships.
10. In the Summer, Fanny and her family came in our house. So good to be together even very briefly!
11. Tanya Salituro and I met in Toronto in 2012. She helped me when Laurens was born. Great to see each other this year!
12. A Texan meal prepared in the heart of our Dutch village by Virginia. What a gift!
13. Femke got her diploma and is now working in a childcare place. She loves it.
14. My most daring thing of the year: A young girl who is in training to be a hairdresser needed some people to practise. I do love crazy things, so I said: YES. Fun!
15. These are our dear friends: Bishop Gerhard and his wife Grace Meijer. We know them for several years and visit regurlarly in Germany. Part of the Anglican Episcopal Church. I should write more about them. Wonderful stories to tell!
16. Our dear friend Bob Hitching passed away and Jelle wrote an obituary about him. We’ve worked together with Bob and Nancy for years during our time in Croatia and after. This photo is from last year’s visit to Croatia.
Especcially for Jelle it is a great loss. Jelle is chairman of the board of the Roma Bible Union, since his passing. Please, do pray for Nancy, his wife who moved back to the States after 20 plus years ministering in Europe.
(You can still order my book with 40 stories about that time)
Talking about Europe. The best thing we did this year was taking the nighttrain to Austria and celebrate Christmas, hidden in the mountains.
17. Just a few metres of all your lovedones together for a whole night and the rhythm of the rails while you pass towns and villages.
18. Hiding in a monastery and being offline for a week was a wonderful experience. The snow was 50 cm high. Not one dull moment!
Guess who we met on the way back?
19. Sami’s parents: (Femke’s boyfriend) in Linz.
20. The kids also connected with their friends. Unexpected crazy fun times!
Jelle and I wish you a wonderful 2025.
May the Lord be very near in good and hard times.
The Lord will be before you,
to show you the right way.
The Lord will be behind you,
to protect you from danger.
The Lord will be beneath you,
so that you can never perish.
The Lord will be within you,
to comfort you when you are sad.
The Lord will be beside you as a protective wall,
when others fall over you.
The Lord will be above you, to bless you.
So may God bless you, today, tomorrow and all the days that you live,
forever and ever.
Amen.
St. Patrick
A small gift for you.
P.s. I wrote a reflection document, but did not have time to translate it. It took me four hours to create it. You can easily translate it with Google translate. Here it is if you like. (with wonderful photo’s from the monastery).
P.s. My workbook about a Rule of Life is a bit delayed, but coming soon and very soon.
Kind regards!
(If you do not like to be in this blog, just let me know and I will remove your photo).