Category: english

Here are a few reflections on the latest small silent retreat in Hungary, as some of you asked so kindly how it went: The rain poured down, two days in a row. It was cold outside, but cosy inside. A little heater can make a difference!   Why would it be me, I wondered, to…

If there is only one thing what we have learned in living in Croatia, than it is the force to accept the vulnerability and brokenness and embrace it. Brokenness in buildings, in people’s lives, in relations, and in many other aspects. One example of that brokenness was also visible in our dear dog: Vanda. We…

While preparing for this weekend’s silent retreat in Hungary, I came across this piece of art with the title: Choosing peace. It is not only the harmonious art that I love, it is also the freedom that we have to choose. Sister Wendy Beckett writes: “An acceptance of the vulnerability on which peace is based,…

Dear all, Today is Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent. But what does that actually mean? And why should we mark this day? I found this article very insightful and am happy to share it.   What is Lent? The word ‘Lent’ comes from the old Saxon name for the month of ‘March’ and came…

Silence in Hungary: 26–29 April 2019 Stay with Me A quiet time between Easter and Pentecost. You are warmly invited for a weekend women’s retreat where silence, chapel moments, local food, and fellowship are all coming together on the plains of Hungary. These days, we will focus on the time between Easter and Pentecost and…

It went like this: A friend asked on Facebook, “Hey, who will watch my animals while I am on a journey?” I knew that she lives on a beautiful farm in the Netherlands, so I responded jokingly, “Shall I come to take care of your animals?” She said, “If you come, I will pay for…

This month, I am hosting different days of silence in the Netherlands. I feel very honoured to be able to host a day in which I combine silence and writing. When I sent out the invitations last October, somebody from Scotland (thank you, Roelien!) responded and sent this article. I found it so insightful that…

It is Christmas break. The snow is slowly falling down, and I should be happy. I see people on the street visiting their loved ones. People visiting others. They all seem to belong somewhere. My dad is turning 70 years old this very day, and although I am very thankful for that, I realize that…

The wedding of Sasha and Ellie. What a party! What preparations! What a feast! What excitement! Every detail was in place. Sasha is the son of our friends Biljana and Đeno Nikolić. They played a major role in the decision for us to come and live here in Osijek. A few years ago, Sasha went…