Wednesday, June 6, 2012

Changes

Dear friends,
Johan is waiting up front in the classroom while young people enter and sit down. He already installed his laptop and projector, and while he waits, he tries to clean the dust off his black leather shoes by wiping them secretly on the back of pants…
Then the school leader introduces Johan to the students.  This introduction is being translated into others languages, and at last it is Johan’s turn to start teaching!


Teaching gives energy
The theme of the week is, “What can be done among the children at risk in our city?” With Bible studies, stories and power points, Johan shares from all the experience he has accumulated. He loves to teach and interact with students. It gives him new energy.

Of course, he always teaches in the Children at Risk school in Belo Horizonte (which we will run for the 23rd time this year), but he has also been able to give these same teachings in many other countries at YWAM schools, conferences and churches.  Johan has the gift of teaching and enjoys using it. He would love to spend even more time teaching, if possible.

To write a new book
I would really like to find more time to be able to transform all these teachings into a good, readable book.  Until now, this has not been possible as we have been too busy with the leadership of the work here in Belo Horizonte.  Overall, there are 70-90 full time missionaries spread out over 8 different centers, consisting of different projects, homes, community centers and training schools.  Together, the many volunteers, students and missionaries, reach out to children and families with the practical, healing and inspiring love of God.

Transition of leadership
We have been praying for quite some time already, and understand that the time is coming near, to hand over the leadership of the work here in Belo Horizonte. One of the first steps we took in this direction was to write two separate newsletters (instead of the combined personal and ministry newsletter). In our personal newsletter (this one), I write about what Johan and I are doing.  The second newsletter is specifically about the work of YWAM in Belo Horizonte.  It is quite fun because our daughter, Johanneke, writes most of the ministry newsletters now, while our son-in-law, Jonathan, does the design and organizational side of creating the newsletter. They both work as fulltime missionaries, and for us as (grand) parents, it is great to have them living so close to us with their three daughters.

Together with the rest of the leadership team, we are prayerfully working toward handing over the daily leadership by the end of 2013. We certainly hope to have the health and ability to still be connected to the base for many years, but more in a mentoring role as we pursue our goals to do more teaching and writing.


World Cup Football (soccer)
Johan is coordinating the international (YWAM) outreach teams planning to come to Brazil for evangelistic events during the 2014 World Cup.  This is a big job in itself!  The evangelistic events will have a focus, among other things, on the problems concerning human trafficking and the sexual exploitation of children, teenagers, men and women during that time.


Dilma may move to Holland
Many of you may remember that besides our three biological children, we also adopted two other children named Dilma and Davi.   Dilma is deaf, Davi is paraplegic and both are mentally challenged.  For three years now, Davi (25) has been living in Holland in a Christian community for people that need support.  He loves it there! It’s a great place for him as he has a beautiful big bedroom, a nice job and fulltime care, all adapted to his intellectual and physical level. We can see how good it is for him to have a certain level of independence, with all the care and encouragement he needs.

We would love to see something like that for Dilma (31) also. Here in Brazil she has reached her full potential developmentally. In December, when we will go on furlough to Holland, we hope to take Dilma to this Christian community to see if she will adapt well there as Davi has. As it will be a big change, please pray for her concerning this situation.

We would like to thank all those who have prayed for us, encouraged us with finances, emails and messages.  We wish you all God’s richest blessings.

Prayer points:
  • We thank God for the committed leaders and staff in Belo Horizonte. Pray for this phase of transition.
  • We thank God for Dilma, and please pray that she will adapt easily in Holland.
Love and greetings,

Johan and Jeannette

Interesting links to some of our staff websites: