It’s been a long time since you’ve heard anything from us, so it’s high time that we communicate with you.

In these last few months since Jolanda’s mother passed away, we have picked up our work at Heidebeek again. In the months before, Jolanda wasn’t able to give 100% to Heidebeek, as you can understand. Thankfully, she got the freedom from Heidebeek to be there for her parents, which meant a lot of travel back and forth between home and the city where her parents live (about two-and-a-half hours by car).

DTS Students

Life goes on here at Heidebeek, and it never seems to slow down. It’s just one school after the other, and students always seem to be coming and going. Even though Jolanda and I have our “normal” work, we like to stay involved with mentoring students during the lecture phase of their DTS (Discipleship Training School).

It’s a blessing to see the personal growth in the lives of “our” students. It is fulfilling to us to see their character as well as their talents being developed and being put to use for the Lord. “Our” students from the 2005 September DTS have just finished their school, and both of them want to continue in full-time missions.

Please pray for them as they head back home (Thomas from Florida and Eveline from Brazil). Pray that they both will experience God’s provision and guidance. It is always a big step of faith, but God continues to show us that everything is possible.

Jolanda and I can testify to this, since it will be 10 years ago this coming September that we did our DTS at Heidebeek. That means that we have been in missions for (more than) 10 years, experiencing the support of and partnership with you our home-front, through your continued prayers and financial support. It is amazing how God uses us all so that we can work together to spread His love.

Travel and Teaching

We would like to ask for your prayers for wisdom for me (Rodney) in my teaching ministry which is slowly starting to take off. I am beginning to receive more and more invitations to come and teach in different places in YWAM. I see this as something that the Holy Spirit has gifted me in and it is something that I would really like to develop more. My leaders at Heidebeek are encouraging me in this, but it is also again a big step of faith. Just like last year, I have been invited to come and speak in the School of Worship in Chennai, India again, but also in Bosnia and possibly Latvia. These are great opportunities for me, but these come at a price, namely the cost of travel.

Thankfully, we know that where God guides, He provides, just like my trip last year which was quickly paid off by my supporters.

Furlough

Last week, Jolanda and I finally made the decision to go on furlough in May to visit my parents and church in Arizona. We want to try, if possible, to go more often and for shorter periods of time. I found relatively cheap tickets for $350 each (Lisa pays 80%, and gets her own chair) but by the time you add up the airport tax, fuel tax, and security tax, the grand total comes out to more than $1700. This is where we would like to ask you all to pray for the finances for this trip, and also to consider helping support us in this.

We would also like to mention some other needs we will have while we are in the States. We would like to have our own car while we’re there for those four-and-a-half weeks. If you or someone you know can loan us a car for all or part of that time, our if you would like to help support us in renting something, please let us know. Another expense we would like to mention is the cost of going on vacation with my parents. I’m sure they will pay for most of it as they have done in the past, but we don’t want to be too much of a burden on them.

We feel it is right to, and have become bolder in laying out our needs before you, and we appreciate your understanding in this.

Thank you all so much for your continued prayers and support. We couldn’t do it without you.