Skip to main content

The privilege of knowing inspiring people.

The time has come when the "last time..." of things is starting to happen. Yesterday was my last time meeting with NUCLEO, which is a network of all the governmental and non-governmental organisations in the city which work with streetkids. We were doing our anual evaluation and planning and spent the day together. Although a busy day, it was good to get away and see the positives and the potentials from last year. As I was listening and talking to these extraordinary people, I realized just what a privilege it has been to be a part of this network.

Even if it has meant years of productive (and unproductive) meetings, and maybe not always as much efficiency as would be desired, it has meant that I have gotten to know some really inspiring people. People who really stand up for and go many extra miles to see change and restoration in the lives of the streetkids. People who don't give up, even when the kid goes back to the streets again and again and again. People who have chosen to allow themselves to really love and care for the streetkids.

Not many of the projects are Christian, and it makes me think: if these people are this amazing now, imagine if you added the transforming power and grace of Jesus to it. I am so grateful to God that this city has these people working in it, and even after I leave, I know the streetkids will always have many streetworkers fighting for them and showing them value and dignity.

Popular posts from this blog

Getting to know the local culture.

Life is a strange thing. Last week went…not much happened, and then it was over. The weekend was quite calm without too many wild and exciting things happening. Except, of course, a wee outing to watch the National Championship for Veteran Ploughing. Now, like me, you might be sadly lacking an understanding of what this actually means. So I am delighted to be able to enlighten you in this respect. It’s basically (for the “farm-language-illiterate” like myself) a competition where you use old (hence the name “veteran”) tractors and ploughs, and plough up a stretch of field which is then evaluated and the one scoring the highest sum (accuracy, depth, how well the soil is turned is all given points) wins. I must admit that this information I got by eavesdropping on a conversation next to me where a man was explaining to some of my friends how it all works. So that was a fun adventure….although we only stayed for a bit. What is sort of occupying my mind at present is my upcoming travel abr...
Read more

Taking in the familiar and a heart connected.

Amsterdam. It still has that muggy feeling in Summer, and a constant flow of people which if you stop to think about it, it's quite amazing that there would even be space to accommodate them all. But then I guess they are not all staying. Just passing through on their way to or from somewhere. It's always good for the heart to visit somewhere that was once home. The familiarity of streets and customs makes it easier to embrace what might be new as well as the joy of being reacquainted with old friends. Friends. So many of them to be found in this city, ready with hugs and good words that are uttered when seeing someone who was away again. Friendship. A treasure that cannot be bought. Cobblestones trodden by many, including myself. Sitting on a bench. Praying. Remembering the first time I stumbled upon this area lined with windows with red lights and curtains. An area which has come to represent no longer windows, but people to me. Some still behind a window. Others who have ...
Read more

Romania- so much hope filling my heart for this nation.

As I sit down to write this, I am at the little table in a rented flat in the centre of Bucharest, Romania. It’s quiet. Strangely quiet considering we’re in the centre of a huge city. My feet are propped up on a worn fake-leather puff thing, and as I check the time I realize that I have been in the country less than 24 hours... and yet my heart is overflowing with impressions and emotion for a nation I barely know. It’s getting late, but I know I am too awake to sleep and so have made myself a cup of Earl Grey (with milk) and have sat down to try to capture at least a bit of what this day has been. As always, I write mostly for myself and the occasional other who desires to enter into the telling of my story. Driving from the airport last night, and getting the first glimpse of the city and seeing majestic buildings lit up towards the night sky, filled me with expectation. A beautiful city filled with so much history. I came wondering. Wondering what this nation I knew from w...
Read more