On a journey...

Thursday I was in dire need of some time not with other people. Even if the people on my course are fantastic people, I was feeling the “peopled-outness” hitting me hard, and so after the end of my schedule I headed out to find myself a cafe (I would call it a coffee shop, but here in Amsterdam a “coffeeshop” is a place where you can buy cannabis as part of the menu and I was after a cup of tea rather then stronger substances). After walking a little while I ended up at a nice cafe in the Waterlooplein. I had a cup of Earl Grey tea while reading: “A Crime so Monstrous” about human trafficking to do a book report on as part of my course. When my tea was finished I decided that a cup of hot chocolate sounded very tempting. I ordered a cup with dark chocolate, and was served a mug with hot milk and a small glass of dark chocolate pieces. I could then add as many or few pieces of chocolate I wanted. Naturally I added them all (I mean, not to would be a bit of a waste), and it was so delici...

I can’t believe it’s Wednesday already. The past few days have been so busy it feels like I’m only stopping to sleep and then it’s morning again. But it’s been good, and hopefully I’ll get into a bit of a flow (and then suddenly the course will be over). The course...it’s been a fantastic week. All about prophetic justice and focus and foundation having to be in God. A lot stuff I’ve believed and am passionate about, but also some tweaks that have been really good. God is a God of justice and true justice can only come from Him. The speaker was brilliant in what and how she shared and I have lots to process and go deeper in, and it’s only Wednesday!!! Apart from the teaching, there are work duties to do, coffee breaks to be had, small group, walking, bonding with people...it’s busy. But good, but I need to pace myself and use wisdom as well (note to self to not forget this point). This afternoon I went out to visit the women behind the windows in the Red Light District with the women’s...

I love cities. I didn’t realize just how much I love the freedom of being able to walk everywhere and hear the sound of traffic outside my room, and how much I enjoy the hustle and bustle that is so much a part of big cities. The last few days I’ve taken lots of walks, even if it’s been really cold. And it’s pretty safe here also. I asked someone if it was dangerous to walk outside at night on my own, and she said that it was totally safe. And that is the feeling that I’ve had when I’ve been walking around in the day time. I haven’t felt the need to clutch my handbag tightly and be aware of everyone around me at all times. It just feels safe, and that’s really nice. I also found online a gym that offers Les Mills classes (for those of you who are unfamiliar with what that means, in Fortaleza, Brazil, I used to do a class called BodyCombat which is like an aerobic class based on various martial arts, so punches and kicks and jumps. I absolutely loved it! Best exercise I’ve ever done. An...

The sun has gone done, but even if it’s evening, the streetlights, cars and lighted buildings make the city far from dark. I’m sat in my room at de Poort, the YWAM base in Amsterdam. It used to be a seaman’s house back in the day, which brought back memories of when I did my DTS outreach in Plymouth, England, and part of our ministry was at “the Royal Sailor’s Rest” (also known as “Aggie’s”) where we reached out to naval wives. Here in Amsterdam this seaman’s house has become home to missionaries, and my room for these 6 weeks is on the third floor and overlooks the canal. I am once again in a big city. Today feels like a very long day, which I suppose in all honesty it has, been taking into consideration I got up at 4:20 am this morning and was brushing snow off the car at 4:50 am to go to the airport. The flight was uneventful, although I thought it was worth noting that the sandwich we were served for breakfast was made from organic bread (which I am sure my organic eating friends w...

I just folded the last load of laundry and I’m almost packed. Off to the airport at 5am tomorrow morning, heading off to Amsterdam. I’m excited, a bit nervous, and wondering what it’ll be like. It’s been a good week at home with lots of quality time with family, especially the little nieces and nephew. I’m glad I’ll see them in April again. Well, not much to write and packing to be done and a bit of sleep would probably be a good idea too. Next time I write it’ll be from Amsterdam....

I’m sat on the train home from Grimerud. We’ve reached Kristiansand and so finally I’m sat facing the right way and can actually write a little blog update. It’s been a good week! I led a couple of prayer times with a Human Trafficking focus, one focusing on the victims, the other on the perpetrators. It was so good to see people join with this heart which is also God’s heart and pray to see it ended and for God to break in. It also made me even more excited to do the 6 week seminar I’m starting end of next week because I expect to learn more! The weekend was wonderfully calm. I went for walks in the snow (I did have the offer of skiing, but didn’t quite get to that point), and hung out with friends. I also took a few shifts in the prayer room as “doorkeeper” which is basically the one who is responsible and decides what is done in the prayer room in terms of if the prayer room webstream is on (and chooses what set if so) or puts on some music, or reads the Bible out loud. On Sunday it...

“Jehova Rapha, this is your name. Yesterday, today, forever the same. Your heart is to heal, your heart is to heal.” This was one of the choruses sung last night in the prayer room here at Grimerud House of Prayer that is part of the YWAM base here in Norway. I’m here for 10 days this time round. A week of sitting in on teaching with Ina Stein, and then I get to share a bit of my journey with prayer and the prophetic next week. It’s nice to be back here. And nice to connect again with the faithful ones who are keeping the 24/7 prayer going. The teaching this week has been excellent, and needs processing. It’s all about returning to a focus upward and not horizontally, and of attaining the fullness of salvation and the presence of God and living from a place of rest (short, unprocessed summary). I finally did get my act together and prepared what was to be a 30 minute presentation about the work I did in Brazil to a group for the elderly in one of the local churches in my town. When I g...