Skip to main content

Back in Amsterdam.

The church bells are chiming on the other side of the street, and I am sat with the veranda door open, sipping my cup of Earl Grey tea. It’s beautiful evening here in Amsterdam. The sun is starting to set and it’s a comfortable temperature reminding me that it really is spring, almost summer.

I arrived back here today, and I get to stay in one of the flats over the “Lighthouse” project which is in the Red Light District. It’s a lovely flat. Right outside there’s a canal and on the other side of the canal is the Oude Kerk which is one of the oldest churches in Amsterdam (hence the church bells).

It’s been a good but slightly surreal day. After getting my baggage at the airport I decided to grab a bite to eat before getting the train to Amsterdam. And since I’ve been here before I knew to get a cheap baguette from HEMA rather than pay a lot for a similar sandwich somewhere else. It’s this kind of knowledge that reminds me that I am not here to be a tourist.

After the 10 minute train ride to Amsterdam Centraal station I strolled with my luggage to the Lighthouse, hoping I’d choose the right side street (which I did). It was lovely to see the team here again. They are such amazing people. Good to see them, surreal to not have all the people who did the “Shine Seminar” here also.

Soon after getting here it was time for the weekly intercession time in the Tabernacle which focuses on the Lighthouse and the Red Light District. It was great to get stuck in there again, and hear what God is speaking. He is speaking about intimacy, prayer, abiding in Him... and from that place stepping out and seeing justice. We also prayed for the outreach to Latvia this coming Sunday.

Latvia. I’m excited. Excited to visit another nation of course, but mostly to go with the team from here and be allowed to encourage and build up those who are partnering with Jesus in pioneering there. Pioneering is hard work. So we go to encourage and strengthen, whatever that’ll look like.

So there you go, a wee glimpse into my first day back here. I doubt I’ll be writing every day, but hopefully I’ll manage to keep the updates coming...

I’m glad to be here. And I feel the peace of God.

Popular posts from this blog

Packing...again.

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....

Snapshots of life...

Life. What is life anyway? And what does it mean to live life to the full? A little reflection there. One thing I do know is that I am alive and that the days seem to pass by quicker then I would like them to. The month of July has literally flown by... I can’t believe this weekend it’ll already be August. Where did July go? It’s been an eventful month. Last week was my birthday and I felt very loved and valued. Going for a Brazilian BBQ with some friends in a week or so and I am very excited!! I really hope it’s authentic and good, or I think I will most certainly be a tad disappointed. I also got given a car, almost on the day of my birthday. A good friend of mine got given another car and so she gave me her old one. It took a week and a bit for the garage to fix it up and pass it in the inspection, and getting it licensed in my name and getting insurance wasn’t totally straightforward, but I now have it. And it feels so freeing and lovely when I’m driving my own car!!! It’s a golden...

Tired.

Today I've been really really tired all day. I guess it's part of life and also part of getting ready to leave. Today I dragged myself out of bed, and had a cup of tea to get going. And when the mum we were taking to see her son in prison wasn't in, the morning went doing bits and pieces. This afternoon we were at the bussterminal to see the streetkids. It was a good time I guess, but the group of kids there at the moment are really just so lost. Totally drugged, dirty, and don't really care about anything. It's like they've lost all innocence. When I got back I looked through a few past reports getting them ready to do the monthly overview of the kids we've met this month. I felt really sad. One kid said her dream was that her mum would stop drinking, another girl told of a stepfather who molested her and her sisters, and another boy told of how his dad would hit his sister. And I am left with the question of: where is the hope and future for these kids? So...