http://www.myspace.com/crossculture905">


Hamilton Place Studio Theatre, Redeemer U/C

when?

September 23rd, 2006; 9 am - 7 pm

what?

worship through service, service through worship.


Crossculture was born out of a few individuals who were challenged by God to really think big in making a difference in their community. The vision was to have a full day of service in the Hamilton community in order to bless the city in which we live, and to give visible and tangible expression to Christ's love for the city. Last April 1st, this vision culminated in 103 students giving up their day to worship and serve the community.

Check out the http://www.myspace.com/crossculture905">Cross Culture MySpace, including the CH News video clip filmed last April.

This is an event not to be missed: for sign-up or more information, contact Matt Pamplin at mpampli@redeemer.on.ca, or (905) 648-2131 ext. 4289

well...

Well, life just keeps on going. Before I knew that I had started my job at SMC, I only have 2 weeks left. The coming week is youthweek and should bring some completely new challenges. The last week have been filled with many challenges that varied from dealing with broken families, breaking up fights, very very bad language, disrepect for women, disrepect for God, trying to be a strong example of a Christian, trying to stay energized with a lack of sleep, being a sort of a father figure for some campers. However, my weeks are also filled with, awesome devotions, learning to dunk, great food, leading campers to Christ, challenging campers during devotions, finally making a breakthrough with a certain camper, scoring amazing goals in soccer, doing a high ropes course, meeting new people, making new friends, I could go on for a long time.

Yes, God is providing in my life. Only 26 days from now I am returning to Redeemer. And after about a week of planning and meeting, my second year will finally start. I have in recent days aquired 3 new things that should make my life at Redeemer even more comfortable. Just before I left for SMC, I picked up a cheap bike at a garage sale (oh yah!) On friday I bought myself a MP3 player. I finally gave in to the rage (see picture) 6GB and it is alrady half filled 2 days later. And today I picked up a free BBQ that was standing lonely on a nearby street, so know this everybody DORM 36 now has a BBQ to go with their porch out back!

(My new addition to my personal gear, I feel a bit greedy buying something like that, but it is pretty cool)

Well that is it for know, God bless, Willem

1 and 1

So, exactly one year and one day ago, I left the Netherlands and changed countries. My time in Canada has been very blessed, times with family, people at Redeemer, and God's plans for my summer are all part of the reason why this has been and still is such a blessing.
Today I am also halfway through my employment at SMC. It has been a really different experience, God is teaching me a lot, about His word, our mission and so many other aspects of life. In the weekends I am really tired, but it is really worth it, living on SMC property is some sort of new separate reality. Being away from the busy world is an amazing, but sometimes difficult thing. Therefore, also my apologies if contact with me has been very rare over the last 4 weeks. Saturday Session 3 is done again. And for me there will only be 3 sessions left. I ask that you would continue to pray for me and for all the other people at SMC, because God is doing miracles here. In a later part I will share some testimonies about everything here.

God bless, Willem

SMC

My blog (actually my blog template) was down for the last couple of weeks, I don't know exactly what all happened, but at least it is now running again. It is kind of too bad that my old template is gone because I really liked it, but this will do.

Two weeks ago on monday July 2nd I left for Scott Missions Camp (SMC). The first 5 days there would consist out of some intense training. I was happy there was going to be training, because I felt really unprepared. It was a week in which I met many many new people, and I really experienced encouragement through them. However, this was not yet camp, it was pre-camp! So, after I went back to Ancaster for the weekend, Monday I travelled to 502 Spadina Ave. in Toronto, to take the camp bus with the kids, the camp bus that would take me to the Scott Mission Camp property where I had completed my training (near Caledon).

My first week was a challenge, my co-counsellor (Rufio) and I (Vader) where in charge of the Anderson cabin in our first week. We had 9 kids between the ages of 9-11. Even though they were sometimes called the "Terror-squad" and they did give us sme hard times, it was a blessing. It was great to be able to share the gospel with all these kids. All 96 kids at this camp come from low-income families, most of the families reside in Toronto, even thought there are also a few kids that came from Brampton, Missasauga, and even Hamilton.

All the kids at camp are between the age of 7 and 14, and many have already experienced stuff that I will never experience. But, as I was told during pre-camp it is so important not to judge them, they are all God's children, no matter how many rules they abolish, they deserve this break! Some of the best times were during our evening devotions, or the evening pool parties. The last night (Friday) we had a pool party instead of an evening game. In the midst of all the hot weather the cool pool was refreshing, and when the counsellors where called up to do a diving board show the campers were very entertained. Let's say that the Belly flop I did, was still felt 5 hours later went to bed.

So, camp is pretty rockin', I would appreciate it if you would pray for what is happening at SMC this summer, and that God's love may truly be felt in the lives of these children. I hope this will do for another week or so, because blogging at a camp with hardly any internet access is almost impossible.

God bless, Willem (Vader)

Blog changes

This blog has undergone some changes recently, these were not intended. All information, posts, links and other stuff are up again. However, the commenting option is not present at the time. I did not want to change my blog, but in my blog business I completely erased everything therefore, I had to start all over again. I'll try to add a way of commenting soon. Thanks for the patience. - Willem

coming and going

Today at 3:00 pm, the time to leave Ancaster has come. It was a good five weeks at Redeemer a bit boring sometimes, especially when I only had like 8 hours of work a week, but I should not complain. Tonight I am going to the TDCH graduation and tomorrow I am going to the WCHS graduation (cousins). Then I get to relax and chill for a few days at home and I start camp on sunday!! I'll come up with a higher quality post sometime before that. I guess the reason I haven'tn updated has to do with the Portugese ability to make a football match look like a WWF show. England better teach these theatric pretty boy's a lesson.

My Netherlands

This is the first map in hopefully a series of maps. It is a map titled my Netherlands, for all the people that still want to know where I am from this should give you an idea. Let me know what you think about it. (click to enlarge)

detour

Sometimes you need to start all over, begin at the beginnning. I am slowly figuring out why? I am slowly being tought why? It is not the strong on this earth that survive, it is the strong in the Lord God Almighty that will last forever. C.S. Lewis writes about nearness in likeness and approach to God. They often seem very alike, however, it can be very betraying. I think sometimes you reach a point were god is teaching you so much, where God is showing you so much, where God is loving you much, where God is working through you so much, that you kind of start to feel "godly". Your ways seem to be alike to those of God, and you think that you can make the difference by what God has tought you. This is where the betrayel is, you can not make the difference by what you have learned. Your nearness in likeness is not something that is godly, it might seem very impressive, it is however nothing more than you earthly desires that have surpassed your desire for God.

This is when you are not near in approach anymore you are just near in likeness. It is like standing on the edge of a cliff with the beach where you want to go right below you, however we can not descend the cliff, we must take a detour. That detour (approach) is the path that Jesus took for us, he became human and suffered trial and tribulation to return to his father. Being on that cliff we are so close to our destination (God) in likeness we are near, however we have a long way to go, we have to take the detour (approach) to get where we need to be. Are ways have to be like God, not our appearance. Sometimes we need to start all over again, we need to stand on top of that cliff and start taking the detour, instead of trying to stand so close to the edge, trying just to be more like God.

Let's take a detour, Jesus took quite the detour to come back home, he gave us the perfect example, in likeness he was the same as God, still he showed us how to be near to god in our approach. It is like practising that piece of music, that one move, that one jump, that one play, that one scene, we will keep on failing until we take the full detour.

Oranje!!!!!!!!

Cartoon by Dave Walker. Find more cartoons you can freely re-use on your blog at We Blog Cartoons.

So today the world cuphas finally begun, maybe I should have not moved to Canada, it is surely a lot easier to follow the World Cup in Holland. I am however, still very excited about the world cup. It is fun to be able to share previous world cp experiences, to share your opinion about certain players, countries, cultures. It is a celebration.

Here are some examples of "Dutch soccer pride".


This is the Dutch embassy in Berlin. The orange lights become a light show during Holland games, the fans projected on the left side will leave the stans when Holland is not playing, and will cheer when Holland won!

This is the replica 2nd World War German army helmet that has been fitted to suit Dutch fans.

There is a good change that many fountains in Germans cities will turn orange, like every world cup Holland takes over the cities that they play in.

Oranje = Orange = Dutch = National colour = Dutch Pride

If you buy coffee, you get free flip flops that print "HUP Holland" in the sand (Go Holland).

A random meeting

Mercy met Judgement

Righteousness met Sin

Light met Darkness

Humility met Pride

Love met Hate

Life met Death

A cursed One on a tree met The curse that originated from a tree

The sting of death met The antidaote of resurrection

- Dutch Sheets

Jesus interceded for us, He created a meeting, a meeting of reconciliation

My names

Your Hawaiian Name is:

Lono Kai

What's" your Hawaiian Name?

Your Monster Profile

Omega Butcher You Feast On: Tofu You Lurk Around In: Flocks of Freshmen You Especially Like to Torment: Pop Stars

What's" Your Monster Name?

Your Italian Name Is...

Raul Greco

What's" Your Italian Name?

Your Hillbilly Name Is...

Billy Bob West

Hillbilly Name Generator

Your Japanese Name Is...

Souta Saionji

What's" your Japanese Name?

Your Irish Name Is...

Lugh Fitzpatrick

What's" your Irish Name?

Your Superhero Profile

Your Superhero Name is The Aqua AlbinoYour Superpower is SolarYour Weakness is SailorsYour Weapon is Your Celestial SawYour Mode of Transportation is Canoe

What's" your Superhero Name?

Your Elf Name Is...

Ditzy Sweet Cheeks

What's" Your Elf Name?

Your French Name is:

Forest Foucaud

What's" Your French Name?

Your 1920's Name is:

Valentine Ardell

What's" Your 1920's Name?

Wow! I never knew I had this many identities!

What am I up to?

well...

Currently listening: Be Thou My Vision - Jars of Clay

Currently reading: Intercessory prayer - Dutch Sheets (what a name!!)

Currently employed by: Redeemer Food Services

Currently feeling: Very happy!

Currently living: 372 Springbrook Avenue, Ancaster

Currently loving: God, Family, Friends, Creation, Work, Reading (writing) abilities, Soccer, Hot Dog's (supper).

This is when pictures become hard. God bless, Willem