Spring in Amsterdam

We have now lived in Amsterdam for more than half of a year. The cold dreariness of Winter seems to have faded away, and Spring is in full force. Spring in Amsterdam is BEAUTIFUL. The whole city, not just the budding trees, has come to life. Outdoor cafes, flowers, parks, boats on the canals, tourists...experiencing A'dam this time of year is new and refreshing. Once we started feeling like we knew the place, it has completely changed, and we get to go exploring again.

It makes me think of the kingdom of God, and all of those perplexing parables that Jesus told in explanation of the kingdom. Just when I start to think that I've got it figured out - something new blossoms. His kingdom is always so much bigger, more beautiful and more sustaining than I expect. But it is so easy to get caught in the rut of what I think I know...just like living here in Amsterdam. It is easy to take Grayson to the same park; and not only the same park, but the same corner of the park; and not only the same corner, but the same shady-tree in that corner. After all, it's a nice and comfortable and safe spot. And Grayson loves the playground that is close by. But there is so much more of the park to see! And so many more parks in the city to visit!

But God's kingdom is big, and is always growing. That is our hope, and that is why I am excited to be here. Luke 13:18,19 'Then he (Jesus) said, "How can I picture God's kingdom for you? What kind of story can I use? It's like a pine nut that a man plants in his front yard. It grows into a huge pine tree with thick branches, and eagles build nests in it."'

The fun of language learning

I've been having lots of fun starting my dutch classes this month. At first, it was overwhelming, all the new words and concepts. But after a few weeks, I am just having fun with it. I wish I could go back to learning like a baby does. I watch Grayson absorbing our words and starting to understand more and more. He can understand most of what we say now, but still struggles to speak. I am in a similar place...althought I don't think I understand as much dutch as Grayson understands english! Well...I am in process right?

I've started to try to use dutch when I shop, buy a train ticket or even ask where the bathroom is. I know that should be standard...but I still feel silly calling it a "WC". A lot of my learning is coming from watching Dora the Explorer in dutch and listening to Grayson's dutch toys talk. Gray just found the on/off button on his car and he is constantly pushing it. It turns off with the phrase, "tot de volgende keer!" which means, "until next time." I use it everywhere now and people think I am a natural. It's amazing what hearing something a million times will do.

The best thing about speaking dutch here is people are so happy if you just try to speak. I asked the guy at our little Natuur Winkel downstairs (kinda like a raisin rack - but not as good) how he was doing in dutch and he lit up like it was Sinterklaas (or Christmas for you Americans). He was so excited that he started speaking dutch so fast, I was totally lost. I didn't have the heart to tell him though, so I just said, "tot de voldende keer!" That was a winner.

I've made lots of mistakes too though. One time, when addressing a friend's mom, I neglected to use the formal form of "you". You are supposed to use the formal version when you address someone you don't know or someone older than you. She was both. But I think I won her back when she confessed how old she was, 85 I think...and I responded immediately with a phrase I'd heard a million times in class, "wat jong!" which means something like, "that's so young!" It fit perfectly.

It's fun faking it, but I am finding it difficult to really be able to communicate with a new language. I feel that I can relate to Grayson's frustration as he grunts and points to something (who knows what) and tries to communicate. I hope that I can move past the grunting and pointing stage soon. As long as I am having fun, I think I can handle the pain.

Tot de volgende keer!

Conference in Germany

This past week, our team had the opportunity to attend a church-planting conference in Germany. We had a such a wonderful time! We rented a 9 person van and drove about 8 hours down through the black forest to the south of Deutschland. John and Eric were champion drivers on the crazy autobahn - the highway in Germany that has no speed limit. Even though we were zooming along, cars would just fly right past us. It was shocking.

We were also surprised to find that what we thought was a conference center (where the conference took place) was actually a huge church! This church - called G5 - was such an inspiration to us. It was not only a church, but a restaurant, a cafe and also a hotel. The restaurant was packed out every night - mostly with people outside the church. We couldn't even eat there because every night, all the tables were reserved! During the day, though, we got to eat at the cafe. The coffee was a work of art...it was simply amazing. One afternoon I met two young German moms who were not from the church, but said that this was the only place they could bring their kids to get a coffee. They had always been curious about the auditorium (in another part of the building, where the church meets on Sundays), so I snuck them into the conference! Before we parted, they shared with me that they were going to visit the church! I was so encouraged to see outreach in action...it was amazing to see that even here in Europe there are churches like VCC that love the cities they are a part of.

The conference itself was a great blessing. It was put on by the Mosaic church in LA pastored by Erwin McManus. Erwin's talks were a confirmation of what God has already been speaking to us, and it was so encouraging to realize that God really is leading us here in Amsterdam. We also got to meet so many church planters from all around Europe. It felt great seeing how many people are out there trying to reach people for Christ. We exchanged ideas, encourgements and prayers. From all the teachings and converations throughout the conference, we felt God really giving us vision for what to do next and also dream about what could be in the future.

Grayson was a champ - we truly felt the grace of God on him. He seemed to enjoy the conference as much as we did; he's our little church-planter! On top of it all, it was so sweet to spend time with our team. We had so much time to talk, reflect, learn and worship together. The conference was near the border of Switzerland, so we went to Basel for a few hours on Saturday morning and just enjoyed the city. We are so grateful to get to do missions with such an incredible group of people that we love and respect. Be praying for us as we share vison with the rest of our team here. Pray that God would catch all of us up in a vision to see His Kingdom come in Amsterdam!

Christmas in Amsterdam

Our first Christmas in Amsterdam was such a beautiful surprise. We threw a little Christmas party in our apartment and invited everyone we've met so far. I didn't think anyone would come! But we had a good crowd of around 35 come by. There were people from all nations here (most of them people John has met in his language class) and lots of our new dutch friends, as well as most of our neighbors. It was so sweet meeting neighbors and seeing everyone connect.

We experienced so much love from our church in the states. We received 4 huge packages, all our christmas ornaments from home (some friends here for a wedding brought them along) and a pile of christmas cards from Joshua House. It has felt so amazing to know that people from home are thinking of us and praying for us. We also experienced so much love here. On Christmas Eve, some of our new dutch friends had us over for a candlelight dinner. We were blown away by their hospitality. We felt like we were family. I am reminded of a passage that I read a couple nights ago in one of Paul's letters: "Because we loved you so much, we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well." That captures the welcome we've felt this Christmas.

We were also able to "Skype" often with our family in the states - we even got to watch some of our family open presents! That certainly took the edge off of not being with them this season. But even beyond that, my sister Emilee came to stay with us for a week. It helped me see the city anew taking her around and showing her this place that is starting to really feel like home. We have so much to be thankful for.

All in all, Christmas in Amsterdam has been a joy. Yes, we dearly miss family and friends, but at every turn we have felt the presence of God with us. There is something about being stripped away from all of your comforts and traditions that forces you to go to the meaning of Christmas: the coming of God into the world - the beginning of all our hopes and dreams come true.

Sinterklaas.

Amanda's Sinterklaas gift was inside this homemade treasure chest; it is now Grayson's favorite toy
Well, our first "Sinterklaas" has come and gone. Here in Holland they have a separate holiday apart from Christmas to celebrate St. Nicholas - the 4th century Turkish bishop known for his kindness to children & the poor. Today was his birthday, and it is the big gift-giving festival here, with a lot of unique and fun traditions. Amanda and I were fortunate enough to celebrate Sinterklaas with some Dutch friends, who taught us the traditions.

Many Dutch folks will celebrate on the evening of the 5th, the day before Sinterklaas's birthday. You get together with family or close friends, eat pea soup & peppernoten, sing songs, and of course exchange gifts. The gift giving is fun - but there are rules:

• You exchange names, so you're only responsible for one person. That way you can really spend a lot of time and creativity on the gift.
  
• You wrap the gift in a unique or silly or over-the-top kind of way, typically either reflecting the person's personality or going along with the them of the gift inside.
  
• Then you write a poem for the person - it is supposed to make fun of the person (in a kind way, of course!), while at the same time giving hints as to what the gift is.
• Then going in turn, each person first reads out loud the poem written for them, then opens their gift.
• You're not allowed to tell anyone who you had - sortof like "secret santa" - even after the person opens the gift!

The entire process is so much fun. And we had a blast last night, giving and receiving gifts, laughing at the poems (and in my case, people laughing at me as I had to read mine in Dutch!), and always saying, "Dankje, Sinterklaas" after each present. I think that everyone should implement part or all of the Sinterklaas tradition into their Christmas gift-giving!

All of that though - the wrapping, the writing of poems, etc. - is mostly for adults. The kids get to celebrate in another way. On the evening of the 5th, they put their shoes out (nowdays by the radiator) with treats for Sinterklaas's horse stuffed inside. Come the morning of the 6th, their shoes will be filled with cookies/candies/gifts...sortof like our stocking tradition. So for kids in Holland, it is the morning of the 6th, not the morning of the 25th, that is exciting. They wake up early and run to find what Sint has left for them.

We couldn't resist - even though Grayson is way too young to remember, understand, or even care, we set out one of his little shoes. So this morning he had his favorite teething-cookie and a little present from Sinterklaas waiting for him underneath the radiator. He got his first train set; Great-grandpa Gemeinhart will be happy. He hasn't quite figured out that the trains are meant to ride on the tracks, or for that matter that the tracks aren't merely handy teething toys.



So now we are officially Sinterklaas veterans. I feel more dutch having experienced it.

If you're interested in the evolution from the Dutch Sinterklaas to the American Santa Clause, or even just the Sinterklaas tradition in general, go here or here.

Tot ziens!
John