Open doors

Open doors, closed doors...
Travelling from one country to the next I go through many doors. If I find a door that is closed I'll often try the handle to see if it will open. It's part of my curiosity but sometimes it's part of my faith.
"Knock and the door will be opened"

The past 2 or 3 years there has been a recurring theme in prophetic words spoken over me. "God will open new doors for you"
My initial reaction was - "I already have too many doors open to me, I don't need any more!" But I realize now that many of the "doors" I was holding open myself. When I let go of the handles, the doors closed. And now I'm learning to wait for the Holy Spirit to open them or to nudge me to open them. When those doors are open, stuff happens. Big stuff like release from bondage, anointing, healing, impacting lives, salvation.
Those are the doors I want to see open.

Writing from Minneapolis where I've a little time to reflect.
Blessings, Belinda

I'll be home for Christmas

Christmas greetings!

Arrived in Minneapolis some 12 hours ago amid snow flurries. Ah, the promise of a white Christmas!
Managed to stay awake and fairly coherent until 8p.m. (3 a.m. Dutch time) and then collapsed into my bed.

Since then I've been up 3 times - not with jet lag, but because mom has woken up crying from the pain in her arthritic hands. I get a taste of my younger sister's daily and nocturnal routine as I respond to mom's cries. I wrap hot cloths around her hands and then position myself behind her back so I can support and cradle her as she cries. Slowly rocking back and forth I pray for her and then begin softly singing Christmas carols. Her tears and sobbing subside as she leans heavier and heavier into me like a small trusting child. The pains retreat into their dark caves and mom wants to try to sleep again. I unwrap myself from around her and help her lay down, adjusting her pillow and blanket. With a kiss on her forehead she slips into sleep for another 45 minutes, and we repeat it all again. I've just turned out her light for the 3rd time. It's 4 a.m. I'm awake and wonder if I should try to sleep some more.
I'm so glad to be home for Christmas!

Yes, yes... it's been a good while since I've blogged here. That comes from not travelling as much as "usual"... because, as you will remember, this blog is for my travels.
So, I'm here in Northern Ireland... the weather is really nasty - kind of like the clouds have a horrible flu and you just want to stay inside to avoid the wet sneezes. Okay - that's far too descriptive, but it really is what it feels like out there.
This photo here is not of Eire, it's the beautiful beech trees of the nearby forest in Holland. They're grand old guardians of the forest and emit such a peace that you can very nearly imagine you've taken a turn into a fairy tale.
Back to the emerald isle... I'm teaching in the YWAM DTS here in Closkelt. I'm teaching on Spiritual Warfare and Intercession to 24 wonderful, hungry young Christians. Just love it!
The internet connection is not too stable so I've got to go for now.
Thanks for checking in to see if I'm still alive and writing anything.
Blessings,
Belinda

Saturday evening

Normally I only write in my blog when I'm on the road, but I just had something brief to add.
Today I was staffing a Songwriter's Day here in Holland. The purpose was to encourage Dutch songwriters to write in Dutch. That may sound somewhat odd to English language songwriters, but in Holland it's quite a challenge to write in their own language. Why, you may ask? Look at it this way - the Dutch language has about 300,000 words whereas the English language boasts over 700.000! Frankly I don't know if those are the British English stats or our more colloquial American English, but this is a significant difference.
Because of the choice of words available, writing in Dutch poses a challenge to even the best songwriters.
No wonder that we have to stimulate songwriters in this country. And that we did! I'm pretty sure every one of the 30+ participants today left encouraged and with a few more tools in their bags for improving their skills.
As for me, I'm blessed to have had a voice, a small part in investing in the prophetic creativity in my adopted country.
Blessings, Belinda

Belinda's Blog

From Rwanda again....

It took me about 10 minutes to log into my own blogspot here in the busy little internet cafe on the main road close to the YWAM base. At the YWAM base itself there is no telephone - so the only way to get onto the internet is to see if someone is going towards town and hitch a ride. The 4 kilometer road to the YWAM base would be a challenge to a rally race car driver - amazing pits and dust bowls to navigate.

The C2W will end on Friday - 2 days from now. Yesterday and today I taught in the mornings on spiritual battle and worship leadership. They were powerful sessions! The kind that make you think you're somehow in the flow of the Holy Spirit and making history. The students were asking all sorts of questions and the air was alive with revelation as their hearts were so teachable. It was great!
Somehow I believe that God is saving the best for last.

Tomorrow we'll go around the YWAM base compound and have communion to consecrate the base and it's staff to the Lord in a new way. Friday afternoon we'll enjoy the new songs the students are writing this week - songs in their native language and (a big challenge) in their native cultural way. Most of these young people have idealized the western way of worshipping and so their songs sound much the same as those in Holland or USA or Australia (Darlene Zschech and team were just here in July). They are capturing the vision of valuing their own expressions of praise as a people. You would absolutely LOVE to hear their songs. I'm recording some of them - so let me know if you're interested.

Okay, I have to go - time is up and my lift is here.
Thanks for reading, for praying, for sharing in the inheritance and harvest here in Rwanda.
Love and blessings,
Belinda

Kigali, Rwanda Call2Worship

Warm greetings from Rwanda!
I'm sitting in the room adjacent to the classroom we're using for the Call2Worship course. The course started last Monday and continued to add students until today when we have 26 students from Rwanda, Burundi and DRCongo. The ages range from 12-29 years old, all of them involved in leading worship in their churches: Anglican, Apostolic, Assemblies of God, Catholic, and Pentecostal churches.
Today one of our C2W students from 2 years ago, Esperance, is teaching on "Hindrances to Worship" and she'll include a workshop on that this afternoon. I found out that since the C2W in 2004, she has been regularly teaching the things she learned to different groups in her church. In fact, a number of our 2004 C2W students have been teaching what they learned. This is the way of Africa - you never keep what you've learned for yourself - it's multiplied, photocopied, and passed on from heart to heart in ever-widening circles.
Richard Gasana, my long-time Rwandan friend and the C2W leader this time said it was easy to get students to come to the C2W this year because so many had heard about the first one. On both Fridays we'll have an Open Day for those who couldn't attend the full 2 weeks. I think the YWAM base will actually close down all of it's other activities so that all the staff can come!
Tomorrow we'll close the first week with a Praise Party in which each participant is encouraged to bring an offering of praise to share with the community. Desire (a 2004 C2W student and YWAM staff) and I taught on Songwriting, so now all the students are busy writing songs in their native language (KinyaRwandese) to share. It's wonderful to see a new generation of creative songwriters sprouting before my very eyes.
Didi Companjen, a dear friend and Psalmody teacher from Holland who travelled with me, taught yesterday on the Hebrew words for praise. I'm telling you, these Rwandans have no insecurities about a word like "halal" (which means to celebrate, dance and rejoice). Then Hilde, my colleague and friend, taught on King David and his heart-choice for worship, and led all of the students into a deeper level of worship with understanding. Richard, of course, opened the course with a lively and humorous Biblical teaching of worship and knowing God.
It's a thrill to my heart to taste the hungry hearts of the students but to see others released in the ministry of worship through teaching, etc.
Okay, as for a personal note...
Of course you'll remember that I asked specifically for prayer for my health; I couldn't forget my last adventure in a 3rd world country and how ill I became in Indonesia. I'm pleased to say that I'm feeling quite fit and healthy and I'm thanking God each day for my health. I'm taking some extra vitamins and getting good rest. Didi, Hilde and I stay in a nice, clean room - we have mosquito nets (tho it's dry season and there are very few mozzies around) and we boil our water twice and have bought bottled water for drinking. Richard and Pera have gone out of their way to make it nice for us and we're so thankful for that! Last Monday I did have a short bout with diarrhea, which is fairly unavoidable in such a drastic change of environment... but it hasn't come back.
We don't have running water here, but a small Rwandan man on maintenance staff here keeps two large containers filled to the brim with water for washing and flushing. The electricity has been running about 85% of the time and the base kitchen cooks nice hot meals of banana, veggies, sauce and sometimes meat. We have two warm meals per day and for breakfast we have bread and bananas. The meals are all cooked on coal fires behind the dining hall by a man named Fidele and a couple helpers.
If you'd like to find out more about the YWAM base here you can always do an internet search on YWAM Kigali and their website should pop up. When I get back to Holland (August 27th) I'll try to update my website with a few photos.
I'll close for now and check my emails at the internet cafe in town, which is where I'll post this onto my Blog for you to read.
Thanks for checking up on me and... thanks for your prayers!
Blessings,
Belinda

Norway

Reaching toward the heavens
July 24th 2006
N.Etnedal, Norway

Being in the mountains naturally draws my gaze heavenwards..."Your love, o Lord, reaches to the heavens; Your faithfulness stretches to the skies; Your righteousness is like majestic mountains..."

On vacation in a comfortable cabin in the Norwegian mountains. It's a gift to be here with my friends, Hilde and Marcia (and, of course, Honey!). Fireplace, outhouse, scenery, no running water, reading and talking, no electricity, relaxing and not looking at the clock, hiking trails up high and moose-lookouts early in the morning and at dusk. It's light most of the night - none of us can remember that it was really dark-dark at any point during the night. Middle-of-the-night trudges to the outhouse are easy to navigate in the perpetual dusk/dawn.

This is Hilde's family cabin - gracious people who have welcomed us to make use of their private and quite isolated forest palace called "Sjeggebo" (named for the beard-like moss hanging on the trees). Hilde is gone for the weekend to celebrate her father's birthday close to Oslo, leaving me and Marsh to enjoy this hideaway.

Yesterday Marcia and I took a walk on a small road next to a brook when we encountered sheep. The sheep run loose here in these hills and wear bells on their necks like their bovine counterparts in Switzerland. In fact, when you're driving you really need to keep on the lookout for these sheep because they like to lay down in the middle of roads. Honey has made it his duty to be the sheep-lookout and he's pretty good at it. And so, when we came upon this ewe with her two lambs, Honey ran point position. He was loose, as he often is in the hills, and edged towards them. I'm sure the sheep wondered what this little white animal was! At first the sheep seemed curious but as the mother ewe picked up Honey's scent she switched to defensive mode which included stamping her hoof and lowering her head. It was a toss-up who was going to be the dominant figure in this scenario. First Honey was in the lead and the sheep backed up and then started to run away. Well, this kicked in Honey's hunting instincts fully and we laughed to see this small white terrier chase the three sheep down the road at full gallop for about 50 meters. It was then that Honey realized his short little legs could not catch them and he slowed to a stop. The sheep also stopped and the ewe then started trotting towards Honey. I called Honey back to me and he soon realized why: He had become the hunted! They ran all the way back and Honey hid behind my legs. The sheep was not at all deterred by a huge human - her focus was entirely upon that little white wolf behind me. In fact, I had to shoo and then shove the ewe back from me. At that point, Honey skirted off to the side of the road and the ewe closed in and lowered her head, butting Honey! Honey tumbled and recovered and was soon out of reach. Then and only then did the ewe relent and leave. It was quite an adventure!
Blessings,
Belinda (and Honey - the sheepdog!)

Mom is baptized at 75!

On Friday, June 30th I baptized my mother on her 75th birthday!

What a landmark moment for a couple reasons: she is the oldest and longest-living person in our family (Mom's side) and she wanted everyone to know that she is a God-lover, a sinner saved by grace. It was an incredible privilege for me to lead her through this decision and public testimony of her faith in Christ.

Those present were her three children: Randy, Belinda, and Barbarah as well as Darlene + Jake (Randy's family) and Kent (Barbarah's boyfriend). At least those were the visible witnesses because I know there was a "cloud of witnesses" present as the angels rejoiced in her public declaration of salvation.

My mom is so brave and wise; she is a wonderful example to each of us in our family. My nephew put it well: we are thankful for the hope she has - it has touched and changed each of us, like an undercurrent of faith to rest upon. My prayer is that she will live out her years gracefully, faithfully, and joyously. Please pray with me that her physical condition would improve so that her current daily pain (from fibromyalgia and arthritis) would subside.

I'm enjoying a few more days stateside until I return to Holland. This, too, is a gift!

Blessings,

Belinda

Inheritance in Africa...

I was joyfully humbled by this email I received recently.....

"Dearest Belinda,
It's been such a long, long time since I've written!THANK YOU very much for all the Emails you send!Over the years - since 1992 when I first met you in Uganda, you've Blessedmy life a lot.I remember the time I was trying to go and work with Street Children in BeloHorizonte, and you helped me (although I never made it there), then the personal letters that followed after that!
Well, the Lord has been faithful to my wife and I.We are now reaching over 2600 orphans as a result of AIDS.We pay School fees for them to go to School, we are setting up Schools aswell as an organization, we are building clinics - the biggest handling 1000AIDS patients a week!!!!!!, we are doing a lot of empowerment programs for families taking care of the children we've placed with them (we don't set uporphanages)...Its been a journey of faith!!!!We are now in Kenya and Zambia, and AOET Zambia is almost bigger than AOET -Uganda (the Mother)!!!! God has REALLY given us increase in the last 2 - 3 years like NEVER before,and we are looking ahead with Him to what he wants to do through us! When Nancy and I started AOET, we had no Idea it was going to go this far!In only 5 years, so much has been done!!!THANK YOU for being a part of my life! You have been an example to MANY, and I am so previledged to be one of them!So, I hold you in HIGH Regard! YOU HAVE BROUGHT OUT OF ME WHAT WHAT HAD BEEN HIDDEN!!!!
I know this is nothing, but my support per month is $300 US. Out of that, I would like to support you for one year with my Tithe of $30 per month and an additional $10 as my monthly support! Precisely I would like to send you $40 a month for the next one year.
Please let me know how I can do this as I don't know how this can be arranged from Uganda!I know this won't do anything - I know I should be helping - together with others with things like your travel here and there... but who knows! Please pray that the Lord would increase my monthly support.I pray every day that the Lord will give me more avenues so I can give tohis work in Uganda and other places, and I know he will do it!
That's it for now, and I will continue to pray for you!
THANK YOU FOR BLESSING MY LIFE!!

Kindest Regards,

Sam Tushabe
Director, A. O. E. T. "

http://www.aoet.org
AIDS Orphans Education Trust (AOET) ~ Uganda seeks to bring hope and a future to this generation of devastated children.
AOET ~ Uganda is an independent, indigenous non-governmental organization with the prime mandate of providing an education -- formal and/or vocational -- to desperately poor, neglected and forgotten orphans whose parents have died of AIDS. AOET assists children with AIDS and widows that have lost their spouses to AIDS and most of them HIV+ themselves. AOET moves children from the streets into families. African culture has not traditionally institutionalized orphans. AOET places a great value on placing children with foster families providing mother and/or fathers who care for them responsibly.

Keep writing

Hello all,
Not a very good idea, huh, to start a BLOG site and then not keep writing in it.
Well, I had started it primarily to record thots and impressions during my travels... and to keep my prayer supporters informed while I was on the road. I mean, people gotta know how to pray for you, right?! Like I've said for years: "You pray for peanuts and you get peanuts!" In other words, specific prayers result in specific answers.
These days I am blessedly home - not travelling. My next travel date is at the end of June, at which time I'll buzz on over to the US of A for 10 days, taking in my mother's 75th birthday bash and a family reunion.
Speaking about mom turning 75... do you know that she is setting a new record in our family (Kuhn side, which is Mom's side) for longevity? I know 75 doesn't seem very old, but she's the first in quite a few generations to sport that number. Maybe I should get her a big shirt with 75 on it, just to flaunt it. I told her when I was home that she is giving us all hope to live longer.

Mom also made a decision to get baptized on her 75th birthday with our immediate family around as witnesses. That is so great! When I was there in April we somehow ended up in a conversation about babies being "baptized" and I mentioned that there is no Biblical precedent for the baptism of children and even less that this could possibly insure their salvation. Curious, Mom started asking questions and we dug even further into the Biblical view of baptism as a public declaration of faith in Christ.
Baptism is a symbolic and powerful statement that you have died to your old, sinful nature and are now alive in Christ and serving Jesus as Lord. The New Testament admonition is clear and repeated numerous times to emphasize it's importance: "Repent and be baptized". I believe it is a powerful act of faith and am thrilled with Mom's decision. She has asked me to do the honors of baptizing her and I said "YES!"

These days I am often working on different articles as well as stirring up ideas for writing new worship songs. Those of you praying for me are probably rejoicing that your prayers are producing fruit. Please keep those prayers coming!
I'm also leading worship here and there and have a couple opportunities to speak on worship coming up.

More later...
gotta go do my bills now.

Blessings,
Belinda

Hello from the USA!
Yet another country and continent under my belt in this whirlwind spring season.
I'll be here for 3 weeks primarily to contribute to the care of my mother, a very wonderful lady. Mom has arthritis and fybromyalgia - both very painful conditions, one affecting the joints and the other the muscles. Both of them cause lots of pain. Most of us only experience temporary pain: a headache, lower back pain after gardening, maybe tennis elbow for a few weeks or months. Imagine living with this kind of pain for years, with the only (partial) relief coming from medications which, by the way, have other affects on your body or even mental state.
Someone said very aptly that it takes faith to suffer - and I believe this is true. I see it's truth in my mother's heart and attitude daily. Even in the midst of painful tears, she rebounds with a trust in God that I admire.
Of course I pray for relief, for healing, for correct care from the doctors... Mom says "just imagine what kind of pain I'd be in if people didn't pray for me!".
She's my hero and I love her to bits.
I only wish I could contribute more often to her care... as it is I try to come "home" to Minneapolis a couple times each year for a few weeks to spell my sis, who holds a full-time and demanding job, shares a house with and cares for mom. Barbarah is my other hero.
Bless them both and may God make His face to shine upon them.
More later... blessings,
Belinda

Unified in the UK

On the road again I'm writing from nearby Manchester, England.

I've been meeting here with a few brothers in the worship ministry: from the USA, UK, and Romania. We have united together to form a "steering committe" for the Europe Worship Link: a fellowship of key leaders in worship ministry across Europe. These are leaders from a wide spectrum of organisations, churches and ministries. I'm the YWAMer in the bunch. Others are Baptist, Greater European Mission, Catholic Charismatics, etc.

We've been planning another EWL event for next year in Czech Republic.
This fellowship has a wonderful potential to link up and bundle the strengths of worship ministries to reach Europe and I'm excited to see how plans will unfold in the coming years.

God is so good to allow me to participate in such committees, getting to know such sincere and respected leaders in worship.

Recently someone referred to me as a pioneer in worship ministry. That really blew my mind! I know of so many others who have gone before me and paved the way here in Holland: Jeff Fountain, Annemarie Kleynhans, Karen Lafferty, Peter Helms, and many more. To me, they are the real pioneers and I had the privilege (and frustration at times) to hang onto their coattails as they raced headlong into the worship ministry vision.

I don't consider myself a visionary, though I do have vision (and sometimes I even have visions). A networker or, in Biblical terms, a "doorkeeper" suits my role best. God gave me gifts to encourage and exhort; at times I even inspire others. To me it's unthinkable to keep for myself what I've so freely received from others. It's one of my deepest joys to pass on rich nuggets of Biblical truth for others to apply in their lives.

In writing this just now, a profound gratefulness surfaces in my heart for God's graciousness and faithfulness in my singular life. I have been woven into a fabric of community and mission with the colorful threads of like-minded and passionate God-lovers. May You be glorified, o Sovereign Lord, as you call the nations to worship!

Blessings,
Belinda

Change of seasons

This picture is a bit fuzzy, but some of that is from the natural haze upon the Irish land as Winter gives way to Spring.
These days of rest after a simple fare of sharing on worship with 13 lovely DTS students, has been rejuvenating to my soul as well as to my body. Long hours of solitude, snuggled up to the heater with a good book (Steven Lawhead's "Patrick"), communion with God's presence in this place, and my body gaining strength have been sweet.
The staff and students here at YWAM Closkelt have been kind and gracious, offering me refuge and willing hearts to learn and grow in worship. The students constructed a special 'sanctuary' with stone altar, cross, and stained glass window which gave us a sacred spot to sit at His feet the rest of the teaching week. This morning they shared psalms they had composed: honest, emotional, yet strong with determination of choice to praise God in the midst. King David would have been proud of them.
Tomorrow early morn I will go to Belfast and catch an Easy Jet flight home, home to Holland where I will come to rest for some weeks before the next flight.
Much as I love to teach and meet people, I always look forward to my home; my communion with God is sweetest in the nest He has provided.
Tomorrow...

Misty Irish Morn

Amazingly, I am in yet another country - that's 4 in the past week: Indonesia, China, Holland and now Northern Ireland. Sounds like a 'glamorous' life, being a missionary, doesn't it? I guess I never see it that way but I feel deeply privileged to serve the Lord in different nations like this.
Of course, right now I am also aware of the toll it takes on my body, which is still weak from amoebic dysentery, a 20+ hour journey across the world, and a nagging cold. I seriously considered just staying home in Holland and not taking the trip here, but as I prayed about it I felt a strong peace about coming. This goes beyond my own tenacity and I believe I'm journeying in His grace.
I'm still jetlagging a bit... fell asleep at 19.30 (7.30 p.m.) last evening and woke up several times in the night, finally getting up around 6.00 and enjoying some tea and breakfast. I'm looking out the window of the guest cottage here at the Closkelt YWAM base and I see the Northumberland mountains, which are near the southeastern coast. They're dusted with snow like pastry and pink-grey clouds grace their peaks with the sun rays peaking through. Lovely to see it and glad I'm inside on a nice, warm sofa to enjoy it.
Normally I take someone along with me on ministry trips. It's a great opportunity for them to stretch their wings in ministry and usually very nice company for me. However, a couple months ago already I felt I should come alone on this trip so that in the afternoons and evenings I could have some communion time with the Lord. What a wonderful place to enjoy just that! I've been coming to N.Ireland for about 10 years now and have some friends here that I truly appreciate. So, I get to exercize my gift of teaching and receive God's gifts of His presence, refreshing and special fellowship. Life is good!
Please continue to pray for my bodily strength to increase. I'm able to get extra rest here, which should help considerably. Also pray with me that this cold would leave! Today I will phone my doctor in Holland to find out the results of my blood test I took last week.
I'm so thankful for your prayers and care!
Love, Belinda

p.s. please also pray for Guusje Kartutu as she's been quite ill since returning from Bali. Ben is also recuperating from gout (jicht) and a painful knee.

Photos

Leaving Bali

I'm writing from the HongKong airport where we are on our way back to Holland. The temperature difference from Indonesia to here is already chilly for us and Holland promises to be even colder!
We had a good team evaluation dinner at the hotel we stayed at in Kuta, Bali (which is near the airport). Everyone had such positive experiences and we all know we were making an eternal investment into the worship leaders that attended the course. Everybody already talked about the "next time" we come!
Especially rewarding to me was hearing from the course participants during our last Praise Party as they shared songs they had just written and also expressed their worship in traditional ways. I had challenged them to rediscover their cultural expressions of worship and also given a songwriting workshop.
The Call2Worship course ended on Friday afternoon.
Saturday our staff team enjoyed a day of sightseeing: rice paddies and terracing, local villages and markets - amazing! And, of course, it was wonderful to stay at some bungalows close to the beach! Most of the team is in varying shades of pink, red or brown.
I've again caught a little cold and have a sore throat. My tummy has also been cramping with diarrhea again! I'm praying that will keep quiet now as we travel. But I plan on taking some good rest in the next few days.
I went to the international hospital for a check up on Sunday and my results showed no signs of parasitic activity anymore. However, there is still some evidence that my intestines are still recovering from such a severe infection. The doc gave me some anti-nausea medication, which has helped so far. Please pray that I'll recover 100% and build up my resistance again.
Ben has also been suffering with gout (jicht) in his left foot, and now has alot of pain in his knee. We finally got him into a airport wheelchair to get him from one gate to the next. He has some medication at home, so should be okay. Nothing has daunted his spirit whatsoever.
Freddy is not travelling back to Holland with us as he is taking some extra days to arrange an outreach to the Ambon this coming summer. He is hoping to get a flight back to Holland this weekend.
Well, I'll sign off for now. Thanks for checking the BLOG here.
I hope to figure out posting more photos once I get back to fast internetting.
Thanks for your prayers - they have been effective!
Blessings,
Belinda

Graduation C2W Bali

Yesterday 23 students graduated from the first Call2Worship in Indonesia.  We had a wonderful "Praise Party" together that lasted 2,5 hours with students sharing new songs they have written, cultural and creative expressions of praise to God.  I wish you could have been there.    In the morning session the students were divided into their people groups (Sumatra, Sulawesi, Timor, Iryan Jaya, Maluku, and Java) and we prayed and declared release of worship to God from those nations.  Afterwards all the Indonesians held hands in a large circle to declare their unity and need of one another to call their country to worship. It was powerful to us and more powerful in the heavens as we prayed God's kingdom-come and will be done in Indonesia as it is in heaven. At the end of the Praise Party we had to say goodbyes to so many who have become so dear to us.  Tears, smiles, exchanging email addresses, and taking photos until the last students left.  Many of us in the staff team hope to return to Indonesia when the Lord opens the door. Now we are staying for a couple nights in a resort hotel not too far from the airport.  We are grateful for this little respite after an intensive 2 weeks and we leave for Holland on Monday.   As for me, I am finishing my anti-biotic treatment for the amoeba parasite today and need to get a blood test tomorrow to see if my system is clear.  Each day I am gaining strength and that is so encouraging.  During the long last day of class I could carry on after a brief rest at lunch time.... but of course I was really exhausted by the end of the day.  I'm so grateful for this nice room at the resort with airconditioning, sit-down toilet, shower, even a TV!  The stay at the YWAM base was great and we enjoyed the fellowship and care of the staff there (who had given up their own rooms for us, even the base leader!).  However, the pit toilets and lack of running water were a big adjustment.    The past few days I haven't been able to connect to the internet because the phone at the base was temporarily disconnected.  I'm sending this now via the hotel reception.   Thank you to all who have prayed for this trip.  We each have many personal stories and hundreds of photos of our time here in Indonesia. For me the most special gift of all is to really see Indonesian worship leaders catch the vision of the power of releasing praise and worship in their nation.  This gives great glory to God!   Blessings, Belinda

3 more days to go

We are in the final stretch of the Call2Worship course here and I’m getting excited because God often saves the best for last.

We had a good team meeting and evaluation about how to leave a lasting impact in the student’s lives. Apparently there is no shortage of worship courses in Indonesia (Hillsongs, Vineyard, etc.) but what people really need to know is that worship is a lifestyle found in daily acts of worship, not just the ‘singing of songs’ during a Christian service. We are trying to emphasize this in the different workshops and seminars this week.

Yesterday I taught again! I spoke on “Why worship is a battle” and laid out as clearly as possible our position in Christ and opposing the enemy. The enemy wants to silence us and shut us down but again and again we need to choose to worship God. It was a powerful time and I believe God gave clear revelation to the students.

Amadeus and Trijntje ended their teaching series on Worship yesterday, emphasizing our choice as well. Wonderful, how the teachings compliment one another. Ruth and Guusje are taking afternoon workshops on Voice and Flags; Hilde is teaching on Prophetic worship; Ben taught on the Names of God; Freddy on Ministry: worship in action, etc.

At this point I only have energy to come to the morning sessions, but I am getting more of my strength back each day. I’m still taking antibiotics and need to go for another blood test on Saturday to make sure the parasite has been eradicated from my system. I believe it’s either gone or going… yesterday and today I haven’t gotten any fever, which I’d been getting in the afternoon and evenings. Thank You, LORD!

Please pray with us that the “best for last” will come and God will be glorified.

Photos!

Sunday in Bali

Sunday is like any other day of the week here in Bali: shops open, everyone goes to work. It’s very strange when you’ve grown up and lived in countries where Sunday is the sabbath. There are Christian services in the morning but also in the evenings because you might still have to work beforehand.

Our team will attend church this evening and Freddy will share a word with them. I had been asked to speak but I am not strong enough yet. Yesterday, however, I went out to an air conditioned shopping mall; unfortunately I felt ill and had to leave after a couple hours. Still, I was glad for the opportunity to get out after being in my room at the base here for the first week (well, aside from 2 hospital visits).

I am getting stronger and I’m deeply grateful for this. Your prayers and the good treatment I’ve received have been bearing fruit.

We celebrated Ben & Guusjes 34th wedding anniversary here yesterday with a little breakfast party. Then we sent them off to a surprise overnight stay as a couple in a hotel in Kuta. This has been a very important and special first trip to Indonesia for this wonderful couple. They declared yesterday that their dream is to “come back” again.

God is doing marvelous things in the staff and students. This course is really bringing in a great harvest in lives all around.

This coming week we will move the course to a different church who have opened their doors to host us.

We are all healthy (I’m getting healthier) and doing well. Thank you for your continued faithful prayers to cover us and bless us. Please keep those prayers coming!

I’ll try to upload a few photos for you.

Until next blog –
Blessings,
Belinda

Selamat pagi

Selamat pagi (Good morning) from Indonesia!
Thank you for your continued interest and prayers for me and our Call2Worship team here in Bali.
I didn’t realize how ill I was at the beginning of this week… my teammates tell me that it felt like I was ‘faraway’ and that it feels like a miracle to have me ‘back’ and alert again. Just 2 days ago I felt like there was a shadow over me and all I could do is lay upon my bed in exhaustion. I would go to the toilet and literally faint on my bed afterwards. I could not hold a conversation or even focus with my eyes. The infection in my body from this parasite has been a huge battle to overcome, especially on top of a chest cold and jetlag. In that dark time I could only hang onto God’s faithfulness and trust Him. The shadow of His wings (Ps.91) dispelled the other shadows and He rescued me.
I still have diarrhea and the fever comes and goes, but I do have some strength this morning and feel pretty alert, so that’s why I’m writing now.
This past night I couldn’t sleep for several hours and kept praying as I heard my co-leader, Freddy, in the next room coughing – it sounded very deep and painful. I realized then that the enemy was attacking him as well. This is a very bold move on the enemy’s part – to continue a frontal attack on another leader of the team (he usually attacks the weak spots).
One of my first thoughts when I arrived here as I saw all the hundreds and thousands of shrines and statues to Hindu ‘gods’ was, “there are a lot of demons here”. I realize that the enemy has a lot of territory here and we are threats – calling this nation to worship the Creator. We have been invited by the YWAM base and are under their authority, so we have a legal right to be here – but this is a battle!
I urgently request you to pray for us!
As a guideline please use Psalm 91:

He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High
will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the LORD, "He is my refuge and my fortress,my God, in whom I trust."
Surely he will save you from the fowler's snare and from the deadly pestilence. He will cover you with his feathers,and under his wings you will find refuge;his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.
You will not fear the terror of night,nor the arrow that flies by day, nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness,nor the plague that destroys at midday. A thousand may fall at your side,ten thousand at your right hand,but it will not come near you. You will only observe with your eyes and see the punishment of the wicked.
If you make the Most High your dwelling — even the LORD, who is my refuge — then no harm will befall you,no disaster will come near your tent.
For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways; they will lift you up in their hands,so that you will not strike your foot against a stone. You will tread upon the lion and the cobra;
you will trample the great lion and the serpent.
"Because he loves me," says the LORD, "I will rescue him;I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name. He will call upon me, and I will answer him;I will be with him in trouble,I will deliver him and honor him.
With long life will I satisfy him and show him my salvation." NIV

This is a key scripture the LORD gave to us about a month before we left Holland. Please ‘swing your sword’ next to mine and we will have victory.
“Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in Bali as it is in heaven”!
Tonight we will end the first week of the C2W with a “Praise Party” that is open to guests and family of the course participants.
I will not be able to attend but I hope to be well enough to teach sometime next week.
Please pray for Hilde as she takes on the full leadership without me or Freddy. She is a strong Norwegian lady, but we all know it is not in our own strength we trust, but in God’s Spirit. Through Him we are more than conquerors! (Thank you for this word, my dear church family in Vaassen)
Please, if you get any scriptures or other words, write to my email address and I will pass them on to the team.

Blessings,
Belinda

Update from Bali

Hello again...
The past few days have been pretty yuckie for me and I found out why today when I ended up in the hospital. I have an infection caused by a parasite (amoeba). I became mildly dehydrated and my temperature was hanging around 39C/102F for a few days now. Because I was so nauseous I also wasn't able to keep up my fluid intake, which the doctor remedied by 4 bags of fluid intravenously today. What a difference that has made? I feel like I've come out from a cloudy place and am alive again! I'm so thankful for my team who have really stuck with me: praying, staying up with me, taking me to the hospital, etc. What a blessing to be surrounded by such loving care!
Hopefully now I'll continue to get better with the meds I have. Rest, fluids, meds.... I've asked Freddy and Hilde to take over the practical leadership of the course until I can get back in action.
Thanks for your prayers, too!

Blessings,
Belinda

First day of class

The Call2Worship course in Bali started this morning! We have a group of about 20 attending the course regularly and others coming in and out. This morning I gave a brief introduction of the team and the course, followed by a time of worship led by Ruth.  After this a number of people received words from the Lord to share with us all.  Words like:  "Open your hearts, God will fill them"; "You are special; trust the Lord".  It was precious to come to the Cross and worship together.  Nothing breaks barriers more quickly than worship: it focuses our hearts towards the Lord and equalizes us in our love and need of Him!  This is the beautiful key to the Call2Worship course.  After a brief coffee/tea break I read from John 13 and Freddy introduced a time of foot washing.  We wanted to demonstrate that we came to serve, not to be served.  We took turns washing the feet of the participants and praying/prophesying for each of them.  Several people were clearly touched to the depths, not the least we ourselves. Upon this foundation I began to teach about the first use of the word "worship" in the Bible (Gen.22:5) and how it lays the essential foundation for our worship now - God must take the first place. In the afternoon Hilde taught a workshop (including drama + dance) about David and the psalms.  Then Ruth gave a vocal lesson.  Both of them were just 'shining' as they ministered. The morning and the teaching went well, however, I was nearly completely shattered by the time lunch came.... the heat, the jetlag, recuperating from a nasty chest cold, etc... I went back to the YWAM base (about 20minutes from the church we are using for classes).  I have been resting most of the afternoon and feel a bit better.  I will stay home here tomorrow and try to get back to full strength.  I'm grateful for a flexible teaching schedule and staff.  This is a wonderful team - "see how we love one another!"  Everyone is helping one another, caring for one another and the students.   Thanks for your prayers! Blessings, Belinda   p.s. feel free to write at belindaloo@ywam.nl as I'm now able to access email.  Please don't send attachments because it is a dial-up internet system and very slow.   ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Belinda van de Loo YWAM Worship Ministry    YWAM - Heidebeek                8181 PK  Heerde, Holland  (31) 578-691534                   Belinda's website:     NEW WEBSITE ADDRESS                         www.belindaloo.com   Calling the nations to worship their Creator   C2W = Call2Worship (University of the Nations course #CCM511) is a one to two week course for non-YWAMers and YWAMers with culturally relevant instruction and workshops on worship and worship skills, developed specifically for worship leaders and teams.  For more information write to: C2W@ywam.nl

Sunday in Denpasar, Indonesia

Hello,

Even tho I am only able to send out emails for the first time today, I know that many people have been praying.

I am feeling better and the congestion in my chest is starting to loosen it's hold.  I led the team meeting this afternoon and God spoke to us, giving us direction for the first day of the course tomorrow.  We felt we should wash the student's feet as a demonstration that we come not to take but to give.  (In the past, traders from Holland came to take the riches of this land and more).

The rest of the team is feeling better, stronger... still sleep evades some because of jetlag.  This is a good prayer point - sleep at night!

We are happy it's not raining but the humidity is very high (98%) and that makes the heat even more uncomfortable.

We ended our team meeting with a time of thanksgiving - we are all so thankful to God's presence, love, and kindness to us here.  The Indonesian people are very gracious and kind, yet there is a hidden strength in their hearts as worshippers.  We long to see this released more and more!

Thanks for praying!

Blessings from Bali,

 Belinda

Arrived in Indonesia

The flight was long but good - travelling an entire day and night with one another across the globe was a memorable experience.  The closer we got to Indonesia, the more excited we all became. 

 

The warm climate and hearts of our brothers+sisters welcomed us here and they brought us to the YWAM base.  We enjoyed a delicious meal of chicken, rice, fried soja, and stir fried vegetables with fresh pineapple for dessert.  Since none of us really slept at much on the plane, we all went to bed early - also grateful that the night air brought some cooling from the humid heat (31C/85F).

 

Right now the team is in the lounge outside my room and I'm in my room, listening to them worship the Lord in prayer and praise.  Why am I in my room?!  I'm sick with a bad chest cold - the cold I've been fighting with for nearly a week settled into my chest during the flight.  Freddy is taking over the leadership until I'm back on my feet.  What a blessing to have a team so committed to the Lord and one another that when one is weak the others fill in and take their places.  I am deeply grateful for these guys.

 

We also have two "new" members of our team:  Vivi and Ferry.   This is part of the guidelines of the Call2Worship course: that 2 local staff join up with us.  In this way they are trained in some ways and can provide the link to all the course participants and follow-up networking.  Vivi has been doing all the preparation for the C2W here in Bali - promotion, registration, practical details, etc.  So, in some ways she is no stranger to us at all.  Ferry is staff from Djakarta and had hoped to do the School of Worship in Holland some years back, but was unable.  It's wonderful to have him join up with us now.

 

The course begins on Monday and we have around 25 full time participants and a number of others who want to join in now and then in the course.

Please pray for us as we make the adjustment to this land: it's people, climate and customs.  Please also pray for health (my cold, Amadeus has a cold, Trijntje's backpain) and spiritual protection, including good sleep (Ben, Hilde and others are not sleeping well).  We believe that God has called us here to be a BLESSING!

 

Feel free to write or add a comment (to add a comment, click on "comments" below.  You don't have to register to Blogger, just click one of the other options and add your comment).

 

Blessings from Bali,

Belinda

Packing my bags!

Wow, I can hardly believe it... "D-Day" (Departure Day) is tomorrow!
I'm washing clothes today, checking on the weather report in Bali (it's 28C/84F !!!), getting my dog ready for visiting his friends, printing out my teaching notes, and packing.
The past couple days I've been fighting a cold and it attacked my sinuses last nite while I was sleeping no fun! Please pray for healing!
Tomorrow morning I'll go to the train station at around 7 a.m. and meet up with the rest of the team at the airport around 9 a.m. Our flight departs at 1 p.m. and it's about an 11 hour flight to HongKong.
Well, gotta go pack some more!
Blessings,
Belinda

Who's out there?

Just wondering if anyone is reading this blog yet... could you leave a little comment?

Thanks!

Belinda

Going to Indonesia

In a couple days I'll be going to Indonesia for the first time in my life. I have a wonderful staff team and we really love one another.
Yesterday in church the pastor, elder and Music leader prayed for me (and for Ruth) in the service. It was wonderful to get so much support from my church. Also, my church back home in the USA has put me on the prayer calendar for the month of February.
A number of people have promised prayer support and a couple others some financial support.
Aside from trying to shake off a cold, my body feels ready to get on that plane.
As usual, I enjoy being in new places but don't exactly cherish the journey: packing, checking in, airplanes with little or no leg room, visas, etc. In my younger years that part was exhilarating as well, but it got old pretty quick. However, I have lost some weight, so that will make the trip a little easier.
We leave Amsterdam at 13.15 (1 o'clock) on Thursday and get in to Hong Kong at 07.50 (which is actually more than 10 hours flying). Another 4 hours or so on Friday from Hong Kong to Denpasar (Bali) Indonesia. The YWAM base is another 45 minutes from the airport.

As team leader, I will be happy that everyone shows up at the airport on Thursday at 09.15 to check in together... that all our baggage gets loaded and we finally get on that plane. Everyone in their seats on the Cathay Pacific airplane, buckled in and smiling - I will let out a deep sigh and allow my thoughts to turn east, my prayers to rise and carry us across the nations and waters to Indonesia.