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.