Crossroads Bible Church, Team Holland 2006 Official Blog Site
Dates of our trip: July 12--July 30, 2006.
The team has been assembled and preparing since January, 2006.
Departing Flight Information July 12: British Air Flight #2192, Departing DFW 4:20PM. Arriving London Gatwick 7:20AM. Connecting flight from London Heathrow, British Airways flight #434 to Amsterdam Schipol arriving 1:45PM.
Return Flight Information July 30: British Air Flight #8110, Departing Amsterdam Schipol 7:00AM, arriving London Gatwick 7:10AM. Conntecting flight from London Gatwick, British Airways flight #2193 to Dallas/Fort Worth arriving 2:30PM.
You can also use the links on each of these sights to find out even more information!
In order to prepare for the nature of direct outreach in a postmodern culture, our team read the book "How Should We Live Then" by Colson & Pearcy. It's an excellent read for an introduction to worldviews, their effects and their results.
Some of the most influential books on the subject of postmodernism would be by Francis A. Schaeffer, including "The God Who Is There," "Escape From Reason," & "How Should We Then Live" (which obviously influenced Colson). If you're interested in some basic quotes on postmodernism, you can get them here:
2003: Brent McKinney, Rob Edwards, Deb Stevenson, Jess Semmelbeck, Liz Stevenson, Alicia Garcia, Jude Miniat, Christy Thrasher, Abby Lorenc, Cristina MacGilvra, Matt Eaton, Justin Bascue, Faith Oldenburg, Kayti Edwards, Kim Church.
2006: Brent McKinney, Steve Davis, Debbie Schmidt, Michelle Davis, Thomas Egbert, Schuyler Crabtree, Kayla Russell, Alex Ehrich, Keila Lorenc, Bailey Price, Olivia Schmidt, Maria MacGilvra, Alicia Garcia
First and foremost, this trip is 17 days long and for many team members it's the longest they've been away from home. We'd love to hear from you, so feel free to check back often and comment by clicking on the spaces beneath each entry!
Secondly, pray for the team members and those they'll come in contact with. This ministry is entirely relational...and each day we'll simply be waking up and trying to find someone to share the Gospel with. We'd truly appreciate your thoughts and prayers!
Finally, when this team left, we were short of our financial goals. If you're so inclined to donate, simply go to the church website and click on "contact us," send an e-mail saying you'd like to contribute, and you'll be given the necessary instructions.
Saturday, July 29, 2006
From Alicia
As you read this the time remaining in Holland is dwindling so fast for me. It’s like the other day when Guido, Marcel and George threw me into the North Sea with all my clothes on. I knew it was coming and saw it was coming yet there was absolutely nothing I could do to stop it. There are 31 hours left right now and I didn’t realize how difficult it would be to even discern how I am feeling right now. I saw Tim (the ASU bike guy) randomly yesterday and we exchanged info after a round of basketball. It was an answer to prayer to just be able to talk to him again. Giving George his bike was such a blessing tonight but that wasn’t even the best thing for me. I hugged and talked Dutch to so many church members tonight. I was doing so well emotionally then…even Jelmer (a member of the younger youth) showed up tonight after not coming around for months and we chatted a lot about what’s been going on. When he saw me he ran up and gave me a HUGE hug. (He’s grown so much this past year so now he is much taller than me justifying the capitol letters inserted there.)
What really killed me was Antsie Kool. She became my mom in Holland always offering me tea, a place to stay and of course numerous meals educating my ways into the world of the South Afrikaan cuisine. She hugged me tonight, prayed for my grandfather, and made me feel like a daughter of hers. My heart broke. I didn’t want to say goodbye. I had at least 6 people come up to me tonight asking me when I would move back to Holland. I wanted to tell them…I’m not really leaving, it’s all a joke and I’ll see you in church Sunday. But then at the same time I am so looking forward to ASU. My friends as well as I on the Navigator student leadership group seem to have all been challenged with evangelism and reliance on God this summer. I am excited to see what God has in store both in and through us this coming school year. It’s always harder preaching Christ on your own turf but it’s been put on my heart even this past year to do so. Who am I to live in Holland for half a year and encourage Dutch to go out in their own culture to share the good news if I am not doing it myself in America?
From hearing conversations at Ilse’s birthday party talking about her baptism with her non-Christian friends and talking with Guido about the future and growth of Youth Contact, there is nothing I can do but be encouraged. The Dutch give me a gift every time I talk to them or come here. It is more than the prayers and books and pranks. It is a gift of renewed hope. It’s a gift of renewed thought of perhaps moving here permanently one day or at least staying a significant while longer, of maybe leading a team on my own in a few years or hope that Christ will continue to open the hearts of others, and the knowledge that God really does have everything in control.
Selah
-alicia
Psalm 139
Brent 4:22 PM