Journal Entry - Kathy

Originally posted November 4, 2005

Last week we sent Kari back home to the states. It was very sad to say goodbye, but it is time for her to get on with her goals, get a good job, save money and get back to school in the fall. We are so thankful for the time she was here with us. Kari brought so much joy to the home, was great moral support and a wonderful resourse for so much. She painted, shopped, helped picked colors for the walls, assembled furniture, taught me how to navigate busses, trains, and trams. And mostly, she was just a joy to have with us. Next month we will say goodbye to Kristi when she starts YWAM, it is hard to think of both the girls being gone. I am savoring the rest of this month with Kristi, and I'm thankful she will be on the same continent and we will be able to see her once a month or so.

Yesterday, Sunday, December 4, we were invited to a farewell taco feast for a young couple at Lisa and Charlie's house. The group saying goodbye was the Antillian Community from chruch. We absolutely had a wonderful time meeting lots of people in our Crossroads Community that we haven't gotten to know yet. Towards the end of the afternoon, out came the keyboard, bongos, guitar, and tamborine and we had a sweet time of worship. If any of you reading this have heard Ephram Smith's sermon entitled "A Sneak Preview of Heaven" - this time of worship exemplified his sermon to be sure. For each song we sang first in English, then in Dutch, then in Spanish, and finished off in the native tongue of the Antilians - the language is called Papiamento. It's a combination of Spanish, Portuguese, French, English, Dutch, African & Indian dialects. Thankfully we had words in all the different languages typed up, and we really enjoyed attempting worship in all the languages.

Today I needed to run some errands at the store and get some groceries. Here is a typical day of errands. I got out my shed key and took out my bike. I made sure I had a jacket with a hood on, because even though it was sunny when I left, you never know when that will change. Today was no different. It started raining half the way to the mall. The weather is warmer today, though my hands were a bit cold when they got wet in the rain. I should have brought gloves.

The mall is very close, within walking distance, but I prefer biking because I have saddlebags on my bike and I don't have to carry so much home. I only take the car if I will have too much for the saddlebags or pull cart. In terms of ease of driving and finding a parking spot, it is a bit like driving around Rosedale mall, so biking or walking is much faster and easier. I leave my bike in a gated security place outside of the grocery store, as my American bike would be a target for bike theft, which is quite big here. I have another bike that I take when I want to go somewhere that does not have a secure area to leave it, but the ride is much more difficult (probably better exercise though). I have a cover for my bike seat so that I don't have to sit on a wet bike seat when I am done shopping. People bike all through the winter here, in the rain, sleet, hail, and cold.

Hope you enjoy another little taste of Holland.
Totziens (which means goodbye).

Kathy