Last week we were at Al’s house for a barbeque. Al, Daniel, Bobbie, and Katie are amazing. They have bonded together as a family since Deela’s death, and are doing really well. Our small group along with a few other people from Crossroads gave Katie an “extreme room makeover”. Her favorite television show is “Exteme Home Makeover”, she watches it religiously every Sunday evening. We gave her a makeover, mimicking the show starting with the makeover team surprising Katie after school and ending with a little bus attached to a string in front of her door and the team shouting "MOVE THAT BUS”. We gave her a room based on a “Secret Garden” theme. She even has a very real looking tree in her room, a labor of love by Mariel Geven. I’m not sure who was more blessed, Katie or all of us who worked so hard on the project.

Tim and Wilma Omala were on Crossroads stage this morning, and we’d love to tell you about them. We first met Tim and Wilma and their two young boys about 14 months ago when they had us to their home one evening to share their vision for Uganda. Tim is Ugandan, Wilma is Dutch. They met in Uganda at an orphanage where they both were serving on a short term missions trip several years ago. As their relationship developed so did the stirring in their hearts for the orphans in Uganda. Now finally, years later, their dreams are soon to become reality. Crossroads is sending them to Uganda where their hope is to birth an orphanage for a few of the 3.4 million orphans presently in the country. Through “Child’s Destiny of Hope”, Tim and Wilma have a vision to equip these young people with skills that match their own passions, interests, and abilities. The 7 minutes on stage this morning came after months of preparation to get ready for this huge undertaking. They have a board of directors from our community who have worked endless hours helping with all the details and preparation to send them off.

A Tour of our Holland Home

We thought you might enjoy a little tour of our Holland House. We are located in a typical Holland neighborhood. Situated right in the middle of busy streets, tram tracks, and a train station, our neighborhood offers a quiet respite from the hustle and bustle. The streets are very narrow, room for only one car at a time to pass. In Holland you can drive on the curbs or sidewalks when necessary, so when 2 cars need to pass going in opposite directions, one simply pulls over onto the curb allowing the other to pass. Each building contains four houses, with a parking lot nearby. Our front garden is pictured here.

The next four pictures are taken right inside the front door. We have a small entry way, then the dining area and kitchen. To the right are a set of stairs going up to the 2^nd level, which has a loft, 2 bedrooms, and a bathroom. The last of this set would not be remarkable in the USA, but here in Holland it is a real treat when Kenny gets some good American cereal as a gift from a visitor! He is loving his Reeses Puffs.

Now we walk through the kitchen to the living room.

We’ve now ascended the stairway inside the front door. Pictured here is the loft, just big enough for our computer. A small hallway leads to the bathroom on the left (where the washer and dryer are located, Kevin and Kathy’s bedroom on the left, and Kenny’s bedroom straight ahead.

We’ll go up one more flight, another winding staircase very typical of Dutch homes. Here we have 2 more bedrooms, plus a little nook with a sloped ceiling for a bit of storage. Pictured below is our narrow, winding stairway, and then one of the bedrooms. What used to be Kari's room now serves as a great guest room.

This home, though small by American standards, is very nice and we are thankful that we have the space for our girls whenever they want to come home, and the room to have visitors very comfortably. We hope you enjoyed our tour, and we’d love to show you the place in person!

Did you hear the one about the Rabbi, the Imam and the Pastor?

Originally posted by Kevin, October 14, 2006

They were sitting at lunch one day, and the first one says…

Actually, there is no joke here. It actually happened to me last week. Because of my role as a “spiritual advisor” I am required by the Dutch government to go through a series of classes. It is an attempt to have leaders of diverse spiritual communities integrate into Dutch society, thereby helping their followers do the same. Frankly, it is designed for immigrants from North Africa and the Middle East, but to be fair all are required to attend.

So there I sat in the first of this seven day class with a Hindu Sikh priest, a handful of Pentecostal pastors from Nigeria, a Muslim Shiite imam, a Tibetan Buddhist monk, a few Catholic priests from India, a rabbi from Israel and a Coptic Orthodox priest from Egypt. It was mind boggling. It also made me glad I was there. With all these religions coming into Europe I am eager to bring the Good News of Jesus and his beautiful Kingdom.

At lunch time I sat down with the imam. Shortly after that the Jewish rabbi joined us and the three of us had lunch together. It turns out the imam is from The Hague. He lives among and works with Indian Muslims. Neither guy was very fluent in English so the conversation was quite stilted. I hope the future classes provide lots of opportunity to talk in depth with some of these people. As I sat there I was thinking that the folks back home are never going to believe this.

The people of the big US of A often carry an unconscious assumption that they, by virtue of being American, are at the center of the universe. I am guilty of that idea – and only see it by being away. But now I bring the same idea over here. This tiny European nation, of which you could put several into the state of Minnesota, holds within its bit of land recovered from the sea a microcosm of almost all the world has to offer. It is like a crucible of so much that is going on in the world. So pray for this nation, the people here and our ministry to them in Jesus name.

Kevin

Whether You Like it or Not

originally posted by Kevin May 3, 2006

January, the heart of winter in northern Europe. I dress for my commute by bicycle as follows: Jeans, tennis shoes, a t-shirt under a long sleeve shirt followed by a zip-up hoody sweatshirt under a rainproof windbreaker. Could be worse I suppose, but that is the gig.

Fast forward to June 1, 2006. My dress for the commute is as follows: Jeans, tennis shoes, a t-shirt under a long sleeve shirt followed by a zip-up hoody sweatshirt under a rainproof windbreaker. Something is wrong with this picture.

Today, I conceded. Kathy and I have had a months-long argument about just how bad the weather is here. She has tended to remember every day as a gloomy, windy, dark and wet event. I have tended to point out the two minutes of sunshine that occurred sometime last week as a prime example of things not being so bad. This should come as no surprise to those of you who know us well – but Kathy is right and I am full of baloney.

Yesterday I biked home to go for a jog before dinner. Warm-up pants and a t-shirt seemed in order for the last day of May. I wasn’t out there five minutes. The cold and wet driving wind turned me right around and that was that.

Then later in the evening, when gathering with several others at the ministry centre for a night of prayer, I was asked what I thought of the weather. “Well, to be truthful,” I said, “it turned me right around when I tried to go for a run tonight. But that doesn’t usually happen.” I was expecting them to say something like: “No but it is uncharacteristically nasty of late.” Instead I got: “Well you didn’t think the two weeks of sunshine earlier in May was going to last, did you?” (I’m the eternal optimist. I can always hope.) “It’ll most likely be like this the rest of the summer.”

That was it. The weather is the weather whether I like it or not. And, there isn’t a lot to like. In church on Sunday Albert, the worship leader, thanked the Lord in his opening prayer for the rain that makes everything so green. To be honest I have no idea if he was being sincere or sarcastic. The people who chuckled must have been with me on that one.

The Empty Nest Begins

Originally posted May by Kathy, 12, 2006

The Empty Nests Begins…
Reflections of a Mothers’ Heart


This entry is taken from my journaling in January, after saying goodbye to my second daughter. We put Kari on a plane for the US in November, and sent Kristi on her way to England in January. We are not empty nesters yet, we still have the blessing of our son Kenny who is an utter delight to us, but losing both girls, during this year of transition, really gets one reflective. I got to thinking that a lot of you out there go through similar experiences, or may just be just starting out on this ride called parenthood, and decided to share a few portions of my journaling with you, breathing a prayer that God’s Spirit uses it in your life for whatever encouragement you may need.

Reflections from a Mother’s Heart

Today I sent my second daughter off into the world on her own. I realize that in less than 5 months time I have said goodbye to my family, friends, my mom, my home and country, all which is familiar and comfortable, my swing in the front yard, walks around Lake Phalen, and the anticipation of Kenny finishing elementary school at Edgerton. And now I've said goodbye to both of my daughters. It gets me pretty reflective, thinking of the last 22 years. It was another sad parting on Sunday at the airport, and yet a proud parting. I am proud of Kristi as she follows her hearts’ dream of the last year, to go off on a 6 month stint with YWAM. I’m proud of Kari as she is back home now, pursuing her goals of working and finishing school.

I look to the past with gratefulness. I am so grateful that God granted me daughters. How else can a mom extend her own "girlhood"? Through the years I've enjoyed painting nails, shopping, trips to the hairdresser for up-doos, and going out for lunches together. I've been a confidant, and at times the enemy. I've enjoyed many a movie night in pj's and robes with a chic flick. There have been little notes passed, phone calls when only “mom” will do. There were tea parties and make-overs. I remember with joy the little game I played when it was time to make the bed and 2 little girls wanted to hide under the covers. We played “there’s a lump in the bed”. I would playfully try to make the bed with them in it, finally having to push the “lump” out of the bed and straighten the bedspread.

I smile when I think of the knowing glance that passes between mother and daughter at times. No one else notices, but that glance says a million words. That glance can empathize with the other or see the light bulb go off in the others’ mind triggering some funny memory.

It seems only yesterday that I was changing diapers, making play dough, teaching them how to ride a bike, arranging sleepovers, being a taxi driver, watching them take off on their first solo drives after getting their drivers’ licenses, buying prom dresses, and visiting colleges.

I’m glad I treasured the time. I’m glad I took the time. I’m thankful for the gift of being home with them while they were little. I don’t regret one minute that was chosen to spend with them instead of the myriads of other things clambering for my time and attention. I’m thankful for the relationship we have. I’m thankful that we want to see each other, and that they want to talk on the phone with me. I’m thankful for email, I’m thankful that they have grown to be capable, strong young women.

I’ve watched our relationship change over the years, from mother/child, to mother/teen, and now to mother/adult. I don’t have it all figured out yet, but I’m working on it. I’ve been able to share my heart and soul with each of them, and allow them both to speak into my life, each in their own unique way. I am learning new ways of speaking into their lives now that they are adults, and hopefully they will continue to have grace with me as I figure that out.

Now that the girls are gone the house is quieter. I miss the giggles of the girls. But, its also cleaner, I don’t have to share my makeup and I always know where my mousse and comb are. I can use the washer and dryer whenever I want without moving someone else’s clothes out. I have 2 guest rooms (no – they will always be Kari and Kristi’s rooms) but I have 2 available rooms for guests.

Those two girls got me here, to the Netherlands. If it weren’t for their challenge “you guys will never do it” who knows? Well, I proved them wrong, but now here I am – and off they are. What’s up with that?

I think I am one lucky mom. Even after watching my first two leave the nest, I still have lots of years ahead to enjoy raising a boy! Now I watch Hidalgo and Lord of the Rings instead of Anne of Green Gables and Step mom. More fun to come…

Life in Community

Originally posted May 6, 2006

LIFE IN COMMUNITY
The hands and feet of Jesus
Kathy’s reflections



As I reflect on the last twelve months of our lives (actually I should start back about 24 months), I am struck by the ways in which God works through His people for His people.

Two years ago our journey to Holland began with our own small group in Minnesota. They sensed God’s desire and Kevin’s desire, for Kevin to be ministering as a lead pastor in some capacity. They sought the Lord together with us for many months.

After the job was offered and our decision was made, about the end of June of 2005, the hard work of making a transition to another country began. All of us living in homes in the USA know what it is like to move from a home one has lived in for several years. It isn’t an easy task. Add to that, the task of storing 4/5 of our things, deciding what essentials to bring to Holland, finding places to store things, finding people to give things away to, finding renters, getting the house ready to be rented, etc. and we had no small feat to be accomplished in two short months!

We were amazed as dozens of people come forward, offering their help. Scraping and painting, pulling weeds, cleaning, and packing. In retrospect I think we were a little nuts to try and do it all in two months. But, God provided, through His people, and we made it. I will never forget one of my dear friends from WHC asking me to give her the dirtiest area in the house to clean. When I objected, she just said “Doesn’t Jesus want into our messes?” Pat was Jesus to me that day as she took on the task of cleaning the old cement walled, furnace style basement and transforming it.

We were almost giddy towards the end of the packing job, giving TV’s and furniture away and being able to bless others.

God provided us with the most awesome renters in the world. If they had not been obedient to God’s call in their lives, to sell their home and begin renting, without knowing any details, I don’t know what kind of situation we would have with the house today.

After many parties, nights around the campfire, and tearful goodbye’s the five of us boarded a plane for the Netherlands. Sounds nuts! I felt like we were this package that had been carefully and lovingly bundled up and sent on its way.

Then on the other end of the journey we were met with another community, again being the hands and feet of Jesus. We were greeted at the airport with a huge painted sign, saying WELCOME, complete with windmills and cows. We were taken to Lisa and Charlie’s home, who have since become our family here in Holland. Five weary and somewhat and shell-shocked people came in through the doors, and each was met with their individualized warm welcome. We each had welcome signs on our bedroom doors. Lisa had done research to find out our individual interests and made sure to include those on our signs. We immediately found a safe haven in their home. I have called Lisa my own personal angel over and over again. She just always knows what the emotional needs are for all of us – and she is right there with the answer.

Lisa and Charlie have become Aunt and Uncle to our 3 kids, and remain Aunt and Uncle to even Kari who was only here for 3 months, and to Kristi who was here for 5 months. They will remain Aunt and Uncle for a lifetime. They are family to us, and when we just need a place to let our hair down and be ourselves, we know where to go.

When one moves to a new country, the logistics are incredible. Herbert has been there from the first day, solving problems – and he still solves them today. He filed all our paperwork for Kevin’s work permit, our residency permits and our rental agreement. He comes and picks us up whenever we need an appointment with the Alien Police or the municipality. He spent hours getting our wireless internet connected. He solved a big problem with our driver’s licenses and car insurance just last week. I’m not sure what one does moving to a foreign land without a Herbert. Herbert and his wife Caroline are our neighbors and friends as well, which lasts longer than all the paperwork!

Walter put together an amazing crew of folks who helped us do everything we needed to move into our home. We’ve written about this before, but moving in Europe is like moving into new construction – minus the flooring and light fixtures and wiring, and still needing paint. After six weeks of hard work the place was ready to move into, and then came the Ikea furniture assembly. Imagine an entire house full of assembled furniture! No small task. Kari assembled almost all our furniture, single handedly.

Mariel saved the day for Kenny. She turned his room into a Lord of the Rings room – and turned his mourning (over moving from Lisa and Charlie’s) into dancing (over an extreme makeover in his new room).

We have been loved and welcomed with open arms by the entire church body here in Holland, and our community from home (Minnesota home), still surrounds us with prayers, support, email, slow mail, and even visits! We love our community in Minnesota just as much today, probably more actually, than we did the day we left.

When Kristi started her DTS with YWAM, one of the girls still needed money for her visa. As the kids were praying for her, one of the leaders said to the team; “When you pray, be prepared to be a part of the answer”. And they were.

We have been blessed abundantly, and are thankful for each one who has played a part in God's answers to our prayers.

It Happened Last Saturday

Originally posted by Kevin, February 23, 2006

It happened last Saturday…

A family of five, each person in a different country. Now, leaving the cozy confines of the Midwest for a new home in a new city across the Atlantic is one thing. But to have each family member dispersed to a different nation - that for us is a little weird.

Kari, as you may know is back in the USA, resettling in the Twin Cities. And Kristi is in Harpenden, England completing a discipleship school with Youth With A Mission. Last Saturday while Kathy was home in The Hague, The Netherlands Kenny was in Switzerland with a large group of missionary kids at a Christian Associates snowboard camp and Kevin was over in Belgium with a buddy from Minnesota. Five family members in five different countries all at once.

Okay, for some of you world travelers, that may not sound like a big deal. But for the stay-at-home-Johnson’s, realizing that was a bit strange.

In one sense it is a reflection of living in Europe. It wouldn’t be noteworthy back in the US to have us all in different states. Kenny skiing in Wisconsin, Kari at school in Iowa (like that would happen), Kristi at school in Colorado and Kathy at a conference in Chicago. (Notice that in this example I am the stay at home guy.) But it is also a reflection of our new life.

One of the hardest transitions for Kathy and me, and we did see this coming, is the impact this move has on our daughters. At a time when they are stretching their wings in big ways it is nice to have the old familiar nest to return home to from time to time. We can no longer reasonably provide that. We aren’t sure how much that matters to our girls, but to us it’s a big deal. It creates in Kathy and me a greater sense of letting go than we would otherwise embrace. A greater sense of trusting God to be that home base in our daughters’ lives.

Five on five. Maybe next year we’ll go for continents.

I am An Alien

Originally posted by Kevin, February 1, 2006

I am an alien. I have never felt that before. I think it is good for me. My legal status here in The Netherlands is fine. And no, I am not a fleshy headed mutant from the fourth sector (dumb line from Strange Brew). But for the first time in my life I begin to understand the words of the apostles when they write of this world not being our home.

Life has been good to me. I have had my share of mess ups, big and small, and painfully experienced the consequences. But by and large I have really enjoyed my 48 years on this planet. It feels like home. I take an approach to life that says whatever you are up to – have fun. We Christ followers ought to be the most joyful people on the earth. Not that I don’t take life seriously. I just think it ought to be fun. And I have mostly found it to be so.

So when Hebrews 11:13 and 1 Peter 2:11 talk about our being aliens and strangers on this earth, and when preachers have preached about that (or “praught” as my daughter insists), I have nodded agreement like a good seminary graduate knowing that that is a theologically correct concept. But it never really landed. I like it here. Earth suits me fine. I can move about in it quite comfortably. The Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness can feed my soul more than a month of sermons. Last week I was able to end a conference in France by spending a day up in the alps. You should have heard me whooping it up standing above the clouds gazing at the morning sun painting the snow covered peaks in soft orange. I like my Minnesota house; sliding down the back hill with Kenny in winter; raking the leaves into the woods in spring and fall. I love sitting on my patio around a fire talking with friends past midnight about life and God. Alien-schmaelien.

Then I up and moved to a place where I really don’t belong. People are glad I am here. It is not that they don’t like me. And if there is any foreign language country in which to fit with only English this is it. I know I may feel differently once I make some history here, but this is not my home. I am a stranger. For the first time I can relate to Paul saying (Phil 3:20) that our citizenship is elsewhere.

It’s a good lesson to learn. In my familiar surroundings, which I’ve enjoyed to the max, I am prone to forget that I am primarily a spiritual being with eternity in my heart. Now the longings I feel are to me a beacon, a signal, a reminder for yearnings that run deeper than this dusty earth.

Being an alien isn’t always fun. But it creates a heavenly yearning that those who walked with Jesus 2000 years ago understood well. Jesus, come get us.

Christmas and New Year in Holland

Origianally posted Jan 10, 2006

The holiday season in Holland begins with great anticipation of “Sinterklaas". Sinterklaas makes his arrival by boat from Spain on November 23rd, bearing gifts. Each Dutch child puts a wooden shoe out on the doorstep, and every few days from the 23rd to the 5th of December Sinterklaas leaves a small gift in the shoe- candy, a book, maybe some crayons. With each gift is attached a small poem personalized to each child about the gift they've received. The big gifts are left for the kids on the night of the 5th- the night all the children anticipate the most! These gifts are the ones most like the ones American children would be given on Christmas. Kevin's sister Kathy was here visiting us for Thanksgiving, and she left us all with (stockings, not shoes) full of Sinterklaas gifts for December 5, complete with poems attached to each gift. So thanks to our first US visitor, we enjoyed our 1st Dutch holiday quite nicely!

After Sinterklaus has come and gone, the shopping frenzy dies down and Christmas comes quietly. Christmas in Holland is quite different than in the USA. It is far less commercial, and thus a lot less stressful, though we missed the sights and sounds of Christmas out and about. We did go for a one day trip to Munster, Germany where we spent the day at one of the many German Christmas markets. It was fun to be in the outdoor market and see all the lights and decorations.

We spent Christmas Eve first at church, then home just the 5 of us, Kevin, Kathy, Kristi, Kenny and Kristi's visiting friend Kristina. Al and Deela and the kids came over and Christmas Day after the morning service at church, and we had a great meal and an afternoon of fun, including spending a lot of time dancing with Kenny’s new “Dance, Dance Revolution” play station game. Even Kevin and Al joined in the fun! The day after Christmas, Kristi and Kristina's friend, Dani, joined us for another week and a half.

New Years Eve is something unlike you would ever see in the USA. We were told there would be a lot of fireworks, but our minds sure didn't conjure up the picture of what the night was actually like. At midnight we went outside, and were completely surrounded with fireworks from every direction. It sounded like a war zone and the place was thick with smoke. Any and all kinds of fireworks are legal, from 10 am until 2:00 am, and every kind of firework imaginable goes off in every direction and from every direction. It is quite a sight. I think most dog owners must need to put their dogs on tranquilizers. We’ve been told that about 50 million euros go up in smoke during those four hours. So, our New Year came in with a bang.

Another holiday tradition here is a food called Oliebollens (oil balls). These are clumps of dough deep fried and then sprinkled with powdered sugar. The history of this treat goes way back in years when people were quite poor, but wanted to find something economical yet festive that would fill the stomach. The tradition has stuck. One man from the church fried up 250 oliebollens the day before New Years Eve, and brought some over to our home on New Years Day.