Good Hope

Sound of Music

2008-06-12T21:26:00.005+01:00

The other night we decided to sing in the church and record it this time! It really sounds awful (I think!), but I decided to put it on here anyway. I'm the squeally soprano, and Alex is the guy you can hear (he sounds fine, and I'm impressed by his Dutch pronunciation) and Janine plays the organ, as well as singing the alto! In order to listen to these songs, click on the tiny print next to the link. This will open a new window, there are two Psalms there for you to listen to!

boomp3.com

I hope you can hear these songs... I'm quite new to all this....

boomp3.com

Anyway, I hope to be able to write a bit more soon... Enjoy!

OFSTED Inspection!!

2008-05-08T20:28:00.003+01:00

Today we had our first official OFSTED Inspection... We had a great day! The man was really nice, and seemed very happy to help us. He gave us some good advise on different things. We passed the inspection more or less with flying colours. I just hope the final report will be just as positive!
I wasn't too nervous, as I had tried my best all these months, and as a school we try to stay up to date with everything, so that when the inspection comes none of us needs to loose sleep over it... It is hard to evaluate yourself though, as you may think you are doing a great job, where as compared to other places it might be way below standards! It is nice to then see a happy inspector who commends you for your job! According to the inspector our school is definately worth growing..so I hope other people will agree...! We could desperately do with some growth!!

I hope to be able to publish the link for the report soon, I think within two weeks... Please do have a look on our webiste, www.gohosch.com or www.goodhopeschool.org.uk (same thing).
We have an OPEN DAY on Thursday the 15th. Please do come and visit, even if you are just curious, or you'd like a cupper!!

Official website

2007-10-19T16:55:00.000+01:00

We finally have started the official school website! Please do come and have a look! Good Hope School!!

Next week will be Half Term which is great. I'm convinced that holidays are designed for teachers, not for students...:-)

Tonight is the United Prayer meeting in Cheltenham. I hope that a lot of people will actually come. The numbers have been going down, so has the state of this country!
Yesterday my mum rang to tell me that my uncle had died that morning. I was very upset, as I knew them well, and he was a Christian, and I have greatly benefitted from his advice and letters! I still cannot believe I will never see him in this life again! His wife, who is also a Christian, has already been a great witness to others because of her calmness etc! Other relatives have wondered how she can be so strong and calm...! She knows that it is not like her at all, and she has told others so as well! I value our prayers for her and my family.

Good news is that we have now developed the leaflets for the school, and will be sending them out very soon!

At Last!!

2007-08-07T11:31:00.000+01:00

Praise God! At last we are registered! After all that time of waiting and working, and praying! We are overjoyed that finally everything is accepted!
The next few weeks will be busy, as we need to find a way of advertising the school, contacting churches and telling them that now there is a local alternative to state school education!

We hope that a lot of younger children will join, as we have found that not only are Secondary School children's attitudes formed, but also academically they are so far behind that it makes it quite difficult for them to start later! It often means that they finish their GCSE equivalent by the time their friends finish their A-levels! It is great that the Certificate we issue is accepted and recognised by the government and universities, even though I found that they have to do a huge amount of more work to get the same amount of recognition! But I suppose that this is a good thing, especially seeing the paper about the performance of schools, and how A-levels etc have been dummed down even more this year! I am sure that universities, companies and even the government will soon start asking for another certificate, maybe one that is absolute, like ours, rather that relative..?

I'm looking forward to the next term, as usual! Their are lessons to plan, outings to arrange etc! And now of course the added excitement of organising Open Days! Please pray the Lord will bless the school, and help it t grow, so that more families can be impacted for the Lord! Pray that children will know the Lord, and that they will be able to serve Him wholeheartedly, aided by the school, and things they study!

Exchange

2007-04-23T17:34:00.000+01:00

Tonight I'm off to Holland! We're off on a school's exchange visit! Last year the school came to 'us', that is School of the Lion, although we joined for the week, and now we are all off to Holland! There are about 23 children going, from School of the Lion, Maranatha (school near Swindon) and there is us...!

I'm really looking forward to it! It does mean leaving early, but who cares...! I have choir tonight, and then some sleep, and after that I'm off! It is great to go and stay at the school in Holland. They are a 'branch', the main building is in a nearby town, we are staying in a village. There are 600 pupils on this site, so it is quite a small Christian school, but it will be nice. The main building has 1800 pupils, and it is easy to feel a bit crwode. As I went to school in the main building I wouldn't get lost, but I would feel lost, I think...

We seem to have almost finished with the registration papers. Just a few to go, and hopefully Richard will be able to send them all on their way near the end of this week! I just hope and pray that it will be the final thing!

Isn't Spring beautiful!? I love driving to school and back! It's so glorious! Wherever you look, it speaks of a loving, caring and faithful Creator, who is also my Saviour! It is beyond words, that He Who made this wonderful creation looked down and saved me! I love Spring, but this year seems to be better than ever! The blossom, and the wonderful bluebells! They are already out! I hope they are still here by Saturday, so I can take some pictures...

Anyway, I better go and pack...

Waiting...waiting...

2007-04-12T15:37:00.000+01:00

After the the last blog, this one seems almost negative! But there is a lot to thank God for!
We are still not through with the registration... (Did I really think it would be that quick and easy...?) We just had a letter this week. Some small details have to be put straight. The only one that will take some time, and is important, is the CRB check of everyone involved... But we are working on that one! We hope to finish the other papers next week.

Sometimes it is hard to be patient, and to trust God for the timing and all other details! But we need to trust Him, and His timing!
There have been many positives as well, one of them being the visit of 4 Dutch teachers. It was great to have them around for two days, and to speak about Education! They are very supportive, and we are grateful for their prayers, as that is the most important need we have! We can do without many of the material needs, we can make-do, we can be inventive and creative. But we cannot do without people's prayers!

I am just re-reading (I think for the 5th time...) the book: But If Not, by F.M. Knight. It is such a challenging book! I don't normally re-read books, as I remember usually what is in there, but when I find a book very practical, challenging and helpful I do read it again after a while. This book I have read several times, and I have just ordered another copy through Abe books... It's worth every penny they charge you...!
It is so easy for things to slip, to charge ahaed, to plan your own things, to trust that God will sign your decisions, but that books keeps reminding me that Christianity is about Following the Master, serving Him, trusting Him. The title is from Daniel, where the Three Friends say: know that God is mighty to deliver us, but if not, we will still serve and worship Him only...To them, the outcome was up to God, it didn't matter to their view of God, they didn't pressure God into actions in order to keep faithful, if you know what I mean...This sounds a bit rambly, but anyway, it is a very good book, and I am just re-reading it as I said.

Tim Steele is joining the staff at Good Hope School, and I'm very grateful for that! He will be such an encouragement and blessing to everyone!

A few weeks ago we had our conference at Eastcombe Baptist Church. It went really well. Dr Oliver was preaching on the Doctrines of Grace. It was a day of real blessing, and it was a shame that not more than 30 people came! But the cd's are available, if anyone is interested! Dr Oliver was so clear in his messages, and they were practical and helpful. It was nice to meet oter people and to have fellowship over lunch. For those of you who didn't make it: you have missed out on a lot! But there is another chance for you in September, the 29th, when we have a another one-day conference... I don't know the details yet, but when I do know I will put them on my anual blog...:-)

Registration visit last Thursday...

2006-11-25T12:05:00.000Z

"This is the LORD's doing; it is marvellous in our eyes"

Well, we had our visit... The lady came on Thursday, and stayed for a couple of hours in the morning, left just before lunch and came back after lunch for about half an hour...
We had a very good time! It went wonderfully well! She looked at all our paperwork, the building and at the end of the morning she said that she was impressed! We were so well prepared and organised...
She came back in the afternoon to sit in for the music lesson. We started looking at Handel's Messiah, and did some singing ourselves. It's quite a long time ago that I had someone sitting in in my lessons... But I think we did quite well, because when she had to leave, she said that she had thoroughly enjoyed herself AND that she wished that all the schools she inspected were as nice as ours!!! Now, I don't know is those remarks were a typical English thing, like : oh my dear, how woooonderfullll (not). You know what I mean... But she said that she was definately recommending us for registration! We were thrilled!
We know that without God's help we could do nothing. We know that we ourselves could never have prepared the documents and started all this. We actually thought we would have plenty of time... But yesterday in a Bible study group we discussed that there is a time for everything, and that God is in control, and He is the One that sets the times! So Thursday's visit was planned by God, even though we thought we would have another couple of weeks to get ready...

Thank you for your prayers, and please pray that the papers will come through soon. Help us to know the next step, in contacting the churches in Cheltenham to let them know we are open to pupils. Pray for wisdom in planning and organising the first Open Day! This is all very exciting, but we want to do what God wants us to do, in His perfct timing.

Registration visits

2006-11-21T21:13:00.000Z

Things are moving at last! We had an inspection visit by the firebrigade. That went really well, even though I was very worried about it... So that big hurdle is past! But the main HURDLE is this coming Thursday. The school inspector is coming. She lives in Cheltenham, and sounded nice on the phone, according to Richard...
At the moment we are just getting the papers together for Thursday, and having a general tidy-up. It all depends on this visit. If she thinks we are OK we will be registered in next to no time, if not...well then things can take quite a while...

The Dutch magazine has finally printed our story! We have 3 pages in this Christian family magazine. There are a couple of pictures etc. You can see the little picture if you go to their website, http://www.terdege.nl . It should still have us on there... It's quite weird to hear Mr Johnson, Richard, Elizabeth, etc. speaking Dutch...

Kees is here now, for quite a few weeks. Do pray for him as it is not easy to be away from home and girlfriend...! But it is a real encouragement to have him in the school and church.

Please do pray for us, especially for the Thursday inspection visit!

Papers sent off!!

2006-11-04T16:11:00.000Z

Finally, the registration papers have been sent off!! We are thrilled, and excited!

It will take quite a few weeks for everything to go through, but it's a start! Today, almost a week later, we already had a response. One paper needs adjusting, and a check needs to be done! It's amazing how quick the response was! We hope that this is the only adjustment needed for the moment! Praise God they didn't sent the whole pack back... I think my heart would sink if that would happen...

Please do pray that the process will go through smoothly. We really need your prayers. Thank you for your support in all these months. Things haven't been easy, but God has blessed us and kept us.

Growing already!

2006-10-17T18:23:00.000+01:00

We are waiting for just one more document before we can apply for registration! That is quite exciting of course, but even more exciting was the news we had this week! There is a Christian family in Cheltenham who want to join the school. At the moment it is about 99.5 percent sure that they will... Their two eldest children will join in January!
That means that as things stand now, before registration, we have only one more space left! Which is great, of course!!

The other exciting thing is that we had an inspection by the organisation who runs the program. The report was very good indeed, and we just heard today that the lady who did the inspection told another (very good) school that she was very impressed with our school!

So we are grateful to God for all His blessings and encouragements that have come our way recently! Please pray that we will have the final document soon, and that we can send off for registration soon, in order to be registered before January! It seems impossible to be registered by January, but with God all things are possible! Even this really nice family joining us!
Thank you for all your support and prayers, we really appreciate that!

British Museum

2006-10-12T20:49:00.000+01:00

I had quite an exciting day last Tuesday! With the youngest student I went to the British Museum in London, to look at the Egyptian display. We are working our way through a book called Omnibus, it's very good, but hard work... At the moment the book we are dealing with is Exodus, so I decided that after all that hard work we needed to have something extra special... So we got the coach to London, and spent the day looking at mummies etc...

It was actually very good, I learned a lot. The stuff they have is amazing, and to think it is all very old... The sad thing was that there was no mention of the True and Living God. I actually pointed out one board-thingy where is said that the sad thing about the missionaries coming to a certain place was that they lost their faith in ancestors etc... Quite typical to describe people in that way, who have come to faith, and have found peace with God, but that is the way things are at the moment! Apart from that, we really enjoyed the day, and I'm looking forward to the next Omnibus lesson where we carry on looking at Exodus!

The journey back was a bit tiresome, trying to get out of London, but never mind, we got back save and sound, and that is the main thing!

I'm sure we'll go again, as we will be dealing with other ancient civilizations as well...

New School Year

2006-10-06T17:04:00.000+01:00

School started again in September! Everyone has been working very hard, so we are doing well!
We are just waiting for one more document, and then we will be able to send off the papers for registration! All very exciting!
We feel really blessed, starting our third term as a reformed school! This term we are a lot more organised as well. In a way it is a bit of a shame, as last year we were more free to do things without planning, whereas now, everytime something comes up I have to worry about completing the curriculum... But it is nice to be able to plan ahead.

With one of the students I'm doing Classical education, also called Trivium. We do Latin, and a book called Omnibus. It is really amazing, even though the Omnibus is quite hard work as it involves a lot of reading. No problem if you read fast, but for the student it can be quite a job getting through all the reading assignments! But it's great! Tuesday we hope to go to London together, to go to the British Museum, to visit the Egyptian Wing. We are dealing with the second book of the Primary Reading part, which is Exodus. In this way it will bring things to life, also for myself. We hope to take Dr Masters book on the British museum with us...

We have lots of plans, things we can do, lessons we can have etc! The thing that is foremost in our minds is registration though. It will be good to be registered and to be able to advertise the school. It is very exciting not knowing who will join, and how God will use the school, as He has done already. It is so good to be able to study the Scriptures together, to start the day with reading, singing, praying... No worries about upsetting or offending people, no Names to be avoided... To have Christ at the centre of the entire day, in all we do, say read and study. To see the world in God's way, to look at everything around us with a Biblical worldview, to live in the Real World. To live, not just for this life and this life's qualifications, but to look at life with eternity in our minds and hearts.

It is also very encouraging seeing them work so hard! They really have done a lot of work those past weeks! I hope we can all keep it up...!

Please
Thank God for the lovely building we are in.
For the hard work of every one involved.
Pray for registration, that we will have all the paperwork involved.
Pray for more prayer support..!

Here we are again

2006-07-14T18:37:00.000+01:00

Sorry for the enormous pause... I must admit that sometimes I don't feel like blogging... Many things have happened, all very exciting! Life has been rather busy, but I will try and write a bit more regularly.

We have been to the Ukraine, a real experience! We just wished we were rich and could really help the church there and the people we met...sigh... Fortunately some kind friends had given us some money to give to the pastors there, for which we and they(!) were very grateful!

The school has moved, and is now in its new building! We are now in Leckhampton Baptist Church. It's great! We have a lot more space, and a lot more opportunities. We can expand a lot more as well, which is what we need, hopefully! We are receiving more prayer support as well, which is what we need the most! There are some more families showing some interest, for which we really are thankful. Apart from that we still see the school as a special blessing, and the church supports us fully in this. It's such a blessing to be united in this, as there is plenty of opposition whenever you do the Lord's work.

Today one of Richard's friends who is in the ministry came down to our place. We visited the Wharehouse where the organisation is based that distributes the books etc, we went to another Christian School, and we visited our school of course... He is hoping to start his own, Reformed, school at some stage, and is looking into the issues. He is a trained teacher as well, but unlike me has been working in the state school for a long time. Anyway, that was all very exciting today!

Quicky

2006-04-07T21:28:00.000+01:00

I had a look at FatBaptist's blog, and having seen his test resluts, I followede the link and fillid in the quiz...very good! To my astonishment I cam out Boston as well (mrs I would imagine...), even though it was atiebreak... I'n mot sure who I would have been had i chosen the other answer, but never mind...

You scored as Thomas Boston. You are Thomas Boston. You set a high value on evangelistic preaching and the Free Offer of the Gospel.

John Knox

90%

Thomas Boston

90%

Thomas Chalmers

60%

James Orr

55%

James Denney

45%

Anyway, as today the Easter holidays start for me I hope to write a blog soon...

Just a quick bloggie

2006-03-16T19:39:00.000Z

Just a quick blog. We have had a great week, with 2 extra students! A 3.5 year old little Polish boy, and a 18 year old Dutch student...
As Kees, the Dutch student is quite a keen walker we decided to go to the Malverns instaed of our P.E. lesson in the Leisure centre...
The view was amazing! It was very grey all morning, so I was a litle worried, but by the time we went, just before lunch it was brightening up! The view wasn't very very clear, but in a way it added to the whole thing! I took a picture of just the hills, and in a way it came out darker that in really was, but I absolutely love that picture:

It was very cold and windy at the top, but we did manage some pictures....

Anyway, that was just a quick impression...maybe a bit more about the school some time...Maybe Kees will write something about his impressions??

Walkies

2006-03-02T17:01:00.000Z

Winter is still in England... But in spite of all that we went for a lovely walk this afternoon! We went up Leckhampton hill, right to the top... I must admit that it was very windy up there!
We old people came a bit behind, but we did make it to the top, although it took me a while to get my breath back! I must admit that I am terribly unfit those days, so I will have to do something about that!!

Anyway, when we did get to the top we had some hot chocolate, although the hot chocolate wasn't hot anymore, rather a bit luke warm... But it was a drink, and it was chocolate, so it was ok...
The view was amazing, and I will try and post some pictures on here soon... just the view was worth all the effort it cost us to make it up there... It always strikes me that the God we serve and love and adore made all that! When looking at the splendid views, the hills, river, endless space etc, I know that my Saviour made all that!

It might snow tonight...In a way I hope it does, as everything looks so beautiful after a good snowfall... But I must admit that I wouldn't fancy driving in snow... So it would be rather inconvenient just now, but well, it doesn't snow every day, so I think I will enjoy it if it does snow over night...

Where has the time gone??

2006-02-22T15:31:00.000Z

ooopsssss, someone had to remind me that a month has passed since my last blog....
So here a quick update.

School is great, we feel really blessed, even though things are not always easy. I have learned a lot, and so have the children, I hope...

We went to the houses of Parliament last week... That was a real experience... We managed to get some tickets through our MP to attend the debate/question time. I must admit that it was really entertaining, even though my heart did sink a little realising that they are the ones that reign the country! The youngsters enjoyed the debate though, so we left later than we planned to! Then we found that Jan, who was with us that day, had lost his phone! Well, not really lost it, someone took it! We had to hand in all our stuff, bags, phones etc, before entering the room. When we came back to collect our goods Jan's phone wasn't there... It was little comfort that they told us it hadn't happened for years... They did say though that they would refund his phone if nobody sent it back to him...

This week is our half term. Jan had some friends staying with im, they just left this morning. I'm catching up with some washing etc, and I enjoy spending time around the house.

Today it looks as if there might me some snow coming down any minute. There has been a miniscule bit of snow, more the odd tiny flake, but it still looks as if more is coming... I do love snow, and as it is holidays I don't mind if we had some!!

Driving...finally!!!

2006-01-23T18:48:00.000Z

At last!! My driving licence!! I had the test this morning, made just two minor mistakes, so that was quite nice! I will be such a help to us, expecially to Richard! School trips will be easier as well now...

I quite enjoy driving, although it is a weird idea that I will be all on my own in the car tomorrow morning... The children were really excited that I passed, and it was such a good thought that they were all praying whilst I was having my test! Imagine having a 'whole' school praying for you! One of them said that he knew I would pass, 'cause they had been praying for me...

We had a really good Sunday yesterday. Mr Thomas preached in the evening, that was very good! There wasn't much of a line in his sermon, but it was very good and comforting and helpful! We hoped he would take chapel time at school on Thursday, but unfortunately they can't come, as they are booked up the rest of the week...

Anyway, I will have to go, as some cooking will need to be done, and then some preparation for tomorrow...

The New School!

2006-01-17T21:25:00.000Z

We have had our first week at school! Time is rather precious at the moment, but just a quick update!

We started on Monday with the 3 children, and we had a great time! They really enjoyed it, even though it is sad having just the 3 of them! By the end of the week it got worse...one of them was ill, the other one is being her usual self from what she was at her previous school, unfortunately... We really pray for her that she will come to see her needs, and realise what life is like...

But apart from that it is great. Today we had our first outing, to the National Waterway museum. Not very spectacular, but it was just to relax and do something different. Academically this curriculum is fantastic, but very hard work, so it is nice to do something different!
The afternoons are really good as well. It is very nice to have discussions, speak about Literature, statements etc from a Christian viewpoint, and to discuss things together. It is quite amazing how much they know!

God has really blest us, even though we look minute at the moment, but spiritualy we feel that already we have grown as a school. We trust God for the future, and we pray that at least one more family will join with us! It is so good for children to be there, and the sooner the better! It is good to train children in a Godly way and a Godly environment, so teach them to think in a Biblical way, to look at life froma Christian perspective! And children really blossom under that, and I know that God blesses the families that try to train the child in the way that it should go!

But anyway, anyone, feel free to come and see 'the school', we're usually there, apart from Wednesday mornings when we go to the leisure centre... Just come in and we'll make you a cupper and show you round, and indoctrinate and brainwash you on the spot...

Christmas been and gone.

2005-12-28T15:35:00.000Z

Christmas passed... We had a good day. Psator Colin Lewis came and preached for us in the morning. Some people who usually come were ill, which was a shame, but attendance was still higher than usual.

On Boxing day we went to Reading. I must admit that I do not really like Christmas the way it is done in England. I love Dutch Cristmas, where Christmas is like a Sunday, a special day where you go to church twice, where you do not get presents to distract you etc. A day for God, to focus entirely on Christ's coming into the world. But we did have a nice time, it was good to see Richard's family.

Because of the holidays thoughts and wiorries about the school seemed to have been pushed to the background, which is good. It is nice to have a break, to know that there is nothing one can do! The relief of having a building is still there, and I feel I can relax a bit now. The building is in Hatherley, at the back of Alma Road, for those of you who know Cheltenham. It is now a flashy building, but it has a waterproof roof on, toilets, heating and a kitchen. So it is perfect for us, and it is in a quiet spot. I think the childrem were a little disappointed as they expected a school in a palace. Alas for them. An old scout hut will have to do, at least for a while. Who knows what God will provide next?

We have had some more money from Holland, which will pay for the first bill. Iwas so thrilled! I was expecting 170 euro, as that was what was written in the email I had. Then the magazine stated we had had 582, 50 euro. Together with the money from Holland we had already received that makes about 600 pound... I'm so grateful!

Now we need to find some preachers in the Cheltenham area who are prepared to take our chapel session, once a forthnight. There are many good preachers around in Cheltenham, so I pray that the right person will come on the right time! I am excited about it, and I hope many people will keep on praying for the school. Especially for more christian families to join the school, as soon as we are registered. We have 2 space at the moment, before we are registered. I pray another family will come and join very soon.

Also, pray that churches will let us contact them about the school, and allow us to come and speak to them, or to display some information about the school. We just would like the churches to join us in this. our ultimate aimis for a pastor in Cheltenhamto take over the school, so we can start a school in eastcombe, once we have our building back. But thatwill be a long proces, I think. At the moment we have to do what God asks us to do. To serve Him, regardless of the outcome, just as we serve Him in eastcombe, even though people here seem harder than rock, and are not interested in the Gospel at all. Jan has given out 500 ETs, all the houses in the village, and many given out to people personally. But only one man came, sad at heart and lonely. We were glad he came! But how sad the days we are in, that nobody seems to want to hear the Gospel of life! But we keep spreading seed, and praying for the people in the area.

Pray that the churches will be more open to outsiders, that they will be more willing to share the Goespel with strangers! Pray that we will be bold and loving, and that God will give us the right words to speak! Pray for more workers in our church, so that we can start a Sunday school at last, and that there will be more people to help during the week with the teenagers and children.

Well, the year is passing by quickly! It is exciting to wait and see what God will do in this year! He has been very good to us in the past year, I know we can trust Him in the next, however hard and dark it might seem now...

Dare I say it...?

2005-12-22T22:16:00.000Z

Dare I say it? But I really believe we have a building! Praise God!

We went to see this Scout leader, and he showed us round the place. It was well kept really, maybe a bit old fashioned, but ok. I liked it, there is quite a lot of out door space, a big hall, and a small room where we can store things. He is really laid back, and told us that he saw no reason why we couldn't use the building... We settled on a price... and that was it... He has to speak to his committee, but they always do what he says, he assured us. He told us that we could more or less 100% see the place as ours. Well, during the day, of course, it doesn't mean that the scout hut belongs to us, but we have the rent of it...

I still can hardly believe it! It seems to be too good to be true! I still fear something will happen that will undo this decision...

But then I do let myself rejoice in this good NEWS!! That we will have a roof over our heads in January....!!! Thank God for His goodness to us!

There is just one nagging question in my mind: why is this Non-Christian the only one to be enthousiastic about our school, about us using the building for so little money, about having a Christian school?? Non of the churches we have approached were like that! The sounder the church, the worse the reaction.....! But this man, as soon as we rang him said: O, I'm sure we can come to some sort of arrangement! Most churches reacted the opposite way: we don't think you want to have a school in our building... Incredible... Am I wrong to think that somehow we have given satan too much footing in our churches and in our hearts? Do we think about education the way God looks at it, a preparation for eternity, Christ being the very centre of our schools? Of our hearts?
I find it very difficult. Having a Bible-based curriculum doesn't make your school a Christian school, although it is a help. But what does make a school a Christian School, where Christ is the centre and Head?

After a lonnnngggggggg time..

2005-12-19T12:34:00.000Z

We have finally made the decision: we are to start in January... Problem is that we haven't got a building yet... Although we could start at our friend's house, but that wouldn't be ideal. So at the moment we are building hunting. None of the more switched-on churches will have us...Don't ask me why not. It's beyond me.

We've had quite a busy time really. We went to the Westminster Conference, which was really good, apart from the 'discussion times' which isn't a time for discussion, but for certain people to stand up and ramble on about their hobbyhorse. Needless to say I managed to constrain myself, I didn't get up and talk about Christian Education.... I must admit that the only lady that got up, although she said some really good things, she went on to long. That put me off, I could imagine people thinking to themselves: oh no, not another woman standing up to talk. So I didn't. But the lectures were very good indeed.

Just before we went we had made the decision to start in January, so as soon as we came back we were right in the midst of it... So many things to arrange and talk through! I do think I have most things sorted, it's just making the desks, and finding a building, so we really value your prayers on that. From Holland we have had 445 Euro for the school, so that at least is a start... We hope that we will get more in, as the articles I write every forthnight have an appeal for money in them, put there by the magazine owners, not by me...There has only been one appeal, so I'm looking forward to seeing what will happen on that front. What we need though is prayer support. People to wrestle in prayer for the school, especially now we haven't got a building, and we are hoping to start the second or third week of January...

Anyway, we had a good Sunday, and we will have our Carol service on Wednesday night.. Problem is that I have a cold, so my voice has more or less totally disappeared... which is great if you try to sing...suppose it's quite nice for a change to be a tenor instead of a soprano....

Snowwwwww

2005-11-29T21:14:00.000Z

Snow! So beautiful! The only problem is that it is difficult to get anywhere from where we live! But the view is stunning.
But then was there the problem of the meeting in Cheltenham... My heart sank when I saw the snow, to be honest, however much I love snow! I saw endless delays, and more delays... But the Lord was very kind.. He truly knows how much we can cope with! The pastor rang, said that the church was very enthusiastic, and could we just clarify a few details, which of course we could! Richard sent of the email straight away... So it seems that the Lord answered our prayers, even though we have to wait till the final word comes through. But we know that He cares for us, and we will have to trust Him and His guidance on this matter.

I had a long day in Swindon today, which was an inset day from the school. We learned about writing essays, and more importatnt for us in a sense, how to mark them! It is actually quite hard to mark essays, but it was very interesting. The other thing we heard about was the big science project children have to do before they finish their current level.

I bought an ACE Bible, which is King James, but is has the 60 character traits in the front, with the corresponding Scripture verses. I really wanted this Bible, as it gives a bit of an overview of all the character verses. I had a list with the different character traits, but not the verses that go with them.

Well, I'll have to shoot off, as I will be in school all day tomorrow, then Good News Club, then church.... Time seems to fly, and it keeps catching up with me.. We are preparing for a few visits next week, when we hope to visit some other Christian Schools up north, when we hope to see some friends as well.

Opening

2005-11-26T11:32:00.000Z

Yesterday we had the first opening's day of the school, and this afternoon the second. The Mayor and mayoress came: two women, so why the one is called mayor, and her sister mayoress wasn't clear. I think I will have to have a word with my sisters...

There were quite a few people present, which was really nice! People had the opportunity to walk around the school, and have a look at various things. There was a puppet show in Spanish, art, and learning center as well...

After a time of singing, prayers etc, where the children sang something, and recited the verses they are learning for this month, the mayor and mayoress arrived. We all went outside, and watched the mayor plant a tree..... We wondered whether you have to do a gardening course, once you become a mayor...?

We left quite soon after, and spent the evening with the Cholefko's, which meant we were home at a crazy time.... But it was really nice to spend some time with them, and talk about all sorts of things, most of all of course the prospect of having the school up and running in January...

Any way, this afternoon we hope to go again to the school. Richard isn't coming, which means that Jan has no choice but to come...! Tineke iscoming as well, so I hope the weather stays as it is now. No snow or ice or anything like that!

Coming and leaving

2005-11-24T20:58:00.000Z

It is verrrrry cold this week! Real winter has arrived!

It is also a sad week, as Angela and Graham have moved now. This morning I had the Ladies' Bible Study, and it soo strange with Angela being away! We really missed her! We had some very interesting discussions and questions, so it was a really good morning.

Tomorrow I have the morning off, as we have the official opening of the School in Gloucester where I help. I hope lots of people will come, and that they will be really encouraged. We told the headmaster about the possibility of us leaving in January, and he was quite sad about it. Even though he is very pleased that we are starting a Christian school. I hope to speak with him about it, as I feel that we have a door opened this January to start. Anyway, please pray for wisdom in dealing with him, as well as other people at the school, and also for ourselves that we will make the right descision.
It is very hard, as I can see the big advantage of starting this January, as it will give us some time as a school to work, get straight, advertise etc. Also, as I said, we feel we have a special opportunity now. But we need to get a building first.. The meeting on Monday about that is very important...

waiting and waiting..

2005-11-21T10:42:00.000Z

We had a great day on saturday! It was Fiona Steward's sending-off service in Ramsey. The service was really good, and we were so glad we went! She was really moved when she saw so many people turn up for the service.
Yesterday we had a good day as well, even though rather sad as Angela and Graham are leaving. They have served our church for the last 32 years... Now they are moving on, moving closer to their son.

With regards to the school, we rang a few numbers this morning. The first person we had to leave a message with someone, so now we have to wait till that person rings back... That preson is head of various churches, and we hope he will be able to put us in touch with a small church in a big building....
The othre person I rang wasn't there.. So we have to wait, and ring later...
Why does everything have to move soooo slowly........ I have also emaild CEE, as they are the organisation we have to register with, in order to use the ACE curriculum.

Sometimes all courage leaves me as I think that we could be up and running in January.. So much needs doing, but the worst thing I find is the question: have we got enough prayer support?? I would like to set up prayer groups. prayer people like James O. Fraser did, people who are committed to prayer, and not the one-line quick prayers for our school, even though I'm sure God will hear and answer those as well! Bu what we need are prayer warriors! people who really pray for us intelligently.
Anyway, we are really grateful for various friends who really pray for us already!

I'll have to go now, as I have to write my next article for the Dutch magazine...

Building?

2005-11-18T16:31:00.000Z

We went to visit this church yesterday evening. We had a bit of a sad moment just before we left. We had arranged this meeting last week, and surprisingly enough the people seemed quite keen... But yesterday evening, just before we were coming out to meet them he rang. He didn't think the building would be suitable, they had never rented it out, etc etc...Did we really insist on having a look? Which we did...
When we met them they were really nice and kind! And the building was great... There are a few dificulties, but not impossible...
The building we like best is just round the corner, and is Reformed (they say) but they don't want to know....Sighhhhhhh... They told us the building wasn't suitable.. But it is the most suitable building we have seen, and we have seen quite a few.....
I know the Bible teaches us that God can change the hearts of kings like brooks of water, but whether that counts for Reformed Christians, I do not know...

Anyway, things seem to be moving somehow, but we really value your prayers for us!
I just had a Dutch magazine, who has published my first article about our school, in order to try to raise some money for us...Praise God!

Patience is a virtue

2005-11-17T12:28:00.000Z

My excuses for those of you on which my frustration landed... I have to learn to be more patience and gentle and so on... even when it comes to my hobby-horse...!

Anyway, there is some news, so I would really value your prayers for us! Tonight we are meeting with a small church in Cheltenham about the prospect of renting their building to start our school. The idea is that if they agree, and every moves quickly (does anything ever move quickly in England??!) then we will start preparations immediately... Soi the school might actually start in January... What a thought!!

Sp please pray for us, that the meeting will go well, people will be honest (bit of a problem in Reformed England, I have noticed in the 6 years I have been here), and that it will be made clear to us whether we should move forward or not.

At home it is quite busy, as we have a young Dutch couple staying with us. They got engaged last saturday on Birdlip hill/Crickly Hill... what can be more romantic than that! It didn't even rain...!
It is great having them to stay though, he preached yesterday, and did very well!

Today is Jan's birthday. So we have got some special cake etc, even though we have to shoot off tonight, but I hope they will be back in time this afternoon, so we can have some time together to make him feel it is his birthday..

Anyway, there is a question I want to pose to you: Is a parent responsible for the education of their children (which doesn't mean they have to teach their children everything themselves) or is it allowed, Biblically, to hand over your parental responsibilities to others?

Answer to reactions

2005-11-10T19:51:00.000Z

I have had reaction to my previous blog.. This made me happy in one sense, as I have a childish happiness about having comments posted on my blog.. Sad is that the reaction was negative....But anyway, I just post here my reaction, and write a bit more maybe.

1. I said: happy to have their children there.
2. Maybe I should be more moderate, but I do feel strongly about it! The children have only one soul, one life. There is only one way to be saved. We should be strong about salvation, shouldn't we?
3. God commanded parents to train their children day and night. Do we agree with people not turning up at services? That's wrong. Why is it wrong to break one commandment, and not wrong to break another?
4. If I have offended anyone, my excuses, it was not the aim. But I do urge people to think again, and to study the Scriptures!

I do feel very strongly about Christian education, not Reformed monasteries. It is the parent's duty to train their child in a God-honouring way. It is a commandment to parents to train their child at all hours of the day. A child needs protecting and training, it hasn't got the discernment that adults have. Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child, the Bible says.
I cannot think of any reasons that are Biblically acceptable to send your child to a non-Christian school, unless forced to. To me it is the same as not going to church as a Christian. I know plenty of Christians who hardly ever go to church. They are fine, they are still Christians etc etc. Sending your child to a non-Christian school doesn't mean to say your child will automatically become an atheist, just as sending it to a Christian school doesn't mean it will become a Christian. But God did write those things for a reason.

The reason I compare those people with Hype-Calvinists is that both lay down their God-given responsibility. People with children in state-schools are not necessarily Hyper-Calvinists, as not every one is happy with having them in state schools, but there may be no other option. Also, some people haven't studied the issue, and have happily given parental responsibility out of hands, and handed their children over to people who have no true saving faith. Also, as Calvinists, we should be aware of the fact that our children are born with a corrupt heart, that is prone to evil, rather than to choose the good. So to put them into an environment that is mainly evil,and to think we can straighten them out at home and sunday school is in my eyes naive, and I think it has proven not to work. One has to only look at most reformed churches, and the attitude of most church goers...

I think it is essential for all Christians in this country to rethink he whole issue, and to study carefully the Bible, and see what God tells parents to do.

Any way, if someone has been really upset, my excuses! It is just so hard to see an issue, see God's truth on it, and to see most Reformed people taking a very worldly, humanistic point of view, which confirms that we were right in the first place.... If only people would be prepared to look at the issue more seriously!

Busyyyyyyyyy

2005-11-09T18:08:00.000Z

We had a very busy few days, last week! It started on Thursday evening, when I made quite a few cakes, again more cakes on Friday, and then the mad rush Saturday morning...
Saturday was a great day! I can't really write too much about it as I'm in a hurry as usual.. But we started at 2.30 in the afternoon with the Reformation memorial service. Dr Oliver from Bradford-on-Avon came and spoke for us. I really enjoyed it, it was a great lecture!
Then there was a mad scramble to get Tea on big tables, as there were 40 plus Dutch students arriving... They came at the agreed time, and we had areally good time together.. I had to give a talk on England, Me, Churches, and of course, Christian Schools, as they were teacher trainees, and all brought up in Christian Schools... They were shocked to find that there were so few Christian Schools in England, and wondered what parents did with their God-given responsibility...?
Anyway, it was really good to see them all, and we closed the day with a short service.

Sunday afternoon another group came... Again, same shocked reactions, especially when they hear that you have to pay to send your child to a Christian School... But we had a very good day. Richard preached well, it was very good and simple, he really explained the gospel well.

We went for a quick cupper to their place, and again for a visit on Monday night. It was good to meet some of the students, and to spend some time with the teachers. Some students now want to raise some money for our school! It is so sad that English people in general don't take the commandments of God seriously, and can't see that their child's education is not only for life, but also that it is required of parents to train a child in the way it should go...

Anyway, I have worked out that only Hyper-Calvinists can be happy in sending their children to state schools. If you are a true Calvinist you would take Scripture seriously, and believe in man's responsibility as well as God's sovereignty....

I have also updated my school's website, and put Sjoerd's article on there. I hope people will start sending me questions, that will make the whole thing more interesting..

Many thoughts

2005-10-27T17:37:00.000+01:00

We had a very special day on Tuesday. We spent Monday night in Reading with Richard's parent ( I drove over to Reading, mostly in the dark..bbbbrrrrrr), and Tuesday morning reasonably early we went to London. We went to the Friend's Meeting House, opposite Euston Station. It's a place where Quaker's meet. It wouldn't be any good for me, I fear....Having to shut up for ages....
Anyway, Tuesday was the Anual meeting for the Grace Baptist Mission. At the meeting new missionaries are introduced etc etc. It was eeehhhhhmmmmmmmm, interestinggggg.... most of it.... There was one young lady that is going to France to work amongst student, she was expremely impressive! It was obvious that God's Hand was on her! I don't know how to explain what we all felt, and others too... She was aglow, alive, humble, thrilled, excited, amazed..I don't know.. She was as those missionaries you read of. In her talk there were no glib jokes, no attempts to entertain th ehearers and keep their interest at all cost. There was no presumption, no wild dreams, no claims. There was none of the other: I'm so going to make a difference...I'm going to be so Christian that a revival will be the result of me just turning up....
Just humility: Why me, Lord...? But if this is Thy will, then I will go...

We are hoping to go to her leaving sort of service, 19th November in Ramsey.. To read a bit about this remarkable person, see UFM Prayer diary, October 22nd.

Stuart Olyott preached in the evening, very powerfully and very challenging! About differnt vessels in the Master's House, and being a vessel meet for the Master's use... Or being to dirty to be of any good....

Anyway, it was a very good day, very, very challenging!

Then today, Thursday, I had my theory test, and passed.... So that is al least one hurdle out of the way! I had one mistake, so it wasn't too bad, although I'm still annoyed about the one mistake of course...

Dentist...

2005-10-24T12:21:00.000+01:00

I went to the dentist this morning... And seeing I'm not keen on mornings, nor on dentist, it was not a very good combination.. Although negative and negative make a positive in maths....

I went, thinking he would carry on with an awkward filling, but no, he decided to take another one out... Sigh.. Let now that one tooth be the only healthy one in my mouth! I mean not the tooth itself, that was falling apart, he had it out in next to no time, ut then the roots... I was in a sense glad the find out I had such healthy roots... Anyway, it took him a long time, and I think he is probably just as exhausted as I am. What a job! Teaching isn't everything, nor is nursing, but being a dentist.... I'm glad I didn't feel attracted to other people's teeth and mouths...

So in a minute I'm going to have a short rest, read my huge book, and relax! Later this day we, well, I am driving to Reading (of course with Richard next to me...)... I hope the size of my face will have come back to reasonal proportions by then. well, it feels as if it is huge! If only the size of my brain had increased at the same rate....! But I feel as if my brain has been numbed at the same time....sigh...

The book I'm reading is very interesting! It is an autobiography of a Russian pastor. Very interesting! It descibes his conversion, and how half a month later he is imprisoned for 5 years... No Bible, no teacher, no other Christians.. But wherever he goes, he spreads the Gospel, and sees people converted, even really 'hopeless' people, like guards etc. Very interesting! He is so ful of joy and grace, that whoever he meets knows that he is different. He is only 21 at the moment where I'm reading, he was 20 when arrested... Even really rough criminals defend him, and protect him, make sure he gets food etc. Amazing the way God works!

So I'm off to read on! It's slightly tedious, as he descibes every day in detail: his food, who brings him water etc etc... But it does mean that all 'small' miracles are descibed as well! The sad thing for many of you is that it is written in Dutch... :-) The title is: The Happiness of a Lost Life. Author is Chrapov.

SRA...What is that..?

2005-10-22T10:25:00.000+01:00

I just want to write a bit about the young people's evening we went to in Holland. They are organised by an organisation called SRA, Stichting Reformatorisch Appel.
As quite a few churches in Holland are hyper-Calvinistic, this group of youngish people started organising evenings where they invited pastors to come and bring the Gospel. Unfortunately, being young, they were't that tactful about it, and it caused quite a stir... That seems to have died a bit now, and the evenings are getting more balanced as well.

We went to the meeting in Hardinxveld-Giessendam (a mouthful, especially for English mouths, we found..). There were at least 200 people there, mostly young people, but also some older people. The pastor that spoke that evening had as theme the Need for Self-Examination. He was very good, quoting Ryle, Spurgeon and Bunyan, to Richard's delight... Very strange to hear Ryle speaking fluent Dutch...

The set up of those evenings is that a pastor or Theological student preaches or lectures, then there is a break, after the break the pastor will answer questions. You can hand your questions in, or put your hand up. One girl asked how to come to Christ, another one had a question about assurance..
It was really good to be there, and the lecture was very helpful too. We went with my younger sister who regularly visits those evenings. For those of you who can cope with Dutch, the SRA website has the lectures on there, as well as other lectures. It's worth learning Dutch for!

Back from Holland

2005-10-20T15:49:00.000+01:00

We came back from Holland yesterday afternoon. We have had a great time! One of our friends got married, and since we were over for the wedding anyway we decided to stay a few days extra...
When we arrived it was midsummer! More than 20 degrees! I regretted having taken only one t-shirt!
The wedding was great, I hope to write on that a bit more later on. We did quite a few things, we went to a Monkey Zoo called Apenheul. That is in the same town as my parents live, so we went there by bike...
We also went to some young people's evening, where a pastor came to speak on The Importance Of Self-Examination.
On saturday we went to an Museum in the open air, where they have old Dutch buildings etc, where you can see how they lived, worked and played.

And of course we went for a long bike ride with my parents. Problem is that round Apeldoord it is quite hilly... Long slopes, gradually going up and up.. It seemed endless! We were both quite out of puff by the end! Fortunatelly the last bit went really steeply downhill, so we were home in a flash! My poor legs did feel very tired though.. I'm not used to it anymore! I'll have to get one of those hometrainers I think, and practise...!

We travelled by coach, it was a good thing that we were there quite early so we could choose our seat..! That meant we had some space for our legs, as Richard has quite long legs.... But we made it, and as I'm still a bit frazzled, I will write a bit more another time!

Salisbury Conference

2005-10-03T12:34:00.000+01:00

Saturday was quite a busy day! We went to the Salisbury Conference, a annual conference held at Emmanuel Church in Salisbury set off early, Fatbaptist decided not to come with us, as Mrs B. came with him as well. Mr Johnson came with us, which meant I couldn't drive.. Maybe just as well...
We got there in good time, had some coffee and a wander round.
The conference was excellent! Very challenging!
Pastor Malcolm Watts gave the first address, which was more the theological basis for the Sabbath being on Sunday, the usage of the term Sabbath, Lord's Day etc.
The second address was by Dr Robert Oliver, about the Lord's Day in the 17th century, and all the problems they had, and how that relates to us today.
The last address was by Pastor John Thackway, about the practical way of keeping the Christian Sabbath.
It was a good day, although very challenging! I felt quite pricked about various things. But it is always good to be challenged and the accordingly change your life! It most clearly showed that the Sabbath should be a delight to us!
We did have a good day yesterday, with a challenging sermon in the evening about forgiveness. There is quite a lot of hurt around, and are we prepared to forgive, whether asked for it or not..?

Anyway, today I changed a few things on the school's website, mainly the background colours.. Do have a look, and leave your comments! Constructive criticism is always welcome! I changed our logoto autumn colours... See if you like it, it might me harder to read the website, but anyway, I'm sure people will cope. I just found the whole thing a bit boring!

I prepared my cooking lessons for this week. They are having a break from the little test I do every week with them... It's just that there isn't anything to ask really this week, because of the food we made last week... We are having spinach this week... mmmmmmmmmmm........

Friday...weekend!

2005-09-30T18:02:00.000+01:00

Friday at last! We've had a busy week, but it was nice!
I did some cooking this afternoon with the juniors: soup and pizza... I had taken the breadmachine into school, so I made some brown bread dough for the pizza's and we topped them, baked them ate them... mmmmmmmm They looked great, apart from me having totally forgotten that cheese is one of the main ingredients in pizza.... Never mind, they seemed to disappear fast enough.....!

Now it is weekend.. I have no plans for this evening, apart from hanging the washing, doing some cleaning etc etc.. Tomorrow is the Salisbury conference, I hope to give you an update on that. Fatbaptist is coming with us.. Hey, I hope you will behave.... We don't want to get a bad name by bringing friends along!

Apart from that I'm still waiting to hear from a particular scouthut in Cheltenham, as we hope to rent it from them.. sigh, why does everything have to take sooooo long?????? As soon as we hear from them, and we can arrange something, we can then start making final arrangements for our school. Won't I be relieved!!!!

I just feel sad though that no Reformed Christians seem to have a vision or a heart for their or other people's children... CAN'T PEOPLE SEE WHAT THEY ARE DOING TO THEIR KIDS??????
Sorry, but I feel very strongly about that, and if any one wants to speak to me about it, you're welcome.. Even better, if you want us to come to your church and speak about it, we'll come!

Autumn is here...

2005-09-26T10:18:00.000+01:00

Autumn is come, the summer is past. Winter will be too soon! Stars will shine clearer, moon seems nearer under the autumn sky.. Something like that was a song we learned at college.. And I'm sure it's true..

School has started! And it's great! The building is cool, nice and big with lots of windows! My cooking lessons are going fine, I'm really enjoying them!

I have to make some more lessons this afternoon, so that can be fun.... I just hope the computer co-operates, as it is in a bit of a funny mood today... Probably doesn't like the cold either!

We made oven-potatoes and salad last week, and it was great! As desert we had scones.... The children liked it, and altough I didn't taste any of it, it just looked and smelled lovely!

On Saturday I went to the hairdresser's, a place I haven't been to for the past 10 years or so... I had been trying to grow my hair for the past year, but was getting fed up with it! My hair just doesn't want to do what I want it to do! It usually looked really scruffy and untidy, so I had had enough! Now it is really short. It will grow, as it is a little too short for my liking... Anyway, it is much easier to deal with, I must admit! Even though I had to pay a fortune to get it done! I remembered at the end why I always cut it myself or let a friend do it....

I will have to get moving I think, as the house is getting more and more like a tip! Plus there are some letters to write, lessons to make and prepare, etc etc.... Richard is not here today, so it gives me the freedom and space to start moving around, and get the place sorted!

Definitely autumn..even school is starting!

2005-09-19T14:37:00.000+01:00

Sigh...autumn has arrived, it's soooooo cold! But I cannot complain really, and especially now school has started, it's probably best that the temperature drops as well...
I spend a few days at the school last week to help to clean and tidy... The building is just so nice! Big and spacious and mostly: light!!
I spend most of the Friday cleaning the kitchen. It's enormous, but windows all around! So many pot and pans, I didn't clean those... I cleaned the windows, and the worktops etc, and decided to clean pot etc whilst going along!

Tomorrow I start, and I'm really looking forward to it! Today I spend some time at the dentist..Even though he is a nice man, and good at his job, I do prefer to stay clear of that place as much as possible.. Now the one side of my face feels as if it is enoooooormous!

I decided to sit down at my pc, and start on making a curriculum for my cooking lessons... Quite hard to do, I fear, even though it is nice to do!
I decided on biscuits with the 2 younger children, they will like that, and then a proper meal with the seniors on Wednesday... See if they will like that..mmmm... They might prefer MacDonalds....

Tuesday, still summer

2005-09-06T17:02:00.000+01:00

We had a bit of a sad weekend really! Sjoerd was going on Monday, so it was saying goodbyes over the last few days. The last service, the last meals.... Meals were always an important part of our day. Not only because Sjoerd is a food-lover, but also because of the discussions going on at the table.. A meal was not just about stuffinf food into your mouth at top-speed, but was the social highlight of the day!

Anyway, after giving out presents etc etc I even got myself into cooking breakfast monday morning... That was bad news. Breakfast was at 7, as Tup had to be at college in time, and we had to set off early as well. Sjoerd choose to study in Norwich, which is about the other side of the world!
So we set out on our journey in our red Scooby-van to pick up Mr Johnson, our deacon, and good friend of Sjoerd. He is well past retiring age, but still works 3 days a week...Keeps him young he says..

Anyway, we drove all the way to Norwich, or nearly Norwich, to Alan Clifford, a well known pastor, who was going to put up with Sjoerd for a few days...
We had some great conversations! To my joy he showed us his hymnbook, which has a full psalter. Not just any psalter, or the Scottish one I like sooo much (NOT), but the Anglo-Genevan! It is the same psalter as is used in Holland! The psalms I know and love! So we bought a few copies, and who knows we might even start using them on Wednesdays in the prayermeeting! At the moment I am quite happy to look at the psalms, and get a little steamed up when some of the nicest verses are missing.. o well, one can't have everything!

It is amazing all the books Alan Clifford has on Hugenots or however you English would like to spell it... We had a lovely afternoon with him and his wife in the sun...

Then, sadly, it was time to say goodbye to all, especially Sjoerd... It was really weird to leave him behind! So quiet....!
We drove back, just stopped for a hot meal, and were home about 10 at night... Tup had been quite busy, which made me happy! She had quite a good day at college, so I hope she will keep on liking college... It will be hard work though!

Today Richard's mum came to pick up Jake, Richard's youngest brother.. He had stayed with us all weekend, been a little too excited for our liking, but well, he enjoyed it, so we did as well in a sense. It is always nice to have Jake staying though, although you have to watch him.. He likes clocks, and will try to wind them or open the at 3 in the morning or so...

2005-09-01T09:22:00.000+01:00

This morning is the first of our Ladies Bible Study! We are hoping to study Philippians together. I have just been working on the next set of questions for next week.. but just so you can join us, here are the questions!
Chapter 1

1. What is the general information we are given at the start of this letter?
2. What do we know about the church at Philippi, and give references.
3. What does Paul say to them and about them in his introduction to the rest of the letter? Verse 1-5.
4. What is meant with the good work in verse 6, and find references.
5. How would you summarise verse 6-11?
6. What fruits do you think of when you read verse 11?
7. What does Paul tell them about his state of affairs? Verse 12-23.
8. What does the Bible tell us about the furtherance of the Gospel, verse 12? Think of the word ‘spread’ if furtherance doesn’t give you references…
9. How did some try to hurt Paul and the furtherance of the Gospel, and what does Paul say about it? Verse 15-19.
10. What is Paul’s outlook on life? Verse 20-24.
11. How does he encourage the Christians in Philippi? Verse 24-30.
12. In verse 28 he tells them to not be terrified by anything… Find references and grounds for this courage.

I hope you enjoy thinking about these questions, and the thing is to apply it all the time! That is what we do when we get together!

I will have to go for now, as I have things to do this morning!

Summer is past..??

2005-08-31T16:57:00.000+01:00

Dear me, what a summer I have had!!
Quite a crazy one, really.. I'm still recovering! I won't tell you all I have been up to in one go, it would be endless!!

One of the things I will say though is that we have been to Scotland! And we had great weather too!! It was probably the only hot week they have had in Scotland this year, and we had it for a looooong weekend in Inverness!

We were in Inverness for the Highland Bible Conference. It was at the church of Rev Maurice Robert, and Rev Malcolm Watts was preaching for the conference, as well as the Lord's Day! Needless to say, we have had a great time!!
The theme was God With Us, and the preaching was extremely helpful, as it usually is when Malcolm Watts is preaching! He worked out the theme in many different ways, but quite unusually as well.

After church we had some great fellowship with the other people! It turned out that they were used to having experience meetings when they are tegether. It was wonderful to hear how the Lord had been working in the lives of many people! It was great to talk together about the things of God, and to share one another's burdens as well.

The singing I had to get used to. In church is sounded awful, like cows, but when we were together in people's houses, and the speed got turned up a little, I really got to like the Scottisch psalms! Although I still prefer the Dutch Psalms... but that's just because I'm used to those, more than anything else... If only I could get the English to sing the English translations of the Dutch psalms...

I will have to go, as there is our own church meeting tonight, and I have to do some cooking before that... I do miss the highlands, though, and I can't wait to come back to them!! My heart is in the highlands, my heart is not here....

Monday.....

2005-07-11T14:50:00.000+01:00

It is Monday, and really hot! Summer is here at last! I love summer, so I'm relieved that is is nice and hot. It was so hot that even I had to finish off my lunch indoors...

We had John Field staying with us for the weekend. He is in his 80's, and used to be a missionary in South India. He arrived on Saturday, in the middle of madness. We bought a tent a while back, big enough for at least 6 people, with a massive middle room.. We were struggling to set the thing up when he arrived. Fortunately he was quite a technical man, so he even helped us a bit.. He must have thought he arrived at the madhouse...

We had a good Sunday, although in the evening I had a little discussion going with John Field about modern music in church. I do not like modern music in church (or home for that matter). Not because I want to be old fashioned, but because I think there is something fundamentally wrong with it. If you want to know why, look at the website of the Metropolitan Tabernacle, or read Dr Master's book: worship in the meltingpot.

Today I had another driving lesson. I must say that I was quite scared, I do not like driving fast, and it was the first time that I was out on big, busy roads, and driving 60 miles an hour..bbbrrr. It went sort of OK, but I get quite nervous when there is a lorry coming from the other way etc, or when I have to do loads of things at once...

In a minute I will be packing my bag, as I'm going to London tomorrow. I have just heard that they are expecting more bombs in London, so I hope that the Lord will protect us. It is good to know that we are in His hands, though, nothing will happen that He doesn't want to happen to me!

My first blog

2005-07-09T22:41:00.000+01:00

Wow, my first english weblog... I have a few in Dutch, for those of you that are able to read it...

Let me just introduce myself a little. My name is Maressa Mortimer. I'm married to Richard Mortimer, the pastor of Eastcombe Baptist church. I will be writing about our church, home and the Christian School we are hoping to start in 2006.

After I read the blog of Philip Johnson about the Metropolitan Tabernacle, I decided to have a go at making an english weblog. or blog... (bleh, what a name, blog..).

I have to leave it at this for now, I know, it's a shame, but I have to do some cleaning now, so I might come back later, but as we are expecting a visitor tonight, I can't promise....