The first Christmas we were here, Keith and I went to a Christmas concert/carol sing in a nearby town. At the end, everyone stood and sang “Glory to God in the Highest!” From memory. It gave me goose bumps. Nearly every Dutch Christmas concert, worship service, or carol singing ends with this echoing of the angles’ words from Luke 2:14.  This year we will not be going anywhere to sing this with any group. The Omicron variant of Covid has reached the Netherlands, and we are once again in lockdown. Our church will not be having face-to-face Christmas services. But we will still be able to give glory to God! 

           Ere zij God in den hoge!                  Glory to God in the highest,

                 Vrede op aarde,                              and on earth peace,

        in de mensen een welbehagen                good will toward men.

You can enjoy hearing this sung at the end of a church concert in the well-known village of Urk

or in Dutch and English sung in a church somewhere in America. 

Wishing you all many glimpses of God's glory this Christmas 

and throughout the coming year,

Mary & Keith 

 

 

 

Home for Christmas

This past Sunday Keith flew to Serbia from Dortmund, Germany. The Dortmund Airport is about an hour
and a half from us, depending on the traffic. On Thursday, I drove back to this airport to pick Keith up and take him home. 

He could have taken public transit home, but I opted to drive the hour and a half-to-two hours to the airport to pick him up. I didn't want him to risk additional exposure on the trains and busses, nor did I want to risk his spreading contagion, even though he had tested negative. 

Now we're both home, and very grateful for everyone who prayed for safe travel. We pray that you will all find a home this Christmas, too. 

So the Word became human and made his home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen his glory, the glory of the Father’s one and only Son.   John 1:14 (New Living Translation)

(Photo:  Keith and daughter Ellen, in front of our tree, last Christmas. And yes, they actually did both want sox.)

St. Nicholas . . . returns to Spain??

Every year in November cities and villages around the Netherlands welcome St. Nicholas back with parades and other festivities. Sinterklaas, as he is known locally, comes here on a boat from his home in Spain. 

He rides around from house to house on a white horse. Children set their shoes at night, often with a carrot in them for this horse. His assistant Zwarte Piet helps the elderly bishop Nicholas by actually going down the chimney to take the carrot and leave some sweets and/or a small gift. 

After the feast day of St. Nicholas, December 6, Sinterklaas goes back to Spain for the rest of the year. The night before, December 5, families gather to open packages from St. Nicholas, read the silly poems that go with the disguised packages, and generally have a good time. 

Most elementary school children will have drawn names at school and brought a sometimes elaborately disguised package for their classmates. For instance, our daughters have gotten their gifts hidden in papier-mâché donuts (because donuts are American), large cardboard books (because they liked to read), and have hidden gifts in papier-mâché cows set on green cardboard meadows and large cardboard computers (because the other child liked playing computer games).  On the day that the children are going to open theses packages, Sinterklaas with one or more Piets will make a personal visit to the school. 

We like Sinterklaas. It's good fun (especially when Pete is black with soot and nothing else). It gets the packages out of the way before Christmas. And now we can focus on celebrating Jesus's first arrival here among us. He does not come and go on a steamship. Immanuel, God is still with us!

Celebrating through December

 “Many have undertaken to draw up an account of the things that have been fulfilled among us, just as they were handed down to us by those who from the first were eyewitnesses and servants of the word. With this in mind, since I myself have carefully investigated everything from the beginning, I too decided to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught.”  (Luke 1:1-4)

We are approaching Christmas.  Christmas is the celebration of the birth of Jesus.  As we celebrate His birth we would like to know more about Jesus and His life.  Luke, Paul’s dear friend and doctor (Colossians 4:14), did us a favor.  He made a careful investigation and wrote an orderly account of the life of Jesus.  If we read the book of Luke, we would gain an understanding of His life.

 

There are 24 chapters in the book of Luke. The challenge is to read (or listen, see below) one chapter each day beginning on December 1.  You will get to know Jesus better.  It will make the Christmas celebration more meaningful and enjoyable.  Let us read knowing each day that our family and others are reading the same chapters.  It might be helpful to share things you learn with others.  You can help each other learn and remember the events in Jesus’ life.

 

You need to make the commitment to read.  Then read each day.  You may want to keep a small journal or notes on each chapter as you read.  Then you can discuss those things with your Bible teacher, a pastor, or other Christian friends.  I pray that we all: Be smart, be careful, be helpful, be safe, and not be afraid.  God is with us now and forever.

 

Dale D. Meredith

Professor Emeritus, State University of New York at Buffalo

*Listen on Bible.Is or even watch AND listen.

Thankful for Jesus Film Project

Last week we did something unusual. We traveled outside the country--all of two hours to Antwerp, Belgium. We are grateful to the coordinators of the Flemish Jesus film project, Campus Crusade/Agape personnel Elaine (pictured with Keith) & Ralph Elliott. They hosted us with grace and introduced us to people and plans with contagious warmth and enthusiasm.

We are also thankful for the people at the Operation Mobilisation center outside Brussels. The director (far right) had requested a version of the Jesus film in Flemish even though a version already exists in standard Dutch. 

He and the others there helped set up their recording studio for us to use. We did some trial recording, mainly for casting purposes.

Flemish is related to Dutch but different. And people in the Flemish-speaking region of Belgium are also related, but different.  We look forward to learning more before and during this recording. The script and the cast should be ready by February.

A big thank you to all who prayed with us last week--and who have supported this work in prayer for the past 25 years!

 

What do all these photographs have in common?

Yes, they all contain Keith and they all needed you to happen.

And yes, Keith is in the field, recording.

 

He's recording the Jesus film,

    he's recording the entire New Testament, 

       he's recording children's Bible stories . . . 

in places from Latvia

        to

            Curaçao . . . 

in studios created in churches

    living rooms

        Bible societies

            rented vacation homes . . . 

None of them could have happened

    anywhere

        without your support,

            particularly your prayer support!

As Keith begins a new recording, this time the Jesus film

    right next door in Belgium, 

        please pray for the right voices for the right parts

            and good communication within the team.

And watch for new photos soon!

A Tale of Two Towns: Visits to and from Print and Oral Cultures

This is part of a series of blog posts written by our Student.Go intern Songz Nkolombe. He serves as children's minister in his home church in Cape Town South Africa. He does that in person. He currently works with us and studies at Truett Seminary in Texas via the Internet (photo from online meeting with Mary).

The on-going series, A Tale of Two Towns, can be read in English or Romanian on the Romany Education Blogspot.

Hello friends.

We continue the story of A Tale of Two Towns. The story presents the differences between people from oral and written cultures. Two strangers—Aule Songz & Tim Wright—from two different yet adjacent worlds share their towns’ stories. Now we are travelling with Tim as he enters my town—the print culture.

Previously, I told a story of a native who had to learn to see his land through the eyes and heart of a foreigner. This is my story, how I had to come out of comforts of the words, paragraphs and pages of my life to walk, live and play among strangers only to come back questioning my view of what learning means.

To prepare for Tim’s visit to my town, I’ve had to imagine how it must be for one to enter a world with
foreign concepts which he must learn as he navigates his way through life. I spoke with one of the elders in his town to find out what to look out for when Tim arrives—the red flags. For now, I’ll focus on one of those red flags: the stillness and quietness of my town. This, I was told, comes as a shock for someone from the oral town.

Since drama, speech and melody are vital to pass on information, their town is always alive whether people are at home, on the street corner, or in the marketplace. The land of print seems dead to this elder because our information is passed on mostly silently from the pages to the reader’s mind. Even when the reader would be overcome with great emotions because of the material he or she had read, these experiences would explode within them, while their outward countenance would appear as if they were not affected by what he had read.

I would never have considered my town to be dead or silent. For we write to preserve wisdom and knowledge in order to continue on living. What is written, no matter how old it may be, comes alive in my mind and expands my world.

Until we read again,

Songz

Day 6: Week of Prayer

 

Seeking Transformational Development Prayer Requests

• Pray for mutually transformative relationships as CBF field personnel are present to those seeking justice in broken systems of injustice.
• Ask God to provide means and wisdom as CBF field personnel seek the welfare of those they are called to serve.

Day 5: Week of Prayer

 

Bearing Witness Prayer Requests

• Thank God that long-term presence of CBF field personnel allows for trust to build and opportunities to bear witness to Jesus Christ.
• Ask the Holy Spirit to lead CBF field personnel as they share the good news of Jesus Christ in ways that are culturally relevant.

Day 4: Week of Prayer

 

Cultivating Beloved Community Prayer Requests

• Pray for the relationships CBF field personnel build as they are present in their respective communities.
• Ask God to use CBF field personnel to proclaim God’s kingdom as they share life and hospitality with those around them.

Day 3: Week of Prayer

 

Global Migration Prayer Requests

• Ask God to guide and strengthen CBF field personnel as they are present to those traveling the refugee highway.
• Ask God to provide the necessary resources as CBF field personnel welcome displaced people and help them acclimate to their new environments.

Day 2: Week of prayer

Global Poverty Prayer Requests

• Ask God to use the long-term presence of CBF field personnel to bring relief, opportunity and hope to those experiencing poverty.
• Ask God to provide all that is needed for CBF field personnel to be present and to seek economic justice on behalf of those who are in need.

Day 1: Week of prayer

 

Global Church Prayer Requests

• Ask God to use the presence of CBF field personnel around the globe to be an encouragement to local churches and followers of Jesus.
• Thank God for the opportunities to be present with our brothers and sisters in Christ around the world in ministry and worship.

25 years of presence

How long have you lived in your current home? Keith and I have been here, in this house, in the Netherlands for 25 years. Your prayers and your gifts to CBF's Offering for Global Missions make this on-going presence possible. Thank you! 

Leaving Iowa, first leg of journey to new home in the Netherlands,

October 1996

In front of our home, Spring 2009

Recording Jesus video in Western Kalderash,

London, app. 2004

Keith preaches at outdoor worship service,

Vulcanesti, Moldova, 2001

Mary & Keith at dedication of Bethlehem Baptist Church building, 

Vulcanesti, Moldova, October 2009

Mary sharing media resources in Ursari Romani,

Moldova, 2018

Recording Sinti Jesus video,

Germany, 2006

Recording Polish New Testament; 

Ellen part of recording team.

Posnan, 2013

Women's program, Bethlehem Baptist Church, 

Vulcanesti, Moldova, June 2010

Papiamento New Testament recording,

Curacao, Summer 2019

Family photo, the Netherlands

September 2021

Home Again

"Every person has value and every life is significant."

This is a quote from Vicki Normoyle, a lovely woman who was unexpectedly called to her eternal home precisely two years ago today. She supported our work with faithful prayer. She meant much more to even more people.

Her life was definitely significant.

Your life has value, too.

Still praying, Mary & Keith

P.S. This building in Virginia reminds me of the house I grew up in in Illinois. My old home is still a house. This building is a location of Northwestern Community Services, a mental health agency where Vicki Normoyle worked for 30 years. They renamed this center in her honor.

P.P.S. Keith arrived safely back home in the Netherlands after visiting, among other places, his father's home in Louisiana. 

This past week Keith flew off to America via:

    Train from home to airport in Amsterdam
    Plane from Amsterdam to Atlanta.
    Pick up luggage, go through customs, catch flight to Orlando.

    Overnight in Orlando, meet Jesus film person face-to-face.
    Fly from Orlando, Florida, to Monroe, Louisiana.

    Visit Holmes family there.

This is him, waiting for his third flight. 

And this is him, visiting his dad, step-mom, brother Ted and sister-in-law Beverly, who came there from their new home in Great Britian. Bev is taking the photo.

Thank you for praying with us as he travels on: 

 To Texas by car

 Back to Louisiana by car

 Back to Orlando by plane for

Training in the new software used in dubbing the Jesus film.

Then, Lord willing, back here again.

Wishing you all traveling mercies, wherever your pilgrimage leads you!

Rejoicing!

 Last month 11 people, young and old, were baptized at Bethlehem Baptist in Moldova.

They celebrated, and we are celebrating with them!

The service lasted for three hours. People kept wanting to tell more or sing just one more song . . . .

We are praising God for these new believers. 

We are also praying with the local church for the new believers 

to continue growing in faith and 

to find their place of service in the church. 

THANKS!

 CBF's annual Silent Art Auction is over.

A big thank you to whoever purchased these two pieces.

This generated $185 for the Offering for Global Missions. This is the fund that pays the salary and housing for field personnel like us. 

A big thank you to those who made this online auction possible.

And another thank you to our Dutch friend Arie Pothoven, the artist who painted and donated these pieces.

May our Creator bless all of you . . . and may your creativity be a blessing to many others!

 Why is there a troubadour on our blogpost? Because CBF's Silent Art Auction starts this Monday, August 23. Our Dutch friend Arie Pothoven* donated this painting plus two other watercolors to the annual Silent Art Auction.  

You can read--and hear--more about the Art Auction here: CBF Silent Art Auction. The pieces of art come from around the world. Funds raised from the sale support different missions projects. Arie's paintings will go towards the Offering for Global Missions, the fund which keeps all CBF field personnel--including us--in the field.  

Arie's art work has extra meaning for us. He painted musicians, he was a musician, but he can no longer paint and no longer takes part in the church's music teams. He has Parkinson's. His faith remains strong even as his muscle control becomes more limited.

Thank you, Arie, for your donation. And thank you, all those who will bid on the artwork for sale. 

*Details from auction website:

Water color, 45x45 cm., including mat 

 Arie Pothoven (Ah-ree POT-hoe-ven) was born in 1948 and began painting in 1992. He is largely self-taught. After a few lessons, he won the Talens Drawing and Painting Competition for his region in 1994. Topics have focused on architecture, biblical scenes, flowers and portraits. In addition to painting, he regularly did calligraphy, particularly for “trouwbijbels” (Bible traditionally given in the Netherlands as a wedding gift from the church). Arie now has Parkinson’s and no longer paints. On Ascension Day in Deventer, The Netherlands, the time is turned back to the Middle Ages for one day. In the city center, a colorful group traipses through the narrow cobblestone streets with dance, music, and various activities from that era. This troubadour played solo on several different instruments, including the lute, the flute and the drum. 

Mary Van Rheenen and Keith Holmes work with Romany across Europe. They have lived in The Netherlands for the past 20+ years. Arie Pothoven is a friend from the Dutch Baptist Church they attend.

The Offering for Global Missions ensures the long-term presence of CBF field personnel among some of the most neglected people both here and around the globe. Long-term presence allows field personnel to bear witness to Jesus Christ, seek transformational development and cultivate beloved community. This offering provides for the compensation, benefits, housing, and children’s education needs for CBF Global Missions field personnel. 

Proceeds go to support the Offering for Global Missions

Final Reflections

Hello!

Wow! I can’t believe how fast time flies! I have come to the end of my summer internship. It has definitely been a rewarding experience. From the beginning, I was honestly a little nervous as there were some tasks that I didn’t have much experience in. But over these two months I have learned so much and gained some new skills. 

I have also been able to learn more about the Dom people, and that has been the greatest blessing. I believe that knowing more about each other can help to foster environments of respect and better support for others. While there is still so much for me to learn (which I will definitely continue to do even after the internship ends), I have come to have a better understanding, and I have been able to share this information with others and engage in conversations that share something new with others.

Water Project, Syria

During this time I have also had the opportunity to observe how the DRC (Dom Research Center) functions and the way that the organization works to mobilize and support people who are already their in the communities, rather than just bringing in new people or controlling the situation. This has led me to think about how organizations and individuals can create spaces of support and development that can be long term as well as meeting the immediate need. 

We can see this reflected so strongly in current times of COVID-19. So many need something in this moment, but we also have to look at the long-term goal for sustainability. I am glad that I was able to engage in those conversations, and I hope to continue them with others so that we can do intentional community work and empower others. 

I am grateful for the connection we were able to make through phones and the internet. Despite the miles between us all, we were able to work together, and I am so thankful for the support and guidance from Allen and Mary. I plan to continue to support as I can, and I am looking forward to where this experience leads me in life!

Jaya, Student.Go Summer Intern

Romany "Cousins" in the Middle East

 Hello!

Welcome to the last episode of the conversations with Amoun! I hope you have learned something new about the Dom people in each video as well as the Domari Society in Jerusalem.  In today’s video we discussed the life of the Dom as well as their experiences, especially that of Amoun and the Dom people in Jerusalem. Click here to see video.

I learned a lot from Amoun about the lives of the Dom people. As Amoun mentioned, the Dom people originated in India and can now be found all over the world with large concentration in the Middle East. Because of the fact that they find themselves mixed with other communities, they are influenced in areas like their languages and lifestyles. 

It was saddening to hear the struggles that the Dom children face just to have access to education. In Amoun’s book, she mentioned teachers who did not want her in their class after knowing she was from the Dom community. This kind of discrimination existed then and, unfortunately, it is still present now. The Dom people face discrimination in many areas, and this causes a lack of opportunities as well as a lack of access to resources. Amoun shared that despite the discrimination and exclusion that they face, the Dom people continue to be resilient and work towards a better future.

Thankfully, there are efforts to create safer spaces for the Dom people as well as to spread information to others so that the Dom people can be better understood. I hope this video series helped viewers in a way to better understand as well as inspired viewers to learn more.

Thanks for watching and look forward to more content in the future!

Jaya, Student.Go Summer Intern

Conversations with Amoun: The Domari Society

Hello and welcome to the second installment from my conversations with Amoun Sleem from the Domari Society in Jerusalem. 

In today’s topic, we hear about the Domari Society: the beginning, the programs offered, as well as some of Amoun’s hopes for the center. 

Conversations with Amoun: The Domari Society (click to open link).  This is compiled from two separate conversations I had with Amoun on different days.

The Dom people, more often than not, must be their own advocates. Support from outside the
community is rather limited, and Amoun noticed this. In her book, A Gypsy Dreaming in Jerusalem, Amoun mentioned that when she was starting the center and sharing her vision, people didn’t even know that there were Dom Gypsies in Jerusalem. Through various connections and volunteers from different places, Amoun was able to begin helping the Dom community even before having established the society. As Amoun stated in the video, when the nonprofit was started in 1999, the main focus was women and children. We saw in the last video that to this day that is still the focus even through the COVID-19 response.

As shown from the pictures in the video, the work started just out of Amoun’s home. The programs continued for four years out of Amoun’s home along with support from the DRC to close in the veranda and create an office and classroom space. Eventually they were able to move onto a bigger location and then now to their current location that functions well with their needs.

In the book Amoun wrote, “…I wanted a place that would be surrounded by positive thoughts about Gypsy culture…”. I really do believe that Amoun has achieved that through the Domari Society. 

Thank you for joining us for this video, I hope you learned something new! See you for the next video!

Jaya, Summer Intern