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