Hello you :)
Thanks for taking time to read this!
As many of you may know I've lived in Portugal for the first 6 months of this year, to work in a childrens home. I won't tell you all about what i've done right now, cause it will take me ages and this note will be way too long. :P
I just want to ask you for some help.
On Februari 21st I'm organizing a charity concert. The band Everlife (USA) and Nuclear PLayground (NL) will play a great show that night, and besides that we will share something about this childrens home, the work that we have done, and are still doing there, we'll try and find some new sponsor and raise (alot of ) money, we hope!Now there's a thing.. to organize this concert i need €1500 (which is about $2000).€1500 i dont have. Now i've been writing potential sponsors for 3 months, with no results. I was about to give in when God spoke to me recently and told me to not give up, to hold on and trust Him.I believe there are people like you all out there that would like to help me.
So let me tell you something about the childrens home.Lar Evangélico Português is a home in Maia, Porto, Portugal, which roots go back to 1968.The family Machado started taking kids and older people into their house who were suffering from the post war financial crisis. Although they had a limited income themself and could barely take care of their own family, they wanted to share everything they got with the people that had less.Their house got too small pretty fast and thats when Lar entered the world.In the past 40 years many kids have past through the home. Many of them are still connected with the work.
Right now Lar de crianças e jovens (children and youth) has around 65 kids in the age of 3-26 years old.Kids who come from broken families. Parents who use alcohol and/or drugs, mothers who are prostitues, parents who are in jail for crimes of every kind, neglection, fisical and sexual abuse.. all these things are things many of these kids have experienced in their young lifes. Things no one should ever experience!They provide these kids a new home. A safe place to stay, a warm family where the love of christ is spread.
In the 6 months i've worked there I've experience love above everything else.And thats really what these kids need. a Family. People that love them. Many of them never experienced any kind of love before they got to the home. The home doesnt only provide them food and a bed to sleep in, but also education, and many activities. The people that work there, give everything they have, to give these kids the best they can, for a very limited salary. I really respect the work they're all doing.
Thats really why i want to do so much more. And one thing we can all do to help them, is to support them financially.All the work they're doing costs alot. They're supported by the government but that money is just enough to pay the staff. They dont have money for food, clothes or hygiene products. Thats what they need us for.
By organizing this charity concert i hope to raise alot of money. Money so they can get proper food, so they can get clothes, so they can take a good shower.. These isnt luxuy.. these are things we all NEED!
Now.. i have some questions for you..
Are you willing to help these kids and give them the things they need?
Are you willing to make 2009 a better year for them?
Are you willing to spend a little less on your own christmas presents, and spend a few bucks on this project??
Yes.. even a few bucks.. every little bit helps!
I believe we can pull this off.. TOGETHER.
I really can't do this on my own.. i need people by my side..
You can donate something through paypal.If you dont have paypal but still want to help us out please send an email to deborah.flep@gmail.com and we'll work something out!!
Thanks you for your time and have a wonderful christmas!
Love,
Deborah
donderdag 18 december 2008
zondag 7 december 2008
Business of the Season
I know i know I'm a real bad person.. it's been over a month since i last blogged!
I got caught up in all my work, family things and preparing for the december month!
So.. what's been going on in my life...
I got caught up in all my work, family things and preparing for the december month!
So.. what's been going on in my life...
I got another cousin!! Her name is Lynn.
She's my grandma's 10th granddaughter!
The girls rule in our family ;)
I've seen her quiet a few times now and she's so beautiful and absolutely adorable (as you can see on the picture!).
What a miracle! :D
She's my grandma's 10th granddaughter!
The girls rule in our family ;)
I've seen her quiet a few times now and she's so beautiful and absolutely adorable (as you can see on the picture!).
What a miracle! :D
School has been quiet busy. I'm finishing my internship in the end of januari and i have some things left to do. Have to read two more books and write reports about them, and have a couple more reports two write about the work i'm doing (and those are not just a few pages :S).
So that's some work left to do. But I'm sure enjoying my time at Bambino's Home! The kids are so sweet and i really like the people I´m working with!
They offert me a job after I´m done with the internship which is truly a gift from heaven cause I´m gonna need some money! so Yay God!
Besides work and school I´ve been working on a charity concert.
I´m organizing a concert in our church with Everlife (US) and Nuclear Playground (NL). It's to raise money for the childrens home Lar Evangélico Português, in Porto, Portugal (see last blog).
I'm still working on finding individuals, groups, organisations, church etc. that want to sponsor us. We'll need a max. of €1500 for the expenses of the concert. I'm hoping we can get that money together cause i really want all the money we raise that night to go to the kids!
So if you know people, groups, organisations, anyone, who wants to sponsor us, let me know!! Cause we really need help!
For more info you can check www.myspace.com/everlife and http://everlife.hyves.nl
Februari 21th 2009, Baptisten Gemeente 'De Schuilplaats' Eindhoven
Be there! ;)
This week was my birthday. Oh what a week. On tuesday i had to work, so the kids sang happy birthday for me and made me a nice bday crown. Oh lucky me :p but it was a fun day!
In the evening i had a little party at my house with my family, which was very nice!
And yesterday I had another little party with my friends. Oh we laughed so much, i really love my friends!
Ingeborg, Helmya, Natasja and Martijn gave me a crepe maker. A thing to make crepes (du-uh), which are basicly.. really thin pancakes.. only they taste different.. you can eat them with chocolate and whipped cream, with ice cream, or with ham, cheese and mushrooms... and with many mor ethings probably but thats what i've tried to far!
Can't wait for next weekend when we go to 'Zeeland' with most of our friends. Gonna be such a great weekend!
I'll be making crepes of course! ha i hope it will work!!
Well I'm gonna leave it with this for now.. I know i promisses picture from Porto..
I'm working on the video! Hope i can finish it soon!
Have a great week!
Love,
Deb
So that's some work left to do. But I'm sure enjoying my time at Bambino's Home! The kids are so sweet and i really like the people I´m working with!
They offert me a job after I´m done with the internship which is truly a gift from heaven cause I´m gonna need some money! so Yay God!
Besides work and school I´ve been working on a charity concert.
I´m organizing a concert in our church with Everlife (US) and Nuclear Playground (NL). It's to raise money for the childrens home Lar Evangélico Português, in Porto, Portugal (see last blog).
I'm still working on finding individuals, groups, organisations, church etc. that want to sponsor us. We'll need a max. of €1500 for the expenses of the concert. I'm hoping we can get that money together cause i really want all the money we raise that night to go to the kids!
So if you know people, groups, organisations, anyone, who wants to sponsor us, let me know!! Cause we really need help!
For more info you can check www.myspace.com/everlife and http://everlife.hyves.nl
Februari 21th 2009, Baptisten Gemeente 'De Schuilplaats' Eindhoven
Be there! ;)
This week was my birthday. Oh what a week. On tuesday i had to work, so the kids sang happy birthday for me and made me a nice bday crown. Oh lucky me :p but it was a fun day!
In the evening i had a little party at my house with my family, which was very nice!
And yesterday I had another little party with my friends. Oh we laughed so much, i really love my friends!
Ingeborg, Helmya, Natasja and Martijn gave me a crepe maker. A thing to make crepes (du-uh), which are basicly.. really thin pancakes.. only they taste different.. you can eat them with chocolate and whipped cream, with ice cream, or with ham, cheese and mushrooms... and with many mor ethings probably but thats what i've tried to far!
Can't wait for next weekend when we go to 'Zeeland' with most of our friends. Gonna be such a great weekend!
I'll be making crepes of course! ha i hope it will work!!
Well I'm gonna leave it with this for now.. I know i promisses picture from Porto..
I'm working on the video! Hope i can finish it soon!
Have a great week!
Love,
Deb
dinsdag 4 november 2008
Porto: A trip never to forget!
Hello all!
Gosh it already passed by.. This trip was long to look forward to (looking back.. we booked our flight on july 23rd.. only 3 weeks after i got home from my internship in the childrens home!).
I can say.. 5 days were just too short. We did soooo many things! Let me give you a short sumary of the days! Me, Helmya, Ingeborg and Natasja on our trip to Porto - Portugal.
On wednesday we left home around noon to head to Brussels South Airport (Charleroi). Our flight was at 4.45pm.
After a 2 hour drive from Eindhoven to Charleroi we checked in a waited for departure.
Everything went well and at 6pm local time we landed in Porto.
Leonor and the kids (a small part of the family i used to live with) were already waiting for us.
Gosh it was SO great to close my arms around them! I really missed them so much.
The kids were a little shy ast first, but that was fast gone when we went the the playground, to pass time waiting for Emanuel.. who was.. of course late...
When he arrived we drove the his parents house where we were staying.
After a warm welcome we had a lovely dinner and gave them our gifts from Holland.
Jumping in to my 'own' bed that night was awesome. I was back home again.
On thursday we went shopping in the new shoppin centre "MARshopping", with Leonor, Emanuel and the kids. We dropped the kids at the playground where they were taken care of, and were about to have a whole lot of fun. That shopping spree was so much fun. and so expensive. ha. but i bought some real cool new things!
That evening was our first visit to the children's home. Lar Evangélico Português. I really was SO excited to see all the kids again. And so were they. Kids were flying into my arms as soon as i walked in. The looks on their faces were priceless.
It was great to be back and spend some time with the little kids. I totally love them!
We also brought a golden envelope to give to Daniel, Isabel, Madeleina, and Emanuel. We collected money at our church the week before (at the choirs concert) and were able to give them almost €420. Money that was very welcome, and very needed in this time of financial crisis. It's great to see how God is providing everything in such different ways.
I truly hope i can continue to be of meaning for the home in the next years!
On friday we went the the 'Quinta' (farm) of Leonor's dad in Abragão. Really.. in the middle of nowhere... but soooo amazing. I'd been there many times before and was again excited to go there.
On our way there through, we got stuck in Penefiel. We were smelling something really bad.. making jokes about it.. and soon after that finding out the car was smoking and the bad smell was our car.
Something with the gears... very nice..
Luckioly Leonor's dad could come and pick us up while the car would be taken back to Porto to get fixed.
The day at the Quinta was awesome. Me and Helmya went to take a little survival in the little river next to the house while the others went on a little jeep safari. Very funny when it started raining half way and we had to climb aaaaall the way back to where we started and got back to the home completely soaked. But it was SO much fun!
Later that night we went out for dinner at the Italian Restaurant (greeeaaaat lasagne) and went bowling after that. André and Guilherme (Emanuel and Leonors kids, 5 and 3 years old) were with us and joined us for the first time. You shouls have seen the looks on their faces. Really priceless! They had the time of their life!
Again Helmya won. I don't know how she does it.. i think she secretly goes bowling every week!
On saturdaymorning we once again went to the Childrens home for another visit. We just wanted to spend some more time with the lovely kids.
Once again is was unforgetable. It was great to be able to give these kids a little exta attention.
I love them and they all stole my heart a long time ago! (and i dont think they're planning on ever giving it back ;))
It's really great to see the good work of the home once again and to be a little part of these kids lives.
Our money is really used very well.
In the afternoon we went to Aveiro. I went their ones before with my parents. Great little town, but sadly almost everything was closed because of some holiday and the weather was awefull.
After lunch and a short walk through the centre we headed back to Porto to get a nice hot shower and get ready for dinner.
We went to out fav restaurant in Porto: Ar the Rio. If you ever go to Porto.. go and try that restaurant at the riverside! (at the side of Vila Nova de Gaia) We had a reeeaaal good dinner and headed to Emanuel and Leonor's house for desert: Crêpes com chocolate e chantilly! (crepes with chocolate and whipped cream)
Emanuel is real good at making them!
After the kids went to bad we played some Uno on our last evening! Great fun. And i won the one big final game! :) (that totally made my day :P)
On sundaymorning we got up with blue skies, so decided we should really go to the beach now.
We spend a few hours there untill lunch which were totally awesome. Perfect end of the holidays.
Playing with the kids on the beach and playing some baseball at the end.
Latr that day we had the most wonderful family lunch and had a chance to spend some time with everyone of the family. At the end we took some wonderful pictures and then the end had come.
Time to go back to Holland.
Way too soon really. None of us wanted to go back, but we really had to.
Saying goodbye was once again hard. We really wished we could stay longer, but work was waiting.
There's not really much to say about our flight back.. we were all tired and sad we had to go back.. and on top of that.. they didnt have much food in the plane.. we had t live on a cup a soup and some pringles we had left. (way to go ryan air for not having any food on an evening flight!)
We're all back to work now and already started the countdown to our next visit: June 2009.
8 months still... but a real good thing to look forward to!
I'll be posting a video with some pictures soon! So keep checking back!
Love,
Deborah
Gosh it already passed by.. This trip was long to look forward to (looking back.. we booked our flight on july 23rd.. only 3 weeks after i got home from my internship in the childrens home!).
I can say.. 5 days were just too short. We did soooo many things! Let me give you a short sumary of the days! Me, Helmya, Ingeborg and Natasja on our trip to Porto - Portugal.
On wednesday we left home around noon to head to Brussels South Airport (Charleroi). Our flight was at 4.45pm.
After a 2 hour drive from Eindhoven to Charleroi we checked in a waited for departure.
Everything went well and at 6pm local time we landed in Porto.
Leonor and the kids (a small part of the family i used to live with) were already waiting for us.
Gosh it was SO great to close my arms around them! I really missed them so much.
The kids were a little shy ast first, but that was fast gone when we went the the playground, to pass time waiting for Emanuel.. who was.. of course late...
When he arrived we drove the his parents house where we were staying.
After a warm welcome we had a lovely dinner and gave them our gifts from Holland.
Jumping in to my 'own' bed that night was awesome. I was back home again.
On thursday we went shopping in the new shoppin centre "MARshopping", with Leonor, Emanuel and the kids. We dropped the kids at the playground where they were taken care of, and were about to have a whole lot of fun. That shopping spree was so much fun. and so expensive. ha. but i bought some real cool new things!
That evening was our first visit to the children's home. Lar Evangélico Português. I really was SO excited to see all the kids again. And so were they. Kids were flying into my arms as soon as i walked in. The looks on their faces were priceless.
It was great to be back and spend some time with the little kids. I totally love them!
We also brought a golden envelope to give to Daniel, Isabel, Madeleina, and Emanuel. We collected money at our church the week before (at the choirs concert) and were able to give them almost €420. Money that was very welcome, and very needed in this time of financial crisis. It's great to see how God is providing everything in such different ways.
I truly hope i can continue to be of meaning for the home in the next years!
On friday we went the the 'Quinta' (farm) of Leonor's dad in Abragão. Really.. in the middle of nowhere... but soooo amazing. I'd been there many times before and was again excited to go there.
On our way there through, we got stuck in Penefiel. We were smelling something really bad.. making jokes about it.. and soon after that finding out the car was smoking and the bad smell was our car.
Something with the gears... very nice..
Luckioly Leonor's dad could come and pick us up while the car would be taken back to Porto to get fixed.
The day at the Quinta was awesome. Me and Helmya went to take a little survival in the little river next to the house while the others went on a little jeep safari. Very funny when it started raining half way and we had to climb aaaaall the way back to where we started and got back to the home completely soaked. But it was SO much fun!
Later that night we went out for dinner at the Italian Restaurant (greeeaaaat lasagne) and went bowling after that. André and Guilherme (Emanuel and Leonors kids, 5 and 3 years old) were with us and joined us for the first time. You shouls have seen the looks on their faces. Really priceless! They had the time of their life!
Again Helmya won. I don't know how she does it.. i think she secretly goes bowling every week!
On saturdaymorning we once again went to the Childrens home for another visit. We just wanted to spend some more time with the lovely kids.
Once again is was unforgetable. It was great to be able to give these kids a little exta attention.
I love them and they all stole my heart a long time ago! (and i dont think they're planning on ever giving it back ;))
It's really great to see the good work of the home once again and to be a little part of these kids lives.
Our money is really used very well.
In the afternoon we went to Aveiro. I went their ones before with my parents. Great little town, but sadly almost everything was closed because of some holiday and the weather was awefull.
After lunch and a short walk through the centre we headed back to Porto to get a nice hot shower and get ready for dinner.
We went to out fav restaurant in Porto: Ar the Rio. If you ever go to Porto.. go and try that restaurant at the riverside! (at the side of Vila Nova de Gaia) We had a reeeaaal good dinner and headed to Emanuel and Leonor's house for desert: Crêpes com chocolate e chantilly! (crepes with chocolate and whipped cream)
Emanuel is real good at making them!
After the kids went to bad we played some Uno on our last evening! Great fun. And i won the one big final game! :) (that totally made my day :P)
On sundaymorning we got up with blue skies, so decided we should really go to the beach now.
We spend a few hours there untill lunch which were totally awesome. Perfect end of the holidays.
Playing with the kids on the beach and playing some baseball at the end.
Latr that day we had the most wonderful family lunch and had a chance to spend some time with everyone of the family. At the end we took some wonderful pictures and then the end had come.
Time to go back to Holland.
Way too soon really. None of us wanted to go back, but we really had to.
Saying goodbye was once again hard. We really wished we could stay longer, but work was waiting.
There's not really much to say about our flight back.. we were all tired and sad we had to go back.. and on top of that.. they didnt have much food in the plane.. we had t live on a cup a soup and some pringles we had left. (way to go ryan air for not having any food on an evening flight!)
We're all back to work now and already started the countdown to our next visit: June 2009.
8 months still... but a real good thing to look forward to!
I'll be posting a video with some pictures soon! So keep checking back!
Love,
Deborah
woensdag 15 oktober 2008
Spreading the Love: an update!
Hello friends!
So it has been 2 weeks if im right.. since my last blog.
I just thought I'd give you a little update on how things are going.
You know.. the past few weeks have been crrraaaazy. Work was so busy and i had every reason to like.. crash in the weekends and not be able to do anything more.. but nothing like that happened..
Of course i was tired in the evenings after a hard day of work.. but i didn't really crash like i usually do when things are as busy as the past 2 weeks.
I believe it has one reason.
Love.
Maaaaan, did this fill me with joy the past weeks! It makes me SO energetic!
The response I've been getting these past 2 weeks have made me stand amazed.
Not only have I been told I'm loved by many many people, God has also shown me how much He really loves me.
I can't even really find the words to explain to you how I really feel.
I'm just amazed by how much God loves me, all the things He has done for me and all the things He is still doing!
I enjoy riding my bike to work (for 20 minutes) everyday just because I get to see the birds waking up, the sun rising above the trees, and the AMAZING colors autumn is bringing us.
I can hear God saying 'Good morning Deb, welcome to this new day!', every single morning.
Isn't that amazing? God is great :)
So let me talk a little about the love I have been spreading, and what i've been experiencing through that.
I've done several things to show people they're loved.
I've told friends I love them, I bought flowers for my parents, I've done the 'boring things' at work so no one else had to do them, i've helped old people with their groceries, I've sent post cards, bought people presents, and I've gone to work and back every day greeting people on the way.
Oh you should see the smiles on the faces of every single person. The feeling of giving, is just indescribable. It just fills me with joy.
I'm really excited to see what these next 2 weeks are gonna bring me!
I'll make sure to share it with you all!
Now.. I am curious about your experiences! Tell me about it!
Love,
Deb
So it has been 2 weeks if im right.. since my last blog.
I just thought I'd give you a little update on how things are going.
You know.. the past few weeks have been crrraaaazy. Work was so busy and i had every reason to like.. crash in the weekends and not be able to do anything more.. but nothing like that happened..
Of course i was tired in the evenings after a hard day of work.. but i didn't really crash like i usually do when things are as busy as the past 2 weeks.
I believe it has one reason.
Love.
Maaaaan, did this fill me with joy the past weeks! It makes me SO energetic!
The response I've been getting these past 2 weeks have made me stand amazed.
Not only have I been told I'm loved by many many people, God has also shown me how much He really loves me.
I can't even really find the words to explain to you how I really feel.
I'm just amazed by how much God loves me, all the things He has done for me and all the things He is still doing!
I enjoy riding my bike to work (for 20 minutes) everyday just because I get to see the birds waking up, the sun rising above the trees, and the AMAZING colors autumn is bringing us.
I can hear God saying 'Good morning Deb, welcome to this new day!', every single morning.
Isn't that amazing? God is great :)
So let me talk a little about the love I have been spreading, and what i've been experiencing through that.
I've done several things to show people they're loved.
I've told friends I love them, I bought flowers for my parents, I've done the 'boring things' at work so no one else had to do them, i've helped old people with their groceries, I've sent post cards, bought people presents, and I've gone to work and back every day greeting people on the way.
Oh you should see the smiles on the faces of every single person. The feeling of giving, is just indescribable. It just fills me with joy.
I'm really excited to see what these next 2 weeks are gonna bring me!
I'll make sure to share it with you all!
Now.. I am curious about your experiences! Tell me about it!
Love,
Deb
woensdag 1 oktober 2008
The Joy of Rain
The story starts on a rainy tuesday in September, in Eindhoven, The Netherlands.
I finished work and ran to the busstop to catch my bus.
Waiting for the bus i started looking for my student card, when i realized it was still in the pocket of my other jacket. The one that was at home..
I got nervous and started searching my bag for money..ANY money.. somewhere?!
no. nothing. not a coin. nothing.
'You gotta be kiddin' me', i thought. 'Do i really have to walk home? In the RAIN?'
After sending a message to my mom to tell her i would take a little longer, cause i had to walk, i started my journey.
I plugged my iPod in my ears and crossed the street.
You have to know by now.. i was really frustrated and cold. Cold as in freezing. and i had at LEAST 30 minutes ahead if not longer.
Looking at the rain made me think of something one of the kids at work said some time ago. 'Aww it's raining! God's crying! We have to make Him happy!'
Of course we all laughed about that back then, but now it made me think.
What if God is really crying. What if He's really that sad?
If I look around in this world, i can see He has many many reasons to.
And if He was really crying, I would want to make Him happy. I would want to make Him smile again!
"So how would i do this?", i thought.
What makes God smile?
I mean.. what would be the most important thing.
Love, Love, Love. Say it out loud.. Love.
I believe it makes God smile to see us love eachother.
John 13:34"A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another."
So this all reminded me of helpothers.org. I once ordered these little cards you could give to people, or just put in their bags or anywhere to spread the love.
Those cards were a really easy thing, but here was actually a postcard with is that said aaaaall these things you could do to show someone you love him/her.
Thank your Heroes, send flowers to a friend, read to a child, clean up your park, buy someone coffee, smile, plant a tree, volunteer, bake cookies for a neighbour.. many many things.
And you know... i just thought i should do this more often.. show people i love them.
So I challenged myself.
For the next month I will show at least 1 person a day I love him/her.
I hope I can challenge you all to do the same. It all starts with you and me, but you and me can change this world.
Let's brighten someone's day.
Let's Spread the Love!
For more love spreading ideas check http://www.helpothers.org/
Have fun! and keep smiling :D !!
Love,Deborah
P.S. I got home safe, soaked but safe.
I finished work and ran to the busstop to catch my bus.
Waiting for the bus i started looking for my student card, when i realized it was still in the pocket of my other jacket. The one that was at home..
I got nervous and started searching my bag for money..ANY money.. somewhere?!
no. nothing. not a coin. nothing.
'You gotta be kiddin' me', i thought. 'Do i really have to walk home? In the RAIN?'
After sending a message to my mom to tell her i would take a little longer, cause i had to walk, i started my journey.
I plugged my iPod in my ears and crossed the street.
You have to know by now.. i was really frustrated and cold. Cold as in freezing. and i had at LEAST 30 minutes ahead if not longer.
Looking at the rain made me think of something one of the kids at work said some time ago. 'Aww it's raining! God's crying! We have to make Him happy!'
Of course we all laughed about that back then, but now it made me think.
What if God is really crying. What if He's really that sad?
If I look around in this world, i can see He has many many reasons to.
And if He was really crying, I would want to make Him happy. I would want to make Him smile again!
"So how would i do this?", i thought.
What makes God smile?
I mean.. what would be the most important thing.
Love, Love, Love. Say it out loud.. Love.
I believe it makes God smile to see us love eachother.
John 13:34"A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another."
So this all reminded me of helpothers.org. I once ordered these little cards you could give to people, or just put in their bags or anywhere to spread the love.
Those cards were a really easy thing, but here was actually a postcard with is that said aaaaall these things you could do to show someone you love him/her.
Thank your Heroes, send flowers to a friend, read to a child, clean up your park, buy someone coffee, smile, plant a tree, volunteer, bake cookies for a neighbour.. many many things.
And you know... i just thought i should do this more often.. show people i love them.
So I challenged myself.
For the next month I will show at least 1 person a day I love him/her.
I hope I can challenge you all to do the same. It all starts with you and me, but you and me can change this world.
Let's brighten someone's day.
Let's Spread the Love!
For more love spreading ideas check http://www.helpothers.org/
Have fun! and keep smiling :D !!
Love,Deborah
P.S. I got home safe, soaked but safe.
zaterdag 27 september 2008
Summer Madness
These past 3 months have been really crazy.. and went by SO fast.
I can remember the day i got home from Portugal.. it's like yesterday.. But almost 3 months have passed already!
I can say i'm completely Dutch again.
Being back was very weird and difficult in the beginning. Home didn't really feel like home and i missed everyone in Portugal so much!
But after going to church a week later and spending more and more time with my friends and family again things soon became 'normal' again.
It really took me some time to get used to the Dutch way of living again though! The Portuguese culture is so different. And for some reason i had less problems conforming to that culture in Januari than conforming back to my own culture in July.
It was weird to eat dutch food, spreak dutch again ( i tell you.. i was speaking 3 languages in the first weeks!), and the most difficult of all.. getting used to be in a wealthy country again. I spend so much time with poor kids, i really got used to it. All those kids were so thankfull for every little thing they have, while we can't seem to get enough iPods, Cellphones, Camera's and things we actually don't really need.
That really hit me when i got back. And really made me realize I should be so much more thankfull for the things i have. Cause so many people in this world can't even have that new sweater, or those new shoes we buy every month.
After having the most amazing July and August with my friends and family, it was time to get back to school and work.
Sadly my school didn't think my final report of my internship in Portugal was good enough, so they told me to 5 more months. After a lot frustrations and tears, i finally accepted it and started to look for a place that was still looking for interns.
Well.. not that many... I think i spoke to nearly 100 managers of institutions in Eindhoven and any cities nearby. In the end i got 2 places that invited me.
Through all that stress, God provided such a great place for me at Bambino's Home. The Christian Day care in Eindhoven. They invited me to come and see what we could arrange.
Things went so well and so fast i started the next monday.
I've been working there for 3 weeks now, and i totally LOVE it!
The kids are SO sweet and my collegues are really such wonderfull people!
So in the end... i'm really glad i can work here for 5 months.
God is Great :D
Well time for some pictures! Here's a short impression of my summer!
I can remember the day i got home from Portugal.. it's like yesterday.. But almost 3 months have passed already!
I can say i'm completely Dutch again.
Being back was very weird and difficult in the beginning. Home didn't really feel like home and i missed everyone in Portugal so much!
But after going to church a week later and spending more and more time with my friends and family again things soon became 'normal' again.
It really took me some time to get used to the Dutch way of living again though! The Portuguese culture is so different. And for some reason i had less problems conforming to that culture in Januari than conforming back to my own culture in July.
It was weird to eat dutch food, spreak dutch again ( i tell you.. i was speaking 3 languages in the first weeks!), and the most difficult of all.. getting used to be in a wealthy country again. I spend so much time with poor kids, i really got used to it. All those kids were so thankfull for every little thing they have, while we can't seem to get enough iPods, Cellphones, Camera's and things we actually don't really need.
That really hit me when i got back. And really made me realize I should be so much more thankfull for the things i have. Cause so many people in this world can't even have that new sweater, or those new shoes we buy every month.
After having the most amazing July and August with my friends and family, it was time to get back to school and work.
Sadly my school didn't think my final report of my internship in Portugal was good enough, so they told me to 5 more months. After a lot frustrations and tears, i finally accepted it and started to look for a place that was still looking for interns.
Well.. not that many... I think i spoke to nearly 100 managers of institutions in Eindhoven and any cities nearby. In the end i got 2 places that invited me.
Through all that stress, God provided such a great place for me at Bambino's Home. The Christian Day care in Eindhoven. They invited me to come and see what we could arrange.
Things went so well and so fast i started the next monday.
I've been working there for 3 weeks now, and i totally LOVE it!
The kids are SO sweet and my collegues are really such wonderfull people!
So in the end... i'm really glad i can work here for 5 months.
God is Great :D
Well time for some pictures! Here's a short impression of my summer!
At the beach in Scheveningen with Renée.
The 'Short Cowthiefstreet' in Den Haag
My camp girls
Me and my lil' sister in Burger's Zoo
Isn't he cute?
a day at a themepark with some amazing people :)
Mine and Renee's baggage on our trip to Texel (one of the dutch islands)
Renée and our found multi-cache!
My first Tall White Mocca @ Amsterdam Airport!
Some amazing people!
(from left to right)
Sarah, Julia, Amber, Me and Renée
Well that was a short impression of my summer!
Fall is coming, with a whole bunch of nice stuff ahead!
29th of October till the 2nd of November I'll be going back to Portugal for a visit. I'm going with 3 great friends. Can't wait to meet my amazing 2nd family again! And of course to go to the Children's Home and hug all my little kids again! It's gonna be an amazing trip and I really can't wait! ust 4,5 weeks to go ;)
Talk to you soon!
xoxo Deb
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