Wherever You are

Updaaaaate!

2009-06-18T13:22:00.000-07:00

I am SO sorry for not writing anything for the past 2 months!
Been so busy with school, church and friends, i totally let this one slide!
But i promise i'll update alot in the upcoming weeks!

Right now I'm finishing up 2 last papers for school. Both should be done early next week. (hopefull tuesday)
Then I'm officially done for the summer. No school till september.
I have quite some plans for the summer.
Next week (27th) I'm going back to Portugal!
A well deserved vacation! But of course it's more than just a vacation. Going back to my 'portuguese family' and my lovely kids at Lar Evangélico Português! I really can't wait to wrap my arms around those kids again!
Lots of things have changed since last time we were there in November of '08 so i'm really curious to see how things are working out!
I'll keep you updated on our adventures!

I'll be back July 12th and hopefull i can start working some more then. I could use some extra money to actually do the things i planned!
Besides some day trips to the beach and who knows where we decide to go, I'm planning on going to Texel again in August. I went there with Renée last year, and had lots of fun. This year I'm taking 3 of my dearest friends! Just for a few days, but that's long enough for lots lots lots of laughter and joy!

Then at Augut 29th we'll have our anual church camp! Exciting! I'm really looking forward to that!
Will be on exhausting week, but so so so worth it! It's great to be able to teach the kids more of God!

Well this was my quick update on my plans for the summer.
Make sure to check back regularly in the next few weeks to find out about all out great adentures in Portugal!

Love,
Deb

See His Love

2009-04-13T02:25:00.000-07:00

This past weekend was the Easter weekend. What does easter mean for you? I'm curious..
Last week we had a biblestudy with our homegroup from church and we were talking about this same thing. We all know what Easter means, but what does it mean for you personally?

On Good Friday we remember how Jesus died for our sins. He, the innocent man without any sin, died on the cross for OUR sins. Because of that, our sins are forgiven.

But that's not where it ended.. Yes Jesus died.. but 3 days later HE ROSE AGAIN.
And because of that, our sins are not just forgiven, we also have enternal life with him. He conquered death. In Him, we are conquerors.

Now here's a questions.. Do you live your daily life as a conqueror?
Someone that has eternal life because of His unfailing love. Someone that doesn't have to be afraid, because of what He has done for us?
This is a life changing experience!

I just want to share some verses with you and a song, and I'm curious to hear your answers to the questions: What does Easter mean to you and do you live your daily life as a conqueror?

16The soldiers led Jesus away into the palace (that is, the Praetorium) and called together the whole company of soldiers. 17They put a purple robe on him, then twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on him. 18And they began to call out to him, "Hail, king of the Jews!" 19Again and again they struck him on the head with a staff and spit on him. Falling on their knees, they paid homage to him. 20And when they had mocked him, they took off the purple robe and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him out to crucify him.
The Crucifixion 21A certain man from Cyrene, Simon, the father of Alexander and Rufus, was passing by on his way in from the country, and they forced him to carry the cross. 22They brought Jesus to the place called Golgotha (which means The Place of the Skull). 23Then they offered him wine mixed with myrrh, but he did not take it. 24And they crucified him. Dividing up his clothes, they cast lots to see what each would get.
25It was the third hour when they crucified him. 26The written notice of the charge against him read: THE KING OF THE JEWS. 27They crucified two robbers with him, one on his right and one on his left.[a] 29Those who passed by hurled insults at him, shaking their heads and saying, "So! You who are going to destroy the temple and build it in three days, 30come down from the cross and save yourself!"
31In the same way the chief priests and the teachers of the law mocked him among themselves. "He saved others," they said, "but he can't save himself! 32Let this Christ,[b] this King of Israel, come down now from the cross, that we may see and believe." Those crucified with him also heaped insults on him.
The Death of Jesus 33At the sixth hour darkness came over the whole land until the ninth hour. 34And at the ninth hour Jesus cried out in a loud voice, "Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?"—which means, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?"[c]
35When some of those standing near heard this, they said, "Listen, he's calling Elijah."
36One man ran, filled a sponge with wine vinegar, put it on a stick, and offered it to Jesus to drink. "Now leave him alone. Let's see if Elijah comes to take him down," he said.
37With a loud cry, Jesus breathed his last.
38The curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. 39And when the centurion, who stood there in front of Jesus, heard his cry and[d] saw how he died, he said, "Surely this man was the Son[e] of God!"
40Some women were watching from a distance. Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James the younger and of Joses, and Salome. 41In Galilee these women had followed him and cared for his needs. Many other women who had come up with him to Jerusalem were also there. (Mark 15:16-41)

---

1Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the entrance. 2So she came running to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one Jesus loved, and said, "They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we don't know where they have put him!"
3So Peter and the other disciple started for the tomb. 4Both were running, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. 5He bent over and looked in at the strips of linen lying there but did not go in. 6Then Simon Peter, who was behind him, arrived and went into the tomb. He saw the strips of linen lying there, 7as well as the burial cloth that had been around Jesus' head. The cloth was folded up by itself, separate from the linen. 8Finally the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went inside. He saw and believed. 9(They still did not understand from Scripture that Jesus had to rise from the dead.)
Jesus Appears to Mary Magdalene 10Then the disciples went back to their homes, 11but Mary stood outside the tomb crying. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb 12and saw two angels in white, seated where Jesus' body had been, one at the head and the other at the foot.
13They asked her, "Woman, why are you crying?"
"They have taken my Lord away," she said, "and I don't know where they have put him." 14At this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not realize that it was Jesus.
15"Woman," he said, "why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?" Thinking he was the gardener, she said, "Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him."
16Jesus said to her, "Mary." She turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic, "Rabboni!" (which means Teacher).
17Jesus said, "Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet returned to the Father. Go instead to my brothers and tell them, 'I am returning to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.' "
18Mary Magdalene went to the disciples with the news: "I have seen the Lord!" And she told them that he had said these things to her. (John 20:1-18)

---

17When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. Then he placed his right hand on me and said: "Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last. 18I am the Living One; I was dead, and behold I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades. (Revelations 1:17-18)

---

See His love nailed onto a cross
Perfect and blameless life given as sacrifice
See Him there all in the name of love
Broken yet glorious, all for the sake of us

This is Jesus in His glory
King of Heaven dying for me
It is finished, He has done it
Death is beaten, Heaven beckons me

Greater love no one could ever show
Mercy so undeserved,
freedom I should not know
All my sin, all of my hidden shame
Died with Him on the cross, eternity won for us

Such love, such love
Such love is this for me

The Adventures of a saturday afternoon!

2009-03-21T11:04:00.001-07:00

Did you know...

... A coffee at Jorien's place doesn't always turn out to be coffee..? today we have smoothies instead!
... traffic in Eindhoven can be quite a challenge..? i believe it was working against us today on our way to the Fontys Campus.
... the distance between the fontys/ TU campus and down town was a little longer that I thought?! it's a maze.. really...
... McD's in Eindhoven can be veeeery slow? Jorien had to wait 20 minutes for her burger.
... I always eat a Quarter Pounder at McD's? Guess what i had today ;)
... running shoes can be very expensive? O_o
... I can't find new sport pants!? help meee!
... we almost bought new sunglasses? some were actually kinda cool.. but we didn't find IT..
... we didn't have time to sit down for a drink in the sun cause we walked so much?!
... there was a note with 'One person only' on the door of the toilets? that made me laugh so hard.
... that place was very hygienic?
... we took the bus back to car.
... Jorien and I love to play Skillet VERY loud in the car. (and we're about the only ones of our friends that like skillet)
... I have no clue what else to write here..?
... so I'm done?!

You Will Survive

2009-03-11T14:50:00.000-07:00

Tuesday, February 24, 2009

Happiness does not mean living without pain or hurt—not at all. True happiness is learning how to live one day at a time, in spite of sorrow and pain. It is learning how to rejoice in the Lord, no matter what has happened in the past.

You may feel rejected and abandoned. Your faith may be weak and you think you are down for the count. Sorrow, tears, pain, and emptiness may swallow you up at times, but God is still on the throne. He is still God!

Convince yourself that you will survive. You will come out of it and, live or die, you belong to the Lord. Life does go on and it will surprise you how much you can bear with God’s help.

You cannot help yourself or stop the pain, but our blessed Lord will come to you. He will place his loving hand under you and lift you up to sit again in heavenly places. He will deliver you from the fear of dying and he will reveal his endless love for you.

Look up! Encourage yourself in the Lord. When the fog surrounds you and you can’t see any way out of your dilemma, lie back in the arms of Jesus and simply trust him. He has to do it all! He wants your faith and your confidence. He wants you to cry aloud, “Jesus loves me! He is with me! He will not fail me! He is working it all out, right now! I will not be cast down! I will not be defeated! I will not be a victim of Satan! I will not lose my mind or my direction. God is on my side! I love him and he loves me!”

The bottom line is faith. And faith rests on this one absolute: “No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper…” (Isaiah 54:17).

by David Wilkerson

The Thief

2009-03-03T04:01:00.001-08:00

Your eyes are full,
full of the future of us
The air changes as you look across
at me in that wondering way

It is as if
I knew you before we spoke
Do our hearts know something we don't?
Conspiring, converging
without giving us any say

You sing me to sleep,
talk down my walls
Look through my windows as I wait
You could be the thief
I give the key to

You're ruining me
with secrets and gestures and looks
With sonnets and second-hand books
Playing the chords in me
nobody knew how to play

You sing me to sleep,
talk down my walls
Look through my windows as I wait
You could be the thief
I give the key to

It fits in your hand like the water in rain
It unlocks our two different selves
and shows we are the same
Rather than wait 'til I
put me out for the taking
You're breaking
You're breaking into my heart
and I'm letting you

Your eyes are full,
full of the future of us

The Wonderful Everlife

2009-02-27T08:00:00.000-08:00

Just wanted to share this wonderful band with you all!

I had the chance to meet them last september, and booked them for a benefit concert at my church last week.
Gosh.. can i say they are awesome?! Really the sweetest girls!!
And oh they can rock. They performed at my church with their full band.
They have some awesome guys playing with them!
If you get the change to get to see them, I'm telling you.. go!

And you might as well get their new EP! Acoustic rock chicks, with beautiful voices!

Check the video below! Live at Eindhoven!

Have a wonderful weekend!

Deb

My insecurities

2009-02-22T12:30:00.000-08:00

Hello World! :)

It's been way too long since i last wrote a blog! so here I am.
I was thinking about what to write, when i started to look back at all the things that happens these past 6, 7 weeks.
I'd like to share a little bit with you about my insecuritied, and how God has been working in me in the pst weeks.

If you have met me, and you know me a little, you probably noticed I can be insecure about myself, and especially my capabilities.
All the things that happened with school last summer didn't really help, and made me REALLY insecure about my ability to really do what they wanted me to do. I seem to fail time after time, and that put alot of presure on me. When the end of my last internship was coming closer, stress came, presure came. more and more.
Januari wasn't really a great month. it was exhausting really.

Januari 23rd: Due final report intership (this is what i didnt seem to get right.. for some reason it never contained what they wanted to read..) I did my best, personallt handed to my teacher.

Januari 27th: Portfolio Assessment. THE Exam. You can't imagine the work i put into that.
And it all comes down to this 30 minutes. 2 teachers. Asking me aaaall these questions about what i've learned in the past years.
After 30 minutes i had to wait outside so they could decided whether i passed the exam or not.
After a few monutes they congratulated me. I had a score of 90. Which means i passed the exam with the highest possibel score.
That was the first time in a year that i felt like i really did something goog. That I was really able to do it right.

Januari 30th. The day my teachers, me and my supervisor from the internship would come together and talk about my internship, and my final report. The exam from the 27th gave me some more confidence, but that was fast gone when my teacher told me the final report was, once again, not good enough.
BAM! Down to level zero.
I could cry, right there. Maybe i should have. This teacher just broke me down. And i dont think she even realized it. It's not that i cant take negative feedback. It's the fact that this was the 5th time, and only she was complaining about my reports. I didn't get negative feedback on my reports from any other teacher. Just her.
About an hour later i found out why my reports weren't good enough. I just didn't get the right picture of what should be in the report. I've had a wrong picture of her expectations, for 17months.
I got a chance to write the report again,and this time i did it right.

I was so hapy when she finally told me this last report was very good. Finally i could close this part of my study, and move on the the last part. One more year. Gradution Project.

When i look back on that time i can see how negative feedback from this particular teacher broke me down. Little by little. I don't think she realized it, but her way of communicating made me insecure about myself.
It made me insecure about my capabilities.

A few weeks later. Februari 21st. (Yesterday). Benefit Concert.
The big day was here. Today we would have a concert with Nuclear Playground and Everlife, to raise money for the childrens home in Porto, Lar Evangélico Português.
I was very very excited, but a nervous too. Again my insecurity.
I knew i had everything settled, and that i did it right. It just didn't work that day. I started to doubt stupid things like if i had the right dinner and if i had all the stuff we needed (although i checked that like.. a million times already).
I'm sure everyone in the building that day could see how my head was spinning.

When i look back on these two situations, I clearly see God's hand. I see how He placed people around me that got me through all this. People that helped me be more secure. That helped me to be proud of myself.
My dad telling me he's proud of me. My friends telling me i did great.
A friend pointing me to the positive, when i'm too focussed on the negative. Another friend telling me what she admires in me.
All those people, help me to be more secure (and really... God works through the most amazing people...in most amazing ways!)

I don't thik i realized all this till this morning when i was looking back at yesterday and thinking back to everything that has been said by various people that day. I think i was stopped 3 or 4 times by different people, telling me to relax for just a few seconds, and telling me that everything was great.
They stopped me for just a few second, to tell me the 4 most encouraging words, you are doing great.
The million 'thank you's' I've heard after the show almost drove me crazy. I didn't do it for me, if did it for the kids! I seriously told a few people to stop thanking me.
Looking back to all this, this morning i could hear God say: "DEB! Wake up! YOU DID GREAT! Yes, you did it for the kids. But for once.. take the positvie feedback and let it build you up! I chose to use YOU for a reason! Stop being so insecure about yourself. Trust Me. I will make you capable."

Maybe you recognize this. Maybe you are just as insecure as me sometimes.
If this is you.. i want you to know God can do the same things in you as He is doing in me. But you have to let Him. He does amazing things, in amazing ways.
Open your heart for Him. Give Him a chance and some time! You'll be amazed.

Love,
Deborah

Winter in Eindhoven

2009-01-05T09:35:00.000-08:00

Just a short blog to share my day with you.

It snowed last night.. much more than we all expected...and much more than it did in years..
This resulted in the biggest chaos i've seen in years in my hometown.
I haven't seen so many cars stuck on the road in my life..
I haven't been in such a long trafficjam in my hometown ever in my life.
And never.. did i have such a long journey to work..
Usually it take me about 30-40 minutes.. today it took me 2,5 hours!!

But besides the long journey.. this was one of the coolest days of this winter!
Playing the snow with the kids at work.. enjoying the pretty sights..
I loved it!

So.. here are a few pics of winter in holland!

Hello 2009!

2009-01-01T09:59:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year!

I can't believe 2009 is already here.. Time really flies..
I can remember this exact day last year.. Januari 1st 2008.. the day before i left to Portugal.
I remember having a party and saying goodbye to aalll my family and friends.
A year has passed.. and looking back i can say this was one more amazing year. Maybe one of the most amazing in my life.
I look back on so many blessings, and I'm really grateful to God for everything he has given me in 2008.
All the new friends, the places I've been, the things He led me to do. It was absolutely amazing!
And this really makes me excited about 2009. Because I know God has so much more in store for me (and you!). Great things will happen in 2009!
I'm excited and really can't wait to see where God is gonna lead me this year, what great things He will do.
I really hope you can say the same thing. I hope you feel the same excitement, the same passion burning inside of you to be the person that He wants you to be. He can use you and me to do great things in this world.
A world that needs God, that needs Love.
All we have to do is be available. Say Here I am God. Take me as I am. Mold me, Use me.

Show me a vision like Isaiah saw,
Where the angel touched his lips and he sinned no more.
Let me hear your voice saying “Who shall I send?”
I’ll say send me Lord,
I’ll follow you to the end.

Show me a vision like Eziekel saw,
An army of light from a valley of bones.
Breathe life into these lungs of mine,
So I can scream and shout of your love divine.

Search light, burns bright, floods my eyes,
Invade me, serenade me, I’m giving back my life.

Here I am send me,
Here I am send me,
There’s nothing in my hands,
But here I am send me.

I’m in Jacobs dream seeing heavens gate,
Let me climb all night on my ladder of faith.
Wrestle with the angel till my body is weak,
Dislocate my bones for it’s you that I seek.

Show me the light Paul apostle saw,
When he fell to the dust and he could see no more,
Open my eyes, open my eyes,
Open my eyes, open my eyes.

Search light, burns bright, floods my eyes,
Invade me, serenade me, I’m giving back my life.

Here I am send me,
Here I am send me,
There’s nothing in my hands,
But here I am send me.

I’m frightened what you’ll find,
When you open up my heart,
I’m walking in the light,
Cos it’s light that changes the atmosphere,
So touch these lips that criticise,
And put a song in my mouth that opens our eyes

Here I am send me,
Here I am send me,
There’s nothing, I'm nothing, There's nothing, I'm nothing
But here I am send me!!!

May this new year be full of joy and happiness and may the Lord lead you (and me)to places where you can be a blessing to others!

Love,
Deborah

Lar Evangélico Português needs your help!

2008-12-18T11:45:00.000-08:00

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

Business of the Season

2008-12-07T06:23:00.000-08:00

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 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

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

Porto: A trip never to forget!

2008-11-04T15:00:00.000-08:00

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

Spreading the Love: an update!

2008-10-15T09:08:00.000-07:00

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

The Joy of Rain

2008-10-01T05:34:00.000-07:00

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.

Summer Madness

2008-09-27T07:52:00.000-07:00

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!

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