Amsterdam DTS

Hi there

2006-11-07T07:32:00.000-07:00

Hi there!

It has been a while a go
lot of things happend

some people married (right vilita)
some went to israel
and some went to magda for a visit.

so tell me. how are you now?
i am extited to hear from you!!

as you know i found a great chruch wich i realy enjoy
a few weeks a go we had a night of prayer and worship,
which was very nice
hard to keep my eyes open i admitt!

more and more i find friends in the place were i life
i have met so many new people in these past 2 months
i also joined a girlsoccerteam here
i realy like it!

what else. stil studing. stil living in the same apartment.
every day i enjoy life more and more.
i think i like it now because i can go were-ever i want.
no family or boyfriend which holds me of travveling or doing fun things with friends.
haha

So, please let me know how you are doing!

Reunion?!?

2006-04-21T08:44:00.000-06:00

Hi Everyone~
I was writing because a thought came back in my mind this morning and I thought I would share it with you all...I was wondering if you would be interested in planning a mega-international reunion. (As in a lot of people!) It would have to be planned pretty far in advance so that as many people could come as possible but I think we could totally do it!
I don't know what you guys think as far as if this is something you all want to do...so...let me know! I just think it would be so much fun to see you all again.
So if this is something we want to do we would need to decide when and where...so write down some thoughts and feedback if you are interested!

Here Is Some News For All Of You From The Morocco Team!

2006-04-04T07:24:00.000-06:00

2006-03-20T13:18:00.000-07:00

Baba emailed this photo with his update so I thought you all would enjoy seeing it...it looks like not much has changed!

~I will have to update you all more on the goings on in Colorado later but for now I will just tell you I am good but covered in lots and lots of snow!
My blessings to you all,
Hannah

P.S. Welcome Back to Amsterdam Anne!

Greetings

2006-02-14T22:29:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone, I thought I would drop a line to say that I am alive and well in the Gloryland. I'm currently chuggin away in the second semester of my university career and its going really well! I don't know if I mentioned this before, but I am a psychology major, and have already felt a lot confirmation that I want to pursue my degree (honours) in that field. The intro courses are horribly dull, but I have had the oppertunity to take a 300 level psyc course this semester and it is incredibly facinating. I have been learning a tonne about why people do what they do, and I often find myself analyzing the people in our dts (including me) and all the strange things we did on outreach. It seems like we had a lot of anxiety... haha, I don't know how much more insight I can add to that with a first year standing.
I am currently going to a Vinyard church close to my house, and it is wonderful. I left my Church in the begining of september, and I am really thankful that God has provided a home for me. It is full of young people from my university, and it is definitly a Spirit-lead community. Amen!

In case you were wondering, we broke the record for rainfall in B.C in January. That is a lot of rain my friends. So much rain. But alas, it has been sunny for the last week or so. I want to go back to Amsterdam to visit the crew SOO badly, and If God hooks it up I might be able to swing out that way this summer. Keep it real everyone.

At the poort

2006-02-05T12:46:00.000-07:00

Jolanda, Jaco, José, Richard and Elsa @ 'THE POORT'

Elsa taking care of Ian Partida. So people 4 real..

The Partida's are in the Netherlands

Last sunday we had a dts reunion. Richard, Jolanda, José, Jaco, Noelle, Bernardo, Tanya, Ian and Elsa were there. We ate and later on chatted in the pray tower :-) :)

I'm learning to play the piano

2006-01-10T20:06:00.000-07:00

okay, I'm not really learning to play the piano (but Anne is), it's just a big joke around here that I need to learn to play now that I am a pastor's wife. Phil, Corban, and I are home again after an awesome time in Amsterdam. We were so happy to see the Dutchies and Will, and then doubley blessed when Anne showed up for a visit. We did some volunteering at the Cleft and at the Tabernacle. Will and I had fun feeding the birds on Thursdays at the Open afternoons (it got a little Alfred Hitchcockish). Now that we are home, Phil has started his job at our church and said to me the other day for the first time in our marriage: "I can't wait to go to work tomorrow." Praise God! I am doing really good, too. Besides loving being a mom, I have been feeling like a new season of spiritual renewal is opening up for me. I feel like the Lord is giving me joy in my salvation again and softening my heart towards Him more and more.
Well, I have tried publishing this twice now. I hope this time will work. I'd really like to post a picture, but I don't know how.
Love you guys,
Corrie

2006-01-05T10:10:00.000-07:00

HAPPY 2006 EVERYONE!

News from Vilita

2005-12-31T12:48:00.000-07:00

Hello, everyone,
Greetings from Lithuania!
Ok...i cannot wait to tell you this...
Ok...here it comes....
aaaahhhhh ....Tim proposed to me on Christmas day.
Now we are engaged!
I went to UK for Christmas. Tim and me went for a walk on Christmas day to this beautiful lake near his home. Then he stopped at one point....stood on one knee and started saying this whole proposal speach in Lithuanian. Then he pulled out this beautiful ring from his pocket. I said YES....he put the ring on my finger.
It seems bit unreal to me still....too good to be true.
We didnt talk much about the actual wedding plans yet. But what we know is that it will happen in Lithuania. Ill keep you updated on the date of it. And you are all invited.
I mean it....it would be the best gift to have you in my wedding!

wishing you the nearness of our God as you step into 2006,

God is AMAZING,

Vilita

Update From Tanya!

2005-12-16T12:29:00.000-07:00

~HERE IS A UPDATE TANYA SENT OUT~

(I thought I would post it as a prayer reminder!)

Hi guys,
How are you all doing?
My school is almost over and I'm flying back to Amsterdam 22 December. I do want to leave and I don't want to -- all these dilemmas in life... I miss Amsterdam but I made a few good friends here and learned so much in this school.

I have a couple of prayer points:
-I had surgery 5 December. It wasn't anything too complicated but it still threw me off in my school work and of course physically and emotionally. I'm doing way better now but still have to figure out how to pace myslef. I have never had any surgery before, it's all new to me. I am glad I've caught up with my assignments though.

- Today we finished our group projects (the last big assignment) and we write our final exam Monday. It's a 4 hour long exam...

- Also (it's kind of a standard prayer point, sorry:)) I need to finish paying off my school fees before I leave. I've seen a lot of school fees come in but I still owe 750 Euro.
Thanks for praying! Let me know how it's going with you!

Blessings,
Tanya

My Praise!

2005-12-16T08:53:00.000-07:00

A while back I mentioned that my friend was really struggling with his health (his back and wrists). Well this last Sunday I saw him and he is doing so much better! This has been such a long process and it finally looks like he is healing. He is acting like himself again. I don't want to speak to soon but it definatly looks like the worst is over. I just wanted to let you all know that GOD IS SO GOOD! (and to thank those of you who have been joining me in praying for him). Words can not even describe how joyful my heart feels!

~We have three new members this week! Welcome Jolanda, Jaco, and Corrie!
~Also a Merry Christmas Season to you all (as noted by the new decorations!)
~If you guys could be praying that I would be keeping my eyes/focus on Christ. Lately I have found that I am getting distracted so easily, that is so hard for me.

My love to you all!

you're awesome Elsa

2005-12-12T17:16:00.000-07:00

Hey guys,
I've really enjoyed reading everyone's stuff. Thanks so much Elsa for what you said recently...and for your pictures...they're great:) I am really seeing how amazing it is to serve people at work. Some mornings I feel horrible before I get the day started. Whenever I pray that God will help me, it's amazing what happens! I get to work and focus on other people...then my own troubles subside. However, I am seeing how much I need to be in good contact with God because my whole job is working with people all day...which can be draining.
I really needed what you said Elsa.
Love ya'll,
Amanda

2005-12-12T13:23:00.000-07:00

Hello Everyone,
I was going through our settings and I found out that you can write things at the bottom and side of the blog (a "footer"). I don't know if anyone wanted to put anything on those...but if you want me to I can so just let me know if you think of anything! Also If anyone has any ideas about adding a little "flavor" (also known as background pictures, colors, fonts, setups, links you would like to add (like will's blog), ect)...let me know and I can work with it. TODAY IS MY LAST DAY OF SCHOOL (yea) so I have time to change things now if anyone has any ideas!

God is goed!

2005-12-10T08:56:00.000-07:00

Hi dear Dts people I know that God is great and i wanne tell u all about it!!! >> God is Goed!!

I have seen that when times gets hard who dont run from God but TO God. I have seen that God is faithfull, God is with me, and above all God is with us all.

When we do one step to him he does 10 steps to us. So when it gets hard.. start to lift your voice and bring him the honor He diservese!

This summer...
In the summer i was at a conference called Soulsurviver in England UK. We were in worship.. Then a song came bye.. I was al singing (because i like to sing).. but when we say this song: And i will even worship you in a dessert place, i felt that i could not sing this anymore. I felt like i was in a dessert place: my parents decided to divorce and in the same time me relationship with stefan broke up. I felt like i couldn't handle these things anymore. I felt abondend by God. I felt that my backpack had to much stones in it..and i was about to break. I felt like no one was there when i needed. To much luguage for me to handel.. At that moment my troad stocked. I wanted to ne true with God. If i sing i dont sing for fun, If i sing i sing because i believe in the words i sing. One day and 2 meeting went by and i decided to come back on what i thought the day before. I started to believe that Gods was also in this situation. And he is. I feel very good now and blessed.. It is to easy when you dont feel okay to blame God.. It is a challenge to walk with Him day by day.

The last months God started to reveal more and more how He thinks about me. That i am loved in his eyes. That i am precious.. That i am his doughter.
I am not there all the way yet. But more and more i start to accept myself, to love ,myself and to do the walk together with God.

I have a smll secret to tell: God is a great person to laugh with! Just tjek it out yourself!!

Stay Blessed dear people

Elsa :)

Little Partida!

2005-12-06T13:05:00.000-07:00

Here are some new pictures of Ian!! He looks so much like Bernardo! Noelle emailed these to me the other day. I wasn't sure who all got them so I thought I would post them for everyone to see. I have some more if anyone would like me to email them. Here is some news from Noelle, "Hey everybody! we are here in Valle, and our plans are as follows. We have tickets to go to San Diego California on the 20th. We are waiting for our tickets from L.A. to Dallas and Dallas to London (these will be before January the 15th.). So we will be in Amsterdam pretty soon. hopefully begining 2006.
Ian is growing beautifully. Here are some pictures."
**So that is the news from them! Definatly be keeping them in your prayers as they are starting to make this transistion. Hopefully they will be able to post on the blog sometime and update us on how everything is going, but for now it sounds like they are doing great!

bringing it home to mama

2005-12-01T12:12:00.000-07:00

lookout you dutchies
'cuz i'm headed your way...
if you want to hang out
you can find me at de poort
starting wed. of next week (7/12).

for the rest of you:
na nan-a boo boo

big pimpin' spending cheese,
anne

question for Hannah

2005-11-28T20:12:00.000-07:00

Hey Hannah,
I just emailed you and it came back that your email didn't work. Could you send me an email? It's amandaelofson@hotmail.com if you need it.
Amanda

Finally it's working

2005-11-22T09:26:00.000-07:00

Is it working ! I had tried a couple of times, but now it works, i think!! Thank you Hannah.

Greetz

Problemas!

2005-11-21T14:41:00.000-07:00

I am having some problems with seeing all the links and people's names, so I tried changing the settings but it is not working so...just so you all know I am working on it! (If you all can see everything let me know and so I know it is just me!) Yep...that is about it!

P.S. Yesterday I heard "Last Christmas I Gave You My Heart" when I was shopping...needless to say it was another time I was laughing while everyone around me was wondering what is wrong with me!

My Second New "Niece"

2005-11-18T08:50:00.000-07:00

This is my new second cousin Milan! (Both of my cousins just had babies). So now we have a new generation on both sides of my family! This is my cousin Randi, her husband Darrell and my second cousin/niece Milan. As a proud new "aunt" I thought I would share with you all! (Plus it is the biggest news in my life as of now-and it exciting!)...

I think summer is officially over!

2005-11-16T14:07:00.000-07:00

This morning I went outside to warm up my car and my doors were iced shut! It was so cold!! When I left this morning it was 18 degrees outside (-7.7 degrees). By the middle of the day today it has gotten to 40 degrees (4.4 degrees) but it is still so cold compared to how it had been. I am still adjusting to the fact that summer is over (even though it is almost winter- I guess I am a slow processor!). Colorado is wired because it can be 80 degrees one day and the next is 20 degrees; so I guess those days help me believe summer will never end! Other than the fact that I am cold I am doing good~Thanksgiving is next week so that is exciting (P.S. Happy belated Thanksgiving Josh)~
*If you all could be praying for one of my friends, he is 27 and having all kinds of back problems. He had surgery and now it is even worse-he is practically immobile. He also is an amazing guitarist and has found out he has carpal tunel and will need surgery on his wrists. As you can imagine it is a really hard time in his life right now so if you could be joining me in praying for his healing I would appreciate it*
~miss you all!

In Amsterdam

2005-11-05T12:19:00.000-07:00

Hi dts 2004 students,

Yesterday, friday 4th of november 2005, the dutch decided to come together and have a funn night together. You can say we had a litlle reunion. This reunion had a little suprise.. not only William was there to join us (which was very nice :) ).. As a suprise Phill and Cori were there too. Nobody knew they were in Amsterdam (besides Inge and Will) so it was a suprise for us. Ofcourse there the family van der ploeg was not complete without Corban.

With Inge, Jaco, José, Jolanda, Richard, Phil, Cori, Corban, Will and me (Elsa) we sat together, had a nice meal in some Tai place and went to dwaze zaken to hang out and have a drink.
-Dwaze zaken- Foolish Things -

I can say it was special. We realy felt we missed you guys! Half of the dts was there... we felt not complete! So next time we will let you know when we meet, so eveybody can come back to Amsterdam on time. :)

For the Peru-team: Wagner from Arequipq asked me to say 'hi 'to you and thanked us for being a blessing to them.

For everybody. We met Bill Payne yesterday on the base. He was in Amsterdam to give a teaching this week. There is a change that he en his wife will look for a house in the Netherlands and settle down.

ByE bYe

Elsa

In Honor of Anne...

2005-11-03T07:35:00.000-07:00

Really funny story for all you who where there all the times Anne was hauted by the name boricua...

So I am driving home from work yesterday and the car in front of me has a huge BORICUA sign written across the back window! I was laughing so hard! (I was sad though because I didn't have anyone with me that got the joke and I didn't have my camera with me! I tried calling some of you but you didn't answer your phones.) So yea, that was my "really funny inside joke moment that no one understood but me so it wasn't quite as funny" yesterday! Just thought I would share with you all! Good times, good times...

not much:)

2005-11-01T10:51:00.000-07:00

Hey you all/ya'll,
It's so good to have this so we can see different prayer requests. How was your weekend with your cousin, Hannah? I will definitely be praying for you, Josh. And Will...you're an amazing individual...but I know you already knew that. I'm considering taking some really hard classes next spring. And I don't like studying so much. Please keep me in your prayers.
Talk to ya'll later,
Amanda

We camp at your feet

2005-10-30T20:50:00.000-07:00

Hey friends, I definitly need your prayers in the next little while (or long while). I left my church last week because I just had a bunch of issues that weren't like the solvable kind you can talk through. Believe me when I say that it wasn't something done in haste, and that I aked for guidance many times before coming to a final decision. Although I feel like it was the right thing to do, Its a bummer/unenjoyable thing to do and I just covet your prayers as I search for a new place to call "churchyhomy". Thanks dudes. Ps. the picture is from surfing last weekend, it was too stormy to surf (most of the time), but still amazing.

2005-10-26T14:04:00.000-06:00

Hey guys,
I would like to introduce you all to my new niece Taylor! (Actually she is my second cousin-my cousin Rebecca's daughter but she seems like a niece so I decided that is what I am calling her. "Second cousin" seems so impersonal). I got to spend time with her this weekend and it was so much fun, she is a great kid!

Immediate Prayer Request!

2005-10-21T09:46:00.000-06:00

Hey guys,
If you all could be praying for my cousin and I. I found out this morning that a whole bunch of stuff is happening with her and she coming down to Denver to be with us for the weekend. If you all could be praying that God will give me wisdom on how to handle the situation, I really want to be a comfort to her right now. Her spirit is really broken right now and I it hurts me so much to see her like this. Pray that God would really bond us together as a family as we get through this; also that He would draw Rebecca to Him. That she would realize that He is her only rock and shelter. She is a Christian but she has really not personalized her beliefs, so if you guys could be praying God would really use this hard time to bring her back to Him. Thank you guys so much, it really helps to know that people are praying for us.

i'm in the archive

2005-10-19T10:26:00.000-06:00

i dont know why...but my posting went right to archive. if anyone knows why...let me know

will

im a guy

2005-10-19T10:08:00.000-06:00

hey people that i know

wow...sorry its takin me so many years to get on this blog. things are going awesome here. i love my work at the Cleft. no joke. its been a huge blessing to be back here. hannah, thanx for setting this whole deal up. it awesome. hm...so life here is good. i spend my time here practing my dance moves with Baba and teaching Armando how to truly minister to the Nations. thats my normal day....ok...actually its been super intense being back here. i cant believe the brokeness of the RLD. it blows me away sometimes that a place like that can exist. yet, we see God healing peoples hearts and calling them into fellowship with Himself. me and a few other guys have started a night ministry in the RLD. thats been awesome. no joke. we talk to a lot of dealers and tourist. it great.

so yeah, heres a picture from the Amsterdam Half Marathon over the weekend. it was awesome. i ran 8 minute miles for 13.1 miles...a total time 1 hour 47 minutes. i had a blast doing it. in the picture is one of the girls from the DTS named michelle. she ran it too. so yea. ok...take care guys. seeya later...

hey...check out my own site willstacken.blog.com to see whats all going with me in more detail

in Him...will

Random Thoughts!

2005-10-19T10:07:00.000-06:00

I had the blog set up so that anyone could post but now that we are recieving anonymous comments I have decided to change the settings. Now you have to be a member to post on the blog (which everyone who has posted so far is!). If this is a problem for anyone let me know. We can have other people be members on the blog if we want (like people from the base, or Elida, or Peru...) if you guys want...it is totally up to you all! Just let me know what you think.
Also if anyone knows stuff about blogs and wants to change stuff around you are more than welcome-just let me know and I can make you a co-administator.
If you guys have websites that you like or other blogs you want me to add on our links page let me know. Or anything else you would like me to change!

And...if anyone ever wants to come to Colorado my house is always open for people to come and stay!

Happenings

2005-10-18T13:03:00.000-06:00

So this is me this weekend playing a show with the band (love and wovles). This pretty much marks the start of recording for us, so that means we aren't going to play a show for a long while, or maybe we will, who knows. right? I'm jealous that it is snowing in colorado, man alive, its raining like the dickens here, and will continue to do so until June. YEAH FOR BC.

Fall!

2005-10-18T09:07:00.000-06:00

All of the aspen trees are changing here in Colorado. They are so beautiful!!! My dad and I went backpacking for two days up in the mountains a few weeks ago and it is amazing to see how all the scenery changes as it starts to get colder. Last week we had our first snow, it was so cold! (I am not ready for winter yet!). It snowed about 5in (12cm) where I live and up to 16in (40cm) in the mountains (for all you metric people!). At least Colorado changes so much, this week it has been in the 70's (around 22C). Hopefully it won't be cold again for a while! (I love the snow but I am not ready).

I'm a bloggin'!

2005-10-17T10:06:00.000-06:00

Hey People!
What's up? Hannah, this is way cool. I feel very high-tech right now...I'm a bloggin'! Ha! I hope that everyone is doing well. I miss you all like crazy. If anyone want's to come to Tennessee, just let me know. Just remember people; there is love, oh yes...there is love!

Test Elsa

2005-10-15T13:17:00.000-06:00

Hellow Peeps,
i am just testing how this works

Bye
Elsa

lekker dingen

2005-10-12T08:06:00.000-06:00

Hey you guys,
This is an awesome idea...you da' man...or woman... Hannah. Ok... let's see how many dot dot dot's I can put in one sentence! I'm getting ready for a Biology lab right now. Procrastination is fun:) Hope you are all swell. By the way, Maria Magdalena Elizabet Jansson, we need to email sooner or later. I haven't been on the computer lately.
Robetha, if you get this...I think it's awesome that you're doing what you're doing!!
Love ya'll,
Amanda

David Crowder Concert

2005-10-11T11:08:00.000-06:00

this weekend i went to a david crowder band/shane and shane/robbie seay band concert. it was soo good! it was a sold out show and all these people were praising God at the top of their lungs, it was an amazing time! if you guys ever get a chance to see any of them, do! all of their newest cds are really good too (david crowder-collision)(shane and shane-clean)(robbie seay is self titled). oh... and something else really random...I dont know if you guys have ever heard of the band the fray but I really like them and so I was talking to my friend travis about them and I found out that I know two of the guys in the band! I went to church with them in 5th through 7th grade (10-13 years old) and I also went to school with David their guitar player for three years. They just got off tour with weezer and now are with ben folds...how crazy is that? It is weird to think that they are all big time now. (in my mind they are still little 13 year old boys!). it is also weird to me that i am hearing their music all over now (like on ER) and that i connect that it is them...you guys should look them up if you dont know about them yet...they are really good...yea that is really random...but i thought i would share it because it is really the only news right now in my life!!!!

Go Hannah! =)

2005-10-09T22:00:00.000-06:00

Great idea Hannah! Really cool...

man alive

2005-10-09T18:18:00.000-06:00

major props hannah,
today I was in my church's downtown vancouver campus and I met a whack of DTSers from the vancouver base, they were in their first week, and they are going to amsterdam and morocco... weird?

IT IS SET UP!

2005-10-09T12:17:00.000-06:00

Hello Everyone,
The blog is all set up now. Hopefully it will help us all be able to keep in touch easier. You can post anything you want on here; pictures, stories, prayer requests...ect! Just let me know if you have any questions.