Congratulations! We have been away from the Netherlands for 20 years!

Today, 2 years ago, on March 19, at 11:29 am, the truck drove away from the Netherlands to Poland and we left the Netherlands. It literally feels like 10 years. Every year we feel we are getting 5 years older and the Netherlands seems to be slipping 5 years further away. And that doesn’t seem that great. Or….

There is another side. With every day we are here, we literally feel like we are growing 5 days older, but we see things happening every day that are worth 10 days!

With every year we are here, we see results that we would envy even with 10 years of effort.

And yes, that last day in the Netherlands and the first period on this side in Poland, it was tough as nails. But compared to the results? It all means nothing.

We see beautiful results every single day (literally!), where we absolutely should not expect them. The refugee with a smile despite all the loss, the homeless person you sit with on a bench laughing about something funny, the “burned-out missionaries” who were able to continue after a retreat, the suicidal client who is looking forward to another day. Also wonderful to see are the people who help you with something you didn’t expect. Who are suddenly there, helping with something, without asking for anything in return. While some you don’t even know. And suddenly, they appear on your doorstep (in whatever form) and help you to help others. So yes, we are 2 years gone, 10 years older, but the result are worth 20 years. Congratulations!

And today, 2 years ago, at 7:59 in the morning we took the last photo of the texts we had written on the tiles in the bathroom. And there it said, among other things:

And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.

Micah 6:8

In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength

Jesaja 30:15

And nothing has changed since then. But we did nothing from our own strength, God did it. All glory goes to Him.

And tomorrow? We have no idea. But if we can grow 5 days older tomorrow, and see the results of 10 days, then tomorrow will also be a beautiful day.