THE COUNTDOWN HAS BEGUN...
It’s december 17th, 1.30 pm. Outside it’s been snowing for the last couple of hours, but here inside the hous it’s warm. My bedroom looks like it has been exploded! That’s not unusuall, however, this time it’s full of garbage bags filled with clothes and other stuff I need to pick out. Keep, throw out, give away… In the background the X-mas Top-50 is filling the silence and then it hits me: it’s only 24 more days (576 hours, 34560 minutes, 2073600 seconds) before I get on the plane to Australia, together with my flight buddy Suzanne. (How usefull is Facebook!)
TIME FLIES...
These past few months, time has flown by like crazy! Over the summer it seemed so far away and after, amongst other things, my scooter passed away, I thought to myself many times that I could as easily buy a car from my savings. Luckilly, every problem has a solution, and for every dead scooter a new one can be found somewhere. (Thanks, mom and dad!) And that’s just one of the things that required a whole lot of perseverance. And as time went faster, September came and the ‘only-three-more-months’-time came closer, the realization of what I’m about to leave behind here in The Netherlands turned up.
Because, who would have thought that during the last two years of preparations, I would also find an amazing job with amazing collegues? And who could have imagined that leaving friends behind is far more complicated then I thought? One (or two) of them is expecting a baby next summer, while I’m on the other side of the world; another is getting married next summer, while I’m on the other side of the world, and so on.
But while I often think about that, those same friends keep reminding me, that in a month from now, I won’t be thinking of that anymore. That they would love to come with me in my suitcase. And for real, if I could, I would bring everybody, but sadly I’m only allowed to bring 20kg. But, I’m glad to be able to look forward to visitors at the end of the year from both my parents, as well as one of my best friends... That helps!
I'M READY!
Seriously though, what a hassle it is to move abroad! And since I’m not a superhero who understands all the tings that need to taken care of, rather I thinkg that’s boring and complicated, I’m happy to have had help with that from all kinds of different people. So most everything is ready, my visa and planeticket being the easiest off all. Oh well, me with my ‘no-criminal-record-cuz-I’ve-never-broken-the-law-before’, I am an easy review for the ambassy. Online, within a day, it was taken care of. They want me overthere.
I’m blessed with all the people arround met who are involved, both by prayer as welll as financial (i.e., I can bring a laptop with me, due to the support of some friends) and at the same time I’m proud of the fact that I saved up most of the money myself and didn’t buy that car!
MY HOME COMMITTEE
If I have to name two (or actually three) people without whose help I would’ve NEVER been able to get this far, it be Emanuel, Esther and Joy Blokker. My weekly lunch-dates with Esther, apart from just fun, have been very usefull for the earlier mentioned ‘hassle’. And my financial picture looks perfect, instead of chaotic, due to Emanuel. But even more their friendship and support is what makes them the sweetest, coolest and smartest home committtee I could ever wish for.
I'LL MISS YOU!
Only 3 more weeks… With Christmas and New Years coming up, time will go even faster. Packing up is the next step and then all the last ‘dates’ with my friends, at least for a year.
I’m going to miss everybody, but at the same time I’m happy with all the possibilities of this century, like Facebook, Skype, Hyves, Gmail, YouTube etc. And to use that right away, the link below is of a short trailer that gives a brief and clear impression of what I’m about to head into.
TO BE CONTINUED...
My next newsletter will be from Australia and at least filled with a whole lot more adventures!
Keep following me, from my blog, that will kick of January 1st!
PRAYER AND THANKING POINTS:
- Thank (and pray) for my family and my dear friends an collegues I’m going to miss so much!
- Thank for all the preparations that have been so easy and the financial part that is as good as done.
- Thank for the girl who will take over my room here at home.
- Pray for these last 3 weeks that are filles with packing and goodbyes.
- Pray for the last things that need to be taken care of, that they will go smoothly.
Link: http://vimeo.com/17345867
Saturday, December 18, 2010
Friday, December 17, 2010
Newsletter #1
WHAT STARTED OUT AS A DREAM…
We write the year 2004. I had just started college at the Christian University Ede. This is where I first came encounter with Hillsong United, a worshipband out of Australia. After some research I discovered around 2006, that Hillsong does not only exsist of United, but in fact is a big church, and with that also a college with a degree in the area where my heart lies: worship and music!
Ever since i was a little kid I’ve been busy with music. So, I learned at an early age that God is in music and it’s a awesome way to communicate with God and people. I can’t exactly explain why music is so important to me, it just is! What I do know is, is that music is a powerful tool to touch people, tell them a story or to share with. Because that’s what it’s really about: Relationships, between God and people and between people. For me, music is an important key. And I pretty much like anything. Currently I play piano and guitar in church, where I also sing and lead worship. Besides that I really enjoy my drumlessons.
‘Later, when I’m older, I’ll make it my profession…’, a thought that crossed my mind a lot as a child, teenager, young adult… But I had a long ways to go before college graduation…
So all the while it remained a dream. When I talk about it with my friends nowadays, they tell me that I’ve always mentioned it in college. I can’t remember much of that, exept that there was always that voice in the back of my head that whispered: ‘Later, when you’re older…’.
And ‘later’ came, because finally, Feburay 2009 I graduated and got my Bachelor of Social Work. Now it was time to seriously think about my future. And after a long time not thinking about is, the old dream came afloat: Studying at Hillsong College. So what to do: the security of a job, or go for Australia? After three weeks of thinking and praying, that I’d made my deadline, I cut the knot: I’m going for it!
During the months that followed, I got a job, a homefront committee, I took care of my application and I started saving my butt of. A year later, this passed march 2010, that one important letter from Australia came: I was accepted in the Worship Music Programm, starting January 2011!
WHAT IS HILLSONG COLLEGE?
Hillsong Church is a big church in Sydney, Australia, consisting of two campusses, the Hills Campus and the City campus. Each weekend, over 15000 people join the services, spread over more then 10 services. There are also services in Brisbane, aswell as in London, Kiev, Paris and South-Africa. Part of Hillsong Church is Hillsong College, a college (comparing to a dutch HBO-university) that, in it’s current form offers four streams: Worship Music, Dance, TV & Media and Pastoral leadership.
The Worship Music stream is a three-year program, one can follow 1,2 or 3 years. The first year, besides core subjects such as Introduction to the Old and New Testamen and Personal Leadership, each stream follows, I’ll get subjects such as Worship Leadership, Songwriting and Worship Theology. Also there are Masterclasses, Worshops and Tutorials that go deeper into the diffent parts of music and worship.
Besides the theoreticall input, the stream offers the opportunity to practice the learned theory within Hillsong Church.
CITY CAMPUS
The campus I’ll be at is the City Campus, based in the middle of Sydney, close to, for example, the touristic Bondi Beach. (Google it with Google Streetview, adress: 188 Young Street Waterloo NSW 2017 Australia). This campus houses about 150 out of 800 students and is therefor the smaller campus.
6 MORE MONTHS… JANUARY 2011
Well, it’s not that far yet. School starts january 24th 2011. That means I’ll leave somewhere at the end of december, the beginning of january to Down Under. At least 6 months of preparations are ahead of me.
I’m using this time mostly by working a lot and saving up. I work at Karakter (Character) Child and Youth Psychiatric Hospital close to my hometown Ede, at a treatment grouphome for teenagers. I love it every day, both with the kids and my team! I’m also currently working on an airplain ticket, my visa, sponsors and other things to take care of for this adventure.
I hope to update you regulary the coming months on developments and I hope to talk with you personally about this great adventure!
PRAYER AND THANKING POINTS:
- Thank God that He is the Dreamgiver that keeps His promisses and I can go.
- Thank God that I have a great job with an awesome team of co-workers.
- Thank God for my superb homefront committe, that are totally commited and suportive.
- Pray for the finances to get there.
- Pray for a good preparation period (visa, ticket, etc.)
We write the year 2004. I had just started college at the Christian University Ede. This is where I first came encounter with Hillsong United, a worshipband out of Australia. After some research I discovered around 2006, that Hillsong does not only exsist of United, but in fact is a big church, and with that also a college with a degree in the area where my heart lies: worship and music!
Ever since i was a little kid I’ve been busy with music. So, I learned at an early age that God is in music and it’s a awesome way to communicate with God and people. I can’t exactly explain why music is so important to me, it just is! What I do know is, is that music is a powerful tool to touch people, tell them a story or to share with. Because that’s what it’s really about: Relationships, between God and people and between people. For me, music is an important key. And I pretty much like anything. Currently I play piano and guitar in church, where I also sing and lead worship. Besides that I really enjoy my drumlessons.
‘Later, when I’m older, I’ll make it my profession…’, a thought that crossed my mind a lot as a child, teenager, young adult… But I had a long ways to go before college graduation…
So all the while it remained a dream. When I talk about it with my friends nowadays, they tell me that I’ve always mentioned it in college. I can’t remember much of that, exept that there was always that voice in the back of my head that whispered: ‘Later, when you’re older…’.
And ‘later’ came, because finally, Feburay 2009 I graduated and got my Bachelor of Social Work. Now it was time to seriously think about my future. And after a long time not thinking about is, the old dream came afloat: Studying at Hillsong College. So what to do: the security of a job, or go for Australia? After three weeks of thinking and praying, that I’d made my deadline, I cut the knot: I’m going for it!
During the months that followed, I got a job, a homefront committee, I took care of my application and I started saving my butt of. A year later, this passed march 2010, that one important letter from Australia came: I was accepted in the Worship Music Programm, starting January 2011!
WHAT IS HILLSONG COLLEGE?
Hillsong Church is a big church in Sydney, Australia, consisting of two campusses, the Hills Campus and the City campus. Each weekend, over 15000 people join the services, spread over more then 10 services. There are also services in Brisbane, aswell as in London, Kiev, Paris and South-Africa. Part of Hillsong Church is Hillsong College, a college (comparing to a dutch HBO-university) that, in it’s current form offers four streams: Worship Music, Dance, TV & Media and Pastoral leadership.
The Worship Music stream is a three-year program, one can follow 1,2 or 3 years. The first year, besides core subjects such as Introduction to the Old and New Testamen and Personal Leadership, each stream follows, I’ll get subjects such as Worship Leadership, Songwriting and Worship Theology. Also there are Masterclasses, Worshops and Tutorials that go deeper into the diffent parts of music and worship.
Besides the theoreticall input, the stream offers the opportunity to practice the learned theory within Hillsong Church.
CITY CAMPUS
The campus I’ll be at is the City Campus, based in the middle of Sydney, close to, for example, the touristic Bondi Beach. (Google it with Google Streetview, adress: 188 Young Street Waterloo NSW 2017 Australia). This campus houses about 150 out of 800 students and is therefor the smaller campus.
6 MORE MONTHS… JANUARY 2011
Well, it’s not that far yet. School starts january 24th 2011. That means I’ll leave somewhere at the end of december, the beginning of january to Down Under. At least 6 months of preparations are ahead of me.
I’m using this time mostly by working a lot and saving up. I work at Karakter (Character) Child and Youth Psychiatric Hospital close to my hometown Ede, at a treatment grouphome for teenagers. I love it every day, both with the kids and my team! I’m also currently working on an airplain ticket, my visa, sponsors and other things to take care of for this adventure.
I hope to update you regulary the coming months on developments and I hope to talk with you personally about this great adventure!
PRAYER AND THANKING POINTS:
- Thank God that He is the Dreamgiver that keeps His promisses and I can go.
- Thank God that I have a great job with an awesome team of co-workers.
- Thank God for my superb homefront committe, that are totally commited and suportive.
- Pray for the finances to get there.
- Pray for a good preparation period (visa, ticket, etc.)
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