Wednesday - Netherlands

Wednesday morning by 9:30 I was back at a train station, this time in Heerenveen where I took the train south to Zwolle, where I then changed trains to go to Zutphen and there I took a bus which brought me to Doetinchem. Now the bus was a bit of a treacherous ordeal. When the driver walked by the bus to get in, he noticed that there was a leak under the bus and that some yellow/green fluids were flowing... Of course he called the mechanics and then they decided that he could still drive the bus to wherever it needed to go, and since I was the only passenger, we were quickly on our way. To be honest with you, I had my doubts but decided that if the driver was ok with it, I would be ok also. Halfway through the trip the smell of fuel was permanently present inside the bus, and to top it all off one of the heavy plastic covers of a light fixture in the bus fell down in the aisle. It made me jump and the driver curse, which was rather funny in and of itself... Never a dull moment. Fortunately nobody got hurt and I was glad I could leave the bus when I saw Liesbeth Hilderink (now married Van Hemert) at one of the bus stops!

Liesbeth was an intern at Coastlands in 1996/1997 and came back to visit a few times, the last time in 2006 when Bob and I had the privilege to pick her up from the San Francisco airport. We had lunch in the city at a place by the name of "Picknick" and had a great time catching up. She showed me her home and we went to her husband's workshop to she could introduce us to each other. Liesbeth and Bert met in November of 2006 and married in October 2007. So much fun to see old friends and meet a new one!

Liesbeth dropped me off at the train station in Zevenaar at 4:15 in the afternoon and off I went to Ede to see Leontien Vierhuizen and her husband Hans. Leontien was an intern in 1997 and visited last with her husband in the summer of 2008, of which we all have fond memories of a great Sunday lunch at Bill and Lorraine's with great conversation and laughter! Almost 4 hours went by in a flash while we talked and listened and talked and listened to each other. It was a lovely time of recognition and tears, delight and sadness. I am so grateful for the opportunity to be here and see what and how the Lord works and teaches us.

At 8:30 in the evening, Leontien brought me and my bags to Guy and Do de Jong who also live in Ede, and who also lived on campus when I was an intern, back in the day...! It is so good to see them, to encourage and to receive encouragement.

As you can imagine, I was very tired emotionally and physically at the end of the day. Tomorrow is a new day!