Nr.51 ended with: “Late at night when we were getting closer to the Sault the alternator gave the ghost, the battery started dying and slowly our lights became dimmer and dimmer……..!

We were able to drive into the city thanks to the street lights. When we got to a motel our battery had died completely and we had no car lights at all. We quickly went to bed, dead tired from the long drive and wondering how we would get the car started the next morning. I got up quite early and after prayer got into the car. As I turned the key in the ignition the motor turned over just once and started, unbelievable. I thanked the Lord, drove to a garage where they put in a new alternator and charged the battery enough to get us on our way. We left right away and drove the last 900 km without problems arriving late at night in the little mission house, where we had stayed before. While there, we ministered in the small mission church, did a lot of reading and studying and had many discussions with Mission’s representative about missions and church planting. I learned a lot from him, as the Mission had been very active and successful in starting new churches in Mexico and some South American countries.

Yet at the same time Marina and I began to feel an inner uneasiness about working with this Mission organization. There were a few things we did not agree with, but that was not really it,  it was something else, which at the time we didn’t understand, but which would become clear later on. One evening we were reading the Bible together and a verse stood out to both of us, Deut.1:6b and 7a, “You have dwelt long enough at this mountain…..turn and take your journey.” The next morning the Mission’s representative came to us and apologetically said that we could no longer stay in the house as a missionary couple from South America was coming back and needed the place. There were the three guide posts again, the inner voice of the Spirit, the word of God and the circumstances. We both knew very well where the Lord wanted us, but the time wasn’t yet ready and the details not clear. So we packed up and left…….! (Go to Musings)

 

Nr.50 ended with: “What to do, we did not have the money, but we did have the Lord and unknown to us then, another miracle was in the making……!”

We earnestly prayed and asked the Lord to somehow intervene. My farmer friend’s wife had been a head nurse in a hospital and gave Marina some advice. Then after some time I took her back to the doctor in the hospital, who examined her and then asked why she had come to him. He then smiled and said that he was very surprised, everything was fine and no operation was needed. When we got home and told the former nurse what had happened, she could hardly believe it and said that she had never heard of anything like it. Praise the Lord, He had heard and answered our prayer, all praise to Him. Sometime after that, my friend began to press us to stay with him as he really needed me.

However, we had continued to seek the Lord and felt that we needed to go back to the Mission in Ontario. He was quite upset with us, but we knew we had to follow the Lord’s leading. And so, on Sunday December 24, the day before Christmas, after the last bit of cleaning up of the house, and preaching my last message at the church, we left to drive to Marina’s parents arriving there on Christmas eve. Leaving my “friends” place wasn’t very nice, this was now the third time someone try to hold us back from doing God’s will. We stayed with Marina’s parents until after the New Year and then left to drive to Ontario. The first day we drove to Winnipeg, Manitoba, about 800 km. Two little girls on the back seat and Rini, the two months old baby on a pile of diapers in a banana box between us. Every now and then Marina would nurse her while we kept on driving. The second day, to Sault St Marie in Ontario, more than 1300 km. It snowed all the way, and at times quite heavy, but we knew we were moving in God’s will and His protection. Late at night when we were getting closer to the Sault the alternator gave the ghost, the battery started dying and slowly our lights became dimmer and dimmer……..! (Go to Musings)

Nr..49 ended with: “After a few days we all packed into our old Buick and started on our trip West. All the while Marina and I had been and were constantly seeking the Lord as to our future missionary ministry.”

It was so good to have my parents with us; they had just had a very difficult time. I had two younger twin sisters; the one died, age 20 and was buried on my birthday on May 18. A little over a month later my parents came to Canada after having said goodbye to my father’s mother who was seriously ill and died while my parents were in Canada. It was very hard on them, but it helped to be with us. We took them all the way to the Rocky Mountains in Alberta and followed the most beautiful highway in Canada from Banff to Jasper through the awesome mountains, much of the time singing “How great Thou art!” We then drove back to Saskatchewan to be with Marina’s parents. After driving more than 6.000 km, my parents flew back to Holland from Regina, after which we drove to a farm near the border of Alberta.

A friend had a 5.000 acre farm there and had asked me to come and help him harvesting. On Sundays I preached in a church which was without a pastor. I didn’t know at the time that my friend was hoping to have us stay with him. Then on October the 26^th our third little girl was born, Rieneke Ruth Hope. Rieneke (in English Renee, but she spells it Rini) was the name of my sister who died. What a cute little bundle of hope she was. After the birth the doctor told Marina that there was something seriously wrong inside of her and that she needed an operation. She was sent home to get rested up and then to come back for the operation. But due to our moving around through difference provinces, our Ontario hospitalization would not cover the cost. What to do, we did not have the money, but we did have the Lord and unknown to us then, another miracle was in the making……! (Go to Musings)

 

Nr.48 ended with: “Then I saw a very large bag on the ground filled to the brim with groceries. To this day we have no idea who put that there as no one knew of our need, except God! We had a wonderful breakfast……………!”

Once my back was better I found a job helping to set up a new large Simpson Sears store. I was then asked to stay on and work in the men’s department, where “small” stuff like shirts, socks, ties, etc. was sold. I worked there until June 1967 and enjoyed it very much. One day the personnel manager asked me to come to his office. He expressed his satisfaction with my work and then offered to train me to become a department manager. It was a terrific offer. He asked me what I thought. I thanked him for the offer and then said that I was sorry, but that I could not accept. He looked very surprised and wanted to know why. I told him that I was going to be a missionary. Oh boy, that didn’t sit right. Did I ever get it. He told me I was a fool throwing away a life chance and instead go telling people, who didn’t want to hear anyway, about Jesus. He became very upset and told me again that I was a big fool. Now I had heard this before.

You may remember that people in California offered to put me through university to become doctor. I refused that too and was looked upon as a fool. (See nr.26,27). The wonderful, amazing thing is, that God uses fools! Hah! I stopped working in June when my parents arrived from Holland. We hadn’t seen or talked to each other for 12 years. Transatlantic phone calls didn’t exist then yet, at least not in the places where I lived. What a reunion that was there at the Toronto airport. They had never met Marina and our two little girls. After a few days we all packed into our old Buick and started on our trip West. All the while Marina and I had been and were constantly seeking the Lord as to our future missionary ministry. (Go to Musings)

Nr.47 ended with: “I mention this as the Psalm says, “You shall glorify Me.” And so we left knowing that God was in this with us…..!”

After 6 wonderful weeks, and seeing God work in many hearts and lives, I went to work on the farm. Marina and I kept on with meetings, children’s clubs and DVBS’s  in different areas. After the summer Marina had to slow down as something wonderful was coming. On the evening of October 25, while having a prayer meeting in our home, Marina all at once said, Richard it’s time. So I got her into the car and drove to the hospital where some hours later our second little girl, Lily Ann Joy was born, and what a joy she was. A little later we moved to Regina. Missions was still much on our hearts and we were seeking the Lord’s will and guidance. During our time in Regina I held special meetings in some places and I preached in a pastor-less church for several months.

We also got in contact with the New Testament Missionary Union, a mission organization working mainly in South America and Spain. They had an office in Fonthill, Ontario, close to Niagara Falls. During May 1966 we drove to Ontario and moved into a small house that the mission had. There was a small church in which we fellow-shipped and ministered. Because of severe back problems I couldn’t work for a while and so we were trusting the Lord to meet our needs. Some time later I got a job with Simpson Sears, but before that I spent a lot of time in study and prayer with the Mission’s representative. One night before going to bed, Marina and I prayed together and asked the Lord to meet our needs, our cupboards were empty and there was nothing for breakfast. The next morning after getting up I wanted to go outside but had a hard time opening the door. I pushed harder and heard something falling. Then I saw a very large grocery bag on the ground filled to the brim with groceries. To this day we have no idea who put that there as no one knew of our need, except God! We had a wonderful breakfast……………! (Go to Musings)

 

Nr.46 ended with: “After graduating, Marina and I both had a Bible College diploma and we were ready serve the Lord, but where……?” During College students would often get in contact with Mission organizations. After graduating would then join a Mission, do a year of deputation work to get the support they needed and then go to a mission field. We had also had contact with a couple Missions, but we had no freedom to join. We moved into an apartment of friends. I went to worked on a farm. But before that, four young men from the College who formed a quartet and sang beautifully went with me on a tour through Sask. At night we held meetings in churches or halls, where they sang and I preached. During the day we worked for farmers to make some money. However, the day before we left I did not have enough money to leave for my wife and baby and also to cover the first costs of the tour. That night I prayed far into the night, reading God’s word and pleading with him to provide. I was at my wits end, as we would not be able to go if we did not have the money and I was responsible. While reading I came to the words of Psalm 50:15, “Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you and you shall glorify Me.” I told the Lord I was in trouble and reminded Him of this promise.

Again and again I prayed, until sometime during the night I received the assurance that He had heard me. The next morning the telephone rang and a far away friend asked whether I had received his letter, I said no. Well, he said, a few days ago the Lord laid it on my heart to send you a cheque, it should be there anytime. And sure enough the mailman had the letter with him that morning. The cheque covered exactly what we needed, while the donor did not know about our traveling plans and our need. God had heard and answered! I mention this as the Psalm says, “You shall glorify Me.” And so we left knowing that God was in this with us…………………..! (Go to Musings)

Nr.45 ended with: “The beginning of September we drove to the Bible College where a wonderful thing would happen……!”

It had been another busy summer, but we had experienced so much joy and blessing that it had been worth it all. However, we were glad to get settled in at the College where Marina got a job working in the kitchen which helped pay for schooling and expenses. Until school started I was able to work for a local farmer harvesting. Then the time of studying started again and how I enjoyed the classes and the fellowship. I often sat with tears in my eyes as I drank in the rich teaching and the beauty of God’s Word. Some weekends Marina and I would drive “up North” to the area’s where we had Vacation Bible Schools and where we then held meetings, did follow up with the children and visited the parents. The time seem to fly by and then on March 23 the wonderful thing happened, our first baby was born, a beautiful girl which we named Rosalinda, but for the longest time called Sunshine, as she was so true to that name. To us every baby is a miracle, a bundle of joy and evidence for the Creator. How happy we were. That spring after school was finished we moved to a small town in southern Saskatchewan and pastored a little church while also holding clubs and DVBS’s in different places. Our little Rosa went along everywhere. She would sit quietly in class while Marina was teaching, never fussing or disturbing the lessons. In between classes Marina would nurse her and on we went, wonderful! And the Lord provided in different ways, we were often amazed and so thankful for His care for us. September came and for me the last year of College. We did not live on campus but in a one room apartment in Swift Current, a city about 60 km NW of Pambrun. I drove up and down to school every day and in between sold Fullerbrush in the city, while Marina worked for some women cleaning house. After graduating, Marina and I both had a Bible College diploma and we were ready serve the Lord, but where……? (Go to Musings)

Nr.44 ended with: “However in one place, Piapot, at the end of the first day we were at our wits end…….!” We had started on Monday morning with quite a good group of children and it looked like it was going to be a great week, but we didn’t know David, a boy about 9 years old. He was just impossible, interrupting all the time, running around while we were telling a story, pulling the girls hair, fighting with the boys, and just being a terrible nuisance and spoiling it for everybody. That evening after the children had gone home, we called the workers together and held a special prayer meeting. We asked the Lord to either touch David’s heart somehow or keep him away from the school.

The next morning there he was bright and early and he came up to me and said “Teacher, you know what, last night in bed I asked Jesus to come into my heart.” I almost fell over and looked at him and wondered whether he was trying to fool me or what. But the amazing thing was that David was totally changed, he was quiet in class, he treated the other children real good, he was polite and eager to learn, he told the other children to give their hearts to Jesus, it was just incredible! And he went on that way all week, a miracle had taken place and we thanked the Lord on our bear knees. I had experienced that same miracle when I was more than 20 years old, but to see it in a young boy like this was really special. And it wasn’t just David, during the two summer months we saw many children becoming children of God. Now we realize that children can be easily influenced and so we were always careful in explaining what it really meant to allow the Lord Jesus in their hearts, because we wanted it to be real. Many hearts and lives were touched and what a time we will have in heaven meeting all these precious ones. What a privilege to be used by God to change hearts and lives for now and eternity. The beginning of September we drove to the Bible College where a wonderful thing would happen……! (Go to Musings)

Nr.43 ended with: “We then started driving home, but….……!”

….half way down the road I noticed all at once that our gas tank was almost empty. Ever happened to you? I whispered in Marina’s ear, we’re almost out of gas, pray! We had no money at all and we had given the 20 dollars to Marina’s sister. How could God provide in the middle of nowhere? As we were driving, actually without my realizing it, my hand went up and felt in the top pocket of my jacket and lo and behold I pulled out a five dollar bill, worth about $35 now. I have absolutely no idea where that 5 dollar bill came from; I just know I never put it there. Are there angels? I believe so. Read Hebrews 1:14. At the next lonely service station we got gas and drove to the farm. We left Marina’s sister there and drove to our home. When we arrived there the Norwegian lady had made supper for us. As I lifted the cup and saucer from my plate, I found 15 dollars. That evening we went to visit the superintendent of the Sunday school in the small town close to us and we planned some activities. As we left he gave us an envelope with 70 dollars. We had given away a 20 dollar wedding present, and had now received 85 dollars back. Is God faithful or not? He is no man’s debtor! Praise His name. “Give and to you shall be given.”

During our stay here we got back in contact with my friends in California, who asked us to come and work for them from March until the end of June. And so we packed up and drove down to California, where we spent a wonderful time pruning peach trees, harvesting almonds and feeding and catching thousands of turkeys ready for market. We made enough money to get us through the summer and into Bible College for the 3^rd year. We spent July and August having Vacation Bible Schools in many places and saw wonderful things happening in the lives of children and young people. However in one place, Piapot, at the end of the first day we were at our wits end…….! (Go to Musings)

Nr.42 ended with: “….and then on Sunday night late we drove to our small house on the farm. When we got there, the large house was dark, the elderly Norwegian couple was already in bed, while our little house was locked and we had no key…!”

Because it was quite late the couple must have thought that we were coming on Monday. So what to do? The door was like an apartment door, opened from the outside with a key, on the inside with a knob. I noticed a window beside the door which opened by pushing it up. I figured it would be locked, but tried anyway, and sure enough I was able to push it up. It wasn’t very big, but large enough for my little wife to get through. So, instead of carrying my bride across the doorstep, I pushed her through the window, after which she unlocked the door and we were inside, laughing and rejoicing! What a way to start married life, hah! 🙂

We spent six months in that cozy little house. During that time we made trips to the places where we had Vacation Bible Schools to do follow up. We also helped with a Sunday school in a nearby town and I was co-director for Youth for Christ in Swift Current. But most important, I studied a book “The New Testament Order for Church and Missionary” by Alexander R. Hay. It caused me to really study the N.T. in regards to the church and church planting and it laid the groundwork for our ministry later in Belgium. The Lord continued to provide for us in different ways. We had some interesting experiences. One day we drove Marina’s sister to the home farm. She was on her way to Toronto to a mission organisation, but she did not have enough money for the train fare. We told the Lord that if anything was given to us that morning, we would give it to her. We stopped in at a friend’s place in the city and she gave us a 20 dollar wedding gift, which we immediately passed on to the sister so she could by her train ticket. We then started driving home, but….……! (Go to Musings)