Dear friends,

We’re sorry that it took us still so long to keep you updated. It’s still taking Woudi a while to feel better, so those kind of things are putting on the long road, or however you say that.

But we like to let you know that we got a visa last week and we hope to leave for Florida coming January, so we can start serving with Harvest Aviation.

It’s snowing in Holland. Nassim took a nice picture on the beach. We like to share that with you.

We also like to wish you all a happy and blessed 2010!

Dear friends,

We’re so sorry for not informing you for such a long time.

A lot has past over the last year. We felt that we had to leave the field in Durango, Mexico for the safety of our family. The cartels were acting more and more also close to us. But also there were no more flights in Durango due to the closed airstrips. The government had closed them all. We’d waited for a change in this for like 3 months, but it didn’t change.This made us to make the decision to leave.  We took off for Tucson, where we were able to stay in the guesthouse. It had been a good time for all of us, especially to feel safe.

But God’s plans are the best and after 3 months we had to leave back to Holland, because our visa expired and we were only able to apply for a new visa in Holland.

We’re now living in Vlissingen, Holland, since the end of January 2009.

This is picture Nassim took while flying, from the town Vlissingen. Nice beach?!

On the bottom right you can see a mill. We can see that mill from our front window upstairs!

There is a visa application sent out for our family to make it able for us to serve with Harvest Aviation in Wauchula Florida and we have put in in God’s Hands and we trust Him with it all.

Just a picture from our family when we were out and enjoyed the country closeby. This was on the dike, along the beach like 15 minutes away from home.

We’re looking forward to go back to the States, but don’t know yet when we are aloud to go, because we need to get a visa first. We appreciate your prayers in that. If you want to know more about Harvest Aviation you can look at their site: www.harvestaviation.org.

By-the-way, our stuff is already in Florida. We drove with our van and trailer to Florida from Tucson before we flew back to Holland.

Our kids, just a few minutes from home!

Our time here in Holland was well needed and God knew that. We needed rest in the first place and we’re also glad that we’re able to get some more details about Arnout.

Please, keep us all in your prayers,

Nassim, Woudi, Wilberto, Lydia and Arnout

Dear friends,

Time flew by since the last update we gave you. We try to give you a new update with pictures again.

First of all, we want to thank you all for your support, especially in prayer. Many times we feel that others were in prayer and we are gracious for that.

One thing finished over the last months is the training/evaluation period at the airstrips around Durango.

Here at one of the airstrips when he went for training in the Chihuahua area.

Nassim also had the opportunity to be a part of the program ‘Aventura Misionera Infantil’ where aroundd 800 children attended to hear more about mission work. All of them attended around 24 workshops.

Many of the kids were touched.

Presenting the flags…

As the Durango team, we try to do the dump ministry ones a months.

Here at the dump, where we hand out lunch for 125 people. We include a tract in it.

The kids helped again with the preparation of the bags.

Wilberto with his friend Sergio.

Here our friends Jaime and Adriana. They do lots of ministry in and around Durango. One of the things they do is buying cheese and bring it to one of the villages. A pastor family can sell it to support their own family. In this picture you can see Jaime with a bar of cheese in his hand.

The airplane needed a 50 hours inspection, which the team did.

They’re smiling at all of us…

The end of July we headed out for the States. We stayed 2 nights in Chihuahua to do some orientation up there.

The first week in the States we stayed in Tucson, so Nassim could do a 100  hours inspection in the hangar.

While in Tucson we were also able do spent some special time with friends, but also as a family together.

It was good…

The first week of August we attended the UIM Conference.

We stayed in this cabin.

There was a lot of time to catch up with each other.

  We had several meetings with the Aviation department. Lots of things to talk about.

While we were meeting, the kids had their own childrens program.

  They performed for us at the end of the week. It was great!

We really enjoyed the conference and were spiritual charged again.

You can see, lots of things happend. We thank God for all the opportunities he gave us.

The last few weeks, were busy weeks. We want to let you be a part of it, by showing you some pictures.

First of all there was a flight to one of the villages with a group who was going to help the people out with making bricks for a building up there.

Nassim also did some training at another airstrip.

Here a picture from the air.

Left from the strudd is where they were helping.

Nassim flew a part of the group in.

Here you can see the house the local people are building for the teacher’s.

Nassim went in a day earlier to pick a part of the team up. The plans were that they should fly out as early as possible, the next morning, which they did.

Because he was there for a day, he used the time to help out making the bricks.

The team was also working hard. Here you can see the brick machine they used and was brought in by one of the missionaries by car, a long drive.

Checking the bricks and give them a finishing touch…

The ladies were making the dirt fine.

We liked this picture a lot, because of the little girl working hard too.

Moving the bricks to the truck, so they could be brought to the building in construction.

Unloading and in the same time seeing the building progress.

Hot sun, hard work.

Of course, lots of water to drink was needed.

The whole group together for a picture.

The local people and the work team from the States. They helped out an entire week, which is a blessing for that village.

When they were back in Durango, the group visited Rancho La Joya and spend some time up there.

One more picture at the Ranch.

Thank you guys so much for your help. May God bless you all richly.

This was one of the projects in those busy weeks.

This is from another flight a few weeks ago. Nassim had the opportunity to fly this group and stayed with them 2 days.

They had several services outside and Nassim was sometimes the translator.

They had also a baptism of this lady, which is a fruit on the work which is done in that village for many years.

After the baptism.

Gathered together for a picture.

One man offered a piece of his land so they can put a roof up and don’t need to have a service in the heet of the sun.

For a long time, this man had hate to the church. What a miracles God does when preaching and sharing His Word.

Fellowship and music!

It was children’s day and some were dressed up in the special clothes from that village.

We also had another ‘dump outreach’. Here a picture from the preparation.

Here an overview picture while doing the outreach.

After receiving a lunch with tract, many of the people go straight back to work, but also enjoy the meal.

The end of April, Woudi had the opportunity to go to Holland to attend her sister’s wedding.

All the sister’s together, most of them with husband.

It was Queen’s day, while Woudi was in Holland. Than you see more of the folklore etc. Here farmers, one with wooden shoes.

We like to ask if you want to keep us and God’s work in your prayers. God is good for us. We moved to a bigger house and are blessed by that, so we can serve better. There are a lot of flights scheduled and also done, God’s will shall be done.

God bless.

Dear friends,

It is a long time ago that we gave you an update via our web-log. Since January a lot of things happened and have been done. We like to share some of it with you.

We like to start with the most recent things and see how we end up.

The kids had vacacions the last 2 weeks. Here are we waiting where the animals are to see how a Mexican circus is. It was fun and good. We all enjoyed it.

We also went camping with a group. Here climbing rocks.

This was our place to stay. It was great to be around some trees instead of the dust and dirt we’re so used too.

The area was pretty. A whole group went hiking etc. Here a picture from nice around.

It was a great break for all of us.

Another thing we did was preparing and going to the trash dump to share a lunch and a tract.

Here we’re making the sandwiches, the last thing that needed to go in the bags.

A hundred lunches packed and ready to go. What really our goal is to feed the people who work at the dump naturally and spiritually.

Here at the dump. It was the 3rd time we went. We hope that we can make more contacts and opportunities to share the Gospel.

Happy with their meals. But there is not too much time, work is waiting!

We had some opportunities to talk to people and also learn a little bit more about the kids who are there. They have the opportunity to go to school! which we’re very happy about.

A part of the dump.

  Waiting for a meal. We also brought some chalk and colored pencils for the kids.

It was good to be there again. Please pray for this ministry.

The training with Nassim is also progressing. He flew some of those people out to an airstrip he was checked out on. He stayed over one night in the village.

  People from the village. Later in the day they gathered together. There was a time for music and singing.

Fellowship together.

One of the passengers Nassim flew in spoke the native language, which gave a great opportunity to share.

They also shared testimonies.

It was a great time of fellowship. The next day the group flew back home.

The end of February we went to conference in Tucson. The first part we traveled by bus.

From Chihuahua we drove up with colleagues.

In Tucson we started with meeting at a park to have dinner and fellowship together.

The following days we had several meetings and programs planned.

The kids had their own program, which they really enjoyed. One day they went to the zoo and the other day was a whole fun day.

It was very good to meet together and to see the aviation staff all together. We’re blessed that we could take a second van home, thanks to several supporters! And also a new tool, a new computer, which we really needed, because the other one failed too much. God blessed us with the necessary tools!

We’ve had some busy months. Nassim was able to do several flights. Here some pictures from a dental flight he was able to do.

In the village itself.

Walking to and from the plane, with luggage. This boy came in with his grandfather, the dentist. When they came back he spend one day with us. Wilberto and Joe enjoyed each others company very much, which was great for all of us. Thanks Joe!

A little bit more of the village.

Time to go back home.

The airplane was waiting…

A part of our church family here.

We’re glad that we can be a part of the ministry. Nassim helps with the music and singing and Woudi is helping with the childrens ministry.

As last some pictures from the weeks that Nassim was in Holland to renew his papers.

Here is he helping in a friends hangar and works on one of his friends airplanes.

He was able to do a training on a tailwheel aircraft.

He was blessed by doing 4 times a presentation about the work we’re doing here in Mexico.

  Here the gathering with one of the presentations.

He visited family, here is Nassim with a new family member.

At his dad’s house.

More family…

Woudi’s parents and one of her sisters.

Friends…

He stayed in this house, with Woudi’s sister and her husband. They have a little farm and greenhouse which they use to help others in need.

Early morning…

Every day he drove by those wild horses. Always pretty pictures.

Nassim got his license renewed, the reason why he went to Holland. God blessed his time up there and we were happy to have him back home.

Up here we had a busy schedule untill now. Nassim is almost done with the field training, which he hopes to finish the coming month. After that they need to schedule a time that he can go to Chihuahua to finish the training with the chief pilot. The time we’re here is a good time. We see many blessings and lots of opportunities. We enjoy being part of the team here and thank God for everything he has done and still does for us. That we may be a tool, used in His hand, to tell others of Him and His love for us!

God bless! 

Dear friends, Our last update was not everything. We forgot to add some pictures and want to give them to you to look at.

We were blessed by Christmas gifts, given by Drexel Heights Baptist Church.

That’s what I wanted, a friend for in bed and to play with.

Lego’s, bionicle! Just what I wanted.

Wow, transformers, star war toys!

Unwrap everything, wow, that’s a lot of presents.

Thank you so much for those blessings, DHBC!

One of the days in the schoolbreak, we went up to el Rancho La Joya.

Here is the old train station, which was used in the movies.

The buildings.

It looks good.

That’s how it looks like on the backside. No buildings at all. The kids enjoyed to see this and walked around in ‘town’.

A family picture!

We forgot to tell about those pictures, that’s why this other update.

This week Nassim shared a whole box of New Testaments to militaries at the airport. May the Lord bless it.

First of all we want to wish you all a happy and blessed 2008.

December was a month with less flights. But Nassim flew dentist’s to one of the villages and later in the month he also flew with some missionaries.

We had thanksgiving dinner with several families here.

A few friends of the kids were moving this months. We’re sad, but helped them as much as we could in their moving process.

We had a Christmas ‘party’ at the church.

They hit the pinatas.

That was lots of fun. We also watched a movie about Christ’s birth, which was very good, with a lot of information too.

Afterwards we had a nice Mexican Christmas dinner together. Tamales, that’s the food! And very good fellowship together.

We visited this mom several times and picked up her grandma and mom so they good go to church. Walking is to far. It’s great to help this way.

A friend made some nice family pictures, for which we were him very gratefull.

We also did a little outreach for the people who try to make a living working on the trash dump.

The kids helped with the preparations.

Sandwiches with ham and cheese, juice, mandarines a candy and most important of all a part of the Bible. The books John and Romans.

  Everything is ready and put in the car.

Here at the trash dump. At this one we gave around 20 bags away. We still had left and went to another one, which one was much bigger and we didn’t have enough to share to everyone. Next time we hope to prepare more and share again. It’s a great opportunity to share with the poor and give them Gods Word. The Lord tells us in His Word to take care about others, also the poor. The Lord also shows in His Word the parable of the Good Samaritan. But also the story of the 5 breads and 2 fishes, there were even 12 baskets left over! That’s how great our God is!

  Last week we also visited the taxi driver and his family. They also came the other week to visit us and we did Bible study together. Because mom is working now too, we don’t see them that often. There was something especially for the kids in one of the churches and mom said it was okay that her 3 girls came with us.

Here a picture closer by.

In the church, waiting for the start.

They had a play about the happiness of Christmas. The girl couldn’t find it in Santa Clause, not in the Christmas tree, not by the rich girls. Finally see found it, because other Christians shared God’s love with her.

After the play all the kids received a book with Bible stories.

They all enjoyed a drink with chips and than…

They all got a shoe box from operation Christmas Child!

That was a big surprise!

The kids had time to open their presents. All happy faces! Then they closed the program with prayers and the kids went home with their presents, which they really could open and enjoy then.

Already playing.

It was a great surprise for all of the kids. They heard about the only happiness of Christmas!

We wanted to share this all with others. Please keep us in your prayers!

We like to give you a new update to show our happenings untill now.

Nassim went with his colleague to Tucson, to bring the plane for maintenance.

While flying.

After staying one night in a Mexican village, they arrived safe in Tucson, where Nassim could start the maintenance proces.

A lot of work to be done.

Later that week he had the opportunity to be a part of the ‘prison flight’.

They brought a missionary who does evangelism in the prison. Nassim was able to lead the singing.

Some more pictures from the maintenance work.

Another time, the taxidriver and his family took us to here.

A lot of ‘cow games’ were going on. It was good to be there, and see a bit more from the culture.

Wilberto turned 11 on November 4th.

His friends came over later that day.

They had a great time.

2 days later there was a harvest party organized for the mission kids.

Lot’s of games.

The ‘birthday people’.

The first week of November, Nassim was a part of the Guadalajara survey team.

They looked at possibillities of airstrips for the near future.

They looked around in the area.

Visited here and met with authorities.

At the airstrip.

The house Nassim stayed those days.

Last week Nassim went for almost a week on a dental trip. He had time to fix the runway up there.

He helped to set up the clinic.

He also helped as an assistent, but was only not able to take pictures of this.

Some pictures from the village.

The day of the revolution.

Very colorful.

A teenage boy was interested in singing Christian songs. So Nassim spend time with him and they had a great time.

We’re happy for all the opportunities the Lord gives us and also for the work in His Kingdom. A lot of contacts are made, training is done and many things more.

A taxi driver and his family come regularly to visit us and do Bible study. They also came twice to church. We see God working in their lives. Please keep this all in your prayers.

The Lord bless you.

And than finally some pictures from the first soloflight Nassim did Saturday the 13th of October.

They came to pick Nassim up and brought him to the airport around 7 am.

Some picture taken while flying. It was pretty cloudy, but there was enough opening to land at the airstrip.

The Lord provided.

Here in the plane with the missionary he needed to fly to one of the airstrips where he works.

And again a picture with local people. Always good to make contacts with them.

Here some more mountains.

And than there is Durango back in sight.

We are really thankfull that Nassim had this opportunity to fly solo with a passenger. After a busy week of training it really felt as a reward. We only can thank the Lord for that.

The work has began and is progressing. Thanks for keeping us and the work in your prayers.

As promissed more about the training and first soloflight with passengers

Nassim had a few days of training in the mountains. They left early morning.

Always pretty picture from mountain flying.

And than the airstrips. Good training.

And a picture after the landing.

Here with local people.

Working on the runway, to make it better. And that in the heat!

Lots of water needed.

The colleagues during the training.

Here a picture from a take off.

Flying in the mountains.

Walking from the landingsstrip to the village where they could sleep in the house from one of the missionaries.

More training.

The last night they stayed over close to the beach.

A little bit relaxing, before flying back to Tucson.

The next day, Nassim got the opportunity to fly for the first time solo with passengers.

We hope to write more over this in the following log.

We praise the Lord for all He has done for us!