It’s been way to long since we have been writing our blog. The last few weeks have been so packed with activities that we only could mention writing our blog, but doing it was another story.

It was our plan to fly to Lawa today, but the airstrip was closed due to heavy rains. So we had an extra day in the city and time to write our blog.

The heavy rains were in the end of December also the reason that we flew out of Apetina a few days early to be sure that Marco would be in time to catch his plane to Costa Rica January 7^th. This gave us the opportunity to celebrate the new year with our joungest daughter Elsbeth and her husband and children in Paramaribo.

Saturday January 7^th Marco flew to Costa Rica for what turned out to be a hectic week with a lot of changing of plans. There were storms and mud slides blocked the highway to the conference site. It was uncertain if Marco and his World Team collegue would make it in time for the opening of the Mission conference, attended by 500 plus Central American youth. They made it by bus after a seven hour drive through the mountains. These kind of conferences are being held for a number of years in the Spanish speaking countries of Latin America. World Team is looking for opportunities to partner with Latin American Mission Agencies to send out workers to their fields.

January 12^th Marjolein flew from Paramaribo to Orlando, where Marco joined her on the 15^th of January to attend the LEAD meeting of World Team. It was three years ago that Marjolein met her collegues from South America. The first three days were filled with marriage subjects. So good to have time together to reflect on our relationship.

Thursday and Friday we talked about the Latin America Initiative. For two years now World Team has been investigating with which Mission agencies in Latin America they can partner to send out Latin Americans as partners to our fields. This means that the receiving fields need to prepare for their arrival. We had some very good conversations about some implications for our fields. Some collegues are stepping in to continue to challenge Latin American youth to go and share the Gospel.

After the LEAD meeting we stayed with Roy and Margaret Lytle. We enjouyed our time with them very much. We feel blessed that we had the opportunity to visit them and other (former) missionaries in Suriname during that week. God is continuing what He started in the interior of Suriname when they came to the mission field some fifty years ago. We flew back home January 27^th.

Last week we skyped, mailed, made pictures and called with the team that is coming in March to give Ilse van Dijks’ house a home make over. There is a lot that needs preparation. Last Friday we shopped with Ilse for new floor tiles.

This week Anneke Kempeneers and two members of the board of stg. Kimon will visit us in Lawa. Anneke hopes to come and work with the Wajana youth in Maripasoula. This is an answer to our prayers.

We’re doing fine. We’re healthy, full of energy and expectation what the coming months will bring.