on Nov 20th, 2008Bulletin for November 23, 2008
on Nov 20th, 2008Love INC Newsletter for December 2008
on Nov 20th, 2008Ryan & Tiffany Postma’s November 2008 Newsletter
Greetings friends and family:
Our family was amazed at the coverage and interest the US presidential election had here in Nicaragua. Daily tracking polls and attack ads were watched with incredible interest by people who probably have very little connection to the United States. Although more now than ever we see that each country is in one way or another affected by the decisions another country makes. While the election did not turn out the way I may have hoped, I still have confidence in our newly elected leaders to do what’s best for our country. It is customary that shortly after the final states have turned blue or red, determining who the winner is, a phone call is made to congratulate the new President elect. With all the attack ads, heated debates, and arguments you wouldn’t think this would be possible. It’s truly a great thing.
Although very much overshadowed by the US election, the Nicaraguan election for congressional seats recently took place. It was a very important election for the Sandinista party (FSLN) and Liberal party (PLC) to determine who will gain control of the National Assembly. On November 10, a little over a week ago, the Sandinista party announced victory in 91 of the 146 seats, however soon after many voter irregularities were found, including missing ballots which were found in the garbage, and final vote tallies withheld in certain regions. Independent election observers from outside countries were not allowed to monitor voting stations, with the ruling Sandinista party overseeing the counting leaving very little transparency. Road blocks and protests soon followed, with some becoming violent as confrontations occurred in the streets. Over a week has gone by and the road blocks and confrontations continue, forcing us to avoid areas of town and stay home at night. Many Nicaraguan are nervous because they have seen this before from Ortega and the Sandinista party when they took power in the 80’s leading to a brutal civil war. The circumstances are different now and many feel that these confrontations will eventually die down. However the reality is that Nicaraguans are seeing their democracy start to slip away.
We ask that you pray for Nicaragua and its people. Pray that justice will be brought forward from the elections and the people will not loose their voice. Our family decided with the current problems and unrest in Nicaragua that this would be a good time make a quick trip to the States, giving us the opportunity to spend Thanksgiving with friends and family. Tiffany, Ashlyn, and Elizabeth flew out on Monday and I will join them on Saturday. Our hope is that things will have calmed down when we return the first week of December.
I ask as you look back this Thanksgiving on the ways you’ve been blessed over the last year, to remember to be thankful for the opportunities and freedom you have because of where you live. Happy Thanksgiving!!!
For recent pictures of HANDS teams and school projects follow the link below.
http://picasaweb.google.com/rtpostmafamily
Blessings,
Ryan, Tiffany, Ashlyn, Elizabeth Postma
on Nov 18th, 2008Covenant Sunday Morning announcement
Those planning on attending Covenant Sunday Morning this coming Sunday, November 23, are encouraged to read ahead of time the article at the following link: http://www.geocities.com/cyber_explorer99/oconnorgoodcountry.html
on Nov 18th, 2008Center for Financial Education Newsletter for December 2008
on Nov 13th, 2008Kicking around the Olde Sod
Well you know you are a sick pup when on your day off in the Netherlands you kick around the Olde Sod looking for the origin of ancestors. In this case I had gotten some insight from David Hoogakker, who is Catalog Librarian at the National-Lewis University in Wheaton, Il., and who is related to Weidenaars. He told me that he thought the town of Oosternijkerk in Friesland was the orgin point of Weidenaars.
So, while on business for Dordt in Zwolle, I took Saturday morning to drive up to Oosternijkerk to check out the cemetary of the local Protestant church. I don’t know why the cemetary, maybe I just didn’t want to talk to the living Weidenaars, if any, or perhaps I thought this was a good screening device to check out Hoogakker’s suspicions. So into the graveyard of Sint Cecilia’s Protestant Church with my ever present 3×5 card to record the results.
Well it was a treasure trove-which did confirm the sick pup theory. Treasure trove to the extent that I found 10 dead Weidenaars but also a bunch of other names familiar to Covenant. Such as: Johannes Holwerda, Sibje Postma, Siemkje Westra, Harmke Veenstra, Jan Hibma, Klaaske Klaces Rosier, Wijtske Kamstra, Aafke Zwart, Pieter Bakker, Pietje Boelens, Geertje Postma, Renske Boersma, Sieger Kloostra, Willem Visser, Pietje Hofstra, Orseltje Visser, and then I ran out of room on my 3X5 card.
I did stop by a local bakery to pick up a custard filled e-clair (that was wonderful) and to identify myself as a ‘Weidenaar’. The clerks gave me that ‘crazy American’ look. I haven’t heard anything from them.
It was a pleasant small town and it would be great to go back one day and just bike around the area. It was easy enough to drive from village to village. It was close to the town of Anjum where Marilyn’s distant relative owns Rosier Market in the center of town.
These towns are only about a mile or so from the North Sea.
Bernie Weidenaar
on Nov 12th, 2008Community Activities Sheet for November 16, 2008
on Nov 8th, 2008These Uganda Children Know About Us
Below is a dialog between Dawn and Alida.
Dawn: It is great that you have permission to let the congregation know about your friend Dalia’s school. It sounds like the children there know about us. Where is this school and what type of school is it?
Alida: The school, Shammah School, arose out of a vision and call to Dalia Byaruhanga to start a school in the southern part of Uganda in the town of Mbarara. This is not an area where Dalia would have chosen to go, as it is heavily Muslim, and very poor. She and her husband, a pastor, followed the call and started this school. Their mission is: “To train and equip children who are God-fearing, turning them into citizens of realized potential.”
Dawn: You mentioned to me that your sisters have visited there. What role have they played with this school?
Alida: After my oldest sister Lia visited the area on a mission trip, ministering mainly to women, Dalia asked for help with teacher training. Lia passed this along to my other sister, Maria, who has years of Kindergarten teaching under her belt. Maria committed to three months of teaching there. She lived in primitive conditions and brought teaching aids and hope to the school. She also gave of her money, taking equity out of her home to do so, in order to help the school and its students.
Dawn: What are the most pressing needs for the school?
Alida: When the rainy season arrived many problems became urgent. They badly need shutters on the window openings to keep the driving rain from flooding the classrooms. Also, proper doors need to be installed. The smallest children have had to take their nap sitting on chairs, resting their heads on their arms, as they could no longer lie down in the mud. If the buildings could be properly finished the health inspectors would have no reason to give them any problems and then they could concentrate on the task of educating the children without having to worry about the primitive conditions.
There are other needs also: many of the children are orphans or half-orphans. They generally are ill-treated by their remaining families. They come to school hungry and as a result can’t give of their best when in class. Dalia’s niece (whose father was killed in Rwanda) was sent home from school because her fees had not been paid. Keith and I sent $100.00 so she could complete the school year. She danced for joy when she found out that Maria’s sister had paid her fees. Next year she should really go to boarding school further away, to get a secondary education. That would cost $200.00 per semester. (If only it were that cheap in the USA!). The children are so keen to learn, it breaks my heart that I can’t do more.
My sister Maria took photos of children who badly need sponsorship. $30.00 per month would be a great help. I can get her to send the photos if you’d like to sponsor a child. Dalia would start a lunch program for the hungry children if there were funds for it, also. However, getting the school approved by the health inspector is the first priority.
Dawn: If someone were able to allocate some of their year-end or other donations for this ministry, what should they do?
Alida: Make out a check to Covenant CRC. The deacons have asked that you pass the checks to me expedite the process. Please write “For Alida, Shammah School” on the memo line. I am hoping to transfer money before Thanksgiving, as the needs are so urgent.
Dawn: Thanks, Alida. I know many people are concerned about the economy right now, but this sounds like a good way to make your dollars translate into immediate help for these children.
Alida: Yes, the area is not served in any way by the CRWRC, so this is the only way we can help them be a light in this dark, hostile environment. The children of the school have started a prayer group for me and my money-raising efforts, I hope you can be part of the answer to their prayers!
