Hello everyone! Welcome to our blog. We are so grateful for all your support as we have prepared and anticipated our adventure to Suriname, we'll try to keep you as updated as possible.
I'm sitting here in the living room of our host family's house, listening to cars and trucks and motorbikes buzz by on the street, and Cinderella playing in Dutch across the room. We are so blessed to be staying with such a great family as the Kross's, they welcomed us so warmly and their hospitality is beautiful. There are daughters in their household: Joanna, Anastasja, Miriam, and Crystal. Their mother is a teacher and their father is a Pastor at Bethlehemkerk, one of the five congregations in Paramaribo. He's in Israel right now - this family has a passion for the Israel and the Jewish people - he gets back on the 16th. We've heard that he is a real talker and a really awesome person. The Kross's have given us a room under their house, we all have a mattress to sleep on, and a toilet and a shower. They have invited us to open Shabbat with them tonight, a tradition they have been doing for about six months.
We've been here for two full days now, and we've spent them touring around with Lucrecia and Rev. Glen Blomm. We've seen a few of the churches, and today we went across The Bridge (it's an important bridge) to the other side of the river and briefly explored the fort New Amsterdam. It was a scene right out of Pirates of the Caribbean - plantation houses, cannons, watchtowers - so awesome. We'll start working on Monday, renovating and rearranging an office/meeting room at the church office in Paramaribo.
It's been challenging getting used to the heat here, I don't think it ever goes below 25 degrees here. We are very thankful that this is the cloudy, rainy, cool season in Suriname, it's about as hot as we can take it. I'm sure we will be used to it soon enough though, at least that what the locals say.
We are enjoying seeing the sights, exploring the history, learning about the church, and meeting and talking with Surinamers. Thank you very much for your prayers as we serve here and show God's agape love to everyone we meet.
Shalom
Andrew
It sounds wonderful Andrew :) God is SO Good! Wow, your host family is very brave to invite 3 crazy guys into their home! I'm sure the daughters will love getting to know you though. Oh, and question for you: what is Shabbat? Did you mean Sabbath? Well, take care! And I hope you have aloe vera for your sunburn! God Bless you guys.
ReplyDeleteSounds great! Cant wait to read more. sounds really nice there. I agree wiht Lisa "I hope you have some aloe". Smile :)
ReplyDeleteHi Andrew, great to hear that your first few days have gone well, except for the sun burn. Your team is in my prayers. Keep us posted.
ReplyDeleteLove you, Mom.
good to hear from you guys, and that things are going well! praying that you'll connect well with those around you!
ReplyDeletejonny
Yeah, I did mean sabbath, but that's what it's called in the Middle East where they observe it. It was cool, at sundown we sang some songs, read some scripture and had communion. Haha and we spent the rest of the night singing camp songs from Canada and Suriname back and forth. It was a good night!
ReplyDeleteThinking of all of you as well! God bless.
Andrew and the rest of the team.