Update

Hello! Thought I'd give you a ministry update...God is doing awesome things through our hostel ministry. Let me tell you just one story of a guy named Ramone from Brazil.

Ramone came to Amsterdam for holiday. He thought he would stay one night and then move on to another city. Well, he tore something in his knee his first day here while playing football and had to change his travel plans. Ramone spent his second day in Amsterdam on the couch in our cafe with his leg propped up on a table. All he did was watch us work, and he read some books from our bookcase (they are all Christian). I started praying for Ramone along with other staff, that he would come to know Jesus during his stay with us. Ramone speaks very little english so we could really only show him love through our actions and smiles. Ramone's third day: we had a going away lunch for two staff members. All of the staff was in the cafe around a huge table and we all prayed, sang praise songs, and encouraged the staff that was moving on. Ramone was there in the cafe watching all of this. Friday night the small group I'm in served a free dinner to all of our guests. One of my managers, Gepke, speaks Spanish and she sat next to Ramone at dinner and explained the gospel to him. He accepted Christ Fri night and a few people prayed with him. Ramone spent about 5 more days with us. He came to all of our Bible studies even though he can't speak english, and he walked around all the time with his new Bible. He sat on the couch all week reading a bible in his mother tongue. You can see in his eyes his new joy and excitement. It is so funny how God brought this man to Amsterdam to our youth hostel, to have an injured knee, and accept His Son as his savior.

God is really letting us see fruit these days. It is a pleasure like no other. Working with God, under God, along side God is so amazing.

Queen's day was last week. The entire city of Amsterdam turns into a giant frat party. It is unbelievable. I was depressed by the whole scene and went to bed at 8pm from an upset stomach. It was a very difficult environment for me to be in because of my past. The evilness in the city that day was overwhelming. People who love to party from all over the world came here for 1 1/2 days of indulgence. Queen's day would have been my dream come true about 5 years ago. I praise God for how he has changed me. Praise be to God for who I am today, and what he will create me to be.