The grass fields next to our house are slowly but surely being rooted up by a "Plague of Wild Swine" that have been ravaging the countryside. They come back night after night, leaving deep furrows and patches of upturned grass in their wake. At first, we tried putting the patches back, but to no avail. All we can do now is to hope that they move on. A few weeks ago, we also had a nightly visit from a fox. This unwanted, nocturnal guest even walked straight up into our yard in search of food, letting me get close enough to take this picture!

Jo writes:
The Staff Care and Development Department has been busy making our 10 new Heidebeek staff feel welcome. One of the ways we do this is by appointing them a host to welcome them when they arrive. In addition to that, they had three staff orientation days in which we introduce them to working and living in our international community. Since recently, the Personnel department also falls under our department which means we have gotten some more responsibility. Although everyone in our team has their own tasks, we all work well together. Here is a photo of Heidebeek's Staff Care and Development team.

Eurocom
In the third week of October, 16 people from various European countries will be arriving in Heerde for a three-day EuroCom meeting. As you may remember, EuroCom is YWAM's European Communications team of which I am a member. Since we in the European office are hosting the event, I am also involved in organizing various aspects such as housing, meals, transportation, etc.

There will also be several people joining us from YWAM's International Communications Network (ICN) from the U.S. and South Africa to help us in continuing to shape EuroCom into something that can serve YWAM Europe's communications needs.

Web-hosting
One of the things Rodney has been involved with lately is in helping ministries and bases getting setup with websites. Together with my friend and fellow missionary, Marius, we started an initiative in 2006 to provide low-cost website hosting for YWAMers and YWAM ministries. So far, we have provided hosting for several YWAMers and several high-profile ministries such as YWAM Europe, YWAM Central Europe, YWAM ICN, ywamcommunication.org, etc.

Here are some responses I have received from people whom we have helped:

"Thank you for doing what you are doing.. this is a great solution for YWAM internationally and I'll be promoting this as best as I can..." - Rob Abraham, YWAM International Communications Network

"We want to thank you a lot for the amazing support that you are giving to us. As may you know, pioneering isn’t easy. Our first challenge as new leaders came from communications. We struggle 8 months to have our web site done. And still it is not ready. I’m sure you know the importance of it. After all of this, we found you. Offering help and been so GOOD and QUICK in communicating with us. We do think you are the answer to our prayers. THANK YOU – GRAZIE MILLE" - Paola and Luigi, The leaders of YWAM Milan

Update on my Dad
The doctor cut the heart rhythm medicine (Amiodarone) in half and said that probably within 5 months he would be off the Coumadin and the Amiodarone! There had been talk of him undergoing a procedure where they go in and freeze neurotransmitters that affect the sinus rhythm of the heart, but the doctor said he's not a candidate for that BECAUSE he has secondary atrial fibrillation, caused by the serious infection he had, and that it is curable. Thank God for that!

He is still shaky and week but the doctor explained that he has been gravely ill and that it takes time to gain back strength and to recover from something like this. But the doctor gave my parents full assurance that he would recover. He was happy that the angiogram taken at Mtn. Vista showed no blockage. He told him he wasn't even a candidate for heart disease!

In light of my Father's recent illness an continued recovery, we have decided to go to Arizona for a three-month visit. Mostly we want to see my Father and be with my family, but I will also be helping out some in the church, perhaps doing some preaching and teaching and taking care of some administrative work at the office. It has taken some time for us to come to this decision, since, as you can imagine, it is no small thing for us to put our lives on hold here.

God seems to be speaking, however, that we are not putting our ministry on hold, it's just going to take on a different shape for those three months. Also, most of what I do is via the internet anyway so I can continue doing that alongside my "new" duties in the church.

Practically speaking, there is a lot to be done. We are in contact with Lisa's school. Even though she's only five, she is still required by law to go to school, so we need permission from the school and the city to take her out of school. We also have to leave our house behind in a state such that someone else can live there while we're gone.

Well, that was a lot of information, but we hope that it wasn't too much for you. If you have any questions, please let us know. We'd love to hear from you and how you are doing.

We're so blessed with all of your prayer and financial support. In times like this, we are in especial need of it. To give you an example on the financial front, the airline tickets for us to fly to the US will probably be around $3200. We are grateful for a circle of family and friends standing with us, blessing us so we can in turn bless others. Together we can stand strong for His Kingdom.

Greetings and blessings from Heerde!
Rodney, Jolanda, Lisa and Sarah