will stacken - ywam amsterdam staff

Hey One and All

First off, MERRY CHRISTMAS. I hope that you are reading this post with the peaceful feeling this side of the Christmas season tends to bring. My time here in Amsterdam has been so very busy. I will seeks to give a synopsis of it all...

Our plane touched down in Amsterdam around 8am-ish. And from there on the next 6-7 days ran together. We had much to do in prep for the large Christmas outreach we do at the Cleft. From shopping for and preparing food...to organizing volunteers...But the most important part was all the people we spent them with. The people that come in to the Cleft over the Christmas season carry with them such a longing for relationship. Many of them do not have healthy or any contact with there families. They build a community of the other people on the street. But, the nice thing is we get a chance to be a part of that community. We are a part of there network and life. Thus, we bring influence. 

On Christmas day we served a big brunch for all our friends. About 150 or so came through. I was able to take a break in that day and have a meal with 4-5 of the guys I have known for about a year now. They are all older Dutch men in there 50-60s.  We sat and enjoyed a meal together while a friend of mine Claire played Christmas carols...in sort of mocking/fun way they joined in...We ate, sang and laughed together. We could have been sitting in someones home together. That place was for a moment transformed into a large Heavenly living room that was "prepared for them." For a time it felt as though all the problems they had accumulated were simply checked at the door. These people felt like family...I can honestly say that there are few places I would have rather been. These are people I care about and that need people in there lives that care about them in a way that introduces Christ to them. Its times like these that I really enjoy my work with the Cleft. 

Hey Guys

 I am now at the beginning of my third day here in Barcelona. For those of you who do not know, I am taking a much needed vacation down here in the south of Spain. I am here for 8 days with an American friend named Sean, who I work with in Amsterdam. Its been so refreshing to have some time away from Amsterdam. I really love the city and the work I do within it, I love having the chance to know God in the middle of such an amazing place like this. However, I need a break sometimes to catch my breath...get my bearings back...refocus my heart and mind on God. Submitting to His will and ways...

 But...Our trip here has been a total blast thus far. We have had the chance to meet a lot of nice people from all over the world who have given us directions, advice, and just plain enjoyment from being around. Our first night here we met these two nice American girls who were studying in Frankfurt. We had dinner with them and just walked around the city. It was really nice. Barcelona is really a beautiful city. It has SUCH a different feel from Amsterdam. It  reminds me a lot of Rome actually...But...All is good here. Its a blessing to be able to spend this much quality time with God and relax a bit too...Take Care...in Him...Will