February 4, 2010 After being on the road, at the airport, in the air, yet another airport, then on the road again, we arrived safely at our friends place in Houston Texas. The good news is .. ALL our luggage made it as well. Our new adventure has started ... During the flight I finished  reading a book called "a Woman and Her God"... this time it was all about TRUST. Question asked "Does God deserve our trust?". There are many ways we can answer this ... Here are some: ...

February 2, 2010    Final visits and goodbyes, suitcases packed, the house cleaned and we are on our way... Believing and trusting that the right doors will be opened in front of us. Thirty years ago we left Holland for the m/v Anastasis, the journey has taken us all over the world. We have loved it and knew it was the place to be. Then off to Sierra Leone, another adventure which we will treasure forever. Now we leave not really knowing what will be around the corner, yet we believe it is the right thing to do, so here we go.  At the same time our hearts and prayers are with the people of Haiti and we will see if that will be the next place for us to go to. Please follow us on our site and we keep you informed. In the meantime our daughter will travel to Haiti this week to be part of a medical team. Check her out on www.sandralako.blogspot.com

January 26, 2010 Hereby our latest news   Jan-Feb2010-126

Thursday January 21, 2010 Stories and pictures in the news papers, information on TV, yet it all is "far" away. The reality of how people in Haiti are facing each day is difficult to comprehend for us miles away. The rubble from the buildings and roads. The cries of the little ones looking for their parents, the wounded still hoping somewhere there is a clinic or hospital they can get help. The relief workers confronted with all the suffering and trying to reach out, confronted with their own limitations and a constant reminder of the impact of the quake when they see the sights,  hear the sounds and the ongoing smells of the deceased and wounded. Yet in the midst of it all there is also hope... I was encouraged by this article through our friends at Hope Froce International and World Relief. on Wed. Jan 20, 2010  Although most of the day was spent attempting to absorb the magnitude of such incredible suffering, the gift of life was never more poignant. As we came into Port au Prince, there was a noticeable increase in the sights, smells and sounds associated with catastrophe. Here in Haiti, the world has witnessed a disaster that has not only impacted those who experienced the horror of the earthquake, but all of us who have watched the live footage beamed into our living rooms. Seeing this precious baby girl, born in the same hospital where our team is dealing with tragic suffering and life-changing injury, was more than joy... it was hope bundled in the miracle of new life. The mother named him Jesula: "Jesus is here". Raw life amidst the sufferring. - so far from our friends .....

January 14, 2010  Rene and I can’t believe what we saw on TV the day before yesterday just before going to bed. Over the last couple of months Haiti has become a nation we feel drawn to, wondering if one day we would work/minister there. In 2004 Rene visited Haiti on one of his assessment trips for Mercy Ships.  Over the last 40 hours we have watched the news, read newspaper articles and can’t believe what has happened to this already so needed nation. Below some information straight from Haiti. “Right now, the situation in the capital is critical. Dr. Hubert Morquette, World Relief’s Country Director, described the scene as “devastating and grave.”An estimated 3 million people have been impacted, tens of thousands have been killed or injured, and many remain trapped in the rubble of collapsed buildings. Traumatized and grief-stricken, people wander the streets in a daze. On Tuesday night, many slept out in the debris-filled streets. The next 72 hours will be critical for rescue and relief teams working at the scene to pull people alive from the rubble and treat serious injuries. Most urgently needed right now is water, food, medical care, blankets and shelter. For more information: http://worldrelief.org

Or visit the website of this organization http://www.hopeforce.org  

Let’s pray for the people in Haiti, for the ones suffering/injured, for the families, who have lost loved ones, for the many who lost all their processions. Let’s also pray for all the relief workers already on location or on their way to Haiti. For wisdom, courage and strength.

Some facts on Haiti: 

Population is around 10 million

GDP per capita is US $496

38% of Haitians are under 14 years old

1 in 10 children die before they turn five

3.8% of adults have HIV

97% of Haitians are Christian

Nearly all practice Voodoo

It is our desire that we will be used to reach out and bring Gods love and healing to a world in need. Making 2010 the best year ever!

As Mother Teresa said: "Being unwanted, unloved, uncared for, forgotten by everybody, I think that is a much greater hunger, a much greater poverty than the person who has nothing to eat."

Updated: January 12, 2010 Hello I am Zoey and I am 5 years old and once you are  5yrs old you have to go to school. In Holland you are not allowed to home school so every morning mommy or daddy brings me to school. Sometimes we take my bike.   You know what ... I also have two sisters, Esmee , she is 3 yrs old and Sterre who is only a few months. My auntie Sandra worked in Africa in a country called Sierra Leone, she helped little children to get better. At the moment she is in Holland and I love to read stories with her or paint, draw or bake cookies together.  My "opa and oma" worked in Africa too, but they are in Holland for a little bit, they come and visit and sometimes they watch us when mommy and daddy have to go somewhere. My uncle Stefan is married to Genae ... and they have a little boy, his name is "Porter". If you click on the more ... you will see pictures...

December 26, 2009; Great to run supporting Sandra in her first "official" run. This one for a good reason.  Sandra is trying to raise 5000 dollars (yes five thousand dollars) for a water well to serve 250 people clean drinking water for the next 20 years. Of course having lived in West Africa for the last 4 plus years brings this very close to her heart.  I ran in the sponsor shirt for the school project in Indonesia. It was a fun run because the company to run with as great.  Mind you ... when getting ready and quickly using the bathroom before takeoff, I found it interesting to see how much "clean" water goes to waste with those taps you push to get the water and then it keeps on running for awhile, even though your hands are washed already. The run had approx 450 runners participating and even though advertized as an 8 km run ended up being 9 km (and maybe a little more). Over the dunes, on to the beach and then later - due to work on the sand dunes another 1km through a sandpit! The scenery was beautiful, the weather great and the  company wonderful. Sandra you did great! Well done. When will we go again? Check out why Sandra ran and how you can participate to reach her goal there is time left ... http://mycharitywater.org/sandralako

December 15;

December is an important month; many special days are recognized by the United Nations and governments around the world. Most of these mark major global issues that need to be remembered and require action. What about the recognition of the birth of Jesus Christ? What is its significance for the world today and for individual? Let’s look at some of these days. We definetly see December as a month to remember... Not just the decorations in the stores and homes, but the meaning of life and light in our hearts.

December 1 - World Aids Day, recognized by the UN

December 2 - International Day for the Abolition of Slavery, UN recognized

December 3 - International Day of Persons with Disabilities, recognized by the UN

December 9 - The International Day against Corruption, recognized by the UN

December 10 - Human Rights Day, recognized by the UN

December 20 - International Human Solidarity Day, recognized by the UN

December 25 - Christmas; International Day to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ