Finding Life . . .

Before he left, my friend Emas told me that, since we all live in such close quarters, you have to find activities to do that give you life and renewal. Well, I've found that activity--biking in the country! I've gone on two different bike trips out in the country, around 20-35 km each time, and I come back feeling like I've been on holiday! Growing up in the country in Missouri, it's so nice to be out where I can again smell the aromas of barns, cows, and freshly-mown grass. It's like home! Here are some photos I took on the first trip to the villages of Broek-in-Waterland and Uitdam.

Weather

I don't think it's stopped raining since I arrived in May! My friend Rebecca and I stood and watched this storm roll in over the city, then got drenched in it on our walk back...
Most days it's in the 60's, maybe the 70's, and rainy. I've only been able to go to the beach once since that time when I first got here! I know God promised with the rainbow never to flood the earth again, but sometimes I wonder . . . Just kidding!

Windows closing...?

Praise the Lord!!! This article was in the news last week. If it goes through, this could be an answer to decades of prayers by the saints for this neighborhood in Amsterdam!


Sex Boss in Talks to Sell Red Light Property
Tuesday 26 June 2007


One of the biggest sex industry bosses in Amsterdam is in talks with housing corporation Het Oosten about selling his 20 properties in the city's red light district.
Charles Geert has been refused a licence to operate brothels because the city council says he has criminal connections. Geert controls some 53 windows in the area, around 30% of the total.