The teaching started this morning by talking about people groups and their relevancy to the Great Commission. Then, I did a session on tracing art through the history of Western Civilization. Time did not permit advancing beyond the Renaissance, Reformation and the Golden Age of Dutch painting. We need that because tomorrow we visit the Ryksmuseum. We’ll pick it up at and follow through to modern times on Monday.

Zaanse Schans

This afternoon we went to the “Windmill City” I mentioned yesterday. We got off the train and began our peaceful walk down the streets of a sleepy little town and right beside the cocoa factory with the wonderful aroma! As we got to the corner to cross the draw bridge to the other side of the river and little replica village that was our destination, imagine my surprise as we saw that the bridge was gone! They are replacing it. I stood speechless for moment thinking what in the world were we going to do. Asking some questions revealed that I had not paid attention to some signs pointing to a ferry that would take us to the other side. So, we reversed course a couple of blocks, found the ferry and got a nifty free boat ride to the other side, droped off right at the entrance to our destination. Very nice! We treated everyone to Dutch pancakes, gave them some time to shop and look around, then headed back on the train to Amsterdam.

Jeff and Cheryl in Zaanse Schans

The group stuck together tonight to head to Leidseplein and dinner at a little Italian place we have frequented for many years. Tomorrow we skip the teaching session because the Crossroads church we visit has added a third service and we must leave the hotel earlier than in previous years. It will be a full day and I will tell you about it tomorrow.

Our entire group arrived safely from different directions today. We spent all morning greeting groups and shuffling them back to the hotel. Cheryl was the first to arrive by herself about 8:30 this morning. Shortly afterward Jay Grimwood, kcbt mission pastor, his wife Andrea, and three ladies from Missouri arrived. This group went on to the hotel while I waited for the next group, three from New Jersey, who were arriving two and a half hours late. They made it just fine, and as we were waiting for a shuttle bus, our group of six from Montana showed up. Yeah! Then, a couple from Paris drove in this afternoon. Two couples from Germany had to cancel at the last minute due to medical reasons. All are accounted for, in good shape and good spirits.

This afternoon we went to the Anne Frank House. We walked all the way across the city center from the hotel, stopping to eat lunch. This is Dr. Jeff’s Rx for jet lag – out in the sun and walking! You’ll hate me today and love me in a couple of days when your body clock is adjusted. Many chose to stay close to the hotel and head to bed early. Good choice! Those of us whose body clocks are already ticking on European time, and a couple of other brave souls, made our way to Leidseplein for Greek food. Yummy!

Tomorrow morning the seminar begins as we discuss culture in general and also begin to explore how artists paint a remarkably accurate reflection of society. In the afternoon we go to Zaanse Schans, or as we sometimes call it “The Windmill City.” This is the Dutch equivalent to Silver Dollar City or something similar – the place to go to see the stuff you imagined you would see in Holland, but don’t really see much in real life, like windmills, a cheese factory and wooden shoes. I’ll let you know how it goes.

We are just finishing up in North Africa and unexpectedly found a wireless connection available. So, I thought I would take advantage to briefly check in and bring you up to date as much as I can.

Jeff and Ricardo

My friend Tony and I, along with another friend, Ricardo from Mexico arrived, here from Madrid last Friday and took a train to another city in the mountains where we met with approximately 100 Latin American workers – half of the approximately 200 who serve here. I was able to spend two days with them sharing from Titus about being students of Jesus. Wow! I wish I could tell you the comments, reactions, input and all the amazing things that happened. These people are doing an amazing job and are incredibly effective. I was humbled just to be in their presence and to see the realization of a dream others and I have shared for over 30 years. Some here are the direct result of the training Marco and I have been doing in Mexico over the past few years. That was also very gratifying.

We were in a city approximately the size of Kansas City. On Sunday afternoon we met with a group of about 25 local followers of our Lord. They are over half of the total of known believers who regularly assemble in the entire city. Imagine! What a privilege to meet them.

Today we were back in our city of entrance and visited some amazing places. Tomorrow we head to the airport for our flight back to Europe. Tony will stay in Madrid and Ricardo and I head on to Amsterdam to await our group that arrives Friday morning. Hopefully I will be able to keep in touch much better from there.