BootsnAll Travel Network



What my blog is about

Hello everyone! I've recently moved to Amsterdam for a few months to work at a christian hostel serving backpackers and travelers and spreading the word about Jesus!

An Update…

March 1st, 2009

Hello all!  It’s been a while since a I’ve been home from Amsterdam, but I decided I should update you.  I’ve been home, re-connecting with friends and family, catching up on some reading, and trying to sort out my next adventure.  I’m posting the notes to a presentation I gave my home church on my time in Amsterdam.  Thanks for keeping up with the blog! 

Hello everyone, I’m Deanna Strickland.   I just got back from working at a Christian Youth Hostel in Amsterdam, which is in Holland.  I wanted to share my experiences with you.  

I’ll tell you a little about myself first.  I was raised in a Christian family, and grew up learning about God and Jesus, was baptized and saved.  But I never had a relationship with God.  And through the course of growing up, I feel like I rebelled against Him, and ignored Him at times in my life.  But this past summer things began to change in my life.  I had filled my life with things to keep me busy and happy—a filled social calendar, lots of material things, etc.  But something still didn’t feel right-I kept feeling there was something more that was supposed to be in my life, something else that was supposed to fulfill me.  It didn’t take long for me to realize that it was God that was missing.  He had patiently been waiting for me to turn to Him.  He had been steering my life towards Him, in ways that, when I look back now, I can totally see the hand of God directing the path of my life.  

So it worked out that I spent three months in Hawaii this past summer with one of my best friends.  She is a strong Christian woman, and was invaluable, along with many others, in helping me along on my path to a closer relationship with God.  I became involved in her church and turned my life back over to God.  It felt so great to completely surrender myself to Him, to entrust Him with my life and future.  I became interested in missionary work, to tell people about the change Jesus had made in my life.  A friend of a friend emailed me about this place called Shelter Hostels.  It was exactly what I was looking for!  I packed my bags, and soon I was on a plane to Amsterdam!

I’ll tell you a little about the Shelter Hostel now.  First of all, a hostel is kind of like a hotel, but a lot cheaper because the rooms are set up like a dorm, with bunk-beds, and a shared bath.  A lot of backpackers and travelers stay there because they are a good price.  The Shelter Hostels were started in the 70’s when tons of hippies were coming to Amsterdam.  Lots of young people were passing through, but there weren’t enough places for them to stay.  So a Christian organization opened up two hostels.  And they were soon filled up.  And we still get hippies today.

There are two shelter hostels-one on the edge of the red light district in the middle of the city, and one outside of the city center in a quieter neighborhood.  I worked in the second one.  It’s called Shelter Jordan.  The hostels are run by a team of volunteers from around the world who want to serve and tell people about Jesus.

As a hostel we provided rooms and a free breakfast.  But as a christian hostel, we also shared the good news of Jesus to anyone who would listen.  We had nightly bible discussions, evening prayer, film discussions, and other events.  We also had a small cafe in our hostel which is where I worked most of the time.  It is also where I feel the Lord used me the most to tell others about Him.  Travelers would come into our cafe and relax, eat lunch, play board games, or whatever.  And it was easy to start up a conversation with people.  I would chat with people from all over the world about everything under the sun.  People who travel are usually very open to new things and like to talk and connect with other people.  They would ask me why I worked there, or how I had found out about the hostel.  That would lead into an easy way for me to bring up my faith.  I would tell them that I wanted to work in missions and that I felt that God wanted me to be in Amsterdam at that time.  They would ask me questions about my faith, or I would ask what they believed.  And those times really opened up a lot of spiritual longing or questioning in most people.  

Like I said, we’d get people from all over the world stay at our hostel.  But I truly believe that all the people who passed through our doors did not end up there by accident.  The Lord was working in their lives and preparing their hearts, and the Shelter Hostels were on the road of their journey to Him.  He used many of us to bring people closer to Him.  We may not know how we may have affected a lot of people, but we do know the Lord was working in each of those travelers lives that He brought to our hostel.  

Most of the people who stayed with us were younger and on a journey to “find themselves.”  And I think we all go through a period in our lives where we try to see where we fit in to Life.  We may not all travel to foreign countries to do so, but still, we are all on our own journeys.  But most of the people who came to us while on this “journey” were openly seeking spiritual answers in their life.  They wanted to know and feel more, spiritually.  Whether is was through Christianity or Buddishm, Hinduism, or whatever, they were looking to find something new, something to bring clarity and meaning to their lives.  And that’s why the Lord brought them to us.  We offered to answer their questions as best we could, with love and friendship and meeting their immediate needs of housing and food.  

Jesus has commanded us to love one another.  And that means listening to people, even if their views are different than ours, being a friend to a stranger, smiling, and telling others about the power of Jesus’ love.  

So many people are lost in life.  They are looking for meaning in their life.  Only Jesus can fill this hole in them.  I was always shocked when I met people who had never heard about Jesus or God or the Bible.  Never in their entire life!  I gave a girl from Canada her first Bible.  I had noticed her sitting on the couch flipping through one of the Bibles we had sitting around.  At the Holy Spirits prompting, I went over and talked with her.  She said she had never picked up a Bible before, and was flipping through this part called “Pro-verbs.”  I told her that many sayings we have today are from that part of the Bible, and most people don’t even realize it.  I explained that the Bible was made up of two parts, the Old and New Testament, and that it was a great book to read.  I told her that Jesus was God’s son and he died for our sins, and that his story started in the second part of the bible, the New Testament.  I told her that was a good place to start reading.  I asked if she’d like a copy of her own, and she readily accepted.  It was so humbling and fulfilling to bring the gospel to her in such a basic way, and give her this amazing book.  She promised to read it on her plane ride back home which was a few days away.

The Lord brought us some amazing people.  One guy named Taurean showed up at our hostel a few days after I had started working there.  He was a believer, but had turned his back to God for a while.  He had come to Amsterdam to get away, one of those people on their “journey”, and also came there for the legal marijuana.  But his story was amazing—On his first flight to Amsterdam, he sat beside a Christian man and they were talking the entire 5 hours about God.  Then after his layover in New York, he boarded his next plane, and ended up sitting beside another believer—a man who was once a strong atheist, now a strong believer in Jesus.  They also talked the entire flight- 8 hours, and Taurean felt the Lord talking to him.  And then, after all these other believers God had placed in his path, Taurean ended up staying at our Christian hostel!  His first week there He felt God pulling him closer to Him.  I talked with him a day after he arrived.  He was wrestling with his past, and giving his life over completely to God again.  We prayed and he also talked with other volunteer staff members.  The Lord completely touched his heart, he gave his life back to God, and ended up joining our staff to evangelize to travelers!  It was amazing to see God working in his life!  And he had only meant to stay in Amsterdam for a week!–oh, he’s still there, evangelizing!

We tried to reach every guest that stayed in our hostel in some way.  And of course we had people who disagreed with our beliefs, and others who blatantly made it clear that they didn’t want to hear anything about God from us.  And we occasionally had aggressive people come in, people who were drunk, or just looking for a fight.  But I always felt safe knowing that I wasn’t there alone, but God was by my side at all times, looking out for me.  I also felt safe knowing that I had people praying for me.  Other staff members who eventually became my family over there were praying for me, and me for them.  We had great fellowship together, and powerful prayer times.  But I also want to thank you all for keeping me in your prayers while I was there.  It’s great knowing you have a base of people back home supporting you and praying for you.

We needed prayers and to constantly pray for ourselves, because we were on a battlefield.  I found out firsthand that spiritual warfare is real.  and constant and ongoing.  And that Amsterdam is a huge battlefield of good and evil forces.  Amsterdam is a beautiful city, historic and well preserved, but most people know of Amsterdam for its darker side- legal prostitution and marijuana, and readily available hard drugs.   The Red Light District is an area in the center of town that is filled with a darkness even self proclaimed atheists recognized.  It is a physically depressing area, where prostitutes sit in windows waiting for customers, and drug-lords and pimps make their living exploiting the poor and naïve.  The devil is hard at work here, filling people with lies.  Drug use and depression run rampant here.  You can feel the oppressive spirit when walking through the red light district.  You have to constantly pray to be aware of evil spirits and to cover yourself in the blood of Jesus.  And a major weapon in spiritual warfare is prayer.  prayer and more prayer.  

Like I said, I was never scared while working in Amsterdam, but being there made me realize how very real the devil is, and how very real his power is.  And how important it is to hold tight to Jesus and lean on Him for protection and strength.  

And through that, I began to learn what a relationship with Jesus is.  I grew up not having a relationship with Him. I, like a lot of other people, had grown up thinking that God was in the sky, looking down on us, ready to throw lighting bolts.  I never even thought about having an open, loving relationship with Him.  But now I began to develop this new, exciting time with Him!  I learned to talk to Him, ask Him for things in faith, lean on Him and not myself for strength.  And it’s been amazing and rewarding so far.  I hope you all have a relationship with Him, because it’s great!  

I feel that the most important message I learned was love.  Love love love.  God is love.  he loves us.  more than we can ever ever imagine.  and so many people are searching for that type of love.  we tried to steer people towards god’s love at the shelter.  because that love is the only type that can change lives in an instant, heal someone and restore someone.  and it’s the only kind that lasts forever.  

The most asked question at bible discussions was probably, “but how can God forgive me and love me after everything i’ve done?  i just don’t think he will.”  people have such a hard time with guilt, and it weighs them down to a point where they just don’t think anything will help.  but if they only give that up to God, and truly give it up to Him and believe God can change them, there lives would be radically different.  I know mine is, because that’s exactly what i did.  one of my favorite verses, and one that i repeatedly told people at the Hostel was

Romans 10:13

“For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

And there were many people who were saved, and gave their lives to God while I was at the hostel.  And it was an amazing thing to watch their lives change.  Working with so many other believers and having great times of fellowship while doing the work that i know God had sent me to do at the time was a life changing and fulfilling experience.  

And you don’t have to go to another country to spread Jesus’ love.  Do it now!  In your everyday life.  Always be ready to share the gospel to others- if you’re in wal-mart and feel like God wants you to talk to that lady in aisle 5, do it!  You never know how the Lord can use you!  Thanks for letting me share with you all.  If anyone wants anymore information just ask me!

 

 

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Nearing the End

December 12th, 2008

I absolutely cannot believe my time in Amsterdam ends on Tuesday…it’s gone by so quickly!!!  I feel so blessed to be a part of this awesome ministry.  It has changed my life, and I know it has helped change others lives as well.  There is so much to say, so much to savor and let sink in.  I will have to write it all later.  For now, let it suffice to say that my eyes and heart have been opened so much by God.  I praise Him for all the blessings He has poured out on me, and also the trials, because I have triumphed through them by learning to lean on Him.  The world can be both a wonderful and horrible place, and I’ve learned that even more through my experience here, and the people I’ve met.  I’ve learned how fragile we all are, how similar, rather than different humans are.  And how love can change people.  If only everyone followed Jesus’ command to love one another, how different our world would be.  I want to share my experiences with all of you!  If you don’t read them on here, contact me, call me, bug me…whatever!  I’m sure I’ll be so excited to tell everyone of my time here at home that you will be trying to shut me up.  Get ready people!  Deanna’s coming home!

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The Lost Boys

November 26th, 2008

I’m sitting at the awesome public library, looking across the way at 2 cute little boys using the computers opposite me.  So easy-going, assured in their minds that people are good, and life will treat them kindly.  My mind wanders to the young backpackers drifting through our hostel, Amsterdam, and the whole world.  It is such a stark contrast, these boys in the library, and the searching, aloof boys in our hostel.

I see it more in the young men, rather than women, who stay at our hostel.  They are looking for the “truth”in life, they are on their individual spiritual journey, they are ready to surpass the physical for the….whatever.  They are just looking for something, anything that will satisfy this longing for understanding themselves and their place in the world.  They are so lost.  Somewhere along the road of their life, they became disillusioned, with conformity, materialism, authority…and that turned into a disillusionment with themselves.  They ask themselves, “Does my life count?  Does my living change anything in this world?  Do I matter in the grand scheme of things?”  And they get so caught up with these questions that they start to believe that they are nothing and who really cares if I live or die?  Mixed with the readily available drugs, and spiritual bondage of this city, it all quickly leads to a spiral of depression.

Most stay in this form of thinking and drift aimlessly from day to day.  If they run out of money they sleep on the streets.  They give up caring.

Others start to look to different religions for a way out of their depression.  They are fed up with Western religions, and instead look to Eastern spirituality to save them.  They like the idea of being one with the universe, living a good life to get good karma, and eventually becoming a god themselves.  Anything to make themselves think they are part of something bigger, that they count.

Some get tied up in Buddhism, Hinduism, Astrology, the Occult, and other ways of “spiritual enlightenment.” It’s quite scary, really.  They are so willing to find something that helps, that they get sucked into these ways of thinking quite easily.

Some guys talk of smoking a ton of pot so that they can “get into the spiritual world, and talk with angels and other spirits.”

The scary thing is, I think these kids actually “see” these spirits, communicate with them, and ask them into their lives, not knowing the very real and dangerous consequences .  The devil is hard at work here, speaking lies into peoples ears, making them think they are worthless.  And the drugs don’t help, and are like an entry way for even more depressive thoughts and spirits.

It makes no difference what country they are from, school experience, etc.  This depression hits tons of young people pouring into Amsterdam.

Here at the hostel we try to take their searching minds, and point them in the direction of Jesus, the absolute truth.

Of course not everyone who shows up at our hostel is like this, but I’ve seen a lot of people fall into this category, enough to want to write about it.

I pray for their mind, peace in their lives, and for God’s love to reach them all.  I ask you to do the same.

“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour” 1 Peter 5:8

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New Life!

November 18th, 2008

Hello all. Yes, I know that I haven’t updated this in a while, sorry. But so much has been happening! Good things abound, God’s unquestionable ability to change people is amazing, and I’ve never felt so challenged (but mostly in a good way) in my life.

First off–thanks for everyone’s thoughts and prayers for me, other staff, the hostel, and travelers. I don’t think things would happen the way they do if I did not have the support and prayers of others. Just this month, 3 people have been saved here at the hostels! (there are 2 hostels that we manage–I work at the one called Shelter Jordan) It’s absolutely amazing! God is so powerful!

We hosted a “travelers night” at our hostel last week, as we do every other week. The guests at our hostel receive free dinner and dessert that night, and we present the gospel in some way; either we share testimonies, discuss the bible in a new way, or some kind of activity. The main guy leading this week felt that the Lord wanted him to just straight out preach the gospel, no fluff or beating around the bush. Just speak it. So someone else from our staff shared his testimony to start, which was very moving, as you could feel the Lord talking through him. Then the main guy started talking, about being spiritually blind, ignoring Jesus in our lives, and ending with Jesus’ death on the cross. At the end, he basically did an altar call, and asked if anyone would like this forgiveness, who wanted what Jesus could offer them, who wanted to give their life to the Lord? No one raised their hand or anything, so he said, ok , I’ll give you five more seconds…and a girl in the back timidly raised her hand! She accepted Christ into her life that night! Absolutely amazing!

And others have done the same at the other hostel this month as well. It’s so inspiring and re-energizing to see the Lord change someone’s life.

We have been having nightly prayer times in our staff house each night, and they have been so encouraging and helpful and very insightful. It has made us closer as a family here, and more dependent on the Lord for faith and insight. He has been good to us, and continually lets us know that He is listening and acting on our prayers.

So I thank you, thank you all for your prayers, and ask you to continue to remember me and the hostel ministry–there is so much to be done here!

“…the effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.” James 5:16

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God is Great!

November 4th, 2008

just in case you didn’t know!

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A Lesson in Euro Fashion

October 20th, 2008

 

(The above picture shows my free funky scarf, and a lovely coffee drink-half coffee half, real whipped cream–be jealous Amy!)

Anyone who knows anything about me knows that I am a bit of a clothes horse.  I can’t help it, I just love fashion!  That said, my wardrobe I have with me in Amsterdam says little about my actual sense of style.  I brought more functional, travel friendly pieces.  Read: boring.  And my normal attire is not boring.  So I’ve done a small bit of shopping since I’ve been here. 

Because never, have I ever, in my entire life, felt so…dumpy, short, unfashionably out of it, so tennis shoes, American tourist in the worst stereotyped way as I have in Amsterdam.  Why?  Because everyone here is a supermodel.  The Dutch are tall, blond, fit, and Trendy!  They all have such a funky, fun sense of style!  It’s amazing, really-even old men dress well.  The girls here dress kind of Euro funky-trendy and pull it off so well.  Here’s what I’ve learned so far:

To look really chic and with it, do not wear anything besides the following-

Skinny jeans or straight jeans only.  no bootcut allowed

Boots of anykind, converse/puma-like trainers in any color, or cute flat shoes.  No other footwear is allowed

A few layered tops, none of which match in color or print, but somehow go together

A light jacket

And always, always a funky scarf.  probably the most important part of the outfit.

Soooo, I’ve purchased a few key pieces-skinny jeans, a pair of metallic gold flat shoes, a funky vintage shirt, and my raspberry beret.  oh, and I found a cool scarf in the “:random stuff people leave here” closet at the staff house.  I think I’m pretty set for my Euro wardrobe now.  But geez, if you ever visit, be sure to pack accordingly.  I mean, you’re going up against a country full of supermodels.  Get ready to bust out the beret!

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Chocolate Sprinkles and Pink Berets

October 15th, 2008

 

So hello to everyone!  I’m terrible about posting here, I really am.  So instead of writing a huge update, I’m going to post an email I sent to a few friends that is basically a huge update on what I’ve been up to.  So here it is:

WHY did I ever think to Not come here?  that would have been the worst
ever.  I love it here!!!  such a good decision!  thanks God!
so basically, I work different shifts in the cafe of the hostel, either making
breakfast, or helping with dinner, or being there late night to serve
coffee or tea to guests.  I work about 6 hours a day.
usually I have a morning shift, where I make pancakes or french-toast
for about 80 people!  can you imagine?! haha who knew.  then i spend
about 2 hours cleaning the kitchen for the next shift.  ugh, mopping.
But you know what?  I love it!  it’s very….humbling to serve by
cooking and cleaning.  but the best part is, i get to talk to
backpackers from all over the world, everyday!  it’s so fun to build
relationships with people so quickly, and for a short amount of time.
about 3 days is average that someone stays.  but we have a lot of
people staying for around 1 month right now.  so i just chat with
them, and usually they ask me how i got here, and that gets me into a
short testimony, and it just a great conversation from there.  oh,
and about once a week i lead a bible study for the guests.  i had my
first one yesterday.  it went well i think.  it was on not worrying,
because we can cast our burdens on Jesus if we have a relationship
with him.  Matthew 6:25.  We also go to class twice a week, where we learn ways to share our faith with others.
and the staff i work with is really awesome.  we all live in a house
about a 10minute bike ride form the hostel i work in.  we come and go
at different times through out the day, so it’s hard to build a
relationship with everyone, specially the people who work at the other
hostel.  and most of them are younger than i am, so i feel oddly old
at sometimes.  hahaha. most of the staff just graduated college.  but
they are so fun to hang around and work with, and awesome because
they are all so dedicated to Christ and serving him.  it’s very
inspiring to be here.
Amsterdam is so very awesome.  it’s so historic.  the hostel i work in
started as a school back in 1700 something i think.  and some of the
houses here date back to the 1500’s!!! it’s crazy–you can just feel
how old everything is.  but it’s all very well preserved.  oh, a block
over from the hostel i work in is where Rembrandt lived!!! how insane
is that?!
I’m used to riding my bike around town now.  it was a little scary at
first.  Imean i hadn’t ridden a bike in years ya know, and never in a
huge, crowded city with small roads and cars and other bikes bustling
around.  But now I’m totally at ease zipping through the crowds on my
bike.  how very European of me, haha.  oh, and i bought a raspberry-ish beret (cue the Prince song) the other day.  i feel very chic in it.  🙂  there are markets
just about everyday somewhere in the city, huge markets where you can
buy Anything!  and always flowers for sale, beautiful flowers all
kinds, for really cheap!
Dutch is a very hard language to learn, it’s very guttural, with a lot
of hacking involved.  i try.  i know a few words, and can count from
1-10!  i”m very proud of actually remembering.  oh, and i can say “I
am the pancake Queen!” {Ich bin de pannekakenn coning!}  in
dutch–very practical.  🙂  oh, and they eat bread with butter and
Chocolate Sprinkles on top as a meal!  haha!  how very awesome is
that?!  i have a feeling I’m going to be large when i leave here.
they like sweets here, so lots of yummy stuff to eat.
so that’s all the good stuff.  bad stuff–I’m really tired at the end
of the day, so i don’t leave much time to email or call home-sorry.
Also, I’ve never felt such strong spiritual warfare as i have here in
Amsterdam.  It’s really amazing.  Some parts of the city have such a
dark presence around it.  And people as well.  The devil is hard at
work here, and has been for a while.  i felt it for a while around the house
where we live, and other staff members did as well.  and a lot of
people were starting to get sick.  so we had a day of fasting (already
set up before i got here, the main purpose to bring more of the guests
staying in the hostel to Jesus) and praise and worship with lots of
powerful prayer.  And I feel that broke down any holds that were around our group here.  And it’s so awesome to know that
we have authority in Jesus to do that!  I feel very
protected here, knowing that I walk with Christ.  (thanks for
reminding me Amy-Romans 8:38)
so all in all, my relationship with Jesus is growing, and hopefully I
am helping others as well.  an exploring Amsterdam is really fun–i
tend to get lost a lot, but am slowly learning my way around the city!
Thanks so much for your prayers and updates!  please keep them coming!
 please continue to pray for me, the hostel and backpackers.  also,
feel free to share this email with church and small group, so they can know what i’ve been up to and
that their prayers are needed and welcomed!
Love,
Deanna

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Middle of the Night Sky

October 1st, 2008

I had an overnight flight to Amsterdam.  It was okay, I was able to sleep, and get some reading done as well.  But the most amazing thing happened!  I woke up at some point and decided to have a look out the window.  I push up the ugly cream window, and the most beautiful sight appears!  It’s a clear night and all I see are bright stars, surrounding me!  It was absolutely gorgeous!  Sounds cliche, but it took my breath away!  I wish I knew constellations, because there were a few out there to see! 

I’ve flown at night before, but have never seen such a beautiful night sky out my window.  It was like we were flying in the middle of the universe, on the edge of space.  I fell back asleep, but woke up later to sunlight streaming in.  I looked out the window again, and another amazing sight took me by surprise!  To my left, there was the night sky, still blazing with starlight.  And to my right, there was beautiful sun-rays of orange, purples and blues streaking across the sky.  The two sides joined in the middle in a mix of dark blues and purples and went there separate ways from there.  It was so oddly amazing.  To be in the middle of night turning into day.  Such a strange place in time.  To actually see one day end, and another begin! 

Such was my start to Amsterdam…

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