The Dutch Pineapple

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

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