As most of you know, my time in Rotterdam has come to an end and I have returned to the States where I am now serving in the chaplain’s office at Furman University in Greenville, South Carolina. The last several weeks have been a whirlwind, both geographically and emotionally. In early August I joined our pastor, Robert, and a group of students from the Bakke Graduate University for Ministry near Seattle along with interested others on a “Celtic trail” through Northern Ireland, Scotland, and the northern tip of England, in order to figure out what lessons we can learn from Christianity in the Celtic world and apply them to modern, urban contexts.
I already miss Rotterdam, the church, and the people there. It was a great blessing to be a part of their lives for a while and I hope that in some small ways I was able to be a blessing to them.
As you probably know as well (from reading this blog), there are at least a couple of possibilities to return to the Netherlands as early as the fall of 2008 to work with the English-speaking seminary near Amsterdam, or with international student ministry in Rotterdam. Please continue to keep me in your prayers as I discern God’s direction.
I may start a new blog sometime soon (but I’m still thinking over the merits of it). For now, this will be the goodbye post for Mission: Rotterdam 2007. Thank you for following along with me, praying for me, and supporting me.
Many blessings to you all!
1 response so far ↓
Pat Nafzger // December 19, 2007 at 5:19 am
Hi Brian!
Life has gotten much too busy and it has taken me until now to “catch up” with your blogging. I am sure that the return to the states has been adjustment…physically, emotionally and, I suspect, spiritally. I am sure that you were blest by the experience and that God used you in ways you are not even aware of to be a blessing to the folks you ministered with and among.
Strange that you end up at Furman. My husband’s cousin, Dr. Doug Rall, is the chair of the Math Dept. at Furman. Perhaps you have crossed paths? Nice guy. Unfortunately, we haven’t seen each other for a number of years.
Whenever I pas St. Barnabus on Butterfield Rd in Wheaton, I think of you and remember you in prayer. I do miss those times at seminary…the wonderful discussions, etc. My work and mental health ministry with Christian congregations and Muslims is proceeding well, but certainly challenging. I hope you’ll be able to return to Rotterdam some day (in the near future.) Till then, we just wait on the Lord. Keep in touch and have a blessed Christmas.
Pat Nafzger