I have signed up for a Mom 2 Mom sale on March 23. We are starting to get rid of items around the house, and the never -ending tubs of kids clothes have got to go!
If anyone has any baby items, clothing, etc, that you'd like to donate to me to sell, the proceeds of the sale will be going towards our fundraising efforts. I'd appreciate anything you're willing to part with for a good cause. Let me know and I'd be happy to pick up. Thanks!
Monday, January 28, 2013
Wednesday, January 16, 2013
New family email address
We have created a new email address that we will use for our ministry communications, such as email updates. You can still reach us both personally:
Marc - marcdriesenga@gmail.com
Gretchen - gretchendriesenga@gmail.com
However, if you'd like to recieve our regular email updates, or have questions about our ministry, please let us know by sending a message to thedriesengafamily@gmail.com
We are compiling our list of those who have indicated they would like updates from us and will continue to add to it as we hear from people.
Marc - marcdriesenga@gmail.com
Gretchen - gretchendriesenga@gmail.com
However, if you'd like to recieve our regular email updates, or have questions about our ministry, please let us know by sending a message to thedriesengafamily@gmail.com
We are compiling our list of those who have indicated they would like updates from us and will continue to add to it as we hear from people.
Friday, January 4, 2013
Tanzania = Ninevah?
Isaac and I were talking today about our move to Tanzania. He periodically talks about how he doesn't want to go, and we can leave him with Oma & Opa while we move there for a few years. :) We haven't really taken the time to explain to him WHY we are going, so today, as we took down the ornaments on the Christmas tree together, I tried to give him the best explanation I could.
The first Bible story that popped into my head was that of Jonah. I asked him if he could tell me the story. Wow - he has an amazing memory and he set me up perfectly. He told me a very complete version - even getting the 'big fish' part correct instead of saying 'whale'.
"So God asked Jonah to go to Ninevah, to tell the people there who didn't trust in God that God is REAL and that he loves them and they should trust Him"
We focused on this part of the story, not on Jonah's running away and disobedience. :)
I shared with him how Daddy & I had been praying for a long time about where God might want us to go, and that we felt God was asking us to move to Tanzania to tell the people there about God's love and grace. Not exactly the same task Jonah was given, "“Go to the great city of Nineveh and preach against it, because its wickedness has come up before me.”, but I think he understood the idea. God asks us to do something, or go somewhere, and we must be obedient to that. (and yes, I know there is much more to the story of Jonah than that - it's not just a story about obeying God - but I think it worked with a 4 year old!)
He got pretty excited and said he had a great idea. He told me that he when people come over to the house that we're going to live in in Tanzania, he can tell them the story of Jonah and tell people that they should trust God and God loves them. He also told me that Hope can't do it, "because she doesn't know enough words to tell the stories of God." :)
I love seeing him grasp a bit more of God's story in Scripture, and in our family. He is starting to recognize that not everyone in the world believes God's redemptive story, and that we can be a part in sharing this with others.
The first Bible story that popped into my head was that of Jonah. I asked him if he could tell me the story. Wow - he has an amazing memory and he set me up perfectly. He told me a very complete version - even getting the 'big fish' part correct instead of saying 'whale'.
"So God asked Jonah to go to Ninevah, to tell the people there who didn't trust in God that God is REAL and that he loves them and they should trust Him"
We focused on this part of the story, not on Jonah's running away and disobedience. :)
I shared with him how Daddy & I had been praying for a long time about where God might want us to go, and that we felt God was asking us to move to Tanzania to tell the people there about God's love and grace. Not exactly the same task Jonah was given, "“Go to the great city of Nineveh and preach against it, because its wickedness has come up before me.”, but I think he understood the idea. God asks us to do something, or go somewhere, and we must be obedient to that. (and yes, I know there is much more to the story of Jonah than that - it's not just a story about obeying God - but I think it worked with a 4 year old!)
He got pretty excited and said he had a great idea. He told me that he when people come over to the house that we're going to live in in Tanzania, he can tell them the story of Jonah and tell people that they should trust God and God loves them. He also told me that Hope can't do it, "because she doesn't know enough words to tell the stories of God." :)
I love seeing him grasp a bit more of God's story in Scripture, and in our family. He is starting to recognize that not everyone in the world believes God's redemptive story, and that we can be a part in sharing this with others.
Saturday, December 29, 2012
Current Opportunities at HOPAC
Anyone interested in joining us at Haven of Peace next year? There are many opportunities for teachers for the 2013- 2014 year!
http://www.hopac.net/opportunities-at-hopac/current-opportunities/
http://www.hopac.net/opportunities-at-hopac/current-opportunities/
Opportunities
- Head of School (Deadline: January 31, 2013): Job_Description-Director 2012 13 (1)
- Swim Coordinator
Opportunities (beginning August 2013)
- Primary Principal
- Primary Teacher (G3)
- Secondary Art Teacher
- Secondary Biology Teacher
- Secondary English Literature Teacher
- Secondary Math Teacher
- Secondary Economics/History Teacher
- Special Needs Teacher
- Music Teacher
- PE Teacher/Sports Coordinator
- Service Learning Coordinator
- ICT/Computer Teacher
- ESL/EAL Teacher
- Librarian
- Systems Engineer
Friday, December 28, 2012
Online donations & address request!
We are not officially listed on the CRWM donation page, HOWEVER, if you would like to make an online donation, please visit the link below. There is a box you can click that says, "I would like to designate my gift to a person or project not already listed."
When you click that box, it will give you a place to put our name/mission. You can put "Marc & Gretchen Driesenga - HOPAC, Tanzania" as the information.
Thanks for your consideration!
https://secure3.convio.net/crcna/site/Donation2?df_id=5220&5220.donation=form1&JServSessionIdr004=36d2u5i9t5.app305b
Also, we are currently working on our mailing list for our newletters/updates and our first letter If you would like to receive it, please message me your home address at gretchendriesenga@gmail.com.
When you click that box, it will give you a place to put our name/mission. You can put "Marc & Gretchen Driesenga - HOPAC, Tanzania" as the information.
Thanks for your consideration!
https://secure3.convio.net/crcna/site/Donation2?df_id=5220&5220.donation=form1&JServSessionIdr004=36d2u5i9t5.app305b
Also, we are currently working on our mailing list for our newletters/updates and our first letter If you would like to receive it, please message me your home address at gretchendriesenga@gmail.com.
Monday, December 17, 2012
Spring Break 2013
Marc was able to meet with our Global Engagement Team (GET) from church last week to share our mission & vision for our upcoming move and work in Tanzania. He was very encouraged by being able to share and invite others to join in and partner with us.
The GET approved funds for Marc to take a vision trip to Dar Es Salaam and HOPAC over spring break this year. He will be going for about a week and will possibly be staying with the current Bible teacher and his family. He will get to spend time with Gil (Bible teacher) to go over the Bible classes and curriculum, meet with administrators, look for housing/vehicle and just get a feel for how we can best prepare for our move, including what we need to take and what we can leave behind.
I am so thrilled that he gets to take this trip and equally excited that I can stay home. As much as I am completely excited to move and begin ministry there, the thought of an 8 hour time difference, long, long, long flights and only being there for 6-7 days is not appealing. I'm not a fantastic flier/traveler, so if I'm going to travel that long, I'm staying put for a while. :)
So, who's going to come hang out with me and the kids while Marc is traveling the world?
The GET approved funds for Marc to take a vision trip to Dar Es Salaam and HOPAC over spring break this year. He will be going for about a week and will possibly be staying with the current Bible teacher and his family. He will get to spend time with Gil (Bible teacher) to go over the Bible classes and curriculum, meet with administrators, look for housing/vehicle and just get a feel for how we can best prepare for our move, including what we need to take and what we can leave behind.
I am so thrilled that he gets to take this trip and equally excited that I can stay home. As much as I am completely excited to move and begin ministry there, the thought of an 8 hour time difference, long, long, long flights and only being there for 6-7 days is not appealing. I'm not a fantastic flier/traveler, so if I'm going to travel that long, I'm staying put for a while. :)
So, who's going to come hang out with me and the kids while Marc is traveling the world?
Friday, December 7, 2012
Craft & Vendor Show SUCCESS!
A huge THANK YOU to everyone who participated in our Craft & Vendor Show! We were hoping to raise $1,000 - $1,500. We fell right in the middle and consider that a huge success!
My first fear: not finding enough crafters/vendors to participate
Reality: I had people emailing me up until the day before asking if there was still room. I had to turn a few people away. We had exactly the number that fit well in the room we were using.
My second fear: no one would come.
Reality: We had a steady flow of people ALL FOUR HOURS! I'm pretty sure the advertising we did was very successful and almost positive we could have stayed open another hour or two and remained as busy.
My third fear: it would be a huge failure altogether
Reality: We feel SO affirmed with how things went. We had AMAZING help by a few key friends and family members - thank you all for your incredible support and help. We could not have done it without you!
Shout outs to:
* Mom & Dad Z
* Mom D
* Sister Em (and boys)
* Bro DeWayne & Sis Leah
* Kelly B
* Reitsma M
* Jun
* Jenna W
* Denise M
* Mark & Rachael VW
* Everyone who made baked goods
* a few of my students and others from church who had booths and/or donated items to be sold or auctioned off
* all the crafters/vendors for participating and donating so many amazing items
* CRWM for getting our brochures/letters ready in time!
* Nancy M for donating jewelry
* Jenny H for donating an autographed book
* Chad K for donating cat scratchers
Really hope I'm not missing anyone!
We are so grateful for all of your support!
THANK YOU!
My first fear: not finding enough crafters/vendors to participate
Reality: I had people emailing me up until the day before asking if there was still room. I had to turn a few people away. We had exactly the number that fit well in the room we were using.
My second fear: no one would come.
Reality: We had a steady flow of people ALL FOUR HOURS! I'm pretty sure the advertising we did was very successful and almost positive we could have stayed open another hour or two and remained as busy.
My third fear: it would be a huge failure altogether
Reality: We feel SO affirmed with how things went. We had AMAZING help by a few key friends and family members - thank you all for your incredible support and help. We could not have done it without you!
Shout outs to:
* Mom & Dad Z
* Mom D
* Sister Em (and boys)
* Bro DeWayne & Sis Leah
* Kelly B
* Reitsma M
* Jun
* Jenna W
* Denise M
* Mark & Rachael VW
* Everyone who made baked goods
* a few of my students and others from church who had booths and/or donated items to be sold or auctioned off
* all the crafters/vendors for participating and donating so many amazing items
* CRWM for getting our brochures/letters ready in time!
* Nancy M for donating jewelry
* Jenny H for donating an autographed book
* Chad K for donating cat scratchers
Really hope I'm not missing anyone!
We are so grateful for all of your support!
THANK YOU!
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