'Not a hair on our heads thought about moving to a big city! But God's calling voice was so clear that we couldn't say no. So three years ago we moved from a cosy neighbourhood in Veenendaal to a flat in Rotterdam-West,' says Petra Verhelst (in the middle of the picture).
The neighbours
In Veenendaal, we were involved in De Poster, a pioneering CGK congregation. Once we cycled back to our own safe neighbourhood after an activity, now the participants of 'Hart voor West' are our immediate neighbours. And that really makes a world of difference.
When I cycle to school in the morning, I hear: 'Hi, teacher from the club!' I talk to mothers on the street and in the supermarket and have a coffee with my veiled Muslim neighbour across the street. With the Surinamese opposite neighbour, we have a prayer hour every fortnight and then we share our worries. She prays for us and we for her and each time I am moved by her unaffected words. And after two years (!), the alcoholic woman begging in front of the Albert Heijn supermarket is finally ready to cross our threshold.
Moving house with children
For our children, it was a drastic move. The school changed, and the environment. Suddenly they were far away from their friends. Yet it went very well and we still marvel at that. What helped is that another family with six children settled down a street away. A Godsend. And every school holiday the Veenendaal friends come to stay, so the bond remains.
Sharing together
We live with 2 other families and 9 singles in one building and form a community. Several dozen local residents join us. Every Wednesday and Sunday, we eat together and local residents also join us. We borrow each other's things, help each other, share our blessings and disappointments and pray together. We serve the neighbourhood by offering about 20 activities every week.
God so close
I ponder this regularly: despite the lack of a garden, the immense blocks of houses, the enormous traffic and the confrontation with so much brokenness, what makes life here so incredibly beautiful? I believe it is 3 things. First: sharing your life with people from other cultures is hugely inspiring and enriching. Secondly, it is wonderful to stand shoulder to shoulder in God's vineyard together with other Christians - as a song so beautifully says. To serve Him, to discover together who God is and how He works in people's lives. And finally: the most beautiful life is a dependent life. We have never experienced God as closely as we have in the last three years. And that is why we are not thinking about leaving here. Not a hair on our heads! (Unless God calls us elsewhere 🙂 )
This article appeared in the magazine Passing on, which CGK members received for free in the month of November.
