We want to wish you all a very merry Christmas and a 2011 filled with blessings from our Heavenly Father!

A KING WAS BORN, TO DIE AND RISE AGAIN SO THAT THOSE WHO ACCEPT HIM MIGHT LIVE AS ROYALTY.

Dear friends and family,
Last October Jill and I have officially been working in oversees mission for 20 years!! When you read it like that you think, unbelievable, that is a long time, but when we look back it all passed so quickly!
Below we quickly want to list all we have been involved in the last 20 years;


In Amsterdam we worked with YWAM (Youth with a Mission) for 9 years and were involved in the following;
• Personnel department
• Ministry with the addicts and homeless
• Part of the team ministering to the prostitutes in the Red light district, helping them decide to stop what they are doing and where possible help them go back to their native country. (Jill)
• Street Evangelism (Summer and Christmas)
• Building management
• PR for YWAM Amsterdam, we traveled all through the states to share about the work in Amsterdam.
• Discipleship training school staff, during these 6 months we took a team of 14 students to “spy out Brazil”.
• Drama and Dance team (Jill)
We have been in Brazil now for 12 years and the first few years we were involved in the local church as well as a local prison. The 1st of May 2001 we founded “Projeto Lar Feliz”, a shelter for children living in risk situations. These situations can be; living on the streets, (sexual) abuse, abandonment, parents who have addiction problems, orphans. During the last 9 years at least 1000 children have come and gone and have all heard about the love the God has for them.
At the moment we have 55 children living on the farm that has been donated to the ministry. They are divided in 4 houses, according to age and sex. Last April we also opened a home for young people we need some extra help learning to live on their own. Right now we have 6 young people living there.
Important to mention is that we 40 Brazilians working for Lar Feliz. So apart from helping so many children, Lar Feliz also helps to pay the bills for all these 40 families.
When we look back it is so very very clear that God has been with us all this time and has carried us through all the happy, but also difficult times. Without Him we could have never done what we did the last 20 years.
Most of you also know that during these 20 years we have never received a salary and many of you have been involved directly or indirectly by faithful monthly support.
A couple of years ago I was talking with a friend about the fact that it is very easy to take for granted all those people and churches that have been so faithful. We want you to know how much we appreciate your support and give you at the same time all the freedom to stop if that is what you feel led to do.
There might also be people that would like to be financially more involved, please feel free to write as to find out more.

Like written about, we pray a wonderful end of the year for all of you!!
Jesus is the reason of the season!!

Greetings,

Paul, Jill, Elisa and Jeremy

If you want to support us financially monthly or with a one time gift then you can make your check out to The Gospel house Church and send it to:
The Gospel house Church
14707 Alexander Road
Cleveland, OH 44146-4924,
Please include a separate note saying the gift is for The Van Opstal Familie