Oh what a year!

It was a good year, it was sometimes bad. We had some great victories, and we were also just barely able to avoid some catastrophes. God provided in every way imaginable, and we remembered always to ask and to thank Him, giving Him the glory. We hired new workers, and unfortunately we had to fire some too. We lost some good friends, but we were able to meet some new ones, hopefully they will stay friends forever or at least for a very long time! We built and we renovated. We enjoyed the animals together with the children. We played and we laughed, we cried tears of joy and sadness. We said goodbye to some children going to homes with families, we said hello to some coming back after again not working out with their families. One thing we hope will remain the same, that Lar Feliz will always be a place where children, workers, and visitors can find the warmth of Jesus precious love.

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

Christmas...

There is a lot of talk always about Christmas and even some who believe it should be cancelled because it is not the exact day of Jesus birth. Working at a children’s home, one gets to see all over again how Christmas can be through a child’s eyes. We have always taught that Jesus is the reason why we celebrate, so why not celebrate? Why not use this time of year to give while remembering how God gave his only son to us. Last night, we brought the baby house to a pizza restaurant, then to our house for Christmas cookies and then on to see the Christmas lights in the square. The babies were excited all day to get to go out, to be invited to our home, and it struck me how humble the Lord’s life was in the beginning, how there wasn’t even room for Him at an Inn. These children also were abandoned mostly by their parents who had no room for them in their lives and homes. To see the joy in their eyes at the smallest gift is to realize the joy of giving and celebrating Christmas, the Lord’s birthday.

From Rags to Riches

For the second time this month, another little brother and sister from the baby house were adopted by a loving couple. They came to us with only the clothes on their backs, no toys or shoes, and they now leave as the child heirs of a wealthy family in Brazil. I loved them while they were here with us and watched them grow. The little boy loved to fly kites and laugh and tease, and the little girl was always sweet loving and quiet. They will live in a wonderful place with a wonderful family, living the life that God has for them. I didn't get a chance to say goodbye, probably better for them not to see the tears in my eyes!

USA meets Brazil

As many already know, last week for the first time my youngest brother, together with his wife and daughters came to visit us in Brazil. For months we were looking forward to this event, and we were planning all along what we could do to show them the best parts of Brazil. He was surprised when we came to pick him up in a “hippie Volkswagen van”, but everyone was quiet at first noticing the difference of the big city of Sao Paulo and small town USA. The traffic was crazy; it seemed that there were people everywhere starting with the airport. They said how hot it was, and it was hot especially after leaving the cold snowy climate that they were accustomed to. We saw Pedreira and Serra Negra, beautiful places to see, and we cooked at home a lot. They liked some Brazilian food with the exception of banana candy which my brother thought resembled hundred year old rotten brown moldy bananas! We took them to the project, and they fell in love with the kids. We went swimming; they got suntans, some mosquito bites, and lost a soccer game with the unfair advantage of not being used to the afternoon sun, and having fewer team members. The Brazilian team seemed like they could run forever and they could too. It was a very fun week, the only hard part saying goodbye.

A little life....

A woman was a drug user and had two children from different fathers. During the pregnancy of the second child, she continued to use drugs. When he was born, he had problems with breathing and as a result he nearly died. When he was brought to Lar Feliz, he was barely alive. Our nurse on staff went with him through many doctor visits and sleepless nights to help him get the right medication that he needed. He survived. Now nearly two years later, we are observing other things about him. He is growing into a tall and strong boy, but doesn’t seem to understand the consequences of his actions to a point that he puts himself and others into danger. He has in the past picked up heavy objects throwing them onto the head of another child. He climbs to the top of a very high place and tries to jump. When walking with a group, he always tries to run away, and a few days ago while he was running a truck came down the road, but I was able to catch him before anything happened. We give him lots of love and discipline, but are starting to feel that he needs something more. We place him into the hands of Jesus, and ask everyone to pray for this little life.