Herman & Betsy Bouwhuizen

Getting ready to return to the States

Betsy — Tue, 15 Feb 2011 10:26:43 +0000

We’ve had a good few weeks in Holland. The times of ministry were fruitful. Herman was asked to speak in Antwerp, Belgium another time and felt honored but we can’t add another trip before we leave. We have been very focused in the last week in taking care of the house in Delft; lots of sorting, cleaning, giving, throwing…moving takes a lot of energy. But we are taking one day at a time and see the light at the end of the tunnel

Once we land in Augusta, we’ll have one week before heading to Florida for the birth of our 8th grandchild, a little girl. Miesje, Cam and Coen are very ready for her to arrive as is the rest of the Carlsen and Bouwhuizen families. Betsy will stay to help with the new baby for a few weeks, our niece is getting married and Herman was asked to be the photographer for that special day, and then we’ll head to Tampa for a “Bouwhuizen” reunion. We’ll have a few days with Paul, Heather, Cam, Miesje and all the grand-children with Great-Grandma and Grandpa Bouwhuizen. There will be camera’s flashing that day as Dad and Mom Bouwhuizen will meet and hold 2 of their great-grand daughters for the first time.

It is also our hope to be in North Carolina for a Women’s Retreat with our friend Pastor Carolyn Lee, attend a Regional Meeting with Frank and Shirley Harvey before heading back to Europe for ministry in Bulgaria, England and France. A full travel agenda once again.

During the weeks in Holland, we did a marriage seminar together, Herman preached in Antwerp, Belgium, we met with a lot of people, prayed with friends, worked on getting the house ready to sell and encouraged lots of people. We leave this time knowing there has been a lot of grace by the Lord for this season – a not so easy time but filled with His grace.

We hope to see many of you while in Augusta, we look forward to the 27th Anniversary Celebration with Whole Life Ministries and participating in any way we can help. Just being there will be a blessing to us.

We’ll keep you updated on our news along the way.

At the Corrie ten Boom house

Betsy — Sat, 05 Feb 2011 20:53:12 +0000

Today at the Corrie ten Boom house we had 80 visitors. It was a very special day; there were lots of Dutch visitors, a Swiss man, a YWAM group from Amsterdam, an American family, a couple from Pragg, a Brazilian and a Haitian….Each time I’m there, it is so special.

Time in the United Sates

Betsy — Wed, 02 Feb 2011 10:47:58 +0000

Our time in the states was full! Our priority was our family; visiting Dad and Mom Bouwhuizen, in their 80’s and still in their home, arriving in time for Miesje’s emergency surgery while 3 months pregnant (she and the baby are doing well, the baby’s due date is March 7th), helping Paul and Heather take care of their 5 children while Heather had their 6th baby. We car-pooled, shopped, cooked…had lots of fun with our grandchildren. We were hosted for that time by our friends Pastors Jim and Kathy McNally in Virgina. What a blessing!

We also were able to be teach seminars, lead worship at a Women’s Conference, preach in two churches, we were a part of activities in our home church Whole Life Ministries, hosted the EMO Board Meeting (European Missions Outreach, Herman is the President) and set up a home base in Augusta. We returned to Delft, Netherlands in January rested and full of faith for 2011.

Ministry in Antwerp, Belgium

Betsy — Tue, 01 Feb 2011 15:05:18 +0000

We went to minister in Antwerp, Belgium this past weekend. We had a safe trip down and back, the seminar was very personal and interactive with the 3 couples who were there. We had a wonderful time with them, sharing, praying for them, teaching some principles and listening to their stories. And the Lord did some wonderful work in healing, restoring and strengthening their relationships. Two of the couples are missionaries to Antwerp (2 Germans, 1 Finnish, 1 Belgian), we were amazed at God’s faithfulness.

Betsy attended the Philadelphia Church (the largest church in Antwerp with about 200 people) on Sunday morning. The pastor invited her to introduce herself and share. This is the same church and pastor that other missionaries have worked with in the years past. So it was a real blessing to be there. We also toured the Christian day care center connected to the church that Frank Ernst started as a ministry to the community a few years ago. It has places for 22 children and they represent many countries.

Herman preached on Sunday night at The Lighthouse Church service where about 20 young people gathered in the basement of Frank and Hadassah Ernst, the pastors of the group. It was so relaxed, so powerful and so good to see this group who love the Lord Jesus Christ and are serious about being Salt and Light in Antwerp. The Lord reminded us that this work is fruit from the outreaches we were a part of years ago and so it was very special to ’see’ the work is still continuing and growing. We thank the Lord for the opportunity we had to ‘go’ – it has made a difference for Christ.
This week Betsy will be in Haarlem at the Corrie ten Boom house once again and we will be in the north of Holland a few days. We are also busy with making arrangements for the house in Delft (overwhelming to say the least). We ask for you to pray for wisdom and provision as we continue transitioning our ‘home base’ back to Augusta.

More Marriage Enrichment times in Paris

Betsy — Sat, 18 Sep 2010 08:14:11 +0000

Marriage Seminar smiles

Break moment

Pastors Bong and Maravic concentrating

We had a 'little' help

Break moment

Fay and Rico sharing

Report of Paris trip

Betsy — Fri, 17 Sep 2010 15:01:31 +0000

We had a wonderful time meeting friends and teaching a Marriage Enrichment Seminar in Paris. We visited: Pastors Robert and Kathryn Baxter, Pastors Robby and Tracy Bradford, Pastors Bong and Maravic Bulgarin and met up with Lora Wiggans, EMO missionary to France last week! Lora is now here with us in Delft where her primary goal is re-connecting with her friends and raising support. Here are some pictures of our time there in the north, the east and the west side of one of the biggest cities in Europe. It encourages us to know the Lord is busy loving this city and has sent such great teams to reach out to the French and ex-pats there.

Tracy Bradford, Lora Wiggans and Betsy

Pastor Joseph, Herman, Pastor Bong

Marriage Enrichment Seminar Paris

Couples at the Marriage Seminar

Pastors of The Bridge Church in Paris - Robby and Tracy Bradford

Neil’s Ordination in Coventry Cathedral, England

Betsy — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 14:03:06 +0000

We were so honored to attend Neil Dunlop’s ordination into the Anglican Church of England in Coventry, England. What an amazing day, what an amazing story, what an amazing victory! Neil and Vicki are now settled in a new home and Neil is serving as a Vicor for a few churches.

Randy, Neil and Herman in Coventry Cathedral, England

Neil's Ordination in Coventry Cathedral, England

Summer visitors – what fun!!

Betsy — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 13:55:09 +0000

Over the summer we loved hosting Josh Adams, Randy Morgan and Pastors Stephen and Bryony Brooker from England. Great friends, great times.

Josh, Randy, and us enjoying Holland sites together

Pastors Stephen and Bryony Brooker visiting us in Delft

Marriage Enrichment Day in Amsterdam

Betsy — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 13:44:47 +0000

Praying for each other

Last weekend we enjoyed teaching a Marriage Enrichment Day at God’s Embassy Church in Amsterdam. There were 50 who attended and it was a great time together with this vibrant group! Pastors Arleen and Dick Westerhof were a delight to work with and we stayed with our friends David and Lilia. The next day Herman preached in their Sunday service. What a wonderful church with a passion and vision to impact Amsterdam with a ministry to the ‘Red Light District’ and much more. It was our joy to be there – the city Herman was born in and where his parents and grandparents lived and attended the St. Nickolas Church.

Pastors Arleen & Dick Westerhof

Men praying for men

Marriage Enrichment at God's Embassy

SOZO 2010 – England

Betsy — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 13:21:43 +0000

It has been a while since we posted an update and hopefully most of you received the newsletter already. However, we did have a wonderful, full, ministry and rest packed summer. After a few days of retreat with Randy Morgan in England we headed to the “Red Hill Centre” near Stratford-upon-Avon for the annual SOZO Festival for a wonderful week of worship, teaching, prayer and action. A picture of heaven….worshiping with the nations! Josh Adams from Augusta joined us and then came to Delft for a few weeks of a European Missions experience. He was involved in the worship team in Delft and saw lots of things in Holland and Germany before heading back to the USA.

Josh and Herman at SOZO