RoFMI Visit to Holland 4 to 8 March 2010

It is becoming increasingly difficult to write about these visits. It seems the anointing is increasing almost exponentially each time we go out this year. I, for one, am simply blown away by this latest visit – I have been in an emotional maelstrom since Sunday and it is still going on. I suppose I’d better start at the beginning and see how we go from there.



Peter, John, and I went to Amsterdam in Holland this weekend. Our flight was booked for a more civilised hour this time but nevertheless we gathered on Wednesday evening for prayer before setting off from Stansted at about 4:00pm for the vast expanse of Schiphol Airport, Amsterdam on Thursday afternoon. Met in Amsterdam by Pastor Ernie from the Op de Rots ministry, we were driven through the evening rush hour to a large HQ somewhere between two (inevitable) canals in the middle of the city centre. Let me tell you a little about this absolutely remarkable ministry – Stichting Op de Rots (literally “The Rock Foundation” in English) is a rescue centre for prostitutes, drug addicts, people with drink problems, abused and mistreated people. It is a somewhat Spartan centre run to a rather strict regime or “program” as it is called. It is a place of ‘tough love’ – really tough love – where the broken and lost are reclaimed for the world and for Christ. It is not supported by the government - God supplies all their needs - and it is still purely voluntary with people free to leave at any time – as we soon discovered. We didn’t know what to expect but were very warmly welcomed by everyone there – currently 23 of them plus the staff. They are largely self monitoring with those doing well entrusted with more and more responsibility. The staff team is headed up by founder Yvette Laclé (better known by her previous name Yvette Lont) – herself an ex-prostitute who together with her husband Francis plus Pastor Ernie, Pastor Gerald and one or two very senior (ex)inmates, manage and run everything on a day to day basis. There is room for at least 45 people – many more if they double up and share rooms before getting the privilege of a single, private, room. Each person present is ‘his or her brothers/sisters keeper’.



After a meal and an early night, we rose early Friday morning for breakfast at 07:30 and 08:00am Bible sturdy – which everyone is encouraged to attend. They have some praise and worship to start with, all sung to CD’s, and we got our first big surprise. Far from being a very half-hearted ‘I suppose I’d better join in’ attitude we had a wonderful time of inspired and anointed praise and worship – these guys put many supposedly charismatic churches to shame with their totally uninhibited singing and worship. It was simply wonderful and it is supposed to last an hour but lasted to much nearer 10:30 when we finally broke for coffee. The daily routine by now well and truly abandoned we shared more fellowship with everyone before holding a Prayer meeting from 11:30 til 12:30. Everyone not on medication usually fasts on Fridays but we were excused this and had lunch with the others on medications and therefore not allowed to fast. Many of them are on medication for some considerable time. After lunch we had no problem filling time with the group who, we were fast learning, were responding to us in an unprecedented manner and it wasn’t ‘put on’ either – there was much mutual interest and entertainment with the residents keen to talk to us and to hear from us too.



After the evening meal, we were joined by friends from Wieringerwerf where we visited last month for the start of a three session ‘conference’ supposedly on Salvation - but that soon changed as Peter began to give prophecies for Holland, for Amsterdam, and for individuals. Peter spoke on 1 Samuel 16 where Samuel was called to anoint the ‘next king of Israel’. A long time of ministry then concluded the official evening followed by extended fellowship with the staff and guests.



There were two conference sessions on Saturday. In the morning Peter spoke on Elisha and the King of Aram – where Elisha listened to the conversations within the Aramean camp to thwart their attacks and the Aramean army surrounded Elisha only to be thwarted by the ‘Army of the Lord’ also encamped around him. The main thrust of Peters talk however, was on how God makes preparation for each miracle. He went on to talk about the Great Commission. In the afternoon, we had some free time for fellowship with Yvette and Francis on their own. We also went for a daylight tour of Amsterdam city centre including the infamous Red Light District. Many say that Amsterdam has gone beyond Sodom & Gomorrah and I can understand why they say that. The depravity we saw was appalling and all the more so as we watched parties of school children being given a tour of the whole area. Unbelievable – simply unbelievable !! The evening started with even more friends arriving and Peter speaking at length to a full house on “Doing whatever He tells you” (John 2:1-11) There were further words for Amsterdam and an extended period of ministry during time which Peter “got” both John and I and we were laid out in the Spirit for some time. I have no idea what was going on so I can’t report on it all. :-))



Sunday dawned and we were taken off to visit and bless their new ministry building where the successful residents will be offered proper paid work and thereby weaned further back into a society which has used and abused each one of them in one way or another. We celebrated the Lords Supper with them before being dragged off to Rotterdam where another appointment awaited us. It was at this point that the reality of the love and care of both guardians and residents at Stichting Op de Rots finally got to me. I really didn’t want to leave and I wept unashamedly as we drove away from the first ‘People Re-cycling Centre’ in Holland. I simply felt so unclean – so unworthy of their love. Yes – their love for us. Those who have been so badly treated by society yet who still have so much love to give – and they gave some to us. It’s got me again now.



We arrived at Rotterdam about 20 minutes after service started. It was very rude of us but a very gracious Pastor Stanley Dissels and his wonderful family nevertheless welcomed us with open arms and we ministered to their Het Zout der Aarde Church (Salt of the Earth Church) Peter spoke about the return of the prophetic to the church after many years of being shunned and ignored. He spoke passionately about the authority of a prophet and illustrated this with some of the many stories from our various visits around Europe during the last three years. There were words for various specific ailments/ills and conditions such as childlessness, Tinnitus, and dyslexia. Many people were blessed. Pastor Stanley himself drove us back to Amsterdam so we had an extended period of fellowship with him as we drove.



Back at the ranch in Amsterdam, we slept and arose at 6:00am for breakfast (well coffee) before being driven to Schiphol for the return flight to Stansted. Four or five of the residents got up especially to see us off !!!! Much as I have wept at my own unworthiness to serve these wonderful people, I also realise that God makes us ‘worthy’ through the Blood of Christ – and who am I to argue with that?