Sunday June 11th, departure day, came and went without any problem. My girlfriend and her three kids drove me to the airport and hugged me as they sent me off on my next missionary adventure serving with TWR. The flight was really easy and went by so fast. It's amazing how 7 hours can fly by, pun intended. The next thing I knew I was getting off the plane in Amsterdam, going through passport control, gathering my luggage and making my way to the airport storage lockers to drop a bag before finding the train headed to Barneveld where the TWR headquarters are located. I was a bit nervous about taking a train that required me getting off and onto a different train, but everyone I encountered in the Netherlands was so friendly and helpful that it was really easy. And unlike some people, ahem, I have no problem asking for directions. :)
Before I knew it, I was meeting Tijmen, my European Finance boss in Barneveld as I stepped off the train in Barneveld. It was great to finally meet him in person after working with him through email for the past couple weeks. Funny how you can sort of get an idea of a someone's personality through email, and how great it is when you finally meet them and can laugh knowing that your perception was accurate. He's so much fun; a young guy with four kids and clearly a godly devoted husband and father. Not to mention extremely gifted professionally. I already love working for and with him and know I'm going to learn a lot from him.
That was Monday. Tijmen delivered me to the B&B where I'm staying while training in Barneveld. I hadn't slept at all on the plane and not for lack of trying. By the time I reached the B&B, I'd been awake for 26 hours straight. By the time I got to the room, I felt a full collapse coming on. I told Tijmen not to expect to hear from me until Tuesday. Good thing I had a full breakfast in Amsterdam before getting on the train because I didn't wake up until Tuesday morning. I remember getting up for the breakfast here, and then went back to bed. Tuesday evening Harry and Eileen from the States took me to dinner. They introduced me to a traditional Dutch Pannekoek meal, which is a crepe with various ingredients. I had ham, cheese, mushrooms, onions, tomatoes, and bell peppers in mine. At first it didn't sound very good to me, but then I thought it sounded more like an omelette and decided to give it a try. Wow!! It was amazing! I'm actually still craving another one. I don't know how I could get another one....hmmmm... maybe I should ask someone if there's a place in Barneveld that makes them.
Wednesday I tried to get up to go to the office, but the time change still was difficult. Being six hours ahead, 9:00 a.m. Barneveld time was 3:00 a.m. Florida time. So I text Tijmen and told him noon was more like it. We went to lunch and spent the afternoon working on a project. The weather here is wonderful! It's like March in Florida. Low 70's and 60-70% humidity. Today, Thursday, was my first full day at the office, well sort of full day if you count 9:15 - 4:30. Rather nice hours. Tomorrow will be my last day here, then I leave Saturday morning for Amsterdam where I'll spend Saturday and Sunday wandering around Amsterdam. I want to see the Anne Frank museum and the Van Gogh museum. Then on Monday comes the last leg of my journey as I fly to Vienna and will get settled there.
I'm actually a bit sad about leaving Barneveld. I really like working with the people here. But I'm sure I'll find it the same in Vienna; I hope anyway. Plus I'm looking forward to visiting some of the international churches in Vienna and finding one that suits me and getting involved. I don't know what the Lord has in store for me, but my heart has already been touched by the people here and I imagine it will be touched again and again. I just pray that the Lord will use me to touch others as well. Let me serve You Lord wherever I go; let me be Your ambassador to bring hope, peace and joy to those You put in my path.
God bless to all!
Michelle (Missy) Plum
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