Our travelling continued… When we came back from Spain, we got an invitation from stichting Presence, to join them to their outreach in the UK. This was literally an answer to our prayer! A few weeks before this invitation we prayed something like “Lord, send us people who are willing to take us on the streets so we can learn from them”. It was burning in our hearts to learn more, how to reach the people effectively. We went on the streets already for a few years with our children, and we prayed mostly for the sick. Sometimes we saw healing, but after that they often didn’t want to know the Healer. And so, we got into situations where maybe the body was healed, but the person is still not saved. How could we change this? How could we share the gospel in love, without getting into discussion? How could we combine sharing the gospel with signs and wonders? Because both (!) is what the Bible tells us to do.
A team of evangelists took us on the streets of Cardiff, Birmingham and Manchester. We learned a lot. After this adventure we were able to travel to Copenhagen again.

“And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well.”
Mark 16 : 17 – 18 NIV

In Copenhagen we were able to continue what we had learned in the UK, so we went regularly on the streets. We asked friends to join and took people with us who wanted to learn how to share the gospel in a loving way. I will not lie, so I don’t tell that it was always easy. We stayed in the middle of the city, and it was terrible to see the hopelessness, emptiness and addictions. But the Lord was working always when we reached out. The beautiful thing also is, that a Christ centered church in Copenhagen wants to work with us, so that we can learn from and build each other. Together we can reach out even more in the Copenhagen city. The church leaders spoke out that we got the complete freedom to do there what was on our hearts and that we can count on their support. We really feel loved and supported by this, and we see how the Lord is working on this relationship for already more than 2 years. We are in a stage now, that we try to find out / hear from the Lord in which way He wants us to be in Denmark. Will it be for a season, like a few years in a row? Or for a few months every year? Or in another construction?

After 4 weeks we left Denmark, because we had some appointments in the Netherlands. On the way back we went to Germany because people asked us to take them on the streets, so that they could learn as well how to bring the gospel to the people. Also, we wanted to invest in our relationship with our brothers and sisters there. We had a blessed time at different family’s and were able to take a few of them to the streets.

Back in the Netherlands we had 2 weeks of swimming lessons again for the kids. After we went to Youth With A Mission Heidebeek, to join as staff members with FamilyCamp. This is a beautiful camp where families can join and invest in their relationship between themselves and the Lord. The theme of this FamilyCamp was “Influencer”. There was an amazing volunteering team, and we could serve 14 families together. Our task was to pray for, and with participants and volunteers. We created a prayer tent, where people could pray 24/7. In this tent it was also possible to meditate on Bible verses or to be creative alone or with your family. We were also given the opportunity to share something about our lifestyle and how people can influence others with Jesus. At the end of the week, we heard that we encouraged so many people. Our hearts where overflowing of gratitude because it was and is all possible by His grace. So, He gave us a second change, and not only that, He is also using us to influence others. This realization brought tears in my eyes. We have something to tell. We have something to teach. We have something to bring. And we will do this all for His glory!

I will end with 2 encouragements:

1. The Lord sees a searching heart. He hears your prayer. Like you can read above, how we asked the Lord that someone would take us on the streets to learn from. Without even talking about this, we got invited. This was the work of the Holy Spirit, and the obedience to God of the person who asked us.
2. When you’ve given your life to Jesus, you can influence others. Let God use you, even when you think you have “nothing” to say. I also thought “who wants to hear or learn from me”, but in the end a lot of people were touched by our prayers and words and willing to change their lives. Do not think too little about yourself, and we love this quote: DON’T LIMIT JESUS. He is the one working through you, and us. It is not yourself. Don’t limit what He wants to do through you.

Much love,

Draaijer family

Ps. stay in touch! We will launch soon a webshop on this website, with T-shirts with our own designs!