My first weekend!

On Thursday night I went to Grand Vally State University (GVSU) with Area Director Chris Theule-VanDam for a little concert. A couple of Young Life leaders were singing their own songs and playing Guitar. It was organised by some YL Leaders that do Young Life Club at the campus for the college students. That week all Freshmen students were moving in the dorms. It was great fun and I got to meet more of the other YL leaders in this area.


On Friday night Daryl took me to the first performance of the Jenison High School band. Joe, Josh and Andrea, other YL leaders on the Jenison team, were also there. Jenison has a real big band that preforms at the football games of the Wildcats (name of the Jenison HS Football team). They also participate in competitions. Just check out the video.

After that we went to the Castaway reunion of all the kids that went to the YL camp at Castaway this summer. We played some cards and Air Hockey and other games, had Ice cream and just hung out. We also gave some Ice cream to the two little kittens that were just outside. we don't know if they lived out there or were strays. We didn't see their mother but they were really cute. One of them looked a lot like my cat Ushi.

On Saturday I went to Kalamazoo with my Host family to Help move Carrie's (Daughter of the Kennedy's) things into her new home. She is going to Graduate School there.
On Sunday I went to Church with the Kennedy's. They go to a Christian Reformed Church, but that is not like any Christian Reformed Church (Chr. Gereformeerd) in the Netherlands. The have a band with singers and not an organ.
After Church we had a real American Lunch, Burgers from the Grill, with buns and Salad and Melons. Because the weather was so nice we went out on the lake with the rowboat and relaxed on the raft they have. We took Buddy the dog too, but it took him a while to relax. He is not too fond of the water.
Sunday night I went to Daryl's house were he had a reunion of a YL club he led a long time ago, so I got to meet some people who were in YL as teens and now are about my age. After that I babysat on Daryl's little girl Eliana, because he had to go to a wedding. But that wasn't too hard because she was really tired and went straight to sleep.

Well I guess that is everything for now. This afternoon I'll be going to the mall with Carrie and Jenna, so that will be fun. I'm going to get a sim card for my cell phone, so people will be able to contact me here.

(go to my flickr account for more pictures)

Pictures!

Well I've finally managed to post some pictures and here are some more:

This is Buddy.

The House.

The lake behind the House, good for swimming and ice skating!








For more pictures go to my flickr account at flickr.com, I made a link to it on the side.

Pool Party!

When I arrived here on Monday it was pretty cold and raining so that was like the weather back home. Tuesday was cloudy but warm and humid. Wednesday morning there was thunder and rain, but fortunately later in the day the clouds were gone,sun was up and the temperature was high as well. So all in all a great day for a pool party. At the pool party I met most of the other leaders that will be at Jenison High school. After we were done splashing around in the pool, The burgers and hot dogs were ready to be eaten.

Daryl (one of the area Directors of Young Life) and me had to leave the pool party a little early, to go to a committee meeting. The meeting was held at the Talsma's, right at lake Michigan. At that time there was a big storm coming in from the lake. We were all watching the bolts of lightning over the lake. It was a spectacular view.
When we drove back after the meeting, we could still see a lot of lighting on the horizon. So when I got back home after that I was really tired, still a bit jet lagged I guess. Now the sun is out again and it is really warm, I think I will go for a swim in the lake!

I was hoping to put in some pictures of the house and the lake, but that is not working yet so I'll try to do that later.

The Eagle has landed!

After a smooth flight, passing over Iceland and Greenland (of which I couldn't see anything because I was sitting in the middle of the plain), I arrived in Chicago after only 8 and a half hours. When I arrived at Customs the officer told me that a B-2 visa is only for 6 months. But he went to ask a colleague and he came back and said that he couldn't authorise it. He showed me to an other office and gave my passport to an other officer. He told me to take a seat and wait until my name was called. So I was sitting there, with my Letter from Young Life, and preparing what to say to the next officer to make sure I would get permission to stay for a whole year. but then all of a sudden my name was called and I went up to the officer and he was putting some stamps in my passport then gave it back to me and said:'have a nice stay. So I asked him if I could stay for the whole year and he said I could so that was that. relieved I went on to wait for my luggage, and drop it of again and on to my next flight.

After waiting a long time and some delay I finally boarded the next plain that would take me to Grand Rapids. After only 32 minutes I arrived and was greeted by Chris Theule-VanDam from Young Life, my host mom, Deb and her daughter Jenna and also by two other board members of Young Life and their two little girls.


With my host family I went to my new House. It is a big house with a lake behind it and all around the lake there are big Houses. in the middle of the lake is a small island. My room is pretty big, a bit bigger than my room back home, with a build-in-closet. When we got there We had dinner, my sixth meal of that day and a then we talked a little, before I finnaly went to bed. It had been a very long day.

This morning I unpacked everything, called home, had some pancakes for breakfast with my host brother Eric and hostsister Jenna. So that is it for now!

Saying Goodbye!

Tomorrow is D-Day! Packing for one year wasn't easy. My first suitcase was packed quickly and weighs exactly 50 pounds (23 Kg). The second bag, a backpacker rucksack, wasn't quite big enough, so I put it all in an other bigger bag. It fits..., but it weighs about 63 pounds, (29 Kg)! My hand luggage is the maximum size allowed and also weighs a lot. With a cute smile I'll explain I will be staying for a whole year and that I really only packed necessities! But let's just hope and pray for the best.

Also before I go I want to thank everyone who came to my goodbye party last Friday and everyone else who wished me a great time over the past few days. It was great to see you all before I go. If any of you want to come and visit, just let me know and I'll make sure you will have a place to stay.
But no goodbyes here, because you can all join me throughout the year by reading this blog. So for now I'll just say:"C-Ya!"

Only one week untill D-Day!

Next week I'll finally be on my way. I'll be spending one year in the U.S.A., in the State of Michigan to be exact. I will be a member of a Young Life Youth leaders team and I will be in training with them to learn all about Young Life, what they do and how they do it.
Young Life is a non-denominational, Christian, non-profit organization that is committed to introducing adolescents to Jesus Christ and helping them grow in their faith. If you want to know more about Young Life go to their websites: http://www.younglife.org/ and/or http://www.young-life.nl/.

Right now I'm busy making this blog and figuring out what to take with me and what not. It is hard to put one year into two suitcases with a maximum weight of 50 pounds each (23kg). Especially when winters can be long and cold in Michigan, I have to make sure to bring enough warm clothing.
But the countdown has begun and I am very exited about this adventure. I hope you will all join me by reading this blog. I will post messages, pictures and videos during my stay in the U.S.A. It would also be very great when you readers, post comments and let me know what's happening in your part of the world! So don't be shy!