Sometimes we think that there is only the present time. Our horizon tends to be limited to the current team of staff and managers. Maybe you also feel that your activities, projects and problems are new, or more serious than before. Once in a while we need the reminder that we are part of a long history, that there is nothing new under the sun. The Shelter Jordan reunion was such a reminder. It helped to put the present ministry into perspective and to get an appreciation for the 30 years preceding it.

The celebration of the 30th anniversary of The Shelter Jordan (previously called Eben Haezer) - and with that of the entire youth hostel ministry - took place in the shape of a reunion. Many ex-workers and friends of the hostel gathered together in the Jordan cafe. It was a time of meeting old friends and exchanging stories. It was also an opportunity to thank the Lord in songs and prayers. "The fact that we can celebrate this reunion shows that the work didn’t start on the first impulse but that it continues to stand firm," says Jacob Kops, the current project leader: "We give God the praise for this."

Some modern "heroes of faith" shared about their time in the ministry. Eighty-two years old "tante" Jet Roering told how she started working the Eben Haezer in 1974. She had walked into the building and asked mister Heijnen, the first project leader, whether she could help out in any way. He told her that she was welcome to help making the beds, as many beds needed new linen on that particular day. Neither of the two knew at that time that Jet Roering would be head of the household for the next 18 years. Looking back, she recognises that the work was sometimes tough while she wasn’t a strong person at all: "It was all amazing grace!"

Visiting from England was Mike Brooklyn with his wife Hillary and their daughter. They had been working in the hostel for two years in the early seventies and again as assistant managers from 1980 till 1987. Mike is currently working as the director of YMCA Exeter, England. He obviously hasn’t lost any of his enthusiasm and humour over the years. He told us how a rented bus with staff and managers from the hostel drove to England to witness his and Hillary’s wedding, and how mister Heijnen would just not stop preaching in the service.

According to Ton van Mill, who was the project leader from 1982 till 1991, not much has changed over the years. The work is basically the same. And there are also still boys and girls who find their partner for life in the ministry. Ton remembers eight weddings during the nine years he worked in the ministry.

He is currently the project leader of The Shelter City, but Pieter Visser also worked as manager in the Jordan. He remembers how the old name of the hostel (Eben Haezer) led people to confuse the hostel with an elderly home in Amsterdam, carrying the same name. The receptionist would sometimes get phone calls for grandfather or granny so-and-so. But also sad things happened during the years Pieter worked in the hostel. Three boys died while they were on staff or just had left the ministry. This is something Pieter never will forget. It made a big impression on all the workers of that time.

Martin Kniep was project leader in the nineties, and the last one to speak. Before he came to the reunion, Martin had done some preparation at home. He had calculated that 30 years Shelter Jordan/Eben Haezer equal 946,080,000 seconds. "This are 946,080,000 seconds in which we had the opportunity to communicate the love of Christ," says Martin: "Isn’t that wonderful!? And I am sure in those seconds many small miracles have happened in the lives of people." Together with Martin we pray for many more seconds, hours, days, and years, to share the gospel of Jesus Christ with the tourists in the Shelter Jordan.

  The 30th anniversary of Eben Haezer/The Shelter Jordan brings back many memories. We received e-mail from a Canadian couple, Gary and Shanon Bonikowsky, who’s 30th wedding anniversary reminded them of the youth hostel. In the summer of 1971 they spend a good portion of their honeymoon working in the, just opened, Eben Haezer.

Gary tells us: "My new bride Sharon and I had gone to the International Student Office in London to get our International Student Cards in preparation for a hitch-hiking honeymoon across Europe. Or so we thought. God had other - and better - plans. On the counter at the office were some small brochures from the Eben Haezer hostel. I picked one up and studied it while we waited our turn. (I still have the brochure!) When I stepped up to the counter the woman on the other side looked me straight in the eye and said: "You should go there." Of course it wasn't her, it was Christ speaking directly to our hearts. Two days later we were standing in the doorway of that blessed place. The staff had been praying that morning for God to send someone to help with the busy summer season. Of course, as is often the case, God had answered before they called.

Though not everyone's idea of a honeymoon, it was a marvellous time of working and ministering and growing at the Eben Haezer. And if God didn't come through with a special surprise at the end! With three weeks remaining before our scheduled return home, he laid it on Ian McGowan, the assistant manager's heart to buy us an old VW van with which to see some of what we had originally come to see, but had given up on. And see we did! We left Amsterdam and travelled all the way from Norway to Venice, seeing parts of Europe we'd never even dreamed of!

And (now in 2001) to discover that He has been faithful in keeping the hostel open for ministry these thirty years thrills our hearts! Sharon and I have often talked of making a return visit as an anniversary gift to each other, now that our children are almost grown. Perhaps one day we will, and we'll be sure to visit The Shelter if we do. Until then, God bless you folks. Keep up that important work, for though the faces keep changing, the need is still the same. Greetings from Gary and Sharon Bonikowsky.

This is one of the first pictures of the hostel team, taken on the door steps of the Eben Haezer in the summer of 1971. From left to right: Peter Van …(?), Marijn Heijnen, Alice Vermeulen, Ian McGowan, Sharon and Gary Bonikowsky

When you visited The Shelter City as an ex-worker, you could expect to see at least one familiar face. The management team has changed many times over the years, but one person always remained. Even guests sometimes associate the hostel with him. It is not unusual to have a guest from ten or fifteen years ago asking for him at the reception. As of 1 June the receptionist will have to answer that he is not working in The Shelter anymore. After almost 23 years of faithful service, Gijs van Deuren is leaving this ministry.

Those of you who worked with Gijs know he has his own characteristic style. In his very own way, he was able to build relationships with persons others had given up on. He could relate well with the more difficult guests in the hostel, those with behavioural or social problems. "It was like me being a magnet, these types of people automatically came to me, " says Gijs, "I connected well to them."

However, because of the hostel setting, the possibilities to give social care to these people are limited. Knowing that a person can only stay for a short time in The Shelter and also having responsibility for the other 100+ guests in the hostel, it is not possible to provide structural social help for an extended time. But Gijs will be able to do this in his new job. Employed by the Salvation Army he will support a number of persons who are living in special housing. Because of social problems these persons are not yet able to live on their own and are in need of social care. Here Gijs will have the chance build bridges and minister to a person for an extended period of time.

Being asked for his most special memory of The Shelter, Gijs refers to a meeting he had a few years ago. Almost twenty years before this meeting, something very sad had happened in the hostel. During a robbery one of the staff members was stabbed by one of the robbers and died. This was a very black day in the history of the hostel. Gijs is reminded of this event at least once a year, on his wedding anniversary. This is because he and his wife Edith got married on the day after the funeral. Many years later the robber who had killed the staff member, visited The Shelter, unexpectedly. He had been in prison for what he had done but he suffered tremendously under the feeling of guild. He came to the hostel in the hope to speak with someone about what had happened. Because Gijs was the only manager left from that time, he met with the man. In this meeting, Gijs had the chance to minister to this man and to pray with him. This was a very special and dear experience to Gijs: "Compared to ministering to this man, all the rest of the 23 years seem to fade away."

A story like this shows that the work as assistant manager can bring glory to God, but also that it can be very tough. His new job will be for only three days a week, which will provide Gijs with much more free time. He is looking forward to spend much of this extra time to serve in his local church. It will also give him the opportunity to finally join the worship band of the church. The melody of his saxophone will not longer sound in the basement of The Shelter City, but it will continue to glorify the Lord in the church.

More than 30,000 travellers are staying in our hostels each year. This means, for us, 30,000 opportunities to bring someone in contact with the gospel. To be able to use these witnessing opportunities we need more than 60 workers each year. Would you like to become a youth hostel missionary or do you know someone who would?

We are looking for Christians between 18 and 30 years of age, willing to commit for a period of 6 to12 months. During this time you will be part of our international staff team and you will be involved in both practical work and evangelism. The Youth Hostel Ministry provides unique opportunities to serve the Lord and to share the gospel in words and deeds. Go into the world, in a place where the world actually comes to you!

Donations, Money transefers to: Postbank Amsterdam, SWIFT-address INGBNL2A, Accountnumber 104944, from: Tot Heil des Volks, O.Z. Voorburgwal 241, 1012 EZ Amsterdam, (please mention ‘Hostels’)