The Shelter Youth Hostel Ministry
NEWSLETTER
Nr. 36 – February/March 2006 Editor: Auke Algera Info: newsletter@shelter.nl
Could you please pass the Jesus?
It’s 5:30. Once again I find myself guiding my bike into the Shelter City garden, looking forward to the prospect of dinner. I pass Jeremiah, one of our current cleaners.
“Hey! Going to dinner?”
“Oh, I’ll be there. I’m starving.”
Hutspot
Starving…so I go for seconds of the hutspot tonight. On my right, a familiar Old Testament debate is casually kicking back and forth, on my left, the happy groans of an overfull stomach. And with every bite, every hand that gladly passes the salt, a feeling of comfort. No doubt about it, food brings people together.
When I first signed up for the Shelter Ministry, I didn’t place a lot of importance on the “we’ll feed you” promise. And beyond noting an excess of cheese, bread and Nutella in my diet, the significance of that promise took awhile to register even after I’d arrived. As short-term staff, I find myself working primarily in the café or kitchen. Cooking for those who are hungry, handing over coffee and a little conversation -- the past two months (and a background in marketing) have taught me that the most assured path to the hearts of the people is through food.
Tea
Ask two Brits about
their lives after they’ve just spent a cold winter day exploring museums,
and you’d be lucky to get a tired quip about being on holiday. Hand them a
steaming mug of tea and be prepared to hear about how one of them doesn’t
like their job and the other is trapped in a bad relationship. Try to talk
to the closed-mouth association refugee who always sits at the tall round
table in the corner, shrouded with his journal. No deal. Offer to share some
of the amazing banana mango smoothie you just blended…a picture of abandoned
kids and lost hope appears.
Food is the common ground and the prize.
In my hamburger grease-stained black apron and a green t-shirt that has seen better days (beware candle wax), I have felt God speaking through me and TO me. Every conversation in broken English, with hand gestures or attempted Spanish phrases is another chance for nourishment. I have been taught about patience from men waiting years to see their families. I have had the fear of God defined by cleaners who have experienced only the world’s worst. And shown love from a group of motley Christians who chose to follow when God whispered “come.”
We’ll feed you
Back to the dinner: some vanilla vla for dessert and a reading from Luke. Somehow I doubt that everyone at the table would be as open to that sprinkling of Bible on top if not for the vla. But the act of sharing food makes us family, and with family you’re allowed to be yourself. To agree, to debate, to not see eye-to-eye. Our basic need for food helps lead us to spiritual nourishment.
We’ll feed you. The Shelter promises us this. I think it’s a promise we should make in our hearts to every guest that walks through the door. To every cleaner who’s been hurt by the world. To every staff member seeking to know God more intimately.
We’ll feed you. If only you come.
Nicole Keene (USA)
staff member
Staff situation
In December we wrote about the
shortage of staff and how we needed many more applications. We are thankful
for the many responses that we received on this cry for help. Thanks you! A
number of people joined our team for a short-term period, just to help us
out. Thanks to this we were able to get through December, January and
February with an almost complete team.
empty seats…
Openings
For the coming period we are still looking for people. For March we have a
few openings and for April and following months we will need many people.
This means that the call for new staff is still out. Please mention this to
people who might be interested in joining the youth hostel ministry. We
especially look forward to receiving applications for long-term staff (6-12
months). For more information, please contact
personnel@shelter.nl
BACKPACKER MINISTRIES
Backpackers Forum 2006. After last year’s success, there will be another backpackers forum this year: 3rd – 7th April 2006, Byron Bay, Australia.
Coordinator George Probek writes: “The forum aims to give all those who attend an opportunity to explore, learn, share, develop and shape outreach among backpackers. We recognise that there are a number of emerging outreaches. We are keen to network, support and encourage one another, whilst continuing to develop new and innovative outreaches among this tribe.” For more information and registrations see http://www.backpacking.is.it/
Alumni
We received this picture David and Lotta Karlsson and baby Milly. This Shelter couple actually did not meet in the Shelter at all but in Gothenburg. But both worked in the Shelter: David in 1986-1989 and Lotta in 1996-1997.
SHELTER NEWS
Open days. Would you like to experience the Shelter YHM for 24 hours? Sign up for one of our open days on 22 and 27 February (program will be in Dutch). For more information and registration see www.yhm.shelter.nl .
Gepke. On March 31st, we will be saying goodbye to Shelter Jordan cleaning supervisor/duty manager Gepke van Oosterom. She has decided that it is time for her to move on because the Lord is calling her to another ministry. It is sad to see her go, but we trust that the Lord will continue to use her.
Job openings. We are searching for two candidates to join our management team in the shelter hostels. This is a paid position. It is required that you are able to speak and understand Dutch. For more information you can contact Jacob Kops, jkops@shelter.nl .
TNT. Rosemary Barrett and Jacob Kops will be representing the Shelter hostels at the TNT travel show in London on 18th March. We will be presented as one of the ABC (Amsterdam Best City) hostels. Under this name we work together with three other Amsterdam hostels (StayOkay, Flying Pig, Bulldog). Together we represent the best that Amsterdam has to offering when it comes to hostels, at least in our opinion.
PRAYER SUPPORT
· Pray for opportunities to share Christ with guests in the hostels and for God to change lives.
· Pray for our staff team: health, friendships, encouragement, unity, spiritual growth, desire to serve and share Christ with the guests.
· Pray for more people to join our staff team in the coming months.
· The management team will have a vision day on 23rd February to think and pray about evangelism. Please pray for wisdom, unity and a clear sense of God’s leading.
· Pray for two great candidates to join our management team.
· Pray that we may be a witness at TNT travel show
· Pray for the Open Days, that those searching for a ministry to serve may know whether God is leading them to the YHM.
The Shelter Youth Hostel Ministry is a Christian evangelism ministry in the centre of Amsterdam, the Netherlands. Our goal is to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ with the 30,000 travellers who are staying each year in our two Christian youth hostels: The Shelter City and The Shelter Jordan. The ministry is part of the association Tot Heil des Volks, a non-denominational mission organisation registered in Amsterdam. Internet: www.youthhostelministry.shelter.nl
Donations. The work of The Shelter Youth Hostel Ministry would not be able to continue without financial support. Help support this ministry! Read more at http://www.theshelter.nl/ministry/donations.html
This Newsletter can also be found at www.yhm.shelter.nl
If you don’t want to receive this newsletter anymore, please reply and write “take me of the mailing list” in the subject.