In January a whole team from our church went to the theatre weekend of Carla Veldhuis in the Netherlands. This has become an annual tradition...
Danny, who went with us from the start, tells us part of her story:
"In 2015 the three of us decided to go from Belgium to the theatre weekend of Carla Veldhuis in the Netherlands. I was a bit nervous about it and also a bit worried that we would be among the oldest attendees, even though I was very hungry for more. Arriving on Friday evening our suspicion was immediately confirmed: our grey hair stood out among that of many other young participants. I saw a somewhat older couple and immediately felt a little better. Later on, these people turned out to be no ordinary participants, they were part of the prayer team.
As a child I was very creative in picturing, imitating people and portraying situations. As a 6-year-old I won a competition in our village. There was a large group of participants and I won first prize. I really didn't think I had done much for that. Moreover, the winner got a cup, while there were also balls to win. I was disappointed because I wanted a ball, not a cup! Even after that I was all too often the clown of a group, like it or not. I would have done anything to be allowed to go to theatre school but as a young adult I knew for sure that I wouldn't dare to take up the challenge... I didn't realize my talents were covered in a thick layer of dust.
When my husband and I met Jesus, we had three children. At that time they were 12, 10 and 3 years old. I had a busy job and took on a lot of tasks in a thriving new church. I did children's work and started organizing children's camps. We brought every message through images. Images impress not only children but also adults.
I got to know God as a Father and received a lot of inner healing, more than I ever realized I needed. Regularly I was allowed to bring a message through theatre in the church. In February 2015, it had been a long time since I had done anything with the talents that God had uncovered. The hustle and bustle of other tasks, the pressure of things in my personal life, everything threatened to be buried under a new layer of dust...
I registered for the theatre weekend and chose "drama" as my main subject but wondered if I would still be able to do it all. Since I knew Jesus, I only wanted to use this talent to portray the message of God.
So there I was in the first drama lesson and it surprised me that I could perform the assignments properly. It was a matter of empathy and I came to the conclusion that I still had "it". The teacher gave very good cues and tools. I was extremely fascinated by it. Everything was very professional, I could sense it, but I still had so much to learn and got the chance. Moreover, I am sensitive to people who touch the heart of God through their performance and then I become enthusiastic. I was allowed to grow and bring God's Kingdom into the world and I enjoyed this weekend very much. On Saturday there was also a workshop "clowning" and we had a lot of fun there!
On that day I got the name "grandma" in the team but I didn't mind. The unity in the group grew and grew. So much talent together; the manifold wisdom of God was displayed in a short time. We had to stage a play under the expert guidance of Carla. I was amazed by what happened here in a short time.
On Sunday morning there was a service. The message was brought by Giovanni Veldhuis. The core of the message, as I experienced it anyway, was precisely what had happened to me. Are you aware that your talents were covered in dust as a result of daily worries? Now is the time for fresh devotion..
I thought it was a huge opportunity for all those young people. I myself am on the prayer team of our church and felt like the supporter on the spot: be healed young people and use all your talents in God's Kingdom. Until then, I didn't realize that Father wanted to set me (the grandmother) free as well. When I started to realize this, I thought: oh no, not right here? But yes, Father heals and He chose the place!
There was also such a tangible presence of the Holy Spirit and that went on all weekend. While in our drama group, we enjoyed the preparations for Sunday's performance more and more, I was very curious about what the other groups would bring: the flags, the dancing, the mime. I witnessed a variety of professional work on Sunday!
The story doesn't end here. Meanwhile I've noticed that God has set me free to bring drama and clowning. I experience His guidance more and more, try to obey and trust Him. And He is faithful. I just have to go for it over and over again. It's there and when you take it on, it gives you strength and wings. I still have a lot to learn and that's okay, even though you're in your sixties!
I have been serving for five years now. We all see so many breakthroughs. People are being set free! In 2016 I discovered a passion for monologues. It's a joy to challenge people in a workshop to write a monologue and share it with others. Every year I also get the chance to learn creatively and discover new things (also within myself). Moreover, I am allowed to pass on what I have learned and received about healing and about the Father heart of God to a lot of people...and I really enjoy that!
Prayer requests are being sent to our group via Facebook. We got an urgent request for Suzanne, the daughter-in-law of someone on the prayer team. That evening we received many encouraging responses.
A whole group started to pray. The next morning we read on Facebook that Suzanne had suddenly been sent back home from the hospital...surgery was no longer necessary! The explosion of joy in the group was an encouragement for everyone...Father does so many wonderful things on a weekend like this...more than all we ask or imagine!
Editor's Note: other testimonies from the theatre weekend and Suzanne's testimony can be read in our next Good News
