So I know it has been a little while since the last post but I feel I need to tell you about last Friday. Me and 2 other guys had a chance to meet with some guys that they met the day before. Eddie and Kyle, the guys that I went with, told me that they met them and invited them to dinner again on Friday night. They also told him to bring friends so they brought me. Anyway we got to the restaurant and waited for about 30 minutes and still no sign of the guys.

Finally they showed up but it was not just the two guy that they had talked to the day before. They brought reinforcements. We sat there and had a very nice dinner with them and it was their fathers restaurant so we didn’t pay a dime for the meal. After we ate they started asking us various questions. The questions began after we gave them a copy of a Turkish Bible. They asked us several questions and we answered them as best as we could. It was definitely a struggle because I have never talked so in depth with a Muslim about the gospel. Another thing to note is that they promised us that they would read the Bible if we would read the Koran. Needless to say we have some reading to do. Our entire conversation lasted for about 3 1/2 hours and it they had so many questions to ask us. Well we said our goodbyes exchanged, exchanged email addresses, and headed back to the hotel.

Pray that these guys will read the Bible and that they will respond with positive questions and also pray that I will answer them to the best of my ability. I would say that was a good way to end a good trip.Thanks for all of your prayers and support over the last two weeks

GRACE AND PEACE

Jeff

Yesterday was amazing! God has been working so much in Amsterdam over the past 2 weeks. I had the opportunity to spend the afternoon with Dr. Robinson, the professor who is teaching the Islamic part of the course on this trip. We decided to go back to Osama’s coffee shop and try to talk to him again. This is what went down:

We got there and Osama was working as usual. He saw us and said hello and we ordered two cups of coffee. After this we started chatting with Osama and Sammy, another man who was working that day. About 5 minutes after we started the conversation Osama left and said he had to go to the bank. That was unfortunate because we were there to talk to him. After he left we began talking to Sammy and he seemed very interested in what we had to say but he had several customers come in so our conversation came to a halt. Osama came back and when he saw we were still there said he forgot something and left again, this time on his moped. We kind of got the impression that he was avoiding us (as if you couldn’t tell already). We got to talk with Sammy a little more and then he had more customers so that came to a close but we did give him our email addresses and we are hoping to hear from him. Pray for Sammy and Osama that someone else will be sent their way to share the gospel.

After we left the coffee shop we went to a bookstore and had a conversation with one of the workers about the Muslims moving to Amsterdam. This was very insightful because of what has been going on lately with the Muslims and the Dutch people groups. The Dutch seem to be very hostile toward Muslims because of some things that have happened and listening to this worker was fascinating and informative on this topic. He gave us a couple of books to read on the topic so after Dr. Robinson bought them we continued on our journey.

Our next stop was the University of Amsterdam. I was taking some pictures of Dr. Robinson when a man walked up to us and asked us what we were doing. This led to a conversation of two professors. Toward the end of the conversation we found out that he used to be the professor of Anthropology at the University of Amsterdam. I got to see Dr. Robinson in action sharing the gospel with this man. This was very helpful for me becuase I saw first hand what can happen and how the Lord can work through someone who is very learned on the subject of Islam.

All of this to wrap up the week and this makes me realize I have so much to thank God for. He has given me such an opportunity to come here and share the gospel with these people. Please pray for this city and throw out all of the tipical assumtions about Amsterdam being the sex and drug capital of the world. Take into consideration that there are thousands of people here searching for something and God has sent us to be a light for a short time in this city. Thanks for your continued prayers

GRACE AND PEACE

Jeff

Yesterday we visited the Muslim community that we have been in for the past few days. I had several encounters with various different people from many different religious groups. I met a Hindu, a 2 Muslims, and a guy from Iran who was a “Christian” but didn’t read the Bible or go to church. So needless to say yesterday was pretty eventful.

When we talk to the Hindu man he told us that all god’s are good. He was not extremely devoted to Hinduism but he did know some things. He said he prayed and he celebrates holidays but that was the extent of his faith. Through this we were able to share what our thoughts were on Jesus but also what he thought about Jesus. Once again he gave us the answer Jesus is good for you but not good for me. We talked a little more but the conversation didn’t seem to move anywhere so we left.

Next we met a beatboxing Muslim. That’s right he’s a beatboxer! We shared with him and he seemed really interested in what we had to say. He said that he loved to talk to people from different countries and find out what we thought about Amsterdam. With this guy we were able to share the gospel and exchange email addresses. I am really hoping that he will send me an email and that I will further be able to share with him the love of Christ in whatever way possible.

Last night we had the opportunity to visit with some of the people who work with Bridge Builders here. They were very helpful in the aspect of talking to Muslims. They work with the Muslims here so we spent some time in their home discussing Amsterdam and the culture here. Please keep this ministry in your prayers!

The last thing I’m gonna throw in this post is that I am going again to talk to Osama today. I found out last night when we were able to talk to the Bridge Builders family that some Muslim’s would rather lie than tell you they don’t know something about the Koran because of embarassment. It is my prayer that he will be more open and that I will not say anything to shut him off from listening to me. Please continue to pray for Osama as you are going throughout your day.

Thanks for continuing to read this and I really appreciate everyone’s prayers as I am here!

GRACE AND PEACE

Jeff

Tuesday we had the opportunity to visit a mosque in the city. We have been studying Islam for the past few days and all of the different aspects but it was never made real to me until I was able to experience it. This has put such a sense of urgency in my heart to do all I can for the last few days that I am here.

When we arrived at the mosque the first thing we did was go into the prayer room. As soon as we entered we had to remove our shoes as a sign of respect. One of the men gave us a tour of the mosque and explained to us all of the different aspects of the prayer room. Then 2:30 rolled around and we sat in the back of the room and watched the call to prayer and the men come in and pray. Our professor told us we would never forget the call to prayer but I didn’t think that it was going to stick with me the way that this did.

After we left the prayer room we had a chance to ask questions about Islam. The man that answered our questions was very thorough in his answers and was a tremendous help in enlightening us on the Islamic culture of Amsterdam. Through this we were able to share with several Muslim people our experience.

Well that’s all for now. Just pray that we finish out strong this week and that we can be an effective witness for Christ while we are still here.

GRACE AND PEACE
Jeff

Yesterday we had our first class on the topic of European Islam. We had one of the missionaries here give us some general information on Islam and share a little about how to interact with a European Muslim. Some interesting things to note about Islam in Europe is that it is fairly liberal in comparison to Islam in other countries. Whatever is good for you is fine and whatever is good for the Muslim is fine. This is definitely more liberal on matters such as alcohol and marijuana use. Other things are incorporated into this such as sex before marriage and sexual immorality. As we talked to the Muslims we found this to be the case.

These evangelism encounters also varied because there was a definite language barrier. The Islamic communities have this as a common problem, which didn’t help as far as making conversation with them.  We had a chance to talk to a guy named Phillip who leaned toward the atheist, agnostic side of things. After the 25 min conversation with him our conversation basically came to a halt.

All day seemed to be discouraging but that night the comment was made at group Bible study that no matter how insignificant the conversation may have seemed the seed was still planted and maybe that one comment could be used years down the road. This was encouraging because that really will change your mentality and make you realize just how urgent you have to be in presenting the gospel. Please continue to pray as we finish out this week and that we will continue to have a sense of urgency to share the gospel.

GRACE AND PEACE
Jeff

Today was the best day I have had in Amsterdam so far and I could not wait to get back to the hotel to write about it.

Just a little background for you:

Jen met a couple in Thailand and they are from Holland. We met up with them yesterday and had lunch and during lunch we were talking about the Nazi occupation and the concentration camps around the area. They showed us last night where one was near their house and told us the train tickets to buy to set us off on our adventure.

OK so I woke up at 8:45 this morning because my TV has an alarm on it and when you push the power button on the TV itself it shuts everything off. Well apparently last night someone pushed the magic button and that explains why I woke up at 8:45. But I said all that because we were supposed to leave for church at 9:00. So I was downstairs at 8:58 to grab some toast on the go but we didn’t actually leave until 9:15.

THE PLOT THICKENS

After this we rode the train to the end like the directions said but wrong train. Why would this happen you ask, not sure, but I was pretty frustrated. So after the failed attempt to gather with our Dutch brothers and sisters we went to Centraal Station (that is not a type-o that is how you spell central here). When we got there Jen informed me that we did not have information on how to get to where we were going. We go the ticket round trip to Eindhoven, which is where this couple lived, and we set off on the train. Jen then remembered that we were supposed to get off at some stop that was before Eindhoven but she did not know which one that was. So we asked a lady on the train and she said get off at the station before Eindhoven…so we did. We got off and the whole time Jen was like the place starts with the letter U but the place we were at started with a D. We started looking for them because they were going to pick us up but didn’t see them so we got a little worried. Finally, she found us and told us we were at the right place. We then got in the car and left.

This part was absolutely mind-blowing. We went to the concentration camp and we were able to see the barracks where the Jews were kept as well as the crematorium and the place where they shot the Jewish prisoners. The walk to the place where the Jews were shot was about 10 minutes and through the woods. The whole time I was thinking this must have been terrible but a relief to know you were walking this path to your death. We were all awestruck at this place because the people that built it were told they were building just another German military base. The whole place is more than words can describe. The original guard towers were there and everything was surrounded by barbed wire. The Nazi’s were some of the cruelest people you will ever read about. This was an experience that really helps you realize what helped shape this part of the world.

After we left the camp we went to their house for dinner. They cooked traditional Dutch food. The food was spinach mixed with mashed potatoes, sausages, and bacon bits in green beans. It was an amazing meal and for desert we had cinnamon ice cream and coffee.

That was not the best part…we also had the opportunity to share in about a 3 hours conversation with them. We were able to give them what we believe and what the Bible says and just share different things with them. They asked questions and we asked questions so it was a very good conversation. They are an amazing couple and I am thankful for what God is doing in their lives. I ask that you pray for them that they will continue to seek and ask questions concerning the gospel.

Anyway it’s time for me to wrap it up this has been a fairly lengthy blog post. Anyway as always prayer is greatly appreciated.

GRACE AND PEACE
Jeff

Yesterday was our free day and we rented a bike and rode all around the city. That wasn’t very smart because I was not feeling well the day before and then yesterday I was starting to feel terrible toward the end of the tour. I am sitting in the hotel room and I am feeling the bike seat still between my legs.

Anyway we were riding and say a Muslim protest against Israel. During the time we were watching this we got to talk to a homosexual named Michael who was telling us that the Muslims have such a hatred toward homosexuality and that completely turned him off to anything Jesus. We talked to him for a while but the conversation went nowhere because he said he was Buddhist and considered himself a Christian.

We also got to talk to a few kids on a pond and we gave them some cards with our email addresses on them hoping they will get in touch with us to ask questions.

Other than that we just biked all around the city. As I said earlier that was not a good idea because now I feel terrible. Anyway I am going to get offline now and go to bed but I will be letting you know what else is going on this week.

GRACE AND PEACE
Jeff

So I haven’t blogged in a couple of days because I have been sick. Anyway the talk with Osama yesterday did not go the way I hoped but nonetheless I think the conversation ended in conviction. I was talking with him showing him various similarities in the Koran and the Bible. That was going OK but I started asking him about the story of Abraham and his son (you cannot say Isaac because Muslims think that it was Ishmael). I asked him what he thought about that story and when I did he told me that was not able to talk to me about the Koran because he spoke very little English. I wasn’t sure why he said that because we had just spent about 30 minutes talking about the Koran and the Bible. I took that as a time to stop and leave so I plan on coming back one day next week.

That’s the story of Osama but hopefully that will go OK next week. I ask that you continue to pray for him and me as I go talk to him next week. I will keep you updated on the story and will let you know the outcome of the next encounter.

GRACE AND PEACE
Jeff

Just so everyone knows when I said in my last post that I hesitantly said yes when Osama asked me if I would like it if a Muslim converted to Christianity it was not because I didn’t think that was true I just was looking for a way to say yes without him thinking I was shoving “my God” down his throat. In Europe people will continue to listen to what you have to say even if they really don’t want to hear it. He would still have listened but not heard what I had to say. This is why I worded that the way I did. I was not promoting a relative worldview I was simply trying to be sensitive to how I respond so that I would still be able to communicate with him. Sorry for the confusion.

GRACE AND PEACE

Jeff

So another day in the city of Amsterdam but today did not go like the past few days have. I went into a café and ordered a cappuccino hoping to start a conversation with the other woman in there. I spaced out sometime between her putting down her newspaper and walking out so I decided to pay and leave. Sounds like the ongoing trend of my not-so-effective evangelism attempts.

I then reached in my pocket for my money and then it dawned on me that there has to be a cashier (I know I’m a genius). So I began talking to him and I found out that he was a Muslim. His name was Osama, which, I thought, was nothing out of the ordinary. He then began telling me the story of his trip to the USA and the funny looks he would get because of his name. I was able to continue the conversation asking him about the religions of Amsterdam, mainly Islam, and what some of the beliefs were.

We continued in conversation for at least 45 minutes concerning many different things about the Islamic faith. He told me how he prayed 5 times every day and I was able to look at his Koran. After talking for several minutes about many of the similarities of the Bible and the Koran I was then blind sided by this question.

I was asked if I was a Christian and I said yes but then came the real punch. He said, “Would you like it if a Muslim converted to your religion?” I froze like a pond in Vondelpark in the wintertime. I hesitantly said yes, not because I don’t believe this but because I did not want to hinder my chances of talking with him further. Fortunately I was able to continue in conversation and tomorrow I am going to go back and show him the similarities of the Bible and the Koran because he seems very interested in what I have to say.

As you can imagine being my first evangelical encounter with a Muslim I am nervous and do not want to mess this up. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE pray that the Spirit will guide me and not try to rely on myself. I also ask that you keep Osama in your prayers that his heart would be receptive to what I have to say.

Thanks again for your continuous prayers!

GRACE AND PEACE
JEFF