Holsby Brunn :: News Update #251

Issue #251 November 1, 2011

REPEAT PERFORMANCE

"2ND GENS"

You who are regular readers of the NEWS UPDATE know that "Ye olde editor" and Wally really enjoy meeting the 2nd generation students who come to Holsby! Most of the time, we remember their parents, and some quite well actually. This year we have set a record! We have a total of 10 students who are 2nd Gens, plus both of our RAs are also. Maybe some of you can connect in your memories with the parents of these young people.

CURRENT STUDENT	PARENT(S)	SCHOOL YEAR(S)
Nathan Wright	Fred & Sharon Wright (first directors of Holsby)	1973–1981
Annie Korf	Kim Wood	WBS 1975–76
Megan Rintoul	Cindy Toews	WBS 1977–78
Katy Poole	Sue Eitreim	WBS 1977–78
Josh Ostlind	Todd Ostlind	WBS 1977–78; SBS 1977
Marshall Carlson, RA	Mark Carlson	SBS 1978
James Froese	Warren Froese & Sandy Derksen	WBS 1979–80 SBS 1980
Jori Schalla	Mark Schalla	WBS 1979–80
Marcus Breuninger	Chris Breuninger	WBS 1980–81
Elizabeth (EJ) James, RA	Gloria Skjaerlund	WBS 1980–81
Linnea Petersson	Ellen Petersson	WBS 1981–82; SBS 1982
Kristen Froese	Murray (Chuck) Froese	WBS 1981–82; SBS 1982

By the way, WBS stands for Winter Bible School and SBS is short for Spring Bible School.

We invited the whole gang up for waffles one evening! Everyone enjoyed that traditional meal, after which we sat around and looked at old pictures and talked about memories — especially some of the things their parents said ...

When Katy's mom saw how we mopped the floors here at Holsby — with a cleaning rag wrapped around a brush — she offered money to the school to buy some "real" mops! (Editor's note: I think we're still doing it that way).
EJ's mom grew up on a fowl farm. When she left to come to Holsby, she had said "Never again!" Well, that was the year when Holsby was raising both turkeys and geese! Guess what Gloria got roped into?!!
Nathan remembers his parents talking about the year the beams were put into the Chapel in order to build the second floor for the BIK. I guess he looked at pictures, because he wasn't even born yet. But he said they looked like giants carrying those heavy things!! (Editor's note: some people have commented that it was a giant centipede!!)
Jori saw pictures of Holsby as she was growing up, and thought it would be cool to go to boarding school in Europe!
Linnea's mom, whose sister and brother also came to Holsby, encouraged her not to miss the moments while here because they go by so quickly. Kristen's dad said the same to her with other words.

We talked a lot about the special place that Holsby has been and is in the lives of so many. Wally reminded all of us that it is not really the place; it is the PERSON in this place — Jesus!! To grow spiritually is not a "given." It is a personal choice by each individual to walk in HIS steps with obedience.

We do indeed praise HIM for the many lives over the years that have been challenged and renewed because of growing in the knowledge of and intimacy with the risen Lord Jesus Christ!

"DISCOVERY"

"Discovery" is a Holsby program which is simultaneously run with the school year. It is an intermittent outdoor classroom setting for 8 of our students. The first activity of the year for the group was a 5–day hike through beautiful woods and trails. "Ye olde editor" heard they walked over 90 km. (50 miles). They had sun every day (!!), but it also meant frosty mornings (as cold as –5 C. or 22 degrees F.)!

Devotionals from the Word were a part of each day. The teaching on this trip, however, was centered more on basic outdoor skills such as setting up camp, getting water, how to be safe, preserving nature, etc. There was also an introduction to outdoor ministry and leadership — what is special about it, and what opportunities exist within this framework. Timo Gerle is the leader for "Discovery" this year, assisted by Alfred Ottosson (a Holsby intern).

Interestingly enough, these days coincided with Sweden's moose hunting season. Our hikers wore brightly–colored vests in order not to be confused with animal movement. They didn't meet a moose, but Timo said there were some leftovers from one having been conquered!

Here are a couple of student comments:

The third day of our "Discovery" trip, we camped on a ski hill. As usual it was freezing cold. We were awakened by Timo calling cheerfully, "Good morning! 20 minutes." My tent–mate and I stirred, got up and gathered our stuff, and began packing our tents. As I went out, I was struck by the most amazing sunrise! The frost lay on the ground as well on our tents. "This is life!" I thought. At the end of the day after our evening meal, all of a sudden a few people started to sing "Happy Birthday" to me! Even more surprising was when one of the guys brought me a small heart–shaped cake from my family group. He had carried it through the whole journey without even crumbling it!

The whole trip in itself was great — the sun with its warm light shining on the colorful trees, standing on top of hills with an amazing view of Småland, being together with wonderful people and slowly opening for deeper relationships and trust, talking about and with our Lord, cooking/eating together (and meals taste so much better than usual because we walked the whole day and were exhausted), and finally feeling the warmth of the campfire during the cold nights. Yes, our Creator Lord has made the beautiful nature with so many details — no human creativity could ever reach His amazing work. And He is near. Even when I was exhausted and didn't feel well. There is no reason to complain, there is no reason to fear. He WAS there, He IS there, He WILL BE there. The great I AM. Whatever may come, I am His. I am safe in His Hands.

CANOE TRIP

Every fall, all the students and staff go on a day–trip with canoes down the Emån river. Being it is planned in advance, one obviously doesn't know what the weather will be like. Thankfully, this day was rather ideal — sunshine, cooler temperatures, and fall colors still gleaming. What majestic beauty the Lord has given us to enjoy!!

After paddling a good portion of the day, everyone met around a campfire to share experiences and eat some good food!!

This time we'll let the pictures do the talking!

STUDENT DEVOTIONS

All the students at Holsby are responsible for preparing a devotion to be given sometime during the school year — during a Sunday morning service, at a worship together time every other Sunday evening, before work day starts, or during one of the lecture hours called "3D".

Just so you know, "3D" represents a variety of subjects addressed during this hour:

Devotion — students not only learn how to give a devotion, but also present one.
Discussion — dialogue about assigned books being read.
Development (of outreach) — training on how to share one's faith, how to organize a youth group, and how to incorporate drama into evangelism.

Recently, Margaret gave her devotion on the subject of "Unity" — taken from Ephesians 4:1–6 ...

As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble, and gentle, be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body, and one Spirit — just as you were called to one hope when you were called — one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.

To give you some idea of the student preparation and all, we'd like to share Margaret's devotion with you. Also note the picture to the right. This was an activity in which all the students participated during the devotion time. They were to draw something which indicated their own particular uniqueness. Click on this link to be blessed by what Margaret shared.

NEW BEDS FOR BRUNNSGÅRDEN

Slowly but surely, different renovations have been taking place on the Holsby campus. Ekhaga was the persevering project of the past couple of years. All the rooms now have new wooden floors and wainscoted walls.

In mid–October, former maintenance director, Andreas Hartmann, drove up from Germany with 14 new beds for the girls' dorm in Brunnsgården. It is only a part of what is needed, but it is a beginning!

Our housemother, Elke, writes with thankfulness:

It finally happened! We were able to get rid of our old brown bunk beds in the girls' dorm and replace them with very sturdy beds made of beech wood. A workshop for handicapped people in Germany made them for us. We are thankful for Andreas' willingness to drive them all the way up to Sweden and also to help put them together. Students are very happy that they can sit up in the bottom bunk, and that the beds don't squeak anymore.

We are very thankful that 5 of these new bunk beds were financed completely. Our dream would be for the other 9 bunk beds to be paid for, as well as 8 others still to be replaced. This dream could come true if just 238 people would donate 500 SEK each (or 55 Euro, or $75 USD).

Oh by the way, the people from this German workshop thought it was pretty cool they could make beds and export them to "IKEA–country!"

ANOTHER PROJECT

A project from this past summer might also be of interest to people with a Holsby past.

Both WCs (or as we say in Swedish: toalett) on the main floor in Brunnsgården were completely renovated — tile walls and tile floors, and even a changing table for our little Teebees or visitors with babies. Timo and various ones from the summer maintenance team were responsible for this fine work.

AN ADDITIONAL LONG DISTANCE TEEBEE

Last month we announced that the NEWS UPDATE's picture editor became a first–time father. Now this month, our layout editor, Joel Shideler, is father for the second time. Delivery came very quickly — about an hour after they got settled into the room at the hospital! Here are the details:

NAME: Samuel Owen Shideler
DATE: 12 October 2011
TIME: 3:09 p.m.
WEIGHT: 7 lb. 11 oz. (about 3500 grams)
LENGTH: 21 inches (about 51 centimeters)

The proud parents are Joel and Kimee who both have Holsby roots. Joel worked on staff between September of 1997 and April 2001 (two years as RA, and the other years involved with IT and other projects, including basketball). Kimee came for spring school in 2002, and volunteered in the kitchen for 3 weeks afterwards. Big sister in this family is MG (Mary Graham) who is 2½.

When we first heard the news of little Sammy's birth, Joel wrote: "Happy baby. Life is good! We praise the Lord for our many blessings!!!" We rejoice with you all as well!

He later reflected after coming home ...

Time ticks by at the same rate each day, but each of those ticks is a snapshot — a baby moment. When one strings all of these baby moments together — a day, a week, a month passes. Time seems to accelerate and fly by! Just as we don't want to miss a thing as our baby rapidly develops, we should also be mindful that every day is filled with thousands of moments — baby moments — that we equally should enjoy in our journey and walk with HIM!

There was a boy Samuel in the Old Testament too. In fact he was one who served the Lord at a very early age, and grew significantly in his relationship with the Lord God. May your little Samuel be one who grows up to serve. You have the opportunity of teaching him God's truths from the very beginning. May he love Jesus for a lifetime, and follow in HIS steps.

Now the boy Samuel grew
and was in favor both with the Lord and with men.
As Samuel grew up,
the Lord was with him,
and everything Samuel said proved to be reliable.
1 Samuel 2:26; 3:19

PUSCHEL

Puschel was placed in palliative care in Rostock earlier in October. They've been working on regulating her medicines in order to make her more comfortable. As Puschel's parents speak about these accommodations, they use words like friendly, kind, sensible, peaceful, quiet, making good efforts, very supportive, etc. They have been encouraged with the care.

Their deep desire is to be able to take Puschel home sometime soon to Bülow. In the meantime, they know they need patience to take things one day at a time. Her father (Johannes) writes: "Please pray for success in being able to take her home, because it is also clear that humans (which means the most able physicians and caregivers as well) can just do all that is humanly possible. We have to dedicate everything else to God ...."

Johannes further says: "It's indescribable to know you all are beside Puschel and us with all your comfort and all your prayers!"

P. S. A wonderful answer to prayer can be shared with you all. Puschel is at home in Bülow! She is so very happy and continually thanks the Lord — as does the whole family. Continue to lift up the Holmer family in your prayers — for God's sustaining strength and grace at this difficult time. Please pray specifically that the very intense nerve/muscle spasms which she experienced for a couple of days upon her return home, will not occur again. Pray that she will have peaceful rest.

If you want to be more currently informed of her situation, please go to her website which is updated daily: http://www.puschel.holmer.info/

PRAYER/PRAISE UPDATE — by John Poysti

Pray for our missionary families, as several of them will be on home assignment in the coming months. They rely on the monthly giving of supporters and friends. The Ashmens, Millers and Strohms will be in the U.S. over the Christmas break, and the Stephens are preparing for their home assignment next summer.
We are very grateful for the new bunk beds in the women’s dorm (see above), which will not only be more comfortable, but also more stable and safe. The next stage is to pray that the beds will be filled with students and guests!
Pray for Wally’s continued ministry among teachers and other educators in Latvia. The worldwide downturn in the economy has also affected the funding of these important seminars. Please pray for Wally and the other conference organizers as they plan for the future.
Pray for Alison Persson, an advanced counseling student at nearby Kortebo Seminary, who is doing her internship at Holsby this year. She is making herself available to staff and students who may need someone to talk to. Pray for wisdom for Alison and for resolution in the personal issues that are brought up in her counseling sessions. John Breneman, a Holsby board member and longtime lecturer, heads up the counseling department at Kortebo.
Pray for the students that they would continue to grow in their knowledge of God’s Word, and be transformed by the Living Word working in them. Several students have expressed how the Lord has already been dealing with some deep issues in their lives.

TACK SÅ MYCKET!

Thanks so much for a number of people who contributed their photos to this issue of the NEWS UPDATE!