‘The more effective we are in taking care of our missionaries, the more effective is the ministry that can flow from them to those needing our Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ.’
Dear Friends,
It is about time that we give you an update again. Time flies by so quickly and we are heading for the end of the school year. This year is more special than others for us because Hugo will finish high school in two weeks.
We provided a ministry report to the Board of Directors of Godspeed Missionary Care and we would like to share some of that content with you. We also received direct feedback from some of our clients/colleagues that speaks louder than our own voices.
We communicated to you in our previous e-letter about the crisis that happened at the local Christian school in February and how I (Willie) got involved in helping with the management thereof. Most of February and March were spent on dealing with the fallout of this crisis and the dissertation writing again came to a halt. Tim Shuman Director of BFA wrote: “Our organization recently found itself facing a very serious crisis involving several young people in our care. It was Willie Van Der Merwe who first pointed out the seriousness of the event and suggested ways the crisis could and should be managed. We immediately invite Willie to consult with our Crisis Management Team from that very moment. Willie’s skills as an experienced clinical counselor and spiritual mentor were of immense help to all involved during this very difficult time. His counsel, prayers, gentle spirit, his optimism, his trust in God, and his commitment to us as individuals made a world of difference in how we managed the crisis and survived the crisis. With Willie’s help we not only managed the crisis, but we also learned valuable lessons that will be put to good use in the future. I am very thankful for Willie’s help on our crisis team, for his counseling expertise with several hurting individuals, and for his encouraging support to me personally.” Tim Shuman, Director Black Forest Academy, Kandern, Germany May 2010
From the beginning of April until now Willie resurrected and refocused on the dissertation writing as the major wave of the crisis was behind us. The dissertation is slowly moving forward and my hopeful and not unrealistic aim is to be done by the middle of July. I am continuing to counsel people for +/- 12 hours a week. The pastor of our local church wrote the following: “Willie Van Der Merwe is a respected colleague and associate with whom I have had the pleasure of co-laboring in the past year. I have specifically been involved with him in a weekly men’s group and in a crisis situation that developed in this community. Here are some of the things that I have observed about Willie, though the list is in no way exhaustive:
• He treasures truth. It is a motivating value in personal, family, and professional life. He seeks to uncover the truth in a person’s life to bring healing to them as individuals. He works for transparencies in team relationship which make them more effective. He is committed to openness and honesty in all his dealings with others. He is an authentic man of God.
• He is kind. Even when dealing with difficult situations and tense moments, Willie sincerely works to gently speak into the setting. He does not let his emotions “carry the day” in his work.
• He has balance. He balances a heart for people with his knowledge of clinical psychology in such a way as to not “coldly” render counsel nor become too involved on a personal level. I find him to be exemplary to me personally in this regard.
I would welcome the opportunity to minister with Willie in the future. I would love to have him on the staff of the church. He is a man of integrity. I commend him to you without reservation.”
David J. Harrop Pastor, Black Forest Christian Fellowship, Kandern, Deutschland (Germany)
Caren arranged a surprise party for Willie’s 55th birthday. Thank you for the special birthday wishes and pictures that we received from so many of you. Here are a few photos of the celebration.
Willie arriving at his surprise birthday party
Willie and Caren
Looking ahead 2010
• Willie received an invitation to facilitate a course early June in Germany on cross-cultural adjustment and to do some assessments on missionary candidates for Christ’s Hope International. (http://www.christshope.org/)
• We have been invited to visit the Breathe Conference, http://www.breatheconference.org/ and we anticipate becoming part of the team that will help with the counseling of missionaries who attend this annual conference.
• Dr. Lois Dodd of Heartstream Resources http://www.heartstreamresources.org/ invited Caren and me to help with counseling and Physical therapy treatment of missionaries who attend the annual Refresh retreats in France and Thailand. We are not going this year as the completion of the dissertation is my primary focus.
• A missionary agency in Uganda wanted me to do team building in August/September, but schedules could not be synchronized and it was decided to postpone it to April 2011.
• We are excited about Caren’s parents’ visit in July/August and we plan to have a short family vacation.
• Jenn Setzer, psychologist working with GAIN (Global Aid Network) http://www.gainusa.org/ the humanitarian aid leg of CCCI contacted me recently and requested if I can help them with their psychosocial/crisis care program development and training which include many of the countries that we use to work in. Here is some of what she said in one of her emails to Willie: “I am happy to hear that you are interested in possibly collaborating with the GAiN team as we unfold a psychosocial and spiritual care ministry abroad. I will be in touch as our proposals are reviewed and approved by the various leadership teams. Once that process is complete, I should have more information about timeframes and specifics about how you could be involved by providing consultation, direct services, etc. Thanks again for your willingness to offer your expertise and passion to this process!” This is another great opportunity to network with other agencies and even continue and complete some of the work that was started in Namestan where we used to work.
Moving to Namibia 2011
• We have communicated to you in previous newsletters that our ultimate calling is to return to Africa and to serve missionaries from there. In our planning about this transition we presented a proposal to our Board of Directors which was approved and accepted at their recent meeting and we would like to share specific details of this transition with you.
• Caren and I always had a great love for God’s wild creation and most of our African vacations 17 years ago before we moved to the US and Europe have been safaris and 4×4 camping trips. Our souls were restored and refreshed during these times. If you are interested you can look at our photos on my face b. In order to have access to this – send me a friend request.
• The goal is to reach Namibia by June/July 2011. The method of transportation is by road with a 1993 Toyota Land Cruiser 80. The starting place is Germany. Time of departure round about January/February 2011. The distance to cover is about 20,000 -24,000 km. The route is via Turkey, the Middle East, Egypt, Sudan, Ethiopia, Uganda, Tanzania, Malawi, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Botswana and then Namibia. The travelers: Caren and me, Hugo and Andre, a friend of Hugo, and Sammie, our Staffordshire terrier.
• One of the purposes would be to visit 6 of the countries that we worked in while we were with Campus Crusade and to give Hugo the opportunity to visit them since he has expressed the desire to do so.
• We will be able to follow-up on many Campus Crusade missionaries whom we have counseled, and we will also have an opportunity to say goodbye to many good friends and colleagues that we have worked with over the last several years.
• We will also have a unique opportunity to minister and counsel missionaries and missionary teams from other agencies in all or most of the different countries that we will travel through. You will receive a detailed itinerary with our route and timeline after we have gathered the necessary information.
• Simultaneously we will have the opportunity to travel, see and visit places with Hugo that we’ve not seen before. In short, part of it will be caring for missionaries (ministry) as a mobile counseling team, part enjoying God’s nature, different cultures and places as we drive down to Namibia. Anticipated time for this trip will be approximately 6 months.
• Through an updated weblog you will be able to track our progress through Africa as we share our different experiences. As in the past, we will have to be wise and discreet in regards to information shared that relates to interaction with missionaries who work in closed countries north of the Sahara.
• We plan to ship our earthly belongings- hopefully for the last time- to Namibia towards the end of the year.
Prayer Requests
• For Ruco and Kristi who are in Haiti where Ruco is co-managing a disaster food distribution program for 3 months. They plan to return to America in the fall to further their studies.
• Willie: for endurance and wisdom as he counsels with many clients as well as working towards the completion of his dissertation.
• Leaving well: packing and moving of our belongings to ship to Namibia; preparation of the vehicle for our overland trip.
• Financial provision for the shipment of our belongings and relocation to Africa.
There are 2 different ways how you can make your contribution. All gifts are tax deductible
• Electronic Fund Transfers (EFT) For instructions on how to setup an EFT with Godspeed, please contact the Godspeed Office Manager, Carey Hargis at info@godspeedservices.org or +1 803-744-0841
• Credit Card or PayPal Online contributions: Go to www.godspeedservices.org and follow the instructions under Donate to Godspeed. If you want to make a secure automatic monthly contribution, which is very convenient go to Click here for recurring donations. In the “Purpose” line you put Willie and Caren Van Der Merwe
Questions about financial contributions: Contact the Godspeed Office Manager, Carey Hargis at info@godspeedservices.org or +1803-744-0841
You will receive a tax-deductible receipt within 2 weeks.
Thank you for your prayer support, financial gifts and friendship. If you would like to have more information or have any questions or comments, please email or Skype us.
Godspeed
Willie and Caren
Home Address:
Hintergasse 11, Riedlingen, 79400, Germany
E-mail Willie: willie@godspeedservices.org
Email Caren: jacarvdm@gmail.com
Tel: (+49) 1727548083 (Mobile)
Tel: (352) 2838182 (Local dialing from USA)
Skype name Willie: willievandermerwe
Skype name Caren: woestynkind
