End of year interviews with the interns

After almost 3 months into the 11 month internship, we asked each intern 3 questions.

1. What was your most memorable moment during your time in The Netherlands. .

2. How have you been able to feel useful and be of service in being here?
3. What specific issue or need do you see that you would like others to pray for.

Timea

1. When my parents came to Zeeland the beginning of December totally surprising me.
2. I cannot give things or presents that involve money. But I can give something that follows them on their way, wherever they are. I can give love, love from my heart and joy, what comes from my heart what I got from the Lord. I give my smile, kindness, goodness. I think these things are more important than what we can pay for.. 

3.  I thank God that he can be born everyday in our hearts. Thank You God for the love you give us.  Please teach us how to share it, how to do good and kind things with others. Give me more patience, joy and love so I can give more and more and more.

Introducing the 2016 interns

The New Intern-EVS team 2015-2016

Alessia from Italy

I am Alessia and only one month ago I came to join the EVS-Interns from Atlantic Bridge in Kruiningen.

Sunday Church Marathon.
 I am from Napoli (Napels) and my family is very strong church family. We go to church every week and I love it. But last Sunday was very difficult for me. It was November 2 and for Catholic church that means  “All Saints” celebration; I woke up really sad because I thought that morning I would not go to my church and i couldn’t celebrate with my family and with my youth group as every year. And....exactly on that day we went to four different churches on one Sunday!. It was not planned, but it happened when a young man invited us after church in Kruiningen to go with him to Middelburg. We had no other plans so we said yes. And all of us went. Timea and Christina liked it very much because they met different young people and they were used to these churches, but for me they were very different churches. I am used to the Catholic church and before I came here I was never in any other church. it was too much strange to be there and take part in three different celebration and moreover in Dutch language!!!. I was exhausted and I looked around me. Everyone was praying and when they were singing, they all knew the songs except me, and there were a lot of young people just like in my church, who are one fellowship and they love each others and they do all things together and organize activites to grow their faith! it was great! I thought, maybe...only the service of the churches is different, for the rest we are the same and we are united by God’s Love.”

Alexandra from Romania

Alexandra Titiu


Hi, I am Alexandra, and I am from Tirga Mures, Romania. I am 19 yers old. I first heard about Atlantic Bridge in 2014 when we went with a group from our town to the Youth Festival . After the festival I looked up to how can I become one of the interns for the next year, but I gave up. This opportunity came back this year when I heard they were looking for interns. So I applied. So now, here I am in Kruiningen, my home, working as an intern. I also work in Houten, where I help Nico in building up the BridgeBuilders Club. I like cars and I've been able to drive one here several times. I also like traveling and we've been doing that as well. And I'm so thankful to see that the friendships I built at the Youth Festival still exist and it's helping a lot.

Timea from Hungary

Hello Everyone,

I am Timea, a gypsy girl from Hungary and I will be an intern for Atlantic Bridge for almost a year. 

I arrived to the Eindhoven Airport on 30^th of September at 14:40. John and Nel were waiting for me and gave me a big hug, and I forgot about my family back home for a moment. The Vierslag will be my home for the next year. I was here two years ago for short time, so I know where I was coming. 

Now I am already here for a week and I feel much peace and love and happiness. I wish I could have come sooner. People are friendly and the atmosphere makes me calm. The town of Kruiningen is so peaceful. I love it! It is familiar. People are always smiling when they look at me.I went to the Frites shop here and the lady knew that I am not Dutch because she spoke in English to me even if I had not said anything!

I am a very small gypsy girl, only 1 meter and 50 cm tall. I wear shoes of the size of a ten year old child. In my country there is much discrimination about the gypsies but I don’t feel this here, because everyone is kind to me and I already feel that I am a member of this village.

A few years ago I visited Sweden for two weeks, and people called me sunshine because I was always smiling. I hope I can bring some sunshine to Kruiningen, my new home.

A nice dentist
On Sunday I had a horrible toothache so I told to Nel what’s up and she advised me to go to the dentist. I didn’t want to go, because my experiences were really bad in Hungary. But John made me calm by saying that this man is the kindest person he knows. So we went, but during the way there, my heart wanted to jump out of my body, I was a little bit feared and very excited at the same time. We were waiting a few minutes in a small room and a lady came and called me to come where the dentist was. His voice and smile was really calming. John was right! He was kind and I’m looking forward to go back for my second visit on Monday! 

Timea from Hungary 

EVS volunteer with Atlantic Bridge

Christina D'Onofrio from New York

Hello everyone, and thank you for taking the time to read my blog!  I just graduated from the St. Bonaventure University in New York  State and a few weeks later I find myself in a small Dutch village entertaining the notion of helping to build a youth community both here and in the nearby city of Antwerp. The first days here I experienced information overload, as well as a six hour time zone difference. While I've had a great first couple of days, it's been very tiring. 

But I am here and it feels right. 

St. Bonaventure University was my home away from home for four years. St. Bonaventure University is rooted in the Franciscan tradition, modeled by St. Francis of Assisi.  We had a mantra: love God, love each other, and love the world around us.  That was our main focus.  Learning how to love God and to love the world He created.  There is so much hurt in the world that needs a touch of love, real love from a God who has enough of it for all of creation.

In my work with Atlantic Bridge this coming year, I hope to continue with  bringing God’s love into every situation He leads me to, whether it is a school classroom, a refugee center, a Bridgebuilders club, or just being with friends and families who are hosting me or driving me from place to place. 

As I have learned, Bonaventure means "good journey".  I would like to take you with me on this journey. I do so by writing about my adventures with God in a strange land as I build bridges of friendship, faith and understanding and as I share with young and old about the abundant love the Lord God has in store for us all.

 Next time I hope to share with you about becoming more acclamated with the culture and language as I meet new people! 

Christina D'Onofrio  St. Bonaventure University

A great summer

Friday, August 21, 2015 

A great summer

YouthWorkFactory participants in front of The Vierslag

This summer has been exciting, exhausting, and everything in between. 

I made connections with so many wonderful people. I have begun the formation of a leadership team for the Antwerp Bridgebuilders Club. I met with local educators about coming into a school to facilitate a culture club.

I spent a fabulous week helping Antwerp International Protestant Church with their Vacation Bible School. What a wonderful and diverse group of people they are and it was such a blessing to work with them and to think they could become my home church for my year with Atlantic Bridge.

My last week here I was part of the Youth Work Factory. It was an eye-opening experience and I am still taking it all in. We had a fantastic week filled with new friendships, old connections, and cultural sharing. Together we laughed, cried, prayed, ate, and barely slept. I could not have asked for a better introduction to my year of service.

We had leaders from 10 different countries come together for a training on how to create cross-cultural exchange for young people.  I was able to connect  with some wonderful people who have been involved with Atlantic Bridge for years, and gain insight into what my year is going to look like. I learned more about other cultures this week than I did in 17 years of formal education. And I made friendships that I am excited to continue in the coming months. We will all be coming together again next summer for the International Youth Festival.  I can't wait! 

To finish out my time here I spent some time at the Grey Cat (Grijze Kat in Flemish) discussing plans for the coming year and their involvement with the Antwerp Bridgebuilders club.  Pictured you can see me sharing a final drink with Jo  Dries, a leader and facilitator at the Grey Cat. 

For now, it's time for me to return home until October.  There is fundraising to be done and loved ones to hug. But I am so looking forward to the year ahead of me.  

 

Christina 

Posted by EVS-ers at 10:10 PM No comments: