The Kamps Family

On August 2nd it will be 5 years since God brought the Kamps family from their home in Canada to Holland as missionaries. They have been such a blessing and encouragement to our ministry! God was so very good to give us friends like them after working alone for 8 years.

Mr. & Mrs. Kamps have four children---Josh (14), Alisah (12), Grace (8), and Annika (6). Josh and Josiah are partners in crime; I’m glad they have each other to play with. Lydia and I love the girls; they are like little sisters to us. Dad and Mr. Kamps are as close as brothers. When you get the two of them together you’re sure to hear lots of laughter and talk about biking the Gooi Meer. Mrs. Kamps is Mom’s good friend, and I count her among my friends as well.

For 4 years the Kamps worked with us at our church in Amsterdam. Last year they took over an English-speaking church left by missionaries who had to leave the country. Because they have their own work now we don’t see the Kamps as much as we used to, but we still get together, mostly during the winter months.

We don’t have any family here to celebrate birthdays and holidays with, but in many ways the Kamps are closer than our blood relations back home. We celebrate our special days together. Grace and Lydia share birthdays in November; Josiah has the month of December all to himself (unless you want to count Jesus’ birthday); Mom’s, Mrs. Kamps’, and my birthday are just days apart in January; Mr. Kamps and Alisah share the month of February; Dad’s and Josh’s birthdays are in March; and Annika’s birthday is in May. Between all those birthdays and then Thanksgiving and Christmas, we see each other a lot between November and February.

Four months ago, at the end of March, Mrs. Kamps was ordered to leave the country or she would be arrested. For some dumb reason Mr. Kamps and all the kids are allowed to stay in Holland, but Mrs. Kamps isn’t. Nothing like encouraging the family unit there!!! Mrs. Kamps left with the kids as soon as possible. Mr. Kamps stayed in Holland for a month longer to arrange things for their church. Then he left as well. They would be back after a 4-month period, when it was legal to return and try to reapply for Mrs. Kamps’ visa.

Well, those 4 months have passed now. Yesterday the Kamps arrived in Holland at around 4:00 p.m. Our family spent two Saturdays at their place doing lawn work, cleaning the house from top to bottom, making beds, getting some groceries, and making dinner. It was a lot of work, but what are friends for? =) They have done the same thing for us.

It was great to see the Kamps after such a long time! There were a lot of smiles and hugging. Later there was some crying as well. The emotional stress of saying good-bye to family back home, 24-hours of traveling, and the insecurity of culture shock will do that to you. (cringe) I don’t want to think about it; I know that wiped out feeling of exhaustion and sadness too well. One of the hardest things about leaving the States to head back to the mission field is that lingering question. What will have changed by the time we’re back again? You never know how long parents/grandparents will live. People you love will change--grow up, move away, get married, start a family. As a missionary you want the world you’re leaving behind to stay the same, but it doesn’t. Life goes on without you. That’s the way it is.

Can you imagine having to say goodbye to your dad as he’s being loaded into an ambulance? That’s what Mrs. Kamps had to do. The kids kissed Grandpa goodbye as he was being taken to the hospital. Suitcases were packed; a plane was waiting. What can you do in a situation like that? Pray, trust God…? That’s all there is. Thankfully before the Kamps boarded their plane they got news that Grandpa was going to be okay. The doctors think he passed out because of the stress of the coming parting.

After getting our emotions under control we all sat around and tried to catch up on everything. Josh and Josiah immediately began a whole discussion about electronics. Dad and Mr. Kamps sat on the patio where it was quiet. Lydia went off with the girls, leaving Mom and Mrs. Kamps to talk and me to listen. Annika was very tired; the poor thing was walking around like a little zombie. Grace had enough energy for all of us. She’s such a little chatter box! By the time we left I was exhausted and very glad to get to our cool home. (What a hot day!) It’s good to know our friends are close by once again!!!

(Picture: Flowers I chose for the Kamps’ kitchen table.)