On the Journey With...
Elestra Kool-van Vugt
If you pay close attention to life’s serendipitous moments, you’ll often detect God’s subtle fingerprints in many different places. But sometimes, His interventions are so remarkably obvious that they take you completely by surprise, marking those experiences an undeniable life-highlight. Such was the case when I met Elestra at Hope4Cancer in January of 2023.
I had arrived in Mexico to explore a non-toxic approach to confronting the cancer that had become this unwelcome guest in my body. It was a significant step of faith, requiring a substantial financial investment. Many in my circle thought I was a bit crazy for taking such a direction. Yet, I felt profoundly led to go (to the best of my understanding), though I will admit there were residual questions that lingered—after all, we only know and see in part. However, all those remaining doubts and fears were laid to rest the moment I met Elestra.
On the second day at the clinic, I was riding the elevator with a group of other patients, headed into another full day of treatments. Suddenly, I heard a familiar (yet utterly out-of-place), language. Was someone speaking Dutch? Indeed! When we exited the elevator, I greeted the patient in my own broken Dutch. She was absolutely flabbergasted, but we both delighted in discovering our shared heritage and background.
And then I heard the rest of her story.
Elestra, too, had been nervous about coming, especially leaving her husband and small children behind in the home land. Her cancer was aggressive, adding to the immense burden she carried, making her understandably anxious about traveling so far. But she had a praying friend who was walking the path with her. On the day before Elestra left, her friend said, “Let’s pray that God sends you a Dutch friend to walk that path with you.”
What an audacious prayer!
The Netherlands is a very small country, and Dutch is spoken by a tiny percentage of the global population. What was the likelihood that God would answer such a specific prayer? It seemed utterly preposterous. And yet, God, in His infinite mercy, did exactly that. It was a beautiful sign for both of us, unmistakably reassuring us that we were indeed following His lead, and that He was actively at work, doing a good work in us and for us.
That story remains one of my life’s most profound signs of God’s unmistakable and miraculous interventions. I will never forget it. But, even with that unbelievable miracle, I got word this past weekend, that our dear Elestra passed. This was the note we received from her husband,
I’m Bart, Elestra’s husband. I’m very sorry to have to tell you that Elestra passed away yesterday. I know she had already shared with you that there were no more treatment options left. Over the past few weeks, things progressed very quickly. Especially the metastases in her liver grew too fast. Elestra’s body was truly exhausted.
She passed away with me and our youngest son by her side. We are all heartbroken, and at times it still feels a bit unreal. She was such an incredibly kind and loving woman, and I couldn’t have wished for a more wonderful mother for our children. Until the very last moment of her life, she fought with all the strength she had to be with her children. We will miss her love and kindness deeply.
But, even with such sad news, I want you to know, that to Elestra, you felt like a second family. We so often talked about how loving and kind you all are. She truly held you in her heart, and that is where you will always remain.
I wept when I got the news.
I feel for her family and for all who knew her. She was a beautiful and gentle soul. Reflecting on her story and her untimely passing, I felt a fresh nudge from the Lord about the work we are doing. It really matters, because people have a lot of different resources when it comes to this cancer journey. There are doctors, nutritionists, donors, specialists and even counselors, but the pastoral piece is often over-looked, and yet, for many at the
end of the day it is what is needed most. So, thank you for helping make it possible with your prayers and support! And may the Lord bring His promised comfort to those who need it most.
Lord have mercy!
Soul Care with
Pastor Jenn
To Pastor (verb): to shepherd, advise, and guide into a place of deeper spiritual understanding
Trust in the Lord with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
in all your ways submit to him,
and he will make your paths straight.
Proverbs 3:5-6
I’ve been thinking this week about the idea of letting go. I’m not talking about giving up or quitting. I’m talking about releasing things that are not ours to hold anymore. It’s hard to let go of things we’ve been holding, especially things we’ve been holding for some time. Whether it be our children or our job or a ministry we’ve been trusted with, it feels impossible to hold something with so much care and pour days, hours and years into it and then simply release it. But sometimes, that is honestly what’s needed.
The brilliant Corrie ten Boom once said, “Hold everything in your hands lightly, otherwise it hurts when God pries your fingers open.” It sounds harsh, but it is so often true. The things we’ve been trusted with may not be ours forever. It’s important to remember those things belong to God and He knows best when it’s time to let them go.
Scripture promises in those moments of trust and submission, He will make our paths straight. What’s wild to me is how often the path of letting go and letting God feels crooked in the moment, like a giant left turn. But somehow, it becomes straight through the gentle, loving direction of the Lord. I doubt I’ll ever understand it fully. But then that’s why He’s God and I am not. I’m praying for you this week to have the courage to let go of the things not meant for you anymore. And in the letting go, may you find your path just a little straighter.
Caregivers Corner with
Kathi Peters
To Support (noun): to provide assistance that enables one to function or act.
Is there a safe place?
When someone you love has cancer, the illusion of safety vanishes — suddenly, the ordinary becomes uncertain, and even the familiar feels fragile. Everything that seemed to be a given before now feels “up in the air.” Most caregivers live in a constant state of alertness. “What is he/she eating?” “How can I keep things level so that there’s not stress or upset in the household?” “Is that lump or bump something to be worried about?”
As caregivers we search for safety in the science and statistics, but deep down, we know that no guarantee can shield us from what might come. How do we strike a balance between hope and realism? I know I struggle with this. I want to hope, tell myself to hope, but when the reality of the situation “sneaks” into my consciousness, I vacillate between the two. Being a caregiver to someone with cancer can be an emotional rollercoaster.
If there is any safe place, perhaps it’s not a physical one at all, but a sacred inner space we carve out with love, presence, and the courage to keep showing up. In the absence of physical safety we can still find a place to feel safe, but we have to nurture that place. It doesn’t just happen.
Worrying about things you can’t control is an exercise in futility. Whatever comes, you’ll deal with it then. Embrace and cherish the moments you have today. Then do the same tomorrow. And always remember that being in God’s presence is the safest place your soul can be.
The name of the LORD is a strong tower; the righteous run into it and are safe.
Proverbs 18:10
Worship Moment
With Joel Salabarria
To Inspire (verb): to fill someone with the urge or ability to do or feel something, especially to do something creative.
Song: Firm Foundation (Spotify and Apple Music)
Band: Maverick City Music
From: “The Maverick Way Complete” (2022)
I need this reminder, because this is something I forget way too easily – God won’t ever fail! When life feels shaky, He is steady. Knowing this truth gives me peace but it also pushes me to stop relying on my own strength. In anxious and uncertain seasons, He takes me to a safer place. It’s more than just meaningful musical lyrics—it’s a promise that I’m not alone, and I’m standing on something solid. The Firm Foundation!
Christ is my firm foundation
The Rock on which I stand
When everything around me is shaking
I’ve never been more glad
That I put my faith in Jesus
‘Cause He’s never let me down (Yeah)
He’s faithful through generations
So why would He fail now?
He won’t (No, He won’t, no, He won’t)
He won’t (He won’t, He won’t, He won’t)
And I’ve still got joy in chaos
I’ve got peace that makes no sense
So I won’t be going under
I’m not held by my own strength
‘Cause I build my life on Jesus
Hе’s never let mе down
He’s faithful through every season
So why would He fail now? (Sing it out)
Poetic Encouragement:
In Rememberance of Our Dear Friend
To Encourage (noun): to give support and hope to someone so that they will do or continue to do something.
Even amidst such clear demonstrations of divine care, the human heart knows its share of profound sorrow. There are moments when the ache of absence overshadows every blessing, when the vibrant thread of a loved one’s life is suddenly cut, leaving behind a wound that time may soften but never erase. In those seasons, the world can feel muted, and the laughter of others can seem a discordant note against the quiet hum of grief within our souls, a landscape veiled in the very dust of remembrance.
It is in these depths of lament that our spirits wrestle with life’s fleeting nature and the immeasurable cost of love. We whisper for one more echo of their voice, one last brush of their hand, one cherished moment to relive. The crushing weight of what’s lost presses heavily, and the path forward, once a clear horizon, becomes a winding trail shrouded in the mist of sorrow, reminding us keenly of our finite understanding and the piercing pain that accompanies every earthly farewell.
But for hearts anchored in faith, this lament, though a raw and necessary journey, never speaks the final word. Beyond the veil of sorrow, a radiant dawn of hope emerges—a steadfast assurance that this separation is but a fleeting interlude. We hold fast to the promise of a glorious reunion, a hallowed day when every tear will be gently wiped away, and every longing heart will find its ultimate, joyous fulfillment in the luminous presence of God. This profound certainty, of embracing our beloved faces again in a celestial home, transmutes grief into a temporary parting, sustained by the unbreakable tapestry of eternal love and the unwavering faithfulness of our Creator.
Piet's Ponderings
Nutrition Nuggets with
Suzanna Hake
To Nourish (verb): the act or process of being nourished.
It seems you all like it when I share some of my favorite recipes for healthy meals – so that is what I will be sharing over these next few weeks. Our family loves these!
Favorite Weekend Egg bake
12 eggs
16 oz 2% cottage cheese
1.5 cups finely shredded cheddar cheese
1 tsp onion powder
1 tsp salt
½ tsp pepper
1 tbsp olive oil
6 chicken apple sausages, I like Applegate or Aidell’s brand (the kind that look like hot dogs) sliced into 1/4″ rounds
1 red bell pepper, diced
4 oz mushrooms, diced
1 small zucchini , diced
½ onion, diced
3 cloves minced garlic
-Preheat oven to 350 and spray a 9×13 inch casserole dish with avocado oil.
-Combine the eggs, cottage cheese, 1 cup of cheddar cheese, onion powder, salt and pepper in a blender. Blend on high for 30 seconds until smooth. Set aside.
-In a large skillet, heat the olive oil over medium high heat. Add the sliced chicken sausage rounds, bell pepper, mushrooms, zucchini, onion, and minced garlic. Saute for 5-7 minutes until the sausage rounds are browned and the veggies have softened.
-Add the sausage and veggies to the prepared baking dish. Pour the blended egg mixture over the sausage and veggies. Use a spatula to mix until evenly combined. Sprinkle the top with the remaining 1/2 cup cheese.
-Bake for 45-50 minutes or until the top of the casserole is set. Check it at the 30 minute mark to
make sure it’s not getting too browned – if it is, cover with foil for the remaining baking time. Let it cool for 10 minutes.
-Slice into squares and serve topped with some avocado and your favorite hot sauce. Enjoy!
Healing Prayer
Reassuring Scriptures
To Pray (verb): Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. (Philippians 4:6)
Jeremiah 17:14 (NIV)
Heal me, O Lord, and I will be healed; save me and I will be saved, for you are the one I praise.
James 5: 14-15 (NIV)
Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven.
2 Chronicles 7:14-15 (NIV)
If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land. Now my eyes will be open and my ears attentive to the prayers offered in this place.
To Ponder (verb): to think about something carefully, especially before making a decision or reaching a conclusion.
This used to be true for me…
Thankfully not so much anymore.
Some of the reasons why I think I’m in a better place with sleep is because:
- No wine for the last 40 days
- No food/drink after 7:30pm
- Consistently in bed by 10:30pm
- Sauna an hour before I head off to bed (3x/week)
- Moderate exercise (at least 8.000 steps/day)
- Low carb diet (<50 grams of carbs/day)
The benefits have been significant.
- Wake up refreshed
- Energy throughout the day
- HRV significantly improved
- Clarity of thought
- Better overall sense of well-being
- No longer need sleep aid
I can’t believe how much of a difference it makes just to get a good night’s rest. It is generally not something we think about as a significant ‘health concern’ – but figuring it out, really does matter (way more than I thought)
Care to join me?
There is something about this place…
Some places just have ‘it’…
And yes, I know it probably sounds a bit woo-woo, but I think spaces can have spiritual weight. In this case, I can’t help but believe that given the many hours of prayers prayed in this barn there isn’t something holy about the environment. It lingers in the air and you can feel it.
My soul is nourished just because I’m in the room AND it doesn’t hurt that the people leading worship are really great at their craft. Great heart AND skill!
Which is why every week (when I’m in town) I try and make it there. I’m not afraid to say it, I need what happens there… so I will keep showing up.
If you are curious and in the Austin area, I’d be glad to meet you there. Just e-mail me and I will help you find your way!
Support the work!
The Van Waarde Foundation underwrites and supports a variety of projects related to supporting, educating, and encouraging fellow cancer warriors and their families.
Thank you in advance for your prayerful consideration.
https://www.patreon.com/c/pietvanwaarde
