Amsterdam

We have arrived in beautiful Amsterdam.

Yesterday we spent the day in the hands of a tour guide who took us in and about everywhere.

We spent quite a bit of time looking at the work of 'the Shelter' - they have an accommodation ministry extraordinarily similar to our work at Golden Grove. Only they are for backpackers.

I spent time with the manager there trading ideas and hearing of what they do. Their scale is much larger - they had almost 40 thousand people through their doors last year.

We also saw their partner ministrys: a health centre with doctors and nurses, drop-in for the homeless, and ministry to the city prostitutes amongst many things. Really quite amazing.

The city still had a number of vibrant churches - but Amsterdam is far from the city that was at the centre of Christianity for so many centuries. The city's main church has a Marilyn Monroe exhibition celebrating her 90th birthday and only holds church services when there is a special occasion (so small did the regular congregation get).

Amsterdam is an incredible city... The most beautiful streets I have ever seen sitting beside the the very opposite. Very thankful to have come here though and the privilege meeting some wonderful people.