Gerard and Ilse van Veldhuizen have been living and working in eastern Germany since 1996.
They live in Schönborn-Dreiwerden, a village near Mittweida, north of Chemnitz (formerly Karl Marx Stadt) and close to the Czech border. They have four adult children and one grandchild.
Gerard and Ilse want to make a difference in their community. Their goal is to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ through words and deeds, practical service, hospitality, and discipleship training.
They work together with the local church. Women's mornings and seniors' afternoons are organized. They also help with Bible study, coffee service, and other practical work in the church.
Years ago (in 2009), they were able to buy the house in which they now live. Their dream was to be able to be hospitable. They then began renovating the house. Gerard is particularly busy with this, with occasional help from outside. Ilse first worked as a district nurse and later as a doctor's assistant in the city.
In the spring of 2016, they took in a refugee family in their home. They lived with them for five years. They were able to help this family find their way in Germany. After that, the upper floor was converted into a guest apartment. Many guests have stayed there since then. Missionaries and people on low incomes in particular can spend their holidays here. But other guests and small groups are also very welcome.
Newsletter and home church
Their newsletter can be requested here. Their home church in the Netherlands is the Church of the Nazarene in Dordrecht, and in Germany they are connected to the Evangelical Freikirche in Mittweida.
Support
If you want to support Gerard and Ilse in their work, you can donate to the bank account:
NL80 RABO 0305 9372 94, in the name of ITeams, with the note VW-DW Veldhuizen
BIC RABO: RABONL2U