“2nd Gens” at Holsby!
For quite a few years now, one of my favorite things to write about for Holsby is the “2nd Gens“! Two years ago, we had 12, last year we had none, and now this year we have five. I’d like to introduce them along with a wee bit of info about their parents who were here those long years ago.
We’ll use the sofa picture to identify each student:
Back row left: Annika Petersson, who hails from British Columbia in Canada, has quite a Holsby heritage behind her. Her mother, Ellen Petersson was here 1981-82, leading the way for the family. Ellen currently teaches kindergarten. Later during the 80’s, Annika’s Aunt Anna and Uncle John-Eric were also students. Two years ago, her sister Linnea attended Holsby. Annika has relatives in Sweden, and she visited with them right before school started.
Back row right: Kevin Dick is also from B.C. in Canada. His mom, Gwen Kroeker Dick, also a kindergarten teacher, was here 1979-80. Kevin, however, is not the only Dick to follow in Gwen’s footsteps. Sister Katie was here a few years back as well.
Middle row: Right in the middle we find Katrina Bartell from Alberta, Canada. Her mom is Jan Reimer Bartell from the years 1975-76. Jan is an accountant in a family business and a stay-at-home mom.
Bottom row left: We only found out at the last minute that Rose Hathaway was also a 2nd Gen. Her home is in the state of Minnesota in the USA. Janet Johnson Hathaway is her mom and she attended the spring term of 1980. Janet is another stay-at-home mom.
Bottom row right: Last but not least is Laura Thams from Denmark. Laura’s mom, Lise Rykjaer Thams, also attended only the spring course – in 1981. Lise, who says her life was really turned around here at Holsby, is a psychologist. Lise was the first of her family to come to Holsby. She was followed by her sister, Christina, and her brother, Jakob.
School has been in session now for a few weeks. It did not take long for the students to begin bonding together. I asked each one of these 2nd Gens what these early weeks have meant to them:
Annika: I am blessed to be here and to have this opportunity.
Kevin: I love the community and how quickly it has all come together.
Katrina: These weeks have given me a fresh start and new understanding of God.
Rose: The fellowship with the students has been great and it’s been so easy to connect with one another.
Laura: I’ve been feeling so blessed. It has been everything I have been praying for. I had not expected it to be this good so early on. I feel really safe here.
Thanks for your prayers for all of our young people as they go through this year. Their hearts are open and our Lord loves to pour in HIS truth and life and love!
Set your hope fully on the grace… Holsby 2013-14
A few weeks ago we welcomed 62 students from 10 countries to Holsby Bible School 2013-14. Here is a short video, put together by the guy’s RA, Stephen Reith, capturing the highlights of this year – our students.
It’s great to see and hear this place filled again with young men and women who have come to study God’s Word and deepen their relationship with Jesus Christ. The theme for this year is “experiencing in part what one day we will experience in full,” based on 1 Peter 1:13: “Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.” As we look to that grace that will one day complete God’s work of salvation in our lives, we trust it will begin to express itself now as Jesus gradually changes our lives to reflect Him.
Please continue to pray for all of us as we seek to faithfully serve the Lord and His purposes here at Holsby.
Holsby “Teebees”
Teebees are some of my favorite people on campus! This summer, we’ve added two of them to the Holsby family. (By the way, the name “Teebees” is what we call our staff kids, and it derives from Torchbearers).
Our most recent one was born to Jonathan & Trista Miller. The Millers have been here for three years and Jonathan is the director of Holsby’s camp program.
NAME: Nox Emmanuel Miller
DATE: 6 August 2013
TIME: 12:22 a.m.
WEIGHT: 3260 grams; 7 lbs. 1 oz.
LENGTH: 50 cm.; 19 in.
SIBLINGS: Hazel and Huxley (2-year-old twins)
After Nox’s birth, Trista was hospitalized for a full week due to complications after receiving an epidural. Lots of prayer went up on her behalf and various staff helped out with the twins at home. The Lord answered in some pretty amazing ways and HIS presence was very tangible! Trista shares: “Once again I am overwhelmed and grateful for the Holsby community. The load I felt was much easier to carry when the weight was distributed amongst other believers.”
Two weeks later, it was so good to see the whole family together at a birthday party for our oldest Teebee!!
Trista and Jonathan – God has blessed you and your young family and shown Himself strong on your behalf! All the ways have not been easy ones, but you’ve witnessed HIS grace and HIS love surrounding you and carrying you. As you guide little Nox through his growing-up years, may he come to learn that his Heavenly Father has placed valuable nuggets out of the treasures of HIS love all along the way – just waiting to be discovered. May Nox grow to be a man of God, one who shares HIS truths freely.
All the paths of the Lord are
mercy and steadfast love,
even truth and faithfulness are they for those who [obey Him].
Psalm 25:10
A couple of months ago, a little girl was welcomed into the home of our staff volunteers, Martin & Danielle Aspegren.
NAME: Ottilia Faith Aspegren
DATE: 4 June 2013
TIME: 10:41 p.m.
WEIGHT: 4110 grams; 9 lbs. 1 oz.
LENGTH: 52 cm., 20-1/2 in.
BIG BROTHER: Max, 3 years old
Little Ottilia Faith is named after her grandmother, Faith – a special name with a lot of blessing when one reflects on its significance!
Danielle shared that a very meaningful part of her experience took place after the births of both their children. The simple song, which we call the “Doxology,” was a thoughtful expression of what flowed from her heart the very first time she was alone with these little ones. She offered her praise with these words:
Praise God from Whom all blessings flow
Praise HIM all creatures here below
Praise HIM above ye heavenly hosts
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost! Amen!
Danielle & Martin, you have been great examples in the home of serving the Lord in the ordinary junctures of life. May your little Ottilia learn early to follow in your footsteps – you who are following the Lord’s footsteps – and serve HIM with joy and gladness!! May she know HIM as Lord, and in turn allow her life to touch many lives with the simplicity of God’s love!
Serve the Lord with gladness!
Come before His presence with singing!
Know that the Lord is God!
Psalm 100:2-3
In this calendar year, we’ve actually added five Teebees to the Holsby family: Ember Thomas (February), Tobin Strohm (February), Laura Schnizler (March), Ottilia Aspegren (June), and Nox Miller (August). Here you see all of them together with their moms!
At a recent gathering, we assembled all these young families together for a photo – which doesn’t have the chance to happen very often! Pray for our young families who are serving so faithfully here at Holsby. It is a “juggle” sometimes to put all the schedule together between work and home. But our families are committed to both! Pray for:
- … wisdom and understanding in bringing up their children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord
- … good contacts with families both inside and outside the Holsby context
- … strength and health in the midst of schedules that are not always routine
- … the moms and dads to be encouraged in the Lord in the midst of their daily contexts, and to grow in their walk with HIM
I’m sure all of our Holsby families, younger and older, would say:
“… as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”
Joshua 24:15
Jesus Changes Lives – 40 years of God’s Faithfulness
“Jesus Changes Lives” was the theme for Holsby’s 40th Anniversary Retreat, and it turned out to be quite the week full of fun, fellowship and growth. Before you do anything else, check out the Anniversary Retreat video!
All of Holsby’s former directors, along with Torchbearers’ General Director, Chris Thomas, were in attendance.
Continue Reading →
Staff Conference & Anniversary Retreat
Most of the longer-term Holsby staff attended the Torchbearer Staff Conference at Capernwray Hall the last week of June. Every four years, the worldwide Torchbearer staff gathers at Capernwray in England for a time of teaching, worship, fellowship and sharing of ideas. This year, the featured speaker was Pastor Richard Dahlstrom from Seattle, who taught from the book of Acts. His teaching was both inspiring and practical. With over 300 in attendance, it was a wonderful week that went by all too quickly.
Holsby staff at Capernwray 2013
Our General Director, Chris Thomas, was re-elected for another four-year term, which will be his last before retirement. Each of the 26 centers worldwide gave a report of the progress and challenges in ministry. The health of the Torchbearers family is strong, and there was a definite sense of optimism and hope about the future.
In my report to the other participants, I shared the following:
“Holsby is turning 40 this year. It’s a great milestone and a clear indication of God’s goodness and blessing. Now, it would seem that with so many years under our belt, we would have already answered the question of “Why do we do what we do? Why Holsby?” But a few months ago our leadership team met for an offsite retreat and we spent most of our time considering just that question: “Why Holsby?” We know what we do: we present the life of Christ to a dying world. We know how we do it: we disciple young people through the teaching of God’s Word and modeling a holy life. But why do we do it??”
I went on to explain how we came up with a very simple but important conclusion. We do what we do, because Jesus changes lives! That is the “why” of Holsby – the fact that, by His grace, Jesus transforms the lives of staff, students and guests during their time at Holsby. And for the last 40 years, we have had the privilege of seeing so many lives radically changed by the indwelling Son of God.
This next week, we will be hosting a 40th anniversary retreat here at Holsby. All of the former directors will be participating: Fred and Sharon Wright, Wally and Donna Schoon, Ulf and Eva Andersson, and Ric (Keli) Schoon. The theme of the retreat and the teaching will be, of course!!: “Jesus changes lives.” Former staff and students from Norway, Germany, Sweden, Canada, United States, Austria and Poland are among the participants. We expect it to be a great week of celebration of God’s goodness in the past, and of our hope and faith in His continued blessings in the future.
By God’s grace, in the next 40 years of Holsby’s history, we will continue to see many lives changed by Jesus for His glory. Jesus changes lives!
Bible School in the words of our students
We are once again grateful to the Lord for the group of students we had this past year and how each of them invested into the Holsby community. As with every year, we are most encouraged by the life-changing investment that Christ made in their lives. Our theme verse this year was Joshua 1:9: “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.” Through obedience to this command, Joshua was led into a life of worship as he continued to witness all that God was able to do through his availability. In the first chapter we see that Joshua had to be available to the promises of God, the word of God, and the presence of God. Our prayer for every student who journeys on from here is that they would continue to mature in their availability to Jesus Christ who indwells them, being their daily expression of worship and the opportunity to be continually led into worship.
Student Life: Teya Bartel
Student life at Holsby is different than other Christian environments because it is honest, open and real. At Holsby you have the perfect balance of exploring nature with friends by going on adventurous walks or spending quality time with Jesus.
It is small enough that you feel comfortable opening up to the students and staff and making friendships that will last a lifetime.
Lectures: Ramona Schmidt
The lectures are one of the major things that distinguish being at Holsby from my normal life back at home. I have never been in a place before where I am under the influence of biblical teaching for up to five hours a day! Having guest lecturers from very different backgrounds broadened my understanding of the variety that is in the body of Christ and helped me accept differences concerning personalities and opinions.
It has been a privilege to learn about things that matter in my everyday life for these eight months!
Discovery: Anna Schmideder
The Discovery program was a big part of what made these nine months at Holsby really special. For various reasons, I grew a lot in my faith through being outdoors. While hiking, canoeing, kayaking, climbing or skiing through the beautiful nature of Sweden, God revealed Himself to all of us through His creation. The different settings gave the perfect opportunity to reflect on the lectures at school, talk about questions and observations we had, and to basically share what the Lord had been teaching us with the tight-knit group of brothers and sisters.
We developed deep friendships with each other based on trust, honesty, love and the mindset of being pushed out of our comfort zone into the given challenges. We learned to stick it out together and enjoy the outdoors, and because of that we were all willing to go on new adventures, leaving the comfy life in Holsby for one to ten days. Looking back I can say with all my heart that the Discovery program was a perfect place to learn about myself, of being a leader and follower, and about the many technical skills we needed to know.
Outreach: Christopher Guido
Outreach has been such a blessing for all of us, whether you were playing basketball with kids or having fika with the elderly. It’s great that we had this opportunity to give back to the community and share about God at the same time.
Missions (Bosnia): Viktor Kaisler
Fifteen students from the Bible school served ten days in Bosnia, at the Gorazde Hope Center. We helped the people at the Hope Center with food distribution and health fairs in schools. After the civil war in Bosnia and a very high unemployment rate, there is not just physical need but also spiritual need. In teams of two and a translator, we visited many homes of people living in poor conditions and brought them basic food essentials.
We also went to schools and taught them basics about health and played games afterwards. Some teams could share the Gospel while they talked with the families. I am going back to Bosnia for seven weeks to help with the Hope Center in their adventure camp and English camp as an intern. I am looking forward to how God will challenge me and what He will do in these few weeks.
Meet the Spring Adventure Team
Here is a brief glimpse into the spring camp season at Holsby. We are thankful to the Lord for bringing a solid team of people to host our spring confirmation and youth camps. Here are a few of their stories from their time at Holsby. Enjoy!
Holsby Spring Scavenger Hunt
We are well into our two-month spring term, which began with a photo scavenger hunt requiring some thought and creativity from nine family groups trying to capture and complete fifty different photo challenges around campus. As you watch this video of top shots, see if you can check off these different challenges and maybe remember some of your own laughable moments at Holsby.
Something dirty
Something little
Something noisy
An elephant
Your reflection
Your shadows in the air
No feet on the ground
Everyone balanced on a tie
Want to call home? Everyone hop in!
Burn baby burn
Something old and weathered
Salute to the Swedish flag
Right hands on the well
A goatee
Our theme verse (Joshua 1:9)
A toddler not your own
A secret
Picture with Elke
Go back to your childhood and “slide” down memory lane together
Everyone in a scarf
Yummy
Soles with all in
Dance
Your first
Faith
Farthinder (Swedish will help for this one)
A snowman making a sand castle
A candid shot
Abbey Road
Sleeping Beauty’s cottage
Handstands
Kiss the pinky ring of the director—your elder
Spell out HOLSBY
King of Brunnsgården Hill
Something that makes you feel happy
Up a tree without a paddle
Hugging a beautiful Swede
Recreating history
Introducing the Schnizler family
UPDATE: Tobi, Nivea and their two daughters are back home in Holsby! Little Laura Sofie made better progress than the doctors expected and she was released from the hospital a week early. We thank the Lord for this answer to prayer.
When Tobi (from Germany) and Nivea (from Brazil) first approached us about volunteering at Holsby, none of us knew the details of the story that would soon play out in their lives and in ours. In early October they moved into the Holsby community together with their three-year-old daughter, Alícia. She is a vivacious little girl, who communicates freely in German, Portuguese and English. So much fun!
The Schnizler family
When they arrived at Holsby, Nivea was expecting their second child. It was only when they went for one of their first maternity check-ups that they found out that their child had some significant physical and medical challenges. While still in the womb, their child was diagnosed with spina bifida – a serious condition where the child is born with a portion of the spine exposed. It is essential that the baby be delivered by Caesarean section to avoid further nerve damage. All of this was, of course, very challenging to the Schnizler family – especially as they had just moved to Sweden, a country they were not familiar with.
Time was approaching for the scheduled C-section. The Holsby community surrounded the Schnizlers with prayer, and we waited with them to see what the Lord would do. The day before their planned trip to the hospital for the scheduled delivery, Nivea went into labor! They were driven by ambulance first to the local hospital to stop the labor contractions and then rushed to the university hospital in Linköping, where they could receive the specialized care their child would be needing. Lots of prayer accompanied them on that trip, and a beautiful little girl, Laura Sofie, was born to Tobi and Nivea on March 25th.
Tobi and Laura Sofie
Immediately after delivery, Laura Sofie was rushed into surgery to close up her spine. The procedure was successful and it appears that no further nerve damage resulted from the surgery. However, another common issue for spina bifida babies is the accumulation of fluid on the brain, which needs to be drained by installing a shunt. It is basically a valve that is inserted into the skull with a tube that drains the extra fluid back into the body.
On top of all this, at birth Laura was not able to breathe on her own and needed assistance. The doctors suggested that Tobi and Nivea call a priest to have Laura baptized. The situation was not looking very optimistic. Within the first couple weeks of her life, Laura Sofie had at least three major medical interventions. The incision on her spine has been taking a longer time than usual healing; the shunt started breaking through her skin and had to be removed and then replaced; little Laura’s bladder and bowels are not yet functioning properly.
And yet, in all of this, Laura has two major things going for her: she is loved by God, and she is loved by her family. And while Tobi and Nivea have experienced setbacks, challenges and frustrations – their faith remains strong. The Lord has answered prayer and Laura is improving each and every day. On Easter Sunday, Laura began to breathe on her own – a definite answer to prayer and contrary to what the doctors were predicting. She is eating well, her incision is healing, and in a special evidence of God’s blessing, the doctors say that Laura’s legs are highly functional. Very often, spina bifida children have severely limited use of their legs. It appears that this is not the case with Laura, for which we are all very grateful.
Mother and daughter
Although Laura Sofie and her family will continue to face physical and medical challenges, the new life of a child is always a blessing to celebrate. And Laura is so privileged to be born into a family that loves the Lord and loves her. Her sister, Alícia, will be a huge support for her and has already shown evidence of a mature love and compassion for little Laura. And, of course, the entire Holsby community will continue to surround the Schnizler family with our prayers, love and support. We ask that you join us in blessing this precious family through your prayers.
Tobi, Nivea and their two daughters hope to return home to Holsby by the beginning of May. It has been a long and trying period in their lives, but they remain anchored and sustained by their faith in a sovereign and loving God. They wanted to share a few words with you, the readers of this blog, with the request that you would pray for them in the coming weeks and months:
Dear FikaTime readers,
It is all about love, because God is love.
“God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them.” 1 John 4:16
How precious it has been for us as a family to experience love in such a practical way! Before we came to Sweden, John Poysti assured us that the Holsby community was a loving and caring one, but could we have ever imagined that he really meant it?
We have been feeling God’s care for us through prayers, cards, phone calls, emails, grocery, gifts and visits. We know that we are not alone, we feel very special! Love is more than beautiful words and nice feelings. Love is very practical.
“After all, no one ever hated their own body, but they feed and care for their body, just as Christ does the church – for we are members of his body.” Ephesians 5:29-30
Tobi, Nivea, Alícia and Laura Sofie
In memory of Justin Priebe (1986-2013)
Update: This post has already been seen by well over 4000 people and testifies to the impact that Justin has had – and continues to have – among so many people.
We were all deeply saddened to hear that Justin Priebe – our brother, friend and Holsby alum (2004-05) – went to be with the Lord after an unexpected heart attack last Saturday night. He was only 26 years old.
Justin (center) and his family
The entire Holsby family joins in expressing our condolences to Justin’s parents, Phillip and Susan, his brother Andrew and sister Amy, and the other members of his family and his many friends. The outpouring of memories and expressions of love on Facebook from his fellow Holsby students are a small indication of the impact that Justin had in his all-too-brief life.
In the very last issue of the NewsUpdate, edited for so many years by Donna Schoon, Justin shared his testimony with our readers. We thought it would be fitting to include his words of encouragement once more – this time as a tribute to Justin and to the Lord he loved and served. As you read his testimony, please remember his loved ones in prayer.
Written one year ago by Justin Priebe:
Torchbearers in Sweden changed my life! I would say the only requirement for having a life-changing experience at Torchbearers would be going with an open mind and allowing the Spirit to soften one’s heart. My heart was hard. I didn’t show emotion, much less have many emotions. These are all the lies preached to us daily in the world in which we live. Taking a year away from the lies, away from the world, which we are told is ruled by Satan, the prince of the air (Ephesians 2:2–3), was incredibly vital for my spiritual and physical well-being, both at that time and right now in my life.
[As a student], I was very much out of place for the first month or so, but the tight-knit Christian community was exactly what I needed. No television or movies was the rule when I attended in 2004. This meant no secular gospel. It took me a while to adjust, but after a little while there was not a single person, student or staff, that I was not friends with, nor could I have a deep conversation with. Out of 65–70 people, I thought that was pretty amazing. I was hit over the head with so much truth, some of which I had heard before, but for whatever reason it only then took root. I rededicated my life to God. I enjoyed Holsby so much I stayed an extra 3 months and worked in the ropes course. When I got home, it was obvious to everyone I was a different person.
Justin (2nd from R) and some of his Holsby classmates
I started attending a Christian college when I got back, but I was looking for the community I had at Holsby and could not find it in this larger school. Once again the secular gospel of this world occupied so much more of my time and life than did the Gospel of Christ. As a result, I started to slide. It starts very slowly, but once it builds momentum it is very hard to stop.
In 2007, I was working as a carpenter, not attending church, and very much in sync with the world. (That isn’t a good thing). On my way to work one morning, a car turned right in front of my motorcycle and my life as I knew it ended! Five vertebrae were broken, and I suffered nine skull fractures and a moderate brain injury. It’s been nearly five years, and I am still dealing with the results of this accident daily. But God is good. I should not be alive, let alone walking and talking. I thank all the people from Torchbearers, Sweden, and around the world for the many prayers, which I firmly believe saved my life. Even the surgeon was amazed.
Justin and his sister Amy
To this day I still cannot do the things, which I loved to do. But God in His grace and mercy has given me new things. Dealing with chronic pain and depression has been a struggle of the sort I had never known. I don’t just lean on the strength of the Lord; some days He carries me. I cannot explain the importance of the knowledge and wisdom of God, which I soaked up in my year in Sweden. If knowledge is power, then wisdom is armor. And without that power and armor, I would not now be in the position I am — working in a church — much less alive. God is using me in ways I may not ever have had time or motivation for before my accident.
Justin in Sweden
I admit I have made many mistakes, and you or your loved ones may never go through these exact experiences. However the fundamental truths are the same. We are all being preached to constantly and are affected by the things of this world. To take a year out of your life and out of the world might not save your life immediately. However, there is no telling the importance that it may serve at another point in your journey. God is always faithful even when we are not, and I believe investing in your faith will pay dividends not only during that time you’re investing, but throughout the course of your life. Biblical truth and experience will change your life! When you re-enter your world, or over a period of time, you may be led away from God and the truth. This is what happened to me. But no matter how hard the enemy may try, he cannot make these roots disappear. I cannot stress the importance of a foundation built on the Rock. It will anchor you, both now and for the future.
