Holsby’s 40th Anniversary Retreat is just around the corner!
If you are a former Holsby student, staff member, or volunteer, we’d like to extend a warm welcome to you and your family to come back and retreat at Holsby.
Come and celebrate years of God’s goodness as we enjoy rich fellowship with friends and family, enjoy Bible teaching, worship, great activities, a delicious banquet, and the beautiful surroundings you remember at Holsby.
All of the former directors (Fred and Sharon Wright, Wally and Donna Schoon, Ulf Andersson and Ric and Keli Schoon) will be here!
There are still some spots left to register at a very reasonable price. Get creative and call up your old friends from your year at Holsby and get a group together!
If you’d like more information about the schedule and prices click on this link to open up a page on our website: http://www.holsby.org/about_alumni_and_friends/anniversary-re/
Spread the News! We look forward to seeing you next summer!
Holsby Staff
Winter Retreat 2013
Over the past month I had the privilege of organizing Holsby’s 1st Annual Winter Retreat. Last Saturday this awesome event took place and what a great success it was! This opportunity for the whole student body and staff to come together for a day of fun and games on a frozen lake came at a good time during the term when winter fatigue really starts to take its toll.
Credit to Payton McSwain for catching the Winter Retreat through her camera!
After brunch on Saturday, all the students piled into a bus and vans and headed over to a nearby lake house 40 kilometers away. The day was filled with competitive group games out on the ice with a hot dog fika in between. A male-staff versus male-students Tug-O-War battle, incidentally won by the students, highlighted the ice activities. When the sun had set and the stars came out, everyone assembled around the fire pit to raise songs of praise to our awesome Creator.
After the time of worship I shared a devotion reflecting on what we fill our lives with; using sky lanterns as my object lesson, every family group got to light and send off their own lantern together. A day, which was highlighted by snowball fights, encouragement, slipping and sliding, laughter and more snowball fights created a memorable day; a token to our God.
“TeeBee” Arrivals
It is always a joy to welcome new life! Yesterday it was my privilege to meet two new members of the Holsby family. We’d like to introduce them to you as well. Both babies were delivered by C-section.
NAME: Ember Kate Thomas
PARENTS: Luke & Cheryl Thomas
BIG SISTER: Emmalise
DATE: 19 February 2013
TIME: 8:39 a.m.
WEIGHT: 3270 grams (7 lb. 3 oz.)
LENGTH: 47 cm. (18.5 in.)
Little Ember is doing fine, but Mamma Cheryl had to undergo unexpected surgery following the delivery. Thanks for praying especially for her that her recovery will be complete without complication. Cheryl’s parents will be joining the family next week, which we know will be a big encouragement.
Our prayer for this little one could be expressed in paraphrased words from Deuteronomy 30:19-20. Ember, we pray that you will …
Choose life, so that you may live,
And that you may
Love the Lord your God,
Listen to His voice, and
Hold fast to HIM.
[When you do that, you will say,]
The Lord is my life!
** ** ** **
NAME: Tobin Emmanuel Strohm
PARENTS: Brad & Cece Strohm
BIG SISTER & BROTHER: Kayley & Oliver
DATE: 20 February 2013
TIME: 9:08 a.m.
WEIGHT: 3945 grams (8 lb. 12 oz.)
LENGTH: 53 cm. (21 in.)
Tobin was already surrounded by his siblings when we first met him. They were still a bit awed by this little one who was only a few hours old.
When we belong to the Lord, we can walk in His promises every day in all aspects of life. For you, Tobin, we trust you will learn early on that …
God wants to shelter you with His wings.
His faithful promises are your armor and protection.
Psalm 91:4
May both you families – Thomases and Strohms – sense the Lord’s loving arms around you as you walk through these days of learning new aspects of His sufficiency! We rejoice with you in these new gifts of life entrusted to your care. We here in the Holsby community want to be encouragers alongside of you as you bring your children up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord!
God’s Gifts
Holsby’s “Teebees” are a growing group once again!! Who are they? They are our little Torchbearers – children of our Holsby staff families. Currently there are 8 of them, but by the end of spring this year, they will number 12 (ages 4 and under).
The staff wives gathered together recently for “fika” to celebrate Cheryl Thomas and Cece Strohm, who will give birth by C-section this upcoming week (February 19th and 20th respectively). Thanks for sharing in prayer with us for safe arrivals of these little ones, and for uncomplicated recovery for the moms. Our other moms-in-waiting, Nivea and Danielle, are due in April and May.
Children are a gift from the Lord;
they are a reward from him.
Psalm 127:3
Children are indeed a precious gift from our Lord! And we have the opportunity to be reflections of the life of the Lord Jesus to these young ones as they grow up in this extended community of the Holsby family!
Wally in Latvia
Three times every year, Wally Schoon flies over to Latvia for ministry – particularly amongst the public school teachers of the country. A weekend conference is held every October, January and April. Along with the educational seminars, much is shared from the Word of God, and teachers are coming to know Christ. Every new teacher attending each conference, also receives a Bible.
Last October, 10,000 Latvian Bibles were dedicated (purchased with gifts sent in to the Latvian Christian Mission for that purpose). All boxed and ready to go, all but 2,000 of them have been distributed in these three months to public schools around Latvia, finding their way into classrooms, principals’ offices and some into the homes of students! In view of the fact that His Word is living and active, this means there should be many positive results to His glory.
As Wally travels around Latvia (and he does speak in a number of the public schools), he says he sees Bibles in just about every classroom where he teaches. The doors are still wide open for the Gospel.
While teaching at the Baltic Pastoral Institute this past month, Wally had many good individual conversations. He commented: “They were beginning to grasp the fact that enjoying His indwelling life precludes any and all other aspects of the calling they may have. There is a critical need for pastors in Latvia who know Him as their life and joy.” In fact, one student said in the last class, “If I understand this correctly, it means that I cannot live the life of Christ in my own strength but He must live through me!” Yes, His Spirit truly gives understanding.
Less Is Often More
Less is often more, right? Well, not if I consider that this winter term we are glad to have four more students, or how we as a family look forward to adding one more child come February… which will mean a lot more of just about everything.
However, there are times where less is more. This thought came to mind during Christmas break as I finished reading through the Christmas story and went on to read the only recorded information we have of Jesus as a boy. Talk about a period of time that we would have loved to have more, but instead God gave us less! Although in giving us less, He may have actually given us more. You see, we want the “more” of how to raise children, how to survive as a teenager and how to make those life changing decisions when one is in their twenties. I’m sure God could have given us some insightful stories, but I’m actually thankful that He gave us one solitary story, much less than any bestseller would have done… Oh wait, the Bible is a bestseller, and maybe because with much less God has communicated much more by informing us of what is most important in life.
The “less” is the solitary story of 12-year-old Jesus staying in Jerusalem to sit amongst the teachers in the temple, while His parents return home under the assumption that He is with them. The “more” of the story falls between two parenthetical statements about Jesus growing in wisdom and in favor with God and man. How? He told Mary and Joseph, upon their finding Him three days later, that they should have known He would be in His Father’s house. As a young boy, Jesus was aware of the unique relationship He had with the Father, and made it the priority of His life. It was a priority that shaped what He did as a 12-year-old and who He became twenty-one years later. He grew in wisdom because He lived according to the promises of His Father. He grew in favor with God and man because He lived according to the “finished work” of His Father, letting it be realized through His humanity. It’s no wonder He went to the temple to meditate on the Word of God. What more do we need to know? If Jesus made this relationship with the Father the priority in His life, how much more do we need to make our unique relationship with Him the priority of our lives, based on His finished work?
This past Christmas our daughter received Play-Doh with a set of tools for cutting and shaping. One of the tools was a rectangular contraption, hollow on one end with interchangeable shapes on the other. By putting the dough into the hollow end, one could then push it through – and out came the particular shape. Whether we realize it or not, we are like Play-Doh, being shaped by the priorities we set up in our lives and then pushed through. At the beginning of this new term and new year, I challenged our students to think of at least one change they could make in their lives that would give priority to letting God shape them.
As you take one last swig of coffee and finish off your fika time, think about the priorities in your life and try writing down one or two ways this week, month, or year you can prioritize letting God shape you because of what He has done and finished in Christ.
Scene@Holsby…
The music was magnificent, the simplicity of the message most moving. God So Loved the World … shared in eight different languages represented by our international students. Prayer in a huge circle spreading all around the huge sanctuary, trusting God to bless the evening and let HIS truths be known.
Yes, we were back once again in Alseda Kyrka for our traditional Julkonsert (Christmas concert). The students were awestruck when they first entered the high-ceilinged sanctuary with its inimitable acoustics. The choir, under the very capable leadership of Kristi-Anna Eldridge, shared four songs, the first (“African Alleluia”) while walking with lit candles down the aisles of the church.
Besides musical presentations by both students and staff, a black-light hand drama depicted with strong affirmation how much we are valued by the Lord of all the earth – not because of who we are, but because of Who He is and what He has done!
The Julkonsert is always a brilliant performance. But we come away from there with a special joy when we know the message of the love of God our Father sending Jesus to this earth for the salvation of all mankind has been communicated! Mid-point in the concert, John Poysti shared about this great and unlimited love.
God so loved the world
that He gave His one and only Son …
John 3:16
A wonderful fika with fellowship was held afterwards in the dining rooms of Brunnsgården. The surrounding community was well represented.
Tables filled with delectable delights surprised the students a few days later – Holsby’s traditional “Julbord.” It’s always fun to hear the initial responses as the doors to the dining rooms are opened and they walk in to see what has taken all day to prepare! John opened the evening by declaring, “Let’s sing Happy Birthday to Jesus.”
May we take this opportunity to wish you and yours a blessed and meaningful Christmas!! JESUS is the greatest Gift ever given!!
Surprise, Surprise!
Some people are harder to surprise than others. Wally Schoon has historically proven to be one of the more difficult nuts to crack (in more ways than one…). There was the time when we stuck a long airline baggage tag on Wally’s back while traveling to Staff Conference at Capernwray. Oblivious to the scene he was causing on the train as several people mistook him for an item of lost luggage, he was surprised when someone finally mercifully removed the tag several hours later while standing in line at the Capernwray dining room. An historic surprise!
And last week an even more devious and international plot to surprise Wally was pulled off to perfection. With Donna acting as chief plotter and double agent, coded messages were exchanged with fellow conspirators Ric Schoon in Asia and Renee (Schoon) Nickles in Alabama (USA). The event was a surprise family reunion in honor of Wally’s 75th birthday.
The Schoon family at Solklint, Holsbybrunn
He set my feet upon a rock,
steadying my steps and establishing my goings.
Psalm 40:2
As serious discussions swirled around the Holsby community about the ethics of lying to protect the “innocent” while trying to keep a secret, the Holsby staff prepared yet another surprise in the form of a pot luck birthday party at John and Christine’s house. As the staff yelled “Surprise!” – Wally asked Donna whether she had any more lies to spring on him?! He didn’t think his 75-year-old heart could take any more deception…
Three Holsby Directors: Ric, Wally & John
In all seriousness (although I’m not sure the words “Wally” and “seriousness” are compatible), it was a pleasure to honor and celebrate God’s goodness in and through Wally. Wally was presented with a framed collection of antique post cards depicting the very early days of Holsby. The frame, fittingly, was made from an old window that had been gathering dust in the workshop for several decades.
As we all wish Wally a very Happy Birthday and a year filled with God’s richest blessings, we look forward to the next time we can pull off a successful surprise. Included below is the message on the card presented to Wally by the Holsby staff.
Happy Birthday Wally!
In the span of a year, two significant milestones come together with your 75th birthday and the 40th anniversary of the founding of Holsby. The focus of both of these events would seem to be on the past and what God has already done through your life and your involvement in the ministry of Holsby. However, we are confident that the best is yet to come as God’s 75-year investment in you and your 40-year investment in Holsby will continue to bear fruit.
The thousands of people into whom you have poured your heart and life will continue to make an impact for the Lord in this world. Your spiritual sons and daughters will carry the life of Christ and His good news into places where you have never been, in ways that you could not even have imagined. But they will do it better equipped and with more enthusiasm and more creativity because of your example and investment in their lives.
So, today we not only remember and celebrate a colorful and successful past, we look forward with hope and anticipation to a glorious and fruitful future because of Christ in you. Thank you for being Wally!
With love and respect,
The Holsby family
Phone Booth Diaries
This school term is well on its way and our students have been dying to share what’s on their minds. We tried to provide a safe place to share their thoughts with anyone who would dare listen, the Phone Booth Diaries. Herein lies a glimpse into student life at Holsby.
Holsby 40th Anniversary Retreat
2013 marks the 40th anniversary of Holsby as a Bible school and retreat center. Plans are already underway to celebrate this historic milestone and you will be hearing more details as the time approaches. The main event, however, will be a 40th Anniversary Retreat scheduled for July 21-26, 2013. This retreat – open to all former students, staff and volunteers – will be the perfect occasion to take a walk down memory lane and reconnect with the people, place and ministry of Holsby.
To find out more and make plans to join us for a fun and inspiring week at the place where God met so many of us in a special way, click on this link: 40th Anniversary Retreat. If you are looking for someone to travel with you or want to know who else is coming, we have set up a Holsby 40th Anniversary Retreat Facebook group where you can connect and network with each other. You will be directed to the Facebook group once you have registered for the retreat.
We are offering a great, discounted 40th Anniversary price and we expect the spots to fill up quickly, so reserve your place now! Come and re-experience fika in the country where it was invented!
