Ferdi and Tatiana

Small Beginnings!

2012-01-14T02:36:00.002-05:00

To start something from scratch without an help book or anything else similar for dummies can be very challenging and at times frustrating. In our case, nobody has tried to do Tjeko before us so we do not have the luxury to look over the shoulder of somebody to copy or get inspired by their work. We are alone. Some days we can be full of ideas other days full of questions. We work hard. We work alot. We work constantly. We do our best to make Tjeko a success. We encourage each other by telling to each other how one day what we are going through will be great stories to tell. We then smile, keep on working and push forward. Our lacks and weaknesses can be huge mountains to over come. The constant dilemma between having new ideas and not having resources is tiring. To look and compare with other their accomplishment can be painful and discouraging.

In the process to develop Tjeko this one verse has ministered to me powerfully

Do not despise the days of small beginnings, for the LORD rejoices to see the work begin Zechariah 4:10

It felt like a warm tap on our shoulder. We were so encouraged to see that God knows about the struggles and battles of small beginnings. Yes it's not easy but it's part of it. Your small beginning doesn't define how big or small you will become. Don't despite them. Be encouraged!

Homework!

2012-01-13T08:02:00.001-05:00

I watch a little video the other day and it made me smile... I could so identify to this little boy who is struggling to do his homework... And just like him I have often made the same choice than him.

Bertram is surely like me and maybe many others outhere... No wonder why I love the Tjeko :) Enjoy the video

Gods BEST for 2012!

2012-01-03T02:26:00.000-05:00

WISHING ALL OUR FRIENDS AROUND THE WORLD AN AMAZING 2012!

So proud to have so many friends and connections around the world!

Highlights of 2011

2011-12-31T09:13:00.004-05:00

Hearing the sound of fire works from the kids of our neighborhood...

We took time to look in our rear view mirror 2011. We see so many moments that remind us of God awesomeness and faithfulness. Growing up in France we use to sing this chorus
"count the blessings of God, put them all before your eyes, you'll see in worship how their number is great!"

Tonight we celebrate what God has done as we look ahead to what He is going to do in 2012
The list is a great reminder of how God showed himself over the past 12 months and also a great encouragement to believe that nothing is impossible to Him in 2012

Tatiana in Disney!
Felt like God gave us a little preview of what was to come :)

Tatiana got to be the star of the show at Disneyland Paris.

Tjeko Kart Event
Several teams RACED thousands of euro's together for Tjeko!
Some of them were: www.kaarskoffie.nl - www.lenster.nl - www.Conteq.eu - www.vdvl.nl -

30K in 30 days

This was the most audacious step of faith we ever done. Seeing our financial challenge being met. Thinking more and more about it was really and totally insane. Some of the money was raised HERE

The Tjeko Song
Our friend Joshua Jerome Lee makes an amazing song: the Tjeko Chant. At first we thought it was cute. Later we realized it was GOD INSPIRED! It made it to the National radio in Uganda!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YLIxaTInOsY

Tjeko Academy

Training 37 Ugandan the concept of Tjeko. Together with Natasha Brightman it was an adventure!

Tjeko Fun Fair

Almost 10.000 children in attendance get to have some Tjeko! We still talk about it again and again!

Meeting Tjeko in Uganda
For the past 2 years we plan and dream about Tjeko. For the first time ever we got to meet Tjeko the mascot. For me (Tatiana) 'meeting' him for the first time was very emotional. Kind of weird - but real!

Linda from NSU in Uganda
8 college students worked hard to raise skippy balls for the children in Uganda. Linda was one of them and got to experience Tjeko!

Maelle goes to school.
It was not ALL Tjeko this year!

Our daughter is getting bigger. She got to go to the REAL school! In Uganda she got a little taste of it, but in Gouda she got the real deal at the Johannes Calvijn school!

Maelle rides a bike
My baby girl is becoming independent. She can ride her bike all by herself.

Tjeko Fun Fair 15 minutes documentary and Tjeko magazine released

We are so grateful. This was the fulfillment of a dream for us. To be able to capture Tjeko and the children experiencing it was priceless. It marked a major milestone to the Tjeko story. Thanks to all who got make it a reality!

Open publication - Free publishing - More africa

It's been an incredible year. We've seen God move in countless ways and believe the best is still ahead.
May you be highly favored in all your plans and projects and don't forget that in 2012 everything is possible (Mat 19:26)

From our Family to yours

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!
The van den Bergh

Tjeko Magazine 2011

2011-12-30T11:32:00.003-05:00

So many people got to work on our TJEKO MAGAZINE! We are very proud and thankful for the team we have!

What is Christmas?

2011-12-19T14:34:00.008-05:00

In Luke 2 we find the true story of Christmas. One verse stands out.
"I bring you GOOD NEWS that will cause great joy for ALL the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord."

Christmas is good news! Christmas is good news for you and for me. Christmas is good news for ALL of us!Christmas is not about the Christmas tree. Christmas is not about your cool and hip nativity scene (My friend Val has the best one anyway!) Christmas is not about all the food and gifts. (Deep down I knew it because in my youth I spent alot of time watching many commercials and went through many toys brochures writing my name under every single toys/games I wanted and got nothing lol). Christmas does not cost you anything! Christmas does not required you to do anything! Christmas does not ask you anything! Christmas has no hidden agenda. Christmas has no steps to follow to receive the good news. If you think about Christmas and other things come to mind... Sorry to let you know that your meaning of Christmas has been high-jacked. Christmas is the good news that God loves you so much that he GAVE his Son for you. Christmas is about the birth of love. Christmas is a story of love. Christmas is a passionate love story. Christmas is about the love of God. Christmas is about God with us. Think about it... If our greatest need was financial, God would have sent an economist. If our greatest need was health God would have sent a doctor. What we truly needed was forgiveness so God sent a Savior. When we couldn't get to God, God came to us. God with us that's the Story of Christmas. Merry Christmas to you all.

A Very Special Christmas from Steelehouse Media Group on Vimeo.

The loopfiets method!

2011-12-14T04:00:00.004-05:00

I heard few words yesterday and it triggered a thought in my mind... Few months ago we taught our daughter Maelle how to ride a bike. She did so good and picked it up so fast. We bragged so much on her as proud parents do. I clearly remember how everything played out. Maelle kept asking Ferdi to take out the two training wheels from her bike. Everytime we will go to our shack she will ask him again and again . Ferdi finally did and sure enough just few days after Maelle was riding her bike all on her own. ( You go Girl!)

Interressingly while watching Maelle trying to ride her bike and loosing her balance everytime she wanted to pedal, I made the decision that for Emeth it will be different. We will teach him how to balance himself NOW by getting him a "loopfiets".

You see training wheels are great because anybody can ride a bike with those on. Anybody! Training wheels are awesome to make you feel like you are actualy riding a bike. They make you look busy.You pedal. You break. You don't fall. You do all the stuff of riding a bike. They easy to put on. They are safe. They keep you balanced and don't allow you to fall and hurt yourself.

On the other hands the day you take them off you realize that you CAN'T ride a bike. For years you believe that you could but you can't. With no training wheels you have no balance on your bike. The truth is that training wheels are a lie. They make you believe that you can ride a bike but you can't. When you take them off you have to start the process of riding all over...

In many situations in my life I have been riding my bike with training wheels. It felt like I was doing great. Riding my bike super fast! When the training wheels got taken off the story changed... I didn't have any balance. I kept on falling down. I became insecured. I got frustrated and discouraged to no have any balance. Number of time did I felt like a failure and to the point to throw it all up and give up. Depending on the situation it tooks me a while before I overcame my fears and learnt to balance myself out and bike properly.

Today my learning process is different. I use the loopfiets method (if there is such a thing! lol). I first learn to have balance. I still have my feet on the ground but everymove I make teach to balance myself out. I'm confident then to get a bike and pedal. With the loopfiets method, you learn to balance yourself on the bike FIRST. Gradualy you became confident. The little steps you take are a great foundation for your futur big step. The loopfiest method is great... what do you do?

Ferdi in Uganda

2011-11-23T04:11:00.001-05:00

Last Sunday I flew to Uganda! Oh how excited our Ugandan friends are! Believe it or not, children on the street are still singing the Tjeko Song! How cool!
After taking care of a few URGENT needs, I'm now foucssing on making the next step a reality in Jinja. We would love to see more children experiencing a day of Childhood. We are going to offer Tjeko to other NGO's that are also putting their efforts into developing the most vulnerable of Uganda.
In the mean time we see that Tjeko is attracting attention of many 'not so poor! Great - because they too need to be given chances to enjoy their childhood!

I read this quote the other day: Play is the way the child learns what no one can teach him.

How true is that! IF Tjeko can continue to work among children in Uganda, we can really help shape a new generation. The fact is: Uganda suffers from a 3rd generation of stolen childhoods. If your grandparents were never encouraging your parents to play (because of traumatic experiences they had to suffer), your parents never encourage you to play - we create a culture that only develops children trough education and survival...

Play is essential for healthy development. Play provides an integrative context essential for the development of a resilient child. And that's whats needed in the lives of milions of children around the world.

Thanks for your ongoing encouragement and support!

Thanks also for praying for Tatiana :) She is really doing an amazing work with our OWN children - and their childhood :)

Coffee is good for you!

2011-11-18T01:19:00.001-05:00

Good Morning!
Coffee is GOOD for you! It keeps you awake, but it also gives a form of income to the lady making it!
Not only in foreign countries, but also just here :)

Could we consider this fairtrade?

Developing School curriculum

2011-11-03T08:47:00.001-05:00

In a few weeks some of our friends will stick their heads together, and we'll be printing an amazing SCHOOL CURRICULUM that schools can use for the Tjeko project.

As you know, we'll be going back to Uganda in June 2012, and before that time we have several programs that we want to work out. Very exciting - and very very busy :) But hey! We like it like that.

If you know anybody that could help us with a STRAIGHT TO THE POINT idea - we are more than eager to learn about it!

School program for Uganda already exists

Now for the Dutch kids :)

2night is full of emotion

2011-10-08T15:05:00.003-05:00

Tomorrow Tatiana and I will be 'released' in a new adventure in our lives :)
We want to stand behind Henri, Arjen, Joost, Myrthe, Anja, Bas, Marjolein, Reinout, Eugenie, Jaap, Janie, Rik, Marjolein and Ingrid and become Youth Work deacons (meaning: youthwork 'managers' in church jargon) in my church PGM Gouda.

How in the world we got that task on top of everything we were already doing? No idea. Except that I could say: God was looking for somebody willing... and Tatiana and I were...

Why?! Why would we want to use our time to do this? Isn't our focus on kids in Uganda? Certainly it is. And yet, when we look at the youth in our city, in our church...our hearts break... with compassion. We can't see how we can let a generation go astray. Youth/Teens/Young Adults NEED people to care for them. Well let me rephrase that... They need people who want to shout, scream and cry on their behalf. Cry their cry...Stand for them in the gap. When the world is pulling on one side, you need somebody from the Kingdom pulling on the other side. Or else - they will fall away... it is just that simple. God himself asks us in his word: Isaiah 6:8

Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, "Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?" And I said, "Here am I. Send me!" God called Saul. Once persecuting Christians, than, after hearing Gods voice in an amazing God kind of way got challenged him to go PREACH JESUS. (Acts 9). In Luke 10:2 (and other gospels) he tells us (those working in his Kingdom already) 'the harvest is ready, but laborers are few, pray therefore that the Lord will sent more laborers.

Tonight I realised - that's it. In order to reach, grab and SAFE this generation for the REAL KINGDOM, Tatiana and I - and through us MANY MORE are called to GET ACTIVE for them. Or they might not find anybody to stand for them...

We'll be coaching the current team of workers - while looking for more people to come and stand in the gap. Maybe in the front - maybe in the back. But we need passionate people for Jesus to help the youths find His Kingdom again.

If you ARE already working in His kingdom - please follow Jesus' call to pray as described in Luke. If you are not, but are Christian, realize you might be the answer to our prayer! You might need to get yourself together, get over your excuses and RISE UP! Come and help. Not just our youth here in Gouda. But around your place... there's a harvest field there too...

some of the youths in our church! Amazing young potential!

photo shoot

2011-10-07T05:47:00.003-05:00

Truth needs to be told...we love taking a family picure once in a while...

Especially in the coming season...

great to sent to our friends and family around the world...

This time Masja picked a very cool location to take the pictures.
it's just a bit of a 'challenge' to get the whole family ready...

A lesson from Maelle!

2011-09-09T01:41:00.001-05:00

10 days ago, Maelle asked Ferdi to teach her how to ride her bike without the side wheels. Then they finaly scheduled it for Saturday but only if the weather was nice. Ferdi taught her the universal bike principle for great riding "falling down and getting up again" even though she was quick to correct him and tell him "No Papa! It's falling down, getting up and riding again!" We look at her very surprise and smile. Where is she getting all this wisdom?!

As she was sitting on the bike I told her "Maelle you have to always position your pedal properly and give yourself a little push and pedal okay"she understood it and was doing it in no time. She was so determined. As she was learning to bike, she kept on looking at her feet so I would tell her lift up your head Maelle, look straight forward

I found so much similarity with our life. Sometime we get so focus to look down at the situation where we are and we do little that help us to truly move forward. But as we lift up our head and look forward it's amazing how we can keep on going...

I pray that you will lift up your head and look forward and see how much more there is to your situation and how much more you can do about it and alway remember when you try something and fail get back up put yourself togethere and pedal/try again. Don't be afraid to fail because failing (falling) is a great part of success.

Lift up your heard and go for it

my 9-11

2011-09-09T01:38:00.000-05:00

As I picked up a (free) newspaper this morning, 9/11 was all over it. No wonder, it's 10 years ago this coming sunday. As I read my email, and responded to one of my friends mail, I listened to Spotify on my laptop, and this CD of Hillsong played...
Funny, because that's the cd I used to play during prayer meetings at Metro (I played it too much - so for years I could't hear it anymore - but this morning it sounded so beautiful). It brought me back to those post 9-11 days...How NY instandly changed. Never have I seen such 'brothersomeness' in a city that was normally so harsh and cold...touching really. And when I say 'never', I mean never somewhere else in the world.
Hours after the tragic moments, some of our staff would already go on the streets to pray. PRAY. On the streets of NYC. And not quietly by themselves, so nobody could see them. NO! Right in the open! WITH many others! The next day I joined the ranks. It was therapeutic really. I mean, seriously, what could you say in such tragedy - just minutes away from the place of disaster. As fires were still raging, we were praying, smelling the distinct smell that penetrated the air for months.

I'm glad I was there...glad to have seen a city, hard on the outside, but human on the inside.
It taught me. It thought me that deep inside we naturaly cry out to 'a' God when we're realizing we can't do anything in some given situation. I'm thankful today that I can cry out to a God that lets me call Him 'Father'. What a comfort.

Wishing all my NYC friends and family (all around the world) some reflection time, 10 years after date.

Picture a Day - Tjeko-nized

2011-09-07T01:49:00.000-05:00

Day 7 - Tjeko-nized
If Tjeko ever introduced a simple but effective system, it was the 'writy-bandy' system! With this wristy-bandy a child had free access to all activities, a free Tjeko-Snack, water and lemonade. Bought at www.event-supplies.com

picture by: Tatiana

During the month of September we post one picture of the Tjeko Fun Fairs in Uganda every day. Made by us. Made by a friend. Made by us, picked by a friend. Made by a friend, picked by us...

One picture a day.

Picture a Day - Misinformed

2011-09-06T09:45:00.000-05:00

Day 6 - Misinformed
Why did nobody tell this teacher NOT TO BRING school supplies on a school trip!

picture by: Tatiana

During the month of September we post one picture of the Tjeko Fun Fairs in Uganda every day. Made by us. Made by a friend. Made by us, picked by a friend. Made by a friend, picked by us...

One picture a day.

Picture a Day - Joy!

2011-09-05T09:42:00.000-05:00

Day 5 - Joy!

All I can say: you should have been here to experience the joy!

Our (rented) tent could keep about 750 kids. Lots of Tjeko.

picture by: Tatiana

During the month of September we post one picture of the Tjeko Fun Fairs in Uganda every day. Made by us. Made by a friend. Made by us, picked by a friend. Made by a friend, picked by us...

One picture a day.

Picture a Day - Guarded

2011-09-04T15:52:00.000-05:00

Day 4 - Guarded
We ended up with 3 teams of guards at the same time. Police, private armed-guards and our own guys. Guarding us from the guards. Truth is, guy on the right really started enjoying the Fun Fairs more every day!

picture by: Tatiana

During the month of September we post one picture of the Tjeko Fun Fairs in Uganda every day. Made by us. Made by a friend. Made by us, picked by a friend. Made by a friend, picked by us...
One picture a day.

Picture a Day - Crowds

2011-09-03T13:36:00.000-05:00

Day 3 - Crowds
I remember telling our Tjeko Academy students: "We'll start with 500 kids a day...".
Their eyes almost popped out. But as it turned out, even with many more, those guys were ready for them!

Picture: Folkert

During the month of September we post one picture of the Tjeko Fun Fairs in Uganda every day. Made by us. Made by a friend. Made by us, picked by a friend. Made by a

friend, picked by us...

One picture a day.

www.Tjeko.info

Picture a day - Anticipation

2011-09-02T06:47:00.002-05:00

Day 2: Anticipation
Tjeko...Tjeko...never heard of it...but it looks interesting...

picture by: Tatiana

During the month of September we post one picture of the Tjeko Fun Fairs in Uganda every day. Made by us. Made by a friend. Made by us, picked by a friend. Made by a friend, picked by us...

One picture a day.

Picture a day

2011-09-01T01:00:00.000-05:00

The amount of pictures we have - and the amount of pictures others have made of our Tjeko Fun Fairs last summer are more than 10,000!
I think we're not doing them justice right now... it's a shame that only my harddisk gets to enjoy them at the moment. So for the next month - it's my mission to post one picture a day - and tell a little fact about the Fun Fair to go with it. We'll be doing that on our Tjeko blog: here

Here's todays picture:

On the 3rd day of Fun Fairs, a group of about 10 blind and almost blind children came to visit. For me this was the first 'watery eyes' moment.
Picture by Tatiana

Ferdi,

New light on an old verse

2011-08-25T06:46:00.003-05:00

Ferdi and I have an incredible opportunity afront of us. Something that will challenge and strecht us ALOT. We know that out of it we will grow terribly. But at the same time when trying to decide we realized that we have been holding on to our lives.... We kept on wondering how much more we could do... Can we truly add something in our schedule? Can we handle to do something else? Are we spreading ourselve thin....

We rarely do what we HAVE to do. We always end up doing the extra because somehow we are so grateful that we GET to do it. And this mindset right there scare me. We are not good planner but hard worker we are both afraid that if we go ALL IN it will end up by "killing" us.... end up ALWAYS tired and crunky, not nice to be around people, burn out....The more we have been thinking about it the more we have been wanted to protect our lives.

Yesterday I got a new light on an old verse:

Whoever tries to keep his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life will save it. Luke 17:33

This verse came alive and stired something in my heart. I always thought that we were one of those who were giving their lives away. When reading this verse before I felt like we could tap ourselves on the back (bravo!) but now it hurts (outch!).

We are stepping in a new season, where God is starting to teach us about his grace. We are still holding on few things that we have to let go of... The learning process is going to be challenging but we want to be ALL IN. "Half-in versus the All-in" principle (I just made up the terminalogy so don't try to google it lol). Here is how the principle goes:

HALF IN gives you HALF RESULTS... You have to go ALL IN! When you fully commit then the out come changes... ALL IN gives you ALL IN (great) RESULTS.

It's not an easy process but I hope that you will embrace any opportunity afront of you and go ALL IN. Or simply decide to go ALL IN in the things that you get to do because only then ALL IN RESULTS will come!

By his GRACE (2Cor12:9),

From good to great!

2011-08-25T01:22:00.001-05:00

A while back I started this amazing book called 'Good to great' by Jim Collins. The thought of the book is that 'good' is the enemy of 'great'.
He says: we don't have too many 'great' schools, because we already have 'good' schools. When you look around, you see a lot of 'good' companies, but not too many 'great' ones! Why? They are good already - why try to be 'great'?
An other 'friend' of ours, Seth Godin (haha - we call anybody we love a friend - this guy never even heard of us!), explains in his book 'Linchpin' that in order to become 'great', you have to relatively do A LOT of work, for seemingly a litte bit of 'extra'... but this 'extra' is exactly what defines 'greatness'. And funny enough - even though there are only few things really 'great', we all recognize them!

Ta and I have wondered really on this thought: are we satisfied that things in our life are 'good', or do we have the drive and the passion to become great ... (because that's what seems to push you through the 'A LOT of work, for seemingly a little bit of 'extra').
And you know what's funny - the Dutch side of me is now questioning: can you actually write this? where are you taking this blog-post, because if your next sentence says you want to be great - you are BOASTING!
But the truth is: we don't want to be good... we want to be great! (sorry Dutch side of mine...)
Yes! We really want to! We want our ministries to be great, we want our family to be great, we want our marriage to be great (good simply doesn't seem to last anymore...)
GREATNESS is what I long for. Not to BE great - but to DO great!

There is Greatness in each and every one of us. As a compliment to the One who put it inside of us, let's work to let it come out!

The boys next door :-)

2011-08-16T13:36:00.008-05:00

We have the most handsome neighbor boys EVER!!! Jeremiah and Elijah and their baby sister Cedella live next door. They are great friends to Maelle and Emeth. Whenever I need to talk to their mom, I have to plan that my kids are into a game or else... otherwise it takes us forever to get the right kids back into the right house. Right now they are in to sharing toys and watching movies... and I'm surely glad! Take a look for yourself... They were so cute to watch. Look at them being so concentrated watching Rio.

I wish they could stop growing and stay small for ever.

From left to Right: Jeremiah, Maelle, Elijah and Emeth

Maelle first day in Kindergarden

2011-08-15T14:30:00.001-05:00

My daughter had her first day in kindergarden today (well actually it was only 2 hours lol). She loves it! Plus she had a surprise from her grand-mother meme Rosalie when she got home. Thank you!

Lately one of her favorite sentences has been "I'm big now I can do it ALL BY MYSELF!!!"
Sunday morning before church, she set me down and we had our first talk :-). She told me that she could go all by herself to her sunday school class... "Mom...I'm in a big class now. I'm big! I can go upstair ALL BY MYSELF and she surely did! :-)
After school today she asked me "Mom is school far away from our house? Yes Maelle very far! "But you know I am big now I can go ALL BY MYSELF" Tonight just before going to bed she told Ferdi "Papa Ik ben bijna zes... (Papa I am almost 6 yrs old) Papa Ik ben bijna een mama toch?! (Papa I am almost a mommy)"

I love my little girl... She went to her first day to school with her King David's Crown.

She made it at Sunday school yesterday and was so happy to wear it to school.

Maelle loves hearing the story of "David and Goliath" everytime she has something new, a big challenge or whatever else. For this first day at school, it was no different she asks us for it... go figure! She loves to be encouraged... and somehow the Bible lesson of David and Goliath does it for her (and for me too)... a little kid like her kills the big Giant in his life...

Daddy proudly bringing his daughter to her class

Yeah! Right there it's a winner... They spelled Maelle's name correctly :-)

Meeting Maelle's teacher Ellen

Maelle's chair :-) right there by the teacher well actually she ended up moving and sitting by David

The boy on the left is David he goes to our church... Maelle felt right at home knowing that David was also in her class... Even though she told me that she played with David's friend (the boy with the red shirt)

Well for sure she is growing very fast... at time it's a bit scary but I also enjoy so much seeing how she has become a great big sister to Emeth. It's so nice to watch them play (and argue) all day long. Even though now she goes to a school where babies like Emeth cannot come and play... and she will be there for a very long time!