In this issue, we address:
- State of affairs Farmstead "the Inner Garden"
- Committee debate 6 March next.
- New information and networking evenings
- Prayer letters
State of affairs Farmstead "the Inner Garden"
Since last September, a core team of Friends of Esthers has been praying and taking steps in faith towards the purchase of a (residential) farm in the middle of the Netherlands. The purpose the farmstead is to provide (temporary) safe shelter for survivors - to unwind or for intense trauma processing. We also expect it to contribute to making Friends of Esthers' work even more effective. All this includes: space for therapy, weekend shelter and accommodation of an expertise centre of s.r.m..
Meanwhile, all the finances for the minimum necessary renovations have arrived (over €90,000). We are grateful for that!
We also expect God's help with the last step: we are in fact still looking for a (reliable) buyer for a detached house on Amsterdam IJburg, who wants to rent it back to the current residents for a certain period of time at minimal rent.
We are very open to tips, suggestions and ideas. The link to more information (free to distribute!): www.hoevedebinnentuin.nl.
Later in this newsletter, you will read more about information evenings where you can have your say in making De Hoeve possible.
We experience the current period as a challenging time, in which we ourselves as a core team are also being tested and going through (tough) processes. We see God's hand in this and believe that everything comes in its own time!
Meanwhile, we help the current residents of the homestead with some manual labour on the property, such as pruning (fruit) trees and clearing away branches and leaves. It is a precious contact on which God's blessing rests.
Committee debate 6 March next.
The Standing Parliamentary Committee on Justice & Security will meet on 6 March 2024 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the topic "Sexual violence and child abuse". Thirteen(!) items are scheduled, with agenda items 2, 3 and 8 covering the investigations into LEBZ and organised sadistic abuse (and the minister's response to them).
Speakers are given only a few minutes to convey views.
Is the committee letting itself be sandbagged by a poor and wholly inadequate investigation, or are there grassroots representatives who will stand up for the (absolutely necessary) second-opinion what we are advocating for? We hope brave MPs will stand up.
If you are not aware of the importance, background and history of government investigations into organised sadistic child abuse (including Hendriks Committee), you can find out in this item (re)reading. The article was recently updated.
Friends of Esthers will write to all MPs before the debate with a physical letter in a handwritten envelope. The letter will contain a drawing of a survivor. The message is: "you hold the key to new, independent research". After being sent to MPs, the contents of this mailing will be here are published.
6 March next might be the last chance to bring this issue into the limelight in the Chamber and actually demand new research, before it disappears deep into a drawer - and out of the public debate - again. Your prayers are therefore desired for this important cause!
We also hope you will consider emailing Justice & Security committee members yourself. See here the e-mail addresses and here some sample texts.
Information evenings
To make more people familiar with s.r.m. and get involved in our work, we are organising a number of meetings this spring. Apart from information about our work and the general invitation to get involved with Friends of Esthers, we will also specifically ask and/or think along for the farmstead. So that we can fulfil the remaining financial demand and in the search for an investor for the Amsterdam house.
We have planned these dates in the near future:
- 9 March
- 18 March
- March 26
You can sign up for these evenings via Lichtoplevens.co.uk, under the contact page ('sign up for meeting' tick). After registering, you will receive the exact location of the meeting.
Strengthening Networking - information evenings for potential new network friends
To get out of the cult, a survivor needs a network of friends in addition to a trauma counsellor. People with warm hearts, who sympathise and want to stand beside this person with perseverance, including practically and in prayer.
To find new network friends, we will hold several more information meetings this spring, always on the last Monday evening of the month. They will explain our work and how you can help as a network friend. There will also be room to ask questions.
You are welcome to come yourself and bring someone along. Sign up via the contact page at Lichtoplevens.co.uk ('sign up meeting').
After registering, you will receive the exact address.
The upcoming dates are:
- 25 March in Steenwijk
- 29 April in Almelo
- 27 May in Utrecht
Maybe you know people near one of the above places (in a radius of about 50 km). Would you draw their attention to these evenings? You will find a sample e-mail for this in the annex.
Together, we can help the work of Friends of Esthers grow, on behalf of helping survivors. Would you take a (half) hour to go through your list of friends and acquaintances? Thanks in advance!
(Attached to this newsletter, we will send you a sample e-mail that you can use to invite others. You can modify it, of course!)
Prayer letters
Are you already familiar with our prayer letters? In order to inform more people what happens during specific cult days (and nights) and thus to be able to pray for this concretely, we publish a prayer letter every three months.
If you would also like to receive them, please let us know via the contact page.
Thanks for your support!
With warm regards,
On behalf of the Friends of Esthers team
Aline Terpstra, GZ-psychologist BIG
Esther, survivor satanic ritual abuse
Gerard van der Schee
Annex - Sample e-mail invitation networker(s)
Dear ....
For some time now I have been following with interest the developments of Friends of Esthers, a Christian network dedicated to a special group of victims in the Netherlands, namely survivors of satanic ritual abuse. For me, this was completely unknown territory until I started reading about it, including on the Friends of Esthers website - www.lichtoplevens.nl.
I could not believe that it would exist in the Netherlands; gradually, that image changed and I gained a heart for people who want to get free from a deeply dark situation and recover from acquired traumas.
This spring, Friends of Esthers is holding a number of information evenings around the country on the theme: "s.r.m. does it exist in the Netherlands and, if so, what can you do?"
There is room for questions and we hope more people will want to learn to volunteer, e.g. for babysitting, chores, transport and for prayer. You will be well guided in this.
I would like to invite you to the meeting on [date] in [place]. Registrations are via www.lichtoplevens.nl's contact form. In a confirmation e-mail you will then hear the exact time and place of the meeting. Maybe you would like to go to such an evening together?
Happy to hear from you,
Friendly greetings!
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