Herewith another newsletter from Friends of Esthers in which we would like to update you on the latest developments, facts and events surrounding our work.
We want to give you an update on the following issues:
- Number of practitioners grows - Janita talks about her experience as a new practitioner
- Networking friends wanted: how & what?
- Initiative: Summerfair initiative raises €500 for Friends of Esthers
- Update Farmstead 'The Inner Garden'
- What's new on our websites?
- From abroad
- Information evenings
In the annex An update on developments in politics.
Number of treatment providers growing
We are happy to report that the group of people treating s.r.m. survivors is growing. Consequently, several treatment providers have now started. Janita is one of them. She writes:
"Since September this year, I have been a survivor's practitioner at Friends of Esthers and I find this special to do. The subject of s.r.m. is not new to me and I knew it would not be easy to get started as a practitioner. Yet I experience that I find it more intense than what I expected. I am regularly very touched by the stories I hear. This goes very deep, the intense struggle and the many emotions it brings with it, learning to cope with the many traumas there are, it is very much and intensely intense. The terrible indescribable satanic activities that take place are beyond my comprehension. How is it possible that this is happening! And yet ... I believe and I know it is happening.
It has changed my view of the world even more, I look differently, differently at people, differently at society, maybe I look at everything differently. Regularly, I feel a lump in my throat and tears welling up in my eyes.
It is nice and helpful for me that I get to do it together with the Friends of Esthers team, I feel supported by them, can go to them with questions and that is very important for me.
I would not have started this if I did not know for sure that the Lord is asking this of me. I feel carried by Him, I experience His guidance and His peace in the work I get to do. The Lord has said to me through Joshua 1: 9: 'Be strong and courageous, do not be afraid and do not be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go'. This is very encouraging for me that I can know that the Lord is with me and that I don't have to do it alone."
We are still short of practitioners. If you know someone who is also strong and courageous together with Yeshua, please inform them about our work!
Networking friends wanted
Partly due to the growth in the number of treatment providers, we started the process of 'getting out of the cult network' with several helpers. This has set the stage for recovery and freedom. However, more is needed...
There are already a number of willing coaches, who really stand beside those seeking help. In addition, there are more network friends needed who are like a new family around the person seeking help.
Myrjam recently became a coach and networking friend. She writes:
"I am immensely grateful to be there for a survivor. The road she has gone through cannot be described, but survivors already benefit so much from having someone beside them just as a friend who occasionally apps or calls or runs an errand, someone who somewhat understands and knows where they are coming from. I think it is immensely gratifying to be able to do and mean something for these people!"
What exactly does 'network friend' mean?
When someone begins to step out of the network, they have to let go of many people from the old life. For freedom to occur, unhealthy ties with people must be broken, often including family members. Network friends are actually the new 'family members' for survivors. For the imaging: with one you have daily contact and with another once a month. So if you only have an hour of space a week, it can still be valuable. For survivors, knowing and realising that there is someone willing to put a little energy into you is a piece of healing in itself. The more healthy relationships a help-seeker has, the less power the cult has through their unhealthy, control ties.
Does this speak to you? Then consider it, pray about it. If you want to know more, contact us via the website. Read here What it means to be a network friend and what conditions we set.
Survivor
I met a survivor and I stutter and I stammer
And start looking for words to describe what happened
Deep strength, for so long
And always that longing
That sadness
Craving that life which cannot
...
Yes, silence takes over in me
Who am I that I can say anything, or do anything?
But what a privilege, what a joy
That I was able to pay attention for a moment
And have been able to tell her: you are a champion
Summerfair for Friends of Esthers
Last summer, in August, some of us were at a summer market with a cosy stall. The proceeds from the sale of the products were for Friends of Esthers and directly benefited helping survivors.
Perhaps this will also inspire you to do something creative to support the work of Friends of Esthers? Feel free to contact up!
Farmhouse courtyard
In the additional news item at the end of September, you were able to read about the plans we have for a residential farmhouse, Hoeve De Binnentuin. The property we have in mind can accommodate several families and survivors. The current residents have withdrawn the property from sale because they would like to sell it to us. They have given us time until the end of this year to do fundraising for the 1.6 million euros needed for the purchase and initial adaptations.
The Hoeve will then become the property of the Friends of Esthers foundation (in formation) and through rental income from permanent residents, ongoing costs will be funded.
A number of talks are planned with potential sponsors, but there are no commitments yet. Help us to be able to take this big step forward for helping survivors! 1,600 people giving €1,000, or 160 people giving €10,000 also make 1.6 million!
Would you like to be one of the 1,600 people to raise 1,000 euros for this cause? Or maybe you can spare 10,000 euros, or know someone for whom this applies? Let us know, time is running out.
If you think of an initiative to raise money yourself: we would also love to hear about it. Every euro is one and only together can we achieve this goal!
In due course, we do need some handy people in the fields of (re)building, electricity, gardening and other jobs and chores - big and small. If you would like to make your talents available for this, please register via the contact page On Light on lives.
New to the site: Lichtopsrm.co.uk
Esther's account (with a postscript by Aline) of the attempt on her life on 6 October can be found at processing weekend October 2023.
We also have the response of a survivor on the Hendriks Committee report and the course of events thereafter posted.
The letter drafted by the group of 20 mental health practitioners following the Parliamentary letter sent by the government on 30 June 2023 in response to the Hendriks Commission report and the WODC investigation into the LEBZ can be found here. It was sent to the ministry and to the people's representatives.
New to the site: Lichtoplevens.co.uk
Last June, Myrjam wrote a blog On her experience of the scooter accident and what comes with it.
In August, we had a blog by Esther posted about keeping in touch with survivors during cult nights, what the impact of those nights is for survivors and how we want to assist them in that.
We would appreciate it if you Lichtoplevens.co.uk widely known. It is an accessible site with the opportunity to sign up for the newsletter, contribute something and sign up to get involved - in any way you like.
From abroad
On Saturday 26 August, VPRO's Dutch programme Argos published an interview with two Flemish investigative journalists entitled: "Lice in the Fur" (from minute 26)). In it, Ruben and Marieke Brugnera poignantly recount what they encountered in Belgium while investigating 'fighting divorces'. Despite the strong evidence of (organised) sexual abuse by the fathers, the Belgian public prosecutor systematically seems to take their side. The truth thus disappears into the cover-up.
Something similar happened in the Dutch case of 'the girl Lisa'. And also in other cases involving organised sadistic (satanic or otherwise) abuse, it almost never comes to trial, see also point 2 of this earlier letter of the treatment group.
We therefore did not want to leave this broadcast unmentioned and mention these brave journalists who seek publicity. For the underlying reportage by Ruben and Marieke Brugnera on Apache see here.
Finances
We are grateful to have enough finances to help survivors by 2023. Thank you to all the givers who together currently give an average of €1,650 per month with occasional special peaks! Over 95% of expenditure goes towards direct engagement with survivors (such as intake, diagnostics, practitioners and coaches, network meetings). In Q4 2023 and in 2024, expenditure will grow faster as we (are) helping more survivors.
So there lies another challenge.Donations are welcome through the 4Justice Foundation. These donations are income tax deductible. Donations can be made via the donation page.
Information evenings
Information evenings are coming up in several provinces. Would you like there to be an information evening in your church/region about s.r.m., CDIS and the work of Friends of Esthers? Or would you like to attend one yourself, please notify us via the contact form on Lichtoplevens.co.uk. We will then let you know when an evening is coming up.
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
Werner de Jonge
Gerard van der Schee
P.S. You are receiving this newsletter because you have signed up for it, or because we expect you to be interested in staying informed. In the unlikely event that you do not appreciate this, an e-mail back will suffice.
For English please click here
APPENDIX to Friends of Esthers newsletter - Developments in politics
Friends of Esthers tries to raise public awareness about the existence of s.r.m. and the need to do something about it through politics.
As announced in the previous newsletter last May, Gerard van der Schee explained an internal motion he had submitted as a member at the ChristenUnie congress on 3 June. The motion concerned raising the seriousness of ritual abuse and to take a leading role as ChristenUnie for new, independent research into this form of organised abuse in the Netherlands. The motion was not passed. Although a disappointing result, this was another opportunity to wake people up to the issue; moreover, more than 130 people voted in favour of the motion.
On 30 June last, the cabinet gave a (very lukewarm) response to the Hendriks Commission and WODC reports on the LEBZ. This was just before the fall of the Rutte IV cabinet. The response does not contain any sense of urgency (see the Chamber letter). With this, the government may think it has fulfilled the request of the House of Representatives (the 2020 motion) while the design, research, outcome and follow-up are completely flawed.
The group of 20 mental health practitioners therefore has a letter sent to all MPs calling for a second opinion (new, independent investigation). Only two (!) MPs responded. Nevertheless, we hope this too will contribute to the public debate and strengthen the call for law and justice!
On 26 October next, the committee meeting of the Permanent Parliamentary Committee on Justice & Security is scheduled to discuss, among other things, these reports. Speaking time is limited to 5 minutes per group. We hope that a majority will emerge here for a motion for the desired second opinion. For the latest developments and how you can help see our Call
English 
Dutch