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Showing posts from November, 2016

VAN MAREL FAMILY PROJECT—September 2016

During the 2-week Van Marel family tour of the Netherlands in June 2015, probably the most treasured stop was worshiping at the last church where our ancestors attended before they immigrated to the United States in 1848.   (That was the family of Jacob and Margaretha vander Marel, plus their 5 young children ages 0-7.)   The church was alive and you could feel the Holy Spirit dwelling in that place.   We were most impressed with the organ playing.   The church had a nice reception planned for us after the service and we had the opportunity of meeting the organist, Arjan Breukhoven.   We asked if he performed concerts.   He said that he had been to Australia several times, Russia, all around Europe, and was invited to play at St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican.   He had never been to the United States!   When asked if he would be interested in a concert tour in Northwest Iowa, he immediately said “Yes!”   As soon as we returned to the U. ...