"Where the heart is full,
the mouth speaks."
I believe that every Christian should take part in the big mission. The word missionary is therefore not only meant for the person who travels to another country to proclaim the faith, but also for the Christian who bears witness to their faith to their very neighbour or colleague — which may actually be even more challenging than going to a far-off land and sharing it with strangers.
Choosing to follow Jesus didn't come out of nowhere. On this page, I share a short version of how God guided my path through some of the most special moments and why I ended up in Germany. Let’s start at the beginning.
From Sunday Obligation to Personal Faith
I was born into a catholic family as the youngest of four. Two brothers, one sister and me, the little one always running to catch up. Like a true cradle catholic, I was going to church almost every Sunday. Especially after a long Saturday night - let’s just say… parties and a few beers - it was a true battle to get out of bed early in the morning. I’d sit there, struggling to stay awake, wondering why I was even there. Our parish was small and most kids who had done their First Communion and Confirmation had long disappeared. I was one of the few still showing up.
But while Sunday Mass often felt like an obligation, something very different was happening in my life. My parents were involved in the 'Catholic Charismatic Renewal' and through this, I discovered a whole new side of faith. One filled with joy, community and a personal relationship with God. Every year, we attended the Celebrate Festival, a family camp where 600 - 800 people came together to live out and celebrate their faith. As a child, I joined the kids' program. When I got older, I joined the teen camps. Eventually, I became a group leader at those camps myself.
A Life-Changing Encounter
When I was 15, I had an experience that changed my view of Gods character forever. During one of those teen camps, I stood in front of 200 other teenagers, sharing my struggles. Tears streamed down my face as I told my story. In that moment, vulnerability opened my heart. I felt an overwhelming peace and joy - like the Holy Spirit was stepping into the space that had just opened, whispering gently to my heart: 'Camille, you are deeply loved.' That day I learned that God is a loving God and that He wants to be close to me. He is not someone who is far away and neglectful or something. That flow of God's love became a well I have drawn from ever since.
Over the years my faith grew. But honestly? I often felt alone in my parish. The joy and friendship I experienced in the Charismatic Renewal felt far away in my regular church life. At school and at the local football club, I felt like I couldn't speak when it came to faith. I was afraid to be laughed at. However, something inside me kept saying that God had a plan with me.
From Music to Mission
Four years ago, my home parish in Schoonhoven merged with the parish in Gouda. That’s when I met my new parish priest, who would (unknowingly) push my life in a whole new direction. Our first conversation went something like this:
"Hey Camille, you play the piano, right?"
"Uh… yeah, I took some lessons."
"Great! I’ll connect you with Peter from the Lux band. You can play with them."
Oof… That was a shock, but deep down I knew I had to say yes. That 'yes' became the start of my journey in serving the Church. This priest had a vision: "God has given you talents and you can give them back to the Church." His vision, combined with his charisma, gave me hope that we could bring new life into our parish.
In the following period, I got involved in different teams, both in the parish and in the Charismatic Renewal. My schedule was packed, my to-do lists overflowing. But I kept going - until something inside me started to feel empty.
From Working for God to Walking with God
In 2022, I hit another turning point. I was throwing myself into ministry, evangelization and Church work, but deep inside a question kept nagging me for months: Where is God in all of this? I was doing so much for Him, but why did I feel nothing? Why didn't I hear God?
Then, during one of those camps again, everything changed. One day, all the guys went off for a 'men’s day'. We did sports and had a time of reflection. I was stubborn and angry at God that day. He had been absent for months and I was demanding that God would show Himself to me. One moment, I sat in the grass and something small caught my eye: a tiny white pearl, hidden among the blades of grass. I picked it up and held on to it. All day, I kept that pearl in my hand. I didn't even know why. Maybe it was because I had been so stubborn, that I believed this pearl had some form of meaning. As thoughts ran through my head during the day, I had this quiet sense that God was saying: "Camille, for some reason you won't let go of this pearl for just a few hours, but I will never let go of you."
Beautiful, but I didn't feel it. That evening, during the prayer service, I went to a prayer team and explained my struggles. As one of the men was praying over me, he suddenly stopped and said something I will never forget:
"Camille, I think you need to start noticing the small things. Look at the birds. Feel the wind on your skin. Look at the green grass… look at the little pearls that are there."
My heart stopped. He had no idea that I had found a pearl in the grass that very day ... but God knew. God used this man to say that He saw me and that He had been there all along. God never left my side. Tears streamed down my face once again as I was touched by the Holy Spirit. I learned that I had been so caught up in working for Him that I had forgotten to work with Him.
Walking Through Open Doors
From that moment on, I started noticing something incredible: God was leading me everywhere - and often through music. The very talent my adventure with serving the Church started with. One of the biggest surprises? I was invited to join the World Youth Day band for the Dutch diocesan program! Me, playing in a band at WYD?! That's something I would never have expected.
At the same time, I became more involved with Alpha at my parish in Gouda. I was amazed by seeing people experiencing the Holy Spirit - some for the very first time - just like I had. Seeing lives transformed right in front of me made me even more passionate about sharing the Gospel.
God kept opening doors and one of them led me to the 'Missionary Parish Movement', something like the Dutch version of 'Divine Renovation'. Through this, I got the opportunity to take on different roles - one of the biggest being host and presenter at national conferences. This in turn, led me to help develop a course on music in the liturgy. Looking back it’s clear: every 'yes' I gave, God used to bring me to the next step.
And yes... a Love Story Written by God
One of the most special journeys in my life began in 2022 when I met 'her' during an outreach trip to Uganda. Together with a group of young people, we served in the Friends of Jesus Community near Masaka, helping at a school and working on the land. But honestly? I received far more from the people there than I could ever give as a Mzungu (yes, if you go to Uganda, you are a Mzungu). Their faith, hospitality and joy left a deep mark on my heart. And that’s where I met Teresa, the woman I will marry this year. We didn't know that when we took this picture, haha.
From the very first moment she has been a rock I could lean on. She continually inspires me in my relationship with God and her deep knowledge and understanding of His character challenges and encourages me every single day.
The Journey Continues
Looking back I see how every experience, every opportunity and every encounter has been part of God’s greater plan. The journey isn’t over. Actually, I think it’s just beginning.
Wherever God leads, my heart is set on helping people build a relationship with Jesus. Because the more I get to know Jesus, the more I wish everyone could experience this special relationship! If my story can inspire even one person to take a step toward Him, every 'yes' has been worth it.
You can support me in this journey. Read more about that on the 'Support' page.
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