Last thursday, I was surprised by the email of my dearest friend Ada Naska telling me that she was coming to Belgium together with our dear & respected Prof. Antonia Trichopoulou, who was copromoter of my PhD thesis, and Philippos Orfanos the statistics brain of their unit, and with whom I built also a good friendship during my stages in Athens. We arranged to meet all together in Brussels, where Antonia kindly invited us for dinner at "Chez Léon" nearby the Grand Place. I was so happy, comforted and refreshed by spending that couple of hours with them! The picture is a testimony of the good moment together.


On Saturday, I received the visit of the Right Reverend John Kerl, who is moving to Europe as European Head of the Covenant Church. We visited Ghent, had lunch in Drongen and later on we had a 'family tea time' together with David, An & Sarita Bolton, my Bolivian friend Yblin and her son Tobías. What a nice and hectic day! We made waffles in the old fashion way, and had a very good quality time.


More visits came: Sunday Benno and Janneke Geertsma for lunch and yesterday Vivi Hernaiz with some other friends that are visiting Europe in the backpacking style. The pictures will follow soon. Vivicita fuiste la provisión de Dios para este tu amigo! Dios te bendiga!

Lots of news

Yes, I have not been very active with this blog since my dad's death. Many thanks to all who gave any kind of sign of solidarity in the past weeks.

March was full of events. First of all, I participated in the genesis of a collaborative research proposal "GENISTEO". For that purpose, I attended a meeting in Granada, Spain, invited by Prof. Angel Gil the co-ordinator of the consortium.

At the same time, the new mission to Burundi has been taking form, and apparently I will be travelling again somewhere in the first half of April to this beautiful country, as head of the mission for the formulation of a nutrition focused project.

And last but not least, I GOT A NEW JOB.

Praise the Lord!

I will start working as postdoctoral researcher at the Department of Agricultural Economics, Ghent University from May 1st on (yes, I know, my first official working day is a holiday) and during two years.

I arrived to the Prince Leopold Institute of Tropical Medicine in October 2001, where I'm currently working. It was a joint venture, or adventure, where both Patrick Kolsteren and I took the risk of engaging into a doctoral research, with lots of uncertainties ahead. Five years later, I’ve successfully defended my doctoral thesis at the Ghent University, despite the financial struggles of the last two years, overcame through the combination of Patrick’s efforts and the generous help of my parents. This part of my life will come to an end with the month. My last day of work at the ITG will be this coming friday.

It is important to say that all these working developments are consequence of prayer. Some time ago, together with Jan Bernard Struik (the Vineyard Benelux National Leader) we asked the Lord to open a position in Ghent, even if that seemed impossible. Is there anything impossible to the Lord? Not at all. A bit later, I received the news about a job opportunity, sent an application with no answer for a several weeks and finally, in less than 2 weeks all is solved!

Praise the Lord.

Psal 121.1-2 I lift up my eyes to the hills—
where does my help come from? My help comes from the LORD,
the Maker of heaven and earth.