Entries by Tim Spykstra

The Thanksgiving Invitation

There is power in a heartfelt thank you! Recently Oceans hosted a group of Wycliffe Bible translators from Madagascar. They were some of the most gracious people I have ever met. Their English was limited, but one phrase they knew very well was “thank you!” Greeting them each morning in the dining room I would […]

Anointed to Love

The sun had set in Fish Hoek and Patty and I were just finishing dinner when there was a knock on our flat door. It was Sunny, a 14-year-old young lady, who resides on the Retreat Centre campus with her mom Thobeka-who is part of the Oceans Team. Sunny asked if we had time to […]

Will you Dance with Us?

I have to confess I like to dance. It may not be pretty, and it sure isn’t graceful but there is something liberating about it. After a few hours of socializing at my son and daughter in-laws wedding I finally made it to the dance floor with the whole family and it was pure joy. […]

Fathered by God

I got back to our flat at Oceans Retreat Centre in a daze after a sleepless flight from the US. It was strange coming back without Patty as we agreed to have her stay a few weeks longer to get some family and grandma time in. But as I turned on the lights I was […]

The Perfect Wedding Gift

Usually when you go to a wedding you bring a gift. You go to the couples’ registry search out their wish list and find a gift, which you hope will bless them as they begin their marriage journey together. However last week I received a gift from being at a wedding, it was a reminder […]