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Petra van der Zande (AKA Christina Boerma)
married to William,
foster parents of 3 special needs children
Israel is our home since 1989
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I was born in Amsterdam, Holland.
While studying to become a registered nurse I became a born-again Christian and in 1977 met my future husband, Wim. (Bill)
We married in 1979, and continued serving the Lord together. E.g. by smuggling Bibles behind the (then) Iron Curtain and becoming caretakers in our home church in Amsterdam.
In 1989 God called us to Israel, where we worked as volunteers at an International Christian Organisation.
Not able to have children of our own, God opened the door to become long-term foster parents of Israeli special needs children. At present, we have two girls and one boy living in our Jerusalem home.
As a young girl I always loved to make up stories.
Throughout the years, the longing to write never ceased, but there was little time, nor energy to do something about it. I was able to write newsletters, both in English and Dutch, to keep family and friends updated about our lives, but it wasn’t enough – I wanted more.
Then, out of the blue, August 2006 a brochure arrived which changed my life. Tucked away between a book order from Christian Book Distributors, this little brochure challenged to "pass the free test and write for publication". Wow!
I did the writers’ test and was deemed a candidate for the “Break Into Print” course from the LongRidgeWritersGroup.
The rest is history, for this was what I really needed, the tool that brought my writing on a professional level. Mentored by my personal teacher, Mary Rosenblum, I finished the 2-year course within six months.
By now I realized that my writing was a gift from God, and that it wasn’t a selfish pursuit. In order for the talent to be used for ministry I had to take the dream off the backburner and start cooking. Although I'm a mother first and a writer second, and juggling all the responsibilities at times can be stretching, I receive tremendous joy and fulfillment through writing.
I keep honing my skills, learn to write better, do the work with excellence, try to take one step at a time and leave the results to God.
Presently, I'm revising my second Historical/Biblical novel, part of the "Zarephat Chronicles". God has been opening many non-fiction writing opportunity doors for me in the past year. Although most are non-paying markets, it's wonderful practice and the word is spread!
Psalm 107:30 says, “…and he guided them to their desired haven.”
My desired ‘haven’ is to write the many books that I have within me. To the glory of God’s Name!
FAVORITE LINKS
Christina Boerma
Christian Book Distributors
Beit Avraham
SAMPLE ARTICLES
Short Story
http://www.faithwriters.com/article-details.php?id=80055
Other Article
http://www.faithwriters.com/article-details.php?id=66602
MY NEWS
Finished the LongRidgeWritersGroup "Novel Course" and already are in the process of revising my second novel!
ACCOMPLISHMENTS
- http://www.jewishmag.com/118mag/gas-masks/gas-masks.htm
- http://journezine.com/Feb08/DorcasPetra/tabid/1560/Default.aspx
- http://wtonline.ag.org/look/a_one_of_a_kind_gift.cfm
- http://www.helium.com/items/734882-throughout-esther-there-finger
CONTACT ME
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