This was the third time I have attended the CA seminar. The first time was when it was in De Bron in the Netherlands and a much larger affair. The second time two years ago at the same location a lovely secluded centre in central Holland, surrounded by deep woodland.
the aim if the seminar has three aims

1) to encourage beginners and those interested in the arts to find appropriate ways of learning and developing their gifts with the help of those who have greater experience.

2) To allow those who are full time Christian artists to share a time of rest and recreation over a few days sharing with others in similar ministries.

3) To receive teaching from those involved in politics and religion with emphasis on university teachers, trade unions and Christian Social action.

For me as in previous year the greatest joy was in being able to meet with old friends and learn about what is going on in their lives and ministries.
I taught three workshops one each on Origami, story telling and Haiku writing, and performed a coupe of stories before the morning lecture. The Jewish tale Trust in God by Rabbi Nachman, with the help of a flautist called Heike Wetzel, and the story of Samson with paper lion , buzzing bees and of course several string games. I score myself on such performance on personal level and gave myself 7 out of 10. So not too bad but still leaves room fro improvement.

Australian evangelist and teacher John Smith again this year had a significant influence on the conference. He is completing Ph.D. in cultural Anthropology in the USA and working hard on this. Even though he has been recently in hospital he had lost little of his drive and conc ern for those who do not yet know Jesus.
Other interesting folk included Nina who sang the Finnish entry to the European Song Contest and came 18th. It was good to hear the story of the rehearsal day. In the midst of the long tense preparations it was the Christians who knew how to party !

Also again meeting up with guitarists of professional standard encouraged me to get down to some real practise ( if the hands hold up) and Arthur Pedlar, a very fine clown from Stockport in Lancs., did the most wonderful act with small musical instruments and three different unicycles. It was Arthur who arranged for me to be invited to the world clowns convention when it came to Scotland in 1990 and we have been in touch on and off for the last few years. The amazing skill and agility of the man, He is now 68 and doing difficult falls and riding his giraffe unicycle, as well as a tiny one which he bought from a man with a chimpanzee act in the music halls in the USA in the 1960's.

One of the features of these seminars is that we are very pampered. Though again this year Iwas surprised by the large glass of milk whcih of course turned out to be buttermilk. Nice but different.

The food is excellent and the rooms of five star hotel standard. It is also common for artists not to go to bed for the last two nights but simply take the opportunity to talk the night away in the bar.

I met a professor of Mathematics and Logic from Bulgaria who had translated several of Martin Gardiner's books into Bulgarian. I have at least six of the books ( in English hasten to add!) and we shared many stories and ideas.

This was the 20th meeting arranged by Leen and Ria La Riviere and they were warmly congratulated for all their work over this long time. Truly, long obedience in the same direction.

Luis Alfredo Diaz ,Spain

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