When All Goes Quiet

In 1954, Catharina and Joseph Lodewijks and their five sons took a train to Rotterdam and boarded a ship bound for Canada. Nestled safely in Catharina’s womb, three months before his birth, was Augustinus, who would be the sixth son of seven. As the turbulent seas heaved the ship for ten harrowing days, Catharina prayed fervently until the family landed safely in Halifax. Between the voyage, its timing, and the faith of a mother, a seed of spiritual gifting was bestowed upon the child who was yet to be born, as evidenced by the exceptional experiences he would encounter a few years after he was delivered. This seed was nourished, and over time, it grew and bore fruit. From the tender age of five, the young lad quietly accepted his unusual connection with the spiritual world. Amidst the clamour and haste of the world around him, when faced with decisions great and small, and when encountering danger and loss, all would suddenly go quiet, and he would be blessed with a vision or revelation from the heavenly realms. So it continues to this very day. As written in Deuteronomy 18:18: “I will put my words in his mouth and he shall tell them all I command him.” This is Augustinus’ calling, and this is his story.