Born in 1957 in Amsterdam, Holland, my parents blessed me with two beautiful names: Petra (meaning Rock, "Tsur" in Hebrew) and Christina, from "Christos" ~ Christ.

While studying to become a registered nurse I became a born-again believer and in 1977 met my future husband, Wim. (Bill)

We married in 1979 and continued serving the Lord together, i.e. made several Bible smuggling trips behind the (then) Iron Curtain. For four years we served as caretakers in our home church in Amsterdam, not knowing it was to prepare us for something much bigger...

In 1989 we heeded God's call and moved to Israel. Here we worked as volunteers for an International Organization.

Not able to have children of our own, God opened the door to become long-term foster parents of Israeli special needs children. At one time we looked after a Jewish boy, two Bedouin girls, and an Arab child. Presently, only one 22 year old Bedouin girl lives at home with us.

Already from the very first moment we entered the country, we felt at home. Even after being 20 years in Israel, we still think it's a privilege to live and work amongst the Israelis - the People of God's eye.