“We’re blessed to be here and we want to share what we have, whether it be time or space or energy,” Robert said. “And Orange Lutheran gives right back to us.”
“For Erik, Missions has helped him grow in his faith tremendously,” Diane added. “He’s grown into a leader. He’s in a leadership role in the Missions Program and that was all his idea.”
Essentially, the van der Goes’ attachment to OLu started the first day Erik stepped on campus.
Diane admits that Erik has become such an involved member of the Missions Program that often times, she and Robert don’t see their son on the trips, besides the customary hi and bye in the morning or afternoon.
“When Erik was coming into high school, we toured and shadowed other schools in the Trinity League, but when we first sat down with Admissions, the first thing we did was pray,” Robert said. “When we interviewed with a teacher, the first thing we did was pray. “When we left, Erik said this is where he wanted to go to school.” One of the most appealing aspects of the Orange Lutheran experience for the van der Goes family was the Missions Program. Robert, Diane and Erik have been on four missions trips together: twice to Appalachia and twice to the Native American Reservation Trip, known as NART. And with each passing trip, the van der Goes group comes closer to each other and closer to God. “We’re a jump in thedeep end kind of family,” Robert said. “It’s more fun if you’re involved. For us, whether it’s missions or football or anything, it’s an opportunity for us to serve. And that’s where we get a lot of joy.
THERE GOES THE VAN DER GOES
The van der Goes family’s love for Orange Lutheran and the Missions Program only grows with each passing year.
“Every morning, we have quiet time with God, and it taught us to try to implement that into our daily life as much as possible. That was a huge lesson for us.” Diane van der Goes, parent of Erik ’16
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or the van der Goes family, what they give can never match what they receive. “You go into these mission trips with the intent to serve, but you come back more filled,” Robert said. “You always get more out of it than you put into it.”
The van der Goes clan, consisting of Robert, his wife Diane, and their son Erik, are officially familiar with the Lancer way. Erik is a junior tight end for the Lancers football squad, and Diane and Robert, as well as their son, are regulars on the NART and Appalachia mission trips.
“Service is on our hearts,” added Robert. “Missions is one of the neatest programs. You get to become not just a part of the school, but a part of the kids’ lives. They accept you into their life.” When it comes to being a part of the kids’ lives, Diane said that she enjoys that part the most.
But regardless of their time spent together on missions, or lack thereof, each part of the van der Goes trio brings home an important lesson that applies to their daily family life. “As a family, the mission trips taught us to slow down,” Diane said. “Every morning, we have quiet time with God, and it taught us to try to implement that into our daily life as much as possible. That was a huge lesson for us.” Erik’s time at Orange Lutheran, according to his parents, has flown by. Come next school year, he’ll be preparing to leave for college. As for Diane and Robert’s time at Orange Lutheran? That’s not coming to an end anytime soon. The school is one of their most cherished friends. “We see ourselves at Friday night football games and we see ourselves at Nechita Center performances for a long time coming,” Diane said. And when it comes to missions trips, things will stay the same. “We plan around going to Appalachia,” Diane said. “Now, that’s our family vacation.”
“That first trip just totally changed me. I underestimated teenagers until I spent time with them. They are so bright and giving. To see them out being humble servants, it’s very touching. It’s emotional.”
“We’re a jump in the deep end kind of family” Robert van der Goes, parent of Erik ’16
And just as they’ve made it their personal mission to give back to the high school that they cherish, according to the van der Goes, Orange Lutheran continues to give back to their family just as abundantly.
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