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Hi, I'm Gioela
About Me
I’m from Costa Rica and the Netherlands. I grew up in YWAM (Youth With A Mission), an international non-profit organization that has shaped my life and faith. My family and I are still actively serving the Lord through YWAM, dedicating ourselves to teaching His heart and the truth of the Bible.
As a family, we live in Costa Rica/Norway, where we serve in this mission alongside many others who share a passion for knowing God and making Him known throughout the world. It’s been an incredible journey, witnessing the excitement and joy in people’s faces as the Lord reveals Himself to them. Serving in this mission is an honor, and I’m blessed to be part of such a vibrant and passionate community of believers.
I’m deeply committed to the vision of Matthew 28:19-20—to go and make disciples, sharing the gospel and the Word of God with others. I’m passionate about helping people hunger for the Bible and grow in their relationship with the Father. My calling is to teach the Bible and walk alongside others in their faith journey, helping them understand how God’s Word applies to their lives today.
Ultimately, my vision is to see people turn to the Lord, follow Him wholeheartedly, and be a part of His mission to the ends of the earth—teaching, preaching, and living faithfully to honor Him, giving all the glory to God.
UPCOMING...
Now being in YWAM Norway Grimerud, my commitment is from 2025 April - 2028/9 April, 3-4 years! During this time, I’ll be teaching the Bible, managing hospitality, woring with events on our base (we run 4+ events a year) and, most importantly, serving people. Leading others to Jesus and diving deeper into His Word is both my passion and calling, and it has been such a sweet time.
To be able to continue and stay in the mission field, I need to raise $1,670/ ₡840/ €1,548 each month to cover my living expenses. If you feel led to partner with me, you can find donation details through the link.
Thank you for considering joining me on this journey! I’m thrilled to share what the Lord is doing in my life and how you can be a part of it.
In 2025 - 2026... I have worked with a Bible school for three months, learning and working in hospitality, as well as assisting with various renovations on base and coordinating events held on our base. We run about 4+ events a year. I also help give 20m bible overview teaching to staff and students on our base!
In 2024 - 2025... I worked as a missionary with YWAM in Costa Rica, assisting in administration within the Human Resources department and at our café on campus. I also participated in the Homes of Hope ministry and helped with translating for our Discipleship Training School. During this time, I witnessed God’s provision and spent quality time with family and close friends while fundraising for my next step to Norway in Europe.
In 2022 - 2024... I worked for 2 years with a Biblical school, staffing and teaching after studying the books of the Bible in-depth. I had the honor of sharing knowledge and revelations with my students as they also explored God's Word. I walked closely with them as they faced challenges in understanding the Bible and learning about God's character. During this time, I was humbled by my students and learned a great deal from them. I also completed the Readings in Biblical Studies (RBS) course, which provided exposure to a wide range of Biblical studies and a foundational understanding of various theological concepts. It was a season of seeing God work through my life, performing miracles and revealing Himself to me as a missionary in Amsterdam.
In 2021 September...I completed a 10-month School of Biblical Studies (SBS) with YWAM Amsterdam, where I studied the Bible inductively, diving deep into each book multiple times. I learned that the Bible is endless in its depth and always offers more to discover. After finishing SBS, I felt called by God to return to Amsterdam and help teach at the school alongside fellow graduates. I obeyed the call and returned to serve.
In 2021 January... I went on a mission trip with YWAM, starting in Hawaii for 3 months of classes and learning, then heading to the Dominican Republic for 3 months of evangelistic and practical outreach. This 6-month "Discipleship Training School" (DTS) equipped me with the knowledge and skills to serve in the nations.
Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
Gioela, Marjolein, Tessa, Giacomo and Luca! (names from left to right)
We are the Coghi Van Der Werf Family!
As a family, we have been in Ywam for a long time. My parents met in this mission organization and then had me and my siblings as they continued their work with Ywam. Thus I grew around long-term and short-term missionaries. I learned a lot from my parents and the leaders around me. Surrounded by a Christian community of people who loved the Lord and served Him. I saw the provision of the Lord through my family and saw how the Lord was taking care of us in every regard. I learned how to hear the voice of the Lord and how to engage with the Lord.
That is something I want to carry on to others. The Lord is the one who cares for us and loves us.