Wild Wonderful Wednesday

Well, a wild, wonderful Wednesday is always interesting. This one fell on New Year’s Eve and was truly wild. Our plans were set to travel to our sister in Christ for a New Year’s Eve party with others from the church. We would pick up our young Ukrainian couple in Tongeren and drive on to Hasselt. Our other sister would drive in to Hasselt from just outside of Sittard, The Netherlands, bringing her son who was visiting from France. People from all over meeting to ring in the new year. 

Everything seems ready and prepared. The weather was not that bad. A slight bit of misty rain and cold hung in the air, but that is to be expected. We all were ready with snacks, games and a good mood to join together. Although fireworks are usual for The Netherlands, we didn’t really expect anything in Hasselt (Belgium). Our little village has plenty on New Year’s Eve, but that is because of how close we are to The Netherlands and how many Dutch people live here. 

We picked up our couple in Tongeren and headed out to Hasselt, talking about the differences in cultures and things we have experienced. But the car decided to make this outing a bit more wild and wonderful. Cars these days tell the driver what they should dop. There is a computer which determines what you can and cannot do. My car began warning me that I had to have the car looked at. At the same time power began decreasing. 

I pulled over and called the auto service. Thankfully there are people who work on days like these. It would still be an hour before he would arrive, however. So we called ahead and asked if someone could come and get Shirley and the couple from our car. Thankfully we were not really that far from our destination (about 20-309 minutes). Our brother in Christ, Jef, drove out and took everyone to the party while I stayed with the car, waiting on the auto service. 

When the tow truck arrived, he hooked up to the car’s computer and saw that there was an air intake problem. But he was able to remove the computer disturbance and the motor seemed to be running just fine. All seemed well and I would soon join the party. But all was not fine - it was a wild, wonderful Wednesday. 

Within a few miles, the car told me once again that something was wrong and started losing some power. Thankfully I was not really that far from home, so I took the car home, ready to go to the garage when it is open after the holidays. I called Shirley and let her know that we would be celebrating separately. 

Thankfully, they all had a good evening and the sister from Sittard could drop Shirley off while Jef could take the Ukrainians back to Tongeren. In the meantime I also had enough snacks at home to take me through the evening, waiting for Shirley’s return. I got to experience the fireworks near us (a good hour long), while they enjoyed desserts, games and conversation together. Tomorrow I will try to get the car to the garage and walk back home along the winter streets of our villages on the way to complete this Wild Wonderful Wednesday Walk. 

Challenges and blessings in 2025

Many people send out a year-end letter to catch everyone up on what has happened in the past year. I thought I would take a little space to round up some highlights of this year. It has also reminded me of the various blessings and challenges we have had. 

Singing

Much of our work and fellowship has to do with singing and this year was no different. Every first Friday of the month we get together with members from the church in Maastricht to learn new songs and encourage one another. We also travel to Eindhoven every third Wednesday evening to do the same with that congregation. Although we do not make it every month, we enjoy the months that we do get to share with that church family. 

This year we also traveled to Cologne for a singing day with the congregation there. Throughout the year we recorded songs for the YouTube channel as well. This is a wonderful way for the singers from various congregations to help others throughout the Dutch-speaking churches. You can hear the results on the YouTube channel - which includes the songs that Luk Brazle also records. 

New this year was our working with the congregation in Haarlem which decided to put together new song books and learn to sing better as a congregation. So we have traveled the 2.5 hours there about once a month this Fall. We are looking forward to continuing this relationship in the coming months. 

Studying, young people and Bible camp

We take time every week for approximately 7 Bible studies with various people and groups. Some of the studies are with the congregation, some with those who are growing in faith or learning about faith. Along with the studies have come some planned youth activities, including a youth day again organized by the congregation in Maastricht. It is exciting to see this kind of growth in sharing faith, knowledge and grace. 

As with all of the years we have been working here, we also spent time with Ardennes Bible Camp. This included a special training day for new camp leaders, planning meetings with new possible board members and of course the weeks of Summer camp. This year we directed the oldest youth (15 years and older) as well as helping with the teens during Family camp. 

You can find pictures of camp here or on the camp website (www.bijbelkamp.eu)

Comings and goings

This has also been a year of change. Several of the people whom I have been helping and visiting passed away. Some of these were expected, others quite unexpected. Monthly visits to the prison in Antwerp and to a mental health facility nearby both ended near the end of the year. We also said goodbye to two faithful sisters who we will see again when we get Home. 

We said 'au revoir' to several of our members who moved on to other areas. Our American families have either been stationed back to the US or are almost on their way. This has changed the make-up of the congregation in Maastricht a bit, since we do not need to translate as often or as much. At the same time, we have had some new people move in and we are looking forward to what this will mean for the congregation in the coming year. 

New life

We welcomed three new brothers to the church in Maastricht this year as well. Isaak is young, but understands how important and beautiful life is with Jesus Christ. His 12 years of life are quite different from Jef, who is in his 60’s. But both of them have made the choice not only to give their lives to Christ, but to allow the Holy Spirit to change them as they grow in faith. (Photo is of Jef's baptism in the Spring). Most recently we also welcomed Kristof to the family of Christ. He is a colleague of our brother, Danny. 

We are so thankful for the blessings that God has brought us this year, along with the challenges. Every new day is a good day, bringing new things to learn and new people into our lives. Thank you for being part of this journey and work as well. Your faithfulness, your prayers, your example and help are a blessing to the church here and to God’s kingdom.  

Whensday: Léopold II in 1865

On December 17, 1865 Léopold Lodewijk Filips Maria Victor van Saksen-Coburg en Gotha became Loepol II, king of Belgium. He was the second king of Belgium, following Leopold I, his father. He was 30 years old when he became king and reigned until his death in 1909 at the age of 55. He was king for exactly 44 years and remains the longest reigning king of Belgium. 

Leopold is best known for his ruthless deeds done I the Independent Congo Free State which he established. Many historians now look back on that time with disgust. Léopold II used Congo as a personal zoo en discovery ground. The Congo was his personal property, after all. 

Many of the best known places in Belgium were built during his reign and under his charge. The Jubel Park and Dudenpark in Brussels and the Central Station in Antwerp are examples of these. Besides these public buildings he also built various buildings for himself, including the Botanical Gardens in Laken, the Japanese tower and Chinese pavilion near the palace and even special houses in France. The Villefranche-sur-Mer on the French coast was considered one of the most expensive houses in the world in 2009. 

Congo was finally relinquished from Léopold II to the Belgian state in 1908. Belgium bought the area from the king (or he was forced to sell it). From 1908 until 1960 Belgian Congo was a colony of Belgium until it became the country of Congo. The true history of what Léopold II did in his private state of Congo only truly came to light decades later. 

Family of Léopold II were woven into the families and governments all over the world. His sister was empress of Mexico. Queen Victoria in the United Kingdom was a full niece. But in the end all of his ties died out. Today there is only a branch of the house of Bonaparte (his youngest daughter had married Napoleon Victor Bonaparte).

(Photo is of the Victory Arch in Jubelpark Brussels)