Passing things on

I remember learning how to play guitar when I was younger. My mom and dad were both learning to play and each had a guitar. They also had some books that told a bit about how to play. But mostly I learned from watching others who played. Ron Carter (my best friend’s father and my mentor through the years) like to play and did well. I was able to sing in the group Summer Breeze and learned from the others who played how to strum and get a good sound out of the instrument. 

That is how people learn a lot of things - by watching others. I learned quite a bit of the little I know about fixing things by watching others fix things. Sometimes they would explain. Mostly I would watch and ask questions. And then it was time for me to try it myself. Sometimes I was blessed to do this trying out in the presence of someone who could help me. But often it was done at home, on my own. It needed to be done (think leaking sink or spouting toilet, or fixing lamps etc…)

As we wind things up here on this side of the water, we are aware that we have been doing this all along. We have been trying to teach and guide and help others learn about teaching, guiding and helping others. And as we leave our tasks here, we pass them on to others who have been watching. They will be able to ask questions, but mostly they will just need to get stuck in and try it out. 

This past Sunday the brothers in Maastricht sat down with me and talked about the various tasks that I take care of. Who will take them over? Who is capable? Are these the things they will want to continue doing? People in the neighborhood that I have contact with have asked if the church will continue after we leave. “Of course,” I reply. The church is not ours, it belongs to Christ as does the family that will continue there. It is exciting to see that this congregation has always been a family that helps one another.

Some of the things we do will of course not continue, but that leaves space for new things to begin. And as we move into a new season in the US, we look forward to the new things we will encounter there as well. God is mighty and uses us all in mighty ways. I am so thankful for the people who passed on their knowledge and faith to us and pray that we have been able to do that for others as well. 

(Photo of several of our members at Family Day in September)

Whodunit Wednesday: NFL and NBA

Most people, when they think of Belgian or Dutch sport personalities, will settle on the various well-known soccer players: Virgil van Dyke, Kevin de Bruyne or more. But soccer is not the only sport where you can find Dutch pr Belgian players. The very American sports of football (NFL) or basketball (NBA) are also home to some Dutch or Belgian players. 

Thomas Odukoya was born in Almere, the Netherlands. He became the first Dutch player to play in the NFL for 24 years when he signed with the Tennessee Titans in 2024 as a tight end. He is currently part of the practice squad for the Kansas City Chiefs, having also played for the New England Patriots in 2025. Although you will hear plenty of Dutch sounding names in the NFL, Odukoya is currently the only actual Dutch player. 

In the NBA people will be even more familiar with the names of Toumani Camara and Ajay Mitchell. Camara (born in Brussels) has made his name known with the Portland Trail Blazers the last few years as a 6’7’’ forward. He has already started with three three-pointers in five games to help Portland to move toward the top of the Western Conference at the beginning of this season. 

Ajay Mitchell, from Ans, is a point guard with the OKC Thunder (in the same conference as the Trail Blazers). In 2025 he became an NBA champion with the Thunder. Both players have not yet played for the Belgian national team since they remain active at the same time with their NBA teams. 

(Photo of NBA champion Ajay Mitchell with the OKC Thunder in 2025)

Support

We have been amazingly blessed in the years that we have worked here in Belgium and the Netherlands. In order to do this work, we have had to rely on financial support from around the US and here in the countries we serve. Often it is difficult to find congregations that will support someone longer than 10 years. The congregations and individuals who support us have been doing it often longer than 30 years. 

And not all of that comes in monthly support or big checks. This past weekend we were with the congregation in Haarlem, with whom we get to spend time learning new songs and how to sing. They make sure that our transport costs are covered and provide a fellowship meal and good fellowship while we are there. The same thing is true of the congregation in Maastricht which covers our transport costs every month and encourages us immensely every time we get together. 

But we also requested of our supporters to continue supporting us through the coming year. Not only do we realize that the transition from mission work in Europe to life in the US will be a challenge, we still want to be able to help in some way with the congregations we work with here. The continued support will enable this desire to help. 

We are always surprised, thought we never should be, at how giving these brothers and sisters are. We heard this past summer that the church in Muscatine would be able to cover us another year. We just received news from Woodbury (MN) that they not only will cover us in 2027, but will be willing to look at 2028 as well, if we need. When we first sent out the request, we heard almost immediately from each of our individual supporters that they were on board. Some of these supporters we are not even able to visit on our Home Assignments each three years, but they continue to care about the work in Dutch-speaking Europe. 

In Abilene, Westgate (with some from the 11th and Willis congregation) will be covering our moving costs (the movers come on November 17). At Oldham Lane, they assured us this summer that they will have us covered and have already gone above and beyond. We look forward to getting to know them better at some moment. 

Looking back at the many years we have been here, we remember all of the amazing faithfulness that has carried us through these years. Churches are people, brothers and sisters who care about how God is working in many different places. Some of these congregations know us personally. Some knew us, but have changed in the passing years. And still they are willing to help in any way they can. God’s family is amazing and we are so thankful for how we are part of so many families in so many places. 

(Photo of our singing this past weekend in Haarlem)