Where oh Where Wednesday: Mining in the area

The area where we live is historically an area of coal mining. Both in Limburg of the Netherlands (for which Maastricht is the capitol) and in Limburg of Belgium (where our house is situated) were coal mining areas. The cities of Sittard, Kerkrade and more in the Netherlands grew up around the industry of coal. Maasmechelen and Genk, Belgium - just down the road from us - have now turned their coal mining past into tourist attractions. Because the coal has long been gone. 

Genk has a site called “C-Mine” which now houses a cinema and stores, as well as a major cycling race every year, but previously it was simply a mine. In August I will go on an outing on a steam train. It will take us along the historical mining sites and we will visit the coal mining museum. All of this in the area of Kerkrade and Simpelveld in the Netherlands. 

Down by our Bible Camp we also have many old mining sites. In the past we have taken the kids on an outing to Blegny in Belgium. There they can go down into the mine and experience some of the sights, sounds and smells of the mine. The guide is an old miner and can tell stories of how things used to be. How they had to eat their lunch while working - preferably quickly and before anyone relieved themselves (which also had to be done in the same space. 

The mines are also why this area of both countries is so diverse culturally. Maasmechelen has a Greek, Italian, Turkish, Bulgarian and Polish community - all of whom worked in the mines at the time. They came as guest workers and built their families in Belgium - although some returned to their home countries. Many simply brought their cultural beauties (and problems) to Belgium. So now anyone can go to an Italian or Greek restaurant, visit various Catholic and Orthodox churches and be amazed at the diversity in general. 

The mines closed their doors in the 1970’s and the area has been trying to recover since then from the economic impact. Ford (in Belgium) and Volvo (in the Netherlands) both had a major factory, but these also closed within the last 10 years. Tourism remains a strong calling card to the area of hills and valleys (some made from the “trash” of coal mining). Some of these areas have been turned into beuatiful spa resorts with twisting bike paths running through the lakes. Others have disappeared into the background of the hills surrounding - as in our area of camp. 

(Photo of Terhills resort near Maasmechelen)

Prayer for coming activities

Our summers are always pretty busy. In the coming weeks we have various activities planned for which we covet your prayers. We know that we are only as strong as we trust in God who is our strength. And partners who are praying for us and the people we are working with are a large part of that trust and strength. 

At the end of this week we will start our week of Bible Camp - Benjaminenkamp. This is the week for the 8-11 year-olds. The Senior week (15-20 year-olds) started on Saturday. The Teens will follow the Benjamins and then Family Camp is planned. I am the camp director and teacher for the Benjamin week. Shirley is helping Tonia in the kitchen. We are looking forward to a good and challenging week talking about Jesus in the gospel of Luke. We pray that the kids will grow in faith, but also that the young counselors we have will especially grow in their faith. 

I will also be teaching during Family Camp. I am preparing lessons on “The Joy of the Lord” for the Tuesday and Thursday. In the past years I have helped with the teens as well and may be able to do this again. It is always encouraging to see people we know and meet new people I this week of camp. Please be praying for all of the kids at the various weeks as well as the teams leading those weeks. 

When we get back we will jump right into preparations for an event in the neighborhood of our building in Maastricht. From August 16-23, the neighborhood is planning week of activities from various clubs (sports, music, dance and more) and we as a congregation will also be organizing a walk through the neighborhood and a Black Gospel Workshop. This is an opportunity for people in the neighborhood to get to know us better. Pray for conversations. 

In September we usually hold a singing with the church from Cologne, although we have not yet set a date. That planning will be for the coming days. There is also a Family Day planned at camp that we will attend and encourage members from Maastricht to attend. This is always a time of encouragement and coming together with members from across Belgium and the Netherlands. 

In the meantime we will also be working through getting our house cleaned, seeing what needs to be packed, looking into various administrative tasks that need to be done and having difficult conversations with people we will miss and who will miss us. We will also continue with the various Bible studies and singing opportunities we hold throughout the weeks. Every first Friday of the month is singing in Maastricht. The 3rd Wednesday is singing Eindhoven. And somewhere along the way we will also plan to get back up to Haarlem to help with singing there. 

We are so thankful for so many who not only care about what we are doing here but who pray consistently for these efforts. We continue to pray for you as well. It was so good to see you again and hear how God is blessing you in walking with Him. God is great and is the only One who truly gives us strength for the tasks he has prepared for us. 

For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.  Ephesians 2:10

PS - I will not be posting next week as we will be at camp. 

Whensday: 250, 200, 150, 100 years ago

We just returned to Belgium from our Home Assignment trip I the US. This is a trip of about 2 months where we visit our various supporting congregations and supporters as well as family. We returned on July 1, just before all the big celebrations in the US, because on July 4 the country celebrated its 250th birthday. This was concurrent with all of the celebrations during the World Cup games, which we mostly saw while at our last stop in New York City. 

As we returned home, we were able to renew our joy in where we live on the canal behind our house. This canal is celebrating its 200th anniversary. It was first dug and used back in 1826. For all those 200 years ships have been plying the waters going to and from Antwerp or Rotterdam. The little “bridge-watcher’s house” down the way (there is no bridge any more) has been turned into a cafe and is well attended all summer. 

Across from our house, our neighbor, Cecile (who watched our house while we were gone) will be celebrating about 150 years of her house. Her farmhouse is a monument in our village and she keeps it up very well. The kitchen, bedstead and more are authentic. Every year she invites the village and any other visitors to a birthday celebration in her gardens where fold musicians perform. She herself plays the accordeon. 

Our house was built in 1936 - not quite 100 years ago, but almost. This house was originally a cafe which served the village. It is in the street of the church, so people leaving the church could find something to drink fairly quickly. When we bought our house in 1992 it had not been a cafe for quite some tie. The original door into the cafe had been bricked up and the separation of the front room from the rest of the house had already been removed to make a living room and dining room. 

Time marches on, wherever we are. Even things that last a long time change, whether it has been 250 or 50 years. The house next door (from 1910) is being remodeled for a young couple, but they have to retain the outside walls. Some people will remember the old couple who lived here. Others will be amazed at the new house. Time moves on. We have lived 34 years in this house. It will soon see some more change again, although it will remain. 

(Photo - birthday celebration of the house across from us)