Whatsit Wednesday: Outlets

The first time I traveled to Switzerland I remember being shocked that I could not use my electrical tools. At the time we did not have that much - no smartphone or battery chargers or such. But I did want to plug something in and realized that the outlet was different. I of course knew that the outlets for the UK and the US were very different from each other. And the outlets even from Belgium and the Netherlands differed from each other, although not quite as much. 

In Belgium, although they use 220 as they do in the Netherlands, they have a special pin to create the ground. This means that for many years electrical appliances bought in Belgium were not compatible with Dutch outlets and vice-versa. The Dutch us two pins on the side of the contact to create the ground. 

Thankfully this was changed and appliances from Belgium are now compatible with Dutch outlets. Dutch appliances still don’t fit Belgian outlets, however. And then there is the current situation where many appliances are usb-charged. On the one hand, this is easier, since you only need a usb charger that plugs in the wall, one way or the other. Then you need the right kind of usb to charge whatever it is that you want to plug in. 

As we pack our things we are having to think about what we will be able to use in the US. Many appliances these days are 110/202 and 50/60hz, so they will work in both places. But not everything of course. We will not be taking our washing machine or dryer, of course And when the shippers asked if we were taking the refrigerator, we let him know that this would be silly. First of all, our refrigerator is tiny according to US standards. And then of course it would not fit the outlet. 

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)