More than 20 years ago I saw one for the first time. It was on a misty morning on a bike ride to Spaarndam. This little village has a statue of Hans Brinker – you know – the little boy who put his finger in the dike. Never mind that he never really existed or that you can’t put your finger in a dike (we drive on top of dikes here – I always thought they were some sort of wall). But it is a beautiful little village and there was a wonderful park where I could go and be quiet, be alone, get my thoughts straight.
I would bike along the river and canals towards Spaarndam, and there was always a heron sitting watching me as I went. These are gloriously regal birds, in my opinion, especially when they fly. They soar, nose and neck straight ahead, large wings catching the wind. They are quite graceful in flight. Perhaps that, and the fact that they are everywhere, was why they were on Dutch money, the beautifully colored paper stuff. To be honest, I don’t remember which bill they graced (help me out here, those of you who knew guilders), but I really liked that one.
Maybe it is the association with such good moments – times of peace and quite, times of grace – that make me feel good when I see a heron. Whatever it is, I like seeing herons. And there are whole colonies here where we live now. We live along the Meuse (we call it the Maas) river, which forms the natural boundary between the Netherlands and Belgium. Behind our house is a canal. Between the canal and the river is a nature reserve where they allow Scottish cows to graze loose. It is in this area that the herons thrive. You can look up in the trees and see there nests everywhere.
But I get to see one almost every day. When I let Snuffles out in the morning, we walk along the canal. Just under the first bridge, about half way to the second bridge is the regular standing place of a heron. Most of the time he(she?) simply stands watching us as we go by. But the other day I was treated to something special.
It was a bit misty again (somehow that seems to make things stick longer in my mind) and it was very quiet. I hadn’t wanted to go out with the dog. It had been cold and I was so wanting Spring to finally arrive. Everything just felt ‘yucky’. And then I saw the heron. He came soaring in toward me along the canal, wings spread and slightly turned as he came in for a landing. The wind was blowing (another good reason not to be outside). Amazing how he so easily took the wind and used it to set himself so gently down on the top of a pole along the waterside. I can still see it now.
A bit mushy and cliche and all the rest (you can probably hear a song about wind and wings now in your head), but what struck me was that he couldn’t have sttled down so easily if he didn’t have resistance – if the wind weren’t there. It’s the wind resistance that makes a bird able to fly.
It changed my day for the better. God made us able to handle resistance and use it. He turns difficult things into something elegant and beautiful. Amazing what a walk with the dog can do for your spiritual health.
Thursday, April 27, 2006
Wednesday, April 19, 2006
Growin' up in the Lord
This past weekend was another youth weekend. We have had quite a few yout activities in the last couple months, but it is exciting to see how God is using these times. More and more of our young people are not only coming to the weekends, they are also bringing their friends.
And it’s exciting to see these young people searching – in God’s word, in their relationships, in the church and testing – the things they are learning, the things they are told, even our patience at times.
Listen Up! has a song which talks about the frustrations of children and repeats the refrain:
Look at the sons we got.
Sometimes they drive us crazy but we sure love them a lot.
Look at the sons we got.
You and I’ve been blessed a lot.
At the end of the song we talk about the disciples and our lives and end with the refrain:
Look at the Son of God.
Sometimes we drive Him crazy, but He still loves us a lot.
Look at the Son of God.
Yeah, you and I’ve been blessed a lot.
During this weekend we looked at how we worship God. We need to use a filter in what we do and remember where the focus should be. We had a great time playing, learning, traveling and doing.
One of the activities was picking up the trash in a local park. Not the most thankful of jobs, especially when the kids there are laughing at you and making more trash. But we had just talked about who we were doing it for (because God would be happy, noyt necessarily people). We are so glad that God has been able to use us in some ways with these young people and look forward to how he continues to change us and challenge us each day.
- looking for answers -
And it’s exciting to see these young people searching – in God’s word, in their relationships, in the church and testing – the things they are learning, the things they are told, even our patience at times.
- looking at coffee 'thick' -
Listen Up! has a song which talks about the frustrations of children and repeats the refrain:
Look at the sons we got.
Sometimes they drive us crazy but we sure love them a lot.
Look at the sons we got.
You and I’ve been blessed a lot.
At the end of the song we talk about the disciples and our lives and end with the refrain:
Look at the Son of God.
Sometimes we drive Him crazy, but He still loves us a lot.
Look at the Son of God.
Yeah, you and I’ve been blessed a lot.
- travelin' fun -
During this weekend we looked at how we worship God. We need to use a filter in what we do and remember where the focus should be. We had a great time playing, learning, traveling and doing.
- looking for the 'why' of worship-
One of the activities was picking up the trash in a local park. Not the most thankful of jobs, especially when the kids there are laughing at you and making more trash. But we had just talked about who we were doing it for (because God would be happy, noyt necessarily people). We are so glad that God has been able to use us in some ways with these young people and look forward to how he continues to change us and challenge us each day.
Thursday, April 13, 2006
It’s a jungle out there
Watching tv as a family can be difficult. Not everyone likes the same things. Sean would watch soccer all day if it were on all day. Even if it were games that he had already seen and knew the outcome. And Scott and Stephan will zap around for a good hour lookking at two or three things at the same time – even when there is nothing on. But there are certain tv programs that we like to watch together. Sean reminds us that it is about to come on. Shirley gets a video to copy it if someone is not there. And we all enjoy it. Monk is one of those shows.
I don’t know if you know this show. The title song alone is worth turning it on – Randy Newman knows how to write. Adrian Monk is an obsessive compulsive (former) detective who solves cases by observing and thinking (a bit like Agatha Christie’s Belgian detective, Poirot, without the mustache and food – which, come to think of it was pretty OC too). We like trying to figure out who did it, or how to catch them (don’t watch the first five minutes of the show if you don’t want to know who did it!). Monk (and his nurse and the police chief and the goofy detective) always gets his man (or woman), and along the way he and we learn some things about human nature.
I think what we like so much about the show is that no matter how flawed Monk is, he still struggles with getting done what needs done. And boy does he struggle! And he makes the whole world around him struggle along just trying to put up with him. Makes me glad that there are other people out there who are frustrating to others – and survive. Glad that people love me too, almost as much as God does. “I could be wrong now – but I don’t think so!”
I don’t know if you know this show. The title song alone is worth turning it on – Randy Newman knows how to write. Adrian Monk is an obsessive compulsive (former) detective who solves cases by observing and thinking (a bit like Agatha Christie’s Belgian detective, Poirot, without the mustache and food – which, come to think of it was pretty OC too). We like trying to figure out who did it, or how to catch them (don’t watch the first five minutes of the show if you don’t want to know who did it!). Monk (and his nurse and the police chief and the goofy detective) always gets his man (or woman), and along the way he and we learn some things about human nature.
I think what we like so much about the show is that no matter how flawed Monk is, he still struggles with getting done what needs done. And boy does he struggle! And he makes the whole world around him struggle along just trying to put up with him. Makes me glad that there are other people out there who are frustrating to others – and survive. Glad that people love me too, almost as much as God does. “I could be wrong now – but I don’t think so!”
Monday, April 03, 2006
February-March Newsletter
LIGHT in the Lowlands
Reaching out to the people of Belgium and the Netherlands
Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with God’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality. Romans 12:10-13
Dear brothers and sisters, family and friends,
Please notice: our email address has changed! Our new email address is: s.raabs@tele2allin.be Some also have our yahoo address, which is also good: sraabs@yahoo.ie. Any other address you have for us will soon be terminated. Please update your address books and thanks for your continued communication! It is always great to hear from you!
Outreach update
As you could read in our last newsletter, we have been trying to make some good contact with our neighborhood, trying to be servants and examples of Jesus in uor daily lives. We set up a project with the local elementary school around fireworks, teaching about the good of saying no to destructive things. The 5th and 6th grade classes made posters to illustrate this and we as a church gave a cash prize for the best poster. All of the posters were hung up in the local shops and then in our windows. It was great to see this kind of cooperation and we were glad to be a part of it.
Along the same thought, we have been wanting for about two years to sing for the local nursing home. This finally worked out in March (see more at ravenraab.blogspot.com). We were able to sing for a good 40 minutes and then spend some good conversation time with the tenants. Several showed an interest in who we are (wondering of course what sort of group we are) and were thankful for the effort in coming to be with them. We want to serve more in this way in the future. Please keep this in your prayers as we try to get to know the neighborhood better and serve. Scott has also been approached about offering English lessons. He is now working with the local monthly newsletter as well.
Youth activities
The first Saturday of every month is now a youth day at the Verheijen’s. This has worked out to be quite a good day. Each time we have several visitors, either from the neighborhood or friends from school. It is just a good time to have fun and continue tgetting to know one another.
We also had two youth weekends in February and March. In February the boys had a “Console weekend” when they played on their games consoles as well as learned about “Real life heroes” like Gideon. The girls got together in Eindhoven and worked with the same topic. Both groups had about 20 in attendance! We usually work with a mixed group of about 20.
The weekend in May was focused on the theme “In His image” and how we look like God. Scott brought the lesson and we all went to Madame Tussaud’s in Amsterdam to see some other images. We had another great group. (see the blog for more).
In April and May we will be working some more with the youth. Please keep these efforts in your prayers.
Learning
In February Scott and Stephan went to ABSS in Germany, a week and weekend of Bible studies and fellwoship. The next weekend in March, Shirley headed off to the Ladies Retreat with several women from the congregation. These are good opportunities to grow in faith and encourage one another.
In April some of our members will go to the Single’s Retreat and our ladies will take part in a women’s day in Antwerp (this time in Dutch). We are so thankful for these types of opportunities. We all need to be stretched in knowledge and grow in love. We pray that we can also continue to put these lessons into practice in our families and neighborhood.
PRAYER WARRIORS
Please keep the following in your prayers.
- Praise God for His might and grace! We had a great evening singing for the nursing home, talking to the tenants. It was great to be able to give and serve. Pray for further contact.
- Pray also for our studies: Angelique, Mieke, Cor and Titia, and Gerard.
- Thank God for helping with the contact with the school. We have noticed several times that the children recognize us and discuss what we tried to teach them.
- Pray for our contact with our regular visitors Roger and Yvonne. Pray also that we grow in love for one another in the church.
KID'S KORNER
Favorite people
Our visit to Madame Tussaud’s during the youth weekend was great fun. We were able to ‘see’ some people we usually wouldn’t get to ‘meet’. Not everyone was there that you might want to see, but there were plenty.
Stephan took the opportunity to get his picture taken with the queen of the Netherlands, James Bond, George Bush, Tom Hanks and DJ Tiesto. Sean liked Elvis, Dali, Michael Jackson and NIcholas Cage.
Who would you like to meet if you had the opportunity? Have you ever been to Madame Tussaud’s? Who did you like the best?
Let us know.
e-mail Stephan at: greenleaf@tele2allin.be
e-mail Sean at: dudeis2cool4u@hotmail.com
ON THE FAMILY SIDE . . .
Looking back at two months it all seems so long ago. Sometimes the days can go by so quickly! In February we spent a wonderful day together as a family sharing a Valentine dinner. This has become a tradition with us. We choose a really special meal (which Stephan sometimes helps prepare with Shirley), set the table , including candles and a menu which Sean makes by hand. This is our way of showing how special we are together as a family. (see more on the blog)
I have to admit that these two months have had their share of physical discomfort. Sean struggled with an achilles tendon strain which kept him from playing football (soccer) the whole time. Now for those of you who know Sean, you know that this was tantamount to shutting him in prison. But this wasn’t enough. He went to the physical therapist for five sessions, after which he felt much better. So he was finally allowed to play and take part in gym at school. During a basketball game someone kicked his finger and stretched the tendon in his middle finger. After a visit to the hospital and some x-rays he qwas given a piece of metal taped to his finger for four weeks. (Thankfully, this does not affect his feet! so he can keep playing soccer, which he has done.)
Scott is not much better. When Sean was finally able to play, he and Scott were playing a quick game in the livingroom (yes, we play soccer in the livingroom - you can edit this part out for your kids if you don’t want them to hear such things). Since Sean is a ball wizard and Scott is just big (comparatively, you know), Scott just tried to push Sean around in order to make goals. But Sean is getting bigger too. So when one good push deserved another Scott found himself on the point of the livingroom table. Maybe some broken ribs, certainly bruised. It has been a few weeks of being careful when moving, but things are getting better.
It hasn’t stopped any of us from having fun in any case. Scott has chopped wood with Peter (a member of the church who lives down the road) and helped some others move house. The boys also got to go to a Genk game together. Sean has a season ticket to this professional soccer team’s games and usually goes with his best friend’s family. But the family and best friend were gone, so they lent us their passes. It was a great evening (especially since Genk won!)
Shirley has had some good time shopping. Our neighbor trusts Shirley when it comes to figuring out what to cook for the in-laws and what to buy for this season in fashion (especially since Shirley also finds VERY good deals). They have fun going shopping - even their daughters ask Shirley for advice. We also went together to the only mall in the area - it’s in Antwerp (about an hour away). One of the ladies Scott studies with had never been and wanted to go with Shirley,. It was a fun day for the ladies together.
Stephan finished up this section of school (the boys are in Easter vacation right now) with a school trip to London. He had a blast visiting all the typical sights (including Madame Tussauds again, but this time the English one), but he and his freind enjoyed Harrod’s the best. “That store is huge, and it has everything!”
EXTRAS
What’s coming up?
APRIL
Coffee day with readers
Youth activity and weekend
Single’s retreat
MAY
Ladies Day
Work Camp w/ youth
Listen Up! studio time
THANKS!
- For all the goodies from Muscatine!
- For your comments on the blog
- For the emails from Wisconsin
- For your prayers for the work here
It has been good to be together. Enjoy your time together too.
Love in Him,
Scott, Shirley,
Stephan and Sean Raab
Reaching out to the people of Belgium and the Netherlands
Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with God’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality. Romans 12:10-13
Dear brothers and sisters, family and friends,
Please notice: our email address has changed! Our new email address is: s.raabs@tele2allin.be Some also have our yahoo address, which is also good: sraabs@yahoo.ie. Any other address you have for us will soon be terminated. Please update your address books and thanks for your continued communication! It is always great to hear from you!
Outreach update
As you could read in our last newsletter, we have been trying to make some good contact with our neighborhood, trying to be servants and examples of Jesus in uor daily lives. We set up a project with the local elementary school around fireworks, teaching about the good of saying no to destructive things. The 5th and 6th grade classes made posters to illustrate this and we as a church gave a cash prize for the best poster. All of the posters were hung up in the local shops and then in our windows. It was great to see this kind of cooperation and we were glad to be a part of it.
Along the same thought, we have been wanting for about two years to sing for the local nursing home. This finally worked out in March (see more at ravenraab.blogspot.com). We were able to sing for a good 40 minutes and then spend some good conversation time with the tenants. Several showed an interest in who we are (wondering of course what sort of group we are) and were thankful for the effort in coming to be with them. We want to serve more in this way in the future. Please keep this in your prayers as we try to get to know the neighborhood better and serve. Scott has also been approached about offering English lessons. He is now working with the local monthly newsletter as well.
Youth activities
The first Saturday of every month is now a youth day at the Verheijen’s. This has worked out to be quite a good day. Each time we have several visitors, either from the neighborhood or friends from school. It is just a good time to have fun and continue tgetting to know one another.
We also had two youth weekends in February and March. In February the boys had a “Console weekend” when they played on their games consoles as well as learned about “Real life heroes” like Gideon. The girls got together in Eindhoven and worked with the same topic. Both groups had about 20 in attendance! We usually work with a mixed group of about 20.
The weekend in May was focused on the theme “In His image” and how we look like God. Scott brought the lesson and we all went to Madame Tussaud’s in Amsterdam to see some other images. We had another great group. (see the blog for more).
In April and May we will be working some more with the youth. Please keep these efforts in your prayers.
Learning
In February Scott and Stephan went to ABSS in Germany, a week and weekend of Bible studies and fellwoship. The next weekend in March, Shirley headed off to the Ladies Retreat with several women from the congregation. These are good opportunities to grow in faith and encourage one another.
- ABSS, a week of good lessons and fellowship -
- the 4 bases -
In April some of our members will go to the Single’s Retreat and our ladies will take part in a women’s day in Antwerp (this time in Dutch). We are so thankful for these types of opportunities. We all need to be stretched in knowledge and grow in love. We pray that we can also continue to put these lessons into practice in our families and neighborhood.
PRAYER WARRIORS
Please keep the following in your prayers.
- Praise God for His might and grace! We had a great evening singing for the nursing home, talking to the tenants. It was great to be able to give and serve. Pray for further contact.
- Pray also for our studies: Angelique, Mieke, Cor and Titia, and Gerard.
- Thank God for helping with the contact with the school. We have noticed several times that the children recognize us and discuss what we tried to teach them.
- Pray for our contact with our regular visitors Roger and Yvonne. Pray also that we grow in love for one another in the church.
KID'S KORNER
Favorite people
Our visit to Madame Tussaud’s during the youth weekend was great fun. We were able to ‘see’ some people we usually wouldn’t get to ‘meet’. Not everyone was there that you might want to see, but there were plenty.
Stephan took the opportunity to get his picture taken with the queen of the Netherlands, James Bond, George Bush, Tom Hanks and DJ Tiesto. Sean liked Elvis, Dali, Michael Jackson and NIcholas Cage.
Who would you like to meet if you had the opportunity? Have you ever been to Madame Tussaud’s? Who did you like the best?
Let us know.
e-mail Stephan at: greenleaf@tele2allin.be
e-mail Sean at: dudeis2cool4u@hotmail.com
ON THE FAMILY SIDE . . .
Looking back at two months it all seems so long ago. Sometimes the days can go by so quickly! In February we spent a wonderful day together as a family sharing a Valentine dinner. This has become a tradition with us. We choose a really special meal (which Stephan sometimes helps prepare with Shirley), set the table , including candles and a menu which Sean makes by hand. This is our way of showing how special we are together as a family. (see more on the blog)
I have to admit that these two months have had their share of physical discomfort. Sean struggled with an achilles tendon strain which kept him from playing football (soccer) the whole time. Now for those of you who know Sean, you know that this was tantamount to shutting him in prison. But this wasn’t enough. He went to the physical therapist for five sessions, after which he felt much better. So he was finally allowed to play and take part in gym at school. During a basketball game someone kicked his finger and stretched the tendon in his middle finger. After a visit to the hospital and some x-rays he qwas given a piece of metal taped to his finger for four weeks. (Thankfully, this does not affect his feet! so he can keep playing soccer, which he has done.)
Scott is not much better. When Sean was finally able to play, he and Scott were playing a quick game in the livingroom (yes, we play soccer in the livingroom - you can edit this part out for your kids if you don’t want them to hear such things). Since Sean is a ball wizard and Scott is just big (comparatively, you know), Scott just tried to push Sean around in order to make goals. But Sean is getting bigger too. So when one good push deserved another Scott found himself on the point of the livingroom table. Maybe some broken ribs, certainly bruised. It has been a few weeks of being careful when moving, but things are getting better.
It hasn’t stopped any of us from having fun in any case. Scott has chopped wood with Peter (a member of the church who lives down the road) and helped some others move house. The boys also got to go to a Genk game together. Sean has a season ticket to this professional soccer team’s games and usually goes with his best friend’s family. But the family and best friend were gone, so they lent us their passes. It was a great evening (especially since Genk won!)
Shirley has had some good time shopping. Our neighbor trusts Shirley when it comes to figuring out what to cook for the in-laws and what to buy for this season in fashion (especially since Shirley also finds VERY good deals). They have fun going shopping - even their daughters ask Shirley for advice. We also went together to the only mall in the area - it’s in Antwerp (about an hour away). One of the ladies Scott studies with had never been and wanted to go with Shirley,. It was a fun day for the ladies together.
Stephan finished up this section of school (the boys are in Easter vacation right now) with a school trip to London. He had a blast visiting all the typical sights (including Madame Tussauds again, but this time the English one), but he and his freind enjoyed Harrod’s the best. “That store is huge, and it has everything!”
EXTRAS
What’s coming up?
APRIL
Coffee day with readers
Youth activity and weekend
Single’s retreat
MAY
Ladies Day
Work Camp w/ youth
Listen Up! studio time
THANKS!
- For all the goodies from Muscatine!
- For your comments on the blog
- For the emails from Wisconsin
- For your prayers for the work here
It has been good to be together. Enjoy your time together too.
Love in Him,
Scott, Shirley,
Stephan and Sean Raab
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)