Reaching out to the people of Belgium and the Netherlands
Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for he who loves his fellow man has fulfilled the law. ... The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. Romans 14:8,12
Dear brothers and sisters, family and friends,
It is always so good to be able to sit and talk with you all. I am sorry that it has taken so long to get another letter sent out - especially since there have been so many good things going on. Let me tell you quickly about as many as I have space for.
Outreach and church life
As we try more and more to get to know our neighborhood better, we are excited about the possibilities. As mentioned in the last newsletter, Scott is now working on the local neighborhood newspaper. Not only is this an opportunity to get to know people better, Scott has already had some opportunities to write some articles as well. In May we had some flyers printed up to pass out in the neighborhood and are looking forward to the contacts this will bring through the summer and Fall.
Our youth activities each month continue to be good times of fellowship and good fun for the young people and the parents. This has been a good chance to have family time and reach out to the friends we have as well. We have consistently had children at these activities who are not regular church-goers, and their parents come as well. Pray for these opportunities. We had two youth activites and a youth weekend in these past two months. The youth weekend in Antwerp focused on how we worship God.
In addition to these types of outreach activities, we are enjoying a good family life as well in the church. We have gotten together for lunch or dinner, held the weekly Bible study at a family home, gone shopping together and basically just kept building on the family bond we have. We are so thankful for the family that God has placed us in! He knows how much we all need each other in so many ways (even some ways we don’t like but which are good for us - like learning patience, love or bearing with one another).
Another great opportunity recently has been a Ladies Day held in Antwerp. Almost all of our ladies attended this day of fellowship and study together. It was great to see and hear our sister Nel after this Saturday. She usually cannot make it to these events, but was already wanting to plan the next one when she got back to Maastricht. Fellowship is contagious: get infected whenever you get the chance!
Regular activities
Scott continues to be involved weekly with teaching English through the Bible, teaching English to asylum-seekers at the Red Cross center, working with the local school, Bible studies with International students from the university and working with the local newspaper. These are efforts, some more direct than others, to influence people’s lives with the love and goodness of the only true King.
- some of the international students -Listen Up!
May saw the beginning of recording sessions for Listen Up! We are so thankful for this opportunity to sing! The songs have been ready for some time and still it can be a wonderful struggle to let them speak. We are especially thankful to be able to work with Kjell, the studio owner. Good conversations about life with God intersperse the moments of singing. Hopefully this second CD will be ready by September.
PRAYER WARRIORS
Please keep the following in your prayers.
- Thank God for the further contact we are able to build up through the local newspaper and the efforts from the past few months. Please continue to pray for this contact in the neighborhood.
- Our studies with Angelique, Mieke, Cor and Titia, and Gerard continue. Please keep them in your prayers.
- Pray for oiur brother and sister Tim and Jane, both of whom are struggling with a depression, and continue to pray for Roger and Yvonne who are both considering giving their lives to Christ.
ON THE FAMILY SIDE . . .
It seems that teeth have taken over the last few months. Everyone needs ‘em, and boy does your face look strange without ‘em, but when they are hurting it can be a real pain (obviously!). Sean has had regular visits to the orthodontist for braces. At the end of May he finally got the braces for the lower part of his teeth. We had been waiting for a ‘baby’ tooth to fall out. In the end we just had to have it pulled. So now Sean has braces on all of his teeth - or almost. Actually, his lower teeth were so crooked, and there was such a gap from the pulled tooth, that the orthodontist only put blocks on the front lower teeth to pull them in line. In June she will look at going further.
But this wasn’t most of the fun for Sean in the past few months. He has spent most of his time with the physical therapist. We thought that this all came from an injury with soccer - and maybe that helped (if you can put it that way), but it turns out that Sean was just growing too quickly. Once he finished with working on the achilles tendon on his left leg, it started up on his right leg. Thankfully it has now all finished. For those of you who have been following this soap opera - Sean finally got to put on his new soccer kit and go out to play with his new ball (JOY!!). He is looking forward to starting back up with a real team in the Fall.
Stephan finished off his braces a while back, but at a regular check-up the dentist pointed out that his wisdom teeth (Stephan’s, not the dentist’s) were already pushing in and would ruin all that good work if we didn’t do something about it. So we made an appointment to have his wisdom teeth pulled. Since he has teeth like Scott’s (who had his wisdom teeth out a few years back) they would need to be surgically removed. Thankfully he recovered quite quickly. In fact, two days after the operation he went off on the train with Sean to visit some freinds in the Netherlands for a birthday party. Nothing could keep him from playing some basketball with his friends. He is looking forward to getting back into a regular league in the Fall.
So then we come to Shirley and Scott. Scott simply had a filling fall out and a cavity needed filling. But Shirley was struggling with major pain. We thought it might be a sinus infection or something wrong with her jaw. The dentist had assured us that there was nothing wrong with her tooth. When we finally got a second opinion, we found a cracked tooth with a damaged nerve needing urgent attention. Thankfully we have a better dentist now who took care of the problem until it can be completely cared for (beginning of June).
All of this could not dampen our enjoyment of the days together and the good things we are offered each and every day. God is so giving! Shirley surprised Scott (with willing help from the boys) with a trip to celebrate their getting together 25 years ago (on the steps of the church building in The Hague!). While the boys stayed home, Scott and Shirley headed off to Brughe, the coast, Lille and a spa for a couple days. We are so thankful for such good young men who take good care of each other (and the house).
KID'S KORNER
Come on summer!
Spring hasn’t even really arrived, but we are looking forward to the summer. Sean is of course looking forward to the World Cup - the matches are being played not far from here. But summer for him also means lots of time outside playing soccer with his friends.
Stephan has returned to playing basketball quite regularly and will look forward to doing more of that in the summer as well. Mostly summer for him means no school, camp - where he can see his friends, and enjoying any and all free time. This summer he might be getting a summer job.
What does summer mean to you? What will you be doing this summer? Let us know.
e-mail Stephan at: greenleaf@tele2allin.be
e-mail Sean at: dudeis2cool4u@hotmail.com
EXTRAS
What’s coming up?
JUNE
Youth activity
Church study day
JULY
Camp weeks
AUGUST
PEL in Brussels
Family Day organized by Maastricht
THANKS!
- For the continued support from the church in Brughe and Roeselare
- For your emails and comments on the blog. It is great to know that you are following what is happening in our lives.
- For your prayers for the work here
Enjoy all that God has given you - today!
Love in Him,
Scott, Shirley,
Stephan and Sean Raab
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