After 12 years and lots of hard work, tonight was Stephan's night. Students here have to wait until the day before the graduation to find out if they have passed or not. so yesterday was a little tense, but this evening was all fun.
It was amazing to feel how proud we are of Stephan and what he has done. To see him walking down the aisle, knowing that this is just the next step - but a big one! It was great to be able to talk to some of his teachers afterwards who said they would miss him.
And now on to the next step - quite a scary one, according to Stephan. He leaves for Harding on August 18 - to a place where he really doesn't know anyone (except for Shareya, who will also be attending there). He has met his roommate and is looking forward to that new life - but it is a new life. Making daily decisions without the push or help from parents. Scary, exciting, challenging!
Thursday, June 26, 2008
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
Orange!
For those who have been following the Euro 2008 games it cannot have been missed - the Netherlands is doing great! And everything is orange: milk, cheese, chips, bandages in the hospital, the fountains in Bern (where the "Orange Legion" fans are stationed). You can tell when the Dutch are playing by looking at the stadium - more than half will be completely orange!
What has impressed me the most about this team is that, for the first time in a long time, they play as a team. And, perhaps because they are winning and things are easier, they seem to want to put things in a right perspective. This picture is perfect (copyright PIERRE-PHILIPPE MARCOU/AFP/Getty Images) - orange everywhere and the players - who are also husbands and fathers - spending time with their children at the end of the game.
Go Holland!
What has impressed me the most about this team is that, for the first time in a long time, they play as a team. And, perhaps because they are winning and things are easier, they seem to want to put things in a right perspective. This picture is perfect (copyright PIERRE-PHILIPPE MARCOU/AFP/Getty Images) - orange everywhere and the players - who are also husbands and fathers - spending time with their children at the end of the game.
Go Holland!
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
Good news!
This past weekend was a youth weekend in Maastricht. The theme was "Telling the good news" so we put that into practice in lots of different ways. In Maastricht the young people personally handed out invitations to the Listen Up! concert, handed out "compliment cards" or distributed invitations to the concert. After spreading some good news, they also took some time to get to know Maastricht.
The next day, Sunday, the young people who could stay for the concert helped Listen Up! spread the good news. While Listen Up! was singing, they were helping at the door, talking to visitors, serving food or drinks, helping in the concert, or setting up and cleaning up. What a great opportunity to grow!
We had a wonderful turnout for the concert in Maastricht. There were visitors from our street, from the boys' school, from the local paper Scott works with, from the university students and from the local neighborhood as well as from other churches in the city. It was quite an international group as well. We are so thankful that God gives us these opportunities and look forward to the conversations we will be having in the coming days!
The next day, Sunday, the young people who could stay for the concert helped Listen Up! spread the good news. While Listen Up! was singing, they were helping at the door, talking to visitors, serving food or drinks, helping in the concert, or setting up and cleaning up. What a great opportunity to grow!
We had a wonderful turnout for the concert in Maastricht. There were visitors from our street, from the boys' school, from the local paper Scott works with, from the university students and from the local neighborhood as well as from other churches in the city. It was quite an international group as well. We are so thankful that God gives us these opportunities and look forward to the conversations we will be having in the coming days!
Monday, June 09, 2008
April-May Newsletter
I know it has been a while since the last newsletter, but here is what has been happening in our work and lives.
LIGHT in the Lowlands
Reaching out to the people of Belgium and the Netherlands
April/May 2008
There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. Romans 3:23-24
Dear brothers and sisters, family and friends,
I don’t know how the time can move so quickly, but once again a month has flown by so quickly that it has become two and a bit. But life is great in the Lord!
Busy and busy
One of the things I struggle with is deciding how busy I should be - or with what I should be busy. Committees can seem quite depressing (especially in the middle of a long meeting) and I am involved with quite a few. I help with committees on Bible camp, financial assistance, school and a local newspaper. I will be adding a community activity committee in July.
Sometimes it all feels like a bit much. At the same time, I know that many of these activities are the things that connect me to people i my life and in the community - and I like these things! So I continue to pray that God is able to use these moments to reach hearts as well.
In the meantime, we also continue with our studies and church activities, including youth days, a Ladies day, studies with univerisyt students and camp work days these past two months. You will have seen some of these on the blog, but I want to tell you a little bit more about a few of these - moments that were really exciting, seeing how God is working.
I have often mentioned how important our work with the youth is. I am proud that our young people are struggling to hold on to their faith - and are growing. So many young people today are simply abandoning their faith, often without even considering. We are trying to make sure that our young people have the tools they need to grow in faith and love.
In April we had the opportunity to go to Switzerland to play soccer. But the trip was much, much more than that. We ended up getting a group of 25 people together (definitely not all “young” people) to go play against teams from Germany, France, Austria and Switzerland (it sounds like the matches going on now!). But we also sat in a car together on the trip there and back, spent time worshipping together and got to know one another better. It was great to see the commeraderie in the teams. We had four teams there along with some great cheering sections.
Even more, we met and got to know Christians from all over Europe. One evening the young people stayed up late singing (wonderful music to fall asleep to). On Sunday we worshipped God together - in several languages. What a privilege! It was a wonderful opportunity. Now we are planning to do something of the sort at home (in Belgium and the Netherlands) before going again next year.
In May, on the weekend of Pentecost, we planned a weekend down at camp for the congregation. Once again, this was not a time just for young people, but rather a time that all ages could encourage one another. It was absolutely fantastic, passing all expectations.
Everyone helped one another, we were all able to learn from one another and we grew closer as a result - closer to God and closer to one another. Once again we got six new songs - what a blessing! Each time since last year that we get together, we challenge the young people and any present to write a song based on a text from the Bible. And they do! (you can hear these by going to www.gvcmaastricht.nl and clicking on the “Liedjes” tab).
In June we will be putting some of this closeness into practice when Listen Up! sings after a youth weekend. Everyone is inviting their friends, colleagues and classmates to the concert. It is exciting to see how many people (connected through all those committees!) have said that they will attend - wanting to know who we are more closely. It will be exciting to see what God will do with these opportunities in the coming months.
A funeral, a wedding, a birthday and a dinner
In these months we have also had many chances to share joy and sadness with our brothers and sisters. Our friend and colleague in Eindhoven, Roel de Gruyter, lost his mother (his father is now in the hospital - please pray!). On the other side, one of our former student members, Linda N., got married and we were able to share in her joy.
With RW I was glad that we could help out in any way. He had a birthday dinner with his whole family - a yearly family reunion - but didn’t have enough tables. We were able to help out - although the weather didn’t. And we have spent some very good times with LJ, just eating dinner, sharing coffee, or sitting in the garden, but always getting to know one another better and learning more about who God is.
God has given us all a family - His construction - in order to live and grow. We are loving living this real life and all the busyness it brings!
PRAYER WARRIORS
Please keep the following in your prayers.
- Pray specifically for the youth weekend and concert - our outreach to the city in June! Many of our friends, neighbors and co-workers will be attending!
- Continue to pray for Mr. W. and LJ as we continue to study together. your prayers for them and for me mean a lot!
- Praise and thank God for the wonderful times we are experiencing as a church family! We want to use this to continue growing in faith and love.
- Pray for our regular visitors A., S.,V. S has mentioned that she is ready to take the next step!
- Our high school seniors need your prayers as they finish their final exams and get ready to move on in their lives.
- Please keep our summer Bible camp preparations in your prayers. This is a very important time for our young people and for the church in Belgium and the Netherlands.
DID YOU KNOW?
Tidbits of information about Belgium and the Netherlands
Art!?
From the Renaissance to Impressionists, both Dutch and Belgian painters are well-known throughout the world. Taste varies, of course, but in the Netherlands and Belgium you can find almost any kind of art you might like. From Rembrandt , Frans Hals and Vermeer (Dutchmen), to Rubens, Brueghel - both Jans and Pieters (Belgian). The Dutch gave us Van Gogh, M.C. Escher and Mondriaan, while the Belgians offer James Ensor and René Magritte (the heads with apples). Even the bunny “Miffy” (her name in Dutch is Nijntje) is from Dutchman Dick Bruna.
Have you come across something typically Dutch or Belgian? What did you think of it? Let us know. s.raabs@tele2allin.be
What’s coming up?
JULY
Canadian students
Marseille trip
Camp weeks
AUGUST
Camp
Listen Up! concert
THANKS!
- For your emails and comments - it is good to hear from you!
- for your prayers and encouragement
- for good advice and help for the future with Stephan
ON THE FAMILY SIDE . . .
You would think that two months would present plenty of time to do all sorts of things. And I am sure that all sorts of things happened, but sometimes the days seem to be very normal - so you wonder, when you look back on them, what happened.
As far as school goes, the boys have been soldiering on, trying to make sure that homework gets done and tests passed. This being Stephan’s last year, he is especially aware of the need to make sure things go well. He has been busy getting things ready for Harding in the Fall - but first things first. He will need to pass this year, of course. Sean has completely gotten used to his “new” school from this year. And it has even been interesting to see the guys helping each other with various school problems.
Stephan has been working on his GIP which is a sort of research paper covering all of his disciplines. The preface needs to be in French, the acknowledgment in English (the rest in Dutch, of course) and the various parts covering Biology, Chemistry, Economics, etc. All of this with the theme of “bread” (one of the themes they were allowed to choose from, as long as it had to do with food). This has covered all year and is finally coming to an end.
For a weekend in April all of the “guys” left for a weekend. Scott, Stephan and Sean went with about 20 other people (youth and adults) from the church in Belgium and the Netherlands to an indoor soccer tournament organized by the church in Switzerland. Friday evening driving down, Saturday all day playing, Sunday worshipping and driving home after the final games. It was intense and fun. It was pretty quiet back at the house, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing!
At the end of May we welcomed Anina Zingg for a few days. She is one of the organizers this year of the soccer tournament; she is a 19 year-old from Schaffhausen. Since she was traveling all over Europe (getting in some travel before she starts back to school) and was doing the Belgian/Dutch wing of the trip, we were glad to be able to host her here for a few days. It got us thinking of all the traveling and meeting that Stephan will soon be doing in the States. It’s good to know that there are people who will care well for him.
One of the more interesting, exciting, but at the same time slightly scary things has been our house. We have never really been able to do too much to fix parts that needed fixing, but recently we became more and more aware that something had to be done to one of our walls. As a result we have torn out a closet (exposing how wet one of the walls really was!) and have starting talking to an architect about what we can do to remedy the situation. It is exciting to look at what might be in the future. It’s slightly frightening to think of the extent of changes needed to make this possible. But it will be a good adventure - one we take together.
We pray that you have been able to enjoy and survive the challenges in your life these past two month and more. With God in our lives it will always be a good day!
Have a great day today!
LIGHT in the Lowlands
Reaching out to the people of Belgium and the Netherlands
April/May 2008
There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. Romans 3:23-24
Dear brothers and sisters, family and friends,
I don’t know how the time can move so quickly, but once again a month has flown by so quickly that it has become two and a bit. But life is great in the Lord!
Busy and busy
One of the things I struggle with is deciding how busy I should be - or with what I should be busy. Committees can seem quite depressing (especially in the middle of a long meeting) and I am involved with quite a few. I help with committees on Bible camp, financial assistance, school and a local newspaper. I will be adding a community activity committee in July.
Sometimes it all feels like a bit much. At the same time, I know that many of these activities are the things that connect me to people i my life and in the community - and I like these things! So I continue to pray that God is able to use these moments to reach hearts as well.
In the meantime, we also continue with our studies and church activities, including youth days, a Ladies day, studies with univerisyt students and camp work days these past two months. You will have seen some of these on the blog, but I want to tell you a little bit more about a few of these - moments that were really exciting, seeing how God is working.
I have often mentioned how important our work with the youth is. I am proud that our young people are struggling to hold on to their faith - and are growing. So many young people today are simply abandoning their faith, often without even considering. We are trying to make sure that our young people have the tools they need to grow in faith and love.
In April we had the opportunity to go to Switzerland to play soccer. But the trip was much, much more than that. We ended up getting a group of 25 people together (definitely not all “young” people) to go play against teams from Germany, France, Austria and Switzerland (it sounds like the matches going on now!). But we also sat in a car together on the trip there and back, spent time worshipping together and got to know one another better. It was great to see the commeraderie in the teams. We had four teams there along with some great cheering sections.
Even more, we met and got to know Christians from all over Europe. One evening the young people stayed up late singing (wonderful music to fall asleep to). On Sunday we worshipped God together - in several languages. What a privilege! It was a wonderful opportunity. Now we are planning to do something of the sort at home (in Belgium and the Netherlands) before going again next year.
In May, on the weekend of Pentecost, we planned a weekend down at camp for the congregation. Once again, this was not a time just for young people, but rather a time that all ages could encourage one another. It was absolutely fantastic, passing all expectations.
Everyone helped one another, we were all able to learn from one another and we grew closer as a result - closer to God and closer to one another. Once again we got six new songs - what a blessing! Each time since last year that we get together, we challenge the young people and any present to write a song based on a text from the Bible. And they do! (you can hear these by going to www.gvcmaastricht.nl and clicking on the “Liedjes” tab).In June we will be putting some of this closeness into practice when Listen Up! sings after a youth weekend. Everyone is inviting their friends, colleagues and classmates to the concert. It is exciting to see how many people (connected through all those committees!) have said that they will attend - wanting to know who we are more closely. It will be exciting to see what God will do with these opportunities in the coming months.
A funeral, a wedding, a birthday and a dinner
In these months we have also had many chances to share joy and sadness with our brothers and sisters. Our friend and colleague in Eindhoven, Roel de Gruyter, lost his mother (his father is now in the hospital - please pray!). On the other side, one of our former student members, Linda N., got married and we were able to share in her joy.
With RW I was glad that we could help out in any way. He had a birthday dinner with his whole family - a yearly family reunion - but didn’t have enough tables. We were able to help out - although the weather didn’t. And we have spent some very good times with LJ, just eating dinner, sharing coffee, or sitting in the garden, but always getting to know one another better and learning more about who God is.
God has given us all a family - His construction - in order to live and grow. We are loving living this real life and all the busyness it brings!
PRAYER WARRIORS
Please keep the following in your prayers.
- Pray specifically for the youth weekend and concert - our outreach to the city in June! Many of our friends, neighbors and co-workers will be attending!
- Continue to pray for Mr. W. and LJ as we continue to study together. your prayers for them and for me mean a lot!
- Praise and thank God for the wonderful times we are experiencing as a church family! We want to use this to continue growing in faith and love.
- Pray for our regular visitors A., S.,V. S has mentioned that she is ready to take the next step!
- Our high school seniors need your prayers as they finish their final exams and get ready to move on in their lives.
- Please keep our summer Bible camp preparations in your prayers. This is a very important time for our young people and for the church in Belgium and the Netherlands.
DID YOU KNOW?
Tidbits of information about Belgium and the Netherlands
Art!?
From the Renaissance to Impressionists, both Dutch and Belgian painters are well-known throughout the world. Taste varies, of course, but in the Netherlands and Belgium you can find almost any kind of art you might like. From Rembrandt , Frans Hals and Vermeer (Dutchmen), to Rubens, Brueghel - both Jans and Pieters (Belgian). The Dutch gave us Van Gogh, M.C. Escher and Mondriaan, while the Belgians offer James Ensor and René Magritte (the heads with apples). Even the bunny “Miffy” (her name in Dutch is Nijntje) is from Dutchman Dick Bruna.
Have you come across something typically Dutch or Belgian? What did you think of it? Let us know. s.raabs@tele2allin.be
What’s coming up?
JULY
Canadian students
Marseille trip
Camp weeks
AUGUST
Camp
Listen Up! concert
THANKS!
- For your emails and comments - it is good to hear from you!
- for your prayers and encouragement
- for good advice and help for the future with Stephan
ON THE FAMILY SIDE . . .
You would think that two months would present plenty of time to do all sorts of things. And I am sure that all sorts of things happened, but sometimes the days seem to be very normal - so you wonder, when you look back on them, what happened.
As far as school goes, the boys have been soldiering on, trying to make sure that homework gets done and tests passed. This being Stephan’s last year, he is especially aware of the need to make sure things go well. He has been busy getting things ready for Harding in the Fall - but first things first. He will need to pass this year, of course. Sean has completely gotten used to his “new” school from this year. And it has even been interesting to see the guys helping each other with various school problems.
Stephan has been working on his GIP which is a sort of research paper covering all of his disciplines. The preface needs to be in French, the acknowledgment in English (the rest in Dutch, of course) and the various parts covering Biology, Chemistry, Economics, etc. All of this with the theme of “bread” (one of the themes they were allowed to choose from, as long as it had to do with food). This has covered all year and is finally coming to an end.
For a weekend in April all of the “guys” left for a weekend. Scott, Stephan and Sean went with about 20 other people (youth and adults) from the church in Belgium and the Netherlands to an indoor soccer tournament organized by the church in Switzerland. Friday evening driving down, Saturday all day playing, Sunday worshipping and driving home after the final games. It was intense and fun. It was pretty quiet back at the house, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing!
At the end of May we welcomed Anina Zingg for a few days. She is one of the organizers this year of the soccer tournament; she is a 19 year-old from Schaffhausen. Since she was traveling all over Europe (getting in some travel before she starts back to school) and was doing the Belgian/Dutch wing of the trip, we were glad to be able to host her here for a few days. It got us thinking of all the traveling and meeting that Stephan will soon be doing in the States. It’s good to know that there are people who will care well for him.One of the more interesting, exciting, but at the same time slightly scary things has been our house. We have never really been able to do too much to fix parts that needed fixing, but recently we became more and more aware that something had to be done to one of our walls. As a result we have torn out a closet (exposing how wet one of the walls really was!) and have starting talking to an architect about what we can do to remedy the situation. It is exciting to look at what might be in the future. It’s slightly frightening to think of the extent of changes needed to make this possible. But it will be a good adventure - one we take together.
We pray that you have been able to enjoy and survive the challenges in your life these past two month and more. With God in our lives it will always be a good day!
Have a great day today!
Thursday, June 05, 2008
An Italian, French-speaking Belgian, Philipino Christian
When Mishell first visited us, we asked which language she spoke.
You see, she came with Philip and Susanne. Philip is from Togo, but he has lived quite a while in Germany and speaks German in addition to English. His wife Susanne is Aramean, but is born and raised i Germany, so speaks German. But she also speaks English. They have two children who speak German, but who are now learning French, since Philip and Susanne have moved to Belgium and settled in the French-speaking city of Liege.
Mishell is in French class with Susanne. She was looking for a church to attend and "happened" to be in class with Susanne, who just "happened" to know of a church where they attended. So Mishell came along on the 30-40 minute drive (a long drive for people here) Sunday morning. Mishell speaks English (and French now, of course). We were intrigued how she got to Belgium and learned that she had married a Belgian - an Italian Belgian.
You see, the area where we live is coal mining country. Back when the mines were open, there were a lot of guest workers, in Belgium and the Netherlands. in the area where we live that meant Italians, Turks, Greeks and Poles. The same has been true in Liege. So there is a rather large group of Italian-speaking, French-speaking Liegeois. And one of them is Mishell's new husband. They have been married just short of two years.
We were also interested in Mishell's faith. She obviously loved the Lord, since she was searching for a place to worship, was willing to go to the trouble of a longer ride, and do this with a family she was only just getting to know. It was also obvious in talking with her that she knew her Bible and saw the importance of not only reading the Bible but putting it into practice in her daily life. What an encouragement! It turns out (and I still want to learn the rest of the story) that she came to faith in Hong Kong and was baptized in the sea! But now she is our French-speaking, Italo-Belgian, Philipino sister in Maastricht.
Where we come from is much less important than where we are going.
You see, she came with Philip and Susanne. Philip is from Togo, but he has lived quite a while in Germany and speaks German in addition to English. His wife Susanne is Aramean, but is born and raised i Germany, so speaks German. But she also speaks English. They have two children who speak German, but who are now learning French, since Philip and Susanne have moved to Belgium and settled in the French-speaking city of Liege.
Mishell is in French class with Susanne. She was looking for a church to attend and "happened" to be in class with Susanne, who just "happened" to know of a church where they attended. So Mishell came along on the 30-40 minute drive (a long drive for people here) Sunday morning. Mishell speaks English (and French now, of course). We were intrigued how she got to Belgium and learned that she had married a Belgian - an Italian Belgian.
You see, the area where we live is coal mining country. Back when the mines were open, there were a lot of guest workers, in Belgium and the Netherlands. in the area where we live that meant Italians, Turks, Greeks and Poles. The same has been true in Liege. So there is a rather large group of Italian-speaking, French-speaking Liegeois. And one of them is Mishell's new husband. They have been married just short of two years.
We were also interested in Mishell's faith. She obviously loved the Lord, since she was searching for a place to worship, was willing to go to the trouble of a longer ride, and do this with a family she was only just getting to know. It was also obvious in talking with her that she knew her Bible and saw the importance of not only reading the Bible but putting it into practice in her daily life. What an encouragement! It turns out (and I still want to learn the rest of the story) that she came to faith in Hong Kong and was baptized in the sea! But now she is our French-speaking, Italo-Belgian, Philipino sister in Maastricht.
Where we come from is much less important than where we are going.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)