Summer summary

This has been a busy summer period, as is most often the case for us. But busy doesn’t mean bothersome. We love all the things we are challenged with and enjoy – albeit oft times afterwards – the struggles we have had and new things we have learned. Here are some of our blessings this summer. 

We enjoyed meeting, spending time with and worshipping with Nicole from South Africa, Danii and Jonathan from the US, and Mark and Roxi and family (from the US) who were visiting our precious Jonathan and Lauren (and Anderson). We welcomed the Goodpastures on a Wednesday evening and heard them share the Word and then met them again later that week worshipping with the church in Brussels.

The 2^nd day of Pentecost was a great opportunity to speak with members from around Belgium and the Netherlands and be challenged to continue preaching and living the Word. We are planning more evangelization throughout the country in response to some of what was said that day – but more about that later.

Ardennen Bijbelkamp holds four weeks of camp each summer: Youth (15+ years-old), Benjamins (8-11 years-old), Teens (12-14 years-old) and Family (everyone welcome). We directed and cooked at the last two weeks.

For Teen Camp we were blessed with a very varied group of 13 young people. We had expected a low turnout, but this is quite a good turnout for one of our weeks. Joshua and Judges – Be strong and courageous – was the them for the week. 

One of our challenges from the beginning was how to mix things up. Boys and girls at that age don’t want to sit together, but we also had various cultural differences. Still, with a few challenges here and there, the end of the week had everyone talking together, playing together and truly getting to know one another. God is amazing!

We were also pleased to be able to train some new people during this week. Paul and Deysi Quiel, who live and worship in Haarlem, were assistand camp leader and crafts director. We also had two new counselors in Prisca and Lesley. It is so important to give new people the chance to try out what God can do with them. We were especially proud of the young ladies for taking on this responsibility and trying new things. Be strong and courageous – God is with us!

At Family Camp we looked at Serving - every day, in every way. As is usual with Family camp, every day was a surprise. Some people come for a few days, others for the whole week.  We were especially blessed with the R. family – a mother with 5 boys ranging from 11 years-old to 6 months. I was struck by the realization of how much my mother must have had to put up with, how much courage she must have had, when I was growing up (I have 1 sister and 4 brothers).

During the week we took the opportunity to serve in the village. Our local milk farmer, Lucienne asked me – as we sat drinking coffee following a sweaty clearing of old tires and hawthorn hedge clippings – why we would do this. This is the fourth year that we offer this in the village, but usually it is the teens. This time it was the ‘old’ folks. I explained that if we really wanted to learn about serving, then we had to be willing to put it into practice as well.

The last day of camp is also a Family Day. This year was organized by the congregation in Maastricht.

You can see pictures of our two weeks in the Ardennes over at our picture site. Teen camp. Family camp. Family Day.

Looking ahead

In the coming months our schedules are already full. Sean is starting in to his last year of journalism school in Brussels. He is also moving from his present room to a flat shared by two other students (one of them the drummer in his band). We have been moving his stuff (through the traffic jam that is Brussels) and finding more stuff for the coming year.

We are also starting our other studies up after a summer break. We will be meeting at least once a month with the family in Valkenburg. With H. I will be looking at the book of Romans. He requested that we get more into the Bible (and he usually prefers the Old Testament)! We were also asked by LJ to get back to a Bible study. We have already started and are excited about her desire to learn and the opportunities for growth for all of us.

We hope to continue meeting with our neighbors, continuing along the Meeting Jesus studies. At the beginning of summer we closed off the previous session with a wonderful barbecue together where we all shared food and time together. 

Shirley sells used clothing on a sort of ‘craigslist’ here (called Marktplaats) and has developed a relationship with a few of her buyers who live close by. Be praying for these opportunities.

In September the church in Maastricht has a youth weekend planned where we will get together with the church from Cologne – in Aachen (halfway for both of us) to sing and encourage one another. The next weekend is a Men’s Retreat down at camp. Before all of this gets started there is a meeting in Amsterdam about how we can better work together as congregations in evangelizing throughout the country.

Along these lines, Maastricht is also participating in a Family Day held by the Limburg churches. This is an effort to get the congregations working together to see how we can better help one another and in this way spread the grace of Christ further. This Family day, as well as a Ladies Day organized by the ladies from Limburg, will be in October. LAUS, the singing group set up for evangelism this Spring, will also sing.

In the meantime, we will also begin our 1^st Wednesday singing again with the members from Liége and any others who want to come. Where will you be on September 2? Come sing with us in Maastricht! We are looking forward to how God is going to use us in these coming months.