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Although we were far from idle during our Home Assignment – we enjoyed visiting with life groups, taking part in prayer breakfast’s, preaching and reporting on our work, and doing what we could from a distance via email or phone – it is good to be back and able to get back to work. When people ask what I do, I tell them, “I tell people about Jesus.” And although we do that wherever we are, we are thankful to be able to do that in this area of the world.

So, in the last week since we have been home, we have jumped right back into the activities we left in May. We are starting up various studies with those who are getting to know Jesus and with the congregation. We were so thankful to be able to see our sister, Willemien, again. She even remarked, “Oh, are you home already? I thought you weren’t coming back ‘til next week.”

In addition to the studies we had before leaving, there were several projects taking shape when we left. Now we can give these our full attention. We want to see how we can best serve the refugee population, which is arriving everywhere in Europe. The books we helped translate into Dutch will be a help in letting them meet Jesus. Now we just need to start making contact in earnest. Your prayers for this effort would be greatly appreciated. There is a workshop planned in Athens in November which we are considering attending. The church there has already had quite a bit of experience, which they can pass on.

In October we are planning a singing workshop for the congregations in Belgium and the Netherlands. This will be a day (hopefully this will be a twice-yearly event) to learn how to read music, learn new songs, practice singing, and enjoy singing together. In September, we in Maastricht will get together again with the church from Cologne, Germany to sing together for an afternoon. We did this last year and not only enjoyed the fellowship, but were encouraged by the opportunity to share Christ’s love with visitors in this way.

At this moment our summer Bible camps have started. The older teens are just finishing up their week and the younger teens will be starting tomorrow. The Benjamins are the week after, and during Family camp I will be bringing two of the lessons from 1 & 2 Peter. In the meantime, we have also already gotten together to think about and plan the youth activities for the coming year.

Sometimes it is easy to fall back into old patterns after a break. That can be good – if they are good habits. But we were greatly encouraged by some good ideas during our travels as well. We want to implement some of these changes in our lives – so now is the time, before we get too settled in our old routines. Thank you for your ideas, encouragement and challenges! We appreciate your prayers for strength and perseverance in serving each day.

It has been especially good this week to see all the people we so missed while away. It is a real blessing to have so many ‘homes’ with people whom we love and who love us. We have already had a great afternoon visit with our colleagues, Ruud en Karla, who just returned from the wedding of their daughter in Korea. And we have been able to worship wholeheartedly, singing with loud voice, with the congregation in Maastricht – although not everyone is yet returned from vacation.

Although our travels sometimes seem a distant dream, we hold fast to the encouragement they brought us as we move forward today, and tomorrow. There is work to be done God is mighty working through His body, His children, everywhere we all are!

Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong. Do everything in love.  1 Corinthians 16:13-14

On the road again (again)

The last 5 days of our time in the United States was spent on a road trip in California. Back in 2010 we took a road trip with Stephan – the last time he was able to travel with us. This time we traveled with Sean (perhaps the last time he will be traveling with us), two of his friends and the father of his best friend. It was a furious few days of fun with 5 guys and a gal in a van.

We drove up along the Pacific Coast Highway until we could marvel at the beauty of Big Sur (arriving almost at sunset). Elephant seals, coastal views, Carmel-by-the-Sea and laughter in the van got us to Monterey for the night.

The next day we drove on to San Francisco and the Golden Gate bridge. Having been warned, we all had a sweater or jacket – and it was necessary. But what a view! Mind you, some people enjoy heights and others do not. Still, we got plenty of pictures of the fog rolling in. We heard later that an hour after we left on that day a whole pod of whales was seen feeding not far from the bridge. We didn’t see them, but we did enjoy the Warming Hut (actually very necessary) and headed on to our hostel in the city.

Our evening in San Francisco allowed us to drink in the excitement and life. From our busy hostel downtown, to Union Square with live music, the Apple store, trolley rides down to the wharf where we watched the sunset and had an In-n-out burger (finally) and then back to the hostel via a mega-climb up Lombard street to the trolley.

The next day took us to Yosemite valley with its majestic beauty. Breathtaking scenery, cool clear water, and tons of tourists (of whom we were 6). Climbing the slippery rocks by the falls, gawking at yet another amazing view as we wound our way with the days’ traffic out of the park. Fresno put us up for the night after we finally were able to find a gas station (just in time).

Another day, another amazing park – Sequoia/King’s Canyon this time. One hears about these trees, one sees pictures of others standing next to them, but until you are there, it simply doesn’t sink in. These things are real, not something out of a Tolkien story! Massive, stretching into the heavens, these gentle giants grow on the shoulders of mountains with just as massive and amazing valleys and vistas. Our eyes were not enough – our hearts had to open to God’s beauty and glory!

And then – as quickly as it had begun – it was done. We were able to visit the beach again, peacefully, and Shirley went shopping in Beverly Hills for the day. We were able to share and worship with the church again before getting packed and ready to return to reality. Because that is often what it feels like – like we have been in a dream. We have been so blessed by the beautiful things we have seen – in nature and in people.

As we return, we are just as excited, because we are coming home. We have missed everyone here and there is so much to do. First, of course, are the ‘necessaries’ – the lawn has grown to my knees, the weeds on the driveway are swallowing the stones and the emails and appointments are knocking at the door. So we are thankful for the encouragement we have had with God’s family in the US, breathing in God’s wonder in His nature, and sharing all that we have with those around us. Now it is time to do the same here.

And there is a lot to do: we have already started some of our studies and visits, lessons are being written for Family Camp, invitations for a song workshop in October, plans for reaching out to refugees in our area need to be made and much more. It is exciting that, no matter where we are (no matter where you are), God has so much for us to do, so many ways that He would like to use us. Look what he does with wind and water and rock and wood and dirt (all that natural beauty) and then thrill at what He will be able to do with us when we allow Him full rein in our lives. Let’s get on the road again!

For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.  Ephesians 2:10

Check out our pictures from the road trip here.

Home away from home

About 30 years ago we were considering how we could best serve the Lord, wherever He would take us. We travelled to Belgium and the Netherlands – having had experience there – and made plans for a team to go to Belgium. This didn’t materialize, but we then had a request from two Dutch couples to join them in establishing the church in Maastricht, the Netherlands, just over the border with Belgium.

In 1991 we moved to Belgium to join our colleagues, Ruud and Karla Verheijen, and begin working with the church. From the beginning the church in Long Beach, California, has been our supporting church and family. Since 1995 we have returned on Home Assignment every three years to report to our congregations, visit family, and recharge our batteries. And every time we have found a refreshing welcome and welcoming family with the church in Long Beach.

We have always been amazed at the open-heartedness of God’s family in so many places. In California we have always stayed with brothers and sisters who say – and mean, “Make yourself at home. Our home is your home.” Because this is California, these have been homes with swimming pools, parks in the area, and plenty of sun. But they have also been homes with kids for our boys to make friends with, couples who encourage us, and a great atmosphere of rest and peace.

California is the land of the automobile, and yet people are willing to lend us their cars for our time here. We are showered with opportunities to have fun (Disneyland in the past, beaches or shopping these days) interspersed with times of spiritual refreshment with brothers and sisters. Not to mention that we get to see and feel the sun (or did I mention that already?).

It is the people, our family of Christ here, that makes this place our home away from home. People who continue to welcome us in, to ask about how God has been working in our lives and to share how God is challenging them as well. They are also trying to see how God can use them to spread good news in their neighborhoods, no matter where they are.

This stay, we also got to introduce Marc and Wouter to our family and home in California. It has been wonderful to share the loving hearts that have so long blessed us. One of the things we continue to hear is that the people they (Marc and Wouter) meet are so welcoming and hospitable. And this is so true – not only in California, but everywhere we have been.

Our last week on this two month journey of visits was a roadtrip with Sean and his friends – a quick 5 day jaunt up the coast to San Francisco and back down along Yosemite and Sequoia parks. But more on that next time. For now, in the last two days we are here, we will enjoy time with our brothers and sisters in our home away from home.

Check out some of our pictures of the California leg of our trip here. I will be updating this set and adding a set from the roadtrip soon.

I always thank my God as I remember you in my prayers, because I hear about your love for all his holy people and your faith in the Lord Jesus. I pray that your partnership with us in the faith may be effective in deepening your understanding of every good thing we share for the sake of Christ. Your love has given me great joy and encouragement, because you, brother, have refreshed the hearts of the Lord’s people. Philemon 4-7

Indy-pendence, In dependents, (In) dependence

We are not made to be alone. We start out life dependent on our parents but trying to do everything on our own as quickly as possible. We learn to walk, to eat, to tie our shoes – so much that we can do “all on our own.” But we are not on our own. We are part of a family. And further along, that family only gets bigger. We are made to be together, to be with “one another”.

One of the first things we did in Indianapolis was to get together downtown with family – Scott’s brother and his family. The ‘Indy” sign makes it possible for you to be the “I” in “Indy”. But we enjoyed being a whole group strolling along the canal, escaping the heat under the bridge, sharing conversations as we got to know each other well. We don’t see each other very often.

The airport was the scene for the first of our family moments as Natalie came to pick us up with her mom, Pauline, and sister, Hailey. Later we would also all go to pick up Sean, Wouter and Marc. And all of us invaded Jay and Pauline’s and Stephan and Natalie’s homes, but it is family.

It was such a blessing to be able to use a car, as Scott and Shirley visited other family before Sean arrived. A day to South Bend meant a great visit with Stef Bardoel at Notre Dame university. Another evening meant a visit to Mark and Beth Chenowith who have been such an encouragement to us in previous visits, sharing their home. Now we were able to share our hearts again in challenging conversations about the future and how we can be used for God. We are made to be together – we need times like these.

Before Sean and the guys arrived, we enjoyed being able to just be part of anything and everything that was happening. Scott was happy to get al sweaty helping build the new deck, Shirley spent a morning with the ladies getting nails done, we watched a bit of football along the way and we enjoyed snacks or food whenever we even thought about it, thanks to Pauline’s good care.

When “the guys” arrived (Sean, Wouter and Marc), it was just in time to watch Belgium play. Together-time is also important in moments of commiseration. And then we were able to connect again with Scott’s brother, Michael and family, for a day of fun, food and music. Although the weather had by this time turned greyer and colder (though never really cold), getting to talk and sing together always warms things up.

It is here in Indianapolis that two families meet. Scott’s brother lives here as do Stephan and Natalie and her parents. It was especially nice to see how Wouter and Marc have been taken up into this whole group of two families. This is what family means, and it will always be a time and place of beauty for those who have experienced it.

We enjoyed our dependence on one another – driving to and fro, building things together, playing games, putting more places out as Natalie’s sister and fiancé also joined us, finding fun things to do together – everything is a bit more complicated with more, but also exciting and fun. Together we filled up the days around Independence Day in Indy. The guys enjoyed playing ping-pong and Axis & Allies. We watched a few movies together, watched fireworks, tried to make s’mores on the stove (since it was now raining outside) and got a free concert from Sean.

Indepenedence Day was a day of American activities. In the morning the guys went shooting at a range. In the afternoon we enjoyed a meal together. In the evening we went bowling and then walking along a trail with lots of other people on their way to a festival and firewroks (it wasn’t yet raining). But this day was also a day of saying goodbye. The following day we would move on to our next destination. You can see the pictures of our Indy stay here. 

It will not be easy for Shirley to leave one of her little boys behind after waiting so long to see him again. We know how independent our children must be, but it is not always easy to see. We are so thankful that we were able to spend this time together. We are thankful most of all for the realisation that we are dependent and can depend on the great might and grace of our Lord – always and everywhere.

Now may our God and Father himself and our Lord Jesus clear the way for us to come to you. May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else, just as ours does for you. May he strengthen your hearts so that you will be blameless and holy in the presence of our God and Father when our Lord Jesus comes with all his holy ones.   1 Thessalonians 3:11-13