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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