Daily doin's

Sometimes it is hard to figure out what to put in this space. We want so much to keep you up to date on what we are doing, but so often it feels like we are simply doing the things we do every day. So let me take the time to just update you on what we are doing. 

Studies

This year we are working through the theme of “In the world but not of the world”. For our Wednesday evening study I have been working through the letters to the churches which give us some practical tips on living as children of God. We started with the letter to the Ephesians and will be looking at the armor of God next Wednesday. On Sunday mornings I have been looking at what the word “holy” means and how we can be holy. 

In addition to these studies with the church I have also been enjoying working through the Acts of the Apostles with a seeker on Thursday mornings with my colleague, Ruud. On about two Mondays a month Shirley and I are also at another couple from the church for a study in Ezechiel. It is exciting and challenging to see how God wants so much to work with us and how difficult we sometimes make it in our own lives. 

Activities

As we have emerged from corona restrictions we have been able to start planning some more activities again. As mentioned already, we are looking forward to planning a youth weekend soon with the youth from our congregation. This may end up being in June instead of May. 

We have already picked a day in May for the congregation to meet together down at camp. This will be a day of singing, teaching and good fellowship. We are hoping of course that it will also be blessed with some beautiful weather. Our congregation has significantly changed in the last years, so it will be good to spend time together, getting to know each other better and enjoying the beauty at camp. 

At the beginning of June we are looking to plan the annual Spring get-together of congregations in Belgium and the Netherlands. This had in the past been planned on rotation by the various Dutch congregations. More recently it was planned by a group of members from the various congregations. This year I will help getting this group together to plan an encouraging hybrid day (online and in-person) centered on Finding Peace in Turbulent Times. 

I also hope to be able to plan a new day of singing in June. It has been quite a while since the last Song Seminar. At this coming event I hope to be able to look at several of the new songs that were passed around and translated during the lockdowns. We now have recordings, but it would be even better if we can learn to sing them together. We will also continue our first Friday singing in Maastricht and our third Wednesday singing in Eindhoven. 

Camp

Working up to the summer we are also finishing plans for our summer Bible camp weeks. Scott and Shirley will both be directing and helping with the Benjamins (8-11 years-olds) at the end of July. Scott will take the week following as well, directing and teaching the Teens (12-14 year-olds). The teams have been formed and parents are already registering their children. 

This brings up an update concerning the Ukrainians and use of camp. We were willing to have camp used as a safe haven and staging area, but the way that things are set up in Belgium has made it less likely that any refugees will choose to spend time at camp. It is not impossible, but not probable at the moment. We had planned to have camp available until June 15. Most refugees are finding other avenues. We of course pray that they will soon be able to return to their country, although this will be a real challenge for many. 

New relationships

We have been so very thankful for the new relationships we have been able to make with the refugees who have arrived in Belgium and the Netherlands. On our third Wednesday singing in Eindhoven and a second Friday devotional near Eindhoven we have been able to connect with the group in Eindhoven. Some of them are friends or family of the Ukrainians meeting with us in Maastricht. 

Adriana is staying with our colleagues, Ruud and Karla. She is the girlfriend of Andrey who is a brother in the congregation in Maastricht (formerly of Kiev). He is the son of Alexander. Both Alexander and Andrey moved to Belgium before the war. Alexander, Andrey and Adriana are a great contribution to the congregation. Last weekend Adriana helped Shirley and I with getting the children’s class cabinet at the building cleaned out and ready to go again. 

Soon I hope to sit down with these Ukrainian sisters (Alina is another sister here) and figure out which songs we know together. This past Sunday I noticed how much they all lit up when we sang a song in Dutch that they knew in Russian/Ukrainian. There are more like that and I want to be able to lift their hearts in that way more often. Song is such a beautiful gift from God for worship and healing. 

In the meantime we continue to keep an eye on changes for travelers because we hope to be able to start truly making our plans to see so many of you soon. Thank you for your prayers for all that God is doing here and for strength for daily walking in His grace. Keep walking in the light - every day!

If we are walking in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.     1 John 1:7