This place was first conceived and purchased back in 1965 by various brothers in the French- and Dutch-speaking churches at the time as well as some brothers from the US. The desire was to have a place in God’s wonderful creation which could be used to help members grow in faith. This would be a place for youth and family camps, a place where congregations could go for a retreat together, a place where members or families together could simply get away and meditate on God’s Word together.
From the very beginning it was a place that was for all of the congregations. The work that was done to clear the land was done by various churches. Later, as buildings were erected, this works was done again by members of the various congregations working together. In the first days, everything was done in tents. Later a simple shed-type ‘building’ was constructed.
In the 1960’s many of the French-speaking churches made good use of the land. It is, after all, in French-speaking area in Belgium. Solwaster is only about 20 minutes from the resort town of Spa (you can read more about that in these articles). As the congregations grew, partially because of this tool, more possibilities were added to the camp terrain, including a kitchen and toilets.
Mind you, in the beginning there was no running water and certainly no sewage system. That had to be taken care of by members as well. When a plumbing system came, the toilets were still flushed by buckets of water hauled from the creek which runs through the terrain. I even remember washing in the creek, and that was in the 1980’s.
We didn’t have electricity at camp for quite some time. Lighting was done with gas lamps. Food was bought each day fresh or was planned to be food that would not spoil. In the 1990’s we were able to purchase a generator, the church members getting together for the funds and the installation. And for years the sound of the oil-spouting diesel generator was added to the sounds of camp - alongside the squeals of kids playing in the creek, the quiet of people reading their Bibles, the joyful singing together.
By the 2000’s we finally had real electricity, plumbing had been around for some time and we began dreaming about maybe finally putting the plumbing into the dormitory that had been built in the 1980’s. But it was the demolition of the main hall in 2012 that was first to come. This was to make way for the new hall and upper room. Many of you worked on this building or helped to finance it.
And there are more plans coming. The next renovation will be to the kitchen and toilet/bathroom section, bringing everything into the new century. This has all only been possible because of an inheritance from a sister who had been there from the very beginning in 1965. When she passed away - to wait for us all at the Home prepared for us by Jesus - she left her funds to make sure that camp would be provided for.
I am thankful that we (Shirley and I) have been able to experience quite a bit of this history. Another time I will talk about how much Bible Camp (this one, but more importantly a few others) have been in my faith wak and life. We pray that this place has been such an influence to the people who have come to Ardennen Bijbelkamp. Thank you for your prayers and your working together throughout the years.
Go here to find all sorts of pictures from many years of camp. (choose a year, then click on the photo)
(By the way, find me and Shirley in this first photo. Our colleagues are in the second photo. Both of these taken before we were married couples)
No comments:
Post a Comment