Where oh where Wednesday: Emmen

Where will Kings Day be held this year? In Emmen. Every year the king of the Netherlands, Willem-Alexander, and his wife Maxima choose a city in the Netherlands to celebrate the king’s birthday. This year they will celebrate in Emmen. This means that this city will ben looking forward to the arrival of the king and will plan all sorts of local activities to celebrate his birthday. The day itself is a holiday across the Netherlands and cities everywhere will hold markets where anyone can come and sell things. In Maastricht it will be in the city park. The cities will also be decorated in orange.

Emmen is a town in the province of Drenthe. It was a city that was formed by combining several villages and only had any real growth after the 2nd World War. It went from 3,000 inhabitants in the 19th century to the 56,000 living there now. Most people in the country know Emmen because of its zoo which welcomes some 1.5 million visitors a year. 

Emmen is the most populous city of the province of Drenthe, but that is not saying much since the whole province only has a population of roughly 500,000. Drenthe is the 3rd least populated province and is mostly known for its agriculture. Ir borders Germany in the east. The whole province, due to its sparse population and rural nature, is known as a cycling destination. 

So this year Emmen will color orange as it welcomes the king for his birthday. It will show off all its treasures and history and will enjoy a day in the spotlight that is different from the spotlight that has recently shown o the Dutch farmers who have been protesting EU regulations causing their farms to be shut down. 

Mighty is our God

This past weekend several members of the church in Maastricht organized a Youth Day. We do this for our own kids, but also so that our kids can see their friends from around the country - many they have met during a Bible camp week or other youth activity. We planned our youth day in the middle of the country so that more kids could come (Maastricht is in the fa South-West corner of the region). And we prayed for good weather so that we could have the kids outside as well. 

As the day approached, the weather was looking horrid. We had some summer days the week before which got everyone’s spirits and hopes high. But then the real April weather returned. We do, after all, live in Belgium where rain is quite normal. The weather report on the day didn’t look great. 

But we are used to being flexible as well and our theme was how mighty God is. So we trusted that we would be able to do whatever we were planning - in one way or another. And that was how things worked out. The kids arrived, all of us wearing jackets because of the cold, but it stayed dry while we worked through the first part of the day. And what amazing views we had of God’s might and beauty. The trees and flowers were in bloom, the rain clouds waiting in the distance were imposing and we could hear the birds all around us. 

The lessons on the day came from Isaiah 40 which begins with a comforting of Israel, letting them know that He, their God will save. Our God is mighty to save and knows what we experience. It was fun to be able to do plenty of object lessons with the kids, helping to show the truths that we were learning. I had them as teams make a goalie. But of course the goalie couldn’t keep the simplest ball from going in the goal. Most of them could not even get to the goal (one was helped by the team). Why do we think that we can make God, but forget that He made us? 

Later in the second lesson (inside), an object lesson showed that although some things can keep us stable, only God can keep us stable all the way. A bottle of water on a string, a toothpick and two matches proved this point. A very clear lesson for everyone there. In the meantime the teens were upstairs talking about God’s might that can be seen in creation. The example was the most recent eclipse (which we didn’t really hear that much about over here, but the kids knew about). 

The questions in Isaiah resounded throughout the day: Haven’t you heard? Didn’t you know? He is God eternal! We are thankful for our wonderful God, our Saviour and for these kids who want to know about Him. Pray for them and their hearts that they will remember the things they are learning not only from these sort of youth activities, but also from their parents and those around them in the church. We were thankful that we could host two young men whose parents are not members of the church, who do not come from a believing home. 

Next weekend we are looking forward to going to a day with Mike Houts, a NASA scientist, who will talk about science and God. We are thankful for people who are willing to speak truth in a world where truth is hard to find. And we are thankful for people who are looking to hear truth and willing to hear that truth in God. And for our brothers and sisters willing to organize activities like this and the youth days we are able to use to encourage our young people. 

Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.  Isaiah 40:28-29

Whensday: 1637 - The Statenvertaling

We of course use our Bible every day. We are extremely thankful not only that there are Bibles readily available (thanks to the invention of a printing press), but that we can read God’s word in so many languages. Just as in English, the Dutch language has many different translations. As a language changes, so the translation needs to keep step in order to be understandable by its readers. 

I remember coming to faith using an NIV English Bible. I am an English teacher by training, so reading the KJV (King James Version) later was not only possible, I enjoyed it and still do enjoy it. But I understand that many people would have a difficult time reading something from the 17th century - just as they might struggle with Shakespeare. The same is true for the Dutch translations. 

When I first came to the Netherlands, I learned my Dutch by reading a Gideon New Testament which had English on one side and Dutch on the other. This way I could figure out what I was reading, seeing and knowing it already in English. This translation was a fairly old version, as was the one I came to use the most - translated in 1951. But it was the version that has become my heart version. All of the texts I know from heart come from this version. 

But the original translation, the first official translation of the Bible from the original languages into Dutch, was completed in 1637 and so is very like the KJV. It was commissioned by the Staten Generaal - the States General of the Netherlands, which is the governing body (Senate and House of Representatives) of the Netherlands. The abbreviation used is SV. 

The NBG-1951 is the translation that I came to know the most. It is an official translation from the Dutch Bible Society (NBG), presented in 1951. In the 1970’s there was a modern language version presented called “Good News” and most recently there has been a NBV (New Bible Version). But those who loved the SV also wanted a linguistically updated version and brought the HSV or Revised Statenvertaling. 

As at all times I find it most important that people read their Bible. The words need to get into their hearts and minds. If someone has a different version (there are also two Catholic versions that many people would have if they have a Bible in house), then I am more than willing to help them read it. The most important thing is that they are reading and applying what they read in their lives. 

We also have various foreign language Bibles in our building, including one in Arabic, Chinese, Spanish and even in English. We have a regular visitor who is a Syrian refugee. She has her Bible on her phone (as so many do these days - and what a blessing that is), but we have a version for her if she needs it. 

What is your favorite translation of the Bible? When did you first start reading your Bible? 

The tax man cometh

The tax man cometh. April 15 is an important day in the US. In the Netherlands it is also in the Spring. In Belgium tax day is in June. Taxes are a certainty in any country or culture and it is no different here. In the Netherlands you even know when your post is from the tax office - it is a blue envelope.  

For us the whole situation is rather complicated. We file income tax in the United States and in Belgium since we come from the US but live in Belgium. In both countries we are considered self-employed for the tax law. We are required to pay social security in both countries as well. Thankfully we have help for our US taxes from brothers and sisters who have always been willing to help missionaries. 

I remember when E.B. Dotson was working for brother McCready. Brother McCready did the taxes of missionaries for free, taking away any worries and in this way supporting and encouraging them. E.B. and Jean were our good friends in church (as they are still) and it has been a true blessing to have this weight taken from our shoulders all these years. Tax law is difficult enough as it goes, but it gets even more complicated when someone lives overseas. 

In Belgium we do not have anyone doing our taxes for us, but things are fairly straight forward. We do not have to itemize. We list the value of our house, its measurements and such. For some years we get a digital printout of what the tax office already figured for us. Then we do even less. But the cares of wondering if everything is done correctly remain a concern. 

We always want to make sure that we are doing things as they should be done. As Christians we have a responsibility to make sure that we are an example to those around us. Jesus also told Peter (and Paul told the Christians in Rome) that taxes are not something to escape. So whether they are fun or not, we want to do what is right. 

As we now also are reaching a certain age, we have thought about what we would need to do for retirement. In Belgium retirement age is 67 - and moving higher each year, it seems. We have social security in both countries, but we are not quite sure how the two countries will work with one another. When one looks for answers, the “normal” answers on a FAQ never quite fit our situation. So we will start looking deeper at what needs to be done. 

In the meantime, and as always, we will trust that God is taking care of things. And we will thank our loving Father for brothers and sisters who are willing and able to help us with this kind of information. 

Whatsit Wednesday: Garden machines

Although we had to wait until the end of March to usher in summer time and the official time-keeping of Spring, Spring itself came a bit early this year. We always know that Spring is on its way when we see the crocuses at the bottom of our yard poke their heads above the ground. Beautiful little purple or whitish flowers with a yellow touch to them show up in clumps around our walnut tree. 

Of course the flowers are not the only things that start waking up. The cherry tree waits for some time to start blooming, but it is well on its way now in April. The weeds on the other hand have shown up with a vengeance. “Weeds”? I hear some of you saying: “There are no such things as weeds. Everything is useful.” Which may be true, but I have to admit that there are plenty of plants that I do not really want to see in my yard - and certainly not growing in the stones of my driveway. 

So I try to find time to do some weeding at times throughout the year. It isn’t nearly as often as Shirley or my neighbors might want, but it is what I can find. And I mow the grass. In May they have come up with a new thing: Don’t Mow in May. This is supposed to help the butterflies and bees and all sorts of other insects. It helps me because I do not have to feel guilty when I do not mow - a whole month long. 

Of course, but the time May is done, the grass is knee high and the moss is taking over the lower part of the yard. This is where the “scarifier” might come in. Although, to be correct, a scarifier is supposed to be used in the Fall, not in the Spring. But you may not even know what a scarifier is. 

I looked up the English translation. This is what I got. In Dutch it is a “verticuteerder”. Try saying that quickly three times. This machine is meant to loosen up and aerate the soil so that it doesn’t become mossy. It helps everything to grow better. I have to admit that I do not own a scarifier. I barely get around to using the mower. I would be adding guilt feelings to guilt feelings if I had a scarifier. Maybe that is why it has gotten that name. 

But as I said, one should not use a scarifier in the Spring. It would be like pruning your fruit trees in the Spring. This is what I did when we first moved here. I knew that I was to prune the cherry tree at some time, and it had been so cold in the Winter. So I waited for a nice day and pruned it then. Two older men walking by along the canal could be heard exclaiming at my ignorance for pruning in the Spring. 

The trees have continued blossoming (as they are now) and the grass keeps growing, no matter what I do to it. I use the weed pulling in the driveway as therapy. It feels good to be able to get a job done and see order.  And most Dutch or Belgian fathers, although they may look down on me, will not say anything. The Dutch will simply preen about their wel- manicured postage-stamp size front gardens. And the Belgians will simply brag about their newest tools. I can truly praise and be pleased with both efforts. 

VBK, sport and youth activities

This past week I was down at our Bible camp for VBK (Vacation Bible Kamp - we spell camp with a “k”). I was asked to teach the teen kids while my colleague, Karla Verheijen, taught the young kids. We both focused on teaching them some of the truths we find in Paul’s first letter to Timothy. 

This is the first time that this camp has been organized in the Spring. It has been organized twice already in the Fall during the Fall school break. That went well, so Shareya (Karla’s daughter) and Sue Foster, both from the church in Ghent, wanted to try it for the Spring break. These school breaks are only for the kids going to school in Belgium. The Netherlands has different holidays. 

Despite this being only for Belgian kids, we had 22 campers come down to camp. I had 9 teens (11-14 years old). The rest were all with Karla. Each day we focused on a different chapter of the letter and tried to help the young people see the beautiful truths Paul shared with this young man, Timothy, his son in the faith. 

I was once again impressed with how well young people can understand what is being presented, and how well they can remember and apply what they are learning. As is usual in Belgium, we put up with some grey weather, but it was mostly dry. I was able to teach a new song to the group, using one of the memory verses. Everyone learned it quite well. Hopefully it will show up on the YouTube channel soon. (There are already quite a few other songs there if you are interested in hearing them.)

The day after getting home from camp there was a sport day planned in the middle of Belgium. This came from a 9 year-old who thought it would be a good idea to invite his friends and others to come sport together. He said it, the adults made it happen and we all had a great day together (although my body is definitely telling me I did plenty this past week). 

It was fun to see how a neighbor of the 9 year-old’s sister wanted to visit for a play day. The mom mentioned that we were at a sport hall, but that they were welcome to come. So mother, daughter and father all came to sport with us all. And when we stopped to sing praises to God, they took part as well. Sharing how to have fun as Christians is a wonderful opportunity. 

In just 2 weeks the members of the church in Maastricht will also hold our Youth Day - about 10 minutes away from where we played sports this past Saturday. Some of the same kids will be there. We are looking forward to sharing some thoughts about our mighty God as well as give them time to have fun together. I will be able to teach yet another new song. 

This coming Thursday and Friday I will also spend time with some Catholic kids as they think about their choices in life. I am thankful that I have the opportunity to teach them how to read the Bible. The last 40 days a group of them have been meeting every Monday online to read through a bit of the gospels, getting to know who Jesus is. 

We are so thankful for these opportunities that God gives us to share how wonderful He is, the wonderful love and life that He offers to all who want to accept it. I am reminded of one of the memory verses fro VBK: 

This is a trustworthy saying and worth acceptance, that Jesus Christ is come into the world to save sinners of which I am the first. (1 Tim. 1:15)

Easter Monday

It’s no joke. Today we have a holiday. You see in Belgium and the Netherlands there are three holidays that get two days each. There is a 1st and 2nd day of Christmas, an Easter Sunday and Easter Monday, and a 1st and 2nd day of Pentecost. So today most people have free, in Belgium some of the stores are closed and in both countries the banks and such are closed. 

The Belgians have school vacation, which means that they are off looking for the sun somewhere or perhaps off getting the last of the good skiing. The Dutch do not get a school break until May when they will get a Spring Break. I will be heading down to camp for Vacation Bible Kamp (VBK instead of VBS). This will be the first time to organize a VBK in the Spring and I have been asked to teach the older kids. The age group is from 8-14 years old. 

Before I go to camp I will also drive over to Antwerp to visit and old neighbor who is now in prison (and get this posted online before I go). When I get back (VBK ends on Friday) there is a sport day planned and I may head over there. I may be an old guy, but it is always good to get together with the young people from the various congregations. And I have been trying to encourage some basketball playing for some time now. We finally have a hoop down at camp. 

All of this activity comes to the churches because we know that we have a new life in Jesus Christ. The beauty of Easter is the resurrection. Jesus rose and that means that we can become a new creation. This is so important that we want to make sure that everybody knows about it. So shout it from the mountaintops. Whisper it in the library and in the halls. Pass it on to the people around you. Jesus lives! And so can we. 

Where oh where Wednesday: Friesland

It has always been interesting to me to see how many places are called “land” in Dutch. It makes it quite easy to understand where things are. Germany is “Duitsland”, England is “Engeland” and one that most English speakers would recognize, New Zealand is “Nieuw Zeeland”. This last one was of course named after the Dutch area of Zeeland. The new one was found and named across the oceans. Australia was also originally called New Holland. 

So when I look at a map of the Netherlands, one of the more interesting areas is up in the north and is called “Friesland”. This is all the more interesting because the area was basically its own country before and its language is not the same as Dutch. The Friezen (those from Friesland) speak a language that can be understood by many Dutchmen, but is different. 

The people of this province are also extremely proud of their heritage. The Frisia - the germanic people who inhabited and conquered the area from Bremen (in present-day Germany) to Brughes (in present-day Belgium) are mentioned in the Roman histories in the 4th century BC. But the area experienced a political and climatological downturn of two centuries where flooding and political pressure meant that no one lived in the area in the north. 

These Frisians fought for their freedom against the vikings, the Dutch of Holland and later the Hapsburg empire until they became a part of the Dutch Republic in the 17th century. Today their heritage is shown in local customs, in the flags of local football teams and in the language which is still spoken. As a matter of fact, Frisian must be available to all those going to court in Friesland. 

The province is home to some amazing natural beauties, including the Waddenzee and its islands. The city of Leeuwarden is the capitol of the province which boasts a population of more than 600,000. 

A time to…

As we get older I am struck (again) by how amazingly God works in our lives, without us knowing exactly how things are going to work out. I still feel like a young man - and think I am until I walk past a mirror or try to pick something up from the floor. But when I look at my life, I see how God continues to use us every day in all manner of ways. I am thankful that I have learned certain things from life that I can pass on to others, but I realize that I still have so much more to learn. 

I remember well so many people who influenced my life for Christ as I was growing in faith. I gave my life to Christ in my senior year of high school. My best friend was the one who brought me to faith, introducing me to Jesus through the Bible and through his own life. His father was the preacher at the congregation we attended and was also a mentor for me as a young man. And there were many along the way as I went to York College. 

As I grew, I realized that I wanted to help others grow in faith as well, but this is not something that one learns, like a job. It is simply sharing what you have already learned with those around you. And you may never really see the results of those moments of sharing. Just as with me, many people touched my life in moments and I never really got the opportunity to tell them how they had influenced me. 

This is something I learned along the way (from many people who influenced me): don’t worry about seeing how God uses you; just keep living for Him and He will be able to use you mightily as He sees fit. So we continue to do all that we can in reaching out to those around us. 

We have been working with Bible camp even longer than we have been here in Belgium. This is a place where we can be an influence on many young hearts and help train some older members of the church in being leaders. But we also realize that we are influenced by these young people as well. How many times have we learned a lesson of amazing faith from the young ones in our care? And so many of them and their desire to learn and put into practice what they are learning is also an example for all of us who are older. 

This past week we had the English-speaking Bible study at our place. Most of our English-speakers are young (under 25) and still learning so much - in faith and in life. It is fun to be able to share some of the basic truths and tips for life that we have learned. We sometimes have to remember that young people may have fewer people from whom they can learn these days. Everything can be found on the internet, but we learn from the people around us who show us how it really works. We want to be those people. 

And at the same time, we are encouraged and influenced by these same young people’s hunger and desire for the word of God and His life and leading. “Was I that eager when I was young?” I wonder. It encourages me in any case to be that eager for God now, today, no matter how old I am. Nothing, least of all age, can keep me from walking with Jesus in the light. 

How often have people said: I am too young (Gideon)? And yet is was the young people who have been an example (like Samuel, David, the boy sharing his lunch). How often have people said: I am too old (even when they were only middle-aged)? And yet it remains God who works even when we think it impossible (think of Sarah, the priest Zechariah and his wife Elizabeth). And all of those who think they are not good enough or are too sinful (like Rahab, Simon Peter and others)? God can use all of us if we allow Him to work through us. 

We are so very thankful for all of the people God has used in our lives. And we pray that we will continue to be useful in helping others find and follow Him. Every day, in every way. 

Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity.    1 Timothy 4:12

Whensday: Spring

Was it yesterday (March 19) or today March 20)? Or maybe tomorrow? When does Spring start? As far as we are concerned, it gets going as soon as we see the crocus flowers in our garden. That is often in February and we know that Sporing is on the way. 

We noticed that the US already moved into Summer Time, springing ahead by one hour. In Europe we will only spring ahead at the end of the month, which is the Saturday before Easter. So the month will end, Spring will begin, we will all lose an hour sleep and Easter will wake us up. To be honest, that is not a bad picture if you think about the resurrection of the Lord. His resurrection on Easter Sunday was indeed the end of the darkness of death and the beginning of real life for everyone who believes. 

Easter in Dutch-speaking Europe is called “Pasen” - a word linked to the Jewish celebration, the “Pascha” (or Passover” in English). As with many other countries and cultures, Easter is a strange mix of rabbits, chickens, eggs and chocolates. This is of course because it is a mixture of fertility rituals from pagan religions. 

In Maastricht we often get the question from people who know us if we as a congregation celebrate Easter. Of course Easter always falls on a Sunday (unlike Christmas). So we always have a worship time on this special holiday. But we also try to explain how we celebrate this amazing occurrence (of Jesus’ resurrection) every Sunday. The rest of the spectacle we leave to others. 

It will be nice to know that we can talk to our kids again at a normal 6 hour difference instead of five hours. That means that we can eat dinner as they are eating lunch while we talk to one another. It also means that we will enjoy helping teach during the Vacation Bible Kamp planned for the Belgian kids (the Dutch do not yet have school vacation). And when the week is done, we will have jumped into the next season with verve. 

(This picture is of our Thankfulness Walk this past Saturday in Maastricht)

Family plans

We are excited. Last year we became grandparents. It was right after we had visited with Stephan and Natalie in Indianapolis that sweet Sophia showed up three weeks early but a few weeks too late for us to welcome her to the world. So we have been patiently waiting, enjoying every last picture that is sent our way. And now we are able to make plans to finally meet her - and see her wonderful parents, of course.

Our dates are set and we are working on getting tickets arranged. This will be a bit of a quick trip compared to our usual visits back to the US. We want to maximize our time with the family, so we will not be anywhere other than Indianapolis. We do hope to be able to see my brother and his family who also live there. We missed seeing them last year due to sickness in the family. 

So we are excited. We will be able to be present for Sophia’s first birthday. Not that she will remember any of it, but we will. This trip will be sandwiched between activities with the church here and our summer camp activities. We are organizing a youth day with the church in Maastricht in April. In May we are organizing a day for the congregation down at camp. We are both teaching directing or helping at Benjamin Camp this year as well as Family camp in August. But seeing this precious child will be the highlight of the activities we are involved in. 

We are so very thankful for congregations who make these kinds of trips possible. We look forward to meeting with the church in Indianapolis as well while we are there. And it is always so good to know that the brothers and sisters in Maastricht take such good care of one another. Our theme this year in Maastricht is about the family of God. All of these places are truly God’s family. We are thankful that we feel at home in so many families. 

You are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household.  Ephesians 2:19

Whatsit Wednesday: Pralines

Delicious. That is what Belgian chocolate is. Every year that I go to ABSS (Advanced Bible Study Series) in Germany, a small argument of sorts kicks off again between the Belgians and the Swiss. We (the Belgians) of course know that we have the best chocolate. The Swiss think that they have the best chocolate. There Germans, Dutch and Americans simply watch and listen, knowing that they do not even come close. 

But it is the Belgians who have praline. You might know it from a store selling specialty chocolates in the shape of “sea fruit”, like sea horses and shells. They are often a marble mix of milk chocolate and white chocolate and they are filled with a smooth cream-like filling - praline. This was first developed by Jean Neuhaus II and brought to market in 1912. Some may know these chocolates as ‘bonbons”. But Belgian praline is much different than the cookie-like sweet with nuts in it found sometimes in the US. 

The praline filling is based on hazelnuts. Other fillings can be based in cream or even marzipan or a liqueur. They come in all shapes and are good for any occasion. If one is visiting a friend or meeting someone new, a box of pralines is always a good gift, especially for those who might not appreciate flowers. When you don’t know what to buy someone as a gift, a box of pralines will always do nicely. They come in white chocolate, milk chocolate and dark chocolate and include nuts for those who enjoy them. 

Neuhaus is still one of the major houses known in Belgium and around the world for their chocolates. Others include Godiva, Guylian and Leonidas. Belgians were able to really get into chocolate because of their link with Congo where they had a ready supply of cacao beans. Belgian chocolate is required to have at least 30% cacao butter to be called chocolate. Many other “chocolates” have far less chocolate (cacao butter) and therefore taste waxy or simply sweet. 

Every two weeks I visit a lady of 93 years in a nursing home who has finally figured out that I do not eat cookies (I am gluten intolerant). Now she always makes sure that there is some chocolate (dark chocolate is my favorite, and she knows this) or some pralines. For her birthday I was sent to a special chocolatier (a store that only deals in chocolates) to get a box of pralines for her guests and the nurses. This store deals only with the best, including American presidents, French potentates and local big-wigs. 

Youth Activities

One of the things that has always thrilled me about the work in Dutch-speaking Europe (Belgium and the Netherlands) is two well the various churches work together top organize events for the youth. A congregation may only have a few young people, or they may only have a few of a certain age group. But when the congregations work together, the young people can know that they are not alone. And workers from the congregations can work together and get to know one another as well as the young people. 

This year we have already had three youth activities: a youth weekend in Ghent in January, a Console weekend in Antwerp in February and this weekend a Girl’s weekend held in Belgium. Next weekend the boys will be welcomed in The Hague to play some sports on the beach and get to know one another. 

In April there will be a sports day for young people of all ages, near the center of Belgium. This will be at the end of a Vacation Bible Kamp held down at our campground in the Ardennes for kids from 8-14 years old. Scott will be helping teach this group from 1 Timothy. Later in the month the congregation in Maastricht is organizing a youth day in Belgium for younger ages (7-15 years-old). This is because “our” kids (the kids from Maastricht) fall into this age group. But this is also a chance for younger kids to experience a youth activity and meet other kids from congregations around Belgium or the Netherlands. 

At the end of May a CYC (Challenge Youth Conference) is being organized for the 2nd time in Belgium. Last year there were about 70 participants. This is a place where the youth can gather internationally. It is always exciting to meet young people from different areas and countries. We are thankful for members who are willing to work with all of these efforts and are blessed in ways to be able to help. 

We will be working with the youth day organized by Maastricht, the VBK and then later in the summer the Benjamin Camp week of Bible Camp. In addition we will be organizing a day out for the congregation in Maastricht in May. In September we are planning as a congregation to organize a singing day for congregations in the REA (French-speaking and German-speaking as well as Dutch-speaking) and will organize the Family Day at camp on September 14. These are also all opportunities for young people to take part with their families. 

Keep all of these young people in your prayers and pray for all of those organizing and working with them as well. We are so thankful for so many who have a heart for those around them and know that God is working mightily in all of us in so many ways. 

Whodunit Wednesday: Antonie van Leeuwenhoek

I remember very well the first time that I was introduced to the world of smaller things all around us. I do not remember how young I was, but I was encouraged to get some pond water in a jar and observe it. I was used to observing and enjoyed it. We had an aquarium and I could easily sit for quite some time observing the fish and their habits and reactions to one another. So observing a glas jar of pond water was not a problem. 

After sitting and watching for a little bit, it was clear that there were things living in the water. They were swimming all around. If you took a magnifying glass, you could even see some of the swimming things up close - if they swam in front of your glass. When I was older I would be introduced to the microscope and the amazing world of even smaller things. 

Anyone who starts looking into microbiology will come across the name of Antonie van Leeuwenhoek (even if they cannot pronounce it). Antonie (or Anthony, as we might call him in English) was born in Delft, the Netherlands in 1632. He grew up with a step-father (his father died when he was 5) and an uncle (after his step-father died when Antonie was 10). He was a businessman who worked with cloth. 

It was his desire to be able to see things better for his business that led him to create better magnifying glasses. His kept his method secret and discovered that he could use his lenses for seeing more than threads. He was the first to see single cell organisms and thereby change the thinking of the Royal Society at the time. And he did all of this considering himself simply a businessman and speaking no other language than his native Dutch. 

Van Leeuwenhoek’s strength lay in his microscopes. He made lenses that no one else knew how to make. It was not until 1957 that a similar type microscope lens was made and only in 2021 that a Dutch study of a Leeuwenhoek lens finally showed how it was made. These small lenses could magnify up to 500 times. Using these lenses van Leeuwenhoek discovered things like spermatozoa, muscular fibers, bacteria and the vacuole of the cell. 

As in the time of Antonie van Leeuwenhoek, it is still the amazing complexity of the design in nature that continues to point us to the Creator who has made everything so well. The deeper we look, the more complexity we see and the more convinced we should become of the design of God in all that He has made. 

Ladies on top of the mountain

This past week was another wonderful opportunity for international cooperation and growth. Every year the ladies in Europe plan a Ladies retreat at the beginning of March. Different groups do the organizing, but ladies come from around Europe: Benelux, Germany, France, Switzerland and Great Britain. Because of refugees in Europe, there are also ladies from Ukraine who attend. 

Shirley went with a group from the congregation in Maastricht which included our young Ukrainian sister for the first time. She mentioned when we picked her up on the way to join the car going to the retreat that as she had been worrying about it. But then she was talking with a therapist she has (as a refugee) and mentioned what the theme was: Questions from Jesus. Questions like: Why are you afraid? Why do you not trust? And she realized that she didn’t have to be afraid. 

It was exciting to hear afterwards how well it went for her. There were other Ukrainians present for the weekend and she was able to translate for them from English. This from a young lady who, when she arrived, could barely say anything in English. Now she speaks English quite well and can understand a good bit of Dutch as well. She saw how God was using her in the weekend, assisting and encouraging others. 

The weekend, held at a youth hostel in Germany, starts on a Thursday evening and goes through to Sunday afternoon, with the ladies getting home just before dinner on Sunday evening. This gives the husbands enough time to get the house cleaned up and dinner ready before the wife returns (or at least that is always my plan). I am always thankful that Shirley has always arranged for food while she is gone, showing me what is in the refrigerator and explaining again how to do things (I do not cook very often). 

We are thankful for these kinds of opportunities. Shirley was with her sisters from Maastricht, but was also able to see others from around Europe. There was also one of the ladies we have had contact with in the past who lives in Brussels and seeks guidance and assistance from Christian brothers and sisters. That is what we are all about as a family, a body. We are thankful this year for the sisters from Switzerland who organized the retreat. Next year will be organized by sisters from Germany and France. 

Where oh where Wednesday: Around the world

When we first started making plans to work with the church in Dutch-speaking Europe, we looked at where might be good to go. There were already congregations in the north of the Netherlands and in the western and central parts of Belgium. I remember making a study of areas that not only did not have congregations, but which were also on a crossroads - as was Philippi when the apostle Paul showed up there. 

When we, together with two Dutch couples, established the congregation in Maastricht, it was because the Dutch couples were moving there, because there was no congregation in the province of Limburg, and because Maastricht sits at the crossroads of this area of Europe. 

Maastricht in the Netherlands, Aachen in Germany and Liege in Belgium form what is known as a Euregion. These cities work closely together. Students from Germany come to Maastricht to study and vice-versa. When we would go to market in Maastricht on a Saturday, in the days before the Euro was introduced, we could hear all three languages and use all three currencies at any stand. This area was exactly what the European Union had in mind when they thought of cooperation. 

The wonderful thing for us has been how we have been able to connect with brothers and sisters from across Europe because of these links and the location of the city and church. We have connections with the church in Germany in Aachen, Cologne, Frankfurt, Wiesbaden, Chemnitz, Hildesheim and Hamburg. We have also worked with German-speaking churches in Bern, Zurich, Luzern and Schaffhausen in Switzerland and Graz and Vienna in Austria

In France, Belgium and Switzerland we work together with or have worked with congregations in Liege, Verviers, Brussels, Lille, Paris, Marseille, Lyon and Geneva. We work with members from Russia and our members in Maastricht connect us with the church in Ukraine. Farther from home, our members connect us with the church in Ecuador and Ghana. The congregation has supported works in Kenya, Uganda, St. Maarten, Myanmar and Vietnam. 

And of course we are linked to friends and family - Christian and blood - throughout the United States. God’s family is not restricted to one place. When we hear our singing echoing in our small room in Maastricht as we meet with about 35 people, we know that song is also ringing out under trees, in huge meeting halls, in living rooms all around the world. It is good to know that we are part of an amazing, living body of Christ.