Some busy weeks

The year is well begun. January has already passed and we are into the second month of the year. And as February starts we’re looking ahead to a slew of activities planned in the coming weeks. Alongside our regular activities which have continued from last year, we are planning some new events for this year. 

We are thankful that the studies we had in 2024 have continued into this year. We have a regular mentoring study almost every Monday. Added to this is a monthly study with an atheist man who began our conversations wanting to know what the Bible was all about. Most recently he let me know that, although he still doesn’t think he will ever believe in God, he bought a children’s Bible for his granddaughter because he wants her to know some of what is in it. 

Also added on Mondays is a chance top learn Greek. Our young Ukrainian couple has good contact with their friends in Ukraine and there is an American teacher who is offering Greek lessons for all who are interested. I have at various times in the past looked at learning some more Greek, but have never gotten past the first 2 or so lessons. I know the alphabet and know my way around a lexicon. But this way I can learn more and also develop my relationships with some brothers and sisters in Ukraine. 

Our online English study on Tuesdays has expanded as some of the participants have asked if others may be added. We now have participants in France and in Brazil as well as those in The Netherlands and Belgium. In February I will add a week in Germany at the Advanced Bible Study Series (ABSS) which you have heard me talk about before. I look forward to meeting some others from around Europe during this week. 

We will travel to Rotselaar, Belgium to preach this coming Sunday and will go over to Roeselare.Belgium in May. Shirley will join several other ladies from Maastricht at the annual Ladies Retreat at the beginning of March. Then they will organize their own Ladies Day at our building on March 15, reaching out to the ladies of the neighborhood. At the end of the month I will lead a special training day for those wanting to learn how to direct a Bible camp. 

In April we will plan another Youth Day with the congregation and in May a day for the church down at camp. These days in the past have also been opportunities to write new songs. It has been some time since we have written anything new within the congregation. But this doesn’t mean that singing has taken a back seat. Most recently I have spent some time getting the music notes online in videos of songs we may already know so that members can also learn them in that way. I will also continue working on getting more songs into music notation. 

By the end of May we will take some time to get camp ready. This is always done during the weekend of Ascension Day, which is a holiday in Belgium. We are hoping to start the renovations on camp some time this year, although not before the summer camp weeks. This year Shirley and I will be working with the oldest group of teens. 

Thank you for your prayers for all of these activities and for your faithfulness in how God is working in your lives as well. Above all, we are thankful that we can simply live for Him daily, touching lives with His grace in everyday ways, no matter where we are. 

(Sunrise, sunset on our daily walk near our house)