Whatsit Wednesday: Wash hand

How do you wash up? Did you know that cultures vary, even within a country? When I first came to the Netherlands I first encountered something that I, at least, had not yet encountered in my life. It was called a “wash hand”. Now that I have been down at camp these past weeks I have seen plenty of them again, since almost every child brings one along in their toiletries for the camp week. 

A wash hand, simply put, is a wash cloth that you can put your hand into. So it looks like a small oven mit made of Terry cloth. It will have a little loop on the corner so that you can hang it up on a hook in the bathroom. And, as mentioned, almost everyone has one. It is used in the shower for cleaning your body, but can also be used at the camping grounds just for washing your face or doing a quick once over under your arms to freshen up. 

I have always found these to be much more useful than a simple wash cloth, which has to be folded or laid across some place to dry. And a wash cloth inevitably gets balled up in your hand as you try to use it when washing (my experience, in any case). But a wash hand fits over your hand so that you simply wash as you would naturally when using soap. 

It is simple. Perhaps it is in many countries and I was never aware of it. But I first encountered this wonderful tool when I came to the Netherlands. Have you heard of a wash hand? What is it called where you are from? 

Planning ahead

We try to get back to the US every three years to touch base with the congregations that support us and visit family. All of these spots are spread around the US, meaning quite a time of travel. It is always nice to see everyone again, as well as see plenty of the places we also call “home”. This is why we call it a Home Assignment. The last time we were on Home Assignment was in 2023, so next year, if all goes well, we will be visiting again. 

But this trip takes a good bit of planning and figuring. Which route should we take? How do we plan the various Sundays to work out with the congregations we want to share time with? How should we divide the driving and flying time? And there are always people that we would very much like to see who simply don’t fit on the route. Are there any ways to see them anyway? 

When the boys were still at home, we always had to plan this trip in the summer, during the school vacation. But now, when we could leave whenever we want, we still have to keep our plans for our ministry here in mind. In addition, we have a new granddaughter in the mix and we want to be there for her birthday, which is in the summer vacation months. So I have been figuring, planning, checking prices and generally trying to discover the best way to travel next year. 

We are looking forward to seeing church family in Long Beach, California; Woodbury, Minnesota; Muscatine, Iowa; and Abilene, Texas. But we also hope to see church family we have met in Denver, Colorado; Noblesville, Indiana; and Omaha, Nebraska. These are the places we hope to sp[end our Sundays, although it may not be possible to hit all of them on a Sunday. We only have 8-9 weeks of travel time. 

In this time we also hope to see family in California, Colorado, Nebraska, Montana, Indiana and New York. There is a little bit of overlap between family and churches, but not much. And, as mentioned, there are still others we would like to meet up with who live in places like Tennessee or Pennsylvania or Florida - far out of the route. So we would love your prayers as we plan this time - prayers that we can find some good deals, that we will be able to get things set up, and that our visit will be encouraging to those we meet. 

If you are in any of the places we are planning to visit (mentioned here), put us on your schedule and make plans to find some time to share with us so that we can encourage one another. If you are not on the route, maybe we can meet somewhere along the way (like driving through Iowa or Wisconsin, or Chicago). These Home Assignments are only possible because of the faithfulness of our supporting congregations, brothers and sisters willing to sacrifice so that we can make this trip. Thank you for these possibilities and all the memories from previous times. 

In the meantime, I am traveling every day this week down to camp and back. It is good to see people we don't see too often, meet new people who love the Lord, and share encouragement from God's word. I will be giving the teens a lesson every day, trying to help make the messages from the Minor Prophets something that they can understand and sow into their spiritual growth. 

Whodunit Wednesday: Belgian basketball players

Soon the European Championships basketball will be starting - the championships for the men. Djokic, Giannis and more will be playing for their countries. The ladies already had their championship  and the Belgian ladies won. The Belgian men will have a much harder time. This is because most of their best players are playing in the NBA and will not be able to take part in the Championship due to commitments or injuries. 

On the ladies side, you might not know Emma Meeseman, Julie van Loo or Julie Allemand, but you will probably be familiar with Ajay Mitchell. Mitchell plays for the Thunder and won the NBA championships with his team. The other well-known player is Toumani Camara, who plays for the Trailblazers. More importantly, Belgium has been losing its players to college teams. 

Belgium and the Netherlands do not have a system like the US. There is no high school basketball and no college basketball. Players who are good are scouted at a young age and may join the youth training of a national team (like Oostende or Antwerp Giants). But more recently players have been scouted and recruited by college teams in the US. This gives the players a better opportunity and training. They get more playing time and more opportunity to break through into the NBA. 

Players like Retin Obasohan, who played for Alabama, or Manu Lecomte, who found a home in Texas, are able to earn money, get an education and build on a career in basketball all at the same time. Stephan Dibongue Swenson replaced Ajay Mitchell at point guard for UC Santa Barbara. Some players have played under coach Brian Lynch, who happens to be the husband of Belgian tennis star of old, Kim Clijsters. As a meter of fact, Clijster's daughter Jada is now playing for the young Belgian national team. 

Basketball seems to have become quite the national sport in Belgium. They also have a good 3x3 team, although it is the Dutch 3x3 team that has won all of the championships and medals in recent years. So the next time you are watching your favorite basketball team, whether during March Madness or the NBA, WNBA or Olympics, pay attention to the Belgian names (which do not always look very Belgian). 

Camp conversations and challenges

We are in the middle of Bible camp season. Shirley and I started at Jongerenkamp (the 15-20 year-olds) and took the following week to recover at home. In that week the Benjamins (8-11 year-olds) were down at camp, enjoying a lot more rain that we had had. This week the teens (12-14 year-olds) are down at camp and next week the Families will arrive. IN that week I will go down each day and help with the teen lessons. We enjoy the various weeks that we get to help with these times of growth. 

Each week is different and unique every year. This year was the first time since before corona time that Shirley and I did the older young people. We had 24 campers and it was an amazing week. The questions that come from this group are very different than those which come from a Benjamin. And the conversations during the day are much deeper (and last much longer. It is always exciting to see how everyone at any of these camp weeks has multiple amazing opportunities to grow spiritually. 

During our week there were lots of conversations going on about the week’s theme (our identity in Christ) as well as challenges in daily life. We had all sorts of singing time with this group that loved singing and wanted to learn more. And our counselors - who were barely older than the campers themselves - could easily get a group together for an activity. The group mixed well and the young people even ran out for a game of soccer in the rain. 

We were thankful to have good friends from the past working with us that week as well. Rudy and Pam Schellekens joined us from Muscatine, Iowa after already having done good work at Midwest Bible Camp. Rudy taught the lessons and Pam helped in the kitchen. The kitchen team was a bundle of laughing, giggling girls at times and an efficient team for the group of hungry teens sat at every meal. Rudy sat patiently and fielded questions about the lessons and life all through the week, discussing patiently Greek words and their meanings as well as implications for our daily lives. 

Next week I look forward to dropping down to camp to help out and experience the group during Family Camp. We are blessed to live fairly close (an hour’s drive) and I can just drive down for the lessons and a bit of the afternoon. I will help out with the teens during the second lesson as we look at the Minor Prophets. I am also looking forward to the conversations I will be able to have with people I only see during this week of the year. 

In the meantime we are praying for the young people that were at our camp week, the young ones who attended the week after and for the teens experiencing camp this week. We are especially praying for the counselors - several of whom were campers at our week and counselors at the Benjamin week as well. Thank you for your prayers for these moments and for so many of you who also take part in camps and activities in your area.