Whatsit Wednesday: Wildlife bridge (ecoduct)

Every time we drive West from our home (which is pretty much every time) we pass under a special bridge. So on our way to singing or a camp meeting in Antwerp, on the way to our Bible studies on Mondays and Thursdays, on the way to the airport in Brussels, we pass under this bridge. And every homecoming from these events is met by this bridge just outside Maasmechelen. 

The highway enters the 60 meter long tunnel through gracious curves, the bushes and even small trees gracefully growing above as the river of traffic passes underneath. This ecoduct was built around 2005 and has proven to be a real help for the wildlife in the area. We live in Limburg, a province that has a lot of woods and natural elements (and a smaller population). But highways can cut up areas like this, leaving wildlife stranded or worse killed by trying to cross the highway. This ecoduct helps. 

In 2021 a 4th check was made on how well the ecoduct has been working and it became clear that it is doing even more than was thought possible. Reptiles and amphibians, like frogs, were some of the wildlife that was supposed to be helped by this massive project bridging the highway. But it is also used regularly by deer, fox and wild pigs as well as ermine, stone marten, and smaller mammals such as the shrew. Crickets, grasshoppers and beetles enjoy the crossing, making some very specific habitat come back to life. 

In the meantime this whole area has turned a few other bridges into ecoducts (though not as spectacularly as Kikbeek) and the province has become known for the various amazing ways to travel by bike among and through the beautiful nature present all around. There are bike paths winding through the trees, stretching over lakes and running along old train tracks. We are reminded of the beauty around us every time we return to the area and drive under this ecoduct. 

Sharing wisdom

Last Friday and the past Sunday we were thrilled to be together with several members of the congregation, but for different activities. On Friday evening we held our monthly First Friday singing. We learned some new songs, practiced some we had learned before, sang some songs we just love and had some good fellowship time afterwards. Sunday was our 2nd Sunday Games day and some of the same people were able to stay and just have fun together after our worship time. 

It has been exciting to see how God uses us and those around us to help in growth and wisdom. Sometimes I feel like an old guy, but when I mention that to Andrey, he always laughs and tells me not to say that. He and his wife are learning some things from us. They are two of the 5 or 6 who meet weekly for the English language Bible study. It is a time that God allows us (Shirley and me) to share some insight into God’s word and wisdom that we have garnered through life. But it is also a time to learn fro these young people and how they are growing in faith. 

There are two married couples where the wife is a Christian and the husband is not. The other young married couple are both Christians, helping one another grow. So we talk about how to be a good example, how to deal with stress in the relationship, how to apply God’s truths to our daily struggles and how to look ahead. We are thankful that God can use us to help these couples in any way. And it is thrilling to also learn fro them and their passion for Christ in their lives. 

In other ways we are trying to be good examples to brothers and sisters around us. I am trying to be a good example for our youngest brother in Christ, Jef. He is youngest in the sense that he was born into Christ just last year. But he is actually my age. I try to be an example as a brother so that he can see what it means to be a brother in Christ. We study God’s word together once a week and share our lives together. Shirley tries to do the same with our young sister in Christ, Gaiane. She is like our daughter and we want to be there for her. 

This is the beauty of how God created the body of Christ. We are truly to be a body, working together, learning from each other, depending o one another. We all have different experiences that we can learn from, passing that wisdom on to our brothers and sisters. Praise God for his design of church family and how we can share wisdom together. 

(Photo from 2025 with some of the young people we mentor)

Whodunit Wednesday: Daniel Gabriel Fahrenheit

Everyone is looking at the thermometer lately. Freezing temperatures in places that haven’t seen it that cold in quite a while. But which thermometer do you consult? How cold is it really? When I hear that it is 10 degrees, my first reaction is: “Oh, that’s quite nice for this time of year. I will not need my warm hat or scarf.” But others are saying that it is freezing. That is because some of us are using the Celsius scale and others the Fahrenheit scale. 

Daniel Gabriel Fahrenheit, for whom the scale is named, was a Polish German (born in Poland to a German family) who lived and worked in the Netherlands in the 17th and 18th centuries. He is credited with improving thermometers, with making the first mercury-in-glass thermometers (which were much more reliable) and getting everyone to adopt his scale of measurement. And this all so long ago. So how is it that people in the US use Fahrenheit, but people in the Netherlands use Celsius? 

Fahrenheit was born in Danzig (Gdansk) Poland to a German Hanseatic trading family. He was just about 15 when his parents died from eating poisonous mushrooms and he was placed under guardianship. In this way he ended up doing an apprenticeship in Amsterdam. He ran away when this was completed and traveled around what was then the Holy Roman Empire while his guardians issued an arrest warrant. But it was in this time that he also was manufacturing thermometers and researching the various scales and methods used. By 1721 he was already perfecting his thermometers while in the Netherlands.

At the same time, others were still using another scale. “Centigrade” was used by the Swedes and French and much of the world. This is how I remember learning the “other” scale. But it was changed to “Celsius” in 1948. However you measure, cold remains cold. Listen to the weather man or woman and decide then if you need to put on your scarf or not before going outside. 

Growing as a family

Every year we try to be encouragers in all that we do. All of the activities we plan and are part of are connected to how we hope God can use us for His kingdom. This year has begun and will continue no different. We are looking forward to the various activities we can take part in. 

This past weekend we traveled up to Haarlem (2.5 hours north) for a day of singing. The church there is wanting to learn more about singing and how to sing better together. Mostly they want to do this so that they as a congregation can learn new songs and sing well to the Lord on Sundays. But they are also looking at using this as a means of reaching out in the community with the gospel. They asked us to come and help with learning and it has been a great time of encouragement. Each time we have been, there are at least 10 members learning and singing together with us. 

We have been doing the same thing in Eindhoven for several years, although we have had to miss the last few months. It is exciting and encouraging for us to be able to spend time with congregations in other cities and to see and show how God encourages and teaches us through song. But singing is not all that we are looking forward to in the coming months. 

Before we leave for the US for two months (in May and June) we are looking at various ways of reaching out in the neighborhood in Maastricht. In the coming month we will be going around the neighborhood with a questionnaire about church and society in order to gauge where the neighborhood is and also to encourage people to think about the choices they are making. At the same time we hope to again let people know that we are active in the neighborhood. 

We also hope to get downtown Maastricht at some point to engage with people on the street, asking them what questions they might have for God. We have been preparing for this during our Wednesday studies when we look at some of the questions that people ask and how we as Christians can answer them. We hope to be going into town as weather gets better and there are more people walking outside. We would love your prayers for these efforts. 

In addition we of course are also working on plans for the summer camp weeks and training church members for leadership in those areas. The leadership training “Breathe” will be organized at the end of March. Shirley and I will also be leading the Benjamin week at the end of the summer when we return from our trip to the US. Camp opportunities are always a chance to encourage campers as well as the team that we work with during the week that we lead. 

Before all of that comes, we are also looking at some growing time for ourselves and with church family members. Scott will go down to ABSS (Advanced Bible Study Series) at the middle of February with some brothers from Haarlem and Maastricht. Shirley will go to the Ladies Retreat in March with several sisters from Maastricht. It continues to amaze us how God can use so many opportunities to encourage us and others and to help us all grow in grace. 

(Photo: the invitation for the camp leaders training session "Breathe")

Wild Wonderful Wednesday: Neanderthals in the neighborhood

Just down the way, in the next village over (Veldwezelt), is a Neanderthal site. Our village (Neerharen) was on the site of a Roman crossing of the river and has a castle with parts from the 13th century. But all of that pales compared to the date of the Neanderthal site. It was here, back a long time ago (which all depends on how one dates things) that Neanderthals roamed the river valley and lived in the area. 

The site in Veldwezelt is the first protected archeological site open to the public. The visitors jump back into time, walking along an 80 meter long path where examples of wolf rhino’s, bison and a mammoth can be found - animals that the Neanderthalers would have known. 

The crazy thing is how present day and past cross each other. Right next to the Neanderthal site is the international golf course, running through both the Netherlands and Belgium. As you walk the course, you pass by the Neanderthal site, separated by a fence. As far as anyone knows, Neanderthals did not play golf. That game was begun in Scotland by a completely different people. 

Camp meeting and new beginnings

Every year in January we hold an official meeting for our Bible Camp. This is required by law, but it is also a time to get together and encourage one another. Camp has always been an amazing opportunity for the various congregations in Dutch-speaking Europe to work together and grow in faith. 

This year is one step in several that we are taking toward the future of Ardennen Bijbelkamp (ABK). For one, we are trying to instill some changes in the commission that runs the camp non-profit. Although we have a newer member of the commission, most of the members have been around for some time. To make sure that there is a future and that we do not keep doing things just “because that is how we always did it”, we want to make sure that everyone knows how things work. We also want to plan for a younger commission. 

Although the commission this year will remain the same, we are looking at getting newer members in while continuing involving all congregations and members in how camp is run. The camp leaders, cooks, counselors and teachers all come from the various congregations and give freely of their time to ensure that young people and church members are built up in faith. 

One of the other purposes of this formal meeting is that it is a place to formally announce plans for the future of camp. It was good to hear at this meeting that camp is being used more and more by more of the congregations, even outside of the usual camp week. The past years have also seen several new regular activities. This year will see another training session for camp workers as well as a first aid course so that all will be prepared for any problems. 

In addition, we heard about the renovation plans that are coming up. The first big renovation was done in 2012 when the “hall” was built. A further renovation of the dormitory was carried out before 2020. Now we will work on the earliest building that was built at camp. The kitchen and bathroom section was the first real building, built in 1968. It had been updated lightly through the years, but it was time to bring it in line with the rest of the building and open up new possibilities. We have planning permission and are now in the process of finding contractors and time to build. Next year may see the first use of the new building. 

In the meantime, we continue with plans for camp activities in 2026. I will be leading the Benjamins this year, learning from the gospel of Luke. That will be at the end of July, after we return from our Home Assignment in May-June. We look forward to another busy year in which God can use so many different people in the churches here.

(Photo of what the building will look like)

Where oh Where Wednesday: North Holland

This week we are off for a few days together and we decided to check out some cities in North Holland. The name of the country has often been called “Holland” although the official name is “the Netherlands”. This is because when the Dutch were the kings of commerce in the world, they came from the province of North or South Holland. North Holland is where you find the cities of Amsterdam and Haarlem as well as some of the most important cities historically that people would recognize from their cheese (Edam, Volendam and Alkmaar cheese market). 

Since we can also visit good friends and mentors in Haarlem, we started there. Haarlem (which is where the name for the section in New York City comes from) is where many well-known painters came from, where Corrie ten Boom hid Jews in her watchmaking shop during World War II and where Max Verstappen won the Dutch Grand Prix (actually in Zandvoort just outside of Haarlem). For a short afternoon walk we hit some historical memories for us as well. Scott spent two years working with the church here in the 1980’s and we both did a mission summer here a few weeks before we had our first kiss. 

We also took a walk around the town of Hoorn, which is where the VOC (The Dutch East India Company) had its start and Dutch economic superiority began. It was a beautiful, cold day and we enjoyed delicious goodies from a local baker, a walk beside the sea and an adventure in a parking garage. Boats, ice, dog-walkers, a Belgian woman born in the US married to a Dutch shipper selling English sweaters - an amazing, wonderful day. 

We will end our short trip with a stop-over in the city of Leiden where the oldest university can be found. We have previously visited the botanical garden where the share some of the wonders that were brought back by the VOC. There are also trees which are more than 200 years old. But we are looking forward to see some more of the downtown and sniffing some amazing history which is to be found in so many places, even if this city is in South Holland - but that is a different story.. 

Together time

Every second Sunday those who wish stay after our worship and coffee time to play some games together. Yesterday was a 3rd Sunday, but we had still moved the games to this week. It coincided with a brother’s meeting as well, so there was plenty to do. But the fun is always simply being able to spend time together. 

That is what Shirley and I are hoping to do in the coming days as well. Our anniversary always falls in busy days in December, so we seldom have time to get away then. January is much easier. Since having to look into getting a car, this has meant looking a bit closer to home, which works out perfectly with some other desires we have had. 

Jim and Ruth Krumrei are now in their 90’s, but are a major influence in our lives. I stayed and worked with them in Haarlem back in the 1980’s. We regularly try to find some chance to visit, but it is not always easy. Most recently we have been up in Haarlem more often because of teaching some singing. But this doesn’t always mean that we will see the Jim and Ruth. 

So, in planning some getaway days together we decided to combine it with some time with Jim and Ruth and perhaps even the congregation in Haarlem. We will travel up to stay with Jim and Ruth in Haarlem and use that area as a hub rot visit some typical Dutch towns and cities in the area. Just as important, we will have time to spend with Jim and Ruth and share memories of how God has worked in this country. 

At the end of the month (or beginning of February) we hope to be back in the area for a singing with the church in Haarlem. The end of this week is the yearly camp meeting where we will also be able to spend time with people we do not see every week. It is exciting to see how God brings people from around the country together to work together for the kingdom. And we are thankful that we get to spend time with so many people.

(Photo is of a previous Games day)

Whensday: 1783, Gas lighting

In dark days it helps to have light, wherever you go. Imagine days of long ago when one only had candles or oil lamps to light the way. A house could be lit because it was a room, or several rooms, lit by a lamp, the light reaching into the corners thinly, laying fully on the people or things sitting closest to the lamp. But in the streets of the city, darkness fell as the sun went down. Everyone went home. 

Except that the couldn’t go home. An Industrial Revolution was at hand and cities were becoming even more urbanized. And as more people moved to the city, and more people had to work or continue their life through the night, the city streets being dark became a problem. But how to solve this conundrum? The solution was coal gas (called “light gas” inn Dutch). This gas was discovered by Jan Pieter Minckelers in 1783. 

Of course there were others who also looked at the idea and it was a while before cities put in gas lines to light city streets. Maastricht, where Minckelers lived, didn’t have city lights until 1854, but the discovery lightened the world in many cities (notably London) long before this. 

These were the days of street lighters, men who would light and douse the street lights at the appropriate time, walking through the streets of the city. Gas was brought into homes as well, bringing light to all corners whenever one needed. Of course it also brought some danger. These days natural gas is used most places if it is used at all, and most places depend on electricity for lighting - but that is a different story. 

Questions for God

One of the things that we as a congregation want to do this year is some evangelization in public. Most of our outreach as a congregation is along family and friend lines. We talk to the people in our lives whom God brings us. But we know that there are people struggling with questions about God who may not have anyone to speak to. So we want to be ready for some of these questions. 

During our Wednesday evening study - each first Wednesday of the month - we will look at questions and what God gives us as answers. We are collecting some of these questions, some of which you also may have struggled with or heard. Why does God allow so much suffering in the world? (Or How can God exist if there is suffering in the world? Or Why do I have to experience this suffering in my life since I am walking with God?)

How can an intelligent person believe in God and the Bible when it is clear that the Bible is an old book written long ago by people who didn’t really know what we know now? And it is full of mistakes and contradictions. How can anyone trust such a book? 

We (people in Europe) have been there and done that. We already know that it doesn’t work. Why stick to an old way of thinking about the world and people? 

Who made God? How old is the earth? So do you believe in dinosaurs? What do you think about politics? I have some questions for God because I am angry with him. 

Last night we were invited to a neighbor’s house for a New Year’s reception with some other of her friends and acquaintances. It was a nice time to meet some new people and get to know our neighbors better. We had several of these conversations throughout the evening. It is always clear that we are Americans, which brings up why we are here. That always leads to some conversations and questions. 

We are looking forward to having these conversations as a congregation in the Spring in Maastricht. We would love your prayers for these moments. We would also like to hear what your questions for God are (or questions you have heard or discussed). 

Whatsit Wednesday: Orange carrots

Well, of course orange carrots. This is after all a blog about things Belgian and Dutch. And we all know the Dutch like the color orange. So that must be where orange carrots came from, right? Actually … yes. 

Historically carrots could have been all sorts of colors. There were black carrots, purple carrots and red or yellow carrots. Carrots were not one specific color. The word for this tuber (root vegetable) comes into English in the 16th century  and is originally derived from the Latin carota. Originally carrots were grown for their seeds and such and were not distinguished from a parsnip (which is still used widely in Belgium)

But it was the Dutch growers in Hoorn in the 16th century. There is pictorial evidence that an orange carrot existed under the Romas in the 6th century, but generally carrots were purple or white. The Dutch cultivated the “Long Orange”, which some say was cultivated because of the love of the Dutch for the Dutch flag or for Willem of Orange (the royal family). Others claim that the orange carrot was preferred because the purple ones made soups and such brown. 

These days we can still find purple carrots (which are orange on the inside) and parsnips still exist, but in general all carrots are considered orange. Think of Bugs Bunny - “What’s up, doc?” Carrot soup, carrot bread or cake, carotine that helps your eyes (or does it?) and much more. How do you like your carrots? 

Cars, cars, cars

As you may have read in our last post, we had a bit of an exciting New Year’s Eve when our car decided to tell us something was wrong. Cars these days. In the past you might have gotten some kind of hiccup, or smoke or some strange sound. These days the car simply tells you that something is wrong. Our car is from 2016, but it is still young enough to have this sort of computer in it. “Engine trouble” is what we were greeted with when the car didn’t seem to be moving as well as usual. 

Since New Year’s day fell on a Thursday, our garage wasn’t open until today (Monday), which meant that we spent the weekend without a car. Not really a problem in these days, except for Sunday morning. Thankfully we have plenty of brothers and sisters who were willing to pick us up if needed (and bring us back home). So we enjoyed a wonderful Sunday morning worship time and also had some good conversation with our sister Gaiane while she picked ups up and dropped us back home. 

Today I took the car in to the garage. It drives just well enough to get it to the garage, about a 10 minute drive away. Of course I would have to leave it there until they could look at it and let me know what was wrong. That meant a good 50 minute walk home in the snow, but that brings its own charms. When the garage called back, they let us know that the fix would be far too expensive for this car with more than 260,000 kilometers. Thankfully they also told us, after I walked back in the snow, that the car would still work for small distances - city driving. 

So now we have spent a good bit of the day looking at second-hand cars and wondering what we are actually looking for. We enjoyed our Citroën, but are pretty sure we will not be able to find another like it for the price we want to pay. You know how it goes - you make up a list of all the requirements that said car must meet in order to be picked. 

Are there any brands you absolutely would not choose? (Renault, Mercedes or BMW) Does the type of fuel matter? (We want a diesel because it fist our needs) Are there other requirements? (Must be Euro 5 designated exhaust in order to get into cities, preferably a bit taller so we can step in easily, and if possible with a trailer hitch for our trailer) We don’t worry about color, at this point, even if we may have preferences. We pay most attention to how many kilometers, how old, and what the price is. 

We hope soon to be able to find something and be completely mobile again. In the meantime we will enjoy the snow which is slowing everyone else down on the roads.

(Photo is of our previous Citroën back in 2018, stuck in the mud at Bible camp)

Wild Wonderful Wednesday

Well, a wild, wonderful Wednesday is always interesting. This one fell on New Year’s Eve and was truly wild. Our plans were set to travel to our sister in Christ for a New Year’s Eve party with others from the church. We would pick up our young Ukrainian couple in Tongeren and drive on to Hasselt. Our other sister would drive in to Hasselt from just outside of Sittard, The Netherlands, bringing her son who was visiting from France. People from all over meeting to ring in the new year. 

Everything seems ready and prepared. The weather was not that bad. A slight bit of misty rain and cold hung in the air, but that is to be expected. We all were ready with snacks, games and a good mood to join together. Although fireworks are usual for The Netherlands, we didn’t really expect anything in Hasselt (Belgium). Our little village has plenty on New Year’s Eve, but that is because of how close we are to The Netherlands and how many Dutch people live here. 

We picked up our couple in Tongeren and headed out to Hasselt, talking about the differences in cultures and things we have experienced. But the car decided to make this outing a bit more wild and wonderful. Cars these days tell the driver what they should dop. There is a computer which determines what you can and cannot do. My car began warning me that I had to have the car looked at. At the same time power began decreasing. 

I pulled over and called the auto service. Thankfully there are people who work on days like these. It would still be an hour before he would arrive, however. So we called ahead and asked if someone could come and get Shirley and the couple from our car. Thankfully we were not really that far from our destination (about 20-309 minutes). Our brother in Christ, Jef, drove out and took everyone to the party while I stayed with the car, waiting on the auto service. 

When the tow truck arrived, he hooked up to the car’s computer and saw that there was an air intake problem. But he was able to remove the computer disturbance and the motor seemed to be running just fine. All seemed well and I would soon join the party. But all was not fine - it was a wild, wonderful Wednesday. 

Within a few miles, the car told me once again that something was wrong and started losing some power. Thankfully I was not really that far from home, so I took the car home, ready to go to the garage when it is open after the holidays. I called Shirley and let her know that we would be celebrating separately. 

Thankfully, they all had a good evening and the sister from Sittard could drop Shirley off while Jef could take the Ukrainians back to Tongeren. In the meantime I also had enough snacks at home to take me through the evening, waiting for Shirley’s return. I got to experience the fireworks near us (a good hour long), while they enjoyed desserts, games and conversation together. Tomorrow I will try to get the car to the garage and walk back home along the winter streets of our villages on the way to complete this Wild Wonderful Wednesday Walk.