In the meantime…

As we are traveling, visiting and experiencing all sorts of things in the US, tasks continue back in Belgium and the Netherlands. It is so good to know that the congregation in Maastricht continues to help one another and reach out in love to those around them. Our sisters in the church continue to visit our sister who is a shut-in, visiting her and sharing the lessons we all are learning. Some will call, others will visit on a Sunday and others will do her shopping. 

A Sunday morning is a time for all of the brothers to share the gifts that God is developing in them. Even if someone is sick and can’t do the singing, another can step in and help. Whereas I often do the translating, there are others capable of translating from English to Dutch or Dutch to English. God provides what we need and helps to grow the gifts needed for the congregation. 

And speaking of growing, our grass continues to grow whether we are there or not. The day before we left I tried to get our grass done. In Belgium you have to mow when it is dry since you are never sure when the next dry day will come along. But I am not there to mow. Thankfully, there are brothers like Jef who will come along and get after the high grass, taking care of our lawn. 

And there are still activities planned for the coming months. This past weekend was a “Survival Camp with Papa” where fathers can bring their children to camp. Everyone sleeps in tents, they cook on fires outside and learn how to use knives, axes and such to survive. In the pictures I saw, they also had to figure out how to deal with very wet, rainy weather. Our brother Paul and his youngest son, Isaak were there to experience this. In the coming weeks there will be a work camp. Some of the brothers will spend a day or two at camp helping get camp ready for the summer. 

Everywhere one goes there is plenty to do. Keep your eyes open and be ready to lend a hand wherever you are. And know that you are not alone. This always reminds me of the text in 1 Peter. We are never alone and God is powerful. 

Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings. And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen.  1 Peter 5:8-11

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). 

COPA Benelux

This past weekend we were united in fun. Really. Every year the COPA Benelux - an indoor soccer tournament for teams from around Belgium and the Netherlands - is organized. In Maastricht we try to form a team to play, but the last few years this has not been possible. So this year three of us from Maastricht joined three from Gent and one from Haarlem to form a team. We are FUN United.

You see, the teams are split up in Pro and Fun. The Pro teams are serious. They usually have people who know how to play, are basically fit and are serious about winning - although they are also there to have fun. Christians know how to have fun. God made fun. The other teams, made up mostly of kids (at least 10 years old), people who don’t know that much about soccer and older people make up the Fun teams. 

This year there were only 3 fun teams and 7 pro teams. But the fun teams definitely had fun. Our team did not win any games, although we made some of them fairly exciting. Still, we got third place. (This is where one would put an emoji sticking his cheeky tongue out). It was fun to play although my body definitely feels it still, two days later. We had some beautiful goals and plenty of screaming to root one another one. 

In between matches I always enjoy meeting new people and checking in with people we do not get to see very often. There were some players from Antwerp that we only see during this tournament. And it was good to check in with them. One of the other Fun teams was from Den Haag. As a matter of fact, last year I won the Fun tournament as part of their team. This year they also won in a thrilling final that only ended after penalty shootouts. 

I am always thankful for people around the country who make the effort to put something like this together. This is a place where young people can get together. It is a time when older people can connect with younger people in a different way. It is a moment when everyone sees that perseverance and fairness are part of having fun. It was great, nearing the end of the day, when we all gathered to sing praises to God and hear a pep talk. Like Luk Brazle always mentions - soccer and singing go together. We love singing to God who gives us such fun moments. 

The photo is of FUN United. You can find more photos of the day here. 

A song in our heart

This month has been full of singing, as I mentioned last week. We have been in Haarlem, Eindhoven and Cologne for a time of teaching singing and singing in fellowship. And we enjoyed a Family Day at camp singing together with brothers and sisters from the Netherlands and Belgium. God has made us to sing. He has given us the song in our hearts, filling us with His joy. 

I have always been a singer. My family used to sing Christmas carols in the home. My dad got us into singing Barbershop when we were young, and I sang in the choir when I was in the Catholic Church and during my school years. So singing is natural for me. But not everyone can “feel” the harmonies or has experience with music. As a matter of fact, many in the church here in Europe have never had to sing with music notation. 

So that is one of the things that I try to pass on to congregations when we learn. What is a fermata? What does “mp” mean? How in the world can I make sense of all those chicken scratches on the page of that thick book? And where is my lyric? We spend time learning a bit, but not stressing too much. The most important thing, after all, is that we understand the words we are singing and truly mean them. 

We spend time singing songs we know and love, but which are a challenge. “Greatest Commands” is a favorite of many people, but is a challenge if you are not use to keeping your own part (soprano, alto, tenor or bass) and keeping time as well. Simply ;earning to count can help a lot. And then learning about dynamics in a song can help the words really dig deeper into our hearts and minds. We talk about enunciation, breathing and ending sentences with full words - “God” instead of “Gaww”. 

It is exciting to see brothers and sisters asking questions, struggling with new concepts and wanting to sing with their hearts to the Lord. We are thankful that God has put us in a situation where we can assists others to sing with their hearts and learn new songs at the same time. We also continue recording songs - mostly in Dutch - so that congregations can hear what a song sounds like and learn songs together. You can find our recordings (many also organized by our colleague Luk Brazle in Ghent) right here. 

Take time to put a song in your heart this week. Take time to sing together, paying attention to the words that you sing. Thank God and praise Him for the song He puts in our hearts every day. 

(Photo of the group this past Saturday in Haarlem)

There where God is

This past week, as with most years, I was down in Gemünden, Germany for the Advanced Bible Study Series (ABSS). This is a week of Bible study with people from around Europe sitting at the feet of teachers from around Europe and one or two from the US. It is always a time of intense conversation and thinking as well as relaxing walks and even fun goofiness on the Thursday evening. 

It has always struck me how amazing and good it is to be with brothers and sisters from various places talking about the truth of God. This past week we were talking about the presence of God, how we see this in science, in beauty, in suffering and how we lear to follow Jesus in this Way. It struck me that there is no place where God is not; there are loci everywhere where God IS, together with His people. 

This is the very experience we have had throughout the years we have been blessed to serve in the area of Belgium and The Netherlands. We are blessed to be here because people in many places give their finances, encouragement and prayer so that we can be here. This past week reminded me of this truth as well. I was working through our financial statements in preparation for doing our taxes for the US and was reminded of all those who are it possible for us to be here. 

After this year we will no longer have financial support from the S. 11th and Willis congregation. They were the ones with whom we started our married life and were always a missional group of followers of Christ. Although this congregation has now folded into another in Abilene, Texas, we hold the memories and encouragements from through the years close to our heart. 

Another group of followers who have long supported and encouraged us is the congregation in Muscatine, Iowa. They, too will be dialing back their financial support in the coming year. Knowing the hearts of many of the members there we pray that they will not lose their focus on the mission of God around the world as they strive to discover how best to use the funds God has given into their care. We are thankful to be connected in many ways to the living fellowship there and to remember with joy how we are welcomed with open arms when we come “home”. (Find them here)

In a continuation of this movement towards the North we land at the Woodbury congregation in Woodbury, Minnesota (Minneapolis-St. Paul area). This is a group of people who have encouraged us from the beginning and worked through many changes to keep us in their prayers and minds and hearts. Every group of followers changes throughout the years as new people are added to the body and others go to their reward - waiting for the rest to join them soon. Woodbury continues to look for ways to pass on the grace of God in any way possible not only to the surrounding area 9which has changed immensely through the years) but also throughout the world. (Find them here)

Our sponsoring congregation and encouragers from the beginning are the members of the Lord’s body in Long Beach, California. It has always amazed me to see how this group has struggled through the various changes that come through the years, but always trying to focus on grace and salvation to any and all who come. This family makes sure we are linked to the others who financially support us, so that all goes well on the front. But they also continually share their hearts with us as well, praying for our needs. (Find them here)

Most recently (in 2023) we have become linked to the Oldham Lane church in Abilene, Texas. Although we still need to get to know this congregation better, we are thankful for their willingness to help us financially. We look forward to getting to know them better the next time we are in the US (normally that would be in 2026). 

Besides these various groups of people, we are also blessed with the encouragement, financial support and spiritual mentorship and friendship of various individuals and families. The Eck’s first visited us as students to work with us I this area and continue to support this work. The Bundy’s have supported and taken part in work in many places around the world including Belgium and continue to encourage, support and be an example to many, including us. The McNeill’s traveled in the past, experiencing this very idea of God’s people everywhere. Their hearts continue to be with the people they know and the people God knows in places around the world. The Cron’s and the Jablonski’s in California, and the Stovall’s now from Iowa, have remained strong encouragers and supporters throughout the years. In years past other families have helped, visited, encouraged and worked together with us, including the Skarin’s, Tornij’s and Rampton’s. 

God is in all places. He is here in the group of followers in Maastricht who also support us daily in their spiritual encouragement and monthly in their financial support. We have a connection with God’s family all over Europe, through to Asia and Africa, down through South America and even in Australia. God wants his family to be everywhere. And He is able to use any and all of us to make this possible. We are thankful that He has used us and continues to use us, with you, to reach people who do not yet know Him here. 

Know that God still wants to use you wherever you are now and that He is able. We are so very thankful for God’s faithfulness and for so many of you who have helped so many hearts here. 

Whensday: Gemündener Follies

You might have noticed that I missed writing on Monday AND on Wednesday. This is because I am down in Gemünden, Germany for the annual Advanced Bible Study Series (ABSS). This is a time to meet with people from around Europe and receive lessons on all sorts of Bible topics. This year was quite different in that we even had an art session halfway through the week (see my picture). 

What did not change was that Thursday evening brought the world-famous Gemündener Follies. As our host Patrick would say, this is a low-level talent show. But we all enjoy it immensely anyway. I got to write some verses for a Hee Haw song and sing them with Paul Brazle and Brady Smith. I also sang a Ukrainian song with Carol Brazle and Brady and Stephanie Smith (Stephanie’s father translated the song into English: While on the Sea). 

Every year, or almost every year, Paul and I close out the show with a version of “our” Camp Gemunden song, based on the song which starts, “Hello, Mudda, hello Fadda, I am here at Camp Grenada…”  I have most of the lyrics for past years in my guitar case. Paul and I have been doing this for quite some years. I remember that we even did it via video during the corona version of ABSS. Each year we re-write the lyrics based on the speakers of that year, trying to rhyme and be funny at the same time. 

The joy of a week like this is being able to see people we don’t see often and meeting new folks from around Europe as well as be challenged by good Biblical lessons. This year, as with most years, there was a contingent from the CEM program in Marseille. The young men and ladies, some with delightful French accents, took part in the lessons, the follies and simply serving one another during the week (at meal times, for example). Everyone laughs on Thursday evening and then joins in eating ice cream (dedicated to Doyle Key who had for so long been a part of this event). 

As the weekend starts, the first session transitions into the weekend session. Families are able to arrive, the group from Marseille heads off on their long journey home and the lessons and fellowship continue with another varied group. I have been thankful to have heard about works in Vietnam and Estonia as well as see young people I have known from a young age attending as young adults (from Romania and Marseille). 

One of the lessons was focused on how we can see God in all things around us, including beauty. The Gemündener follies remind us that laughter and joy speak loudly of the presence of God in reality. 

For kings and all those in authority

Some days seem bigger than others, but all days belong to the Lord. One of the things that hit me again last year was how little we all know of what is going on in the world and how important things can be for others. Our congregation in Maastricht is quite international, so we hear of things happening all over the world. And we pray for God’s guidance and strength each and every day. 

Elections in Belgium and Netherlands can lead to changes in government. Or the government can still be struggling to form, in the case of Belgium. Wars and conflicts are taking place not only in Ukraine, but also in Syria, Sudan, and many other places. A combination of government and dangerous struggles is present in Kenya or Ecuador. And we (in Maastricht and perhaps for you as well) have family in each of these places. 

We pray for leaders in Brazil, in Iran, Syria, Sudan or the Philippines. We think about what is happening in Germany or Italy, Ecuador or Venezuela, Suriname or the United States. We are part of a body that is around the world and active in all of these places. And it is good to bring each of these places and situations before our Lord in prayer. 

It may seem repetitive or maybe useless, wondering if world leaders, kings and queens, dictators and tyrants are ever going to listen. But God - our King of kings - has asked us to pray for these leaders and situations, reminding us that He is truly in control. We are not the ones who know what is happening or what can happen (despite all the people telling us their opinions about what is going to happen). 

As “big” things are happening in the world, father and mothers are still trying to be good parents, showing their children what God looks like and what is most important in life. Neighbors are still looking for help and people still want to know more about Jesus and why He is called the Christ. Our Father is still in control of each and every moment, and we can give Him these moments every day. 

Today will influence many - not necessarily because of political changes - because God is working through each of us in all of our various places and moments. We want to live for Him and we pray for leaders and kings that we will be able to live in peace. 

I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people— for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.

1 Timothy 2:1-4

Whodunit Wednesday: Who am I?

The past few years Shirley has been working on discovery her ancestry. This began with looking for her older sister whom she had only really met once in her life. We found her online, but too late for Shirley to ever talk to her. In the meantime, Shirley has discovered even more about her mother’s side of the family (they go all the way back to the Salem witch trials), the family of her previously unknown sister’s daughter, and some cousins from her father’s side. 

I know that my father in the past had a genealogy done, although he has never seen it. I also remembers several conversations with my mom about her ancestry. I know that I comes from a lot of German and Prussian background. But might there be some other interesting discoveries? When we named Stephan, we became aware for the first time that there was another - much better known - Stefan (with an “f” instead of “ph”) Raab. Could there be actual links somewhere? 

As a matter of fact, I know that there are other Raabs that we are not related to. Back when we used to send actual paper newsletter and the beginning of email newsletters, I received messages strongly asking me to stop sending emails to someone who had the Raab name but was not related. And if you google my name, you will most likely first come up with a well-known journalist - who is not related. 

Last night we spent time with a young couple from the church, sharing stories about our lives and looking at pictures. We saw their “old” pictures (they are just 20 and 21 years old) and then we looked at pictures when we were younger. The usual exclamation was, “That’s you?!” Looking at a picture and then at the real person, you recognize some of the characteristics, even if the hair has changed. 

But are we simply our DNA? Is that who we are? Of course our genes have influenced us, just as the environments we grew up in. But is that the totality of who we are? Ever since becoming a Christian I have seen those elements as the building blocks that God has used throughout my life to make me who I am. I am a child of the King. I am a sinner who has been and is being made holy, day by day. Can you imagine someone being holy? That’s me. I am a saint. Not that I do everything right, of course. But God sees who I am and who He is making me to be, every new day that He gives. 

Who are you? 

Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.  Ephesians 2:19-22

Sister Nel

Today our sister, Nel, turns 84. Yesterday the congregation did our traditional thing, but with a twist. Usually when someone in the church has had a birthday, we put them in the middle of the circle of us around them, pray for them and sing “Happy Birthday” to them. We want everyone to know not only how important they are, but how we all are blessed by them in this wonderful family of God. 

Usually we wait until the Sunday after the person’s birthday. Often there is more than one person in the circle, since several might have had a birthday in the previous week. For Nel we made an exception and sang o the Sunday before her birthday. And since Nel could not be with us where we meet together, we went to her, which is just around the corner of our building. 

In Spring this year I brought Nel to the hospital because of intense abdominal pain. After some examinations and scans and such she received the news that she had an inoperable tumor on her liver. She was sent home with the words that she was ‘terminal’. The doctor had even had the conversation about a “completed life” which is now typical in the Netherlands. IN other words, did she want to be euthanized. 

Nel made very clear to everyone in the doctor’s office (another specialist and a nurse as well as the doctor) that God is good and whether she were to die today or tomorrow or months or years from now, her life was in God’s hands. She was not going to presume to play God over her own life. 

So Nel has been waiting since the Spring to go Home to her Heavenly Father. But it has taken much longer than she had expected. She is still living on her own at home, cooking most of her meals and even doing some of her own cleaning. A nurse comes every day to check on her and clean her. Another helper comes once a week to clean in the house. And Nel wonders when she will get to go Home. 

In the meantime, she has been able to mend to a point a break with her daughter and has been able to regularly see her daughter and granddaughters. She is so grateful for these moments. She had never thought she would even make it to this birthday. But here she is. And there we were, gathered around her door to pray for her and sing to her and let her know how much wee love her. 

Of course we love her more than just this day. Several sisters visit her every week, taking her soup, reading with her in the Bible (one of her favorite activities), doing some cleaning or just talking. I see her every Tuesday to get her shopping done and take out her trash. And we all call or let her know how much we love her. 

One of these days in the future we will get a call and Nel will not be here anymore. She will have gone Home. But for now, we can still enjoy her in our lives. And we are so thankful that we got this time to be together with her again. 

Wild Wonderful Wednesday: Hunting in the Ardennes

Hundreds of years ago the forests around where we now have our Bible camp would have been full of wildlife. The few people who lived in the area would have hunted all sorts of animals, including wild pigs and deer. The wolf would have roamed in the area, hunting as well. In the past century hunting of a different sort took place in these woods as soldiers of conflicting countries hunted one another during two world wars. Then the wars stopped, tourists started visiting the area and Bible camp was built (first just tents) in 1965. 

Throughout the years that we have attended and helped with Ardennes Bible Camp (ABK) we have experienced a little bit of this wild life that slumbers still in the woods around camp. Young campers love to run through the grass in our field looking for grasshoppers, butterflies, frogs and maybe even little grass snakes. In the creek babbling along the field they look for frogs and fish (although there are no fish). Periodically they cry out in astonishment as the cows on the other side of the creek come down into the water to drink. 

If you get up early enough in the morning to see the mist rising across the field, you might also surprise a family of deer munching on the tall grass just past the fence marking our land. In recent years we have been able to acquire that land, so the grass is not as high, but we still find signs of the deer visiting this area. But the land that is our camp is just a small postage stamp. Camp is still surrounded by forests full of wildlife. 

Stepping up the steep driveway leading down to our camp we regularly take the kids from a week of Bible camp on a walk through the woods. There is a short walk along the street that passes our camp. This is the most dangerous section as it is in a bend and the cars and motorcycles like to speed along this twisty road. So we make sure that the kids pay attention and walk 2x2 until we can leave the main road after about 100 meters. 

Turning left off the road we can ascend on a rough road between fields where the cows most often range peacefully. The bushhes along the road are full of blackberries and stinging nettle - a delicious risk of thorn and sting to get to sweet reward while climbing higher into the woods. The view back over the village below and into the next valley always elicits cries of awe. 

As we reach the beginning of the woods we have to chose at a typical crossroads: right, straight, or left. Going right looks like it goes downhill. It does just this for a time, again splitting with one section returning to the village. But another section continues higher up the hill. Going straight is clearly a climb and most do not want to go that way after having already climbed a bit to get to this crossroads. It is however the best place to gather blueberries. 

It is the path going left that we usually take. This is a level path running along the field we passed coming up, but just inside the trees of the forest. It follows a narrow, well-worn but muddy path. These days you can see that bikes come this way as well as horses. But if you look closely in the mud, you will also see that the wild pigs know their way through these woods and along this path. 

Each year we have to warn the kids not to pick blueberries too close to the ground. The fox and stone marten roam freely in these woods and like to mark their territory on the low-hanging bushes. So blueberries hanging low may have received a “blessing” that we do not want to share. These stone Martens, something like a weasel, have through the years also made their nests in the nooks and crannies between our building walls and roofs. One might also catch a glimpse of one of these elusive creatures if one is awake and about in the early morning. 

It is during our Fall Camp that we have to take special precautions at camp. This is hunting season. We are not allowed in the woods past sunset and there are areas where we are not allowed at all. Hunters are out hunting the wild boar. More recently we have also learned from the news that the wolf has once again made its way into these areas. 

This past week was our Fall Camp and we had a great group of young people learning about Joseph and how to deal with adversity. This week the younger kids are down at what has become our newest addition of camp Vacation Bible Camp (VBK). The Belgian schools all have a Fall vacation, so this is a good time to be down at camp with friends learning about God. 

The trees are all turning glorious colors, painting the forest in multiple shades of red and yellow and orange. The mist rises in the morning and sets into the field again in the evenings as the various wildlife steps quietly through the forest and fields, wondering who these loud kids are and what they are doing. The kids are simply hunting for a wonderful time and full life in God’s glory. 

Listening for God

This past weekend I was privileged to teach at the Fall European Singles Retreat (ESR) in Gemünden, Germany. As I mentioned to someone who asked - I taught in English, not in German. The retreat is for singles from around Europe. We had people there from Germany, Romania, Belgium, Netherlands and the US. There were three people who had never attended before and had found the information at the website. The theme was “Listening for God”. 

What a challenge to think about how we listen for God, why we want to listen for God and what that looks like. In the end we also talked about how - even if we can hear God, are we listening “to” Him? This group had lots of questions and good and intense conversation time - especially at the campfire on the Saturday evening. But it is also a group that likes to laugh. 

I have always enjoyed being able to be with this group. Singles are at a different season in their life and have different questions in their walk with God. The Single’s Retreat has always been a good place to share those questions and encourage one another in faith. 

The first morning I went out for a walk as the sun was rising. I love walking in this area. The campground where the retreat is held is in the middle of the German hills. I am usually here in February for a different Bible study week, so seeing the trees with leaves was a bit different. But the beautiful quiet, the birdsong and blanket of silent mist, the peacefulness remains the same. 

God wants us to walk with Him. The most important thing that we can hear, and that he continuously tells us, is that He want to have a relationship with us. HE is making this possible. If we are listening, He continues to say this. He tells us through people (I am telling you right now), through the beauty of His nature, through songs that we hear and sing and through our conscience and minds that have been filled with His words. It is not that God is not speaking. It is that we need to listen. We can check what we hear by comparing it to His words in the Bible. 

And when we hear God - “Please come to me. Follow me. Turn around. Don’t fear, I am here. I am the mighty one. You can have true, abundant life in ME.” - we can truly listen “to” Him and do what is good and right and precious. Then we will truly be listening. Are you listening?

“Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say? As for everyone who comes to me and hears my words and puts them into practice, I will show you what they are like. They are like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock. When a flood came, the torrent struck that house but could not shake it, because it was well built. But the one who hears my words and does not put them into practice is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. The moment the torrent struck that house, it collapsed and its destruction was complete.”  Luke 6:46-49

Getting ready for the summer

As we return from a wonderful visit getting to know our granddaughter, we are turning our sights to the various activities planned for the summer. Mostly this means our summer Bible camp weeks. I will be directing the Benjamin week (8-11 year-olds) and will be teaching at the Family Camp week. 

We are excited to be working with a team for Benjamin camp that is mostly made up of members from Maastricht. We will welcome our young Ukrainian couple as counselors for the first tie. Our colleague, Karla will be teaching, together with a sister from the church in Eindhoven. They make a great team and have worked together before. We will have Karla’s daughters in the kitchen together with a sister from Maastricht who will help out. Shirley will be there as acting nurse and help as well. 

We have a full group of young kids coming for this week which will focus on the miracles of Jesus. We had to close registration for the boys because we were full. The girls side is also almost full. This means, for our camp, that we have 25 campers, but doesn’t not count a few more that we are getting who will be staying in tents for a few days. These kids will come from all around Belgium and the Netherlands. 

It is exciting to be able to take part in these camp weeks. One of the things that I do with camp director is give church members a chance to learn and grow as helpers and servers. Getting a good team together is always a challenge, but the week ends up being a wonderful time to grow together. It is also so exciting to see the campers discover God in new ways and have examples of people who know God and follow Him in our daily lives. 

For a lot of these children, camp is a time to see friends that they may not see at any other time in the year. It is also a time that they will be challenged to do things they might not do at home. So they will try new foods, clean up in the kitchen, make their own beds, keep the bathrooms clean, and learn how to work together with other kids. They will also be challenged by the lesson material about who God is and what He truly means in our lives. 

There will be 4 weeks of camp this summer. The older teens (15 years old and up) begin in the 3rd week of July, followed by the Benjamins. The Teens (12-14 year-olds) start in August followed by the family week. Keep each of these weeks in your prayers - the camp teams and the campers attending. 

We know that there are camp weeks all over taking place as well and have been praying for them. Our Ukrainian couple who will be counselors have returned from Cam Amerikraine (held in Poland this year). We know of groups meeting in Colorado, Wisconsin, Minnesota and Iowa. What a blessing these times can be. We pray that God uses each of these moments mightily to touch hearts for faith in Him. 

Fathers

When our boys were young, in primary school, the teachers always made sure that the children did something for Mother’s Day and Father’s Day. I remember wearing a paper tie on a Sunday morning because it was made by my son for me for Father’s Day. In Belgium, Father’s Day falls on the second Sunday, so it was celebrated yesterday. 

In the Netherlands and the United States the day is celebrated this year on June 16. This will be our oldest son’s first Father’s Day. His daughter, our first granddaughter, Sophia, will turn one year old at the end of the month. We are thankful that we are able to finally visit and meet the young lady. We arrive in Indianapolis the day after Father’s Day. 

These celebrations always remind me of the many people in my life who have played such an important role. Of course we are so very thankful for our own parents (and I will be congratulating my father as well next week). But as Jesus promised Peter, when we leave all to follow Jesus (and that is what any follower of Jesus truly does), then we find we have hundreds more in our lives. 

My best friend’s father, Ron Carter, was always somewhat of a father to me, teaching me about who Jesus was and what it means to follow Him as well as showing me what a father looks like in a family. When I spent two years as an apprentice to an evangelist, it was he who also influenced my life. He was less of a father figure and more of a teacher, but I learned much from him as well. 

Being a father is more than simply having children. Although I know that I was not the best father in the world, I tried to do what I had learned from the people around me and especially from God’s word. I am aware that the example I was to my boys is what will last longest in their memoires. And it is then that I am also thankful for my Heavenly Father and the grace that He provides. 

Who was influential in your life as a father figure? How important is it to you to know that God is your Father? 

(It is such a joy to have seen and see these boy grow to men). 

Amazing love

As children of God we are witnesses daily to an amazing grace and amazing love of our loving Father. It is exciting to see how this works out among the household of God as well, each of us members of this body of Christ. The last few weeks and this past weekend have been very good examples of this reality. 

This past weekend was a day down at camp for the congregation of Maastricht. Everybody who could make it, planned to get down to camp. This meant that some would offer their car to bring others. Some would take care of coffee and tea when we got there. Our Ukrainian brother, Alexander, had spent the last weeks gathering Bible questions that we would discuss - and he would lead the discussion. All of us brought our hearts for one another and for the Lord. 

Although the weather reports had given rain (not unusual for this time of year in Belgium), everything stayed dry and we even finished the day with beautiful sunshine and warm weather. It was a day of real fellowship: singing to the Lord together, sharing thoughts from the Word of God, helping one another, playing basketball or frisbee or simply having some good conversations. This is a family that truly cares for one another. On Sunday we held our monthly potluck and people stayed again, including a few visitors for the day. 

In the past weeks we have also felt how strong God’s family is all over. On May 5 Shirley got a message that her sister had been taken to hospital in Omaha, Nebraska and probably would not make it through the night. But she did. In the following days and weeks, it has been an up and down struggle with a body that has had top deal with a lot in the last years. 

In these weeks, we asked for prayers and our brothers and sisters around the world have been praying. Sometimes being far away, we feel we can do nothing. But we all can pray. And that is far from nothing. We are so thankful for all who have been praying and continue to pray. Mary (Shirley’s sister) has recovered enough to be able to be operated and moved to a critical care facility where we pray that she can really recover. 

In the meantime, Shirley ahs made plans to fly to Omaha to help and be with her sister. Sisters here have offered to help with costs. Sisters in Omaha have offered to pick Shirley up on Sundays so that she can worship with this wonderful family into which God has placed us.  

Shirley will be in Omaha fro May 27 through June 10, arriving back here on the 11th just in time to get here bag ready to leave again on June 17 for our visit to our new granddaughter. That visit will also be a great meeting of family as we will also get to see Sean and Jill, together with Stephan and Natalie. The last time we were all together was in 2018. 

All of these moments are only possible because of God’s grace and His wonderful family. Thank you for your prayers and support. Thank you for your faithfulness in His family. Isn’t it wonderful to experience in so many ways, every day, this amazing love and wonderful grace! 

(The picture is of our day down at camp. We are missing three others who had already had to leave).