What is God doing?

As we returned from the US to Europe, we were greeted with some of the troubles taking place around us. The war in Ukraine continues, as our brothers and sisters continue to move back and forth from ‘home’ to new ‘home’. So many have now made their home here in Belgium, but still long to be home in Ukraine. 

In the meantime, France seems to have exploded in anger, with cities igniting under the frustration of the youth (and many others) who are striking out blindly. Riots around France come just as many are getting ready to go on vacation. And it seems, if one watches the nightly news, as if the world is on fire. Has God completely forgotten about it all?

Last week we were blessed to be together with the congregation from Maastricht down at camp for a day. We met several members of the church from Liége, our French-speaking brothers and sisters from the sister-city just 30 minutes from us. They were together with a group of students from Harding University who had come with Robert McCready, their French teacher. 

The day was an amazing time of fellowship as the Maastricht congregation spent the morning learning from the Old Testament before sharing lunch. Song and conversation with the French-speaking brothers and sisters afterwards. This was the reality. There was peace and joy and comfort here together as children of God - even if it was just for that afternoon. 

This past weekend, we knew that that group of students was going to be in Lille, France for a concert with the local singing group Atout Choeur. We have enjoyed Atout Choeur for many years, but getting across to Lille (a 2.5 hour drive) is not always that easy. But we were planning on being there. 

The news said that there were riots in Lille. The news said that the buses and trams were not running. We sent a message asking if the concert was going to be held and received a clear message: Yes, of course. Please come! So we did, arriving in time to meet and greet as well as we can in our very broken French. 

Somewhere in the city there may have been some unrest. I do not want to make light of any of that. But in this neighborhood (a very ‘common’ area of the city, tucked up against a bit of highway and railway) everything was quiet and calm. Even better, there was singing! Members of the family in Lille were present as were several visitors and the gospel tones spilled out into the street. 

Afterwards we spent a very little time sharing encouragement with those we could speak with (those who spoke more English) before heading back to our car for the drive home. We would not get back until 1 am, but it had been a good visit. God is busy wherever His children are. He is busy in all sorts of places and situations. Even when we may think the world is burning and God is absent, He is there, in the middle of it all. 

We are so thankful for our brothers and sisters in so many different places who are faithful in singing of Him, speaking of Him and living for Him every day and in all circumstances. In Lille they are singing. In Marseilles a special week of missions is continuing. In Ukraine people are coming to Christ in the middle of a war. In Russia brothers and sisters are speaking of the true peace that comes only with Jesus Christ. God is working in His world. Is He working in your life? 

Speak to one another

I love singing. Singing is the way that God has given us to combine thought with feeling and communicate that to one another, to Him and to ourselves. And communal worship singing is the best of all. It is here that we experience family in the presence of God.

I am thankful that I have had the opportunity many times in my life to expereince communal worship singing in multiple languages. I have no idea in which language we will sing when we kneel before the throne, but it is thrilling to be able to share this beauty and truth with others, even when we have difficulty communicating the simplest things (how do you talk about your hometown or your family in Croatian, or Korean, or French?). We can sing of our love for God, of our joy in His grace, of our burning desire to be His in all we do and say. And with a bit of translating in the beginning, we all know that we are sharing this thought and feeling.

Every first Wednesday of the month the church in Maastricht gets together to sing – learn new songs, learn about singing, share our thoughts in song. The group from Liége (Luik) usually joins us for the evening. Last weekend they organized an evening of singing with Robert McCready and his students from Harding. Glorious! And last evening was the last Wednesday evening in Maastricht until September (after our camp weeks). It was a wonderful evening together, although we missed some who are often there. But we will see them again too – and we will sing together to the glory of God, in any language, forever!

I made it!

I made it!
Originally uploaded by sraabs.

After 12 years and lots of hard work, tonight was Stephan's night. Students here have to wait until the day before the graduation to find out if they have passed or not. so yesterday was a little tense, but this evening was all fun.

It was amazing to feel how proud we are of Stephan and what he has done. To see him walking down the aisle, knowing that this is just the next step - but a big one! It was great to be able to talk to some of his teachers afterwards who said they would miss him.

And now on to the next step - quite a scary one, according to Stephan. He leaves for Harding on August 18 - to a place where he really doesn't know anyone (except for Shareya, who will also be attending there). He has met his roommate and is looking forward to that new life - but it is a new life. Making daily decisions without the push or help from parents. Scary, exciting, challenging!

On his way

We recently received our official notice that Stephan has been accepted to Harding University. This is exciting. There have been lots of times as Stephan was growing up that we thought about whether he would go off to school in the States or stay here. Our furlough last summer, being able to visit several schools, helped to put some things in perspective.

Now Stephan will be heading off to Searcy, Arkansas. Shirley is an alum, so we know what the school used to look like. Stephan endures stories of times past (but secretly listens closely, knowing that there are still elements that might be helpful). All he has to do now is pass this last year in high school. He is ready to go and excited about the possibilities.

So if all goes right and we can find the finances we need, Stephan will be gone in the Fall. All we have to do is get used to the idea that Stephan is leaving! We have known it was coming, but it is still kind of hard to get used to. I don’t think we will believe it until Scott gets back from Arkansas without Stephan.

Until then we will try to enjoy all the moments we have together, which is something we need to be doing anyway. And we are doing the same thing with Sean – he may have another four years, but he is already making plans!