The sound of music

What does a good band name sound like these days? There are animals (Fleet Foxes), names that begin with “the”, and just strange combinations (Noah and the Whale?). The pop groups (and for some “pop” is a nasty word) have names just as strange as the “indie” groups. So we run across things like Foo Fighters, Magnetic Fields, or a Tokyo Police Club as well as Arctic Monkeys, The Flaming Lips or The White Stripes. But to be honest, when I look at the groups I listened to when I was growing up – were they any different: The Beatles or The Rolling Stones, Boston (or Chicago, or Orleans), Electric Light Orchestra, Led Zeppelin and many others. It’s hard to find a good name – one that stands out and hasn’t been taken already.

This Friday Karma Police will present their first CD at a special concert in the Muziekgieterij in Maastricht, the Netherlands. Quick translation: that is a local place (the Music Foundry) which supports young music talent. Karma Police is the three man band that Sean plays with. The CD has 10 original songs all written and arranged by Sean and played well by the band: Sean on guitar and vocals, Wouter on bass and vocals, and Cedric on drums and vocals.

I like hearing different kinds of music. Sean plays guitar – he taught himself and plays far better than I ever have (or will). It thrills me to see the creative talent he puts into these songs. But I think what I like the most is just hearing the guys practice. They come over to the house, head upstairs to the attic where they have the gear set up and play through their songs (or learn new ones). I like hearing the riffs, recognizing the songs I have come to know, hearing something new and wondering if it is a new song.

In May Karma Police will compete in a national band competition for bands with young members (14-19 years old) in Ghent, Belgium. They are excited about the possibilities, but mostly they are just enjoying still making music together. 
You can download their new song "Olive Tree" for free.

Catch me if you can

I need to learn to stop for a minute and continue on afterwards at full speed. Some things happen all at once and you have to get it written down before it is too late. Here are some of the things that passed by very quickly after my last post:

The graduate!

Sean graduated from high school on June 28. We are so thankful for his daily effort doing his best. He is excited at the moment to enjoy the summer before starting a new chapter in his life in the Fall.

In September Sean will be attending Narafi (www.narafi.be), a film and photography school in Brussels. We are also thankful and grateful that he will be able to stay with Bill and DeeDee Bundy while he is there this year. He is still planning on being home in the weekends (“So don’t get any ideas about my room,” he says.)

Vieny Wanga’s new life!

Vieny is the daughter of our sister in Christ, Shadira. Vieny has been living the past year in Curacao with her grandmother (who was baptized there this year as well), but has grown up with us here in Maastricht for the last 10 years. In those years she has attended youth weekends, Bible camp and had plenty of questions. Many of you have been praying for her as well.

On Thursday, July 14, she and Scott had made an appointment to discuss her growth and any questions she was struggling with in her faith. When Scott arrived, Vieny said, “I don’t know why I am questioning. I want proof, but God has shown me all I need to know. I know He loves me and has done everything for me. I know that I want to give my life to Him.” So that afternoon, Vieny put her Lord on in baptism, dying to her old life, rising in new life through faith in Jesus Christ!

Bible Camp

That same weekend Scott and Sean headed down to “Jongerenkamp” (a week of Bible camp for 15 years and older). Scott was teaching on “Service”. It was a gray-weather week, but a wonderful time of learning how to serve one another and dreaming of how we can serve after returning home. It was exciting to have several from the congregation in Maastricht there, learning from each other and encouraging one another. Check out some of the pictures on our site or here.

Mr. and Mrs. Fenny

At the end of camp, several of the campers and helpers, all of whom were also part of the congregation in Maastricht, headed back to Maastricht to share in the marriage of Shadira and Farley. Some of us sang, some helped, others spoke – and all of us enjoyed sharing this new life together. We are so thankful for the love that God teaches us. The congregation looks forward to the example that Shadira and Farley already are and will continue to be. In the coming year they are planning on moving to Curacao to be with Shadira’s girls.

In the meantime

We also headed down to Paris for a day with Sean and our interns. Very quick, but a wonderful time as family. You can see some of the pictures over on our photo site, but be assured, the memories made were even better. 

We also have been helping a young couple learn about ministry – as best we can. Shane and Rachel Morr have been with us for 5 of the last 8 weeks, evangelizing in Maastricht, meeting the members, participating in Bible studies and singing evenings, helping out wherever they could. We enjoyed our time with them immensely and hope that they were able to learn a bit from us what it means to be servants in this way. They headed back home this week. They are also friends of Stephan, so it is good to have that link connecting us as well.

Sean has played several times with his band – the playing great, the results (some were competitions) sometimes disappointing, but all exciting for us as parents. He hopes to continue the band in the Fall, combining school, work and playing in the weekends. Quite a challenge. 

Okay, take a breath. I’ll try to get up little bits a bit quicker in the future. Thanks for stopping by. It is always good to talk with you. And praise God for all that He is able to do in so many ways!