Taxes

Nobody wants to pay them, but they are a part of everyday life. Jesus told Peter that it was normal to pay and the Bible makes clear that we should pay our taxes. But what do you do when things get a bit complicated? We have lived for the last 30 plus years in Belgium, working in the Netherlands and receiving a good bit of our support from the United States. So which taxes do we pay? All of them. 

We have always paid income tax and social security I the US. We also pay social security in Belgium. But it has been a real blessing all these years to have brothers and sisters who have helped us with our taxes in the US. E.B. Dotson did our taxes (and others) as a service for missions (now the office of Larry McElroy). And what a service this is. It is amazing to have these worries taken from your shoulders, not having to worry about figuring out how things work - because it is confusing. 

You see, we live in Belgium, but receive a part of our funds from the US. Anyone who has lived outside of the US knows about the various forms that have to be filled in (FATCA, FBAR and such). Knowing that your taxes are in good hands, of brothers and sisters who are putting their talents to this service, is extremely comforting. So we are very thankful. 

This is especially important now. This past year the Belgian tax office decided that things have not been as they think it should be. They are only allowed to go back 5 years, so they went back to 2022 and looked at our taxes in Belgium. Their conclusion is that we should have been paying income tax in Belgium, not in the US. This influences how much social security we pay in Belgium as well. 

So now we are looking at back taxes in Belgium, back payments for social security, and continuing to try to figure out our social security status in the US. This can be worrisome or frustrating, but in the end we know that things will work out. Our God knows what we can handle and knows what is going on. That doesn’t mean that it will not happen. It means that He will give us strength to deal with it. 

Thankfully we do not have to worry about anything more than VAT (Value Added Tax) in the Netherlands. And we all have to deal with that in some sense. And as oil prices (gasoline, diesel - which is what we use in our car, gas for our heating) rise exorbitantly, we know that although this may be difficult, we will be able to deal with it somehow. God trusts us to be able to handle what he allows in our lives - with His strength. 

This is family

As all of us know, the situation in Ukraine is not good. People all over the world, but especially all over Europe, are asking how they can help. What has so encouraged me is to see how churches all over Europe are quickly looking at how they can help. 

From the beginning the churches in Poland and Ukraine itself were working together to help make sure that the first refugees were cared for. Take a minute to look at a map. Ukraine is bordered by Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania and Moldavia. I have seen messages from churches in almost all of these countries offering help in many different ways. 

Of course the countries themselves are doing their part. Europe has made it easier for Ukrainians to stay. Previously they could enter the EU and stay as tourists for 90 days. This was first extended to 180 days. Now it has been opened to a special status whereby these refugees will be able to stay for 1-2 years, receive financial help and be able to work. 

But they still need places to go and ways to get there. Free flights and trains have been offered. People have traveled with their own cars for hundreds of kilometers. Some are even renting buses to go pick people up. Many of this is being organized and coordinated by the churches in the surrounding countries. Among churches all over Europe members are offering ways to help. 

Belgium and The Netherlands is a long way away from Ukraine, but we know that there are lots of people needing help. Ardennen Bijbelkamp - our Bible camp - has offered to put up some families for at least 90 days. We are not sure how this will work yet, but we are prepared to help. One of the members in Maastricht is a Ukrainian preacher from Kiev who will stay at camp to help the refugees who come there. 

It is so good to see God working in all these people, in this whole situation. Our God is mighty. We continue to try to keep our focus on Him and the true eternal good news of eternal life in Christ as we also do our best to help with current needs of the here and now. Please join us in prayer for this situation. 

Peace to the brothers and sisters, and love with faith from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Grace to all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with an undying love.  Ephesians 6:23-24