Family Camp

This week I will be down at Family camp every morning for the lessons. We are blessed to live fairly close to camp - about an hour away. This means that I can just drop down to camp and head home to my own bed in the evening. I want to be present for the lessons and some of the afternoons when I can. It is always good to see different groups of people at this camp week. 

On Friday I will present two lessons on Prisca and on Deborah. The whole week is focused on what women in the Bible can teach us. It is always encouraging at this week of camp that we can have extended conversations about the lessons throughout the day. There is of course time to play or take part in some activities, but people also enjoy discussing what has been taught and what it means for our lives every day. 

Somewhere near the end of the week there will also be a “Bonteavond” which is the talent show for the week. This is also always a fun time to incorporate campers who perhaps would not take part in such activities. It is a time of singing, play acting and just goofing off. If this is on Thursday or Friday I may be able to participate. The ;ast two years I have helped an elephant trainer for this show.

On Friday evening there is always a campfire - if the weather permits it. During the older teen camp, the campfire was rained out. This meant that their already built stack of wood was left for the Benjamins. But the evening of the Benjamin campfire was also almost rained out. The teen camp was a week of basically dry weather and they had a great campfire as well. So I hope that the Family camp will simply be able to enjoy their fire and the fellowship that goes with it. 

On Thursday I will offer a discgolf tournament and have already had some campers mention that they are waiting for that day and activity. It was fun this morning to see some people we only see at this week but also to see some of the kids we had at Benjamin Camp. Hugs from thankful campers are always welcome. And it looks like this is a great week of many families - tents all spread around the field. 

Sights, sounds and smells

There are so many things that seem different when you are in a foreign country. This is even true when you are in an unfamiliar city. Our time in New York has been filled with all sorts of different sights, sounds and smells. Later I will be able to share the too many pictures we have taken in this amazing place. But for today, use your imagination and go with me to these sights, sounds and smells that struck us as remarkable for this stop. 

Sounds

- The shriek and scream of the slithering snake of a subway. 

We have been taking the metro (subway) everywhere. On the platform as the whoosh of the wind of an oncoming train sweeps along the darkened tunnel, or even in the train itself as it bumps around a corner, screeching in seeming pain, the sound never stops. Even when we visit Jill’s or Sean’s workplace, a train thunders and screeches through regularly, halting all conversation until it passes and the normal thrum of the daily traffic returns. 

- Sirens throughout the day, which one would expect in a city, but also the almost genteel “whoop, whoop” of the police car wanting to get through the inevitable traffic stopped up the intersection. Not that the police car is hurrying on to an event, it simply wants to get through. 

- Other cars are constantly honking. The drivers who are obviously familiar with the streets and intersections frustratedly honk at the noobies blocking the way. Cars honk a nanosecond after the light has changed color, telling the car in front of them emphatically to move along. 

- Our hotel is a stacking of rooms around beds in a second floor block of flats. The walls are all very thin, so we hear everything that our neighbors do or say, including their snoring through the night. And we are more than aware that they can all hear anything going on in our room as well. 

Smells

- A sickening sweet smell hangs in pockets throughout the city or as you pass someone on the street, the smell of a common weed. It hangs in the air as you pass someone smoking, or hangs in their clothes and hair. Often you cannot avoid it as the people walking in front of you smoke an exhale into the air, the cloud slowly wafting through the air. In this case it is an upscale group of young professionals on their way to an evening out together. 

- It is a city, and although it is not filthy, your nose gets used to the everyday smell of urine in various places. Trash is also stacked up on every street. 

- Baking bagels, donuts, croissants and various other kinds of bread wafting through the air from street corners. Moving along the streets, trying to keep up with the flow, you pass back and forth through more pleasant into unpleasant and back into normal smells. 

Sights

- As we emerged from the metro station one evening on our way to Sean and Jill’s place, we passed a father with his young son. The boy was throwing a tennis ball to his father who was playing catcher, baseball glove on hand. This occurred rght on the square where many people were beginning to gather for the evening, ready to enjoy their evening of dining. It was a sight seen in many other places, where families took advantage of any spot to be a family. 

- People moving determinedly through the day and the streets - on their way to wherever they are going where they need to be very soon. 

- As we walked down the street (moving at a stiff pace as the rest were doing) we passed a young boy stretched out on a balustrade, looking at his mother and brother and repeatedly recounting what he clearly wanted to eat that evening: “Cotton candy, French fries and chicken fingers. Cotton candy, French fires and chicken fingers. …”. 

- Dog walkers holding the reins of 5 or 6 dogs as they cross a street from one beautiful neighborhood to the next, the dogs smiling in pleasure or sniffing at the last dog’s “signature” along the way. 

- Men tightly curled up in a dark ball on a park bench in the morning as the day is beginning, older Chinese people down the way doing their tai chi. A man sleeping standing against a light pole, the sun warming his face, the familiar smell wafting away in the slight wind of the morning. 

- A young couple getting on the metro and finding a seat together among the throng of people on the train. They sit together, talking into one another’s ear when the screech of the rails rises too loudly, his hand around her shoulders. 

- From almost every corner appears an amazing view. IN Colorado we thrilled t the changing face of the mountains. Here in New York City, the skyscrapers peek through every street view, standing tall above you. Some seem shorter when you walk among them, but always they amaze. One is never lost for something to look at: fire escapes trailing down blocks of apartment buildings, tree-lined avenues full of blinking-lighted cars and trucks and buses, flashing billboards in the sky screaming the newest play or movie or insurance scheme. As you walk, you glance down a street and are met by the towering giants peeking through, ever present. 

Summer blessings and challenges

See what great love the Father has lavished on use, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason that the world does not know us is that it did not know Him. Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made know. But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. All who have this hope in him purify themselves, just as he is pure.  1 John 3:1-3

As with most of you, we have met the summer with various feelings. After an early very warm spell in May, followed by quite a cool and wet season, the weather finally turned more summer-like and with it came thoughts of laughter and fun and all the things that come with summer. But these have of course been tempered by corona realities. 

We were so very thankful that our summer camp weeks, starting halfway through July, would be able to continue. The Belgian government considered groups of 50 a doable scenario when it came to keeping an eye on who might get sick among young people. This meant that our three weeks of camp - for 15+, Benjamins (8-11 years-old) and Teens (12-14 years-old) would still take place, albeit with some changes. 

Looking back on those weeks, we are so thankful for what God is able to do in whatever circumstances. Our youth week was a very valuable time for the older youth who seldom see each other (certainly now) and have little opportunity to discuss the burning questions they are struggling with in their faith. Camp has provided a well-needed oasis where they could broach topics in an atmosphere of understanding and real conversation. 

The following week saw more than 25 young campers make good use of our camp facilities. Many are new families sending their kids for the first time to camp. Imagine the trust that this shows in these covid times! I was impressed with the parents and so thankful for the people working to have a great week of learning and growing in faith with these kids. It is exciting to see how God touches so many lives through so many people. 

The first week of August was Teen week. By then the Belgian government had pulled back on some of the rules that had earlier been loosened, but they still allowed the youth camps. Our camp commission met and decided to cancel our Family Week at camp, which would follow the teen week. This is the first time we have ever had to make such a decision, but we felt it was the best decision for our families. 

Teen camp this year saw 15 campers show up to camp to learn about Joshua and Judges and to grow in faith while having a great time with friends they may only see once a year. Actually this year saw several new friendships made as well. I was cam-leader in name, but was also training two assistent camp leaders. In addition I was the teacher for the week, guiding discussions on the challenging lessons from Joshua’s life and from the ups-and-downs of Judges. 

It was interesting to hear some of the conversations and see the struggles with some of the topics. We had two muslim boys (of the 12 boys and 3 girls) which made for even more interesting conversation. The main point of choosing to be real with following God, being courageous and staying true to God as He desires is something that we all need to hear each and every day. God’s message to Joshua is no different than Jesus’ message to us as His followers: Be strong and courageous, for I am with you. Go into all the world and make disciples and see, I am with you. 

You can see some of our pictures from Teen Camp here. 

That courage and strength is something we all need, every day, even in the very little things. The Sunday after camp we met as a congregation online once again because we had a few members who at that moment were uncertain. Tests returned negative and we are able to meet in person again this Sunday. But each day reminds us of the realities of the world in which we live and how we always need the strength and grace of our loving Father to make it through each day. 

ON THE FAMILY SIDE…

We were also blessed in these months with a visit from Sean and Jill. They were able to send a month in Belgium, seeing friends and family and especially getting time to say goodbye to Jill’s grandmother who passed away while they were here. To say that being able to hold a funeral is a blessing seems strange, but in these times it is true. We had prayed that Jill would be able to have time to see her grandma and truly say goodbye. 

We were so thankful that we also had time to sit and talk, to walk together (even to go on a bike ride once) with Sean. The day Scott returned from camp we also got to see Sean and Jill in Brussels for a last visit before they headed back to New York the following day. We are always so thankful for every little moment that we get to see our kids in person, to hold them. We are also thankful for the digital blessing of talking over long distances (we come from the generation of airmail letters to one another). We get to talk to Stephan almost every week as well. But it is always good to be able to see one another and hold tight for just a little bit. 

It is amazing to me how much this hit me this summer. We are separated, unable to meet as we would wish - even in the same city. And to be honest, this is our reality in this world as well. As children of God, followers of Christ, we know that this world is not our home. We know that there are those who have gone before us who we cannot at this time hold on to. But we WILL see one another - as we are. And we look forward to that time. And in the meantime, we make the most of every moment together, thankful for the hope and promise in God who is always with us. 

Choosing to grow

We spent this past weekend down in the Ardennes at Fall Camp. About 20 years ago this was a weekend for families and the youth. Then we focused more on the youth. Now, the last two years, we have put the two back together again. It is a challenge to meld activities for parents with kids, little kids, young teens and older teens – but it is worth it.

For years we have been telling our young people the truth of what it means to follow Jesus. And they have been listening. They want to follow, they want to do what is right. When we all get together, it gives us all the opportunity to really put that into practice – and that is what we need! How can I follow if I don’t have any examples? How can I follow if I am not challenged with difficult options (for example: help someone, or go play)?

At our camps, we always have ‘corvee’ (pronounced: core-fay) or kp-duty (kitchen police – washing up after a meal). Everyone signs up for a turn at corvee and sometimes the camp director has to ‘volunteer’ folks for their chance. Not this group. The young people were some of the first ones signed up. They came to me throughout the week to ask: What can I do to help?

Of course it is also nice to be able to get away with your friends and talk about things that interest you. I enjoyed seeing this group encouraging one another. Besides the talk of music, movies, sports and school, there were discussions about struggles, about fasting and praying, about how better to encourage one another. Some of the young people were the example for me, rather than the other way around.

It was only last year that Gijs gave his life to Christ. In the meantime, he has looked at how better to focus his life on this Jesus whom he is following. What things are most important? How to combine work with faith? How to be more active in the local body of Christ? It is exciting to see!

One of the walks this week was to a rock. I tell people when we get there: That is where we are going (looking up to the top of this rock). Some groan. Some want to start clambering up the rock right away. But there is a path – a winding, climbing path. You have to keep climbing. Along the way, you can look down and see how far you have come so far. Once up top, you can gaze below and wonder at how high you have climbed! And then you can turn around and continue up the path – even higher and further.

Perseverance, continuing, looking ahead and up, staying focused, enjoying the journey along the way – this is what I see on weekends like these. It is so good to be part of the family of God and be able to share this, not only with mature brothers and sisters, but also with those who are becoming mature and those who are still looking for the Way. 

The sovereign Lord is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to tread on the heights. Habakkuk 3:19 (remember to at least read the whole chapter)