Whensday: Flood of summer 2021

Eline woke up early. She was staying down at camp with her family - mom and dad and brother, as well as grandma and cousins. It was a fun week to be together in a very nice place - Bible camp. This morning she was hoping it would be a bit better weather since it had been raining. Especially last night. As she looked out the window she was surprised at how high the creek was that ran next to camp, so she went and woke Grandma to show her. In a very short time - 15 minutes or so - they whole group had gathered as many belongings as they could, loaded the car and driven away from camp. The creek had become a flood. 

That day in 2021 the weather people called it a water bomb. It had rained enormously in a very short period that night. Later, studies would show that some poor decisions had been made as far as opening gates or closing gates. These decisions contributed to some of the extreme damage caused in the various valleys that were flooded by this water bomb. 

At our Bible camp the bubbling brook that runs through cam became a streaming river and swept away all sorts of things. There was a wooden building behind our dormitory which was swept into the dormitory and torn to pieces as it was swept along. All of the tools and metal lockers full of things we use for camp were swept away. Thankfully the lawn mower was off for repairs. 

The tiles that had recently been placed on our terrace , a place to sit outside to eat or study, were rolled up and pushed off into the adjoining field, along with the picnic tables (heavy wooden tables). It looked like a frozen wave of cement tiles. Glass from broken windows accompanied stones thrown up from the creek bed and covered the field. It would be a year before we were able with several cleaning crews to clear up the field well enough to be played in without danger of being cut by glass or sharp stone. 

That summer of 2021 the youth Bible camp weeks had to adjust. The first planned week was only a week after the flood and had to find somewhere else to hold the week. The Benjamins also had to seek other accommodation until the camp could be cleaned up. But by August several crews had been to clean up well enough that the Teen camp could be held back at our normal Bible camp grounds. The kitchen and bathrooms had been flooded, but had been cleaned and disinfected. 

The summer of 2021 was to be a summer that would be different for Bible camp. The summer of 2020 had been a special year because of covid rules. This year was to have been more “back-to-normal”. The flood made it a memorable summer for everyone. In the villages and cities around camp there were people who lost their houses and lives. Some have, even now, not yet been able to recover from the loss. We are thankful for all the people around us that made this bad situation into a strong memory.

(Picture is after the flood and after some of the cleanup - the flood took all the tiles away and the cleanup crews came later and stacked them).

Whodunit Wednesday: Silvius Brabo

At the end of last year Shirley and I took a day off to celebrate our 40 years of marriage and Shirley’s birthday. We spent a day in Antwerp where we first lived when we moved to this country. Antwerp was where we first worked with the church and was where Shirley learned her Dutch (or Flemish as it is). We came to know this city a bit and enjoy visiting again when we get the chance. 

One of the well-known sights, among many, in Antwerp is that of Silvius Brabo. This statue is on the market, surrounded by gilded guildhalls, with the cathedral towering over the whole square. Looking at the state you see a classical male in an active pose. Brabo is the man. It looks as if he is in the middle of throwing something. As you look closer you see that he has a hand in his hand. He is about to throw this hand away. 

The city of “Antwerpen” (as the Flemings call it) is the city where Brabo is “throwing the hand” (literally “hand werpen” means “hand throwing”). But why in the world is the city named after this action? Whose hand is he throwing and who is he? Brabo is Silvius Brabo. According to the folklore saga he was a Roman soldier who killed the giant Druon Antigon, cut off his hand and threw it in the river Schelde. 

This giant had been terrorizing the city by forcing all the shippers to pay a toll before they were allowed to cross the Schelde. If anyone refused, their hand would be cut off and thrown I the river. The legionnaire Silvius Brabo rebelled, fought Antiogon, killed him and threw his hand in the river as a symbol of this victory and the end of the terrorism. 

This single legionnaire may have also been the origin of the province of Brabant as well as Aarschot and Arnhem (he supposedly shot an eagle (“arend”) that had its nest in the eagle’s nest (“arend heem”). Of course this all is mostly a saga, with little historical truth to it. 

There was a Roman settlement in the area. But the city name could also have come from the Germanic “anda verpa” which would refer to the land in the curve of the river. It could also have come from “on the wharf” (in Flemish of course). The legend of the giant Antigon probably came from finding whale bones in the river. 

Still, we enjoy visiting the city, walking in the market and visiting the various tourist areas. There is a castle on the river. The cathedral is famous to Japanese tourists because of the story of a dog. And we simply like visiting church family and reminiscing about our time here when we first arrived. 

Whensday: December 21, 1984

I can still see her walking down the aisle. Her dark hair was free. She had decided not to have a veil. Her smile was resplendent. I couldn’t see my face, but I imagine it was somewhere between nervous and silly happy. I was wearing a rented tuxedo, cummerbund and all, and stood next to my best man and his father who was performing the ceremony. 

Shirley and I had both worked through many of the things that were “normal” or supposed to be part of this day. Were we going to have an arch with flowers? Were we going to do a unity candle? How many cakes were there going to be and who was going to make them?

Neither one of us had any money - and that didn’t really bother us. Our rings were bought at a pawn shop. Her dress was on sale from a bridal shop going out of business and a lovely lady from the bakery made our cakes for a friendly price. In the meantime a mechanic had fixed the car we had been gifted and my mother had bought four new tires. 

In the end we had wonderful songs sung by amazing friends, we gave our lives to one another and then we loaded up our car and drove off. The car gassed us all the way to Abilene, Texas where we were moving after Shirley’s graduation from Harding. I would be attending ACU. 

We never did find the pictures of our wedding day. We had had to take the film rolls undeveloped with us (do you remember film rolls) and it was months later - after two moves - that we went looking for them and couldn’t find them. So our memories are what is left - and they are amazing. 

This Saturday those memories will be 40 years old and we have made so many new memories together. Most of the time we are not able to celebrate our anniversary on the day itself. This year we will at least spend some time on the day to remember and share together. We will look at a different time to celebrate more extensively. 

December itself is a month of memories. We spent a day in Antwerp on the 11th to celebrate Shirley’s birthday. The church has its Christmas get-together potluck this Sunday. And of course the two days of Christmas and then the New Year are on their way. But this Saturday is for remembering that smile of hers coming down the aisle. 

(Thanks to my mom for the few pictures we have!)

Where oh Where Wednesday: Mechelse Heide

About 20 minutes drive from our house is a nature park called “Mechelse heide” or the “Mechels heath”. It is nestled between the little towns of As and the bigger town of Maasmechelen and is part of the National Park in the area. It is 700 hectares of lightly wooded, sandy ground covered in heather. 

All sorts of birds, snakes, butterflies and grasshoppers make the area special and a desired place to take a walk. In the right season (right about now) the heath colors purple and the sunsets and sunrises make for amazing picture opportunities. And all of this within shouting distance of a large area for gravel mining. 

Every time we drive to Antwerp we drive past this swath of nature as the highway cuts through, with two vast sections on each side. We have often visited for a walk with friends.and members of the church. One of my fondest memories of a dear sister in the past was walking through this heather not long before her passing away. Other memories include running the sand paths between the heather with our boys when they were young. Not far from the heather is a special "bare foot walking path" where you can walk through all sorts of natural areas in your bare feet. 

Pictures

As I have posted the most recent pictures from our week at Benjamin Camp (you can find them here). I notice that a lot of my pictures come from camp. These are most of the moments that I can be the picture taker and thereby give people a view into some of what we do. 

I have to admit that I have more trouble finding opportunities to take pictures of other activities that we do. It has become a bit more of culture to take pictures of all sorts of activities throughout the day, but I am becoming more and more of a dinosaur, perhaps. I see younger people taking all sorts of selfies, pictures of their food, pictures of everything. It has always been a matter of principal for me to ask people if they want to have their picture taken. Not everyone does. So I do not always take pictures of everything we are doing.

Some would say that we need take no pictures and simply live the moment, with the memory as a blessing. But pictures are also a way of keeping hold of the past and what we have experienced. Shirley’s sister, Mary passed away this past week and we are thankful for the pictures we have. We can look back at those pictures and bring back the moment. Still, we are also now mindful that we will not be making any new pictures with her. 

So I am thankful for the moments that we can share some of what we are doing through pictures. It does help to get an idea of what things are really like. If we speak of people we know, studies we are holding, activities planned, it is helpful if you can get a picture - literally - of what we mean. I hope in the coming month to be able to share some of what we are doing. 

In the meantime, let me share some of the most recent photo’s of things we have been doing. 

We live relatively close to camp, so sometimes I get to drive down to put the trash up on trash day. This also means that I get a beautiful morning drive, most of the time (depending on traffic). 

Family camp is always a special time. This was "Bonteavond" the talent show night. 

Back at home the moon was full. This is a view out our backyard at the moon shining over the canal. 

Almost every Monday we are able to have a Bible study at Mario and Tonia's place outside of Aarschot (about 50 minutes away. Ion the summer, the sun doesn't set for quite some time, so we get a beautiful evening and stars when we get ready to drive home. 

Old and new memories

This past weekend was Family Day at camp. Each year a different congregation in Belgium organizes this day where the various congregations can gather and encourage one another. In 2021 it was a minimal gathering because of corona, so this year the church in Roeselare wanted to have a day where we once again felt the fellowship of being in Christ. 

We had about 50 people from congregations from Knokke-Heist, Roeselare, Ghent, Antwerp, and Rotselaar in Belgium and Eindhoven and Maastricht from The Netherlands. In addition we had several Ukrainian brothers and sisters who have settled with the congregations in Eindhoven and Maastricht, who came to meet more of their brothers and sisters. 

We had hoped to see brothers and sisters from the French-speaking congregations on this day as well, but the weather was not all that conducive to travel or gathering outside. Still, we had a wonderful time together singing and listening to what is going on in the various congregations, how God is blessing and using us all. 

It was especially exciting to see some visitors from long ago. Just as during Family Camp a few weeks ago, a few former campers came back for this special day to share memories. It had been 21 years since they had been to camp. Things have physically changed - we have a new building and are planning on even more, we have expanded the grounds and have recovered well from the floods last year. But we are still the family we have always been. 

After the family gathering, a group stayed behind to evaluate this past summer and plan for the coming year. Camp is being used more than ever. A new week is being proposed for the young professional groups and a new week has taken its place among the regular weeks. We now have a Vacation Bible Camp during the Fall break in Belgium. 

In addition to the various weeks planned (6 different weeks and 2 different weekends), camp continues to be used throughout the year for all different groups. Churches come down for a retreat. There is a “Survival” camp for father’s and their kids - now twice a year. The French-speaking churches use camp for their youth activities. There are now also Spanish-speaking congregations planning to use it as well. This has always been the desire - that camp can be used by all of the churches to help all members grow in faith and faithfulness. 

Many of you have helped in the past to make camp what it is today. Some of you have been to camp before. We are so thankful for how God is able to use us and this place for His glory. Most recently two young people have their lives to Christ partially because of what they talked about while at a week of camp. Praise God!

The Tale of Home

Whoever has traveled and lived in various locations understands that “home” is hard to define. This is even harder as your family – brothers and sisters – begin starting their own lives and moving on. Sometimes just being together means “home”. Sometimes it is a place. Sometimes it is a sound, smell or taste that brings you immediately to a different time and “homey” feeling. 

The first day we arrived in Minnesota, we experienced what some told us is a unique Minnesota (and perhaps Twin Cities) experience: a graduation party for high school graduates. But these parties could rival any wedding reception we have seen. We have understood that parents get together and help one another in these efforts. We were honored to be invited to several of these and pleased to be able to attend two. 

What really hit home at these parties was the feeling of “home”. These graduates get together with fellow classmates and families and look back at the year and ahead to their future. We were able to meet with several members of the congregation in an informal atmosphere. It always helps to get names in your head again before seeing people that we know, but haven’t seen in quite a while. 

Even funner was how we were unexpectedly made to feel at home at both of these parties. At the first, a man was making “Authentic Dutch mini-pancakes”. We of course recognized them immediately as “poffertjes”, so we asked him if he knew Dutch and what his story was. He had the recipe from his grandmother (who they indeed called “Oma”) and had all the necessary pans and accoutrements. We thoroughy enjoyed a few, even though we don’t usually eat pancakes, and felt at “home” – as if we were in Holland. 

The very next evening, we were at another graduation party (see all of Minnesota pictures here) and enjoyed conversations with other members of the church and seeing the graduates revel and imagine. And what did we run into here but a candy bar (literally – a bar with all sorts of candy) with York Peppermint Patties. For Scott, this hearkens to “home” again. This is a candy he loved when growing up but which is unavailable where we live. So he was “home” again. 

The beautiful thing on all of our travels is that we often feel at home and away at the same time. This is often bittersweet, but beautiful. And it consistently reminds us that “this world is not my home, I’m just a-passin through.” We know we will never feel completely at home here, but when we are together as Christians, we can be at home anywhere.

This was made clear again as we met with the congregation on Sunday. Scott presented the class on the first Sunday to the teens and the next Sunday to the adult class. On the first Sunday afternoon, we also met with the urban ministry group, which is mostly Hmong families who have come to Christ. Whereve we are, wherever we go, we belong to Christ and want to share the love and grace we have received in Him. With Him we are always Home. 

(Re) Living memories

Sometimes it is a smell, or a sound – and suddenly a memory comes flooding back of times long ago. A snippet of a song, the waft of a special meal can all trigger fond feelings of almost forgotten times. But to be able to share those memories in person, and to be able to live new memories in the making is a true blessing.

We enjoyed our time in Colorado with Scott’s family and our church family in both Colorado Springs and Denver. In the Springs we stayed with Scott’s brother, John, and his wife, Yumiko. A walk around the neighborhood, a quick game of basketball, good talks while preparing meals – that’s what we enjoy so much. And of course being able to see Pike’s Peak at every turn. Some things you just can’t get enough of.

We enjoyed visiting and worshipping with the congregation at Pike’s Peak avenue, seeing old friends – brothers and sisters. John took Scott on a tour of the old neighborhoods: Palmer High School, Horace Mann, and the house on Illinois. On Tuesday we got together as family at Fargo’s Pizza – a memory in itself – and met some new people, ready for new memories.

Scott’s mom was able to come over from New York to spend time with the children and grandchildren and great-grandchildren. So we also got to spend a day up at Cheyenne Mountain Zoo – at least until the afternoon storms and fatigue settled in. But it was a great time together – remembering and experiencing new sounds and smells for future memories.

Halfway through our Colorado time we moved up to Denver to stay with Scott’s brother, Chris, and his wife, Lynette. From this point we were able to visit good friends and christian family in Denver, including Karsten en Sandi Rog (and Kirsten, Aaron and Chelsea). So glad for very good conversations and encouragement with and from this family.

We were also blessed to see Scott’s ‘other’ brother, Bret, and spend time with he and his wife, Sarah and of course meet their newest addition, Ippi. Ippi has a radar for cameras and knows immediately if one is pointing at here – the smile brightens on her face! And what a smile, what a cutie. Bret and Scott were able to strum a few tunes and join their voices with Julie Carter as well – as in days past when a Summer Breeze blew (couldn’t resist that line).

Preaching at the congregation in Wheat Ridge meant meeting new people as well as old. We had a great visit for lunch afterwards – lots of memories. Back at Chris and Lynette;s we enjoyed good conversations in the kitchen (which felt like being home). That evening Scott’s sister, Barb, dropped in to share some time and good laughs – introducing us to crazy faces on snapchat, among other things.

All along the way we were cared for immensely: John and Yumiko, Chris and Lynette made sure that our visit was comfortable and that we were definitely loved. It is good to have a place of peace and rest. And we were so thankful to be able to spend time with Scott’s Mom in each of these places.

As we move on to the next stop – in Texas – we are so thankful for how God makes family. Fathers and mothers, brothers and sisters – it is God’s design. Sometimes things get a bit different, there are struggles, but we belong to each other. And that is how it is in God’s family as well. We are so thankful for the memories we were able to follow and for the moments we were part of. You can see some of our memories here.

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.                         Philippians 4:8-9

Family sharing

We are always thankful that we are able to spend some time in Nebraska. It is certainly nice after a 5 hour and more drive listening to AM radio to finally arrive in Omaha, but it is especially good that we are able to spend time with Shirley’s family. It was especially good to be with everyone this time around, even if our ‘boys’ could not be with us this time.

In the last year Shirley has lost two of her brothers, so, from a family of 8 kids, there are only 4 left. Every moment we have to spend time together is precious. It was so good to be welcomed and cared for by Shirley’s sister, Mary. Fun times shopping or going to garage sales, reminiscing about memories, or spending time with the nieces and nephews and grand-nieces and –nephews (is that what we call them?).

Mary made sure that a picnic day was planned when most of the family from around the area could get together. All week the weather people had been warning of a possibility of rain on that day – but how often are they right? And come the day, it was quite a storm, but we had some time beforehand and afterwards at Mary’s house as well. Rain can’t ruin this time of sharing.

It was also so nice for us to meet with the church family at Southwest in Omaha on a Wednesday evening, seeing some faces we knew, getting to know some new names and family members of people we have known for a long time. Shirley and I originally went to the Netherlands with a group from York College (way back in 1981). Many of those ‘young’ people (we are older now) were well known at Southwest. We are especially thankful for LaVerne and Joan Hazelwood who made it possible for us to get together that Wednesday.

And we are so very thankful for brief moments that we have with family. It was so good to have Mary and Nikki make sure that our time in Omaha was a time of family. It was good to be able to talk with Chris and Maggie about spiritual realities (even while examining the approaching storm clouds). God has richly blessed us with family in so many places and of so many different kinds. We are thankful to be able to enjoy these moments! 

Check out our pictures of the stay here. Or click on the button on the right to 'See my Photos'. Thanks for stopping by!

Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law.  Romans 13:8

Old memories and new

At Denver Airport
Originally uploaded by sraabs.

Things change. Kids grow up. Houses are sold. But memories remain and new memories are made. All of this is what Colorado was to us this past week.
We drove down to Colorado Springs to spend time with family there. In order to accomodate everyone we decided to meet at a restaurant - Fargo's pizza - a pizza place themed around the old west. Waiters walk around in period costume, piano's play while moose and deer heads gaze down on the pizza-eating patrons.
This place held all sorts of good memories from when we would come here for church youth activities. It's a good family place. And it was here that we got to meet our niece, Kimberly's husband, Derrick, and talk about their quickly changing life together (new baby on the way). We also had time with the other nieces and nephew, trying to get to know each other a little bit better.
While in 'the Springs' we drove around visiting old haunts. The Raab house on Illinois has been sold, but still looks the same. Elementary school, high school, where we rode the bikes down the hill, where the donkey used to be ... all sorts of memories. The streets have all changed. The city has grown tremendously. But it was fun to reminisce.
Up in Denver we met up with more family for a great evening of food and discussion. The next day we met up with old friends and church family (wonderful how that goes together!). We were also finally able to watch a play from Bret and Ron Carter! We have been wanting to hear and see one of these musicals for years and now finally had the chance.
As we headed out (meeting more friends at the airport) the view in this picture struck me. The kids playing still as time marches on and a hotel is built next to the airport. It's fun to mix old memories with new ones. We are so thankful for family and this opportunity to share this time.