Wild Wonderful Wednesday: Kabouters and Castles

We live on the Kasteelstraat - Castle Street. It was originally named Church Street (because the church is just down the street), but when the 7 villages combined to make one town, there were too many “Church” streets, so ours was renamed Castle street. This is because our street dead-ends at the canal before continuing on the other side to the castle across the way. Plus, there is another castle in the next village and one which disappeared hundreds of years ago. In other words, castles are not that amazing in our area. 

“Kabouter” (ka-bow-ter) is what the Dutch call gnomes. You know, those general gnomes with the pointy-floppy hats in bright colors you might find in your garden. In Belgium we have the Smurfs (they are blue, but are still basic ally gnomes) and we have a whole amusement park called Plopsaland which is built around gnomes here in Belgium. So we know our gnomes as well. 

Since the new years began Shirley and I are trying to get back to walking daily. When we had a dog it was easy. But Chester has been gone for two and a half years and it is not as easy to find the motivation to get out, especially when the weather is nasty. So we have been encouraging one another to take a walk. We usually walk the same walk every day along our canal past our castle. But today was beautiful and I had to be in town, so we did something different. 

Today we stopped at the castle ruin in our town. The castle is from the 12th century and is surrounded by a simple moat and lots of wonderful walking woods. Perfect for taking a walk (gotta get those 10,000 steps). But it is also where the town has set up a Kabouter walk. There are little hints of kabouters everywhere - kabouters in the trees, kabouter houses in the trees, and all sorts of special tasks for children taking a walk in the woods with their parents. 

It was fun because we have also been making special video’s to send our granddaughter. We take about a minute and talk about “Something new”, but we do it in Dutch. We have looked at snow, a banana, the canal, trees and walnuts, candles, hair and more. So our walk was a perfect time to stop and introduce her to castles, kabouters and even geese (who were walking around making noise). We will send her these video’s bit by bit in the coming weeks. We understand she enjoys watching them with her daddy when they get up in the morning. 

We enjoyed our wild, wonderful walk today. If you come to visit us, we will gladly show you around our castles and introduce you to our kabouters. 

Hang on!

“Hang on!” When you hear those words, they could mean two different things. 

“Hang on!” Could be like the poster I saw when I attended York College so many years ago. It was of a small kitten holding on to a branch of a tall tree. Hold tight - help is on the way. That was the thought. This past weekend I was down at camp with 6 young people for Winterkamp. We talked about New Years’ resolutions and how to keep them going throughout the year. In my lesson on Sunday I talked about the apostle Peter and why I like his example so much. 

Throughout his life we see Peter as someone who was passionate about almost everything he did. So when he messed up, he often did it in a big way. But he never gave up. He picked himself up and kept going, knowing that Jesus (the one he messed up with so often) loved him. So I know that I do not have to give up - even if I have messed up. I can pick myself up and continue on, knowing that Jesus loves me. 

Hang on! That is what a lot of 2020 and 2021 looked like for many. This past year was a bit different, but still held a lot of this sentiment. 

“Hang on - here we go!” This is something I can remember from some exciting activities in the past. A rollercoaster just getting to the top of the hill before the scary, exciting, scream-inducing fall. Holding onto a bar, my feet in skis in the water, just before the boat pulls away with a growl and I have to try to stay upright and feel the thrill of sliding over the water (just before splashing face-first into the spray). White-water rafting. Driving a car for the first time or riding a motorcycle. Bicycling down a hill, racing against my brothers. Jumping across a chasm or the creek at camp, hoping not to fall. 

The excitement that comes with new moments, something dangerous, difficult and yet wonderful arriving at that moment. That is also where we stand now. This is a new year with new challenges and new blessings. We can face it because we walk with the one and only Almighty God who loves us deeply. So let’s go! 

It was a great weekend. We enjoyed many good conversations, watched some amazing fireworks on a night that was completely clear - even though it was supposed to be raining - and got to know each other better. We each of us headed home to different challenges, thankfully with still a little time to rest after a weekend of excitement. I am thankful for young people willing to get together and help one another. I am thankful for a place like camp that we can do these things. And I am so very thankful for a wonderful God who also says, “Hang on!”

Consider it pure joy, my brothers, when you encounter trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Allow perseverance to finish its work, so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. James 1:2-4

WoW, Willemien and Wonder

This past month has been busy with such a mix of different tasks. That is the reality of what we do here. I seldom know how to respond to the question: So what does a typical week look like? I am not sure I know what a ‘typical’ week is. But whatever we run into, we deal with, while we continue planning ahead.

So this past month we planned for our WoW course. ‘Wijzer op Weg’ or ‘Wiser along the Way’ is a course that I designed to teach people some simple tools to help read the Bible. It is just three evenings with some practical tips. We planned and prepared, got everything set up after having gotten the word out in the local newspaper and through distributing … and no one showed up. That can happen. It is frustrating, I must admit. It was Sean who encouraged us to simply put out some more cards and invite people again. So we will, and we will see what comes of that.

In the meantime, we were dealing almost daily with our dear sister, Willemien. She is 91 and now has a geriatric nurse coming every day to make sure she takes her medicine correctly as she has begun to move slowly into dementia. The only problem is that she can hardly hear, so no one is able to get in the apartment (she doesn’t hear the bell or the telephone). Add to that that she is stubborn and doesn’t always want people in her apartment, and things get interesting.

But I am thankful that we can be there for her. I am reminded of God’s care for us. We think that we are doing well, doing what we should, listening, but we are not always. Have we forgotten His name, His face? I have had some serious, clear talks with Willemien, letting her know that we are there for her, no matter what. I am thankful that God has brought us together to care for one another. What a real blessing that is.

And then I get a call from someone who has received one of the cards for the WoW course. He is interested, but wants to be sure that he will not be wasting my time, since he is a confirmed atheist and there is no way that I would be ‘winning souls’ (as he puts it). I thank him for his candor and let him know that I have no problem as long as he understands that I always desire people to come to Christ, knowing the power of God. We have met together for the first lesson and are planned to meet this coming Monday for the next.

I love seeing how my Father does things. It is definitely not the way that I think things should go, or the way that I plan things, but He is always there with His strength and guidance. That is wonderful (full of wonder)! Have a wonderful day!

Wonderfully made

This evening we went in to visit Willemien in the hospital. She is our 86-year-old sister who continuously encourages. She is not in the hospital because she is sick really - she is getting a new knee. This is her second one. You might remember me writing about her other one a year and a half ago. Now she is getting her right knee renewed.
It amazes me how wonderfully we are made. Now you might think "Wait a minute - she needs a new knee. How wonderful can that be?" But what amazes me is that this is possible! God has made us so wonderfully that we are able to figure out how to do this. And, amazingly, those wonderfully smart doctors and engineers figured out how to make these replacement knees by looking at how the original was made. They even try to find solutions for the materials. These new knees only last 10-15 years. Just about enough for Willemien (all the women in her family have lived to be at least 90!)
Just as amazing is how God has made our bodies to respond to something like this. Willemien was operated on yesterday morning. Her leg was put in a sled to start working out while she was in the recovery room. This evening, after getting some good sleep through the day, she was laughing and in good spirits. Tomorrow she will get out of bed and start walking. By the end of the week she will be able to leave the hospital, ready to use her new knee.
Our bodies are made to renew, to heal, to grow. And this while we are actually dying a little bit every day (now that's a slightly less positive thought). But that ability shows us how wonderfully we are MADE. And it points us to our true future. I love that Willemien puts those things together. She knows her future!