Who is this Jesus?

As I have mentioned in our newsletters I am blessed to be able to take part in a weekly Bible study with international students from the university here in Maastricht. It is always interesting and exciting to meet people from different countries and to see people who want to know more about Jesus. The university here has tried in the last few years to increase its international group and China has been more than willing to send students. Most are post-graduate students studying medicine, economics or law and government.

Recently I met LJ from China at one of these Bible studies. She asked if we could meet regularly so that she can understand more about christianity. We have met twice and it has been exciting to see her desire to know more and her openness to understand. She says that she believes that God exists, but doesn’t really undersatand christianity. So we are reading the Bible together, on a journey of discovery.

Sometimes LJ says she has a stupid question. She says, “I don’t know about these things, so this may be a stupid question.” But her questions are the questions we all ask and all should ask as we discover who God is and how we can develop a relationship with Him. We will be reading the gospel of John and discussing any questions at all that she has along the way. I am so thankful for her desire to know more and for this opportunity. Keep LJ and me in your prayers.

Kickstart weekend

- The Kickstart group -

Last weekend was what we call a "Kickstart" weekend for the youth activities in Belgium and the Netherlands. After the summer camps and school starting, the young people look forward to seeing their friends again. This past weekend was organized by the church in Maastricht - our congregation. But since we don't have a building that can really be used for something like this we used our homes - it was kind of scary, but great!

Our house and the Kok family's house are on the same street in the little village in Belgium where we live. So we planned to have the girls down at the Kok's while the boys would stay with us. No problem as long as we were counting on 20 young people at the most. When more than 30 showed up, we wondered how everything would work out. But everyone was very flexible and it all worked out great.

On Saturday we headed out to an open air museum where we learned about how life was 100 years ago - from actors who played the part in villages set up in that time period. It was great to see and hear what it must have been like. And it got us all thinking - our theme for the weekend was: "Jesus: Now!?" We wanted to look at what Jesus would look like today. Can we still follow his ideas and teachings? Or is it all just out of date?

- Going to school -

Besides the teaching and thinking it was just great to be able to see friends again from the summer. As some of the young people put it, "I don't know what I would do if we didn't have these weekends! Chatting just isn't enough. It is so good to be able to see each other again." We have already had several questions about when the next weekend is planned. What a great opportuntiy to see how important we are to one another.

- fun!-

Summer fun

We did all sorts of things this summer. One of them was when we visited friends in Aarschot for an annual light festival. Check out these dancing lights.

July-August Newsletter

LIGHT in the Lowlands
Reaching out to the people of Belgium and the Netherlands

July-August 2006


I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. Philippians 1:3-6

Dear brothers and sisters, family and friends,
It has been a while since we have written. That usually means we have been too swamped to get on the computer. Let me update you on what God has been doing in our lives the past two months.
Summer Camp
Those two things always go together in our work here. As you have been able to follow through the years, we are always involved in at least one camp week in the summer. It is great how God is using this small place to touch so many lives! This year, once again, we have had four weeks of camp with over 150 people in total taking advantage of the opportunity to learn more about God in a beautiful place.



Shirley and Scott worked this year on Benjamin Camp - the camp for young people from 8-11 years old. As a matter of fact, Stephan and Sean were helping out as well - Stephan as a counselor and Sean in the kitchen. This year we had a special group. One of Scott’s colleagues from Listen Up! works with children who are trying to integrate in the country. He was able to send five of these children to camp. Where we usually have kids from church families, these kids not only had never been to camp, two of them were moslim. We had some wonderful conversations and they asked some good questions. It was great to see that our theme this week - Finding Jesus - was just what was needed, for all the kids.



In August we also took part in Family Camp. The last few years this camp has been a little less stressful than the others we work with. Scott usually presents several of the lessons, but otherwise, we are there as campers. And it is great to see God working with the idea of ‘family’. At the end of Family Camp the church in Maastricht organized the yearly ‘Family Day’. We had a beautifully sunshiny day sandwiched between two weeks of rain - one day to get together and not only learn about praising the Lord, but take part as a family. It was great!


In between these two camps Scott and Shirley also were blessed to attend the Pan European Lectureships (PEL) for the first time. This year it was held in Brussels - our backyard, you could say. Scott presented one of the lessons on ‘Reenewal’ and both he and Shirley were blessed by the people they were able to meet and talk to. We have said it before and we say it again - whenever you have the chance, take the opportunity to meet your brothers and sisters from other places! God is so good to have placed us in HIS family and wants us to see how good it is.
Family News
In June I mentioned that Willemien would be operated on her knee. In the meantime she has recovered and is already back to normal (or better than normal). The doctors were completely amazed at her recovery. We had rented some crutches, according to instructions, and a rollator as well, according to instructions, but the doctors never let her use the crutches. She progressed too quickly for them. The rollator was used the first two weeks of recovery and has now been retired. Thank you for your prayers!
Planning ahead

We have painted the building together and are looking forward to the activities planned for the coming months as we reach out to the neighborhood. In September we will host a youth weekend in Maastricht and we are expecting quite a few young people. We also hope several visitors come. Later in the year we will be talking to our neighbors directly, looking for those who are looking for God.
Keep your family here in your prayers and praise your Father for His mighty work in all of us!

PRAYER WARRIORS
Please keep the following in your prayers.
- Praise God for Willemien and her very quick recovery. The doctors have been surprised at how well she has done. She never even needed the crutches and barely used the rollator. Now she is once again enjoying her walks with her dog.
- We had some great visits with the people we study with. Pray for our continued contact in the coming months.
- Pray for our outreach in the coming months. We hope to meet more people in the neighborhood and have some good opportunities for Bible studies.
- Pray for the youth weekend in September here.

KID'S KORNER
First days
Everybody has to go to school - even adults did it at some time. But those first days of school are not always easy, even if you are returning to your old school. This is Sean’s second year at his school and Stephan’s sixth (this is a junior and senior high school together).
Sean dreads the beginning of school because it means the end of choosing what you want to do in the day. But he looks forward to seeing his friends who he doesn’t wlays see in the summer. Stephan takes everything in stride, although the first days can be really boring.
What do you like about the begin of school? What do you dread? What was different for you this year going to school?
e-mail Stephan at: greenleaf@tele2allin.be
e-mail Sean at: dudeis2cool4u@hotmail.com

ON THE FAMILY SIDE . . .
Summer is a great time to enjoy the out of doors. We almost always do plenty of that during our camp weeks. Stephan attended ‘Youth Camp’ (for 15+ yrs-old) as well as helping with Benjamin Camp and Family Camp (see the news side), while Sean had planned on going to Teen Camp. That didn’t work out. He was sick after Benjamin camp and tired (yeah, but not sick and tired!) before needing to come to Family Camp. Still there was plenty of time outside with friends and family. Outside of camp weeks Sean spent time at the field with his friends and Stephan would head out to the basketball court in the evening.
But outside activities and camp do not make a whole summer! Don’t know if we could make it through a whole summer of camp. This summer we were thrilled to be able to take part in several weddings. Two of our former students in the church msrried and we were pleased that they wanted us present. It was interesting to see two Germans with so many international friends! But that is what you get when you travel all around the world while studying. Scott also sang with Listen Up! at a wedding reception in Eindhoven for Paul and Iva Rambags. Iva is from Prague, where they actually married, but Paul knew that not everyone had been able to get there and planned a reception back in the Netherlands. And then there was Ken and Elizabeth Yamashita’s wedding. Ken, who had been a member here in Maastricht, was married in the Netherlands (he and Elizabeth live in Leiden) in a ceremony in English, Japanese and Dutch. Now that was something!
In between Benjamin Camp and Family Camp Shirley and Scott were able to go to the Pan European Lectureships (PEL) in Brussels. Not only was it a chance to ride a train (getting their in the car is possible, but at that time of day it’s murder), it was a great time to meet people and see old friends. We were especially glad to see Dottie Schulz while there. Shirley met some old schoolmates unexpectedly, we both met some wonderful and dedicated servants of the Lord and in all were greatly blessed by the time there. Next summer we hope to be in the States, but if God gives us another summer here in Europe, then we hope to make it to another PEL.
After camp, things take a turn towards school (Oh my!). Sean struggles greatly with what it means to follow God as soon as the new soccer season started. In Belgium, the youth clubs at his age now all play on Sunday mornings at 10 a.m. This meant of course that he could not play with the club that he had planned all summer on playing with. His best friend is on the club. Sean hoped to find his way to professional soccer through being scouted at this club. If he doesn’t play, he can’t be scouted. So we talked about it, prayed about it, cried about it and looked around. Thankfully, we were able to find a Dutch club (remember, we live on the border) in Maastricht was more than willing to have him on their team. They play on Saturday mornings. So that worked out very well. For Stephan the choice is still hard, since he sometimes plays on a Sunday. He knows that he will not be able to make those games - but he has already played in one game on a Saturday.

What’s coming up?
SEPTEMBER
Listen Up! recording
Youth weekend
New outreach
OCTOBER
Youth activities
Family activities
Fall camp

THANKS!
- For your continued prayers for us and the work here. We so need God’s continued strength and your continued involvement!
- For your emails and comments on the blog.
- For your prayers for the work here

We pray that you enjoyed the crazy days of summer and are prepared for everything coming your way this month. We are so glad that God is our strength - every day! Love in Him,
Scott, Shirley,
Stephan and Sean Raab

More pics

Check out some more pictures from Family Camp
click here

That’s family

Family Camp is actually a week for all of us to get together who want to know God better. This year, as in past years, the group is made up of families, singles, grandparents and even some kids without their parents. I love seeing how God sees family.

Our lessons this year came from 1 Thessalonians, and one of the things mentioned by one of the teachers this week, Blair Roberts, was that we don’t choose who is in our family – God does the choosing. Our responsibility is to live with each other and help one another to grow. And I know that plenty of people could see and feel that we wanted to do just that. This year included a family from Bulgaria (the girls had been to Benjamin and Teen camp already), an avowed atheist who keeps coming back, and some helpers in the kitchen who really enjoyed the fellowship as well.


What does your family look like? When I became a christian, I gained a whole new family, leaving my physical family behind (for a while). Living overseas, with physical family far away, we have always been aware of the blessing of God’s family. We don’t choose ‘em and it isn’t always easy to live with ‘em (or with us, I am sure), but it is soooo good to have this family God has given us. What a blessing!

PEL

The week between Benjamin Camp and Family Camp this year was filled with some unexpected meetings and encouragements. The Pan European Lectureships were held this year in Brussels. This is a gathering of people, mostly American, who are concerned with reaching the lost in Europe. Those Europeans who can make it (time-wise and financially) are able to report on the situation where they are and meet others who are working in Europe.
Until this year we have not been able to go. It has previously been held in Athens, Rome, Estonia, Poland and several other places, usually quite far from us. It is also usually in the middle of our camp season – as with this year. But this year it was in Brussels, our backyard. Besides which, Dottie Schulz was going to be there! Dottie and Tom Schulz are one of the reasons we are in the Netherlands and Belgium now, so we definitely wanted to see her.
But we were also pleasantly surprised at the spirit and desire of all the people we met and saw and heard during the mornings that we could be present in Brussels. Hearing about people who have struggled to remain faithful in all that they do is always a wonderful encouragement. And that is exactly what we received from people like S.F. Timmerman, Clyde Antwine and others. What was so encouraging was seeing how struggle is not something that goes away – it is something through which God carries you, with His strength.
Don’t ever let anyone tell you that those old people in your church are boring or stodgy. Take time to sit down an dlisten to their stories and how God is blessing them NOW. What a blessing God has given us by placing us in His family!

Benjamin Camp

Every year the churches in Belgium and the Netherlands organize four weeks of Bible camp down in the beauty of the Ardennes mountains. This site which was wisely purchased more than 40 years ago still serves the church well. Through the years it has been adapted, built up and thankfully used by the Dutch-speaking and French-speaking congregations here. And as I have mentioned so often before, this has been a very important tool here for the kingdom. We are so thankful for those who have gone before and those who are willing to put in a week of heat, or mud, or less sleep in order to make sure that the young people here are built up in their faith, or introduced to God.

This year Shirley and I were camp leader and head cook for the Benjamins. This should be 8-10 year-olds, but this year was a little different. Thanks to the initiative of a brother in Haarlem who works with children in difficult situations, we had five kids who had never been to Bible camp before. As a matter of fact, two of them were moslim. So our week’s theme: “Searching for Jesus Christ” was very appropriate. We had some really great discussions and questions.

Blair Roberts has been visiting this summer from Canada and was able to bring the lessons (with a good Antwerp accent even!) as well as help drive the kids around. Stephan helped as the boys’ counselor and Sean helped out in the kitchen along with our sister, Geesie. We were especially surprised with a girls’ counselor who usually has other responsibilities. Gilda Amssoms is over 60 years old and usually runs the kitchen for a different week, but since we hadn’t been able to find a counselor, she offered her services. What a blessing! It is so great how God fills our needs and surprises us at the same time!

Our 15 campers had a great week learning, playing and being challenged by the activities, the weather and the relationships we formed together. We are so glad that God has given us this opportunity! Keep these kids in your prayers as they continue to grow in knowledge and faith.

What an example!

Today we went to visit Willemien again. She has been in a care home for the last week and a half after receiving a new knee. This woman amzes me and thrills me every time we meet. She and her husband, Cor (who passed away six years ago) came to the congregation here in 1992, when we had just started meeting. They talked about how they had been searching all their lives for the church. They were both brought up communist, had survived the 2nd World War (Cor in a camp) and had searched through all kinds of groups before coming to us. Willemien was 70 then. Their courage and desire to do what was right, to really follow God and let Him lead – after more than 70 years of doing their own leading – was such an example for us all.

Now Willemien is 84 and probably the healthiest of us all. When the hospital was checking her out to see if she was a good candidate for this new knee, they couldn’t find anything in which she wasn’t healthy. The young man who was questioning her said, “So, besides your knee, you really don’t have any problems, do you?” The operation itself is done in a few hours and the group that undergoes the operation takes the rest of the week learning new exercises, doing therapy, getting the new knee going. Willemien was already walking too well the first day to use the planned walking canes or walker, she just walked!

But her resilience in this situation is part and parcel of her attitude in general. She tells us that she used to be quite depressed, before she had us (the church) as a family (she and Cor had no children and they have no siblings). I can hardly believe it. She is so willing to continue, to move on. Pick up your feet and step on ahead. That is what her attitude seems to be. I think immediately of Isaiah 40:28-31
“Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.”

I am so thankful for the example that God has given us in Willemien!

June Newsletter

LIGHT in the Lowlands
Reaching out to the people of Belgium and the Netherlands

Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentlesness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever greivances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. Colossians 3:12-14

Dear brothers and sisters, family and friends,
Sometimes the month just flies by and all of a sudden you are in the next month. Let me bring you up to date on what happened in June in our work and our lives.
Church life
One of the things that thrills me in the church here is how we all differ so strongly in age and yet are able to work together. One of our main emphases in the church is on our youth. Half of the congregation is made up of our teenagers. This is also why we are so involved in the youth work in the Netherlands and Belgium. Scott works together with two or three other brothers in congregations from around the Dutch-speaking work so that we can have a continued good influence on the youth here.
June brought our last youth weekend for the season (since our season runs during the school year - the summer camp weeks cover the summer). The last few years we have tried to have a youth weekend in Haarlem on the Pentecost weekend. There is always a flower market in the middle of the night on that weekend which the young people love to visit (especially since they get to stay up quite late). We had a good group with several visitors as well.

- another great weekend together -

The weekend continued on into the yearly Spring Fellowship of the Dutch-speaking churches, which was held in The Hague, as usual on the 2nd day of Pentecost. This is such a good time to encourage one another and to be challenged. This year the church in the Hague had the Ashford’s from England teach us about Islam and how we can deal with our neighbor - in the Hague a mosque has been built right next to the church building. This brings some unique challenges to the church there and some good opportunities to talk with the young people about what their faith means.
But not everything is about the young people. That is what is so exciting. While the church in Maastricht has quite a large youth contingent, we also have 10% above retirement age - and they are very active! One of the things we wanted to emphasize was how important it is for us to learn from what others have learned in their journey to faith.
To emphasize this we had a sort of Family Reunion where we invited Jim and Ruth Krumrei from the church in Haarlem to come tell us about their lives and struggles. This was a great, relaxed time of listening and learning. But it was also a time of sharing with one another, learning from each other. It was great to see some of the young people really listening and taking in all that wisdom. It is great that God has placed us in a family.

- Listening to wisdom -

Planning ahead
Because we know how important this family life is, we as a church are trying to take advantage of every opportunity. We of course are encouraging our young people to attend the summer Bible camp sessions. But we are also doing all we can to get the shole congregation to a few days of Family camp as well. The last day of Family camp is the “Family Day” which is oprganized this year by our congregation. We will be talking about and emphasizing how and why we praise the Lord.
Working up to these activities, Scott is preparing lessons for Benjamin camp, for Family camp and for a lesson at the Pan European Lectureship (PEL) which is being held in Brussels this year.

PRAYER WARRIORS
Please keep the following in your prayers.
- Pray for a good recovery for Willemien, our 84-year-old sister. She gets a new knee in July and will be recovering most of the month. She hopes to be home fairly quickly.
- In July we will be visiting all of the people we study with regularly. Pray that we can deepen our relationship with them and help them to do the same in their relationship with God.
- Pray for our brother and sister Tim and Jane, both of whom are struggling with a depression, and continue to pray for Roger and Yvonne who are both considering giving their lives to Christ.

KID'S KORNER
Look at us!
Sean has always said that he wants to become a movie director. Recently he and Stephan got the chance to do just that. They went outside with the digital camera (which also takes video, took some shots of Stephan skating and Sean playing ball, and then put them together on the computer. You can see Sean’s at:
http://youtube.com/
and search under Sean Raab

What are you up to this summer so far? Is it worth showing on a video? What kind of movie would you like to make? What kind of movies to you like to watch?
e-mail Stephan at: greenleaf@tele2allin.be
e-mail Sean at: dudeis2cool4u@hotmail.com

ON THE FAMILY SIDE . . .
Last month I told you about our teeth adventures. Those have finally cleared up. Shirley has found a good dentist and has had her tooth completely fixed. As a matter of fact, Scott has also moved to this dentist. His filling fell out again - the last straw.
Enough about teeth - you are probably gritting yours having to read something like that. With the end of June came the beginning of summer. Actually, the boys were already started before the end of the month. They had exams (the first year for Sean) which meant that they were finished each day at lunch time - if you can call it finished. Once they were home they had to start studying for the next group of exams. But they made it through all of that and both of them are on their way to the next year in their studies. And more importantly, they can get moving on summer!
Stephan has always had lots of different interest and now he has plenty of time to indulge almost all of them. He has several different groups of friends: bmx’ers, skateboarders, basketballers, gamers and those who like manga and draw cartoons. Stephan kind of rotates between all these activities. Since it has been so warm, he plays basketball from 8 - 10 p.m. It is amazing to see how everyone finally comes out to the village square after 10 p.m., when it is finally a bit cooler. We have been told that we have already had a heat wave here in Belgium. That means two days above 30 degrees C (86 degrees F). We are surviving just fine.
Sean has been out to ‘the field’ more than enough with his friends. ‘The field’ is where they play soccer together. He had to get enough playing in before July started because several of his friends are heading off on vacation for the summer. He is looking forward to the end of the summer when he will begin in a league again.
But while he was waiting he had the World Cup to watch and enjoy. At one point we all went to Antwerp to watch one of the games on a large screen with the members of the church from Ghana (the USA-Ghana match). Unfortunately the game was not televised by anyone, so we had to watch Italy play. But we did have a great evening of fellowship.

- Who said ladies don't watch soccer?-

Sean went from euphoria when England did well in the group phase to abject depression when Portugal knocked them out. Playing with friends helps take care of most of that. And he has started making videos of all sorts of things (he has for the past three years said that he plans to be a movie director when he grows up).
We have all enjoyed the beauty of the season as well. Scott’s walks with Snuffles in the evening include choruses of bullfrogs and plovers (a type of bird), the flowers and trees in the garden are all blooming, spreading their perfume everywhere, and we are able to sit out in the garden for lunch or coffee.
It has been nice to have more time to do things as a family. The other night Stephan decided to look in his baby book, which led to an evening of reminiscing on the couch. Snuffles even caught the spirit and wanted to be a part, coming closer and sitting at our feet. It is so good to be together.

- Reminiscing -

EXTRAS
What’s coming up?
JULY
Benjamin Camp
AUGUST
PEL in Brussels
Family Camp
Family Day organized by Maastricht
Listen Up! recording
THANKS!
- For the care package from Sue Foster’s kids in Wisconsin
- For your emails and comments on the blog.
- For your prayers for the work here

Enjoy the family you are part of - in all ways!
Love in Him,
Scott, Shirley,
Stephan and Sean Raab

check out the blog for text and pictures: ravenraab.blogspot.com

Raab Family
Kasteelstraat 10
3620 Lanaken, Belgium
reply to: s.raabs@tele2allin.be

"Heerlijk" and "Lekker"

I won’t bore you with the pronunciation, but “heerlijk” = delicious and “lekker” = yummy. The German speakers will recognize the latter and may even know about the Dutch and their wierd use of the word. You see, the Dutch can say almost anything is “lekker”. Before going to bed you say to one another, “Sleep ‘lekker’.” If you hit the tennis ball or baseball in just the right way, then you have hit it ‘lekker’. And still, a meal can also be ‘lekker’.

- a 'lekker' nap -

‘Heerlijk’ is a step up from ‘lekker’, just as delicious is a step up from yummy. And just as with ‘lekker’, you can use it for almost anything. When I took Nel and Willemien home after our Saturday “Family Reunion” – which was a time to be together as a Christian family and learn from each other’s expreriences in life – they both said it had been a ‘heerlijk’ day. Mind you, the weather had been ‘heerlijk’ as well, but they meant the fellowship. We spent time listening to Jim and Ruth Krumrei, long-tme missionaries in Haarlem (and Karl Verheijen’ parents, and Scott’s previous supervisors when he spent two years as an apprentice in the Netherlands), as they answered some questions about how God has influenced their lives. It was ‘heerlijk’ to hear their stories and to learn from their wisdom.

- enjoying wisdom -

This morning at the beginning of our worship time together, Nel said that she had slept so ‘lekker’ after such a wonderful time. She enjoys being able to eat with so many people, instead of being alone. We had a ‘heerlijk’ barbecue. Isn’t it great how God puts us into a family! Just like most families it’s not always perfect – how would we ever learn if everything were always perfect – but I wouldn’t trade it for the world. As a matter of fact, my family is everywhere in the world! That is a ‘heerlijk’ thought!

- Nel enjoying the 'heerlijk' pictures -

World Cup Exchange

Well, we’re out. We went to Antwerp last night to watch the Ghana-USA game with the brothers in the church who are from Ghana. There was actually quite a crowd of Americans as well. We had a projector (a beamer) to watch the game in a big way. Only problem was that none of the channels were showing the game. Not any of the Flemish or Dutch channels, not the Germans, not the French-speaking Belgians or the French, not even the Spanish. Granted, the Italian channel was expected to show the other game (Italy-Czech Republic). So we had to watch Italy beat up on the Czech Republic and hope for an update at half time on the other game. By then it was already 2-1 for Ghana.

Admittedly this was a difficult one anyway. Ghana was the last chance for Africa, and we love our Ghanese brothers and sisters. So we were very happy for them. Especially since Ghana won the game with good play (and a free penalty from the ref – but the Ghanese didn’t have anything to do with that). But that leaves us a dilemma now – who do we root for?

Of course this has never been a dilemma for Sean. He has always said that those idiots back in 1776 ruined our chances for any good football team when they fought for independance. He is still rooting for England. And since we work in the Netherlands and most of our contacts are Dutch, we still have that option. As a matter of fact, we can’t very well get away from all of the orange. Can you imagine orange mayonnaise (which they put on their french fries), orange milk, orange everything you can imagine that usually isn’t orange.

So we are still holding out hope. The Belgians didn’t even get to go this time. You can hardly find anything in any of the Belgian stores that reminds you of the World Cup. It’s like they want to forget that it is happening since they didn’t get to come. Many of them have adopted the Australians – who did well last night. Now all they have to do is beat Brazil.

But it is a great opportunity to meet new people. We had a great time in Antwerp and look forward to the time we will have during some of the other games. Any excuse to get together (who needs and excuse?). And England or the Netherlands could still make it all the way. It could happen.

Two times a dad

I have the pleasure, or privilege, or luck to be able to celebrate Father’s Day twice. In Belgium they celebrate on the second Sunday, while in the US and the Netherlands they celebrate it on the third Sunday. So when I am proudly displaying the homemade tie or memo pad or special thing that my sons made (when they were in elementary school), most of the Dutch people we have contact with just shake their heads and make some comment (those Belgians – always different!). But the next week, I receive all the congratulations from the Dutch people.

I have to admit, I have always felt a bit ambiguous about this holiday. It is extremely commercial, and I don’t like that at all. But I also wonder what it really means. Is being a father simply being able to sire children. I don’t think so. There are plenty of men who have sown their seed and never waited around for the wonderful moment of birth, let alone hang around to help raise the children and let them know what it really means to be a man.

I remember both the birth of Stephan and Sean. I do have to admit that I agree with Bill Cosby when it comes to these beautiful creatures. To me and Shirley, those screaming blood-covered, slimy things were the most beautiful beings in the world. Thankfully, most people are willing to lie politely to you when you mention that to them. I am so thankful that I have had the opportunity to see as clearly as that when my sons were born.

I remember still how very special and strange it was when we welcomed Stephan into the world. He was born on Halloween, so when I turned proudly to see those waiting to see my wonderful son all I saw were a bunch of people in strange costumes and masks! Sean on the other hand couldn’t wait to get out and gave Shirley early labor signs. When he finally arrived it was with gusto. His ‘big’ brother Stephan held him and didn’t worry about the blood still on his head.

Today I am so proud to be a father of these wonderful boys who are growing each and every day in the love of God. I am so thankful for the little bit of time that I have to spend with them – borrowing them as it were. Stephan is still so full of love. Sean is still wanting to grow up quickly and has a heart of gold. That’s being a father – taking the daunting responsibility of doing your best to show them what is good, what it really means to be a man. I am thankful for my dad, who taught me and four other boys (and my sister!) some wonderful things.

And I get to celebrate this twice! How blessed can you get?

25 years and going strong

It's wasn't our anniversary - or at least not that one. But it WAS 25 years ago (on May 31) that we first kissed - on the steps of the church building in The Hague!

That wasn't the beginning of our relationship. I have always been glad of that. Shirley and I were best friends. We spent hours sitting talking to each other about all sorts of things. We knew and appreciated each other. So when we both went on that summer campaign to the Netherlands, it was because we had grown in a wonderful relationship with the Lord and with each other. And it was, and still very much is this relationship that we have with the Lord that brought us together.

Yeah, it was that day that we became a "couple", with that simple kiss (and I still remember it well). It would be another three and a half years before we married. In fact, we didn't see each other for about two years in that time. But we kept growing closer. So May 31 is a day to remember for us.

To surprise me, Shirley set up a whole getaway thing (with the help of the boys). We spent a few days alone in Brughe, along the Belgian coast, in the city of Lille, France, and at a spa. It was all terribly romantic and we enjoyed it tremendously. We were even able to forget about the boys for a part of it (they did great!).

We are so looking forward to the next 25 years - each day at a time. God is so good and gracious and we are so glad to know HIS love.

Sorry!

Communication is great until it breaks down! I have not been able to get on blogger for several weeks and then my internet went out (along with my phone!). Made for some nice quiet days, but I am sorry that I haven't been in touch. Hopefully things are fixed now (or soon).

April - May Newsletter

LIGHT in the Lowlands
Reaching out to the people of Belgium and the Netherlands

Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for he who loves his fellow man has fulfilled the law. ... The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. Romans 14:8,12

Dear brothers and sisters, family and friends,
It is always so good to be able to sit and talk with you all. I am sorry that it has taken so long to get another letter sent out - especially since there have been so many good things going on. Let me tell you quickly about as many as I have space for.
Outreach and church life
As we try more and more to get to know our neighborhood better, we are excited about the possibilities. As mentioned in the last newsletter, Scott is now working on the local neighborhood newspaper. Not only is this an opportunity to get to know people better, Scott has already had some opportunities to write some articles as well. In May we had some flyers printed up to pass out in the neighborhood and are looking forward to the contacts this will bring through the summer and Fall.
Our youth activities each month continue to be good times of fellowship and good fun for the young people and the parents. This has been a good chance to have family time and reach out to the friends we have as well. We have consistently had children at these activities who are not regular church-goers, and their parents come as well. Pray for these opportunities. We had two youth activites and a youth weekend in these past two months. The youth weekend in Antwerp focused on how we worship God.
In addition to these types of outreach activities, we are enjoying a good family life as well in the church. We have gotten together for lunch or dinner, held the weekly Bible study at a family home, gone shopping together and basically just kept building on the family bond we have. We are so thankful for the family that God has placed us in! He knows how much we all need each other in so many ways (even some ways we don’t like but which are good for us - like learning patience, love or bearing with one another).
Another great opportunity recently has been a Ladies Day held in Antwerp. Almost all of our ladies attended this day of fellowship and study together. It was great to see and hear our sister Nel after this Saturday. She usually cannot make it to these events, but was already wanting to plan the next one when she got back to Maastricht. Fellowship is contagious: get infected whenever you get the chance!
Regular activities
Scott continues to be involved weekly with teaching English through the Bible, teaching English to asylum-seekers at the Red Cross center, working with the local school, Bible studies with International students from the university and working with the local newspaper. These are efforts, some more direct than others, to influence people’s lives with the love and goodness of the only true King.

- some of the international students -

Our efforts also continue regularly with Bible camp. In May a work camp was held to fix and prepare the camp for the summer weeks. We will lead the Benjamin week and Scott will teach at Family camp. The group that administers camp (Scott is the vice-chairman) is working on plans for a long needed renovation as well.
Listen Up!
May saw the beginning of recording sessions for Listen Up! We are so thankful for this opportunity to sing! The songs have been ready for some time and still it can be a wonderful struggle to let them speak. We are especially thankful to be able to work with Kjell, the studio owner. Good conversations about life with God intersperse the moments of singing. Hopefully this second CD will be ready by September.

PRAYER WARRIORS
Please keep the following in your prayers.
- Thank God for the further contact we are able to build up through the local newspaper and the efforts from the past few months. Please continue to pray for this contact in the neighborhood.
- Our studies with Angelique, Mieke, Cor and Titia, and Gerard continue. Please keep them in your prayers.
- Pray for oiur brother and sister Tim and Jane, both of whom are struggling with a depression, and continue to pray for Roger and Yvonne who are both considering giving their lives to Christ.

ON THE FAMILY SIDE . . .
It seems that teeth have taken over the last few months. Everyone needs ‘em, and boy does your face look strange without ‘em, but when they are hurting it can be a real pain (obviously!). Sean has had regular visits to the orthodontist for braces. At the end of May he finally got the braces for the lower part of his teeth. We had been waiting for a ‘baby’ tooth to fall out. In the end we just had to have it pulled. So now Sean has braces on all of his teeth - or almost. Actually, his lower teeth were so crooked, and there was such a gap from the pulled tooth, that the orthodontist only put blocks on the front lower teeth to pull them in line. In June she will look at going further.
But this wasn’t most of the fun for Sean in the past few months. He has spent most of his time with the physical therapist. We thought that this all came from an injury with soccer - and maybe that helped (if you can put it that way), but it turns out that Sean was just growing too quickly. Once he finished with working on the achilles tendon on his left leg, it started up on his right leg. Thankfully it has now all finished. For those of you who have been following this soap opera - Sean finally got to put on his new soccer kit and go out to play with his new ball (JOY!!). He is looking forward to starting back up with a real team in the Fall.
Stephan finished off his braces a while back, but at a regular check-up the dentist pointed out that his wisdom teeth (Stephan’s, not the dentist’s) were already pushing in and would ruin all that good work if we didn’t do something about it. So we made an appointment to have his wisdom teeth pulled. Since he has teeth like Scott’s (who had his wisdom teeth out a few years back) they would need to be surgically removed. Thankfully he recovered quite quickly. In fact, two days after the operation he went off on the train with Sean to visit some freinds in the Netherlands for a birthday party. Nothing could keep him from playing some basketball with his friends. He is looking forward to getting back into a regular league in the Fall.
So then we come to Shirley and Scott. Scott simply had a filling fall out and a cavity needed filling. But Shirley was struggling with major pain. We thought it might be a sinus infection or something wrong with her jaw. The dentist had assured us that there was nothing wrong with her tooth. When we finally got a second opinion, we found a cracked tooth with a damaged nerve needing urgent attention. Thankfully we have a better dentist now who took care of the problem until it can be completely cared for (beginning of June).
All of this could not dampen our enjoyment of the days together and the good things we are offered each and every day. God is so giving! Shirley surprised Scott (with willing help from the boys) with a trip to celebrate their getting together 25 years ago (on the steps of the church building in The Hague!). While the boys stayed home, Scott and Shirley headed off to Brughe, the coast, Lille and a spa for a couple days. We are so thankful for such good young men who take good care of each other (and the house).

KID'S KORNER
Come on summer!
Spring hasn’t even really arrived, but we are looking forward to the summer. Sean is of course looking forward to the World Cup - the matches are being played not far from here. But summer for him also means lots of time outside playing soccer with his friends.
Stephan has returned to playing basketball quite regularly and will look forward to doing more of that in the summer as well. Mostly summer for him means no school, camp - where he can see his friends, and enjoying any and all free time. This summer he might be getting a summer job.
What does summer mean to you? What will you be doing this summer? Let us know.
e-mail Stephan at: greenleaf@tele2allin.be
e-mail Sean at: dudeis2cool4u@hotmail.com

EXTRAS
What’s coming up?
JUNE
Youth activity
Church study day
JULY
Camp weeks
AUGUST
PEL in Brussels
Family Day organized by Maastricht
THANKS!
- For the continued support from the church in Brughe and Roeselare
- For your emails and comments on the blog. It is great to know that you are following what is happening in our lives.
- For your prayers for the work here

Enjoy all that God has given you - today!
Love in Him,
Scott, Shirley,
Stephan and Sean Raab

Work Camp

Camp is an important part of our work here. We have four weeks each summer and a weekend in the Fall and Winter where we get together to learn, encourage and grow. Camp has always been a place for all of us because it is a place from all of us. Almost everyone can tell some story about what has happened there or how they helped in making this place.

Each Ascension holiday (when everyone here has a very long weekend from Thursday through Sunday), a group heads on down to camp to clean, fix and basically get ready for the summer. It’s usually a messy time (we have to clean out the gutters, sweep away the cobwebs and clean up the mouse droppings), but also a good time for fellowship. I still vividly remember conversations held on the roof of the dormitory while cleaning off the moss – conversations about who God is and why one would want to follow Him.

This weekend Stephan and I went down to see what we could help with. As you can see it was a bit wet (reminds me of a commercial here from Pearl eyewear: sound of raining in the background and the announcer says “So – it’s summer in Belgium again.”). But since I was working with thr group trying to get the gutter along the road fixed, this was perfect – we could see quite well where the water would run. Later in the day, after shoveling and dumping mud, we were all pretty well ready to stop.

- shoveling 'dirt'? -

This was a special weekend too. We hope to begin this Fall on the renovation of our bilding here – so this may be the last summer that it looks like this.

- the soon-to-be 'old' meeting hall -

Soon it will have a second floor, we will be able to keep it warm in the off-season and we will be able to use it even more for the chuches than we can now. We are excited about the possibilities!

- our 'creek' this weekend -

It was a great weekend. Those of you who have been to camp here before know exactly what we are talking about. And those of you who haven’t yet been – don’t let the rain scare you off. It’s only water (and mud) and although the mud may stay in your clothes, it’s the fellowship that stays in your heart. So come on over!

That's easy for you to say

Recounting the past few weeks in our house sounds like a medical history in a hospital ward.

Stephan had his wisdom teeth surgically removed (all four at once) so there goes any hope for a wise son. On the other hand, he’ll have the chance to be just like me (I had mine out a few years back). Is that good or bad? He is recovering very well, in any case. Usually they say that it can be a week or two before they are feeling better. Stephan was up and going the next day and even went to a friend’s birthday party – taking the train with his little brother to get there. A little bit of swelling, the typical beautiful coloring of a bruise on the chin (leads to some interesting conversations) and he’s doing fine.

Sean has been struggling for several months now with his achilles tendon. That is that tight thing at the back of your foot that feels kind of like a bone. Sean lives for soccer and received a kick at the back of the foot. In January we took him to the doctor who prescribed physical therapy. That meant no soccer for about six weeks (imagine trying not to breath for that long and you will understand Sean’s frustration). We had just bought him a set of soccer shoes, ball and shirt with shorts. They sat at the bottom of his bed waiting in eager anticipation for the day he could use them. When that day came, he gladly went back to playing – for about two weeks. Then the pain came back and he returned to the physical therapist. Now it has struck his right foot and the therapist has mentioned that it might be his quick growth that is causing the problems. Sure enough, Sean has been shooting up in the last three months. He is now almost past Shirley.

Shirley is struggling this past week with a sinus infection. Not the kind you get behind your eyes, or in your forehead, but in her cheek – she feels it in her teeth and jaw. When Shirley decides that she has to lie down and do nothing, then you know she really is in pain. There is not much that can stop her. But we have made an appointment with the nose,throat and ear doctor (the antibiotics and nose spray from the GP weren’t helping at all)and hopefully she will be feeling better in a few days.

But I’m okay. And everyone just keeps going on, doing the best they can. We all pitched in to make yesterday the best we could for Shirley yesterday (flowers, breakfast, a list of tasks that can always be called upon, necklaces that matched her dresses beautifully). The sun is shining again and we should make it just fine. Of course I’m the one writing this and I don’t feel their pain, so it’s literally easy for me to say.

A tale of two trees

“I am the true vine and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he trims clean so that it will be even more fruitful.”

We don’t have much wine around here, but in our backyard are two cherry trees, a pine tree and a little pear tree. The pear tree looks as though it is probably two years old or so – scrawny, the leaves only grow on one side. We get some pears on it each year, but they are small, stunted. The many footballs that this tree has to endure, being in the middle of the playing field, might have something to do with what it looks like. The tree is actually more than 15 years old. It has never been trimmed.

Behind our house, on the other side of the canal, is an orchard. There are apple and pear trees there. The pear trees there are also quite small. Most are not any taller than I am. During the winter months they look like sad dwarves, huddling in soldier formation waiting for Spring to return. But when Spring returns, they explode in flower. And by the summer they will be full, no, bursting with fruit. The first time I saw it I was astounded (knowing nothing about fruit trees). These pear trees look like Arnold Schwarzeneggar on steroids (or is that double up?).

These trees are pruned every year, cut back to the bare essentials while they wait for the growth to burst forth. This all just hit me tonight as I was out with Snuffles walking along this orchard. It made me think of lots of things, but mostly that being small doesn’t say anything. You can be small (as a church as well) and that could mean that you’ve been neglected. Or you can be small and extremely fruitful. I may not know what I’m really asking for, but I am ready for some pruning - as long as the Father is the one doing the pruning, it will work out great!

Just sing it!

- in a cavern, in a canyon . . . -

This past week I was in the recording studio with Listen Up!, the a cappella group I sing with to spread the gospel. We are recording our second cd, this time in Antwerp in a studio called “Cavern’. It is in the basement of the YWCA in downtown Antwerp.

It has been amazing to see how intense this can be. The setting is interesting: in the middle of a week of beautiful weather we are downstairs in the dark focusing on the songs we have written together, focusing on how we sing them, how we sound, how we work together. It’s amazing how much we all learn from this.

- listening intently -

We have mentioned several times that we weren’t even aware of what the others usually sang in a song. When we sing together it just sounds right and we play off of each other. In the studio we have to sing each voice separately (or at least, that is how we are doing it). Suddenly you hear what a beautiful soprano or alto part has been hiding in the song.

Part of that scares me to death. Suddenly I can hear what my voice really sounds like. And I have to really sing what I am supposed to sing – can’t hide behind a bunch of voices. Even your breathing is evident. (Gets me thinking about how we live. Nothing is really hidden, and we can look pretty good until the focus is put on everything we do.) That is when the studio guy, a Norwegian Antwerpenaar named Kjell, says, “Just sing it.”

- taking a break (in the sun) with Kjell -

And that’s what we have to do. Don’t pay attention to the surroundings, your worries about your voice or anything else. Kjell knows why we sing these songs, even though he may not be completely interested. We need to just sing about what we know to be true – and it comes out right. And that’s what we need to do in life as well. Just keep doing your best, focusing on what the meaning is. Just sing it.

- Rob singing it like it is -

Queens and labor

This past weekend was a long weekend. That was the most important for most people I think. Saturday was “Queen’s Day” in the Netherlands: lots of orange (the color of the royal house), lots of kids selling things at special markets, special concerts and a visit from the queen to a few chosen towns. Anybody visiting Amsterdam on this day would have been overwhelmed by the mass of people just having a good time. Usually this all happens on April 30, but since that fell on a Sunday this year (and everyone already has that ‘free’), they decided to move it to Saturday.

And Monday is May Day, or the Day of Work (or Labor Day as some of you might call it). In Belgium and Germany this is a holiday. Lots of red (it was originally a socialist holiday and celebration), special activities for ‘workers’ (but everyone can get in on the celebrations – even white collar workers) and closed shops that are usually open.

Since we work in Maastricht – a Dutch city surrounded by Belgium and Germany – the whole weekend is busy in the city. But tomorrow gets back to normal. Sean is already dreading the biology test tomorrow, but he’ll do just fine. Life goes on.

Heron thoughts

More than 20 years ago I saw one for the first time. It was on a misty morning on a bike ride to Spaarndam. This little village has a statue of Hans Brinker – you know – the little boy who put his finger in the dike. Never mind that he never really existed or that you can’t put your finger in a dike (we drive on top of dikes here – I always thought they were some sort of wall). But it is a beautiful little village and there was a wonderful park where I could go and be quiet, be alone, get my thoughts straight.

I would bike along the river and canals towards Spaarndam, and there was always a heron sitting watching me as I went. These are gloriously regal birds, in my opinion, especially when they fly. They soar, nose and neck straight ahead, large wings catching the wind. They are quite graceful in flight. Perhaps that, and the fact that they are everywhere, was why they were on Dutch money, the beautifully colored paper stuff. To be honest, I don’t remember which bill they graced (help me out here, those of you who knew guilders), but I really liked that one.

Maybe it is the association with such good moments – times of peace and quite, times of grace – that make me feel good when I see a heron. Whatever it is, I like seeing herons. And there are whole colonies here where we live now. We live along the Meuse (we call it the Maas) river, which forms the natural boundary between the Netherlands and Belgium. Behind our house is a canal. Between the canal and the river is a nature reserve where they allow Scottish cows to graze loose. It is in this area that the herons thrive. You can look up in the trees and see there nests everywhere.

But I get to see one almost every day. When I let Snuffles out in the morning, we walk along the canal. Just under the first bridge, about half way to the second bridge is the regular standing place of a heron. Most of the time he(she?) simply stands watching us as we go by. But the other day I was treated to something special.

It was a bit misty again (somehow that seems to make things stick longer in my mind) and it was very quiet. I hadn’t wanted to go out with the dog. It had been cold and I was so wanting Spring to finally arrive. Everything just felt ‘yucky’. And then I saw the heron. He came soaring in toward me along the canal, wings spread and slightly turned as he came in for a landing. The wind was blowing (another good reason not to be outside). Amazing how he so easily took the wind and used it to set himself so gently down on the top of a pole along the waterside. I can still see it now.

A bit mushy and cliche and all the rest (you can probably hear a song about wind and wings now in your head), but what struck me was that he couldn’t have sttled down so easily if he didn’t have resistance – if the wind weren’t there. It’s the wind resistance that makes a bird able to fly.

It changed my day for the better. God made us able to handle resistance and use it. He turns difficult things into something elegant and beautiful. Amazing what a walk with the dog can do for your spiritual health.

Growin' up in the Lord

This past weekend was another youth weekend. We have had quite a few yout activities in the last couple months, but it is exciting to see how God is using these times. More and more of our young people are not only coming to the weekends, they are also bringing their friends.

- looking for answers -

And it’s exciting to see these young people searching – in God’s word, in their relationships, in the church and testing – the things they are learning, the things they are told, even our patience at times.

- looking at coffee 'thick' -

Listen Up! has a song which talks about the frustrations of children and repeats the refrain:
Look at the sons we got.
Sometimes they drive us crazy but we sure love them a lot.
Look at the sons we got.
You and I’ve been blessed a lot.

At the end of the song we talk about the disciples and our lives and end with the refrain:
Look at the Son of God.
Sometimes we drive Him crazy, but He still loves us a lot.
Look at the Son of God.
Yeah, you and I’ve been blessed a lot.

- travelin' fun -

During this weekend we looked at how we worship God. We need to use a filter in what we do and remember where the focus should be. We had a great time playing, learning, traveling and doing.

- looking for the 'why' of worship-

One of the activities was picking up the trash in a local park. Not the most thankful of jobs, especially when the kids there are laughing at you and making more trash. But we had just talked about who we were doing it for (because God would be happy, noyt necessarily people). We are so glad that God has been able to use us in some ways with these young people and look forward to how he continues to change us and challenge us each day.

It’s a jungle out there

Watching tv as a family can be difficult. Not everyone likes the same things. Sean would watch soccer all day if it were on all day. Even if it were games that he had already seen and knew the outcome. And Scott and Stephan will zap around for a good hour lookking at two or three things at the same time – even when there is nothing on. But there are certain tv programs that we like to watch together. Sean reminds us that it is about to come on. Shirley gets a video to copy it if someone is not there. And we all enjoy it. Monk is one of those shows.

I don’t know if you know this show. The title song alone is worth turning it on – Randy Newman knows how to write. Adrian Monk is an obsessive compulsive (former) detective who solves cases by observing and thinking (a bit like Agatha Christie’s Belgian detective, Poirot, without the mustache and food – which, come to think of it was pretty OC too). We like trying to figure out who did it, or how to catch them (don’t watch the first five minutes of the show if you don’t want to know who did it!). Monk (and his nurse and the police chief and the goofy detective) always gets his man (or woman), and along the way he and we learn some things about human nature.

I think what we like so much about the show is that no matter how flawed Monk is, he still struggles with getting done what needs done. And boy does he struggle! And he makes the whole world around him struggle along just trying to put up with him. Makes me glad that there are other people out there who are frustrating to others – and survive. Glad that people love me too, almost as much as God does. “I could be wrong now – but I don’t think so!”

February-March Newsletter

LIGHT in the Lowlands
Reaching out to the people of Belgium and the Netherlands

Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with God’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality. Romans 12:10-13

Dear brothers and sisters, family and friends,
Please notice: our email address has changed! Our new email address is: s.raabs@tele2allin.be Some also have our yahoo address, which is also good: sraabs@yahoo.ie. Any other address you have for us will soon be terminated. Please update your address books and thanks for your continued communication! It is always great to hear from you!

Outreach update
As you could read in our last newsletter, we have been trying to make some good contact with our neighborhood, trying to be servants and examples of Jesus in uor daily lives. We set up a project with the local elementary school around fireworks, teaching about the good of saying no to destructive things. The 5th and 6th grade classes made posters to illustrate this and we as a church gave a cash prize for the best poster. All of the posters were hung up in the local shops and then in our windows. It was great to see this kind of cooperation and we were glad to be a part of it.

Along the same thought, we have been wanting for about two years to sing for the local nursing home. This finally worked out in March (see more at ravenraab.blogspot.com). We were able to sing for a good 40 minutes and then spend some good conversation time with the tenants. Several showed an interest in who we are (wondering of course what sort of group we are) and were thankful for the effort in coming to be with them. We want to serve more in this way in the future. Please keep this in your prayers as we try to get to know the neighborhood better and serve. Scott has also been approached about offering English lessons. He is now working with the local monthly newsletter as well.

Youth activities
The first Saturday of every month is now a youth day at the Verheijen’s. This has worked out to be quite a good day. Each time we have several visitors, either from the neighborhood or friends from school. It is just a good time to have fun and continue tgetting to know one another.



We also had two youth weekends in February and March. In February the boys had a “Console weekend” when they played on their games consoles as well as learned about “Real life heroes” like Gideon. The girls got together in Eindhoven and worked with the same topic. Both groups had about 20 in attendance! We usually work with a mixed group of about 20.



The weekend in May was focused on the theme “In His image” and how we look like God. Scott brought the lesson and we all went to Madame Tussaud’s in Amsterdam to see some other images. We had another great group. (see the blog for more).
In April and May we will be working some more with the youth. Please keep these efforts in your prayers.
Learning

In February Scott and Stephan went to ABSS in Germany, a week and weekend of Bible studies and fellwoship. The next weekend in March, Shirley headed off to the Ladies Retreat with several women from the congregation. These are good opportunities to grow in faith and encourage one another.

- ABSS, a week of good lessons and fellowship -

- the 4 bases -

In April some of our members will go to the Single’s Retreat and our ladies will take part in a women’s day in Antwerp (this time in Dutch). We are so thankful for these types of opportunities. We all need to be stretched in knowledge and grow in love. We pray that we can also continue to put these lessons into practice in our families and neighborhood.

PRAYER WARRIORS
Please keep the following in your prayers.
- Praise God for His might and grace! We had a great evening singing for the nursing home, talking to the tenants. It was great to be able to give and serve. Pray for further contact.
- Pray also for our studies: Angelique, Mieke, Cor and Titia, and Gerard.
- Thank God for helping with the contact with the school. We have noticed several times that the children recognize us and discuss what we tried to teach them.
- Pray for our contact with our regular visitors Roger and Yvonne. Pray also that we grow in love for one another in the church.

KID'S KORNER
Favorite people
Our visit to Madame Tussaud’s during the youth weekend was great fun. We were able to ‘see’ some people we usually wouldn’t get to ‘meet’. Not everyone was there that you might want to see, but there were plenty.
Stephan took the opportunity to get his picture taken with the queen of the Netherlands, James Bond, George Bush, Tom Hanks and DJ Tiesto. Sean liked Elvis, Dali, Michael Jackson and NIcholas Cage.
Who would you like to meet if you had the opportunity? Have you ever been to Madame Tussaud’s? Who did you like the best?
Let us know.
e-mail Stephan at: greenleaf@tele2allin.be
e-mail Sean at: dudeis2cool4u@hotmail.com





ON THE FAMILY SIDE . . .
Looking back at two months it all seems so long ago. Sometimes the days can go by so quickly! In February we spent a wonderful day together as a family sharing a Valentine dinner. This has become a tradition with us. We choose a really special meal (which Stephan sometimes helps prepare with Shirley), set the table , including candles and a menu which Sean makes by hand. This is our way of showing how special we are together as a family. (see more on the blog)

I have to admit that these two months have had their share of physical discomfort. Sean struggled with an achilles tendon strain which kept him from playing football (soccer) the whole time. Now for those of you who know Sean, you know that this was tantamount to shutting him in prison. But this wasn’t enough. He went to the physical therapist for five sessions, after which he felt much better. So he was finally allowed to play and take part in gym at school. During a basketball game someone kicked his finger and stretched the tendon in his middle finger. After a visit to the hospital and some x-rays he qwas given a piece of metal taped to his finger for four weeks. (Thankfully, this does not affect his feet! so he can keep playing soccer, which he has done.)

Scott is not much better. When Sean was finally able to play, he and Scott were playing a quick game in the livingroom (yes, we play soccer in the livingroom - you can edit this part out for your kids if you don’t want them to hear such things). Since Sean is a ball wizard and Scott is just big (comparatively, you know), Scott just tried to push Sean around in order to make goals. But Sean is getting bigger too. So when one good push deserved another Scott found himself on the point of the livingroom table. Maybe some broken ribs, certainly bruised. It has been a few weeks of being careful when moving, but things are getting better.

It hasn’t stopped any of us from having fun in any case. Scott has chopped wood with Peter (a member of the church who lives down the road) and helped some others move house. The boys also got to go to a Genk game together. Sean has a season ticket to this professional soccer team’s games and usually goes with his best friend’s family. But the family and best friend were gone, so they lent us their passes. It was a great evening (especially since Genk won!)

Shirley has had some good time shopping. Our neighbor trusts Shirley when it comes to figuring out what to cook for the in-laws and what to buy for this season in fashion (especially since Shirley also finds VERY good deals). They have fun going shopping - even their daughters ask Shirley for advice. We also went together to the only mall in the area - it’s in Antwerp (about an hour away). One of the ladies Scott studies with had never been and wanted to go with Shirley,. It was a fun day for the ladies together.

Stephan finished up this section of school (the boys are in Easter vacation right now) with a school trip to London. He had a blast visiting all the typical sights (including Madame Tussauds again, but this time the English one), but he and his freind enjoyed Harrod’s the best. “That store is huge, and it has everything!”

EXTRAS
What’s coming up?
APRIL
Coffee day with readers
Youth activity and weekend
Single’s retreat
MAY
Ladies Day
Work Camp w/ youth
Listen Up! studio time

THANKS!
- For all the goodies from Muscatine!
- For your comments on the blog
- For the emails from Wisconsin
- For your prayers for the work here

It has been good to be together. Enjoy your time together too.
Love in Him,
Scott, Shirley,
Stephan and Sean Raab

Sing to the Lord

This evening we finally got to sing!

It was two years ago that we first suggested to the nursing home in our neighborhood that we would like to do something for them. We invited them to the Christmas concert with Listen Up! and 14 came. We suggested then that we could come sing for them as a church choir. Plans were made, a date was set – and then it didn’t go through. Another date was set and we showed up, only to find a different activity director who knew nothing of the appointment. Frustrating, to say the least.

Then I got another email from the previous activity director. She had been sick, had had her baby and been sick again, but now had gotten the courage to contact us and apologize. Could we still come? We set a date, made plans, she put up flyers – and then got sick. But this time we only needed to move it a week. So tonight we finally got to sing!

It was great! Not everyone could be there (because of the moving of the date, Stephan was off in London with his school), but those who were there sang with their hearts. It was great to get the people in the audience to sing along with us as well. It is just so good to sing about the Lord.

Afterwards we sat and talked, got to know the people who live at this home. Some impressions that will stay with us: a couple who had been married 66 years. As they headed back to their room, the husband – who uses a walker on wheels – pushed his walker, lifted his feet and glided along, just like I do when I am in the grocer store driving the cart. You would not have guessed that he was 88! Another woman at the same table sings with the choir in the nursing home. She had never been a singer, she said. But now she sings in the choir – and wouldn’t give it up for the world. Several other ladies also sing in the choir – they sang with us on several of the songs, including “O sacred head”.

We had wanted to do this so that we could get to know some of the people in our neighborhood and so that we could serve. It is so good to give, just because you have been given so much. Thank you for your prayers for tonight. Continue to pray that we can continue to get to know these people even better and that God can use us mightily to show His love and grace.

In His image

We just got back from a great weekend in Haarlem (that’s two a’s). Our theme this weekend was: In His Image. We talked about what God looked like and how we look like Him. The very first thing we did on Friday night was ask what God looked like. 3-year-old Tim (who was present with his parents who were helping during the weekend) was helpful enough to draw God for us.


The rest of the weekend we had fun, talked about God and how we ARE made in His image, sang, ate some great food and deepened our relationships together. On Saturday we went to Madame Tussaud’s in Amsterdam where we got to see all sorts of famous people (“Hey, look over there!”) and got to mingle with all sorts of other people who were also made in God’s image.

- Look! There's Scott Raab! (Who's that other lady?) -

We were glad to be able to take several young people to this weekend. It’s not that often that we get to get together (wow, say that several times and see what happens to your tongue!). The mother of two of the girls who went was very enthousiastic and thankful Sunday evening after they returned home. As she put it, they are always “filled up” after a weekend like this. It is not always easy to get things arranged to go, but it is always worth it!

- Enjoying the sun -

We talked about how we are made in God’s image – by how we act. We were made by God, so we aren’t trash. It doesn’t matter what we look like, because God can use us no matter what we look like. But we want to look like Him – do the things that He does, the things He wants. It was great to see people wanting to help out, encourage one another because that is what God would do.

- Fun! -

Of course the trip home showed us all why we so need the re-creation God gives, the making of our spiritual being in His image in Jesus Christ. A long weekend with little sleep, a long drive home with a packed car, four chatty girls and two reticent guys, and a father wanting to just get home – put this together and you get a real spiritual challenge. Good thing He is making us – WE would probably break us.

Clean

I just got through giving the dog a bath. When we lived in Abilene we had a dog named Shimmy (we name our dogs by what they first do - she shimmied across the floor at every opportunity). She LOVED taking a shower. You had to make sure that the bathroom door was closed when you took a shower or you would find a dog jumping in with you!

Snuffles is another case altogether. You have to make sure that the door to the bathroom is shut - otherwise she will escape. It was interesting to see how she reacted (this was not her first bath with us) when she finally realized why she was allowed in the back (where the bathroom is). She smelled the soap, I think, cocked her head and headed straight for the door.

She doesn't try to jump out or anything, and she is a manageable dog anyway. But she does NOT want to be there. When we are finished, she doesn't want to be dried off (with towels), she wants to be dry - right away- and preferably by rolling on the ground (which doesn't dry anything). Today when we got the hairdryer going, she calmed down a bit more, until we got out the brush and she settled down completely - just stood there and let me comb her out.

She reminds me of others. Sometimes getting clean doesn't sound too great. This summer we have the "Benjamins" at camp (the 8-11 year-olds). During this week we usually have to force the boys to take a shower at least once (before they go home and have to have the dirt chiseled off them by their parents!).

I think I'd rather be like Shimmy - running to get clean at every opportunity, but I am afraid I am more like Snuffles at times. It can seem like a hassle getting clean, but it sure feels good once you're there!

Grace in excess

Another one came the other day. It’s always exciting. Your heart beats a little faster, you can’t wait to get started and you wonder what it will be like this time. This time it was literally like Christmas three months later.

We received a package (thank you Muscatine!) with all sorts of goodies. There are so many people who want us to know that they care for us, that they are thankful for what we are doing and that they are thinking of us. This is one of the ways that they can show this. A box with jello, brownie mixes, ranch dressing and other goodies (like candy canes!).

This comes on top of the special attention given to Shirley during the Ladies Retreat (thanks to the members in Heidelberg). So now we have all sorts of special things tucked away for special evenings. Of course we have already worked through some of the goodies – sometimes you just can’t wait.

We are given so much – and I really don’t mean these special things that we are sent. God has given us so much already. We feel extremely blessed with a good home in a wonderful neighborhood, good neighbors in a safe country, more than enough to eat and more than enough clothes to wear. We have a wonderful family and are part of a wonderful growing family of God. And still there is more!

Sometimes people ask us what they can send us. “What do you miss?” That’s a hard question. We don’t really miss anything. We have so much. And to be honest, the things we are sent in the care-packages are not things we need, or even miss. But I don’t think that is how they are meant either. They are the hugs that can’t be given just now, an extra above-and-beyond show of love and care.

We are spoiled. Thank you. That’s all we can say – from the bottom of our hearts.

But it is exciting to see how you help us learn to do the same for others. I hope that you were just as excited when you were packing the box, sharing in the excitement that you knew would come when it was opened. That is what we feel too as we think of how we will share this excessive grace – and now I’m not only talking about the goody boxes. Isn’t it great how God continues to shower so much on us, more than we really need? Simply because he loves us and wants us to know this.

Now to Him who is able to do immeasurabely more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever!. Amen. Ephesians 3:20-21

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The difference between dogs and kids

Okay, so this won’t come as a surprise to some of you, but dogs and kids are not the same. I know, I know – they may seem pretty much the same when you look at certain aspects. Neither one can pass up a puddle in the middle of a dry road. They both have that look that can get you to give them just about anything they want. An irritating ability to wake you up in the middle of the night or to suck up anything that falls on the ground at your feet (yes, I’ve seen kids do this!) is included in the similarities. But there are some significant differences. I thought about these the other day as I was walking Snuffles (our dog).

Dogs are animals and children are people. Again, this may seem to be an astoundingly simple conclusion, but it is very important. We are not animals. Dogs are. And the difference is in why we do certain things. Snuffles may be able to whine until I give her what she wants, but she is not being pathetic and manipulating me. I interpret her whine as sad. She simply learns that whining gets her what she wants. She also know that doing some things will bring a punishment. So she does them when she thinks we are not around – then we cannot punish her. She doesn’t do these things to get back at us or to be mean. She simply wants what is in the trash can (or what MIGHT be in the trash can). She wants that more than she fears the punishment, especially if we are not around. That is why it doesn’t make any sense to punish a dog two hours later when you get home and find the toiletpaper all over the house (thankfully that is not something that has happened to us. We just find the trash all over the kitchen!).

A child comes to a point when things are very much different. A child will do things not only because of the consequences, but because he or she really wants to, because he or she loves someone and wants to please them, or dislikes someone and wants to hurt them. Animals have instincts. People have motives. Kids can, at a certain point in their maturation, not only know why they are doing something, but also assign a reason to it. They make a mess in the kitchen because they wanted to make breakfast for Mommy, they love Mommy. Or they can make a plan to get revenge on a brother for having gotten them in trouble.

This thought led me off into lots of other thoughts about how we come to understand what sin is, and grace, and love. We are so wonderfully made. The very thought that I was considering all of this was amazing. But mostly it helped me not to get too angry at Snuffles when she barked at the bicycle going by or walked in the puddle. And it made me think about how important my motives in loving my wife and kids are. Some pretty motivating thoughts for a simple walk with the dog.