Weekly Update: Thursday, 02/23/12
Hello again!
You may have noticed that there was no weekly update for the past two weeks. But now I am back with a new weekly update and some extra info on the more special things that have happened to us in the past weeks.
Most of last week’s Thursday I spent traveling once again back and forth from Schiphol. This time to see my mom of after her two-week visit to The Netherlands. It was good, but it did make me realize again how much my home means to me and that I do miss it. As I am sure my mom will miss us and especially our son, Jake. And I am looking forward to the possibility of spending a good portion of the month of June back home in Michigan if God opens up this possibility for us by freeing up my wife’s visa to return to America early enough.
As for our son, he should not have any problem going to America. For by now he is officially recognized an US Citizen. To make this happen the three of us went on a big journey all the way to Amsterdam to report the birth of Jay Edward and apply for his first ever passport. We did all have a bit of a laugh when his passport arrived in the mail with his baby picture that makes him look more chubby than he has ever been. But it really is a joy to know that with all our personal visa needs, that at least he is welcome in both of our countries.
The other big event in the past weeks in our sons life was his baptism. Yes, we decided to have Jake baptized in my wife’s church according to their customs. It took me a bit to think about since I am not from a church background that practices baptizing infants, but in the end I decided in favor of having the baptism with my wife. This I did both to honor my wife and her family’s background and of course because I can come behind it. One of the things that was important for me to come to this decision is that it is actually not right to call it “infant baptism” as we often do. Nor that it is believed that through this our son will be saved. Being saved is still through grace, and believing and faith still ask for a personal choice and relationship with God. And the baptism would better be called “family baptism”. Our son is baptized because he is part of our family and through that of the bigger family of believers. And even though this does not say anything about his faith yet, God already comes to him and can work in him through us. And we promise in his baptism that we will be there for him to tell him about his Father in heaven and to teach him to the best of our ability what it is to live a life with Him who loves us and is with us. *
The last thing I want to write about is not about our Jake. Since the last update my wife and I have decided that we will be working with one of our schools in Idaho after we will return there. And last Thursday evening we were even able to be a part of our very first Skype meeting. As staying involved can be a challenge since we are so far away now, it was a blessing to be involved in this way, if even only for a little bit and it has definitely made me more excited for the future.
Other Updates:
– Our friends Sam and Beth are now married! I wrote about him arriving in England last time and by now they are officially husband and wife. The end for them to a long waiting and the beginning of a life of learning to love each other more day by day.
Scripture
This week another scripture from Genesis, but this time through my wife. As she was reading her eye fell on Genesis 28: 15. This verse is part of the greater promise that God makes with Jacob when he is on his way away from his birth family. This is what it says:
“I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go, and I will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.”
It is a very comforting text to me and it shows a lot of God’s heart. Jacob made a mess of things. He is not on his way for a nice vacation, he is leaving because he is afraid that his brother might kill him for something he has done. Still, Gods words are with him. He does not let us go, he watches over us and he wants to come with us.
Another thing it shows about God is that he will do what he promises. I know from experience that this is a difficult one to keep believing in. Or worse perhaps, not to start doubting that God actually promised something. Still I am drawn to remember His faithfulness, for His words are true and He will not fail them.
But what may have struck my wife the most is the specific feeling that the middle part of this promise was also meant for us, or perhaps for me specifically. “I will bring you back to this (your) land” And I do believe and stand strong in the promise that God will bring me back to my land.
Even now that time has shown that there will be more before returning home for a longer time, I know that God has not forgotten it and that he knows how much my home means to me. But I also know that whatever will be before that time, or whatever might be after that I will wholeheartedly pursue that which God will call us too. With God and with us as a our own family.
And I guess my challenge to you is to do the same. To stand strong in the knowledge that God is with you even when you do not feel him; to keep believing God for that which he promises even if it seems so far away; and to keep trusting God with your heart and live with Him in every step He will take you on. I know it is a challenge, as it is to me. But I believe it is worth it. For He is worth it.
To Him be the glory forever and ever, Amen.
Praise & Prayer Report
– My mom’s visit here was good and she was even able to be here for our sons baptism. Also through the papers she brought with her our son is now recognized as an American allowing him access to my country, both of these are great blessings to us.
– The end has come to a good time for us in Olst. But both because it is not going all too well with my wife’s mom and through other practical reasons we have chosen to remain in Enschede with my wife’s dad for the remainder of our time in The Netherlands. This does ask for a bit of adjusting and figuring out daily life in a new place. Please keep both us and my wife’s parents in your prayers.
– As we are really starting to look to the future we are starting to notice how important it will be for my wife her visa interview to be in time and for the different stages of her visa to be approved. Please be in prayer during this ongoing process and pray that Gods will may be shown through it.
Thanks for all your prayers!
In Christ,
The Abiding Kingdom
* As is written, I am very much from a Church background, though, we don’t practice Baptizing infants. With that said, I am behind my son’s baptism here and I am planning on writing about how I came to that conclusion.
The Abiding Kingdom 