Why we went...

Why would a group of people leave their country & their families, give up their vacation time, and go to help build a church?

The answer is in this picture of smiling faces...


We did not go to Belgium just to help with a construction project and work on a physical building for church services. We went to work on a much bigger building project - the one Paul speaks of when he says "In Jesus the whole building, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord". We went to serve the people that make up the church of Diepenbeek. They are our friends and are part of our family, even though we live in different countries and speak different languages (well most of the Belgians could speak English too) we are "fellow citizens with the saints and members of God’s household".

We went so that the people in the church of Diepenbeek could have a place where they could go and:

• worship the God we all love


• invite the lost to hear about the God that loves them


• fellowship and love one another


• grow in their faith as they hear the Word of God

In return for all that we gave we received encouragement through the prayers and support of our local church body CBC, and saw Jesus' love returned as the people of Deipenbeek showed us hospitality as they took us in and cared for us.

Praise and Thanks to God and each of you who supported and prayed for us!

We are home!
We made it home safely yesterday (Monday) after fighting Brussels traffic and an 8 hour flight to the welcoming arms of our families. We were all pretty tired after the flight and our last weekend in Belgium which was a fun & fast paced couple of days. This is why the blog has not been updated (until now).

Touring Brugge Part II

On Saturday we enjoyed a full day in the city of Brugge.

Brugge is a beautiful city with medieval era buildings surrounded by a canal. We enjoyed walking through the city and taking the sights.



Here is the CBC team in front of the Town hall and justice building in Brugge.


The Belfrey of Brugge is a 13th century bell tower that is a prominent part of the city skyline.



Once climbing the 366 steps to the top of the tower we were able to see stunning view of the city followed by a boat ride on the canal.



After some shopping we made the train (with barely a few minutes to spare after racing poor Ivan to the station) and headed home for some dinner.

Worshipping in Diepenbeek
We woke up Sunday morning and headed out to the community center where the people of Diepenbeek meet. The community center provides a small room for the church to meet in but unfortunately the children and Sunday school teachers meet in a separate building further away. A problem that goes away once they can meet in their own building.

Elders Marten & Valere lead the service. We sang and gave thanks to God for the wonderful week that we enjoyed together, heard some testimonies about how God was working in the lives of the church members, and shared in the Lord's Table together.


Milt, with Valere translating, preached on the importance of sharing our faith from Mark chapter 2 emphasizing the need to have faith, pray, and work together to share the good news of Jesus with others just like the four faithful friends who brought their sick friend to Jesus.



Mardesson Memorial
After service we had lunch at Valere & Marita's home and then headed to Bastogne where the Battle of the Bulge was fought in WWII. The Mardesson Memorial was built in 1950 as a tribute to the battle and the US/Allied efforts in liberating the country of Belgium. It was a grim reminder of the cost of freedom.

Touring Brugge Part 1
Today was a beautiful day in Belgium as our hosts Ivan & Vivianne took our team to Brugge. We got up early this morning to ride the train to Brugge.





We were exposed to a little more Belgian culture when we arrived in the city...coed toilets... and you have to pay too.


Marten´s sister Marie met us at the train station in Brugge & took us around the city.




Crazy Belgians... :)



There is more but we are tired & a little punchy...Goede nacht, Tot morgen...

Operation Belgium Construction is complete
Today we completed our last day working on the church building. We completed a lot of work. Milt & Valerie finished painting the hallway & brick ceiling behind the sanctuary, the bathrooms, & the doors upstairs. Brian & I helped Eddy build a concrete supporting pillar by the (future) kitchen and hung some ceiling tile frame.

This is the sanctuary (below) for the near term, and will become the fellowship hall when the future sanctuary is completed.



This is the future sanctuary (below). Any takers for coming to Belgium to complete it?



Eddy gives the final approval - "Is Goed"



We did have some time for destroying one last set of bricks

Dominoes
Tonight we had an enjoyable evening of dinner & fellowship at Irene´s playing our favorite past time - dominoes. Irene cooked us a great meal & made Milt´s favorite dessert - of strawberries & cream.

Seeing Progress...
After 4 days of work we have been able to accomplish a lot, it looks like the Sunday school rooms, halls, and sanctuary (at least the short term one) are nearly ready to go!


Here is are motley crew today



and again a little zanier this time



Our hardworking host Ivan


Audrey works...

Valere wanted everyone to know that he works too, he commented that all the pictures show him drinking coffee or playing guitar

Dinner & a Study II
Tonight, after working and taking much needed showers, we enjoyed a quiet dinner at our host family. The food that Viviane serves is amazing!!

At 8 PM at our host´s home we participated in another cell group.



Valere led us in worship songs - some in English & some in Dutch.



I got to teach the group from the book of Haggai sharing how wrong priorites; making comparisons; Fear and Sin can hinder us from accomplishing the work God has for us to do.

It is quite late we are going to bed and are exhausted. Please continue to pray for God´s protection; strength and guidance.

Sore Muscles Near Brussels

We are excited about all of the progress we are making on the church. Today we continued painting, putting up dry wall, & reinforcing some supporting beams. The upstairs where the three Sunday school classes are nearly complete.





We are all pretty tired so please pray for our endurance & that we may finish well what we have started.



This picture shows how most drywall is hung in Belgium - glued to a brick wall.

Dinner & a Study
Catching up from yesterday...

Yesterday after a good day working we were treated to dinner at the home Marten & Chris. Marten is an elder at the church of Diepenbeek.




Following dinner we went to Ludo & Jacqueline´s house for cell group where Milt taught on the need to serve Christ Completely, Consistently, Corporately, & Cheerfully.




Ludo, Val, & Rita enjoy a good laugh...



We then enjoyed waffles & coffee.

Wall Building
Today was a good work day, though far less physically demanding. Yesterday Milt & Valerie painted the children´s Sunday school rooms. Brian & I under the watchful care of Eddy cut through the stones in the floor & walls to lay pipes. Eddy & I also mixed and poured cement to cover the floors after the pipes were laid and to create a support beam.

Today we did more finishing work...

Milt & Valerie finished painting the children´s Sunday school rooms and then started on the sanctuary.

Brian & I hung ceiling tiles and put up wall board.

Since the Beligian buildings are built primarily with stone & bricks they are quite solid. Most wallboard is glued to the brick wall rather than nailed to a frame...

We did take our coffee breaks too...

Now we are off to dinner & cell group...

Please pray for our families back home and for us being far from them.

Hard @ Work
As these pictures illustrate we are a bunch of tired & worn people. It felt good to work hard and accomplish a lot.



Milt encourged us with this vision - as you look @ these pictures imagine a full class of children, a kitchen serving coffee, & a sanctuary full of people praising Jesus.





Eddie was our superviser and one tireless worker who planned and worked with us - he does like his coffe breaks though. He is quite a skilled craftsman and a great encourager as well - since he had to work with us desk jockeys.

Please pray for continued saftey on the job site. Also pray for Val who will be teaching a ladies study tomorrow morning, and Milt who will be teaching a cell group.

Good night, we are tired...

Taking on Tongeren
Ok, I am back from being beaten badly in dominoes. Val is sporting a winning record of 2-1.


After the church service José & Liliane treated us to a wonderful lunch in their home. José is a member of the Kortessem church leadership team. After lunch José (pictured with Milt & Val) took our team to the village of Tongeren. Of the many tourist attractions in the village, the 4th century Roman ruins of walls were a highlight (see pitcture of Mike & Brian).



Over coffees we were able to hear how God has been blessing this young church. Please continue to pray for this church as they desire to grow & reach out to many more in their village.

We are going to bed now as we will be getting up early to begin our work in the Diepenbeek church building.

Tale of Two Pastors
We got up this morning and were treated to a wonderful breakfast. We then headed to
Kortessem to attend service. The church @ Kortessem was planted by the church @ Diepenbeek around 3+ years ago.

It was quite an experience hearing the name of Jesus proclaimed in another language and sharing in the Lord´s table. It brought home the great truth that we are all in one Body - the church (Ephesians 4:4-5). I enjoyed the song Lord I Lift Your Name on High since I could recognize the music & sing along in English.

As it turns out two pastors were schedued to preach today. Our own Milt Johnson & a pastor from Lommel (which is in the northern region of Limburg province, we are in southern region) named Martin who graciously agreed to let Milt preach. However the projector that was to be used to display the translated sermon was not working and no one felt comfortable translating the sermon on the fly (including Milt).

Martin delivered a powerful sermon, which Jonathon, the pastor of Kortessem was kind enough to translate into English sitting behind us. The sermon was based on Mark 2:1-12, which as it turns out was the same passage that Milt was going to teach from. Apparently God intended this church to hear the message & the call to make sure that other people hear & see that Jesus is home in Kortessem one way or another. One of the main points driven home was the fact that it was the faith of the 4 friends that Jesus saw & their desire to bring the sick man to Him no matter what. May we have that faith to bring the sick whom Jesus came to seek & to save to Him too.



After service we were able to meet many people from the church, most of whom could speak English and were interested in hearing about America.

Later in the day we visited Tongeren, but more on that later I am being called to a game of dominoes...

Google Earth link to the Neven home. The vineyard is to the left.