As if the last couple of years have not already been a series of disorienting events, the past few months have felt like a rollercoaster ride of new proportions. Coronavirus regulations have not only been changing every few weeks here in Belgium, but also in every country across Europe and beyond. The ups and downs, the twists and turns, the proverbial loop-the-loops have led to plans made, plans cancelled, replanning and almost a sense of holding one’s breath in anticipation of the next slow track clicking upward on the rails of an anticipated exit from a worldwide health crisis or barreling down again to the unknown inversion roll or corkscrew.
Whatever the loop, flip, roll or knot that this rollercoaster has in store, we are reminded today of one of our son Josiah’s favorite Bible verses. “We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure.” (Heb. 6:19) Through our hope in God’s ability to make good on His promise of life in Christ and a future eternal Kingdom of Shalom (peace), we are holding on to the unshakeable! Later on in Hebrews the writer relates, “Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe.” (12:28)
We are clinging tightly to the Savior and encouraging you to do the same!
Most of our Bonin tribe was able to join us for Christmas this year in spite of changed flights, false positive Covid results and quarantine requirements. For Caleb, Claire and Chloe it meant getting stuck in Belgium for over a month while waiting for borders to open and flights to resume back to where they live. (Papy & Didi are not complaining about it at all!)
There was another mini-SFC-Belgium reunion at the end of December, but this time Blair was called upon to officiate the funeral of a former SFC student whom we have known for 20 years. Raymond leaves behind a wife and three young children after a short battle with cancer. Yet in his young life, his unshakeable faith impacted many around him. We grieve, and we press on!
Earlier this January, Blair had an opportunity to participate in the Great Lakes Chi Alpha student conference challenging this generation of college students to consider losing themselves for the gospel in secularized Europe.
Our day to day ministry continues as we invest in local churches in southern Belgium, coming alongside national pastors to provide support, encouragement and training for their respective congregations.
On the SFC front, we were highly anticipating being able to finally gather for the annual, in-person SFC-Europe Prayer Weekend this January. But alas, two weeks before the event, we were forced to postpone it for three more months, and now hope to meet with the SFC leaders in April in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. At the same time, our planning for the CONNECT summer training week is cautiously moving forward with great hope that we’ll be able to meet as scheduled in Germany at the end of July.
Please pray:
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- For our Prayer Weekend to take place in April.
- For CONNECT planning, and that it can also go on as scheduled without travel complications in July.
- For the small team of mostly European national colleagues working with us through a long-view process of envisioning the preferred future of Students for Christ in the next 5 years.
- For resolution to banking & visa issues in Belgium. (We will keep listing this one until we see breakthrough!)
- For more connections with our neighbors when everyone comes out of winter hibernation.
At the end of each year, we empty out our Blessings Jar and take turns reading out the slips of paper (above). This event is its own roller coaster ride as we go from cry-laughing hysterically to reliving the most difficult and somber moments of the year. But in the end, we are so thankful that God is always – ALWAYS – with us through each and every moment. And to those of you who are reading this, who have prayed for us, and who have given to us: We are grateful for you! We pray that your Blessing Jar for 2022 is filled to overflowing.
With much love and gratefulness,
Blair, Dina & Josiah