We did the tourist thing today and took the train to Brugges. It's a beautiful town with canals going through, medieval homes and churches, and of course chocolate shops. A few times I felt like I was in Disneyland and would soon realize I wasn't actually in Europe. We were only an hour away from … Continue reading Brugges

Can't believe we are sitting on a curb on the world-famous Grand Place. We are waiting for the square to light up.  We had gone to see Dunkirk (in English). I don't know if the tank was promotional for the movie or a regular part of town  Afterward we had crepes, drank a little wine, and … Continue reading Grand Place

As Becky and I transition into life in a non-English-speaking country, we are testing the boundaries of the timeworn admonition – Don’t judge another until you’ve walked in their shoes. In just the first week of cheek-kissing and rich foods, I’ve gained a little insight, if not a little weight, into life as a refugee.  … Continue reading LOST IN TRANSLATION

It was so wonderful to be welcomed at our friends' house in Ittre, but the time has come to go.  We felt so secure there; we knew we wouldn't go hungry or be lonely.  Now we must brave the city.  We are staying a week in the church apartment in a Brussels municipality.   Last … Continue reading Chicks leave the nest

The first day we drove through Ittre to our friends' house I was so excited to see this shop in walking distance. The words say, "patissier, boulanger, chocolatier and glacier."  I had immediate plans of walking into town daily to have a pastry, a croissant, a chocolate or an ice cream. The next day I … Continue reading Ittre, Belgium

We agreed we didn't really know much about Waterloo but our hosts insisted we should check it out since it's only 10 min. Away from their house and she could drop us off on her way to work.  So, we approached the museum with an expectation that we might stay an hour or so, with … Continue reading Waterloo

We've been here 4 days now and are becoming more comfortable with the eating schedule (dinner around 8:30), the roads, the language, the prices.   The family we're staying with has been very helpful.  We went to a mall on Saturday and got the telephone situated.  We also saw a huge elevator that raised a … Continue reading   Settling in a bit more

We are finally at our destination of Belgium!  Now, instead of guest houses with shared bathrooms, or a hotel room, we are staying with friends of friends in a house.  We met the family last night and are enjoying their hospitality.  They are very comfortable with letting us be a part of their household.  The … Continue reading Nous arrivons en Belgique

A tall woman in jeans and a light blouse greeted my wife and me with “Bonjour.” Around us, people welcomed one another with a noisy kiss on each cheek. By now, we knew we “weren’t in Kansas anymore.”  We were standing at the information table inside LifePoint Church, on the fourth floor of a downtown … Continue reading Encouraging One Another