Please notify Forwarding Agent if.

thin addrvHs is inrorn-ct.

this maiUnti is mil desirvd.

MISSIONAKIKS

Hcnki & Miiry Kfiiher liuonaerts

Weg Naar OpuctiTen No. fi

OpKlablx'ck, Bi-lgium

BELGIUM

FOR CHRIST

Volume XVI, Number 1

Jan.-Dec.

FURLOUGH NO. 4 . . . FAST BECOMING HISTORY!

Six years ago our family was in the U.S. to visit supporting churches, Christian friends, family, and do the things
missionaries do on "furlough tours." That was such a long time ago, and then it came time to plan for ournext trip to the U.S.
Many prayers, months of planning and preparation and lots ol anticipation went into making sure we did our part to have a
successful furlough once again. Several unforeseen problems and various circumstances led us to decide on ju^t Mary Esther
and John Mark making the fourth furlough trip to the U.S. (Our other furloughs had been in 1971 with just John Mark and
Mary Esther for 4 months; then in 1973-74 for 9 months during which time James was born; and in 1980 for 4 months as a
family. There was a great need for us to get back to report to the congregations, and especially thank the Christians for their
support.)

This furlough is fast becoming history. John Mark and Mary Esther, accompanied by a young Christian, Sonia, I'rom
Tienen, Belgium, arrived in the U.S. on June 28lh. Sonia's family has bei n long lime friends ol'ours as we lirslmet soon after
her parents, Richard and Gilda Amssoms, were converted as Jehovah's Witnesses. (They may be remembered by readers as
folks trying to raise support among Dutch-speaking Christians to go into full-time Christiim service. The Maasmechelen
congregation was going to help towards that, but they didn't receive enough support so Richard has gone into insurance.
They held services in their home both in Antwerp and Tienen, and completely stood behind allowing Sonia to accompany us on
this trip, paying her fare!) Sonia learned English in school so is a good traveling companion for us. She and John Mark
discovered each other at ihe Christian camp in the Ardennas. This gives her a wonderlul opportunity to meet U.S. Christians
and is quite an adventure I'or her, being her first lime so long or far from her home and lamily in Belgium.
Already, we've been to over 14 churches and had the opportunity to present the slide report oi'our work 21 times. More than
4,000 miles have been put on the "77 Plymouth station wagon we picked up in Williamstown, New York, that Mi ssimers let us
use from their furlough trip last year. We anticipate being with about 20 more congregations or groups, then John Mark and
Sonia return from St. Louis on Sept. 19 so they won't miss too much school. Mary Esther will remain in ihe Slates through
"OctolDer visitmg more ctingreglHions, getting out as far west as Phoenix, Arizona, and as far north as Saulte Ste. Marie,
Michigan, the Lord willing.
Things are going surprisingly well in confirming speaking opportunities and w ilh all the tiavei involved in such a venture,

as well as with our health considering all the heal and stress ol ihe trip! Yet, with all the prayers-whal could we expect, as
someone reminded us. We hope you will please continue to keep us in your prayers during this lime oi separation from each
other, and during the many miles and pi esentations .still anlicipaied. We also covet praj ers lor John Mark and Soma's sale
trip back to Belgium, and tlu- lasl month Maiy Esther will be traveling alone.
Because of the extra time and exj^enses involved dui ing this >ear with furlough and all, we will oiilj be publishing this one
is.sue of a newsletter lor 19hl).

NEWS OF THE FOUR CHURCHES IN LIMBURG

None of the 8 reasons that kept Henki and James in Belgium would have been reason enough alone to keep us separated this
summer. Since there were at least 8 reasons though, we felt it was surely the best way to plan lor our furlough trip. One of those
8 reasons as reported to folks when preparing for this tour was as follows;

EVANGELISTIC OPPORTUNITIES CAN BE PURSUED, An unbelievable amount ol doors seem to be opening in

OPGLABBEEK, as well as in the Maas-area and Genk. Had the work been slow in this new area, and had we no new

converts or prospects, it would have been easier to leave for a few months. God has blessed us with both, plus optimistic
opportunities elsewhere, and we feel these must be attended to while doors are open. Henki is best suited to this need.

It is with great joy that we announce that there has been a convert already in OPGLABBEEK. Maria Liv Soms, known
better as Mieke, contacted us after evangelistic tracts had been distributed in the town in which we now live. She was anxious

Please check appropriate boxes below and detach, returning this slip to Melvin and Louella Roller, Rt. 1 Box 92,
Burnettsville, Indiana, 47926. Thanks for your assistance in helping us be more efficient.

-- The address on the other side is incorrect and should read as follows:

-- The address on the other side is out-dated since we have moved to the following address:

-- Please discontinue sending the newsletters to the address on the other side.

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(amount)

copies

-- Please add the following address(es) to the mailing list:

"Please have Boonaerts correspond about a visit/report to the following address/area during their trip in the
U.S.

cut here

________

UP-DATE ON THE UP-DATE!!

Since the response wasn't too fruitful to our request for help in updating the mailing list for the newsletters, we've
decided to try once again. Those who returned slips the last time do not need to respond again. Otherwise, please
return this slip with any address corrections of the address on the reverse side, to the address of the forwarding agent,
IF YOU WANT TO R-E-M-A-I-N ON THE MAILING LIST for the Belgium for Christ bi-annual newsletters.
Your name will be removed if this slip is not returned! Work is at a premium and costs are too high to continue as in the

past. Thank you for your understanding and co-operation!

to learn more Scriptural truths and was very open to the gospel, so was immersed just weeks after we met her. Her 12 year old
daughter also has been open, attending the communion services with Mieke. She also attended a youth weekend organized by
the Dutch speaking churches of Belgium and Holland.

Sunday evenings we break bread in our home and Mieke comes, along with some fulka ol' both the Genk and Rekem
congregations (especially if they are unable to attend morning services), and Lex and Rika, who live closer to us than going all
the way to Rekem. Henki reports by mail that things are going real well with Mieke. She is a good witness and always says
that since she's been immersed things have completely cluuiged with her. -She is encouraging her son Frans to follow Jesus,
also. Frans and his fiance, Sonja, have attended services several limes, and we've had the opportunity to witness to them and
encourage them in living the kind of life Jesus would like. Recently they discussed many things concerning marriage, and
they plan to get legal information soon so they can get married.

Left to right: Honki, Luc Verstiippen, Doltje Nuri, Michel Kurilak,

JKdilk

iBf. ^

Henki
has also
writtensince
that our
hehas
spoken
inthe
church
inGENK
departure.
Marko Bernabe, a convert of the
Maasmechelen group who lives in Genk

ai^Sll^HlH^BSSgSiHlir f
yrnmm

i||BM||||H

now, led the service and did real well. He has

long been active in preparing passages of

Scripture to read in the gatherings and

when

the

Unfortunately some sad news from Genk is

|mi|yjj[gggg^

thatHenki had to hold a

hH

h|k|^

of one of the elders. Jos and his family

were returning from the North sea and he'd
stopped to tighten things on the car when a
truck struck him, killing him

instantly.

There were around 300 at the funeral of this

young man, and Roger Verstappen of the

EISDEN congregation also had some
words at the grave site. Pray with us that
this tragedy will help lead some to reevaluate life and turn their

Christ before it

too late, as it was for Jos;

and that his wife Marleen and their small

Evelyn (Kottas) Verstappen, Eddy Verstappen (her husband), Jean Pierre

Verstappen, James Boonaerts, Wadek Kalarz,

family will tumto God in this time of sorrow.'

Evangelism is continuing in the REKEM
congregation as Henki has been showing the
Jule Miller plan of salvation slides to a
voung couple, Mark and Mien, in

Maasmechelen.

Raymond Janssen, a

convert of a few years, is on retirement now

and has made known that he wants to begin evangelizing. Henki plans to begin taking Raymond with him as he goes calling
to help train him in this new service in the kingdom.
The Rekcm congregation also hosted some special summer activity and lolks from the church in Koln, Germany, were also
present. There was a lour hour canoe trip down the Maas river, followed by a barbecue ai Wadek"s farm and a time of
fellowship and singing. This, as well as two weeks at different camps, provided something special for James since he had to
miss coming to the States. The pictures are of the fellowship time at Wadek's after the canoe trip.

MEET THE CONVERTS

With our last newsletter we began what we hoped to be a series ofconversion stories. The following is the story, translated
and edited, to be the second ol the series. It is about Henki's mother, Meta Van den Berg-Boonaerts. From her story yctu not
only learn of her conversion, but how God's word came to the province of Limburg, Belgium, back at the beginning oi the
century. The piclure with Meta in the middle was when her husband, Hendrick, and Maria Gering were still living.
My parents were really completely unbelieving when I was a child. If anyone asked them what they were, they did always
say they were "Protestants." When I heard my father say this, I could tell in his manner that he was proud to be a Protestant.
Now I realize that it didn't really mean anything, but as a child I didn't realize that. Wecame to Belgium in 1926 from Holland.
Lwas-a-gir-l-of-aboat-7To-I4iad to-go to first grade, attending a school run by nuns.-That was the age children usually "do their

first communion," as the Catholiccustom is calledin Dutch. Our parents didn't allowme to participate in that, sothe problems
began. But as time passed, it was soon forgotten, and I didn't really stop to think about what was involved in religion
differences.

At school we were required by the nuns and teachers to attend Mass services. My parents really didn't exert themselves to
find out if there was a Protestant church because they weren 't interested. So, I attended the Catholic church. Wereceived our
"church book" and had to have it stamped each time we went to Mass, so Monday morning at school we could show we'd been
to Church.

I remember one experience when I sat myself on the front row with the children that had to go to "confessional." I didn't
realize what was going on. One by one the children left the bench. I could tell the children were nervous and wondered what

was going on behind the curtain. Then it came my turn and I slippedbehind the curtain but didn't understand what the person
on the other side of the lattice work had asked me. Just then the teacher realized what had happened and snatched me from the

confession booth. From then on I had to sit at the back ofthe church. I still had to attend, because it wasduring school hours,
but was not allowed to participate.

In those years not very much was heard about Protestants, so I still didn't know what was going on. Wedidn't dare mention

it because ifever anything went wrong, we werehounded as "dirty Protestants." We weresilent about our religion, but didn't
really know anything about it since our parents didn't attend church any place.

When I was about 9 or 10, talk was going around school about"confirmation." I wasn't of age for that yet, but one ofmy

friends asked if I wasn't going to do my "confirmation." I answered in a whisper, "No, I can't do that. I'm not Catholic "
Neither was she, and I had comfort in knowing that. Her next question was why I didn't attend Sunday school, but I didn't
know what THAT was. My friend informed me that there was a Sunday school on the Winterslaag Street and she invited me

to come to her homeand we'd go together to Sunday school. Everything was so new for meand I listened breathlessly. When
everything was finished I remember I let out such a sigh because I'd been listening so intently. I really thought it was
wonderful.

Those who were present for the first time got a gospel portion, and the verse that we were to learn for the next week was

marked in the little book. On my way home I was already learning the verse and studying. I was soexcited andenjoyed it so
much. When I ffot home my sister accused me ofnothaving been tothe mass butI replied that I'dbeen to the Sunday school.

She knew less than I about that. My enthusiasm caught asI told her it was so nice there, showing her my gospel; Isaid they

told Bible stories, andallthechildren sang songs. That evening myyounger brother and thissister, justolder than I,sat onthe

bed learning that verse from the little book with me.

ThenextSunday, the threeofus walked the longway to the Sunday school. My parentsencouraged ustogo, partlybecause

they realized they had not done their duty, but also glad they'd not have us around all Sunday morning! The three of us were

the youngest of9children and Sunday wasthe only time towashthe men'sclothing for work againonMonday. Later, even if
we wanted to stay home because of rain or whatever, we had to go to Sunday school and be out of the way.

When I got older I also began togoto the

That
parents
there

as regular
force us any

to be

me

my

He was a

actually

the

away a
He

from
a

Catholic so we didn't really talk about those

kinds of things. The war broke out and the

we

be

^
w

heard during the first

'

world war, that married men wouldn't have

to

je
When our first child was about a year old 1

suddenly had such a desire to attend church.

By that timewehad a bicycle, sowith myson

on the back 1wentto the service. When I got
home, my husband asked why on earth I'd
gone there. I suggested he come along and
see for himself, and soon we went together.

1
J

He also liked it and we just kept on going

together. As time passed, the war was over

and oneday our preacher and another from

^ "A

Tongeren came to our home. Before long

they began talking about why we weren't
Hendrick lioonaerts, Mela Van den Berg-Boonaerts, and Maria Gering.
immersed yet.
One of the men asked Hendrick what the most important verse in the Bible was, but at the time we didn't learn much out of

the Bible. We just listened to what the preacher said to us and it was natural for most of those present not even to have a Bible

with them. We'd not been taught to search the Scriptures so didn't realize the importance. Wefigured the preacher probably
knew what we needed to know.

Of course I'd been to Sunday school and had learned many important verses, but my husband knew so much less. He had

only come to believe when he was about 24 years of age. In my husband's place I answered; "I think the most important verse
in the Bible is John 3:16." We'd learned that continually at the Sunday school, also. We didn't really request it ourselves, but
through the rest of the conversation it was decided we'd be immersed in a lew weeks.
Again, years passed and there were times things went well, but also times that we were real weak spiritually. We also had

several children, and it was difficult to take them all to church. Butifwedidoccasionally long for church we'd pile the children
on bikes and go. My husband and another friend of ours had been made elders of the church. Now I realize that was also not
right since Hendrick was only a young man and a new Christian. This continued until there began to be several problems in
the church that ended in a split.
Since the preacher was crippled and getting older, he had asked for help from churches in the States. So it was that Don

Castelein came to Genk, and that was the first time we heard about the Church of Christ. The older preacher wasn't to be
trusted for many reasons and the Casteleins were planning on returning to the States since their consciences bothered them so

much about the situation. Hendrick talked with him about it, and once again there was a split. Such things shouldn't be either,
yet through Castelein I learned all the things that I'd never been taught in the church where I'd been immersed and attended
all those years.

At first we gathered in Castelein's home, then money was sent from American Christians so we could buy a piece of ground
to build a church on. All the rest, the Belgian Christians paid lor, and even the women helped a lot, making cement blocks,
shoveling and working right along with the men to build the building where we now still meet. As years passed most of this
money was paid back to Christians in America, except a small part donated as a gift by them.
During those years I really came to be much closer to the Lord. 1 think that from the time I was a child, God had never let go
of me, and my interest in Him helped. I felt He has led me through all this and began to understand things much better because
we were constantly busy with our Bibles, and involved with church activities much more. Forme.there was not a sudden turn
about in my life, but gradually theLordled and guided me. Though it was not a sudden change I am thankful to God that He
strengthened me in my faith, and worked through His Spirit so I understood His word better. I am thankful to Him for sending
just the right people at the right time to help me, that I have grown to this place in my life.
That's my history, my spiritual witness!
BELGIUM FOR CHRIST is wrilten by Mary Esther Boonaerts, edited and mailed by the Melvin Rollers, and printed by Mission Services
Association, Kiioxville, Tennessee. Jt is distributed to inform and encourage support of the work being done in Belgium for Christ by the Henki
Boonaerts family. All funds made payable to Medaryville Christian Church, designated to Boonaerts work, are tax deductible.

BELGIUM

CHRIST

Nem -R^poAX

ApM 19S6

WHO SHOULV you mWESS to and when is the right time? What would you do if you

were in the.hospital for an appendectomy? How many of us would witness to a "room

mate" that only lay with us one day while recoperating from an operation? God used
Marko (+) to witness to Jean Paul (French spelling for John)- who was in the hospital
with him just one day! Marko, as he's always doing, talked with Jean Paul and his
wife about his belief in God and invited them for services in REfCEM.

coming

They began

regularly, and soon we found out Doltje was an immersed believer, having

been immersed in her home country .of the Philippians.

Jean Paul was also open to

the gospel, but they were very busy moving from Maasmechelen to Lanaken, setting up
their new paint, wall paper and do-it-yourself store, and having some crises with
his dad's health.among other things. Then finally the good news that so many had
been waiting for came: Jean Paul wanted to be immersed and be obedient to Christ
in a way he'd not been as yet. And so, Christians planned for the immersion service

to be held April 2 in the Genk buil'ding where there is a baptistry.

Great rejoicing

and witness to the fact that indeed the Spirit IS moving.

AS MEWTIOWEP SOME TIME BACK,Henki had been able to join his brother Herman in
witnessing to a friend of his from school-years that he'd not seen in a long time.
Rene had lots of problems, and Herman and Alice tried to help him and witness as best
they could of the love of Christ, joining words with deeds. Rene was also in the
hospital'for some treatment and various Christians witnessed to him while they visited

^i-m as well.

Easter Sunday, Dennis announced in the GEWfC service that he had last

heard from Reng that he was seriously considering being immersed. He had been
xpected in that service but for some reason he wasn't present. We look fowafd to
this young man also to soon become our brother in Christ, as we can definately see
the SPIRIT is moving in his life-as well. .
A FEW WEEKS AGP HENKJ'S MOTHER had a call resulting from the tracts that have been
handed out in OPGLABBEEK, The lady asked for an appointment to be made as she was

intrested in the gospel and what, was discussed in the tract.

her and she was anxious to come to our home and learn more.

Henki was, able to visit

Maria (Mikka as she's

called by many) came the following Sunday with her 12 year old daughter, Natasha.
We showed the first of the Jule Miller slides on the Plan of Salvation and talked

some.

She stayed on for the breaking of the bread-with the Christians that came

later, and was also present for our gathering Easter Sunday after seeing the next
lesson. When Henki had first visited her he read' and explained several Scriptures.
She turned to the passages in the Bible and read along with him, as she had a Bible.
She has an immersed sister living in Lanaken who has attended services with Christ

ians there so others have already begun the work of planting the gospel with Mikka.
Then Henki suggested that they pray together. When he finished he realized shd
didn't understand what was happening, and looking puzzled at the Bible open before
her asked, "Where did you read that? I couldn't read along with you?" Though she

(+)You remember Marko from the "What would it be like?" news report a few years ago,
and other news more lately, when he moved to Genk near our apartment on the
Vennestraat.

haHLd us here to Opglabbeek to the first soul m need of Hm.

The Spirit oves us

cl^ftrour"^^s!^ PlelsfLe^each

me^tLne^in your prayers so the working of the Spirit may reach completion to the
praise of His glory. (Eph. 1:1A)

"All over the World" is among the new songs^^

learned recently from the "Eevival Songs
booklet that Belgian Christians are

enjoying and being upbuilt with.

opwWangs
liedoren

Kolofon:

eti z>inwii
ii de lielde

umen dat
ir wordt.

Koor:

Er it een Heer. (4x}

AJIeen Hij wKhi,
totdat Hij ook
voor jou zorgen mag.

tBMl SI. 3B8I JC funi

t24l.

CM* ml m l

Stei nict uit. Zeg toi Hem:

MwcUbMk; MuiMbo*!
a*n M In vooTMd. Icv.ni

weet nu ook mijn Heer,

-- Luitter s:ccdt na<ir zijh item, '
Hij geeft teven weer.

Cp*fe'e'4e MkitUidi
li.yw

dat it Mij allei waard,

Ik maak vvaa'lijk vrij.

ier.

Utfm; Stichtng Oewt

11 Jezus sprak hler,op aard:

Q Menjen kom tot Mij,

Efc

Spoedig komt Chrittut weer.

Heel de schepping buigt
vol ontzag zich lerneer.

mmt rmvm

Cimnn: Ci i* Mn m>m<

Hij it aller Heer.

MA an op d4 On* Wy Dt
r*nll>-dil bladiki Atidl

TtfAif A. Wd/'Aua

f Mti'lllil lncM>Vn*<

om Mn ll.ll ti 9abnA*n M

door Cenllnonat 5<xr*a M

atoM. 30oecB non><

]1WBM)5S47.

12 All over the world

C (he tpirit it moving.

All over th6 world

1 the prophet taid it would be.

All over the wodd

there's a mighiy revelation

of the glory o< the Lord,

1 Hii*deKoningvan mljr
F mijn Jezut, fnijn Jezut.

at (he watert cover the tea.

Hij'tdt Kooingvan fnijf

Jezut. (4k)

Deep down in my heart

the tpirit is moving.
Deep down in my heart

Hij't de Koning van miin

Hij'i d< Redder n mijn
Ja, Hij doopt met Gtttt
OoapronkrM*

at the prophet taid it would be.

Deep down in my heart

there't a mighty revelation

of the glory ol the Lord.

rlsr ittu/w*. 0. <r*m0n*>u

4 loxonAWc. VoQtStntAit

at the waters cover the tea.

Godt Geest it aan't werk

2 0. hM wonderbaar it.

over d'einden der wereld.

D D du^rle tnacM it v

Godt Geett it aan't werk,

door zijn krad>t.

zoalt voorzegd weid door de protect.

0. hot wondetbaar it

Gods Geett it aan't werk.

AM Imtll fmnfirnfH
Carmnnit/5mr^. Horn

Er it een machiige revolutie

lot zijn eer en heerlijkheid,

It de waat'ien omhullen de zee.

3 Waetbll] InciaHeert

Q mm, halleluial I2x)

VtflMUfld, vvrtKugd,

men.ha1>eh^. (2x^
pa>wwit*V

TM9fOA mwirM:

M*rok

Ti

C MMMMiib VlNr*ww<

Ttitf to

Zingend lot uweei.

' Tfit

ftntwtd i Scf^fuft*oScng.OOf

Oofil>rontrlfti blet: l* a

' Contff>totai
Aefr#'tf#'n.

Ttttl t mviirirJW. /Vtroon

AM. ttlir; I. S^rvMtr. A/rft.
xfrrfwWt

5^/
M

S
E

of

I 0 N

Hei^ium for C-kriit

the

Weff Naar Opoeteren No. 6

3660 Opglahbeek

UNITED STATES of AMERICA

News- Beport
September

V\

WHIIiE traveling this Slimmer, one question that

Sonia

1986

asked us so often has "been, "V/hat do you

think of America?
We all have different ideas and
. impressions of a place that we see for the first time,

or after a long time. Since we've been traveling more

+
4.
two months,
it's toalmost
for some
John of
Mark"
to return
to"^^an
Belgium,
I askedandSonia
put ontime
paper
her and

impressions of this trip.

So, before she leaves my company, and still

has the thou,^hts fresh in her mind, here is v/hat she wrote to share with
Christians of otir great UNITED STATES of AiSRICA:

For me as a stranger in this large land, this trip has been quite
3.n experience#. Before I left for America, I was afraid for many
reasons. I v/as afraid of the airplane trip, and for what awaited me
in America, and I was afraid I'd be awfully homesick. Now that the

trip is almost finished, I realize all the things I've learned, how
nice it has been, and how thankful I am to God (and my family and
the Boonaerts) that I was allowed to make this trip. Although I'm

not much of a traveler, I've gotten used to travel'and have even

gotten a lot of fun out of it.

It has been great to realize how great God's -oower is.

have met so many Christians.

Here I

I have learned to be contented with

What I have since in traveling we've been comriletly dependant on

other people, and we can't very well say, "I don't like that," or
"I don't want to do that!"

I have heard, seen, yes! even tasted so many new things* There
are things and animals here that we don't see in Belgii^m, like
skunks, cardinals, wooden houses, huge cars, and other things.
Eating is different here, ye good too. V/e have namely,' other
combinations; and some things v/e don't eat or drink in Belgium like

donuts, root-beer, corn, lima beans, marshmellows, and yellow

tomatoes!

There are also animals that I have seen more of since being here
than all my (18)-years in Belgium, especially squirrels. I^rr ~
have enjoyed natiire the most and the J)eople, because
even they are different here.

People are much

freindlier here. You go into a store for the very

first time and they treat you just as if you are their
best friend, So often this has been my experience
though we've been in so many different states,. That
has to do v/ith the people of the world, or outside
'

the church,.
Because here

in America there are so

many more Christian characteristics to be

seen in people in general, than in Belgium,

it must be easier to speak about Jesus,.
Even though they don't all go
to the same church, they believe
in Jesus and are v/illing to

talk about Him,

I also have
spirit of 1 ve,
it a shame that

what is siirely NOT the case in Belgium.

many impressions by being in so many chiirches. In a
in order to up-built and better the situtation, I find
the gathering around the Lord's table is done in such

a rushed manner. It is good to occasionally have an unrushed time of

quietness to meditate on the suffering and resurrection of our Lord
Jesus while remembering Kim.

iVhat I found so good about churches is the fellowship among the

Christians v/ithin the group and with strangers. Although the churches

are so much larger than in Belgium, never is someone left to stand

alone in a corner someplace. VVhenever a stranger comes in, several

folks come spontaneously to you and take you up in a friendly way into

the fellowship.

V/hat supports this observation is that these folks ask

if you come from another church or are only visiting.

This way I've

come to realize they aren't Just doing this because we are "the mis
sionary" or something.

Yet there are things I prefer in Belgium, for instance the school
system. According to my experience, our schools are stricter and as I

see it much more orderly ana organized.

Here in the States students

don t have to excuse themselves if they come to late, but just enter
the classroom and sit down without waiting for permission*
this is ingrained in children from nursary-school days in
Belgiiom.

Also I realize, as bothersome as it is for Belgian childrer

to have to learn so many languages, how nice it is to have

learned them!

Because of this fact I have been able to adjust

myself faster to the States, since I learned English at

school.

I have had a ^od time here and would surely like to do it

over again.

back home

dog,^and

^Still, it's getting to be time to get

'

because I miss my family, my dear

; ' H U f c o u r s e the BELGIAN FRENCH-PRIES!

^
aven if they
The next time

something every Belgian misses,

just go to Germany for a few days
I come to America, I can hopefully

--

bring at least one member of my family along.

But of course, like

someone told me here, it's not because of the land that I'm homesick.

Wio isn't homesick should ask themselves if there isn't something

wron^ with them.

With these words, I thank all the people for their sweet hospitality

and hope to see everyone once again.

/xX<z^
'.cp

/Jiy^

/iyf

Weg Naar Opoeteren

N" 6
"Deck the halls with boughs of holly
December 6, 1986
Fa la la la la la la la

Dearest Christian friends,

*Tis the season to be jolly

Fa la la la la la la la

"

Today it is "St. Nicolaas'," a very important

holiday for boys and girls of many European
countries.

It is celebrated in honor of the "ven

erated bishop who comes from Spain on a ship each

year accompanied by his servant Black Peter (+) and bringing toys and other
presents for the children." Up to the night of the 5th St. Nicolaas (+) rides his white
horse over the rooftops and listens at the chimneys to hear if the children are singing

songs in his honor. If they are, Black Peter drops presents down the chimneys right
into the shoes the children have left out for this purpose. The children have also been
Instructed to leave carrots in their shoes for St. Nicolaas' horse.

home.

Of course such traditional activities vary from country to country, and from home to

Even in the schools, children usually get small packages with fruit, cookies, and

candy.that the Saint has left for them. Other special celebrations are indulged in during
School hours. Most stores and shopping centers have special days appointed when the Saint

will be there for the children to cuddle up on his lap and whisper what they hope to get
in the way of toys and presents!

So many varying traditions center around the time of year called "Christmas."

Stock

ings hung by the fireplace and listening for the sleigh bells and the hoof beats of Santa

Clause's coming are some of them in America. England is the mother country for a great
many of the popular Christmas carols sung around the world. Xn fact the custom of caroling
got it's start in England. Besids the excitement of the Saint coming on December 6tK in
Belgium, Christmas on December 26th with the "Christmas man" (+) and the rememberance of

the "child in the manger" are very important to most Belgian families.

The outside of

this letter is taken from an aerogramme type letter prepared for use by folks in India for
this season. Since our trip to India, friends shared this with us and we thought it
would add to the different ways this time of year is remembered by peoples in other parts
of the world.

At this time we also want you to realize that we remember you, and all you mean to

us in our life as Christians. If it hadn't been for that baby "away in the manger"
followed by His life on this earth, and death on the cross than none of our fellowship or
these "traditions" would have become meaningful. With this letter we want to thank
everyone for their part in our lives as missionaries here in Belgium:

faithful supporters who've not had personal thanks from our pen since April (as has
been our custom to do every 3 to 6 months);

kind correspondance and encouragement via mail;

those who had a special part in the travels of this summer's touring;

and especially all who've upheld us in prayers and spiritual support.

Our sincere thanks to you, and to God for you.

Upholding the "gathering together of the saints to remember His life, death, and
resurrection until He comes again," we remain yours in His love and service.

(+) The cartoon above is a sketch of the "St

Nicolaas" on the left, and "Christmas man" on the
right. The drawing below is a minature of what

is often included in newspapers and magazines.

It is intended to be colored by the children
for contests or to be presented to the Saint
when visiting him and his helper Black Peter
also in the drawing.

II

OiAfsfiitos

fcufinC lo m

Conf/Cec gCnwing on ^^^fi te

tjUoy you flfeo Rfifi t/if> ftglit

if'r-0

I.>'/.-) ? S :1U'

01 w/io( fnofc |>Cof.fi /(ifif wondhoufi niglit?

May your Christmas happiness
stay with you through the New Yean-

fn<4a^

^j. I a.

S3dsu.

%
.:R OM:-^-.

HENKi BOONAERTS FAM.

Weg naar Opoeteren 6

3660 OPGLABBEEK Belg.