A Bit From Belgium - Week 2

~ Psalm 3:3-5 ~

Bonjour Dear Friends & Family!

Week 2 of my Belgian Adventure has passed! I'm doing much better this week and am happy here. (But don't worry, not so happy that I won't want to come home to my friends and family when the time comes! :-) 3 months seems like a long time sometimes, but the days are going quickly and I'm happy, comfortable, and at peace here. I am enjoying for the most part the changes, culture, life, and LOTS of learning that I face throughout each day here! And best of all, I am being carried by the prayers of you all and am so encouraged by it! Thank you!!!!
I've continued to be physically well. I don't have much control over that, but I am very grateful for it, especially after my last "out of country" experience! I can't help but eat well here, and yes, I'm still loving the Belgian foods! The sleeping well has been a blessing too. I usually don't sleep well in new places because I'm a light sleeper, but I think I've been tired and comfortable enough that I've been sleeping hard most nights. It is still strange to have it be so light so late (still pretty light until about 10:30 p.m.), and get light so early. (Birds start singing at 5:00 a.m. and the sun follows closely behind! :-)
I'm learning so much every day here. I just love the little "quirks and perks" about Belgium and Europe that I have never known, thought about, or experienced until now! (You can read about some of those at my blog)

On to my Belgium Bits! ...
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Thursday - July 19, 2007 -
BEAUTIFUL day! Took two long walks: one for fun... and it was! The second walk was into Genval to find the post office, which had been shown to me by car the day before. Hmm... walked for about a half hour and found the bank (all 2 of them), as well as the little food supermarket, but could not find the post office! Oh well. When I got home, I found out I had walked right past it apparently, because in order to get to the supermarket I had to pass the post office. Hee-hee! It's fun to explore this small town and find (or not find) something new every day. It's really a lovely little town. They have two whole stoplights and several roundabouts. It's mostly residential, and of course most of the houses and gardens around them are beautiful as well!

Friday - July 20, 2007 -
First rainy day here. It's pretty gray, but warm. It stormed for a while, which was nice. I like thunderstorms, and the sound of the rain on the skylights is wonderful! A rather sleepy day... I made "forgotten cookies" last night, which are made and then left in a turned-off oven overnight. I was a little worried about how they'd turn out since I don't know this oven very well, but happily they turned out well... I think. We haven't tasted them yet, but they look normal anyhow!
Addendum - Okay, so we tried the "forgotten cookies" after lunch one day, and they were gone by dinner. Hmmm... guess they turned out! :-) I've made the cookies three times since Thursday night because they've disappeared so quickly each time. I guess they really did turn out okay?! :-) Thanks Mom for sending the recipe!

Saturday - July 21, 2007 - Belgian National Holiday (like our 4th of July) - Lots of parties around the town, almost all stores closed, and fireworks and loud music tonight...
Another lovely day! Today I went for a walk to Lake Genval! It's a large lake that's just a few blocks away. (Maybe 10 minute walk?) It's very pretty and has a nice walking path and many little restaurants around it. (Chinoise (French for Chinese), Italian, ice cream, etc.) I took some pictures and walked all the way around it and back home (app. 3 miles)! Like I always say, if I don't know how far I walked until after I've walked it, I won't be tired! :-) There were a LOT of people walking dogs today, which was neat and made me smile. I think I know where I'll be spending some of my free time! :-) Saw a sheltie, lots of parson russell terriers (previously known as jack russells), a doberman, fox terrier, aussie-ish dog, and some others. One lady with a parson russell named Bubba (pronounced Boo-buh) stopped and tried to talk with me. Between my itty-bit of French and her itty-bit of English, we were able to carry on a little bit of a conversation. Most people here do not acknowledge passersby or even make eye-contact when you're out walking, so this lady was an exception! I don't mind that most people aren't conversational though, since I don't have much I can say or understand and would give away my "American-ness" right away! :-) The lady did think I was from London when I told her I speak English... you don't think I have an accent, do you?

Sunday - July 22, 2007
A very relaxing Sunday. Got to sleep in this morning. The weather was nice, as it has been. Cooler, but sunny with clouds and a few small rain showers and storms passing through. Enjoyed spending time with the two Susannah's, who are so much fun! We watched a movie together this evening (The Illusionist). Overall, a quiet, relaxing day. I've been doing a bit of grooming on Maddie the puppy. The older two dogs got nicely groomed last week, but Maddie just needs some little trimming because of her puppy coat, so I've enjoyed getting to do some of that as well. She's such a puppy and continues to be a blessing to me!
I tasted some Belgian cherry beer that one of the Petries' guests bought to share. Interesting tasting, but definitely not something I would enjoy drinking a full glass of... ugh.
I continue to be very happy and comfortable here. THANK YOU for your prayers!

Monday - July 23, 2007
A rainy, sleepy day. It seemed like everybody was tired and had to work hard to stay awake and productive today. :-) Not much new to report in fact. Pretty much stayed around the house and did the usual. I remain content and well. Am reading about 6 of the 7 books I brought with me. Perhaps I should settle down and try to get through one at a time? Naw.... :-) I've been going for walks around Genval or just around the block every day or two or three as well. It's beautiful walking weather, lovely country to admire, and it feels good to get some exercise. It's a bit hilly here, so the walking feels great on my legs too! :-) Today our friend opened up his Belgian rasberry beer to try. (Good thing I'm 21... but then again, legal drinking age here is 14 anyhow...) I tried a few sips. Better than cherry, but still not something I could get excited to drink. Wines are very big here and apparently very good, but thus far the few sips I've tried haven't convinced me. Oh well, I don't mind... cheaper that way! :-)

Tuesday - July 24, 2007
The weather was very cool today, in the 50's and 60's (10-15 Celcius I think). We had sun and rain showers scattered throughout the day. Rebecca has been spending a lot of time working on a book she is going to have published. Two good U.S. friends of the Petries have been visiting these last two weeks and helping with the editing and pre-publishing work. It's kept things pretty busy around here! Susannah C. and I have enjoyed spending time talking together and watching a few movies together as well. She has really helped me settle in here and I will miss her when she leaves in a few weeks! Thursday will be my first "day off" since I've been here. I plan to sleep in and rest some, and if the weather is nice, hope to spend a few hours at the lake with a book...or two or three. :-) It will be nice to rest for a day, although the "work" here continues to be mostly enjoyable for me.

Wednesday - July 25, 2007
Another BEAUTIFUL day! Today we had a birthday party for a friend of the Petries. (I don't know if I'd mentioned him before, but he has lived practically all over Europe and can speak French, English, German, Italian, Latin, and I think a few other languages. He's also an amazing artist!) What a feast we had! We started with crackers and cheese, peanuts, and champagne (tried the sweetest possible kind... just had a few sips. It was better than the beers, but still not "tasty" or appealing for future sips...) Following this we had turkey, stuffing, potatoes, peas, salad, and French bread and butter. After that we had chocolate fruity cake and carrot cake followed by the serving of coffee (I didn't have any). Did I mention that we eat well here? The fellowship was wonderful too. There were something like 12 people here (I like that number for a group of people ;-), and it was a very festive, fun, and beautiful party. Tomorrow will be my first day off... I wonder if I'll know what to do with myself? I called home this afternoon (morning their time) and got to talk with Dad and several of the kids. It sure is nice to hear their voices! They sound great. :-) I miss you guys!

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Blessings in Belgium:

* Another full week gone by smoothly and happily
* The peace and comfortable-ness (new word :-) I have felt here since the first few days
* My wonderful friends and family who have been keeping me updated on life at home with pictures, letters, cards, and stories (Thank You!!!)
* The beautiful weather and town to walk in and admire. What a neat place to get to live for 3 months!
* The French I am gradually picking up and enjoying practicing (please don't ask me to say anything though... it's so Frenglais! :-)
* The faithfulness of God every day... His mercies are new every morning!

Prayer Requests:

* That I would continue to enjoy my time here and take in everything there is to take in and learn
* That I would be open and willing to submit to the molding, shaping, and stretching that the Lord is and will have in store for me
* That I can be humble and serve the way Jesus has taught and demonstrated
* That I will continue to go to bed each night and waken each morning thankful for this unique and priviliged opportunity and not dwell on what I've left behind, but on what lies ahead!

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Thank you for your prayers and support and for even daring to ask for updates from me! Sorry they're so long!

Please have a wonderful rest of your week!

'Til the next,


~ Mary Beth
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"Having the reality of God's presence is not dependent on our being in a particular circumstance or place, but it is only dependent on our determination to keep the LORD before us continually." - Oswald Chambers "My Utmost for His Highest" (July 20)