Hot, hot ,hot!!!!!

We're having a heatwave as temperature's rise to the high 30's. It's so hot that even I, who loves the heat, is having to, quite frankly, just stay out of the sun. It's harder to cool down because there's no air-conditioning and I don't have the luxury of cooling down in a swimming pool as I used to in Atlanta. Most of the pools are indoor swimming pools and they are strictly for swimming laps. I really miss lounging at the pool and being able to cool myself in its water.

I've never experienced living in a place where the temperature's have already reached 30 degrees by 8am. Fortunately, they have not gone beyond the 40 degree mark.

Despite, the intense heat, I do love the Summer season. I love the sun and bue skies!!!!!!

Robyn

Friends

Reunions with friends are always great, especially when they're really special friends. We're grateful to have had the opportunity to have the Bergstedt family visit with us. What a joy to catch up on what's been happening in one another's lives and to just enjoy the simple pleasure of a meal with friends.

Here are a few pictures of us sight-seeing in Brussels.

Roses

Today we visited Brussels Red Light District once again. This time, each precious lady was presented with a rose and invited to come along to the Festival on Saturday. We encouraged them to bring their friends and family along too. Most of the women were receptive and some seemed to enjoy the opportunity to tell us about themselves. It was a good day and may it be the start of something special.

Robyn

Serve the city

"Serve the city" is an event organized each year in the city of Brussels by The Well. This year it runs from July 1-10th. and today was my first day serving the city of Brussels. What an eye-opener, it's so easy to be complacent when things are fine with our lives, but today, I was exposed to a whole new world. Jesus reached out to the outcasts, the poor, the beggars, the needy, the prostitutes, the list goes on and on. God asks that we reach out to these people too. I pray that today will be the start of me reaching out to those in need.

We set off this morning for 2 refugee centres. Unfortunately, we were turned away from both. There seems to be some apprehension to people wanting to show genuine love to others by just serving them and asking for nothing in return.

Next, we set off for the Red Light District in Brussels. We did a prayer walk through two streets. The one street had shops with products mainly from Turkey and Morrocco while right next door, the other housed the prostitutes sitting in their windows.

I was struck by how beautiful and young so many of these women were. Men walked and drove by slowly in their cars. Many of those men did not need to be in that street, but we knew why they were there.

Those women are sister's, daughters and mothers and they are so precious to God.

On Thursday, we'll be knocking on those women's doors and handing them a rose. We pray they'll be receptive and we'll be able to show the love of Jesus.

Robyn

Soccer Fever

I'm glad Glynn and I got to experience World Cup soccer 2006 in Europe. Yesterday, Portugal and France beat opposing teams England and Brazil . He and I saw some of the final match in the City where the atmosphere was electrifying. I'm not a soccer fan, but it's hard not to kinda get into the spirit of things. I can only compare it to New Year's celebrations when the two winning teams fans started celebrating their victory. There was dancing, shouting, crying, horn-blowing, drums beating and what a show of pride as each of the fans celebrated their teams. The losing teams supporters were subdued, but there were some who continued to wave their countries flags despite their disappointment at not going through to the final. Next week, sees the World Cup final. I hope to capture some of this on camera.

Robyn