Split Skirts

Sorry to interrupt the serial, but I wanted to post a picture of the new style of skirt I'm trying. "Split skirts" (or, culottes, if you want to get fancy) are just what they sound like: skirts with the benefit of looseness and modesty, but with a "split" that comes in handy for bike riding etc. Yay!           

Those are the three fabrics I chose. I like the smaller prints, but I don't often get to wear them.. looking forward to seeing how these work out . 

Give Thanks in All Circumstances, Pt. II

 ... As quickly as we could for the press of people, Betsie and I made our way to the rear of the dormitory room where we held our worship "service". Around our own platform area there was not enough light to read the Bible, but back here a small light bulb cast a wan yellow circle on the wall, and here an even larger group of women gathered... with each moment the crowd around us would swell, packing the nearby platforms, hanging over the edges, until the high structures groaned and swayed. 


At last Betsie or I would open the Bible. Because only the Hollanders could understand the Dutch text we would translate aloud in German. And then we would hear the life-giving words passed back along the aisles in French, Polish, Russian, Czech, back into Dutch. They were little previews of Heaven, these evenings beneath the light bulb. I would think of Haarlem, each substantial church set behind its wrought iron fence and its barrier of doctrine. And I would know again that in darkness God's truth shines most clear.

At first Betsie and I called these meetings with great timidity. But as night after night went by and no guard ever came near us, we grew bolder. So many now wanted to join us that we held a second service after evening roll call. There on the Lagerstrasse we were under rigid surveillance, guards in their warm wool capes marching constantly up and down. It was the same in the center room of the barracks: half a dozen guards or camp police always present. Yet in the large dormitory room there was almost no supervision at all. We did not understand it.

Give Thanks in All Circumstances

Recently, I read a book called The Hiding Place by Cornelia Ten Boom. I found these passages particularly inspiring, and I've decided to share them with you. A bit of background: Corrie and her sister, Betsie, are in a concentration camp because they sheltered Jews in their home during the time of the Nazis.

I glanced down the long dim aisle to make sure no guard was in sight, then drew the Bible from its pouch. "It was in 1 Thessalonians," I said. We were on out third complete reading of the New Testament since leaving Scheveningen. In the feeble light I turned the pages. "Here it is: 'Comfort the frightened, help the weak, be patient with everyone. See that none of you repays evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to all...'" It seemed written expressly to Ravensbruck. 

"Go on," said Betsie. "That wasn't all."

"Oh yes: '... to one another and to all. Rejoice always, pray constantly, give thanks in all circumstances, for this is the will of God in Jesus Christ -" 

"That's it, Corrie! That's His answer. 'Give thanks in all circumstances!' That's what we can do. We can start right now to thank God for every single thing about this new barracks!"

I stared at her, then around me in the dark, foul-aired room. "Such as?" I said.

"Such as being assigned here together."

I bit my lip."Oh, yes, Lord Jesus!"

"Such as what  you're holding in your hands."

I looked down at the Bible. "Yes! Thank You, dear Lord, that there was no inspection when we entered here! Thank You for all the women, here in this room, who will meet You in these pages." 

"Yes," said Betsie. "Thank You for the very crowding here. Since we're packed so close, that many more will hear!" She looked at me expectantly. "Corrie!" she prodded. 

"Oh, all right. Thank You for the jammed, crammed, stuffed, packed, suffocating crowds."

"Thank You," Betsie went on serenely, "for the fleas and for -"

The fleas! This was too much. "Betsie, there's no way even God can make me grateful for a flea." 

"'Give thanks in all circumstances'." she quoted. "It doesn't say, 'in pleasant circumstances'. Fleas are part of this place where God put us."

And so we stood between piers of bunks and gave thanks for fleas. But this time I was sure Betsie was wrong.

To be continued...  

What am I?

We've been visiting many neat places out here in Missouri lately. These are two objects I picked up... knowing me, you may not have to think very hard to guess what they are! But I'm interested to know your answers all the same. The thing on the left is from the Daniel Boone house in Defiance, MO, and the thing on the right is something I bought today in historic St. Charles.
   
They may not be what you think they are at first glance. Please post your guesses as comments; no fair stealing other people's answers!

Missouri / DOV Camp Pictures

I plan to post some pictures both from our week spent at DOV and our time in MO. Keep your eyes peeled! It may be a little while in coming, and it may come in pieces, but nevertheless I shall do my best. I hope all of y'all are enjoying your summer - wherever you are; however you spend it!