Dear Family, March 31,2017
The weeks are speeding by and we continue to tie loose ends up here. Dad is preparing a booklet for a couple who will follow us in hopefully a few months. They will not get the first hand walk through, like we had, the tour of the town, where to find the post office, grocery stores, parking garage, etc.. Where the stake and ward leaders have requested the YAdult meetings be moved to Apeldoorn, I thought they would move the next senior couple to that area too. Actually we were told that by the mission counselor who has been here to visit with us, but we have a complaining senior couple in Belgium who are coming to stay a few days (?) here in this apartment when we leave. I should just post to all the senior couples to call the office and book your getaway in Deventer for a 3night/4 day visit until the missionaries come to live here!!!! Can you tell I am a little irked?
This week we have cleaned,hosted FHE- I made their favorite treat which is chocolate chip cookies. I should just make them every week to avoid the fuss on what to prepare, but I like a change. We held Institute with a dinner. WE had the last district meeting for our home. ( The mission president scheduled Zone Training and Interviews and Keukenhoff for these last 3 district days for us. I was a little sad to not have them meet here and have that one-on-one. It is just helping to break the ties that bind us here! We cleaned the church with the missionaries ( some have a much better work ethic than others!) ordered a glass shelf to be made for our frig. ( I broke it again yesterday when something from the top shelf dropped and landed on it again!). We drove out to a little dorpia near Nijmegan to take a past Jovo to lunch. She has a great garden area, so I love seeing all the plants and how they grow things. We fed the Deventer elders.
Our favorite thing about this week is probably going out to meet Corrie. We saw the school house her grandpa lived in and taught at, and ate at an old restaraunt .(sp?)
This week we have met a family returning to the Netherlands from China who are members of the church! This is a second marriage for him, and his teenage daughter who lives with the bishop and his former wife live in our ward too. Welcome to the complexities of some dutch wards. WE tried to find another clock to bring home and visited an antique shop looking for one. We saw the storks atop their nest on our drive to Zwolle! Out in the fields,they put these tall poles with a base on the top where the storks build their nests. When we went to Lilystad a few weeks ago there were 4-5 stork nests made in the high massive electric towers and lines!
Scripture of the week: we are reading in Alma again and Chapters 31-32 have some great scriptures.
31:10 ...Observe the performances of the church, to continue in prayer and supplication to God daily, that they might not enter into temptation.
31:28 ... their costly apparel, and their ringlets, and their bracelets, and their ornaments of gold, and all their precious things which they are ornamented with; and behold, their hearts are set upon them, ,,,
32:16...blessed are they who humble themselves without being compelled to be humble...
32:28 ...The good seed, it beginneth to enlarge my soul,, yea, it beginneth to enlighten my understanding, yea it beginneth to be delicious to me.
Be sure to Practice Faith.
We send our Love to you All, Mom and Dad
Thursday, March 30, 2017
Thursday, March 23, 2017
Dear Family, March 24, 2017
We are working on our apartment, getting it ready to leave. After Matthew and Lisa leave we will pack up the "pretty's" that make it a Senior couples apartment. I have thrown away some trinket items already. Yes, you would be surprised tolearn I did throw some things away!
We finished up our apartment checks this week. Thank heavens the missionaries were diligent in cleaning and we have not had to return to re-check anything! Missionaries are great! We had a Zone P-day on Monday afternoon in Zwolle and played minute-to-win-it games. It was alot of fun. We have had an increased attendance at FHE; they are still playing Werewolf that group game -we called it Murder at home.Tues we had Pres. Interviews in Apeldoorn, I had my hair cut. the missionaries found an investigator from Taiwan and brought her to our apartment. She is 39 but looks like she is 15. She is just needing a friend. We had a small Jovo group on Thursday night. Danielle was performing for a final at school; we watched the interview with Pres. Eyring and Elder Holland. It was fun watching their interaction with each other. Saturday was a Senior Couples Outing in Leiden. The women went to the Regional Womens Conference and the men went to an Antique car museum ( cars from James Bond movies, ElvisPresley, some really amazing creations) and bowling. I had complained about having to sing and be at the conference, but I repented quickly. It was well planned and was amazing. The violinist who performed was out of this world and we had a former nun who spoke of her conversion. She was entertaining and spiritual all wrapped in one! Such a good spirit of unity and love was their for everyone. I made german chocolate cake for our potluck lunch; and enjoyed every bite!
Our favorite thing about this week had to be Womens Conference and Dad's day out with the men!
We met Shiny, the new investigator. We tried to find a new clock to send home. And I saw many women at the Conference who we have met and and who we know from ward visits.
A swan is sitting back on a new nest down by the station. The watch is on for new eggs.
It has been good to Skype with you this week and see your faces and learn what is going on in your lives. WE do love you.
Scripture or Thought of the Week.
" And a portion of that Spirit dwelleth in me, which giveth me knowledge and also power according to my faith and desires which are in God."
From Conference-" Our Attitude about things we go through in this Life, develops Character" ! Can we look at Life this way? Can we Step back and Admire how we have moved forward and grown?
We love you All. Have a Great week and remember your prayers- All of Them! Love Mom and Dad
We are working on our apartment, getting it ready to leave. After Matthew and Lisa leave we will pack up the "pretty's" that make it a Senior couples apartment. I have thrown away some trinket items already. Yes, you would be surprised tolearn I did throw some things away!
We finished up our apartment checks this week. Thank heavens the missionaries were diligent in cleaning and we have not had to return to re-check anything! Missionaries are great! We had a Zone P-day on Monday afternoon in Zwolle and played minute-to-win-it games. It was alot of fun. We have had an increased attendance at FHE; they are still playing Werewolf that group game -we called it Murder at home.Tues we had Pres. Interviews in Apeldoorn, I had my hair cut. the missionaries found an investigator from Taiwan and brought her to our apartment. She is 39 but looks like she is 15. She is just needing a friend. We had a small Jovo group on Thursday night. Danielle was performing for a final at school; we watched the interview with Pres. Eyring and Elder Holland. It was fun watching their interaction with each other. Saturday was a Senior Couples Outing in Leiden. The women went to the Regional Womens Conference and the men went to an Antique car museum ( cars from James Bond movies, ElvisPresley, some really amazing creations) and bowling. I had complained about having to sing and be at the conference, but I repented quickly. It was well planned and was amazing. The violinist who performed was out of this world and we had a former nun who spoke of her conversion. She was entertaining and spiritual all wrapped in one! Such a good spirit of unity and love was their for everyone. I made german chocolate cake for our potluck lunch; and enjoyed every bite!
Our favorite thing about this week had to be Womens Conference and Dad's day out with the men!
We met Shiny, the new investigator. We tried to find a new clock to send home. And I saw many women at the Conference who we have met and and who we know from ward visits.
A swan is sitting back on a new nest down by the station. The watch is on for new eggs.
It has been good to Skype with you this week and see your faces and learn what is going on in your lives. WE do love you.
Scripture or Thought of the Week.
" And a portion of that Spirit dwelleth in me, which giveth me knowledge and also power according to my faith and desires which are in God."
From Conference-" Our Attitude about things we go through in this Life, develops Character" ! Can we look at Life this way? Can we Step back and Admire how we have moved forward and grown?
We love you All. Have a Great week and remember your prayers- All of Them! Love Mom and Dad
Thursday, March 16, 2017
This week we have worked on apartment inspections; the sisters in Hengelo and Enschede set a high bar! On Monday we went to Zeist to pick up the Christensens and on to Gouda , meeting the Gobles at a small Delft Blue ceramics factory.The mission office orders plates from them for missionaries going home. We can choose a temple or a windmill for the center and the names of areas we have served go around the edge. Our purpose was to look for Christmas tree ornaments we had heard about. Well, it was eye candy to see all they do make and sale! If any of you want a plate or plates with Dutch scenes, this would have been where to buy them.
The other couples knew the area , so we went to the centrum in Gouda for lunch and I sent you a picture of the building with the spires we saw. Our lunch was really good; it is always fun to be more relaxed and visit.
Institute was Thursday. We had been to Lelystad to inspect the Sisters Apartment so I made sloppy joes for Institute and Salads. I had bought 30 rolls, but we had a large group that night and some put three sloppy joes down! The late comers got ham and cheese on different rolls. One of the Elders looked at me like "Where are they all coming from" and I said "Its like feeding the 5000"- it will work. We send a Whats Ap asking who will come eat, but some choose not to reply.
Tuesday was our district meeting and they did a Blitz where the missionaries team up with another companion and canvas areas around one city. It was Deventer this time, so they were in and out of the apartment. They regrouped that evening and ordered Dominos Pizza for dinner. They were all happy to report on their work and 'chill' for a bit. The favorite question we get when we are one-on-one with missionary companionships is " What do you do all day?" :)
Friday we went to Arnham to inspect the Elders Apt. and decided to visit one of the WW II museums (it was on our bucket list). They had collected so many rifles and guns beautifully displayed. It made me wonder which one Grandpa had sent home with his army friend but never received. We had an excellent guide who knew alot about the war, so it was educational too. We had a Birthday dinner for Elder Leigh our Zone leader that night. He wanted berry pie, so it was a double pleaser for Dad and me.
Saturday was a Netherlands Service Day so we signed up to help work in the playgrounds of a school. Where it was a gorgeous day , we all enjoyed being outside and they gave us breaks and treats and fed us lunch- a typical Dutch lunch of soup and rolls with meat and cheese. We met some very nice people who were impressed with the work we gave them. The guys hauled dirt and helped build an amplitheatre. Dad and I pruned trees,used the branches to help make a trellis, helped the sisters dig a recycling pit, haul pavers and remove debris piles. It was a good day's work for our sedementary life style. The Elders felt their muscles on Sunday too!
Sunday we picked up an investigator of our Deventer Elders out in Zutphen and took her and her 5 year old girl to Church. Dina had contacted them and she really enjoyed church. She is from Nygeria but speaks English really well. Her little girl knows Dutch and English and enjoys talking. We were entertained on our ride with them.
This week we Met, Tried and Saw.
WE met alot of new people- Dina the investigator, and all the people we worked with at the school. One of the teachers had to leave in the early afternoon to go Row with her team on the Issjyl River. We see rowers and wonder who does that. Now we know one.!
We tried some Dutch cracker/cookies on one of the breaks while working at the school. They look like flattened pretzels but are sweet.
We saw some crazy bugs while working. And we were happy to see some Hard working missionaries that Saturday!
Scripture of the week:
We are in Alma right now and there are so many wonderful scriptures.
Alma 5:19 "I say unto you, can ye look up to God at that day with a pure heart and clean hands? I say unto you, can you look up, having the image of God engraven upon your countenances?"
Alma 7: 23-24 " And now I would that ye should be humble, and be sumissive and gentle; easily entreated; full of patience and long suffering... And see that ye have faith, hope and charity, and then ye will always abound in good works."
Thursday, March 9, 2017
Dear Family.
I am going to write on or blog each week til we come home. We have dropped off the map in reporting to all of you, and I apologize!
We had a Senior couple call from SLC last night who will be coming to replace us they think. Pres Bunnell had got their name from another Senior Couple serving here who knew them. The president called them to see if they would come serve a mission here. That is interesting. He is 77 and she is 74 and they said "Yes" they would! They are originally from Holland but have lived in the US for Many years- they still speak Dutch in their home. The Ward members here will love their being able to communicate with them.
I am going per Lindsay's letter form:
This week we have cooked for the Jovo events and enjoyed the number who have been coming out. We have had Married kids come back for FHE and enjoy playing Werewolf a game like the group game Murder at home. It is fun to watch for me but I still can not catch on to what all the characters are supposed to do as that character. Sjoerd de Graff comes pretty regularly from Lelystad. He is interested in some of these cute August girls inour group!
Some of you will be able to meet Charlotte and Danielle this July when they come to the US for 6 weeks holiday! They will stay with us for some of the time. We had another SA approach us last month to see if she could come visit us also! They are all sharp kids and you will like them.
WE went to mission farewell if Zwolle for a YA who we know and saw Elder Thornock from our home ward who is serving there. They had a dinner at the church for everyone who attended after the meeting. There was good support from other YA who live.across the country. The night before the farewell these YA come to the new missionaries home and play games and spend the night there as part of the farewell! Poor parents housing all these extra kids! The missionary's name is Joelle Spikerman and she is serving in Belgium in our Mission while she awaits her Visa to go to the MTC.
We ran into Nettie, the lady we met at the grocery store and who knit me a scarf like hers. She is Christian and teaches children in her church, sends money to support missionaries for her church and has a strong faith in our Heavenly Father. She invited us to come for dinner before we go; Dad was grateful because we would get her address to send the missionaries later! She is a great lady.
We had dinner with Sister Kabel in Vassen and visited with a single sister living there who has not come back to church since she had knee replacement and her mother passed away. ( her mother started painting in her 60's and was quite accomplished. They put a picture of one of her paintings on her funeral program- I will bring it home )
Dad's Birthday was Friday and we visited another member and went out to dinner to a Texas Barbecue ( fun to go but the food was not American!) The Decor in the restaurant was over the top Western however. the waiters wore cowboy hats and chaps. It was fun to see, but the food has nothing on Texas Roadhouse .
WE had a ward clean up for the Church on Saturday. The turnout was super and they clean everything! Kitchen cupboards, can lights, the font!
Elders Serra and Davison came to visit from Rotterdam. Elder Davison is going home in 2 weeks and got permission to make a pday visit back to our area to see all the "important" people.It was fun to visit with them both since they have both have served in Deventer It was good to see their growth.
WE met, tried, and saw what:
We saw the storks returning to their nests atop these long poles. The missionaries report our swans are building another nest by the train station on the opposite bank of the canal.
Walking home from the market downtown,We met Nettie downtown shopping for a baby gift. She came out of a store to greet us! That was definately a highlight!
Elder Van der Put from the office came to talk to us about our apartment and the tentative plans for what they will do here. I was grateful they will not give it up, but concerned over what a foursome of Elders will do to it!!
Our favorite thing about this week was meeting Nettie, enjoying all the YA coming out (even when the food ran out! I still enjoyed it)
A favorite Scripture or Quote from this week:
Your success stories are ours to share as examples while serving here in Holland! You are all Famous!
Well if I make these too much longer noone will want to read them! We love you and are Proud of you . Keep up the Good Works and remember to Pray every day- all day long!
Love to you all A Plenty, Mom and DAD
I am going to write on or blog each week til we come home. We have dropped off the map in reporting to all of you, and I apologize!
We had a Senior couple call from SLC last night who will be coming to replace us they think. Pres Bunnell had got their name from another Senior Couple serving here who knew them. The president called them to see if they would come serve a mission here. That is interesting. He is 77 and she is 74 and they said "Yes" they would! They are originally from Holland but have lived in the US for Many years- they still speak Dutch in their home. The Ward members here will love their being able to communicate with them.
I am going per Lindsay's letter form:
This week we have cooked for the Jovo events and enjoyed the number who have been coming out. We have had Married kids come back for FHE and enjoy playing Werewolf a game like the group game Murder at home. It is fun to watch for me but I still can not catch on to what all the characters are supposed to do as that character. Sjoerd de Graff comes pretty regularly from Lelystad. He is interested in some of these cute August girls inour group!
Some of you will be able to meet Charlotte and Danielle this July when they come to the US for 6 weeks holiday! They will stay with us for some of the time. We had another SA approach us last month to see if she could come visit us also! They are all sharp kids and you will like them.
WE went to mission farewell if Zwolle for a YA who we know and saw Elder Thornock from our home ward who is serving there. They had a dinner at the church for everyone who attended after the meeting. There was good support from other YA who live.across the country. The night before the farewell these YA come to the new missionaries home and play games and spend the night there as part of the farewell! Poor parents housing all these extra kids! The missionary's name is Joelle Spikerman and she is serving in Belgium in our Mission while she awaits her Visa to go to the MTC.
We ran into Nettie, the lady we met at the grocery store and who knit me a scarf like hers. She is Christian and teaches children in her church, sends money to support missionaries for her church and has a strong faith in our Heavenly Father. She invited us to come for dinner before we go; Dad was grateful because we would get her address to send the missionaries later! She is a great lady.
We had dinner with Sister Kabel in Vassen and visited with a single sister living there who has not come back to church since she had knee replacement and her mother passed away. ( her mother started painting in her 60's and was quite accomplished. They put a picture of one of her paintings on her funeral program- I will bring it home )
Dad's Birthday was Friday and we visited another member and went out to dinner to a Texas Barbecue ( fun to go but the food was not American!) The Decor in the restaurant was over the top Western however. the waiters wore cowboy hats and chaps. It was fun to see, but the food has nothing on Texas Roadhouse .
WE had a ward clean up for the Church on Saturday. The turnout was super and they clean everything! Kitchen cupboards, can lights, the font!
Elders Serra and Davison came to visit from Rotterdam. Elder Davison is going home in 2 weeks and got permission to make a pday visit back to our area to see all the "important" people.It was fun to visit with them both since they have both have served in Deventer It was good to see their growth.
WE met, tried, and saw what:
We saw the storks returning to their nests atop these long poles. The missionaries report our swans are building another nest by the train station on the opposite bank of the canal.
Walking home from the market downtown,We met Nettie downtown shopping for a baby gift. She came out of a store to greet us! That was definately a highlight!
Elder Van der Put from the office came to talk to us about our apartment and the tentative plans for what they will do here. I was grateful they will not give it up, but concerned over what a foursome of Elders will do to it!!
Our favorite thing about this week was meeting Nettie, enjoying all the YA coming out (even when the food ran out! I still enjoyed it)
A favorite Scripture or Quote from this week:
Your success stories are ours to share as examples while serving here in Holland! You are all Famous!
Well if I make these too much longer noone will want to read them! We love you and are Proud of you . Keep up the Good Works and remember to Pray every day- all day long!
Love to you all A Plenty, Mom and DAD
Sunday, September 4, 2016
Dear Family,
How are things at your homes? School has started and a new routine in place, I feel. Hope everyone is enjoying being back into that school routine and learning. Learning is a lifetime endeavor if we are diligent. We can learn something new everyday-
The weather is changing here in Holland. We had a super heat wave the middle of August but the days are obviously getting shorter as the sun does not wake us nor give us enough light in the early morn in our closet to get dressed.:)
We have had two new couples join our mission and a third is arriving and will come visit for a few days
here in Deventer. It is enjoyable to get to know them. These last two are putting an honest effort into learning the language; i admire that. I could offer a simple prayer in Dutch at this point but understanding a conversation or church talks, is still beyond me. I can catch a word here and there. I can smile, though!
Sister Christensen took the stitches out of my nose this week. I have a divet in the top section, but it will be something to bring home from our mission. An emergency room visit and 3 stitches cost 87 euro here in the Netherlands and they were fast and efficient. Is that one bonus from this type of medicine? The Jovos said it was highly unusual to be taken care of that efficiently: a mission blessing.
We have Zone Conference in two weeks and are preparing the meal for it. We have had Zone training the past two months and have not been asked to prepare the meal. They have been for just two hours in the afternoon. Our combined Zone has changed this time and so we have 3 senior couples preparing the meal. Sister Caldwell is doing chicken salad sandwiches, Sister Jonson is doing a vegetable and I have dessert and the table ware to bring. ( I got off easy)
We love you all . You are in our prayers always. Keep the Faith and the home fires burning!
Have a great month and enjoy the fall colors! Mom
How are things at your homes? School has started and a new routine in place, I feel. Hope everyone is enjoying being back into that school routine and learning. Learning is a lifetime endeavor if we are diligent. We can learn something new everyday-
The weather is changing here in Holland. We had a super heat wave the middle of August but the days are obviously getting shorter as the sun does not wake us nor give us enough light in the early morn in our closet to get dressed.:)
We have had two new couples join our mission and a third is arriving and will come visit for a few days
here in Deventer. It is enjoyable to get to know them. These last two are putting an honest effort into learning the language; i admire that. I could offer a simple prayer in Dutch at this point but understanding a conversation or church talks, is still beyond me. I can catch a word here and there. I can smile, though!
Sister Christensen took the stitches out of my nose this week. I have a divet in the top section, but it will be something to bring home from our mission. An emergency room visit and 3 stitches cost 87 euro here in the Netherlands and they were fast and efficient. Is that one bonus from this type of medicine? The Jovos said it was highly unusual to be taken care of that efficiently: a mission blessing.
We have Zone Conference in two weeks and are preparing the meal for it. We have had Zone training the past two months and have not been asked to prepare the meal. They have been for just two hours in the afternoon. Our combined Zone has changed this time and so we have 3 senior couples preparing the meal. Sister Caldwell is doing chicken salad sandwiches, Sister Jonson is doing a vegetable and I have dessert and the table ware to bring. ( I got off easy)
We love you all . You are in our prayers always. Keep the Faith and the home fires burning!
Have a great month and enjoy the fall colors! Mom
Sunday, June 26, 2016
Dear Family,
Yes, we are alive and well ! and Hope you are too!
So much news the past few days on Whats Ap. Can I tell you it is my Lifeline to Home and it would be hard to be so far away without its daily read and love and 'ribbing' too. I do love when you busy men folk take time to make even a small comment. I am glad you are out there!
We have begun Missionary apartment checks again so have started to travel and see other places again. We tried to see a castle near Arnham but got rained out and opted to see it on a more sunny day. The weather here in Holland is variable at any given hour. We laugh and say 'It is Holland' but it is truer than words. Is truer a word? Sunday seems to roll around every 4 days or sooner. Everything else is crunched in between . It must mean we are busier or becoming more accustomed to a routine whic h makes time flow. Our ward is still wonderful, but I did enjoy visiting 2 other wards in our Stake and learning about them and feel of their spirit. Each ward even the church here in Holland has their Core families who provide leadership and strength in the Church. Bless those faithful strong families. We were interviewed by the 2nd counselor of the Mission President today at church ; we had never met him nor heard of his name. He was wondering how we were doing and if we were busy enough. I do not think they will move us when these new couples come, but I put it in the Lord's hands. It was interesting to learn that for the church, the densest areas of membership is in the Rotterdam, Den Hag, Amsterdam Utrecht area. So in dividing the stakes they have taken a pie wedge from that more densely populated area and included it in each stake. I had wondered why the boundaries were so ascue.
The Issyll River is very full currently. it is at a High for what we have seen and is Beautiful. You boaters, when the water is higher is it easier to navigate boats?or does it make a difference? Friday was so hot and our apartment was hot , so after dinner we walked down to the river where there is usually a breeze and sat on a bench near the water. I finally took off my shoes and went wading close to the shore. I was walking on grass- it was just me and 2 ducks enjoying the cool!
Yes, so the whole week had been pretty warm for us and than it turned into sweater weather Saturday with a drop in temperature and rain again. We went out and bought another fan for our apartment to use upstairs. We have a couple from Germany serving over the Jovo Missionary couples coming to stay the first of August during the Jovo Camp. We live the closest (1/2 hour away) so they have asked us to travel back and forth freeing up sleeping accommodations there. Yea, we get to sleep in our bed and shower in our own bathroom!but the fan would serve them in their bedroom when they come to stay and Dad can use it by the desk now.
WE had our 2-Zone Conference this past week and served Tacos. The missionaries were taught how to use their family group sheets as a new approach in contacting. It has energized the work and the missionaries even for the rest of this week. We left early from Rotterdam to be home for Institute that night and served dinner here. Friday we had a Birthday dinner for the sisters in Apeldoorn since they had both just had b-days. We did kabobs per request and did them in the oven which turned out well.. So in case you want to know, the internet and us are good references to it's success.!! We did oven roasted cauliflower and broccoli, and spinach salad, because I love it and the guy missionaries don't seem to be fans .Is it a girl-y dish ?
It is the summer months and families are leaving on month long vacations. We learned employers are obligated to give 20 day paid vacation days here in Holland! that is besides Christmas, King's Day, and their traditional celebrated days. No wonder they go to the Czech Republic, Croatia. Austria and countries to stay and visit. One of the ward families came back from Italy recently. One of our Institute teachers and his wife went to Croatia this spring and were robbed by gypsies who just cut his pants pocket and ran with the wallet - with his cash, credit cards and drivers license! They finished their vacation somehow; well, they were on the southern end of the country and had to make it home any way. ; Travel abroad is a drop in the hat for many here too, which is also surprising for me .
We went to our first funeral on Saturday which was a learning experience. The undertaker literally wears a black coat with tails, silver vest and a stove top hat. The bodies of the dead are not enbalmed (sp) due to the chemicals that would go into the ground. The families have the option of having the deceased stay in their home for the days prior to the funeral and because this was the choice of this family, they had a closed casket 'give your condolences to the family ' hour prior to the funeral. I am in favor of the closed casket idea; it is alot less harsh emotionally, I feel. That is a fair warning of what is to come. See, one thing I learned on this mission.
One weekend the Primary planned a hike and campout for the ward. We had been to inspect apartments for the day but the sisters asked if we could not give them a ride. We had planned on going up and playing games and doing the hike with the ward and than come back home.It had rained throughout the day but the Dutch are like ducks in their ability to handle the rain, so we had no idea they would cancel the outing. We picked up the sisters and our GPS went beserk and could not locate any of the areas and coordinates given to us. The elders TomTom had done a much better job and they were at the location so tried to guide us over the phone to their location. We just kept doing circles it seemed and even were on a dirt road at one point. Finally the Elders called a ward member who informed him the event had been cancelled due to the rain. We never met up with the Elders, but we saw alot of pine trees and flowers and forest that made the 'goose chase' worth while!
Our lesson today was Durrant's Ponderizing talk from the Oct 2015 Conference Session. I think we should all adopt a weekly scripture and think about it everyday for the week. Post it on your bathroom mirrors, Refrigerator, TV screen or some prominent place. Read it every day, think about it, think how it can draw us to Christ by following it, memorize it if you can, but just implement it into your schedule each day. Look at it while you go to the bathroom- is that too much information?! Talking about looking at things in the bathroom- we visited the Jones' home in Arnham one day on apartment checks and to pick her up to go to Makro ( a store like Costco). Here in Holland they have toilet rooms much like Lisa's mom has in her home in Provo by her kitchen. It fits under the stairs. Anyway, the Jones' have this small toilet room and on the back of the door, she has put LDS Quotes and Scriptures and two or three LDS jokes to read. She changes them periodically to keep them interesting. I thought it was a Brilliant idea. Inspiring Uplifting and all! Try it , you might like it!
Did you know we love you all and pray for you everyday; on an individual basis as we feel your needs or our concerns for you. You are out of sight but NOT out of mind.
I was reading Elder
Desmond Jeffrries Mission post this week . Their mission has the Theme "Go with the PROS" Go with Prayer, Go with Reading, Go with Obedience, and Go with Service. Desmond just had his exit interview with his Mission President who challenged him to use the Theme his entire Life. and he would not go astray after his mission. It makes so much sense to keep that balance going. Do you have any ideas of your own , Guys , Did your missions have themes to keep you going while you served?
WE LOVE YOU- STAY PERFECT!!! MOM and DAD
Yes, we are alive and well ! and Hope you are too!
So much news the past few days on Whats Ap. Can I tell you it is my Lifeline to Home and it would be hard to be so far away without its daily read and love and 'ribbing' too. I do love when you busy men folk take time to make even a small comment. I am glad you are out there!
We have begun Missionary apartment checks again so have started to travel and see other places again. We tried to see a castle near Arnham but got rained out and opted to see it on a more sunny day. The weather here in Holland is variable at any given hour. We laugh and say 'It is Holland' but it is truer than words. Is truer a word? Sunday seems to roll around every 4 days or sooner. Everything else is crunched in between . It must mean we are busier or becoming more accustomed to a routine whic h makes time flow. Our ward is still wonderful, but I did enjoy visiting 2 other wards in our Stake and learning about them and feel of their spirit. Each ward even the church here in Holland has their Core families who provide leadership and strength in the Church. Bless those faithful strong families. We were interviewed by the 2nd counselor of the Mission President today at church ; we had never met him nor heard of his name. He was wondering how we were doing and if we were busy enough. I do not think they will move us when these new couples come, but I put it in the Lord's hands. It was interesting to learn that for the church, the densest areas of membership is in the Rotterdam, Den Hag, Amsterdam Utrecht area. So in dividing the stakes they have taken a pie wedge from that more densely populated area and included it in each stake. I had wondered why the boundaries were so ascue.
The Issyll River is very full currently. it is at a High for what we have seen and is Beautiful. You boaters, when the water is higher is it easier to navigate boats?or does it make a difference? Friday was so hot and our apartment was hot , so after dinner we walked down to the river where there is usually a breeze and sat on a bench near the water. I finally took off my shoes and went wading close to the shore. I was walking on grass- it was just me and 2 ducks enjoying the cool!
Yes, so the whole week had been pretty warm for us and than it turned into sweater weather Saturday with a drop in temperature and rain again. We went out and bought another fan for our apartment to use upstairs. We have a couple from Germany serving over the Jovo Missionary couples coming to stay the first of August during the Jovo Camp. We live the closest (1/2 hour away) so they have asked us to travel back and forth freeing up sleeping accommodations there. Yea, we get to sleep in our bed and shower in our own bathroom!but the fan would serve them in their bedroom when they come to stay and Dad can use it by the desk now.
WE had our 2-Zone Conference this past week and served Tacos. The missionaries were taught how to use their family group sheets as a new approach in contacting. It has energized the work and the missionaries even for the rest of this week. We left early from Rotterdam to be home for Institute that night and served dinner here. Friday we had a Birthday dinner for the sisters in Apeldoorn since they had both just had b-days. We did kabobs per request and did them in the oven which turned out well.. So in case you want to know, the internet and us are good references to it's success.!! We did oven roasted cauliflower and broccoli, and spinach salad, because I love it and the guy missionaries don't seem to be fans .Is it a girl-y dish ?
It is the summer months and families are leaving on month long vacations. We learned employers are obligated to give 20 day paid vacation days here in Holland! that is besides Christmas, King's Day, and their traditional celebrated days. No wonder they go to the Czech Republic, Croatia. Austria and countries to stay and visit. One of the ward families came back from Italy recently. One of our Institute teachers and his wife went to Croatia this spring and were robbed by gypsies who just cut his pants pocket and ran with the wallet - with his cash, credit cards and drivers license! They finished their vacation somehow; well, they were on the southern end of the country and had to make it home any way. ; Travel abroad is a drop in the hat for many here too, which is also surprising for me .
We went to our first funeral on Saturday which was a learning experience. The undertaker literally wears a black coat with tails, silver vest and a stove top hat. The bodies of the dead are not enbalmed (sp) due to the chemicals that would go into the ground. The families have the option of having the deceased stay in their home for the days prior to the funeral and because this was the choice of this family, they had a closed casket 'give your condolences to the family ' hour prior to the funeral. I am in favor of the closed casket idea; it is alot less harsh emotionally, I feel. That is a fair warning of what is to come. See, one thing I learned on this mission.
One weekend the Primary planned a hike and campout for the ward. We had been to inspect apartments for the day but the sisters asked if we could not give them a ride. We had planned on going up and playing games and doing the hike with the ward and than come back home.It had rained throughout the day but the Dutch are like ducks in their ability to handle the rain, so we had no idea they would cancel the outing. We picked up the sisters and our GPS went beserk and could not locate any of the areas and coordinates given to us. The elders TomTom had done a much better job and they were at the location so tried to guide us over the phone to their location. We just kept doing circles it seemed and even were on a dirt road at one point. Finally the Elders called a ward member who informed him the event had been cancelled due to the rain. We never met up with the Elders, but we saw alot of pine trees and flowers and forest that made the 'goose chase' worth while!
Our lesson today was Durrant's Ponderizing talk from the Oct 2015 Conference Session. I think we should all adopt a weekly scripture and think about it everyday for the week. Post it on your bathroom mirrors, Refrigerator, TV screen or some prominent place. Read it every day, think about it, think how it can draw us to Christ by following it, memorize it if you can, but just implement it into your schedule each day. Look at it while you go to the bathroom- is that too much information?! Talking about looking at things in the bathroom- we visited the Jones' home in Arnham one day on apartment checks and to pick her up to go to Makro ( a store like Costco). Here in Holland they have toilet rooms much like Lisa's mom has in her home in Provo by her kitchen. It fits under the stairs. Anyway, the Jones' have this small toilet room and on the back of the door, she has put LDS Quotes and Scriptures and two or three LDS jokes to read. She changes them periodically to keep them interesting. I thought it was a Brilliant idea. Inspiring Uplifting and all! Try it , you might like it!
Did you know we love you all and pray for you everyday; on an individual basis as we feel your needs or our concerns for you. You are out of sight but NOT out of mind.
I was reading Elder
Desmond Jeffrries Mission post this week . Their mission has the Theme "Go with the PROS" Go with Prayer, Go with Reading, Go with Obedience, and Go with Service. Desmond just had his exit interview with his Mission President who challenged him to use the Theme his entire Life. and he would not go astray after his mission. It makes so much sense to keep that balance going. Do you have any ideas of your own , Guys , Did your missions have themes to keep you going while you served?
WE LOVE YOU- STAY PERFECT!!! MOM and DAD
Saturday, May 21, 2016
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