Dear Friends and Family,
I SOOO hope that I will
NOT lose this email. I will send pictures in a couple of days...as this
week has been a very busy one for Elder and Zuster deLeeuw, so I have
not had the time to download the new ones we have taken.
A few new fun facts of the Netherlands: There are
no school buses here, The schools are in the neighborhoods and you
would never know they existed because they look just like the apartments
buildings. The kids, grade school to high school, ride their bikes.
It is so fun to see a bunch of high school kids all riding along the
bike path just like American kids would be walking home from school. I
have a picture of the garbage disposal here. There are bin like
containers all over among the apartments. One is for garbage, one glass
and one for paper and plastic. We are fortunate to have a garbage
pickup in our complex, but most people have to dispose of theirs in
these containers found at the side of the roads. You always have to
have money with you....because if you need to use the bathroom you have
to pay. Most of the WC (water closets) you pay .50 euros. There is a
lady outside of the bathrooms collecting the money before you can go
in.....but there IS toilet paper:) When you eat at a Restaurant you pay
for a TINY bottle of water...and no refills. The cost is 1 euro and if
you are still thirsty you pay another euro....but, you do not have to
tip the waiters so it comes out even. On Saturday you better have your shopping done by 5:00. At the stroke of 5 all the stores close and lights are out! The grocery stores stay open just until 8:00....no 7 eleven's here. We don't know what happens on Sunday for shopping but on Monday the stores do NOT reopen again until 1:00 in the afternoon...then close at 6:00. Only the grocery stores are open at 8:00 am.
You have to plan your shopping carefully. We have noticed that the
eggs are not refrigerated in the stores. I have mentioned that the eggs
just don't seem fresh when we use them. Well, we heard that they
radiate the eggs so they DON'T need to be refrigerated. If we glow when
we come home you will know why:) Fun Huh! And the eggs are all brown.
Last Monday we had some time before FHE so went into
Amsterdam on the Tram. We got off at the Dam Square, that is really
what it is called. Wow, what a place. In America people that need
money stand on a corner with a "will work for food" sign. In the Dam
square there are people that dress in very weird outfits, then try and
get you to have your picture taken with them for 2 euros. I tried to
take a picture of one REALLY weird guy, but the Elders told me that if
you take their picture, and if they see you they will come after you for
the money. This is something you really need to see for yourself. We
DO NOT like downtown Amsterdam! On the way home our tram just stopped
and let everyone off. Right in the middle of the day the city workers
decided to change the Tram line so everyone off and find another way
home. We were so thankful we had the Elders because they knew which bus
to get us back home. While we were waiting for the bus we heard a
crash and some screams. An older man was riding his bike when 2 young
men on a motor scooter hit him. The man went flying, the two on the
motor scooter stopped for a minute then took off not even waiting to see
how the man was. People were running to help the older man and you
should have heard them yell at the two that took off. We were glad we
did not understand what they were saying. Big city life is not for us.
We made it home just in time to grab our bags of food and head for the
church. We had 12 at FHE and had a great time.
Tuesday
we went to Almere to help with the Elders apartment. What a mess.
These apartments are so old and nothing is ever done for improvement
unless the church rents them. We are surprised the Elders were not sick
from all the dirt that we found when we took up the carpet. President
Brubaker wants all the apartments nice for when the new Mission
President comes in July...so that is keeping the Senior Couples busy.
We have been going joint teaching with the Elders,
something we love doing. There is one lady from Surinam, Vivian who has
been an interesting visit. The first time we went with the Elders we
got right to her door, takes about 20 minutes by car, an hour on public
transportation, and Elder Cundick called to say we were there. She said
she was busy so could not see us. I about cried, but the Elders took it
in stride. The next time we went she saw that dad and I were there,
she did not know we were there the first time, and told the Elders she
did not want US in her apartment. The Elders explained that we had to
be there because they could not teach her with just the two of them.
After much convincing she let us in. We left with hugs and an invite
back. Okey....two days later I had purchased some flowers, we were on
her door step again ready to teach and show our love for the Gospel....a
called was made saying we were there and guess what. She was busy
again. The Elders were ready to 'cut the string' but on Saturday
wanted to give her one last chance. I was busy cooking so dad went.
When they got to the door and called she invited them in.....and said
she would be at church today. Pray for these young Missionaries as they
strive to teach. Vivian was not at church because she could not find a
ride....but she is a sweetheart and the Elders are hopeful. Levi, the
other lady from Surinam who we are praying that she will quit
smoking....well, she was at church today, has quit smoking and is
talking to her family about being baptized. There ARE good things
happening. I love to see these ladies at church that we visit during
the week.....they are welcomed by the sisters of the ward and seem to
enjoy the love of the Gospel.
Thursday
was dad's birthday, and one he won't soon forget. We had Zone Training
in Den Haag, and since we feed the Elders I had made cupcakes and had
purchased ice cream cups. After lunch, Sister Brubaker had the
Missionaries with birthdays in the months of Feb. and March to come up
front so we could sing to them. The Dutch have a real 'funky' b-day
song they sing, and I hope to learn it before coming home. Because it
was dad's actual b-day he really got the special treatment. 35
Missionaries singing to him....it was great.
Saturday
Morning we went to Haarlem for a relief Society Celebration. Sisters
had driven for two hours to attend the STAKE celebration. They had a
'mix and mingle' first, then the Stake RS President spoke. Such a sweet
sister that gave such a sweet Testimony. She gave a quote from George Q
Cannon that I loved. She said :"We are so interested in taking our
own temperatures that we do not take time to feel the fevers of others
around us." We need to forget ourselves and take time to see the need
for others." There were many workshops for the Sisters that looked very
fun. We didn't stay long because we wanted to attend the temple. On Saturday there are only 3 sessions...9:30, noon and 2:30. We wanted to make the noon session and had to drive an hour to get to the Hauge....another 'we take things for granted'.
Saturday
we were again invited to joint teach to a young man who is JoVo age, so
we were especially excited to visit with him.....but once again, we
were ready to go and the "I'm busy" was said again. Today at church the
Elders told us that he does not want to see the Elders again. At the
Zone Training meeting, or Mission President told us not to get
discouraged when appointments fall through. He said "don't feel sorry
for you, feel sorry for them...they are the ones that are losing out."
Today we left the apartment at 9:30 and returned tonight at 8:30.
Today was the JoVo deist in Gouda. Because there were 6 JoVo's going,
and we can only take 3 in our car we took the train. When in the
Netherlands, do as the Dutch do....go by train. What a fun experience.
We took a young girl who is investigating the church who is JoVo age.
She especially likes dad. At the diest they have a fireside first, then
dinner and end with Sacrament Meeting. Tonight they had planned food
for 60 and there were 88 in attendance. But like feeding the 5,000
there was enough and even some for seconds. The Amsterdam Stake is in
charge in May of the Diest so guess who feeds the 5,000 then:) I think I
will have sloppy joes.....the food has to be transported from Amsterdam
to Gouda which is about an hour by car......40 minutes by train.
Aren't we having fun. Gina, the young investigator seemed to enjoy
herself and gave dad a big kiss when we took her home. We hope to see
her at FHE and Institute this week.
The week has had two beautiful sunny days, then fog
and rain. We go to Daylight Savings this next weekend. The JoVo's told
us that because we are so far North that it gets light about 4;30 in
the morning and gets dark at 11:00 at night.....but in the winter it gets light at 8:30 and dark at 4:30.
We will enjoy the summer light. One of the pictures I will send are
the flowers that grow in the lawns here. There are rows of daffodils
that are blooming now and it is beautiful We can see the tulips growing
and in another month this place with all the trees in bloom and the
tulips fields in color, we will think we are in Heaven.
We are tired and you are probably too from reading
all of this. We love what we are doing. Yes we have ups and downs, but
that is just life. We so appreciate all the Birthday wishes, dad had a
great day. We feel of your prayers and thank you for your support as
we serve the Lord. The Dutch people are amazing!
One more thing. When dad was here on his Mission in
1963, he baptized a family on Christmas Day. He has always wondered
what happened to that family and if they stayed active in the church.
Tonight while at the Diest, dad was talking to a man that was there,
who lives in the city that dad had taught and baptized this family,
Brussels, and mentioned this families name. The man got a smile and
said that the Brother that dad baptized was a Branch President and the
family had stayed very active in the church. They have since passed
away, but had been stalwart members of the church. Learning just that
fact makes dad feel blessed to return to 'his' mission field and learn
that information.
Love, Opa and Oma
Elder and Zuster deLeeuw
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