Well, a couple of weeks ago we were
complaining at how cold it was, and remember we said that in a few weeks
we would be complaining about the heat and humidity. Well, that time
has arrived. There is NO air conditioning here in the Netherlands so we
have fans going in all our rooms. This past week we have been doing
apartment inspections and several of the Elders have asked if they could
purchase a couple more fans for their apartments. The poor
Missionaries just drag when they have to ride their bikes in this heat.
Will we ever be happy?
Last night dad and I were on a walk at 10:30 pm and it was still so light the street lights were just coming on. It is hard to go to bed before 11:00 pm
because the neighbors are out still having their walks, and talks. Poor
Elders and Sisters just have to pull their curtains shut and try and go
to bed by 10:30 per Mission Rules. Life is interesting for sure:)
Just when I thought it was 'safe to go into the
water'....figure of speech....we were asked today if we would cook
dinner for the JoVo's next Sunday
for a Fireside that is being held in Den Haag. Dave and Dayna Lee were
with us at this building when they were here. It is our Stake Center
and is about a 45 minute drive away. They, the Stake JoVo leaders, are
expecting between 50 and 80 to be in attendance. I just laughed. Last
week we cooked 4 days in a row, so what is one more to add to the list.
The best part and blessing of all of this, is that I am NOT experiencing
any headaches!!!!!!!!!!! We just can't give enough thanks for this
blessing. Maybe it's all the laughing we do when asked to cook yet
again:)
We have learned some more 'fun facts' about the
Netherlands: One of the reasons that few people have drivers licenses
is that, no drivers education is offered in school. You have to take
private drivers lessons which can cost up to 4000 Euro's. No wonder
there are so many bikes. Remember how we told you about Queens Day and
everyone wore orange. Well, the Dutch National Soccer team will start
playing in a World Tournament the 9th of June,
so the orange has come out again. Orange soccer balls, plates, cups,
shoes, shirts, hats, you name it....the color is orange. When the games
begin all of Holland stops to watch. We were told that if the soccer
team goes to the championships we will not be holding FHE or Institute,
because everyone will be watching the games. IF the team wins, then all
of Holland goes wild...again....this will be fun to experience. The
school system here in the Netherlands is set up in three districts. The
North, which Amsterdam is in, Central, and South. During the summer
the districts are on vacation at different times so that all the kids
are not out of school at the same time. Summer vacation for the kids
around here starts July 21st for elementary and July 14th for the secondary school. School starts again the 14th and 21st of August.
Only 6 weeks of vacation. The Netherlands is very education minded, so
vacation time is short. So kids, don't complain that you have a short
summer to play:)
Today after Sacrament meeting there were 3
baptisms.Antonella Gervasio, Estella Ramirez and Yassar Kus. Estella
and Yassar are mother and son. Yassar is only 15 so had to obtain
permission from his dad. What a difference the Gospel makes in their
lives. When they come out of the waters of Baptism they have big smiles
on their faces and big hugs for the Elders. Missionary work is
amazing!!!!!!!!!!! In two weeks, Jenny, our JoVo investigator from
England will be Baptized. YEA!!!!!!!!!
Last week when we were visiting Levi, the Elders
asked if she would offer a prayer before we left. Her prayers are so
sincere and I made the comment that her prayers came from her heart.
She made a beautiful comment: " I don't pray from my heart, I pray from
my toes". She TRULY prays with all her soul, and her prayers have been
answered. Sister Palenikova, the Missionary Sister from Slovakia, was
here last Monday while the other Sisters were emailing. She told us a
little about her life. She is the one that had been disowned by her
family because she joined the church. She has two younger brothers, one
which is studying to be a Catholic Priest. She said she does not know
where she will go after her Mission, but joining the church was the
best thing she has done in her life. Now, my 'take it for granted'. I
was making cookies the other day and was complaining that the sugar here
is very course and hard to mix. I looked at dad, and said: " Here I am
complaining about sugar when we have so much to be thankful for." It
was a 'wake up' for me. Dad and I started to talk about all our
blessings, and the fact that we HAD sugar!
After we went to Almere the other day to do the
apartment inspection, we took off and drove up into Fryslan, where the
deLeeuw's came from in 1884. This part of the Netherlands is nothing but
beautiful farmland, with canals everywhere, Dad made the comment that,
what Faith it would have taken to leave the Netherlands, get on a ship
to go to another country, not knowing anyone...going to Wayne County to
start a new life, all because of the Gospel. We are SO thankful for
these Ancestors and their sacrifices, that we may have what we have.
Keep Praying for the Missionaries.
Dad has been a bit 'homesick' today thinking about
you going to the Cemetery. He loves being retired and serving this
Mission, but, memories of something he did for 18 years cannot be
erased. Enjoy the weekend for him:)
I don't know when you will get next weeks email, because we have a dinner on Saturday for Elder and Sister Bush, who are going home next week. Then the Fireside on Sunday.....you will just be surprised when it comes:) We love you all.
Opa and Oma, Moeder and Vader, Elder and Zuster deleeuw
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