This might be a rather long
email, so you are under no obligation to sit and read the whole thing.
I write these for our Mission Journal, and this week has been a week to
write about!
A few 'fun facts'. We had a hittegolf....(heat wave)
yesterday. The temperature got up to 25 degrees Celsius, which is 77
degrees Fahrenheit. Today it is back to 17 degrees, or as you would say
62 degrees Fahrenheit. Wish we could send some of our cool temps to
Utah. We are so sad as we see the pictures and hear the news of all the
destruction the fires are and have been causing. We are sure that
prayers and fasting today were for the rains to come. It is still light
here in the Netherlands at 11:30 pm. This past week Elder and Sister deLeeuw have NOT been living Mission rules, as we have not been home until after 10:30 pm, and have not been in bed before 11:30 pm.....so we know there is still light in the sky at that time:)
We will miss being home for the 'annual 4th of July'
Birthday Party and fireworks. Bar be Que a big steak for dad and light a
'ground bloom flower' for Oma. The Amsterdam Ward is having a summer
Bar be Que on Wednesday, not because of the 4th of July Celebration like we have, just a ward function. I signed up to take a salad.....what's more American than Jello!
Today, and each month on Fast Sunday,
the Wards here in the Netherlands have a 'break the fast' treat after
Sacrament Meeting. We laugh and hope everyone has fasted as long as
they want or need, cause the treats come out soon as the Amen of the
closing prayer is said. In the Amsterdam Ward it is usually bread,
sweets and drinks. Today we were visiting the Ward in Haarlem, and they
had soup and bread. The soup they fix here is a broth of either tomato
or kip, chicken, with a few noodles and vegetables. The Saints here
LOVE to be together, so use any excuse to stay and visit after the 3
hour block. Today we took the Sister Missionaries to a dinner
appointment at a members home, and it took us an hour round trip to
drive there and back.....and they are in the Ward Boundaries!!!!!!!!!
This family is one of the lucky ones, and have a car. If not, they
would have to take several modes of transportation to get to the
chapel......train, bus and tram.....or ride a bike. These people are
amazing. And we are late for church and complain because the air
conditioner does not cool the car in the block we have to DRIVE. We are
learning lots from these good Saints.
Now for the week of "Tender Mercies". Last week when
we wrote, we told you that Sister Moore's body might not be released
out of this Country for 4 to 6 weeks, and Elder Moore wanted to stay in
the Netherlands until Sister Moore was going home. We have been praying
that things would go smoothly and move along quickly. This week, we as
Senior Couples had each taken a day to be with Elder Moore, so he would
not be alone. On Monday, Elder Moore received word that Sister Moore's body would be flown home Saturday....Yesterday.
He was SO relieved. He had to pack up all his and Sister Moore's
belongings, get Death Certificates, sign a lot of papers, make
arrangements for the Funeral Service in Utah.....all here in the
Netherlands, not knowing the language...he was really STRESSED! On Tuesday
we spent the day with him at Madurodam. This is a Miniature
Holland.....all the Windmills, Queen's Palace, airport, Amsterdam
Centrum, train stations. It is really quite something. Elder Moore
lives close by this attraction, but had never been there. The day was
our 'hittegolf', so it was a nice sunny day, and we just walked around
slowly, visited, had lunch, just a relaxing day for Elder Moore. As we
were eating, Elder Moore asked if I would give a tribute from the Senior
Couples at the Memorial Service that was being held for Sister Moore in
the Den Haag Ward where they were serving. Oh my. Who would have
thought that I would be speaking at a funeral on this Mission! I asked
each of the Couples to write a memory of Sister Moore that could be
read. As I wrote the Tribute and tried to read it to dad I was just so
emotional I could not even talk. Prayers were said to ask that I would
have composure. The Service was so beautiful, and so many of the JoVo's
from all of the Centrums were in attendance. LOTS of tears were shed.
The Moore's just arrive April 2nd
of this year, but they had really made an impact on these YSA's. I was
able to give the tribute with just a couple a tears, and I was not
nervous. I HATE to speak in public, but it was an honor to be able to
pay tribute to a friend we had only known such a short time. Elder Moore
was able to fly out Friday. He would be able to meet Sister Moore when she arrived 'home' in Utah. We had been at the Memorial service Thursday evening, got home at 11:00 pm, and had to be at the Mission Office Friday Morning at 7:00 am
to take Elder Moore to the airport. He was exhausted both physically
and mentally. He gave a beautiful talk at the service thanking
everyone, and saying goodbye. While we were driving to the airport, he
expressed his concern at being so tired, and he was afraid he would not
get to the right gate, get through security, make connections in
Portland to the next plane which would take him to SLC. He asked if we
could go to the gate with him. You know that once you have your
Boarding Pass, you have to say goodbye at the ticket counter. Sister
Pankratz and I were waiting for Elder Pankratz and dad to have Elder
Moore's luggage weighed...another concern, because he had 4 suitcases
and just one ticket. It was going to cost a LOT of Euro's for 2 extra
bags. Elder Pankratz told them at the desk why the extra luggage, and
the bags, all of them went for free! Okey, now the amazing 'tender
mercy'. Sister Pankratz and I were so worried about Elder Moore seeing
his exhaustion and frustration, when a young man walked up to us and
said: " hello, my name is Matthew. I saw your Missionary Badges and I
am a member of the church." We asked why he was here, where he was from,
and asked where he was going.....can you guess. To SLC on the same
flights that Elder Moore was going on. AN ANSWER TO OUR PRAYERS!!! We
told him about Elder Moore and why he was traveling alone,and his
concerns. Matthew was introduced to Elder Moore, took him by the arm
and told us he would make sure that he was taken care of. He told us he
would try and make some seat arrangements so the two of them could sit
together all the way home. We know that the Lord put Matthew where he
needed to be at that time. We were all crying as we said goodbye, but
knew that Elder Moore was being taken care of. As we were saying our
good bye to Elder Moore from the departing gate, our new Mission
President was being greeted at the arrival gate by President and Sister
Brubaker. Life goes on. Sometimes not like we had planned, but all in
God's time table.
We will meet President and Sister Robinson this week
at Zone Conference....then have interviews next week with him. We are
excited to meet him.
Now...remember the picture
I sent of Riaz, the street preacher. The one that called dad "Father
deLeeuw." He is being baptized this coming Saturday, July 7th, He
attends the Haarlem Ward where we were visiting today. Riaz LOVES dad,
and guess who he asked to baptize him? Dad will have his second
baptism! Who would have thought dad would be Baptizing people on this
Mission! We might have 2 more that may ask dad as well. This is what
Missionary work is all about:) We are asking these people to write their
conversion stories for us....they are amazing. As these people tell us
about visiting other churches, and being invited to be baptized into
them, they just don't feel the Spirit. Then when they meet the
Missionaries, Read the Book of Mormon, they FEEL the Spirit and know it
is what they have been seeking for. We in our prayers each night, ask
the Lord to send the Missionaries to those who are SEEKING!. We hope to
bring home several stories to share with you:) Friday
night we attended the temple with some Ward members. The 3 ladies that
drove with us were all converts, and were sharing their stories with us
and with each other.
Friday,
while at the temple, the work to be done was Baptism's and Sealings.
Dad was asked to help with the recording of the Confirmations and I was
asked to do Sealings.......everything spoken in Dutch. I just waited
until the officiator stopped, looked at me, and I hoped I knew what to
say when. If you don't smile and laugh you cry....and I could have
cried....but, all went well and I lived to tell about it. Can you
believe all the experiences we are having!!! And can you believe we are
almost at our 6 month mark. A year from now we will be packing to come
home. (But only if there are clear skies, no fires and, cool temps:) We
can't believe how fast the time is going.
Well, you are either asleep, bored, or wishing you
were here. I will send pictures of Madurodam, and of course the Baptism
this coming Saturday. Tomorrow
for FHE we are going to Alkmaar. These JoVo's have to travel 45
minutes by car or 1 1/2 hours by public transportation to get to the
Amsterdam Centrum...one way..so we are going to THEM! They are so
excited to have us come. They will provide a meal, then we will go to
the beach..hope the weather is good. Of course I will take cookies.
Speaking of that. I am now going to keep track of all the cookies I
bake. So far we have made an estimate of how many meals I have cooked
in almost 6 months. We think 87, and several have been for 80 or more.
Catering service anyone! I will now start to keep track of the batches
of cookies I will make from here on. Mrs. Smith Move over!
We love you....we LOVE to get emails from home....have not had many lately
. Love the emails from the kids
Thanks
kids! Hope Corey survived the trek, and that he was able to walk all
the way. Travin, ordained a Priest.....everyone is growing up. Sarah,
you stay young until we get home. Emily, don't break any more bones.
Laren, at girls camp, and Aubree too. Lauren Beehive President...Ethan,
riding the Country on your bike. We love you ALL and DO MISS YOU!!!!
Dylan, sac the quarterback:)
Opa and Oma
Moder and Vader
Elder and Zuster deLeeuw
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