Wow, that is a Dutch
greeting for sure. Are we getting good or what:) Can you believe that
one year ago we approached the family about our desire to serve a
Mission, and here we are 7 months into our Mission. The Lord moved us
quickly into his service, and we are LOVING being in his service. This
week we have been invited out to dinner with members of the Amsterdam
Ward. Friday
night we went to one of our JoVo's. A single mother, 28 years old with a
2 year old daughter. Xiomara, now try and pronounce that name, is from
Suiname, She fixed us a typical Suriname meal that was
delicious......Bami rice, chicken wings marinated in some kind of
Suiname sauce that was Lekker, of course komkombers, and tomatoes.
Dessert was some kind of a custard.....wow, what a treat. Lekker food
that I did not have to cook:) Tonight, we were invited to the home of
the first Counselor in the Bishopric. We have not been invited to
members home for a meal, and this week we had two. Tonight we had a
casserole made from sauerkraut, potatoes, sausage and cheese.
Sla......salad, which the Dutch people always put hard boiled eggs in.
Worst, and for dessert, Ijs....ice cream. As we visit with these people,
we ask about their conversion, and the stories are so touching. Xiomara
told us about her mother, and how she loved the Power of the
Priesthood. Xiomara's mother was diagnosed with cancer and was told she
had two days to live. Her mother was loved in the Ward where she lived,
so when she asked for a Priesthood Blessing, 30 Priesthood holders
showed up for give her the blessing, and she lived for 10 months. The
couple we had dinner with tonight also shared their conversion stories.
Brother Zijp was a Protestant, and Sister Van leeuwn, she kept her
maiden name, was Catholic. Reading The Book of Mormon converted them,
and they are some of the strongest members of the ward. Sister Van
leeuwn's son is one of our JoVo's.
We SOOO love these people, and it will be almost impossible to say goodbye when we have to leave.
You
would be so proud of us this past week. We have become 'true orange'
Dutch shoppers. We got on our bikes, got our shopping bags, went to the
open market in the Dieman Centrum, and bought some fruit and
vegetables. We have been on several bike rides,and are getting very
comfortable being 'one more Dutch biker'. Something funny happened this
week that still has us laughing. The lady next door, who is in her 80's,
has a sister that comes to visit often. She speaks English like I
speak Dutch, but we have a very loving relationship. Every time she
comes to visit she talks a blue streak in Dutch, and we just smile and
nod like we know what she is saying. Well, this week she and her husband
knocked on our door and just walked in. Took off their coats and
started to talk. I was so proud of myself because I DID understand some
of her words. She had been in the sichuis...hospital, and had some
tests done. She and her husband started to tell us something about
'townhouses' and how many euros they cost to rent. All of a sudden they
asked us to get in our Auto and they would take us somewhere. I looked
at dad, he looked at me, and off we went having NO idea where we were
going. We all got in the car and they started giving us directions that
dad could understand. For all we knew we were driving to China:) We
finally ended up at a quaint little village where people rent
'townhouses' from April to October. Summer homes to get away from the
city. Auto's are parked on the outside of the small homes, so walking
paths wind all around small canals and beautiful yards full of flowers
and fruit trees. We walked around for awhile with Younce visiting with
all we met, and her talking to us in Dutch. She would say something and
then say "you understand?" When we returned home we were given big hugs
and kisses, and a loving goodbye. Although we did not understand in
words much what was said, dad made the comment that it was the 'best few
hours of fellow shipping' we could have spent.
The daylight hours are dropping faster each
day.....and we really hate to tell you about the cool temperatures we
are enjoying. We have only had 3 days of really hot, humid summer days.
Night and morning is cool enough that when we go walking or biking, we
need to wear a jacket. This past week has been beautiful,but the
forecast for next week is for more rain. Sorry.....wish we could send
some of this your way.
This Tuesday
we will have a Council meeting as Senior Couples with President
Robinson. There are some changes in the JoVo Centrums here, new couples
arriving in the Mission, questions, successes, guidance from our
President. We are looking forward to this meeting. Next week are Zone
Conferences again as well. We hope to attend the Temple this week. We
have FHE each Monday and will begin Institute again Wednesday August 29th.
We have been asked to 'kick off' the new Institute year by having some
kind of evening introducing the New Testament. Most of the JoVo's are
converts, never had an Institute class, never read much in then
Bible......what are we going to do? If you have any suggestions we would
love them. We thought about a Scripture Chase, Trivia, charades...but
these YSA's don't know the Bible. We are thinking, so send your ideas
our way!!!!!
We drove to Deventer this past week to meet with
Elder and Sister Anjewierden. They are the Senior Couple working in the
JoVo Centrum there. We visited and answered some of their questions. Can
you believe WE are answering questions. Dad served as Branch President
in Deventer when he served here. We found the apartment where he lived
and the chapel he helped build in Apeldoorn. I ask if he remembers much
of these places. The buildings are still there, but the trees and
surroundings are so different after 50 years. He made a comment that he
never would have thought he would return to his 'mission field' after 50
years. It was a trip down memory lane for him. He served there for 6
months.
Today at Sacrament meeting there were 4 young
Aaronic Priesthood holders passing the Sacrament. The Bishop said it
had been years since this had happened in the Amsterdam Ward. Again we
had an interesting translation situation. The speaker gave the talk in
Spanish, translated by a member of the ward to Dutch, then Sister Moses
translating the talk into English. We have a new member of the Ward who
arrived last week. He is a return Missionary from Portland Oregon. He
is working for a company like 'Gap', and will be here for several years.
He contacted the church first thing as he arrived in Amsterdam. He is
33 years old, but we told him he was welcome anytime at the
Centurm...we know NO age limit. All are welcome!!! He visited with dad
and I today and told us he is here because of an answer to
prayer...doesn't know why he is here, but this IS where he is suppose to
be. He ask dad to give him a Priesthood Blessing. All alone in
Holland, but has an instant family.....the church. Are we blessed to
have such a great family!
Well, this has gone on long enough.....I could just
keep tying, but it is late. The Elders stopped in for their daily treat
and hello. They work so hard each day, and when they come into our
apartment they just crash on the sofa. When asked if they would like a
treat, of course you know the answer. We are so blessed to have the
Elders and Sisters close to us and we love to have them stop in. We
always need to have something for treats:)
We send our love. Thank you to those who have sent emails...we would still love to hear from more of you.
Have
fun in Wayne County this week.....we will be there in spirit, but thank
you as you support us as we serve the Lord on this Mission. We will be
with you next year, reflecting back as to where we have been and the
experiences we have had. Drive the ATV's and target shoot for
us......and eat a greasy hamburger for us too:)
Love, Opa and Oma
Vader and Moeder
Elder and Sister deLeeuw
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