Birthday WEEK

Greetings again from Amsterdam,

Wow, just seems like I was sitting here typing about the happenings of a week ago. I am again starting this weeks email on Saturday, as we are going to Antwerpen tomorrow for a Missionary Farewell. Dad said we will travel 140 miles one way, to attend a Sacrament Meeting, we will not be able to understand what is being said, but we have personally been asked to attend, so we will go and feel of the Spirit. 

We just returned from the Baptism of Desmond. He is a man from Ghana, who I have had the privilege of going with the Sister Missionaries to teach him the Missionary Lessons. Sister Moses called me this morning and asked if I would give a talk on Baptism at the service. It is amazing to observe these people as they come out of the waters of Baptism. They just stand in the water, some with tears running down their faces, some hugging the Elder who Baptized them, some just feeling of the Spirit that is felt. Tonight that feeling was present. The joys of Missionary work!!!

Dad made a comment as we were leaving for the Baptism, that this is the first night I have NOT had to prepare a meal, dessert or salad for some occasion. Joy be.......One GOOD thing about fixing meals, is that if there are leftovers, we can enjoy them and I don't have to cook here at home for a meal or two. I try and prepare things that WE like:)

Just a 'fun' bit of Holland Culture.  Last week while dad and I were going to the Grocery store, we saw about 50 kids, on bikes, all wearing bright florescent green vests, riding in the rain. It was a school outing as we saw adults about every 10 bikes or so. The kids here don't need Physical Education, because they ride their bikes everywhere. At home, all students would be on a school bus. We really think some of the 'Culture' practices are things we can learn from.........not riding in the car one block to church:)

The week started off with yet more Birthday Celebration at FHE. When the JoVo's arrived at the church, they were all soaking wet. It had been raining all day, and when it was time for FHE and the arrival of the JoVo's it was pouring. You have heard the saying: "When it rains, it pours." That must be a Dutch saying, because it does pour here! Anyway, they all came in looking like they had just jumped out of a swimming pool......there were shoes, coats, shirts, anything they could take off and still stay modest, on all the heaters. After we had had our dinner, we headed to the joVo room. The room was decorated with flags and a candle was burning on the table. As I walked into the room everyone started to sing the Dutch B-day song that I love. They had a card that all that were there had signed, and the notes brought tears. Several more of the joVo's had brought gifts....how will we ever say goodbye? Wednesday at Institute,( we had 18 in attendance:) another young man, who has made a name for himself by designing 'stick figures' of a boy and girl , holding hands, boy giving flowers to a girl.... on shirts, gave me his latest 'high five' design on a shirt. And more wrote on the card. Things we will treasure for a lifetime.

Dad went 'joint teaching' with the Elders to visit Levi. She will be moving to Suriname the first of the year, so she has closed her hair shop in Amsterdam getting ready for the move. Several of her clients still go to her apartment to have their hair done. The day dad went for the visit, there was a lady getting her hair done. The Elders gave a Gospel message then dad bore his Testimony. While they were leaving, the lady who had been listening to the message and Testimony, told dad that she had had Levi's card for 4 years and had never called her. She had looked at the card the week before and had made an appointment, the shop is closed now, so she had to go to Levi's apartment.....and the Elders and dad were there THAT day. She said she had felt something special, and knew there was a reason why she happened to be there THAT day at THAT time. She lives in Den Haag, about an hours drive, longer by train, away. She gave the Elders her phone number, and said she would be waiting for the Elders in Den Haag to call her. Coincidence? Speaking of Missionary work. President Robinson has asked SLC Missionary Department for MORE Missionaries......"The Field is white all ready to Harvest."

Because this is a journal of our Mission, dad wants me to put in this addition a 'graceful Zuster deLeeuw' happening. While we were going into FHE last Monday evening, I tripped on the door stop outside of the Church. It is just a piece of medal that is cemented into the brick, rust color, and right by the door as you enter the church. I tripped, tried to catch myself, but down I went. Lucky for me I fell on the grass, but as I went down I felt my back twist. I had to lay on the ground for a minute to catch my breath and make sure I was still alive......no broken bones, just a very sore low back and neck this week. Hey, on the bright side.....I was able to get up on my own and go have a party:) Glad we have LOTS of Ibuprofen........we feel blessed, as the fall could have been worse, and I COULD have broken something. I AM stiff and sore, and move like an 'old lady' but I can still make cookies:) AND, I AM NOT AN OLD LADY.

Friday evening the Amsterdam ward held a Ward dinner. It was commemorating 150 years since the Amsterdam ward (branch) was first organized. Roos, a new convert, who loves to decorate, had the cultural hall looking Mooi. Fresh flowers, tablecloths, battery candles....The Ward furnished the meat, and the members brought salads, bread and dessert. I had made a jello salad and it was gone first. Something we take for granted and say,' jello again', is a real treat here. There were many in attendance, and it was a very enjoyable evening. The Ward members LOVE to get together when they can, because they all live so far away from each other. You just don't see your'church neighbor' while you are out mowing your lawn, or walking around the block. The members ONLY see each other on Sunday or at ward gatherings. Some travel for over an hour by train, tram or bus,  after riding their bikes to the metro station, to arrive at the church. AND the American Missionary couple get in their car and drive about 1/2 mile to the church...........see what we mean:)

Today we needed to take a few hours for ourselves. Dad has all the addresses of all the places he served while on his Mission 50 years ago. His last area was Zeist, about a 35 minute drive from Diemen, so we plugged in the Garmin and took off. People who come to the Netherlands, get on a tour bus and just see the Tourist spots, miss the REAL Netherlands. Driving to and through Zeist was so relaxing and peaceful. The streets are lined with tall trees, bike paths and small canals, beautiful homes....it was so nice. We drove to the address we had plugged in...but 50 years has brought NEW apartment buildings, stores, landscape. I took a picture of dad standing where 'his apartment 50 years ago' stood. He only has Dordrecht, Antwerpen and Brussels to see.......probably won't get to Brussels because of the distance.

Sunday: We had a very enjoyable time at the Missionary farewell. Michael Boegaerts, is the young man who was called to the France Lyon, SPANISH speaking mission, that we told you about a few weeks ago. It was a 'good old fashion' farewell, with mom and dad speaking, then the Stake President, and finally the Missionary. His mother told us that on July 15th they, Parents and Missionary, were driving home from a JoVo fireside. Michael was very quiet and then said, "I need to go on a Mission." His mother just kind of laughed and said when do you want to go. His answer was 'Now'. Long story short, papers were started the next day......sent into SLC on July 24th...and he leaves tomorrow for the MTC in Provo to learn French and Spanish. WOW....There were so many young people in attendance, friends of Michael, that are not members of the church, but were there to support him. What an example Michael is already. To end the meeting there were 25 to 30 JoVo's from all over the 'Nation' that sang the song "We are Daughters in Zion, sisters singing, young men singing, We are as the Army of Heleman". It was so moving, and the perfect way to end. Oh, and another GREAT thing about the meeting,  there was a lady doing interpretation in English. After the meeting we drove into the city of Antwerpen and found the apartment where dad lived while serving there. I asked if he could remember anything about that area. He said he could remember locking his bike out front of the door.....#32. The city is all Hugh old buildings, cement apartments and cobblestone streets. SO, not much has changed in that area. Another walk down memory lane, that can't be remembered. Dad made the comment that he can't believe he ever lived in that area, and survived:)

Another week to look forward to. We will be working at the apartment the Salden's just left, as the new couple will arrive on the 13th of the month. FHE, Institute, and a wedding reception!!!!!!! I came home tonight and got a head start on the cooking.....made the dessert for tomorrow.

We know we, and you as our family, are being blessed as we serve this Mission. We are so happy to hear that Darren got a job. The other day as we were shopping in the little variety store close by, the lady who we gave a Book of Mormon to, but is Hindu, and not interested in the church, but always asks us how Missionary work is going, ask how much longer we had to serve. I told her we would be here until next July. She asked if we would go home for a visit to see our family and them come back. When I told her I did not think so, she said "Why"? Maybe we WILL have to come back:) We Love serving the Lord. We Love doing Missionary work. We Love to see people enter the waters of Baptism. We Love to see young men going on Missions, We Love seeing young people being married in the temple. Good things are happening and we are seeing these things:)

We send our love. Thank you again for your prayers......and YOU are in OUR prayers as well.

Vader and Moeder...Opa and Oma....Elder and Zuster deLeeuw

GO COUGS......finally won a game!

Dank U again

Dear Family,

It was WONDERFUL talking and Seeing you yesterday. Now that we know our computer works, lets Skype more often:) Thank you for all the Birthday greetings, my Birthday was one of the best ones yet. Cameron suggested that next year we get the 'blow up slide' again for my birthday. Ok, but should we wait until #70......bet I could beat anyone up the stairs!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Tonight is FHE and we are having French Toast, fruit and cookies. Tomorrow is District Meeting/Interviews and we are having Salsa Chicken, rice, green beans and cobbler. Wednesday is Institute and we will have Spaghetti, garlic bread, cucumber and apple salad.....that is lekker, and chocolate pudding dessert. Thursday is Lelystad and I will just take dessert....fruit cocktail cake. Weeks are full for sure. Just a sampling of what we do, Now you see why dad is having hip problems, carrying ALL the food out and empty pans back in:)

We love you TONS>>>>>>>>>

Vader and Moder

Opa and Oma

And we LOVED seeing Polly and Wayne.

dank u

Dear Family and Friends,

Dank u for all your gelukkig verjaardag groeten:) ( Happy Birthday greetings)! The day started out with the Elders calling on the phone and singing me the Dutch Birthday song. At JVH, Relief Society, they announced that it was my verjaardag, so I got lots of wishes from Ward members. On our Facebook timeline several of the JoVo's have sent wishes, and dank u for all your cards and emails. This will be a Birthday I will remember for a life time. Celebrating in Amsterdam serving the Lord, having a Temple Dedication, songs song, talking with the family, cards and letters from home. Can't get much better than that.

Last Sunday was our Gouda Sunday. Sister Seiter and I fixed Sloppy Joe's for the JoVo's, as they requested this for the maaltijd (meal). We laughed at how the JoVo's kept coming back for more. One young man came up to me and said, "Sister deLeeuw, these sloppy joe's are 'finger licken good'! That IS a complement for sure. The Temple President and his wife spoke at the fireside and then President and Sister Robinson, our Mission President spoke at the Sacrament Meeting. There were several young Adults there that are taking Missionary lessons, so the evening was perfect for them. We enjoy these meetings but it sure makes for a long day. The Den Haag Stake will be in charge again in January.

Thursday was Zone training for the Den Haag and Almere Districts. President Robinson is now having the Zone Leaders do all the teaching at these meetings, and what an amazing job the Elders did. As we have told you before, the vision President Kimball had about the growth of the church here in the Netherlands. He said that some day there would be 40 stakes here in the Netherlands. The Stake leaders here have really caught the vision of Missionary work, and they want to see this 'vision' as a reality. We were told that we are on the 'Winning Team', because we are on the 'Lords Team'. We need to be as Moroni's Army......We need to put on our Armour each day, by reading our Scriptures and praying in earnest. "The Battle is on. The Enemy won't wait. Now is the time to put on the whole armor of God" .We as Missionaries need to ask ourselves, 'if not now when, if not us who'? What are we doing to move 'his' work along. We have District Meeting this Tuesday where President Robinson will be interviewing all the Missionaries. In the next 3 transfers we will lose 20 of the Missionaries that were here when we arrived. Next week we get 6 new Elders and 1 new Sister. Come December, Elder and Sister deLeeuw will be the Senior Couple that will have been here the longest, as we lose 2 more couples in the next two transfers. 3 new couples will arrive next month so we are eager to meet and greet them. Change is good, but it is so hard to say goodbye to those we have learned to love. We tell the Missionaries going home that the next time we see them, we hope will be at their weddings:)

Speaking of Missionaries. The other evening Opa and I were taking our walk around the Canal, when behind us we heard singing of the song "I Am A Child Of God.' We had just had the conversation of how we love the JoVo's, the Dutch people, and especially the Missionaries. Two of the Elders that live close by had just left the tram and were walking home. When they saw us they ask themselves, 'should we go behind the deLeeuw's and scare them, or sing a song'. Boys!!!! They chose the BEST, and their singing was beautiful. We stopped and had them keep singing....a beautiful way to end our walk. These Missionaries are very special.....keep them in your prayers.

For my Birthday Opa spoiled me and took me to dinner. It was a treat for sure. We have driven by a Molen, (Windmill) as we drive to Muiden, a beautiful small Dutch Village, just a few Kilometers from our Apt. The Restaurant used to be in the Windmill, but because it is so close to the road, the patrons were complaining about the noise and they were losing business. So a new building was built further away from the road, but very close to the Windmill. This Windmill was built in 1642. Most of the Windmills are that old, and each has a History and story to tell. When we went into the restaurant the waitress could tell right away we were Americans. Wonder how that could be???? She asked if we were on Holiday, and we had the opportunity to tell her we were Missionaries for our Kerk. (Church). She was very interested that we were here for 18 months, away from our family. I know enough Dutch words, and opa lets me say all the words I can, so I told her I spoke 'klein beetje' Nederland.( 'Just a little Dutch'.) When we were finished eating we told her the meal was 'lekker',( delicious.) She told us to come back in a few months and by then she knew that I could have a conversation with her:) We WILL go back, with a few more words and a Het Boek Van Mormon. There are opportunities to be Missionaries all around.

We attended the Temple yesterday, as on the 4th Saturday of each month is an English Speaking Session. We have a young American Married couple in the ward that we invite when we attend the temple, as they don't have a car. When we arrived at the Temple there was a lot of confusion, as several Temple workers had called to say they could not come to cover their shift. One of the workers approached Elder deLeeuw and I and asked if we were set apart Temple Workers, because they needed help. We were afraid we were going to be called right there and then to be Temple Workers that day. There were several members of the English speaking Branch there to attend the Session, and it was a JOY to sit and speak English and talk about American things. While we were chatting, Elder deLeeuw mentioned that he used to work for Provo City. The Sister we were visiting with looked at him and said; "Milt deLeeuw, I'm Melanie Farnsworth that worked in the Legal dept. at the Provo City Center." Wow, here we are in Holland, at the Temple, same session. Small World. We will keep in touch with this couple and have them here for dinner and a visit. Anyway back to the Temple. So few workers, not enough to have the English Session, so several of the English Couples did Sealings, and we had the privilege to help the JoVo's from our Stake as they came to do Baptisms. Several of these YSA's have just been baptized themselves, so to come to the Temple is an opportunity they really look forward to. It seemed to work out for the best that we were able to be with 'our kids'. We have a Young Couple, both returned Missionaries, getting married on the 5th of October. Because Holland does NOT recognize a Temple marriage as legal, the couple will be married at 10:00 am at the City Hall, then go to the Temple at 2:00 pm and be sealed. This couple was at the Temple with us on Saturday, and were just beaming, as they knew the next time there would be for their own sealing for 'time AND ALL ETERNITY'

It is very cool here now. Only 10 degrees Celsius. 50 degrees Fahrenheit. Long wool socks, coats and scarves are in fashion now. Especially for those riding bikes. Rain most every day, and we really miss the fall colors of Utah. Here the leaves just turn brown and fall off the trees. Boring for sure. We go to regular time in just a couple of weeks, so the daylight hours will continue to be shorter. Oh, and we have been asked if they celebrate Halloween here. We have seen some Halloween decorations in the stores, and a few costumes, but NO the kids do not go 'Tick and Treating.' Maybe we can cook scones and start a new Orem 700 East tradition:)

We LOVE serving the Lord. We know we are being blessed because of this service. We LOVE the people of Holland, and especially the Young people we have stewardship over. They have become like our own family......girls, prepare to have lots of siblings. Several of these YSA's call us Opa and Oma, so klein kinderin, prepare to have more cousins:)

We love you all and send greetings from Amsterdam.

Love, Opa and Oma, Vader and Moder

Elder and Sister deLeeuw

Another busy week

Goedenavond Familie en vrienden, (Good evening family and friends)

We think that fall has arrived in the Netherlands.  All of a sudden it was September and it turned off very cool. The warmest it has been is 20 degrees Celsius, which is 68 degrees Fahrenheit. The locals say it will stay cool now, and then comes winter with all the wind and COLD!!!! I guess we should have enjoyed those 5 days of hot and humid a bit more. Here in the fall the leaves don't turn colors, they just get brown and fall off the trees.  Dad made the comment that with all the trees, and all the leaves, he wonders who gathers the leaves all up. Here in the Netherlands we have noticed that no one take responsibility for anything, so maybe the leaves just stay where they fall until next spring. We will let you know:)

Today we attended church in Alkmaar. We have 7 very active JoVo's in that Branch and it has been several months since we had visited them. Dad bore his Testimony and told the people how our family had encouraged us to serve this Mission.  Sister Westra, a sweet Sister in the Ward, who with her husband are the Ward JoVo representatives, turned to me after dad's Testimony and said: "dank je kleinkinderen for letting you come to Holland to serve this Mission". (Thank your grandchildren). So thank you familie! 

This has been yet another very busy JoVo week, and next week will be even that much busier. Elder Kearen, of the Seventy, will be visiting the Belgium/Netherlands Mission this week, so there is a special Fireside Wednesday evening in Rotterdam for the JoVo's, investigators, and recent converts. Wednesday and Thursday will be Zone Conferences, Monday FHE, and Saturday we are having the two young men that were at JoVo camp that are taking the Missionary Lessons, here for enchiladas and games, along with 4 of their roommates. Party time all around! We will have the Elders as well to add some "Missionary flavor' to the evening. 

Monday I placed my first Book of Mormon:) Juan, a man who works at Jumbo, one of the grocery stores we visit often, is always so kind and always has a smile. Each time we have gone through his 'kassa' line I have asked a few questions getting to know him. He is from Mexico City, has lived in Sweden, Denmark, and has lived the last 22 years in Holland. He has never married, and he told me he loves classical music. Music? Well, what more beautiful music is there than the tabernacle Choir! SO, I called the Mission Office and got a CD of the choir, found the history of the Choir on Google, got a Spanish Book of Mormon, and wrote a note to Juan. I told him I hoped he found Joy and peace as he listened to the music, and also found joy and peace as he read the book. I wrapped it as a gift to present it to him. He was so happy when I gave him the gift.  He was at work and could not visit much, but as I was leaving, he was throwing kisses my way. Yes, he knows I am married:) He was going to Austria for the week to a music concert, so I am eager to visit Jumbo this week and see what his reaction was to the CD and book. We are told to look for every opportunity to share the Gospel. Grocery Shopping IS my opportunity:)

Tuesday we had Fabrina, the girl from the Ukraine that is taking the Missionary Lesson, here for a Birthday Party. The sisters from Haarlem, who are teaching her, brought her to Amsterdam as they came for District Meeting.  I picked her up at the church and we went shopping, while dad and the rest of the Missionaries had their meeting. Fabrina hates birthdays because all of her life she was told by her parents, they wished she had not been born. She was not wanted, and the pregnancy was a mistake. Wow, can you even imagine. Fabrina does not like to talk to her mother because all her mother does is tell her how worthless she is. Well, we wanted this birthday to be different for Fabrina. When we went back to the church to get dad and the Sisters we had the Missionaries sing the Dutch Birthday song to her.  Dad had purchased some flowers to be presented to her. We came to our apartment which I had decorated with party hats, balloons and party plates and tablecloth. Fabrina fixed some soup and salad that is a Ukraine tradition dish...lekker! I had made cupcakes and had ice cream. We sang Happy Birthday to her, and gave her a couple of small gifts. Her reaction was amazing. She told us she was 'stunned' by the goodness. We told her we hoped this was a Birthday she WOULD enjoy, and we were so glad she was born. When we took home she was all smiles and told us this WAS the best birthday she had ever had. Dad told her he  wanted to Baptize her, so she had better read the Book of Mormon and gain a Testimony. He told her to read Alma 32, about 'planting the seed'. We will keep you posted. Even if she is not baptized we hope she knows we love her, AND are so glad she is our new friend.

Wednesday evening was the 'Kick off' for Institute. The JoVo's wanted to have a 'pot luck' dinner......yea, I did not have to cook:) We were a bit nervous as to what would be brought, but it turned out OK. we had a couple of salads, quiche, fruit, garlic bread, lemon cake, and dad and I bought a couple of Domino's Pizza's to have 'just in case'. We had enough for everyone to get full....'the loaves and fishes'. Elder Pankratz, our Institute instructor, gave an introduction to the New Testament, which we will be studying this year, then we had a trivia game with questions about the New Testament. We had taken two bags with clothes, towels, robes...just things we had here. We had two groups and they were given a bag of clothes, and they had to dress up and prepare a short skit of a parable or story from the New Testament. They had 15 minutes to prepare. It was so fun to see what they came up with. One group did a skit on the "Good Samaritan", and the other group read the Scripture of the birth of Christ and had the group as the Nativity. Everyone seemed to have a good time.  There were 18 in attendance, so we were thrilled! The JoVo's seem excited to be studying the new Testament.

Thursday we went to Lelystad. This is a small branch we thought we had no JoVo's. At camp we met Chaim, from Lelystad, and he and dad became instant friends. He is the one we had dinner with last week. The Elders working in Lelystad are teaching several young men, and asked if they would come to the church and have FHE, or an hour of dinner and fun. Thursday we picked Chaim up at his apartment.  He loves to cook, so had made some pasta sauce and salad...I made cookies. There were 3 young men that came, along with the Branch President and one of his Counselors, and a member of the Relief Society Presidency. We ate, then played a 'get to know you' game. We had a blast. We asked what they wanted to do next time,and the three that were there told us they would come again, and they wanted to play ping pong and chess. One of them even offered to help with the meal. WOW. The Branch President was so happy.  We hope the numbers grow, and if they do we will go to Lelystad every week. Now we go the 2nd and 4th Thursdays. We are so excited! Dad said,"wouldn't it be great if these young men would be baptized because of us going to Lelystad, working with the Elders, and showing them the love of the Gospel." Have we mentioned how great Missionary work is! We are being blessed.

The other day dad and I drove through a small village just a few kilometers from where we live. A treasure right in our back yard. A typical Dutch village, with narrow streets, small shops, and a large church right in the middle of town. We were in a hurry so did not stop to walk around, but we will go back.  As we have mentioned before, the beauty of the Netherlands is hard to describe. There are so many boats going up and down the canal by our apartment, that we have to stop frequently as the boats go by and the draw brug is up.  The other day we waited as 7 BIG boats went under the bridge. We enjoy walking to the canal and watching the boats. The other night there were 6 boats that were moored for the night long the canal. There are two swans that have taken up residency in the canal as well, and that in itself is a beautiful sight. The sunflowers are blooming in the fields, cows and sheep grazing, small ditches...it is amazing. 

We sign off for yet another week. Can't believe how quickly the days and weeks are whizzing by. We have lost another 15 minutes of daylight since we wrote last week.  It is now dark at 9:00 pm.

We LOVE serving the Lord. We know what we are doing is what we are suppose to be doing at this time. We are so thankful for our health that allows us to serve. We are thankful for you, our family, that are praying and supporting us so we can serve. WE LOVE BEING MISSIONARIES:)

Love, Opa and Oma

Elder and Zuster deLeeuw