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!
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