Wow,
how do you begin a Missionary letter after the announcement made at the
opening session of Conference yesterday. We were watching the Saturday Morning session at 6:00 pm.......we
had all 6 Missionaries in the room with us, (we have a computer and
large screen TV in the JoVo room at the church, which was set up for the
English speaking people to watch,) and we were all just beaming when
all the Missionary messages were given. And those in the room, several
who are investigators, were beaming with us. It was amazing this
morning, as we checked the Facebook site, as to how many of you
grandchildren , and the Young Adults here in the Netherlands had
posted: "I'm a Mormon. I know it. I live it. I love it! And, to read the
excitement as Corey had posted that he is ready to start filling out
his papers.....Missionary work will just keep rolling along in the
family. Elisha had even posted a 'Missionary' statement. "The field is
white already to harvest", and there is SO much work to be done. Can't
you just see the hand of the Lord guiding the affairs of the world. He
has a plan, and we are so blessed to be part of that plan. Speaking of
Missionaries.....there is a new Senior couple coming in today, and two next Saturday.
One of the couples that are coming have the last name of Lyons. They
will be in our Zone, so we will have deLeeuw, which means Lion in the
Dutch language, and Lyons.......we had told the Elders and Sisters to
watch out for the four Lion (Lyons):) Priesthood Meeting is being
watched at 11:00 am this morning, then we watch the Saturday afternoon session at 2:00 pm today, and the Sunday morning session at 6:00 pm. We can watch the Sunday afternoon session live tonight at 10:00.
We just marvel at modern technology....and are SO glad we have the
'youngin's' to take care of the 'technology' for us. Dad made a comment,
that 50 years ago, while he was serving here, the Missionaries were
lucky to hear a couple of Conference sessions on the radio...and they
were even delayed. Last night after the Conference Session, dad, Opa,
mentioned the tradition of the 'boys' going out for a treat after
Priesthood Meeting on Saturday
night, to the Elders. They jumped right on that and said they were
available to be 'the boys'. There is a Mc Donalds here in Diemen, so dad
took the 'boys', and me, for a treat. What a statement to walk into Mc
Donalds, with 4 young men dressed in white shirts and ties, on a Saturday
night.......wearing with happiness, black badges that say:
Elder......DE KERK VAN JEZUS CHRISTUS VAN DE HEILIGEN DER LAATSTE DAGEN.
After treats were eaten, the Elders, before we left, saw a family
enjoying treats as well, and went over for a visit. These young people
serving are amazing....that is why the Lord wants and needs MORE of
them!!!!!!!!!!!!! And I missed being with 'the girls'!
This
has been a different Missionary week for us, as we have been helping
ready the apartments for the couples coming in. We spent three days in
Bussum working on that apartment. It is one of the oldest in the Mission
and really needed some work done. The Salden's, who just left, were
loved by all the neighbors in that apartment building, so when we were
cleaning, we had several ask if we were going to be the 'new Mormon
neighbors'. The lady in the next apartment, and I became friends, and
she told us to trade our apartment here in Diemen, with the 'new Mormon'
couple and we could go shopping, to Museums, and to Concerts. Senior
couples really make a difference just by being friendly........we have
taken cookies to several of our neighbors. We may not knock on doors,
but we are preparing the way for the 'Young' Missionaries:) We also
spent a day in Eindhoven helping Elder and Sister Pankrtaz furnish that
apartment. This apartment is only 3 years old, and what a contrast from
Bussum. All modern and even some colored paint on one of the walls. The
apartment was furnished so we just had to make the bed, get dishes,
bathroom and kitchen supplies.....BUT, being a Dutch apartment, it has 3
levels with narrow stairs. Poor dad and Elder Pankratz's had to haul a
washer and dryer up THOSE 3 levels of stairs. For now, all apartments
are ready and waiting for new occupants.....and we are THRILLED to have
new couples.
Speaking
of Elder and Sister Pankratz. Sister Pankratz's father passed away this
past week. He was just 3 days from his 93rd birthday. When she received
the news of his passing she said she would not go home, Provo, to the
funeral, because there was nothing she could do. But, her family said
they really needed her,and the family would pay the expenses for the
trip. They have 11 children. Elder Pankratz told her she needed to go.
After some thought and prayer, Elder Pankratz said he felt he needed to
be with Sister Pankratz, so phone calls were made, reservations made,
and yesterday morning we took them to the airport. It will be a quick
trip as they return next Thursday,
but Sister Pankratz said, "her heart felt at peace when they decided to
go." The Pankratz's are the office couple, and the whole Mission really
depends on them, so we all feel a void with their short absence. When
we left them at the airport I made her 'pinky promise' they would
return.
We
have had to deal with a couple of problems this past week as well. We
have a young man? age 44, that has been attending FHE and Institute. The
age for the YSA's is 18 to 31, but we welcome anyone who does want to
attend. BUT, we are encouraged to keep the attendance within that age
group. This man has some life struggles, so that is why we have not said
anything about his attending. The last few weeks he has really changed,
we think because of some medication changes, to the point he was making
the JoVo's feel very uncomfortable with his actions and comments. We
became concerned when several of the joVo's came to us asking that we
please do something about the situation. We called our Stake Priesthood
advisor asking what we should do......our Bishop was contacted, as he
was the one to talk to Lieuwe. We were afraid Lieuwe would be angry and
maybe do something in retaliation, but we were assured that he is
harmless. We so hated to have something like this happen, but as our
Stake Leader told us, "It was time for him to move on." Another young
man who was SO excited about serving a Mission, received his Mission
call to the Belgium/Netherlands Mission, which a lot of young men and
woman here are called to serve within their own country....his parents,
especially his mother, was so mad he was called to stay in the
Netherlands, has turned him against his serving, and does not want him
to have any contact with any church leaders. Dad and I are keeping in
contact with him on Facebook, and hope in some small way we can
encourage him to still serve.......even Senior Couples have to deal with
problems we don't enjoy. ( Dad just came home from Priesthood meeting
and said this young man IS going to serve. The Bishop and Stake Leaders
have helped him along:)
We are SO THRILLED at this news.
Because
it rains so much here......and this week it has POURED....there is
grass growing everywhere. Along the freeways now large mowers are mowing
the grass, then it is rolled into Hugh rolls and hauled away. The
canals and ditches are being cleaned of moss and grass as well, all
getting ready for winter. We have really noticed a difference in the
daylight hours, and we go off daylight saving time on the 28th of this
month......then we will really notice a difference. Not looking forward
to all the darkness:(
Friday
was the wedding of a the young couple we told you about last week. They
are both returned Missionaries and were the leaders of the JoVo camp
this summer. They were married in the town hall at 11:00 am, then sealed in the Temple at 3:00 pm. We attended their wedding reception in Utrecht Friday
night, and there were so many in attendance we could hardly move.
JoVo's from all over the nation came, plus we think, almost every member
of the church. What a joy to have a young couple's here in the
Netherlands marry in the Temple. It was interesting at the reception,
people took their gifts, or cards, and personally presented them to the
couple as they congratulated them. Slowed things down as they had to put
the gifts on the floor, or cards in a box.....oh well, it was a
beautiful occasion and we told all the YSA's, especially the Young men,
to take notes as we wanted to attend several more of these before we
left to come home. Several of the YSA's asked if we would come back to
the Netherlands to be with them when they marry. We WILL have to come
home and get full time jobs for sure. Coming back for weddings would be a
joy :)
We
heard a cute quote the other day: "If you are caught sleeping at work,
just raise your head and say: 'In the name of Jesus Christ Amen.'
We
love you. We make a declaration: "We are Mormon, are you?" "We are
Mormon, we know it, we (try) to live it, and we love it!" In Matthew 5:16
it says. "Let you light so shine before men, that they may see your
goods works, and glorify your father which is in Heaven." Let YOUR
lights shine, that ALL may see your GREAT works, and Glorify OUR Father
in Heaven.
Shelby,
you are, and will be in our prayers this week. Be tough.......don't
smell the Tulips:) Just look at them and know they are full of love
.
Corey, more Missionaries are needed here in the Netherlands, and it
rains more here than in the Northwest. Travin, less than two years, and
grand daughters.......19 years now! WE ARE A MISSIONARY FAMILY FOR SURE!
Loves and Hugs.......Opa and Oma
Vader and Moeder
Elder and Zuster deLeeuw
Did you get the candy we sent? Lekker
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