Sister
Hinkley once said: "You can laugh, or you can cry....but crying gives
you a headache." We have done a lot of laughing this week, trying not to
cry. We did finally find some turkeys, but, are you sitting
down.......we had to pay 50 euro for a 20 lb turkey. That would be about
$65.00 in American dollars =( We went to several stores and were told
that turkeys are sold here in December, NOT November. One store manager
said he might need to start ordering a few turkeys in November for all
the Americans asking for them. At least we have them for the dinner. The
number we have so far is about 65, give or take 5 or 10. We need an
exact count by Monday so we can start the cooking. Another thing that had Oma almost in tears....we started the Dutch class on Tuesday.
The man teaching is NOT a teacher, he said so himself, and he was
teaching us how to speak Dutch in Dutch. I looked at Opa with the 'help'
look on my face.......don't know if this man is the best to help with
this difficult language. We cannot attend this Tuesday,
as we will be at the Mission home, so we will have a week to see if we
want to return to the class. We learn more from the computer programs.
But we will keep learning!
President
Robinson called Opa and I into the Mission Office last Monday for an
interview. No, we are not being sent home for bad behavior.....with
Elder and Sister Everton leaving next month, Sister Everton being the
Mission nurse, President Robinson wanted to know IF Sister Robinson
needed me to help her with some Medical issues would I be willing to do
so. Elder Everton has also been the 'handy man' of the Mission, so Opa
was asked if he could step in and help that way as well. With Elder and
Sister Lyons here to help us with the YSA's, IF we are needed elsewhere,
they can step in and help. We are here to serve in any way we are
asked. Lots of apartments to be found and fixed for 80 new Missionaries.
We
need a new parking permit. Here in the Netherlands you have to pay for
parking everywhere in some form or another. Here in our apartment
complex we pay for a years parking permit to park in front of our own
apartment. The cost is 62 euros a year. When we arrived in the
Netherlands we were signed into Leiden, where the Mission Office is.
Well, now we need the parking permit we need to sign out of Leiden and
into Diemen. Dad and I got all the forms from the Mission Office, all of
OUR legal forms, and took off to the Diemen City Building. Dad sailed
through just fine......had all the papers that were needed, pink card
showing he was a residence of the Netherlands. Then my turn. I have the
pink card, papers....but I am NOT on the computer as signed into the
Netherlands. I have even been offered Social Security from the Dutch
Government! After several tries, the lady behind the desk said I had to
bring in 'other numbers and papers' to show I WAS legal here. No, I did
not cry, but I had to poke dad so he would not say a 'not nice word.'
Bless dad for his good record keeping. He found the papers with my
'Dutch SS Numbers', so off the next day we go again to the City
Building. On our passports my name has a space between the DE Leeuw, and
that is why my name could not be brought up on the system. FINALLY,
after another hour, I am signed into Diemen, we got our parking permit
and hopefully we will be OK until we have to sign out of Diemen before
we leave to come home. We made the comment that we wonder what people
from other Countries have to do when they come to the United States.
While we were waiting in the lobby, a man sitting next to us asked why
we were here. I was able to say IN DUTCH. We are Missionaries for De
Kerk van Jezus Christus Van de Heiligen der Laatste Dagen. He looked
puzzled, so I asked if he had heard of the 'Mormon' Kerk. We laughed
because he asked if we were a Protestant Church. His number was called
as I told him NO, we are a Christian Kerk. Hey, at least he was told the
name of who we are serving this Mission for.
We
told you last week about the young man from Brazil being baptized. This
we DID cry about. He has been living with his step father here in
Amsterdam. His step father does not believe there is a God, and is
really upset that Junior was Baptized. Junior has been asked to leave.
He, Junior will be confirmed tomorrow and receive the Aaronic Priesthood, then on Monday
will fly to Portugal where he will live for at least a year. His dream
is to come to the United States, and attend BYU. He is already talking
about serving a mission. We so hate to say good bye to this young man.
HE was in tears on Wednesday
as he was telling us he had to leave. We hope to keep in close touch
with him, and IF he can come to Utah, we told him we would be his family
there =) You will be getting lots of new cousins if everyone that wants
to come for a stay comes. He hopes to be in Utah next year for
Christmas, if all goes as he hopes it does.
Did
we tell you about our car? A couple of months ago there were no parking
spaces in front of our apartment, so we had to park out on the street.
Next morning we noticed that someone had run into the drivers side car
door leaving a big dent. SO, something else that needed to be
done....find a dealership here in Amsterdam who can fix the dent. Thank
Heavens people here speak English. Dad found a place where the car can
be repaired, and they were nice enough to even offer a 'loaner car' for
the few days ours will be worked on. We just hope it is not a two seater
bicycle =) Always something to keep us busy.
I was asked yesterday if I would teach the lesson in RS tomorrow.
Oh my. I am more that happy to do so....but now someone has to
translate what I say into Dutch, then if I ask a question, someone has
to translate for me what was said. This will be a VERY interesting hour.
Missionary work is amazing as we do so many different things. And on
that note........the sandwiches that need to be made for next Saturday
for Ring Conference. 240!!!!!!!! plus 120 raisin buns. 120 cheese and
120 meat....just with butter. Milk, apple juice and bottled water. The
budget is 120 euro. Did we mention how interesting Missionary work
is.......but we are loving what we are doing. Dad just keeps reminding
me to 'take one day at a time.'
We
experienced something amazing this morning! Sinta Klass has officially
arrived in Holland. Sinta Klass comes on a boat from Spain. With him he
brings Zwarte Piet, a black elf, that kidnaps all the naughty children.
This morning Sinta Klass arrived on his boat, right on the Canal in
front of our apartment. It made Opa and I laugh as we saw so many
children dressed as Zwarte Piet, faces painted black and everything. We
took pictures of some of the children. When we asked if we could take
their pictures, their parents were thrilled as we told them we were
sending the pictures to our Klein Kinderen in America. Anyway.....Sinta
Klass arrived, accompanied by a marching band, he got onto a horse drawn
carriage, and taken into the the Diemen Centrum. This was so fun so see
how another Culture celebrates Christmas. Zwarte Piet did not kidnap
any children, but gave out bags full of Kruid Noten spice cookies and
candy. December 5th
is Sinta Klass day, and that is the day families get together and gifts
are exchanged. The Dutch children put carrots and hay in their wooden
shoes for Sinta Klass Horse, while Sinta Klass is leaving gifts. He
rides around that night on his white horse....much like Santa's sleigh
and the Reign deer. December 25th is a day for church, and the 26th of December is a holiday celebrated as the 2nd day of Christmas. This morning was another time we wished you were all here!
This
week has been very foggy and cold. With us living so close to the North
Sea, we get the cold air from the water and the fog goes right through
to our bones. Dad finally had to buy me a coat, something we did not
want to do, but it is just tooooo cold going out with my K-Mart plastic
short coat. Last night as we were going for our walk, I was warm for the
first time, and could have kept on walking for a few more streets. We
put the hoods up on the coats, wear scarves around our necks,
gloves.........I wear my wool leggings. Don't know how these Dutch women
wear skirts and ride bikes in the winter here. Guess they are just used
to these temperatures.
You are receiving this on Saturday as tomorrow
is Gouda again. We do get some 'down time' but not much......we can
have that when we come home =) We Wish you all a Happy Thanksgiving. We
will miss being with our family, but will be having Thanksgiving with
our 'Nethersland Family.' We have been so blessed to have good health,
meet the wonderful people we have. Been able to share our Testimonies
with those who the Missionaries are teaching. We are SO thankful for a
loving Heavenly Father who restored his church here again upon this
earth, through the Prophet Joseph Smith. We are thankful for a LIVING
prophet, Thomas S. Monson, who guides and directs us today. WE ARE ALL
SO BLESSED. Thursday, please let your Thanksgiving prayer be one of THANKS for ALL WE DO HAVE!!!!!
We love you all.
Opa and Oma
Vader and Moeder
Elder and Zuster deLeeuw
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