Each week when we start
this letter, I make the comment that it just seems like I sent an
email. How times flies when you are having fun
. To start off, we will give the weather forecast. It snowed Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday
we really got blasted. It is COLD, and a thin layer of ice is starting
to form on the canals. It is interesting to watch the ducks and birds
walk on the ice trying to find 'open water'. The sun stays so low on the
horizon that the front of our apartment never sees a ray of sunlight.
Dad had to go out this morning and scrape ice off all the windows before
we could drive. One of the locals made a comment, that with it snowing
this early in the season, we are probably in for a LONG, COLD winter.
And we thought last winter was cold when we arrived. Welcome to the
Netherlands.
This week was transfers. Tuesday
at District Meeting we said our goodbyes to those going to other
Districts. We really had a lot that transferred to other cities. Being
transfer week, and a 'tradition' we started several transfers ago, we
had the Elders and Sisters in our District here for pancakes early Wednesday
Morning. There were 3 sister cities that were 'whitewashed', Amsterdam
being one of them. That means new Sister come in, leaving no one that
knows the city. There are only 6 Sister Cities, so this really shook up
the Mission. We as Missionary couples are NOT suppose to move the
Sisters and Elders to their new locations on transfer day....but, when
breakfast was over, and the 2 Sisters that were leaving Amsterdam, and
one Elder....they had SO much luggage, we don't know how and why they
have SO much 'stuff'....anyway, the train they were catching is just
here in Diemen Zuid, which is a five minute drive, so Elder deLeeuw took
the luggage to the train station as bikes were being pushed to the
station. It is really something to have a whole Mission move on one day.
We got 2 new Elders and 3, almost new, Sisters here in the Amsterdam
District. Sister Palenikova, the Sister from Ukraine, was transferred
back to Amsterdam. This is such a HUGH area to cover, having 3 Sisters
is really great. Funny story of the 'incoming' Sisters.......we received
a call that the 3 new Sisters were arriving at Diemen Zuid, the same
train station that Elder deLeeuw had taken the luggage to that morning.
The Sisters had SO much luggage, they wondered if we could come and help
get it to their apartment. When we arrived at the train station we
received another phone call. The 2 new Sisters had exited the train with
all the luggage, and while Sister Palenikova was trying to exit with
her bike, the conductor thought they had stopped long enough at this
stop, closed the doors, and off the train went. Sister Palenikova had to
go to the next stop and wait for the returning train to Diemen Zuid.
Good thing it was her, as she knows her way around. When I got to the
platform you should have seen the look of relief on the faces of the 2
new Sisters. New city, having NO idea where their apartment was, Not
knowing how long it would be before their companion would return,
standing in the cold. Something we could laugh about, but they found NO
humor in the situation. We finally got everyone together, luggage to the
apartment, and off they went on their bikes to their first appointment.
We are SO amazed at what these young Elders and Sisters do.
Wednesday
being Sinta Klass, we had no Institute, so we invited any of the JoVo's
that were not with family, to come to our apartment. Pancake breakfast
that morning, Sinta Klass party that night. You would think that is all
we do is party =) We had 3 of our JoVo's, the 3 new Sisters and 2 Elders
here. Sinta Klass night is like Christmas Eve in America. It is Sinta
klass birthday, so he brings all the children presents. Zwarte Piet goes
with him, and slides down the chimneys, that is why he is black, and
leaves the presents. The children leave carrots , water and hay in their
wooden shoes, for the while horse Sinta Klass rides. Sinta Klass then
goes back to Spain, where he came from several weeks ago on the boat.
Anyway....hope you followed that. We had chocolate letters, which is a
Dutch Christmas tradition, for all those who were here, and since we had
the Missionaries, we watched the First Presidency Christmas Devotional.
All those from Utah got a bit homesick as we watched the broadcast. It
was a fun day We understand that now all the gift giving is done,
Christmas becomes a Religious time. We have found it interesting that
after Sinta klass, people are decorating their windows and putting up
Christmas trees. On Christmas day here everyone goes to church....how
great is that! We love being here with new traditions.
Speaking of Holidays. New Years Eve is one of the
BIGGEST celebrations of the year. Aldo, you would go crazy with all the
fireworks that are advertised. They look like small bombs. And they are
legal. One of the JoVo's said the 'big' ones are illegal and come from
Germany, like we have coming from Wyoming. Already we are hearing the
booms of fireworks going off.....which is NOT suppose to happen until
New Years Eve. People are the same no matter where you are in the world.
Always' pushing the limit.' The Elders have to be in their apartments
by 4:00 on New Years Eve, because the whole Nation goes wild. We will keep you posted.
Thursday
evening we went to Lelystad. Elder and Sister Lyons are suppose to go
there now, but were unavailable that night. We had a sweet experience.
After we ate, we showed the DVD 'Joy to the World.' One of the young
men, Jessie, that is attending is not a member of the church. After the
DVD ended, the Elders wanted to end the evening with a prayer as they
had to leave for another appointment. Before the prayer was offered, dad
asked if he could bear his Testimony. Jessie was raised a JW, and read
the Bible ALL the time as a youth. He said he had to pray ALL the time
as well, and he got so tired of praying that he started to do as the
Buddiest (sp) do and meditate. Jessie loves History, and does love
reading. Dad told him to read the Book of Mormon, just a little each
day, as it is filled with history. He told Jessie to read, and then
meditate, and ask if this book is true. It was a very touching time. We
told Jessie as we were leaving, that we LOVED having him at these FHE's
and that we looked forward to seeing him every other week. He gave us a
handshake and told us we were doing more for him, and he looked forward
to being there. He may never join the church, but he knows he is loved.
Experiences like this are what Missionary work is all about.
When we got home...it was about 9:30,
the phone rang, and Elder Shoemaker, the Elder who was with us at
Lelystad, said; "I have a funny story to tell you." We were told that
Lelystad is the third most dangerous city in the Netherlands. When the
Elders left the church, the appointment they had was in one of THE
dangerous parts of town. They were riding their bikes when a man came
running up behind them yelling 'help me'.....The Elders slowed down when
the man ran up to them, pulled Elder Shoemaker off his bike and punched
him hard in the chest. This sent him to the ground as the man pulled
Elder Muse off his bike as well. Elder Muse has been here only 3 days,
He is one of the NEW Elders that arrived this week. Before the Elders
knew what had happened the man went running off still yelling. They
think he was on drugs because no one was following him. I made sure the
Elders were ok, and told them NOT to write this to their mothers =)
Elder Muse thought this was a 'cool' way to start his mission. Keep
praying for the protection of the Missionaries! Elder Muse is from
American Fork.
Sorry this is long, but it IS our Missionary Journal, so you can quit reading anytime you want. Friday
night we had Elder and Sister Pankratz, and Brother and Sister Jansen
here for dinner. The Jansen's have been so kind to dad and I. I made a
new casserole that was LEKKER!!!! I even had to make my own cream of
chicken soup for the casserole....Martha Stewart for sure =) We had a
sweet evening. Brother and Sister Jansen are both converts to the
church, and they shared their conversion stories with us. They came in
bringing all sorts of gifts of chocolate for us. YUM....more treats for
the Elders.
Today we attended church in Alkmaar. One of our Jovo's was suppose to have his Missionary Farewell next Sunday, and leave for the MTC Monday.
The MTC called him this past week and told him they had to push his
Mission back a month for two reasons. One, he is going to a Dutch
speaking Mission and he speaks Dutch, and two, there is no room at the
MTC right now. He is really discouraged, as he is all ready to go, and
10 days before he leaves he is told he has to wait another month. Mom
and dad are a bit frustrated as well. We told them there is a reason why
things had to change,,,,,but they are not happy. We will attend another
farewell next week for Nikki, in Almere...we had two farewells the same
day, so this makes it much easier for us. We have another JoVo,
Christina, who is filling out her mission papers as well. So much good
going on!
Today has been a dark and dreary rainy day......all
the snow is gone. Holland weather! We have another VERY busy week in
front of us, so on go the running shoes again. Guess we should not take
them off.=) We love you. We pray for YOU, and thank you for all you do
for us. Have a great week.
Love,
Vader and Moeder
Opa and Oma
Elder and Sister deLeeuw
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