It
is cold outside, and the weather forecast says we MIGHT get some snow
in the next couple of days. You have to remember we are below sea level
in many parts of the Netherlands, so snow is unusual. Last January when
we arrived we did get a big storm....but we were told that was unusual.
We will keep you posted. It rains most every day, and with the wind, it
IS cold!!!!! Enjoy those tostie temps Utah is enjoying.Each day we get
less daylight....makes for VERY long dark nights....still dark at 8:15 am =(
Dad
and I were able to go joint teaching with the Elders this week.
Something we really enjoy doing, but as of lately have not done much
of. With the Stake President asking the Ward members to become more
involved in Missionary work, they are asked to go more often. We visited
a lady who is from Colombia. She has visited many churches, but says
she always feels welcome when she visits the Mormon church. She was in
attendance when I taught RS, and after the class she asked if I had been
on TV in America. I laughed and asked her why she would ask such a
question. She said I looked like 'one of those women who was on TV
promoting different church programs.' A new one for me =) The Elders
have been teaching her for several weeks now, and this visit was the
lesson on the Word of Wisdom. When she was asked if she drank tea or
coffee, her answer was yes, but she had cut down from 5 cups of coffee
in the morning to just 2. She said she drank coffee because she had
headaches and that helped. She also mentioned that her father owned a
big coffee plantation in Colombia. After the lesson I told her that
Caffeine sometimes causes headaches, and asked if she would increase her
intake of water instead, and see if it would work. We told her we would
pray for her, take one day at a time, and the Lord would bless her. The
Elders were to go back Thursday night for another visit, and we haven't heard how she is doing. The Elders have a baptism date set for December 9th
for her, so we hope she can give up her coffee. Pray for these sweet
people who are trying so hard to give up habits they have had for so
many years.
Tuesday
dad and I were shopping, as usual, and as I was going through the check
out line, there was an older lady, probably in her late 70's, checking
out in front of me. She had all he groceries checked and was paying for
them with her 'pinnen card.' After she had punched in the numbers she
just stood there. The Kassa asked if she was OK, but no
response.....blank stare, no response, sweating.....all of a sudden she
started to fall to the floor. I pushed my cart aside and grabbed her
under her arms and slowly lowered her to the floor. The Kassa called for
the manager who came running. I asked the Kassa to ask the lady when
the last time she had eaten...she had all the signs of low blood sugar.
The lady said she had not eaten since early morning, and this was late
in the afternoon. The manager hurried and brought some sort of dextrose
candy and gave her one to chew. Man, I don't know what that was, but the
lady was sitting up in just a matter of a few minutes. We kept her
sitting on the floor for a while more, then she stood up and said she
was OK to go. I asked if we could take her home, or at least walk with
her to make sure she was alright. She was up and on her way like nothing
had happened. After all the excitement, and a goodbye, the store
manager brought me a bouquet of roses and told me thanks for helping.
Right place at the right time. I was SO mad....there were a couple of
young men in the line behind me, that were yelling at the kassa, because
she was helping me, and they were asked to go to another check out
line. They had 3 cans of beer. The store manager really got after
them.....yay!!!!!! Gotta love some people.
We
have one of our JoVo's that dresses up as Zwarte Piet and goes around
to different homes and businesses during the Christmas season. He asked a
few weeks ago if he could come to Institute dressed as Zwarte Piet, and
surprise the JoVo's. We didn't tell anyone he was coming, so while the
JoVo's were eating dinner, all of a sudden Kruidnoten cookies started
hitting them. That is what Zwarte Piet does...throws cookies and candy.
Everyone was so startled when Nikki jumped into the room all dressed up.
No one even knew who he was for awhile. It was fun and we all had a
good laugh. The makeup they use to make their faces black is a thick
black paste....water resistant as well. Before Nikki left he came up and
gave me a big kiss on the cheeks.....black all over my face now. We
have pictures to send....Gotta love these kids too! The Institute
teacher who usually teaches wasn't able to attend last Wednesday, so
Elder Lyons taught the class. It was WONDERFUL having the lesson taught
in English. All of the JoVo's speak English, so it was not a bother to
them. Gotta love these moments!
Thursday
was needed to have our car serviced. The dealership that serviced the
car is in Leiden where the Mission Office is. Since it is an ALL day
process to have the car serviced, we needed to have someone 'babysit' us
from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm.
Elder and Sister Pankratz needed to go into Belgium to check on an
apartment they are trying to get for the sisters there, so they asked us
to ride along. Belgium is a whole other Country and you can feel the
difference. It was cool because we drove into Brussels and saw where the
Mission Office was before they split the Mission, and moved the office
to Leiden. We even drove past the apartment where Cameron stayed while
serving in Brussels. Whenever Cameron's name is mentioned, it is with
much love and admiration for what a great Elder he was. He DID set the
'bar high' for his Opa and Oma! It was a fun day. When we got back to
pick up the car we found the car needed new tires on the front, new
brakes, and window wipers. We are ready for winter, and the Dealership
made a lot of money that day. 1150 euro, or about $1300.
Friday
night we took David, Tessa, and Kim, 3 of our JoVo's, to a 'weekend
JoVo camp.' A large building in the middle of nowhere, where we had to
drive on a dike just wide enough for one car. Most of the YSA's had to
take a bus to Ter Aar, where the camp was being held, then walk, in the
dark, in the rain, on this narrow road, for about 1/2 mile, carrying
their belongings. We did stop and take the bags for two girls who we saw
walking. These kids really know how to survive without cars we take so
much for granted. The 3 JoVo's we had in the car kept telling us thank
you, as they got a ride right to the front door. All of these YSA's are
JoVo's that attended the camp this summer, and this is kid of a reunion.
We didn't stay long but went back Saturday
afternoon and stayed for a couple of hours watching them play games.
The couple in charge of the activity said there were 80 in attendance.
These YSA's love to be together, and it is amazing to see them
together.....all members of the church. We spoke with several of the
young men, and they are in the process of filling out their Mission
papers. We have 2 Missionary farewells on the 16th of this month. Both
are from the Amsterdam Center. One is from Almere, and the other from
Alkmaar. They both fly to Utah to enter the MTC on the 17th. Gotta love
Missionary work!
Sunday Morning and we were up and out the door by 9:00 am. The YSA's had a fireside at 10:00,
followed by Sacrament and Testimony Meeting. It is still frustrating to
sit in these meetings and NOT know what is being said. Dad is so good
and tells me the just of some things....but when these people start to
talk fast, it is hard for even the Dutch to Translate. For Sacrament
meeting they did have the translation ear pieces, but they did not work.
It was amazing how many words I DID know, so when the Young People were
bearing their Testimonies, I could understand the message they were
sharing. Talking with the other Senior Sisters, who none of us speak the
Dutch Language, we are ALL having the same frustration....glad to know
we are among friends. The Meetings were great and we did feel of their
sweet spirits. After the meetings, before the JoVo's were sent home,
lunch was served. Two guesses what WAS served. Bread, ham, cheese, and
yogurt......gotta love these Dutch meals. Hugs, loves, and goodbyes, and
another weekend with the YSA's in the book.
This
week we will inspect the Apartments here in Diemen, and cook for
District Meeting, because it is Transfer week. We will lose 2 Elders and
1 Sister.....get 2 new Elders and 1 new Sister =)I think I wrote home
last week that there are 4 Sisters and 4 Elders that leave to go home
this week. They all say how quickly their service to the Lord has flown
by.....we know, as we are coming up on our year mark next month.
We
love you all. We are so thankful to be Missionaries. We are thankful
for the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We are thankful for a loving living
Prophet on the earth today. We are thankful for you, our family. Have a
great week.
Love,
Opa and Oma
Vader and Moeder
Elder and Zuster deLeeuw
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