Well,
we will start this email with some 'warm' thoughts. Today the
temperature was 12 degrees Celsius, which is 53 degrees Fahrenheit.
There are some trees that are in blossom and several of our plants are
starting to bud. Last year when we came it was one of the coldest
winters Holland had experienced in several years, but so far this
winter....but we still February....things have been rather mild. Yes, we
do have lots of rainy days, and the cold is a damp cold......and when
the wind blows it goes to the bone.....but, we have NO inversion and
below 0 temps. Don't feel sorry for us do you. We are glad you finally
received some much needed snow, but are glad we are not having to deal
with the inversion. Dad made the comment the other day that if we were
home, we would be heading to Lyman for sure.
Last
week started off with us going to Utrecht to help finish closing that
apartment. Everything was taken out as we have mentioned before. I had
the opportunity of taking up the vinyl off the kitchen floor and
disposing of that. No lights, shower rods, window coverings, flooring
left.....all walls painted white. All that is left are the windows,
doors, toilet and kitchen sink and cupboards. Amazing. We were told that
a family with not much money would be moving in this apartment.....so
no money, and they have to purchase new lights, flooring, etc.etc. Makes
no sense to us. Oh well. To get to this apartment we had to climb 8
flights of stairs!!!!!!!!! I made 7 trips up and down those
stairs......stopped on the way home and had a burger and fries, and felt
NO guilt=) This week we will close the apartment in Dordrecht. We think
there is a 'lift' in that building. The apartment is on the 7th floor
so we hope so.
OK....when we returned home from Utrecht, we had to be in our apartment by 4:00 pm
because of New Years Eve......things were starting to get loud. Just a
lot of noise from firecrackers being lit. We saw kids on the playground
close to us, with Hugh bags full of firecrackers. As the evening
progressed the noise level got louder. We finally went to bed about 11:00 knowing we would not sleep, but we were tired. WOW, at the stroke of midnight
all 'you know what' broke lose. We have never seen or experienced
anything like what went on that night. There were Ariel fireworks that
would put "Stadium of Fire" to shame, and we felt like we were in the
middle of the Stadium. We were running from one side of our apartment to
the other trying to take everything in. The neighbors across the street
were lighting off bombs of their own, some right in back of our car.
Talk about 'bombs bursting in air'.....the noise was unbelievable. This
kept going until after 5:00 am......needless
to say we did not sleep. The next day at District meeting all the
Elders and Sisters had a story of their own to tell about the evening.
It was something we will never experience again unless we are in the
Netherlands for New Years Eve. We heard that in some of the big cities
Christmas trees are burned as well as the fireworks. You should have
seen ALL the garbage left on the streets after the festivities. The
'legal' fireworks here make the 'illegal' fireworks from Wyoming look
pathetic. An evening we will remember for sure.
Dad
has been reactivating a young man from Venezuela. He is 24 years old,
was baptized about a year and a half ago, has been inactive, having some
word of wisdom problems, but is really trying to come back to activity.
He knew he needed to return to church, so looked on the Internet to
find the address of the 'Mormon Church' in Amsterdam. Our chapel is not
on a main street, and if you don't know where it is, it is hard to
locate. Glenn walked past the church several times before realizing he
WAS in the right spot. He walked into church and dad was one of the
first to greet him. From that moment on it has been a sweet friendship. A
few weeks ago Glenn called dad and told him he was having 'some not
good thoughts.' Dad talked to him and told Glenn to call him everyday.
Last week Glenn came to Institute and dad told him he wanted to see him
in church today. Glenn has no money, but does not live far from us, so
dad told him if he had a white shirt and tie to put that on, and we
would come and get him. Missionaries are not suppose to transport
members because they get used to it and then won't find their own way.
But, in this case, we want Glenn to start the habit of attending church
again. When we picked him up this morning he looked like a
Missionary......only needed to shave. He so enjoyed being among the
Dutch Saints, and he was so happy to be in church again. We will help
him this week get to FHE and Institute, but have asked the Elders to
help him find his way on a bike......when in Holland, do as the Dutch
do. Ride bikes. It is so rewarding to see these young people WANT to
live the life they know they should. When we were leaving church, Glenn
was talking to another young lady that was Baptized a couple of years
ago, who also has had some Word of Wisdom problems. They were talking
about how hard life is sometimes. Dad heard that conversation, and
reminded them that 'Life is hard, BUT, in the end all the trials are
worth IT." On the way home, Opa let me off at the apartment so I could
start lunch. Glenn got in the front seat of the car with Opa.......he ,
Opa, reached over and popped Glenn on the leg like he does the
grandsons......Opa told Glenn that is what he does, and Glenn said 'it
was an honor to be treated like one of Opa's grandsons." he is another
one that would love to come to Utah and be part of our family.=)
We
started this email off with the words 'Warm thoughts". Today at church
we experienced the most "Warm" Testimony meeting we have experienced
while here in the Netherlands. The first lady to bear her Testimony said
it was 50 years ago today that her father had been Baptized. He was
only 14 years of age. She told how the Missionaries had 'found' him, and
what blessings had come to their family because of his Baptism. The
next Testimony was given by a woman who spoke Spanish.....again
translated into Dutch, then into English. She again expressed thanks to
Missionaries who had taught her, and how her life had changed since
joining the church. Remember the lady we told you about several weeks
ago, who wanted to be baptized but could not give up her coffee
drinking.....her dad owns a large coffee plantation in Colombia. Well,
the Elders had almost given up on her because she said she COULD NOT
give up her coffee. Margaret was in church today and was sitting right
in front of us. Not being Baptized, she did not partake of the
Sacrament. During Testimony meeting she jumped up and went up to the
podium. The Elders who have been teaching her looked really worried,
because Margaret is rather outspoken. What she said just brought
tears.....she said that during the Sacrament, she had a 'burning
feeling' for about a minute, that she KNEW she needed to be Baptized and
change her 'ways'. She literally set her own Baptism date while bearing
her Testimony. Again thanking the Missionaries. WOW!!!!!!!!!! The
Elders could not believe what they were hearing. The next Sister is from
Suriname, and told how she had been 'Church shopping'.12 Churches. When
she met the Elders she knew she had found the RIGHT church. She held up
the calendar that the Missionaries use to check off the lessons that
have been given, and the date that is set for the persons Baptism.
Astrid help up this paper and said it is one of the most treasured items
in her house. She told how joining the church had united her
family......3 of her children were Baptized shortly after her. Then, the
sweet family from Ecuador bore Testimony, the father, mother, and
daughter. They have nothing, cannot speak the Dutch language, but gave
thanks for the Saints here, and offered to do anything for anyone. Roos,
who was Baptized about a year ago stood to bear Testimony holding a
small package. She told how her roommate had offered to fix breakfast
for her. Roos told her she was fasting and when asked why, Roos
explained that the money that would have been used to prepare a meal, is
given to the Bishop so he can give it to those in need. The roommate
left the room then returned with this small package. She told Roos she
received this package for Christmas, did not need it, and would Roos
please take it and give it to the Bishop so he could give it to someone
in need. Roos handed the package to the Bishop.....The last young man to
bear Testimony is here in Amsterdam from Turkey, doing an internship.
He ended the meeting telling about the Missionaries meeting his
family......We are SO THANKFUL to be serving the Lord, finding the one,
bringing them back into the fold. As we hear Testimonies as were born
today, we feel so blessed to be in the Lords Service, hopefully making a
change in someone's life. I cried during the whole meeting.......Post
Script: After Testimony Meeting I went up to Margaret and gave her a big
love. I told her it was the 'Holy Ghost' that gave her that 'burning
feeling'.......I then ask her if this meant she was going to stop
drinking her coffee. She said this was probably her answer........
Then
we get home........fixing lunch, when the doorbell rings. There stands
the four Elders that live near us. It is the AP's that are teaching
Margaret. When I told them what I had said about her coffee habit they
looked at me and said; "You are an angel, we did not know how we were
going to approach the subject again with her." Hey, tell it like it
is!!!! We will go this Friday
to 'joint teach' Margaret. I also told her I would bake cookies for her
Baptism. LOVE BEING MISSIONARIES!!!!!!!!!!!! We received a call from
President Robinson. He asked if he and Sister Robinson could swing by
for a visit........What a day. We had a delightful visit. They both
being from Southern Utah really hit it off with dad. We were told that
Elder and Sister Lyons, who have been working with us in the Amsterdam
Centrum, have been reassigned to another Centrum. I was also asked to
now take the Medical calls, and fill out the forms that need to be sent
to Germany each month. We want to be busy, and that we are. We will
start going back to Lelystad twice a month as well. Did we mention how
quickly time is going. We hit our one year mark on the 9th.
We
love you all........We love the Saints here.......how will we ever say
goodbye. Thank you for your prayers for us and all the Missionaries.
They are felt. PS: Our computer is up and running and the Magic Jack
works once again =) More blessings.
Liefde,
Opa and Oma
Vader and Moeder
Elder and Zuster deLeeuw
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