The
weeks just seem to be flying by.....we are getting almost an extra hour
of daylight at night now, so that makes things better. This week the
Queen of Holland, Beatrix, announced that she would be leaving the
throne, and her son, Willem Alexander, would take over as King of
Holland. He will be the first KING in over a century to Rule in the
Netherlands. The Royalty of the Netherlands is not a life long rule like
the Queen of England, so after 33 years Beatrix will step down on April 30th, Queen's day, and Alexander will become King. We will experience yet another event here....April 30th
will be an exciting day. The value of the American Dollar keeps
dropping. It is the lowest it has been since we arrived. It is VERY
expensive to live in the Netherlands right now for Americans. We are
being very careful on what we purchase. Our health is good, we are
happy, so that is what REALLY matters:)
The health saga continued this week for Elder Schulte. Monday morning he called, he had passed out at church Sunday,
was very nauseated, dizzy, pain in his right side. Back to the
hospital. 7 hours of sitting in the emergency room.....more blood tests,
NOTHING done, a Dr. coming in 3 times for just a minute. FINALLY when
we got a bit 'not friendly', an Eco was ordered. All anyone had done is
push on Elder Schulte's side and ask if it hurt. We were told that
Americans are not treated very well at the hospitals here.....now I
believe it. Nothing showed on the Eco so we were sent home with a
prescription for pain....which was nothing more than Tylenol and strong
Ibuprofen. We had been at the hospital so long dad and I did not even
have time to change our clothes for FHE. Tuesday
morning we were getting ready for District Meeting when the phone rang.
It was Sister Robinson telling us that she had spoken with Dr. Swenson
the Mission Dr. Dr. Swenson wanted a CT done, but we needed to see a
Huisart for the order. Back to the Huisart......another joke. The
Huisart said she could not order a CT scan, nothing was wrong, and gave
Elder Schulte a prescription for some fiber. Elder Schulte was doubled
over with pain.....dizzy, pale, nauseated. OK.....another hospital for a
second opinion. This time we were told to take him to Den Haag, which
is an hours drive from here. Another 7 hours in the Emergency Room. We
added up, and we spent 20 hours plus just sitting in the Hospital. A
female Dr. came in to check on Elder Schulte, did a test that had not
been done, another Eco was ordered but
no CT scan....Diagnosis.....a pinched nerve in the muscle of his
abdomen?????? No more hospitals.....the Elder is taking pain pills,
determined NOT to be sent home as his release date is March 22nd,
and he wants to finish his Mission. We just keep praying all will be OK
until he returns home. I told dad that if I got sick and needed medical
care to just shoot me and send me home in a coffin......the animals
here get better care than humans. Before we left to go to Den Haag,
Elder Schulte asked if we had any 'pass a long cards' he could take to
the hospital. This is the kind of Missionary he is. When he was being
wheeled down the hall for the Eco, a lady who works in the hospital saw
his Missionary badge and came running. She is a member of the Den Haag
ward and was concerned to see one of the Elders in the hospital. While
we were waiting to be called back to a room, the Elders talked to a
women who was also waiting, gave her a card, got her phone
number......these Elders look for EVERY opportunity to share the
Gospel....even in pain.
Thursday we spent half the day helping to move one of our JoVo's Mary Kate. She is moving to Brussels on Saturday, but needed to move out of her apartment, so needed to stay with someone until Saturday.
This is our 'Opera Singer' Young Adult, who we have loved for a year.
It is so hard to say goodbye, but we are happy she is finally having the
opportunity to pursue her talents. She is in a production in
Luxembourg, playing the part of Hansel, in the story of Hansel and
Gretal. She has been very active in the Amsterdam Ward, being a
counselor in the YW, and choir director. She will be missed by everyone.
As we were moving her out of the apartment she has been living in, we
were amazed at the conditions. She rents a very small room, just big
enough for a bed, small bedside table, a chair, and desk. To get to her
room you have to walk through the bathroom. The kitchen is tiny, and
this apartment is shared with 2 other people....one being a man. 320
euro a month. You just can't believe how many apartment houses there are
here in Amsterdam, and all over Holland. The conditions of these
apartments are really something else..you have to see these to
appreciate what we are talking about. Another 'take for granted' being
blessed to live in the homes we have.
Remember when we said that we don't get ready for bed before 10:30 until we know all the Elders and Sisters are tucked into bed. Thursday night I was so tired from moving Mark Kate, and from all the weeks happenings, I took a shower at 9:30
thinking all was well. NOT. A knock at the front door. There stood the
Sisters. They had gone home and found that someone had tried to pry the
lock off their front door. This is the second time the Sisters apartment
has been broken into. We laugh because all they have is lots of Books
of Mormon, 3 hair dryers, and worn out shoes. Whoever had tried to pry
the lock off must have been scared away, as we found the lock thrown on
the sidewalk, and they did not get into the apartment. Of course the
Sisters were scared, but with the 3 of them we knew they would be ok.
Dad checked everything out, dead bolted the front door, gave them a
'safety talk'.....Friday
morning dad and President Van der Put, a member of the Den Haag Stake
Presidency who is our local repair man, purchased a heavy new lock to
put on the door. President Van der Put told the Sisters not to call the
police because they would not do anything. We pray everyday we will stay
healthy, not needing medical care, and safe, not needing the Police.
Dad and I are being more cautious about our belongings. We told the
Sisters to post a sign on their doors saying that the Books of Mormon
were free, leave a name and phone number, and they would contact whoever
was trying to break into the apartment.
We
wish we could send home more of the fancy Belgium chocolate. Now in the
stores are the Valentine Chocolates......The Sinta Claus candy was
fancy, but the Valentine candy has that beat. Delicate hearts, chocolate
slippers, kissing lips, bouquets of chocolate flowers. Wow, it is a
GOOD thing I do not like chocolate, or I would be in trouble. I have to
take dad by the arm as he drools over all the sweets, and just keep him
walking. Hersey's just does not make the cut! We will take some pictures
so you can see what we are talking about. Oh, and the Easter candy has
hit the shelves as well. Chocolate Heaven =)
It
has been raining most of the week. All the snow is gone, no more ice on
the Canals....strong North wind that takes your breath away. The
weather changes here as quickly as Utah. Saturday
we were shopping...went into the store with the sun shining....came out
15 minutes later with a downpour of hail. The weather forecast has more
snow in the near future, so winter is NOT over here either. When we
were coming out of the church the other day, dad made the comment as to
how green the grass is.....or moss that we think is grass ? The fields
where the Tulips will be blooming in just as few months, are just big
mud fields now, and we wonder how the bulbs will ever grow. Mother
Nature is so kind when she brings spring again each year. Gives us
something to look forward to for sure.
Today
was another special Testimony Meeting. There were so many members that
wanted to share their Testimonies, that the meeting went 15 minutes
overtime. Here there is not another Ward pushing to come into for their
meeting, so a member of the Bishopric got up and said, that all those on
the stand could bear their Testimonies, but please no one else come up.
Several in English, several in Dutch, and several in Spanish. We made
comment as to how many Spanish speaking members have moved in just the
last few months. The family that originally came from Peru are amazing.
The women wear their Peruvian clothes which are beautiful. The mother
stood and bore her Testimony, giving thanks for being so close to a
Temple once again. She told of several places they had lived, where to
get to the Temple took many hours and lots of money. Her son, which we
think is about 13-14, stood and said how thankful he was to have the
Gospel in his life. We lose lots in translation....from Spanish to Dutch
to English, but we can feel what they are bearing Testimony of, is
coming from their hearts. The Elders and Sisters here in the Amsterdam
Ward presented a Missionary lesson during Priesthood/RS. There are SO
many names on the Ward list, that many don't even know who they are. The
Stake Missionary plan is to 'Find the One.' The members were encouraged
to call someone they had not seen at church for awhile. Invite them to
come back. The Dutch Saints here find it hard to have their meetings
being translated into different languages...they were reminded that we
are "all sons and daughters of God", meeting for one purpose.
We had 14 at Institute Wednesday.
We have yet another young lady being taught by the Sister Missionaries,
from Germany, working here in Holland, who will be Baptized on the 24th
of this month. She loves attending with the JoVo's, and we LOVE having
her. We can't believe how many YSA's we have met from all around the
world. Our lives are, and have been blessed knowing them. We are getting
an 'up to date list' of all the JoVo's that come from each Ward and
Branch. We are still finding names of YSA's that should be attending,
but are not on our lists. Missionary work is never ending.
We
are so blessed to have the Gospel in our lives. Look for ways to be
Missionaries yourselves.....you don't need a name badge! Seek out those
who have 'lost the Gospel light.' Invite them back. Let them know they
are missed. Be a friend. SMILE
.
We love you!
Vader and Moeder
Opa and Oma
Elder and Zuster deLeeuw
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