Well, another week has whizzed by. We
are coming up on the one month mark of our Mission and I have so far
only had one day that I was 'homesick'. We LOVE your phone calls,
pictures and emails. Keep them coming;)
Weather report for the first week of February 2012. It snowed just a little Monday morning then was COLD all week. Friday
we went to Deventer for a surprise birthday party for President
Brubaker. We left early because it had started to snow...15 minutes out
we were driving in a white out blizzard. Elder Pankratz was driving or
we would NOT have gone on. Another Senior Couple was in front of us so
we kept track of each other. We made it Deventer and the party was
suppose to start at 3:00. The Mission President got stuck in a traffic jam because of the snow and did not arrive until after 5:00.
We ate and all headed home because of the road conditions. It stayed
at -10 degrees C for the next 2 days. All the canals are frozen and it
is winter.
Monday
Zuster Pankratz gave dad a haircut,,,,,can't afford the 25 euros. We
bought some clippers and I will try and keep dad's hair trimmed...pray
for that as well. Monday
I took the Zuster Missionaries to the grocery store because it was so
cold. My first time driving and we survived. The roads are SO narrow
and with all the bikes it is scary. I took the Zusters into the store
where the 'India' lady works just to say hi. She is so sweet and knows
me now by my Missionary badge. She asked if the Zusters were my
daughters and I told her they were daughters in our church...we are all
brothers and Zusters. We are planting the seed.
Tuesday
after District Meeting dad and I ventured into the city of Amsterdam.
Thousands of bikes parked in bike racks everywhere. Canals on both sides
of the roads...house boats, barges, people, and more people. There is
NO place for cars to park so if a trip is needed to be taken in
Amsterdam taking the tram would be the ONLY way. You go into Central
Station and walk to all the 'tourist' attractions, then just jump back
on #9 back to Diemen. Does it sound like we are getting to kind of know
what we are doing.
Wednesday
we went to the open market in Diemen. It was so cold we only stayed
for a minute to look around. We can't believe that the vendors stand
outside in this cold weather. We had a famous Dutch treat that was made
right for us. Stroopwafels. The man rolled the dough and put it on a
waffle iron. When that was baked he spread fresh hot Carmel on the
waffle, bake another waffle for on top and gave it to us warm and gooey
with the hot Carmel. Oh my gosh...heaven. If I ate one of those each
week I would need to run up and down the stairs 100 times a day. But,
it would be worth it:) I bought some thigh Hi wool stocking to keep my
legs warm...worth every penny.
Thursday
we did some shopping and I made roll out Valentine cookies for next
week. DO NOT take for granted all the conveniences you have by just
opening a can of Pillsbury cookie dough. I also made brownies. I have
to keep ahead of the game any time I can. Poor dad is going around
trying to find projects to keep him busy. He has lots of reports to do
so that does give him something to do for a few hours.
Friday
dad went to the store and bought some bird seed. We tipped over a
flower pot and put the seed in that. We have several Doves that come and
eat...it is "cheep" entertainment. no pun intended;) At the birthday
party one of the Elders had made a slide show with pictures of the
Senior Elders when they were all young Elders. All of the Senior Elders
here, 7 of them, all served in the Netherlands as young Missionaries.
When dad's picture came up Elder Everton also had a picture of Cameron
with President Brubaker when he was here.
Saturday
we WALKED into Diemen like REAL Dutch people. It was so cold but as I
write each week people still ride bikes and walk everywhere. People
walk to the grocery store with their shopping bags, purchase a few
things then walk back home. In the Diemen Shopping centrum was a 'Saturday
Sidewalk sale". So fun all these culture things. We were trying to
find dad a hat and finally found one that makes him look like a
caveman......hey, it's cold and it keeps him warm.
While we were shopping the Zuster Missionaries
called us and asked when we would be home. Their apartment had been
broken into and they were quite shaken up. Dad and I went over and dad
went into the back yard and found footprints coming into the back
sliding door. The latch had been broken and drawers were pulled out in
the bedroom. One of the Zusters said; "I hope they stole a Book of
Mormon." The Police came and took a report. I told dad, we have only
been here 3 weeks and I have been to the hospital and had an encounter
with the Police:) We had the Zusters come and stay with us and it was
like a grand daughter sleep over....only they had to study and go to bed
at 10:30.
OK all the fun stuff...we really are doing Missionary work. Monday
night at FHE we had dinner, a lesson and the YSA played indoor soccer.
They are such an amazing group of kids. Jan, one of the YSA plays the
piano like you have never heard in your life. He took 3 lessons when he
was 6 and then it is all his own now. He has written several songs and
I asked if he would make a CD for me with his compositions. The YSA
love cookies so when we ask them to do anything we bribe them with
snickerdoodles. Tuesday
after District Meeting we met with Bregjet, our 87 year investigator.
She is a riot and says the funniest things. The Elders gave her
another challenge for Baptism in April. She says she prays but does not
"feel anything". We have the opportunity to bear OUR Testimonies and
let her know she is feeling something she just doesn't know what because
she has never had this feeling. We pray she will keep studying and
praying and that she WILL be baptized. She is always taking about her
husband and how she misses him....Eternal Families!!!!!!
Wednesday the Elders asked if we would pick up a man who they had brought to church the previous Sunday.
A black man from Nigeria with a VERY strong accent.Alex. He is in
this country illegally because he fled Nigeria after his business was
terrorized by Muslims. His wife is Muslim and he is a Christen...and in
Nigeria the Muslims do NOT like the Christen people. He has seen the
Aba Nigeria Temple and told us how beautiful it is. He carries the Book
of Mormon everywhere along with his Bible. He really enjoyed institute
and even read some scripture from Isaiah. He has no money because hen
has no job because he is illegal so it is hard for him to get to church.
We as Missionaries as not suppose to transport non members but in this
case was given permission. When we took him home he told us thank you
and even called to make sure WE had arrived home safely. Another golden
contact. We asked the Elders if he could be baptized being here as an
illegal and they told us because he is a Christen from Nigeria they
COULD baptize him. If he was Muslim they could not because he might be
killed right here in Amsterdam.
We LOVE attending church here. Everyone is so happy to see each other. The traditional 3 kisses on the cheek. On Wednesday
I took a picture of Darrel with his dog Misty. His family was cooking
the ward dinner that night so I visited with him and played with the
dog....the dog was the one brought to church last week. I took his
picture and he said "you are my new best friend." He is 11, black and
has dredge locks....I Have a picture of him.His family is from Sudan.
He bore his Testimony today and told about when the Elders were
teaching his family he was told to pray and ask if the Book of Mormon
was true. He prayed, went to bed and the next morning a voice told him
the book was true. Another black man from Spain bore his Testimony
testifying of the truth of the Gospel. He is a convert and served a
Mission in Greece. A young couple had their baby blessed and the mother
was trying to video the blessing. A Zuster from the ward had to get up
and explain that was not permitted....so many experiences. The ward
loves to have treats and today, even being Fast Sunday
had treats because the baby had been blessed. Dad and I mentioned that
this is like when we lived in Kent...we so looked forward to meeting
with other members of the church. At home we just rush to get out so
the next ward can come in. We were given the RS book on Daughter's in
my Kingdom. DOCHTERS in mijn koninkryk. The RS President is called de
ZHV President (zet ha Fay). Most everyone that bears Testimony are
converts and tell about 'finding the truth' they had been searching for.
There are many investigators as well at church and it is so great to
go and shake their hands and welcome them. We in Utah are NOT very
social at church and do not seek out those who are even
visiting......tell your Zusters to get out of their comfort zone and go
talk to someone they don't know!!!!!
I have written lots, but this is my journal and this
will be with me forever. We LOVE these people and one Zuster I spoke
with today is the Oma of the Deacon that passed the Sacrament for the
first time last week. When I told her I had emailed my family about his
little sister giving him a hug she started to cry. She said she would
like to have dad and I over for dinner some Sunday. Wow..just because I started talking about her family.
Thank you all for your prayers...we feel them. We
love you more than you will ever know. We LOVE being Missionaries and
having all the experiences we are having. We even went for a ride the
other day and got home without using the GPS. We felt empowered;)
Love, Opa and Oma
I will send more pictures
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