Happy Easter

Happy Easter,

Boy, the Dutch really know how to celebrate holidays! At Christmas they have Christmas day, and then the second day of Christmas. Easter is the same way. Sunday being Easter, then no one works on Monday, as that is the second day of Easter. We know of many who are taking a three day holiday going to France, Germany, England......we will not have FHE Monday because many of the YSA's are on Holiday. The stores Saturday were out of control. Everyone buying for the weekend......LOTS of wine and beer being purchased. Once again, the chocolates that are created for Easter put the candy stores in the US to shame. Haven't had time to take pictures of all the creations, but the are amazing. Friday Night we attended an Easter Program put on by the Den Haag Stake, in Haarlem. We wish the Stakes at home would do something like this. Narration about Christ and his days before the Crucifixion, his resurrection, with beautiful music and Hymns sung. Incredible. Dayna Lee, remember Jan, the YSA who played the piano for you when you were here. He played an original composition  he called "Atonement".....words cannot express how beautiful it was. It brought tears.

We have a new theme song....."On the Road again"....the Mission had asked that the Senior couples  keep their mileage to 2000 KM per month, but we have now been given 'unlimited' miles, as we are looking for apartments. Tuesday we looked at three apartments, all being about an hours drive from each other. I am now packing a lunch each day as we go from one appointment to another. This next Tuesday we have an appointment in Delft to sign a contract at 10:00 am. Delft is an hours drive to the South....then at 1:00 we have an appointment in Hilversum, which is 30 minutes the other way...1 1/2 hours drive all together. We just hope and pray we don't get a speeding ticket. We have been busy this week going to several stores, signing contracts to have items delivered to the church warehouse. We are now purchasing items in bulk.......stoves, washing machines, refrigerators, beds, mattresses. We spent a couple of hours Saturday in Ikea, writing down numbers and prices of desks, tables, chairs, wardrobes, dishes, drying racks.....and the list goes on. 35 apartments before the 'dust settles.' We need six apartments all ready to go by the 30th of April......we have 4 under contract, two ready to start furnishing, and keeping our fingers crossed for the final two to be signed next week. Ask us if we sleep. We wake up in the middle of the night and think of ALL that needs to be done. We have asked all the Senior Couples to help. They are to contact members of the Ward or Branch where the new apartment will be located, have them there when we pull up with the van, unload, then let them put everything together. Remember, everything comes from IKEA. One apartment we looked at this week is like a 4 star Hotel.(Zaandam).....We hope to be able to contract this apartment with ALL the flooring, drapes, appliances, some furniture and dishes. It would be an answer to prayers. Everyone is so supportive and willing to help. The Elders and Sisters have sent us texts and phone calls, telling us we are in their prayers. We have been told that a couple from the Alkmaar Branch are being asked to help us with the YSA Center. Speaking of the YSA Center. On the 10th of April, we have been asked to host 20 students from Amsterdam University, to come and join us for Institute. Kim, our FHE coordinator, has put on Facebook, that she would like many JoVo's to come that night, to share their Missionary Spirit. Kim made the comment that she hoped at least 50 or 60 would be in attendance......and guess who has to fix dinner!!!! All in the life of a Missionary. The Students will take a tour of the church, have a short Gospel message, then be able to ask questions. The six Amsterdam Missionaries will be there, and as the students leave, we will give them a Book of Mormon. What a Missionary opportunity for sure.

Hey, we had a heat wave this week. ONE day it was 8 degrees Celsius.....then Friday and Saturday it snowed, and this morning we woke up to a small blizzard. As the day has progressed, the sun has been playing 'peek a boo.' All the Dutch folks are even telling us what a cold spring this has been. Still no Tulips showing in the fields. We are curious as to what is happening at the Keukenhof Gardens. At least the wind hasn't been blowing this week. Still wearing coats and scarves!

We heard some great news. The church has finally been able to purchase all the property around the Temple here. The Temple sits on a corner with no fence around it. People walk their dogs all over the grass, and there is dog poop everywhere. I think we mentioned that there has been graffiti on the Temple at times as well. We also heard from a member, that in the summer, mothers bring their children to play in the fountains that are in front of the Temple. Now FINALLY, a beautiful fence can be built around the Temple to protect it's beauty. A new Stake Center is also being built in Zoetermeer, not far from the temple. No more renting large Hotel rooms for Stake Conference.

Remember how we told you we don't even think about getting ready for bed until after 10;00 when we know the Sisters are home.....well, the other night at 10:35!!!!!! we were saying our prayers, when the doorbell rang. Hello, 10:35, what's up. There were the Sisters, they are suppose to be in their apartment no later than 9:30.......they had an appointment that had gone longer than expected, and when they got home, they could not find their keys. Gotta love these Sister Missionaries......SO, now we are cautious about getting ready for bed until 10:30 :) This morning at 9:00 our doorbell rang, and there stood the Sisters with a couple of darling Easter Baskets they had made for us. Some Easter candies, hard boiled eggs they had colored and two beautiful pictures of Christ. Like we said.....gotta love them! Later this evening I will make some cookies, and take to the Elders and Sisters for an Easter treat for them.

One of the Senior Couples are having to come home for 4 to 5 weeks for some medical treatment. They have been told to pack up everything, as if they were going home to stay. We guess this must be a Church Policy, but they sure are not happy about it. They were just going to pack a small bag of needed items, and leave all the rest here for their return. We hope all goes well, and they WILL be able to return. The joys of 'old age.' It was so hard to say goodbye to Elder and Sister Pankratz this past week. They served their first Mission here, were home for just 5 months, when they were asked to come back for another 18 months. They came without hesitation. They have been the 'life line' to the Mission, working in the office. They are what "Christ Like' truly means.

When dad was on his Mission 50 years ago, he Baptized a family from Brussels on Christmas day. I think you girls have heard him talk about it. Jona Pimentil, the young girl at that time, came to BYU right after we were married, and I was able to meet her. Well, dad has hoped to find her while here, and visit with her. He has asked several people about the family, as the father became a Branch President in Brussels, and was very much loved and admired. Finally, two days ago, dad got the address and phone number of Jona. She lives in Alkmaar, where we have YSA's coming from to the Center. He called her, and they had a great visit. Jona wants us to come for a visit, and we hope to do this before we leave. Needless to say, dad was happy to finally locate her, and find out about her and her family. Jona asked dad if he still had all his red hair. He got a laugh out of that!!!

Thank you for your emails....we LOVE to hear news from home. We don't have time to respond personally, but know we appreciate you taking the time to email us. You ARE our contact to home! We are now on Daylight savings time, so we are back to 8 hours difference.

We hope this finds you all well and happy. Two weeks from now our four daughters will be here with us....rain, wind, snow, or sun....we are so looking forward to their arrival, and will enjoy doing and seeing things, no matter the weather. But, we do hope there will be more sun! This is another special day to think about our Father in Heaven, and his son Jesus Christ. John 3:16....."For God so loved the world, that he sent his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him, should not perish, but  have everlasting life." We are SO blessed to have the knowledge that Christ lives. Live your lives to be worthy of all the Blessings you have. Please keep us in your prayers, that we might continue to have the Health, Strength, and energy needed to do all that we have been asked to do. That the apartments WILL be found, so the work of the Lord will be able to go forward here in the Netherlands. We love you all

Opa and Oma

Vader and Moeder

Elder and Zuster deLeeuw

IT IS COLD!!!!

BURRRRRR!!!!!

Whoever said we are melting from 'Global Warming' has NOT lived in the Netherlands! Twice this week dad has scraped ice from the windows, and today, Saturday, it is only 3 degree's C., which is 37 degrees F....the wind is blowing, and it is COLD! As we travel to the Mission Office past the Tulip fields,we see that the farmers have the tulips covered with plastic. Keukenhof Gardens open Monday. We hope all the beautiful flowers have had heat lamps on them, or they will still be in hibernation. As dad and I have been planning on what to do when with you girls, I keep saying, "depending on the weather'. You know what? We do what we do no matter the weather. Just come with your winter coats and clothes!

We have GREAT news!!! A new Senior couple will be arriving May 4th to work in the office. Just pray that everything does not fall apart until they come. You will laugh at their names. Elder and Sister Winmill........coming to the Netherlands. We have spoken to them on the phone. No Dutch Ancestry, just a fun name. Elder Winmill retired the 8th of March. They received their Mission call on the 14th, and they will be here the 4th of May. When President Robinson put in a plea, the Missionary Department listened. YEA!!!!!!!!!! 

News of the YSA's: Last week at FHE for the birthday party, there were 17 in attendance, 3 being nonmembers. This is why the Centers are here.....to invite these nonmembers. Hans, a young man of about 24-25, has attended now for 3 weeks. His mother was recently baptized, speaks only Spanish and Dutch, so it is hard to communicate with her, but she has asked several times about what we do at FHE and Institute. Hans has a smoking/drug problem, like SO many of the young people here have. His mother, Marta, has told us through translation, that "Hans has no good friends'. The YSA's have welcomed him, he has really participated with the group, and Wednesday as he was leaving he asked the Elders to come and visit him .Hans came to Institute clean shaven, the first time we have seen him without his scruffy beard. Volker, the young man that was Baptized and we went to Gouda for his confirmation......he was also at the birthday party. As we were talking to him he said: "When I got Baptized I never wanted to serve a Mission, but in the past week, something keeps telling me I should, and now I think I REALLY want to serve a Mission". We told him he would be fabulous, as he could share HIS conversion story from Atheist to having the strong Testimony that he now shares. Wednesday at Institute, Sister Westra from Alkmaar, was in attendance. She and her husband have been called as Branch representatives to help with the JoVo's there. Her son is Jurjen, the young man that was inactive when we arrived, and she had asked us to find him. He is now in the process of filling out his Mission  papers. As Sister Westra was leaving Institute Wednesday, she threw her arms around me, tears streaming down her face, and said, "Thank you for saving my son". Then our tears came. That is why we are here.....hopefully doing some good in bringing souls back into the church, or inviting them to join. Kevin, from Almere, is an Irish dancer. We have not seen him dance, but know he is good, because he won the 'WORLD dance trophy' last year in Ireland. He left today, Saturday, to fly to Ireland to try and defend the trophy. Dancers come from all over to participate in this event, and OUR Kevin is the winner!!!! He told us he would dance for us before we leave to come home. This is why saying goodbye is going to be so difficult!

Just a note about the Netherlands daylight saving. We go to that NEXT weekend, the 31st. So, this week we are 7 hours difference, next week we go back to 8. Already we have gained about 3 hours of daylight, and next week we will stay light long into the night. Remember last summer when we told you it was still light at 11:00 pm. Well, here we start again:) Now if the daylight hours were just warm. AND, we received the bill for the Drivers License citation......337 euro, or about $475.00 American Dollars. Dad spoke with a man who used to be a police officer here, and he could not believe the police did not give dad just a warning. The Dutch Government once again makes money.

This week two new Elders arrived. One Elder is from England, the only member of his family that is a member of the church. The new Missionaries fill out a questionnaire about themselves, and as I was typing them for Sister Robinson, It was interesting to read about his conversion. He said he joined the church because of the example of a Sister Missionary serving in his Ward in England. The question of how is your Mission being payed for.....the answer was, self pay and help from the church. Wow.....He was so excited to be here, and said he was ready to 'Teach and Preach". April 30th there will be 9 Sisters and 4 Elders arriving. We were told we need to have 6 apartments ready to go by this date. We spent all of Saturday shopping at stores where we can purchase large items in bulk: Washing machines, microwaves, vacuum cleaners, wardrobes, refrigerators. We have a list 2 1/2 pages long, of all the items needed to furnish these apartments. Friday we went into Belgium to take some items to the Elders.....and on April 11th we will go to Genk and get that apartment ready to occupy. That is the only apartment in Belgium we need to get ready, as of now, so we can get the other Senior couples involved in helping with the apartments closer by. Yes, you girls will have the opportunity of helping. This way you can experience what  needs to be done as the influx of Missionaries arrive. Before all is settled, there will probably be 30 plus new apartments. We have two appointments this Tuesday, one in Utrecht and one in Zaandam, to hopefully sign contracts. Elder and Sister Pankratz leave next Thursday, the 28th. Dad gets all the keys, credit cards, pin numbers, problems, that Elder Pankratz has dealt with. Can you see why we are not sleeping very well. Elder and Sister Winmill cannot arrive soon enough! There is a 'local' couple working in the office a few hours a week to help where needed. Brother and Sister Muurling. Sister Muurling is the Stake RS President, and they both are Temple workers. The other day they told us of their conversion......long story, but Sister Muurlings family all but disowned her when she was baptized. Her sister has not spoken to her in 30 years. We are so blessed!!!!

Sunday

We have heard that Utah had a good snow storm this past week. 70's one day, snow the next. We are not complaining, but it is still COLD, wind blowing, -3 degrees C this morning. The Elders needed transportation for a family of 6 that are investigating the church, so since our car is the biggest, and can transport 3 in the back seat.....they had to make 2 trips to Zaandam, which is about a 15 minute drive from the Amsterdam Chapel. Dad went the first trip to get them to church, but after Sacrament meeting we had a meeting with a member of the Stake Presidency, so the Elders just took our car for 'the run'. We were ready to come home before they arrived back at the church, so thought we would just walk home. We turned the corner on the Mediweg, and the wind hit us so hard we could hardly walk. Dad only had his suit coat on, and by the time we got home he said he had never been so cold in his life. We live a 20 minute walk from the church. We commented several times that we were glad we were not having to ride bikes going into the wind....as several riders rode past us. Yes, we felt like REAL Dutch people......being outside. Hope we don't have to do that again:) We are NOT Dutch!!! Only in name.

Today was Ward Conference, with the Theme being 'reaching out for the one." Several investigators in attendance, so the message was so appropriate. We all can be Missionaries......sharing the good news of the Gospel. D&C:31,3...'.Lift up your heart and rejoice, for the hour of your mission is come; and your tongue shall be loosed, and you shall declare glad tidings of great joy unto this generation." One of the men that was baptized several months ago, Desmond from Ghana, came to church today wearing a suit, white shirt and tie. He was smiling from ear to ear as we made a fuss over him looking like a Missionary. It is so great to see these new converts progress....even in the way they dress.

We love you. We lover serving the Lord....we are feeling a bit overwhelmed, but we can do what is needed. We ask today if we could get some help with the YSA's Center, on the chance that we might not be available some FHE or Institute night. Setting up apartments is an all day job, and if they are not close by, we want to make sure the Center is covered. Our Stake Presidency is amazing, and are so eager to help us. They know of the extra responsibility that we have been given. We just pray we stay healthy.

Love, Vader and Moeder

           Opa and Oma

           Elder and Zuster deLeeuw

Spring???????????

Mother Nature is not being very kind!

I am starting to type this on Friday, as the weekend is as busy as the week has been. So, you will get this in pieces, as I get a few minutes here and there. We woke up to snow this morning and 2 degrees Celsius....35 Fahrenheit. We have a bouquet of fresh tulips on our table reminding us that spring IS suppose to be here. The Keukenhof  Gardens are to open the 25th of March, and we hope there will be some flowers that are blooming. All our winter clothes I put away are now being worn again. The wind is blowing so that makes it REALLY cold.

Dad said to thank all of you that sent him Birthday greetings. It was a rather boring birthday as we spent several hours in the Mission Office, then came home and did more work on the computer. If we would have been home, we would have had a BIG celebration for #70, but dad said he was too old to do much celebrating. Next year we will make up for this. I gave him an Amsterdam baseball cap, and a tie with bicycles on it.....now he has a tulip tie, a windmill tie, and bikes. How much more Dutch can he get:) Tessa, one of our YSA's gave him a candy bouquet, which is a very popular thing here. Yesterday at Zone Training the Missionaries sang the Dutch Birthday song to him, and said lots of nice things about Elder deLeeuw. We heard some noise at our front door and wondered what was going on.....when we opened the door, we found the door covered with papers hearts and 'post it notes' wishing Elder deLeeuw a Happy Birthday. The Sister Missionaries had done this......another birthday in the Mission Field to remember.

Last Sunday at church there were 3 American visitors.....nothing new to us. After Sacrament Meeting we saw several of the Young Adults talking to one of the men. Emese, our Hungarian Jovo came running, jumping up and down showing us an autograph. Does the name Brandon Flowers mean anything to any of you? The singing group "The Killers"? Well, Brandon Flowers was one of the visitors. The 'group' was putting on a concert last Monday night here, and he Attended church in the Amsterdam Ward. He has done a 'Mormon Ad....I'm a Husband, I'm a Father, and I'm a Mormon'. Anyway.....he was signing autographs, and took down the names of several of the Young Adults who he invited to his concert.......FREE admit. They had front row 'standing room', as no one sits during these concerts we have been told. Guess we need to know who is famous. It was a fun evening these YSA's won't soon forget.

Monday after we left the Mission Office, we drove to Hilversum, where we looked at another apartment for Sister Missionaries to live in. Wow, we were SOOO excited. This apartment has new flooring, new remolded bathroom, no electrical outlet in the bathroom, but new tile:) Great for Sister Missionaries??.....we will get them an extension cord. All but one window had drapes or blinds. Unheard of in the Netherlands. We took the apartment on the spot! 12 apartments down, 10 more to go before July. Then who knows how many more will be needed. Now the fun begins, getting them finished and furnished. Never a dull moment. Today Elder and Sister Pankratz were not in the office as they went to the Zone Conference in Antwerpen. Instead of us going with them, as originally planned, we decided to go to the office and see what we could do on our own. Well, it took me an hour to figure out how to do two referrals, which would have taken Sister Pankratz 2 minutes. But hey, I did it. Dad answered the phone and worked on more apartment findings. We were going to go to the Mission storage shed to see what was there, but did not have the code number for entry. This experience was good for us, because now we know MORE questions to ask before we are really on our own. We have 3 more days of training, and then watch out. I told the Elders and Sisters, no Missionary orders until a new Office couple comes.....what is their response......"we are going to double the orders". Good luck on that!

Tuesday morning we took Abby to the airport and said goodbye to her. She had asked if we could take her because she had a few suitcases, and she could not take them on the train. 7 suitcases to be exact. In our small car, that was a load. Abby had to hold one on her lap even, and we hoped dad could shut the door. We made it, got her to the gate, shed some goodbye tears, and headed for the Mission Home for a 'Senior Couple' meeting. It is fun getting together with the other couples and have 'adult' conversation. We had to leave early as we had to go with Elder Pankratz to turn in our car. The Mission leases cars, and when they reach a certain mileage they are traded in for new cars. The new cars are tiny......we laughed and called them 'clown cars'. For Senior Couples, they are ridiculous! Elder Pankratz called Germany that day and made a complaint. One Senior couple here are so tall there is NO way they could drive the new cars. There is no room in the back seat to take JoVo's anywhere, and no room even to haul groceries and food. The AP's are (were) driving a Meriva, like the one we traded in, so we came right home and gave them the new car, and we are driving their's........they think they are 'hot stuff' driving the NEW car. It will be interesting to see what happens. The Mission also got a new van. Manual shift, smaller than the one turned in....another disappointment. With ALL the stuff that needs to be hauled to furnish all the apartments, we really need a moving van. Oh well, at least we don't have to ride bikes, so quit complaining!!!!!

We are excited as several of the JoVo's are filling out Mission Papers. Junior, the young man from Brazil, sent us a message the other day, that his parents, who are not members, and his step dad kicked him out of the house after his Baptism, are very much against his serving a Mission. He said they were saying 'some awful things' to him, and asked us what he should do. What would you say? We told him to read D&C:88,73, about the' Lords hastening his work'. We told him he had been baptized at THIS time, so he COULD be a Missionary, and be part of the 'hastening.' We told him to love his parents, that 'love IS the key'. Not to be angry, ask for a Priesthood Blessing, and the Lord would soften his parents hearts.....we know that the Lord has a plan for all of us. We had the privilege on Thursday to take Tessa, our JoVo from Alkmaar, to Den Haag to receive her Patriarchal Blessing. We had attended Zone Conference in Leiden that day, so she took the train to Leiden and met us at the Mission Office. Tessa was raised as an Atheist. When she was 17 she went to Spanish Fork as an exchange student. When she arrived there, her host family had registered her in Seminary and she did not even know what the Bible was. She told us that she noticed something different living with this family. They loved each other, had FHE, prayed over their food, prayed as a family each morning and evening. The family took her to church where she met new friends, and her friends at school were members of the Mormon church. She was taught the Missionary lessons, but her parents would not give permission for her to be Baptized. She came back to the Netherlands,continued with the Missionary lessons, and finally when her parents saw how happy she was, they consented to her Baptism....her parents would not even allow the Missionaries into their home. Tessa was taught in the Centrum. Her 'Host father', came to the Netherlands to do the Baptism. Tessa is one of our strongest JoVo's. She asked us several weeks ago if we could take her, as she wanted someone 'like family' to be with he. What an honor for us. When she came out of the room after the Blessing, she was just beaming. She was so prepared for the Blessing, reading her Scriptures, studying about the 'Tribes of Israel', fasting and praying. We did not ask her what was said, because that is something sacred for her, but she said she KNEW what was said was especially for her, and she had a lot of questions answered. She said she hoped she would stay worthy to receive all the blessings promised.....and she will. We asked if she had told her parents about the Blessing. Her comment was, "how could I explain a Blessing from God, when my parents don't even believe there is a God." These are the amazing Young people we love. New experiences every week.

We mentioned Zone Conference. Two Elders and Elder and Sister Pankratz are the departing Missionaries from our Zone. At these conferences, those who are going home are given the opportunity to bear their Testimonies. It brings tears to our eyes as we listen to these Missionaries give thanks for the opportunity to serve the Lord. The Elders and Sisters serving now, before all the 'dust is settled', can go home 3 weeks early or 3 weeks later than their original release date when called. ALL of them have chosen to stay 3 weeks longer. Elder Schulte, who was an AP living here in Amsterdam, gave a comparison of the Gospel to a light house. He is serving in Den Helder, a new area that was just opened again after 5 years of not having Missionaries. He said he loves light houses, and in Den Helder, being right next to the Noord Zee, has several. He told us that when you see a light house from a distance the light is not very bright. But, as you get closer and closer, the light becomes more brilliant. The same way with the Gospel. When we don't have that in our lives the light is not very bright. But as we study and learn, (new converts), the light of Christ gets brighter and brighter, and lives are changed. Tears stream down the faces of those bearing Testimony, thanking a young boy of 14, praying, asking, receiving an answer, and restoring the Church once again to this earth. Giving thanks for a LIVING Prophet on the earth today. WE are all SO blessed to have this knowledge.......now, YOU find an opportunity to share this knowledge!

Saturday, and we have had a heat wave......8 degrees Celsius, which is about 46 degrees F. The wind blows and that's what makes it SO cold......think that was mentioned once before. Well, our International Drivers Licenses came today, so we are 'legal drivers' in the Netherlands for one year. We really aren't legal, as we should take the Netherlands drivers test, but this will do for the short time we are here. We are still waiting for the citation bill to come to see what damage that will do to the pocketbook. The Dutch Government it seems looks for ANY way to make money....you have to pay to park everywhere, and IF you get a parking ticket, it is always over 50 Euro. The value of the American Dollar has risen, so that is great news...until it drops again.

We spent the afternoon with Kim and Jurjen. Kim is our FHE coordinator, and her birthday was yesterday same as dad's. Kim is one of our JoVo with no real family....think we have told you her story before. We asked if she would like to have dinner somewhere with Elder and Sister deLeeuw to celebrate. She was SO excited. We went to a Pannenkoeken Huis that was built in an old barn. Amazing!!!! When you girls come that is where we are going. Old farm equipment, milk cans, wagon, wooden shoes, clothes.....dad was in his glory looking at all the 'stuff'. AND the menu for all the different Pannenkoeken's is 3 pages long. We laugh at the beverage menu. A TINY bottle of water costs 2.10 euro....and no refills. The bill is brought to you in a Wooden Shoe. Dad and I mentioned that a Pannenkoeken Huis would be a big hit in Utah County. The return Missionaries from the Netherlands could be the waiters, the building fashioned after a Windmill......any takers to build????? Jurjen, another one of our JoVo's from Alkmaar...he and Kim are in a 'relationship'.......Jurjen was completely inactive when we came.....have told you about him before as well....he is filling out his Mission Papers. He told us all he has to do is get his medical checkup, but here in the Netherlands the Huisarts, (Dr's) won't do just a physical for no reason. All the young people that want to serve Missions have to find an LDS Dr. to do the physical. We have two LDS Dr's here in the Den Haag Stake, so Jurjen is making an appointment with one of them. Unlike Utah, or anywhere in the USA, it takes 2 months or more to receive a Mission call once the papers have been sent. Jurjen, and we, hope he gets his call before we leave. The last couple of weeks we have really spent some 'one on one' time with several of the YSA's. This is what we love. Kim and Jurjen asked if we could stay at least 4 more years.....Monday evening at FHE we are going to have a big Birthday party, and celebrate everyone's birthday. Should have a pretty big group. I made cupcakes today.

Well, enough for this week. We go to Gouda tomorrow where we see more YSA's that we get to hug. We take 3 with us, and wish we could take more. It's a long day, but a joyous one being with so many JoVo's of the Netherlands. The upcoming week looks, as of right now, one we can manage....but, remember the phone calls that change everything:) Dad hopes to find a couple more apartments....one being in Rotterdam, Utrecht and Zaandam.  It is transfer week again, so everyone is anxious to see if and where they will go.

We love you all. We Love being Missionaries. PS: You should have seen me read the menu at the Pannenkoeken Huis. I impressed the Native's. After 14 months shame on me if I could NOT read the menu and know what was being served. GO Zuster deLeeuw!!!!

Vader and Moeder

Opa and Oma

Elder and Zuster deLeeuw

Another Missionary

Hip Hip Hooray!

We are SO excited for our newest Missionary, Elder Corey Harper. He will serve the Lord in the Ventura California, English Speaking Mission. The only bad thing about the call is, he leaves before we return home ;( The Lords work needs to carry on....so Oma, send him hugs through Face Book and say, we will see you in two years. Corey, we are so proud of the fine young man that you are. THANK YOU!!!!!

 

Missionary work IS moving on. We start the influx here next transfer. Dad and Elder Pankratz have 8 apartments either already under contract, or in the process of. 8 Sisters will be leaving the Belgium/Netherlands Mission in the next few months, and 35 will be arriving. Sister Robinson said she is going to purchase Kleenex by the case lots. She knows us girls and how we like to cry. Isn't this just all amazing. We were reading in D&C:88 verse 73......."The Lord will Hasten his work, in his time". We can truly see this 'hastening'!

Let us tell you how apartment finding goes in the Netherlands. Dad goes on line to the City where an apartments needs to be found. He finds what he thinks would be good for the Missionaries. A street address is given, but no apartment number. You have NO idea how many apartments are on one street. So, if we were even to drive to the street to check it out, we would have no idea what apartment we would be looking at. Then, you have to fill out a paper to get an appointment....then you hope you do get the appointment to see the apartment. Dad had an appointment for Monday to see a unit that would have been perfect. Got an email yesterday saying the unit had already been rented. This is the process for everything. 22 apartments before July 25th is what is keeping the Mission on the run. President Robinson has put in a plea to the Missionary Department for an office couple to come ASAP.....we leave in July. Know anyone who would like to serve?????? WE NEED THEM!!!!!

A couple of weeks ago as we were leaving Institute, we noticed a couple talking to one of our YSA's. Later that evening we received an email from Tim, the YSA, that the couple were complaining about all the noise that the church members make 'late at night' when leaving the parking lot. We just smiled and thought, Dutch People. The church building is in the middle of many apartments, so their back decks ARE looking on the parking lot. Well, last Sunday, these same folks met with the Amsterdam Ward Bishop with the same complaints. They said they did not like the noise of cars honking at midnight......hello, no one is in the locked parking lot at that time. Car doors slamming, people talking, our YSA's out on the lawn in the summer. The leaves falling from the church trees over the fence in their yard........Oh my. The Bishop explained that the church has been there for 50 years, and they knew the church was there when they moved in. He also invited the couple to attend church, so they could meet the 'nice people' who are their neighbors. Of course they declined. SO, now at all our meetings, we have been reminded to be quiet when we leave the church, not to honk....which no on does, don't slam car doors.....don't know how the leaves falling will be handled. Gotta love these Dutch.

Remember last year when we told you a Stork nest was build on the Church tower. One had not been built there for 7 years, and the local folks were so excited. When a stork builds a nest it is a sign of good luck. Last week the nest was removed from the tower, because it is a LARGE nest. When we went to FHE Monday, we noticed another stork, or maybe the same one, building another nest on the tower. The twigs they carry in are Hugh......poor things, having to start all over. Signs of spring for sure.

Wednesday evening one of our Young Adults called and told us she would be late, and that she was bringing someone. In the middle of class the door opened, and in walked Kim and Quincy. Quincy is the young man we met at JoVo camp last summer who said we were the first to say we loved him. He has had quite a year with some trials in his life, has had to do some repenting, but his sight has been on serving a Mission. Last week on his face book page he announced that he WAS filling out his Mission papers:) He lives in Ziest, which is about and hour and a half drive, so we don't see him often. He wanted to surprise us Wednesday, so came by public transportation, which takes several hours with all the transfers, to attend Institute and give us a hug. He is just glowing! He calls us 'mom and dad' and told us we were one of the reasons he has tried to stay strong in the Gospel. He asked if we would go to the Temple with him when he receives his Endowments. It was hard to say good night and good bye to him. We hope to see him next Sunday in Gouda. That same evening Glenn, the young man from Venezuela, we are loving back into activity, came into the class looking so 'down and out.'  We take him home each week, as he does not live very far from our apartment. We asked what was wrong, and he told us he had been 'kicked out' by the lady he has been helping. He came home one night and all his things were on the floor and she just told him to go. She has been threatening this for some time, but now it happened. Quincy talked with Glenn, as they both have gone through some of the same trials, and told him to stay strong in the church, read, pray, and all would be alright. We knew Quincy had come on a night HE was needed. The visit with Quincy did seem to brighten Glenn's spirit. When we had given all our hugs, good nights, and slaap lekker, we had Glenn in the car. He just started to sob......"What am I going to do? Where am I going to sleep tonight?" He had asked if we could take him to the place he had been living to get his belongings. When we got to the address and he got out of the car, dad and I just looked at each other. It was 10:30 at night, and this young man had NO place to go. What to do??? We as Missionary couples are not suppose to have anyone stay at our apartment other than family and other Missionaries. Dad said, "What would the Savior do....he would take him in." When Glenn came back to the car with his belongings, and we told him he could spend the night with us, he cried again. He had not eaten all day, so at 11:00 he ate 3 sandwiches, fruit, juice....we could have cried. We took him up to the loft where he would sleep, and he said that was like a 4 star hotel room. The next morning we fixed him breakfast, made a lunch for him, and hugged him goodbye as he left for school. We broke every Missionary rule as we let him stay Thursday night as well. What would YOU do???? Friday he went to stay with a friend in Den Haag for the weekend. Monday Glenn has an appointment with a social worker that hopefully will help him find a room to stay in. We hope he can stay in the Amsterdam area so he can continue to attend the Amsterdam Center. Some nights we come home emotionally exhausted, just from listening and loving these YSA's. Sara, the sweet YSA from Portugal that is here working as a nanny, emailed us Friday night asking if she could spend Saturday with us. We have so many that attend the Amsterdam Center, alone, working, and we are their only 'family.' When they meet together at FHE and Institute, it is hard for them to say goodnight, because they feel the comfort of each other being members of the church. That is why the Centers are here.......and we are blessed to be part of that:) Sara and Emese, our Hungarian YSA, got together and 'hung out' Saturday.

Saturday we spent the day with two of the Elders that serve here in Amsterdam. Elder Sumpter was born and raised in the Netherlands, but has never been to Volendam, a quaint fishing village on the Noord Zee. Volendam is just a 15 minute drive from Diemen....and we can drive there without the GPS:)! It was raining and cold, but we had fun just walking and looking in all the shop windows. There are Foto places that you can dress up in Traditional Dutch clothing and have your picture taken. Elder Sumpter and Farmer had their pictures taken as a 'companion' remembrance. They bought matching ties as well. These two Elders really work well together, and it shows with their Missionary work. We have seen some 'not good' companionship's, and that shows too. It was a nice break from shopping and cooking for us too. We hope that when you girls come the weather will be sunny and warm. Speaking of Missionaries.....Elder Van De Graaff left to go home this week. He served as an AP here in Amsterdam. When we said goodbye to him Tuesday he told us he was excited for us to come home so he, and the other Missionaries that will be attending can come out to our house and 'party'. He said we can have a Missionary reunion each week, and I can bake cookies for them :) Will this never end......hope not!

Speaking of the weather. This past week we had several beautiful sunny, almost warm days.....we thought hooray, spring. I even put a few of our winter things away. NOT......Saturday was rainy and cold, and the forecast is for snow the first of the week. So much for spring. We woke up this morning to a 'skiff' of snow, and wind......it is cold!

Today in the Amsterdam ward there were two Baptisms. A young girl age 8 or 9, and another YSA age man, Shenlin Liu from China. The Missionaries met him 6 weeks ago at the Diemen Zuid (South) train station. He is here attending school and will leave as well in the near future. Some of the 'Dutch' members are not happy with the Missionaries Baptizing people from other countries, and have made some remarks about that fact. The Elders and Sisters have the attitude.....ok, then you invite your friends and neighbors to church who are Dutch, but in the meanwhile, we will Baptize those who are willing to listen, learn and commit to Baptism. Shenlin does not speak Dutch, so all talks had to be translated for him into English. As we have mentioned many times before....Amsterdam IS a 'melting pot' of Nationalities.

We have a crazy busy week ahead of us. If we are not in the Mission office, we are looking for apartments, two Zone Conferences, one of which will take us into Belgium. We have to go to see what is done when we have to do Zone Conferences without the Pankratz's. I have been in tears a couple of times feeling so overwhelmed. I have to plan shopping and meal preparation several days in advance to make sure the right meal is at the right destination. Remember, this is OUR journal writing, so I write what is happening so we won't forget. You can read on if you want.....Monday. Lunch for the Mission President, office staff, AP's, and anyone who attends the 10:00 Meeting. Tomorrow 11. 3:00, look at an apartment in Hilversum. 7:00 FHE...another meal. Tuesday,take Abby, the wife of the American couple, to the airport at 6:30 am. Her husband left Friday for a new job in Texas,,,,Senior Couple Seminar at the Mission Home. Make salad. 3:00, look at an apartment in Zoetermeer. Wednesday, shop and cook for Institute that night, make sloppy Joes for Zone Conference Thursday (enough for 60). Thursday Zone Conference in Leiden 10:00. Tessa, one of our JoVo's from Alkmaar is having her Patriarchal Blessing that day 4:00 in Den Haag and wants us to be with her. Leave Zone Conference early to have Tessa in Dan Haag by 4:00. Friday (Milts Birthday), Be at Mission Office 8:00, load Mission van with Mission orders and head to Antwerpen (Belgium). Saturday, take one of the JoVo's  who's birthday is also on the 15th, for a birthday lunch.....shop for Monday's two meals. Sunday LONG GOUDA day. Our week in review. See why the tears.....and no time for office training this week because of other obligations and meetings. Whew....if you don't get an email next weekend, you will know why.

We are off to a Stake Missionary Fireside. We really do love being Missionaries. We are here to serve, and that is what we hope we ARE doing.

We send hugs and loves. We feel your prayers in our behalf......but please keep praying:)

Opa and Oma

Vader and Moeder

Elder and Zuster deLeeuw

Called to Serve

Where is the time going????

Well, we were 'Called to Serve', and that is what we are trying to do for sure. Elder and Sister Pankratz's will be leaving the 28th of this month, and there is NOT a new Senior Couple coming to replace them. They work in the Mission Office, which is of VITAL importance to the Mission. SO, Elder and Zuster deLeeuw will now be helping in the office 3 days a week. Can you even imagine US in the office? We meet with the President each Monday morning at 10:00, to go over his agenda for the week. Then we will work in the office Tuesday and Thursday from 9:00 until the work is done. The reason a Senior Couple IS needed.......between now and July 23rd, 22 new apartments need to be found, contracted, reconstructed and furnished. Last Monday while we were in the office the number of Missionaries coming JUST in July was 25. Tuesday when we returned to the office the number had risen to 30. It is mind boggling to even think of all that has to be done in the next  4 months. Thursday we went to Leeuwarden and Groningen, which are in the North part of the Netherlands, and contracted two apartments. It gives us a sick feeling to walk into these apartments and see cement floors and walls,, no lights, no shower stalls, no appliances,no window coverings, or even curtain rods. ALL the work that needs to be done. President Robinson is going to hire someone to help with the work to get the apartments ready, as there is NO way the Senior Couples can do all that is needed. We made a list of just the basic things that need to go into the apartments, 2 1/2 pages long. The Lords work IS moving on, but the Missions are really having to scramble to get ready for the influx. Needless to say, we are not bored! Dad will be working with the Real Estate people.  I will be doing referrals, ordering of Mission Supplies, mail...who knows. PRAY for the Mission now for sure. The next Senior Couple coming will be the middle of May, and we don't know where they will be assigned. President hopes that maybe they will want to be Office workers. Stay tuned! It IS interesting to see what Elder Pankratz takes with him as he visits with the Real Estate people. He shows that the Mission has 48 apartments contracted already throughout the Netherlands and Belgium. He also has an article about the new City Creek Mall in SLC, and how the church payed cash for that. He tells them that those who will be living in the apartments are Volunteers for the church. Good Missionary work to start with. Now dad wakes up in the middle of the night thinking of all the places he needs to contact for these apartments, and I wake up thinking about what I will prepare for the next weeks meals........we are having so much fun. And now, think of all the trips we get to make to IKEA :(

The other night at Institute I about cried. David, our YSA President, approached dad and told him the JoVo's are getting worried as to what will happen to the Amsterdam Center when we leave. He made the comment: "We just know this place will fall apart when you leave." The Centers are now 'run' by the Stakes, not the Mission. We have suggested that a 'local' couple come into help with these Centers. They know the language, the YSA's, and they don't leave after 18 to 23 months. A member of the Den Haag Stake Presidency told us he was going to visit with the couple that help with the YSA's from Alkmaar, to see if they would be interested in helping with the Amsterdam Center. It is a long drive for them to come to Amsterdam, but they have mentioned they want to serve a Mission but don't want to leave their home. It would be WONDERFUL if they could be called now so they could help us IF we are not able to be in Amsterdam on a given evening. One of the Wards that attend the Amsterdam Center, Almere, has mentioned that they want their 'own' Institute, and not be a part of Amsterdam. We have such mixed feelings about that, It is not up to us, so we will see what the Stake Presidency will do.

We are so happy when we hear of the good things that are happening with the YSA's. The other night when dad took Glenn home from FHE, Glenn ask dad how he could go to the Temple to do Baptisms. He said "I know I will be more committed to the church if I go to the temple." Glenn has come so far since walking into the church several months ago. He loves dad and is so respectful of me. It is amazing that he was even Baptized as he tells us of his life. He is now clean shaven, no earrings, comes to all the church meetings, FHE and Institute. This weekend he went to Den Haag to visit his brother, and asked for the address of the church there. Junior, the young man from Brazil, that was baptized while here in Amsterdam, now living in Portugal.....sent us pictures of him attending the Temple there doing Baptisms. He wants to come to BYU, but told us he thinks he will go on his Mission first :) Friday evening we had 6 of our YSA's here for a 'goodbye dinner' for Seline. She is the young lady dad Baptized and confirmed last Sunday, who is moving to Ireland. Emese, our Hungarian YSA fixed dinner. Lekker!!!! True Hungarian food. We laughed because we had an International group here. Hungarian, German, Portuguese, Venezuelan, and American. Go figure....no Dutch. Amsterdam IS a cultural melting pot, and we get to enjoy the experience!

We took Seline to the airport Saturday evening and.she said, "I don't say goodbye, I say, see you later." It was a tearful goodbye for us. It was cute, as at 10:30 pm we got a text message that she had landed safely in Dublin. A referral was sent to Germany for the Missionaries to contact her mother, which they did, and are now teaching her. Seline found the address of the church in Dublin and  hopes to be attending there today.

We laugh at some of the things these young adults do. Kim, our FHE coordinator, birthday is March 15th, the same day as dads. Last year I had fixed cupcakes, had some B-day hats to celebrate birthdays......Kim asked me the other day if we could have another B-day party this year. Everyone bring a small gift, we would celebrate ALL birthdays. OK......we thought JUST the Amsterdam JoVo's. Well, when I went on Face book the other day, Kim had put this on as an" event". There were replies from the Rotterdam Stake!!! We are happy to have lots come, but we did not think she would post this as  an 'event.' May turn out to be a BIG party. That night I had planned on having soup and garlic bread. Dad said that way, if more keep coming we just keep adding more water to the soup ;) Gotta love these kids.

Glad you are finally getting some sun and warmer temps. It is still very dark and dreary here. We had one day of a few hours of sunlight, but it is just foggy and misty all the time. The fields are getting more green, and the farmers are starting to put their 'Tulip signs' on their fields. Dad loves when we drive thru the little Dorps, villages, and see all the tractors in the fields. The Dutch have HUGH tractors and lots of farm equipment. Won't be long until the cows will be in the fields again, after spending the winter in the barns. AHHHH, spring!

We had another amazing Sunday experience. Volker, the young man who was also Baptized last week, but we were unable to attend because of Seline's Baptism, was confirmed today. During the week he sent us a message inviting us to his confirmation, and wrote these words. "What I feel now is something I will hopefully never forget, and you guys helped me and supported me on my way here." On the days that we wonder IF we are doing any good, we receive notes like these, and we give thanks for the opportunity we have had to serve with these YSA's. When we walked into the church this morning, and Volker saw me, the first thing he asked was where Elder deLeeuw was. He saw dad and made a 'bee line' for him. He asked dad if he would be part of 'his receiving the Holy Spirit." The man who did the confirmation gave Volker a beautiful blessing. Volkers parents are still 'non believers', but we were told they were both at his Baptism, and his mother was there today. After the confirmation Volker stood and shook hands with those who had been asked to participate. When he turned to dad, he gave him a big hug. Oh my, tears all around. You should have seen the smile on his face. Alma 5:26..."And now behold, I say unto you, my brethern, if ye have experienced a change of heart, and if ye have felt to sing the song of redeeming love, I would ask, can you feel so now?" Volker will be the Missionary now for his family and friends. Can't get much better than this.

We were reading in the February Liahona, an article written by President Uchtdorf. The last paragraph was beautiful: Every Member a Missionary. "My dear friends, today there are more ways than ever for us to open our mouths and share with others the joyful news of the gospel of Jesus Christ. There is a way for everyone, even the hesitant missionary, to participate in this great work. We can each find a way to use our own particular talents and interests in support of the great work of filling the world with light and truth. As we do so, we will find the joy that comes to those who are faithful and courageous enough "to stand as witnesses of God at all times." We hope we are doing just that.

We are eager to hear where Corey will be "Called to Serve"!!!! Hopefully this week :)

Another busy week...now to the list of meals to prepare, is lunch each Monday for the Mission Office staff. This is the day President Robinson is in the office, so a nice lunch is prepared. Don't laugh at the word 'nice'. The office will get what is prepared, nice or not :)

We love you.We love the Lord. We love being in his service.

Vader and Moeder

Opa and Oma

Elder and Zuster deLeeuw