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
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