When
we picked the girls up at the airport, we made the comment that it
would seem like just a day, and we would be taking them back. That is
exactly how is was. It was so fun 'showing off' our four daughters to
everyone. We kept them on the go, and we think they will be happy to get
home and 'rest.' These Dutch stairs we have in our apartment really was
an 'eyeopener' for them, to see what we do each day, MANY times a day.
They said they didn't feel guilty about eating all the yummy pasties and
chocolate, because of the stairs. They were able to be in the temple
with us on Tuesday for Zone Conference, and meet many of the Elders and Sisters that we love. Monday night they went to FHE so the JoVo's could meet them as well. We took them into Amsterdam on Monday
on the Tram, but they wanted to stay longer than we could. So, here are
four 'UTAH' girls, on their own, in busy downtown Amsterdam. We told
them where to catch the Tram # 9 and what stop to get off. They were
like pro's :) Thursday,
Dayna Lee spent the day with us shopping for apartment needs, while
the other three returned to Amsterdam and spent the day. GO GIRLS!!!! Tuesday
after the Temple we visited Haarlem where many scenes of 'The Best two
years' were filmed. We also visited the Corrie Ten Boom House (Hiding
Place). It was COLD and WINDY that day, and we all wished we had worn
warmer coats, as the day started out bright and sunny, and we were
thinking, yay, a warm day! Wednesday
we walked through the Keukenhof Gardens which is suppose to be full of
thousands of BLOOMING flowers. This spring being so cold, we could not
believe how many flowers had not bloomed. There were boxes of flowers on
the walkways, that were put there to add the color that the flower beds
were suppose to provide. It was beautiful, but in another week it will
be breath taking. Yesterday as Opa and I drove to the Mission Office we
noticed that FINALLY, the tulips in the fields are ready. The
Netherlands is a beautiful place to be in the Spring. I could just keep
tying all the things we did. Many pictures were taken, so someday we
will have a party and put all the pictures together and have ONE big
show. We SO enjoyed their visit......just like having four 'little
girls' around again.......sometimes they acted like 'little girls':)
We
wanted the girls to experience a day in the life of us shopping, for
all the new apartments that are needing to be opened these next few
months. Thursday,
it was decided that having all of us shop would maybe be to much. Dayna
Lee stayed with us to shop, and the other three went into Amsterdam. We
started at 10:30 am, and returned home about 6:45 pm.
We spent two hours in Ikea alone. We had 5 shopping carts filled to the
brim, plus the Office Elders had met us with the Mission Van, and we
filled that with the large tag items......bookcases, wardrobes, tables,
mirrors. Yesterday, Saturday, we drove to Leeuwarden with all the items needed, to get that apartment ready for the next transfer May 1st.
President Robinson sent Opa an email yesterday informing him of what is
needed in the coming few months. We have two apartments ready, and will
do four this week, for the six needed for this transfer. Nine sisters
and three Elders will arrive April 30th. THEN-----four more before June 10th, eleven more before July 23rd, and twelve additional before September 3rd.
And this is just the Belgium/Netherlands Mission. Yes, I cry, and Opa
has a knot in his stomach lots of the time, but we are trying to take
'one day at a time.' The Mission Office looks like a small Warehouse
with dishes, bedding, mattresses, rugs, mops, buckets, towels, and the
list goes on. We have them in 'like' piles, so I just go down the list
and grab what is needed for each apartment. The other Senior Couples are
helping us when we have an apartment in their area. We show up, unload,
and they have people there to put all the IKEA things together, and set
things up. We received some sad news this week about one of the Senior
couples. The Elder had a hernia that needed surgery, so they returned to
Utah thinking they would return in four to five weeks. During the
surgery a cancerous tumor was found, so they will not return. They had
been here just six months. They will be missed.
Two
weeks ago we told you about the students coming from Amsterdam
University to visit our Institute. 25 came!!!! We fed 62 that night. I
had made Sloppy Joes, and those who had never had them were going crazy.
We had taken what we thought was enough buns and cookies, but Milt had
to run to the store for more. One young man ate 5. The night was
amazing, as we watched the JoVo's answer questions, and bear their
Testimonies. We had taken 'pass-a-long' cards and Books of Mormon to
give to the students. A couple of the students wanted to know if they
could buy a Book of Mormon, and were thrilled to be given one free. We
also had the four Elders and two Sisters serving here in Amsterdam
there. We did not leave the Church until after 10:00 pm,
as everyone just stood around and visited. The JoVo's all said that
this needed to be done again. We hope some 'seeds' were planted, and
someone will want to know more. That's what it's all about!!!! Gotta
love these YSA's.
Queens day is the 30th of April,
and the Netherlands is slowly turning orange for the occasion. Remember
that this County gets a new King this year so the day will really be
celebrated. Many of the manikins in the store windows are being dressed
in orange. Orange everything is on sale in the stores. Even the pastries
and candy are all orange now. Between New's Years Eve and Queens day,
this place knows how to party. Guess we will put on our orange, and
party with them:)
This
coming week, with all the coming and goings with the apartments, we
will have a Missionary night. The girl from the Ukraine, Fabiena, that
we have been helping to love into the Gospel from Haarlem, is being
Baptized Thursday,
and Opa is Baptizing her. We are so happy! She has asked that I give
the talk on Baptism. She has had some struggles understanding the
Gospel, and several Sister Missionaries have taught her the lessons. Two
new Sisters came to Haarlem, and started from the beginning. She caught
the spirit, and will be baptized this week. She is another one of 'our
Mission daughters,' and so wants to come to Utah for a visit. Another
joy of Missionary work.
We
want to end with the Facebook posting we received from Junior this
week. He is the young man from Brazil that come to Amsterdam, met the
Elders, was Baptized, then was kicked out of the house by his stepfather
because he had been Baptized. His stepfather has now turned his mother
against the church, and Junior. This is what he wrote: " I spoke at
Stake Conference last Sunday and it was awesome. Well, I was pretty
nervous of course, but everything worked out. When I finished my speech,
the Stake President, the Mission President and one area Seventy came to
me and said:" you are already prepared to go on a mission." That was
such a wonderful thing to hear. I love this Gospel and I love when
people say I'm a good example to follow. This Gospel is powerful and it
changed my life. I'm much more blessed today. I've been invited by the
Mission President to go on a mini Mission so I'm really excited. My
mother did not like that and she said she'll stop paying for my stuff. I
did not know it would be so hard to be the only member of the church in
my family. Although my family is absolutely against the church, I'm
sure I made the best choice of my life when I joined the LDS church. I
know good things will come. Can you believe I'm already getting things
ready to go on a full time Mission? I miss you and think of you each
day. What more needs to be said!
Express your gratitude each day, to a loving Heavenly Father, that you are a member of HIS church. We are SOOOOO blessed.
We send 'hugs from Holland'
Opa and Oma
Vader and Moeder
Elder and Zuster deLeeuw
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