Suprise!

Dear Family and friends,

Yes, you re getting the 'weekly email' a day early, as this weekend is turning out to be a very busy one for us......but what else is new :) We are so excited for Conference. To hear from our Prophet, and those who serve with him. Tomorrow, Saturday, we go to the Amsterdam Church at 6:00 pm to hear the Saturday am Session live. Then on Sunday, Priesthood Mtg is held at 11:00 am. 2:00 Sunday, we hear the Saturday afternoon session, then at 6:00 pm we hear the Sunday morning session live. Hope you can follow that. The only session we don't hear is the 2:00 Sunday afternoon.....we can stay up until midnight if we want to watch that live on our computer. Isn't modern technology amazing, that allows us so far away, to be able to watch Conference live! At Institute last Wednesday night, the JoVo's ask if I was bringing 'conference cookies' for them to eat while they are watching Conference. Kids are the same ALL over the world. I always keep a bag of cookies in the freezer, just to stay one step ahead.

This week has been another 'looking for apartments.'  We know that we are being blessed, and prayers are being answered, as we found yet another apartment with flooring, curtains, stove, and a fridge. This apartment is in Delft, and oh my, another BEAUTIFUL city. We have not been there yet, but it is high on a list to go back and visit when we are not on 'Mission business." We got the keys for the Hilversum apartment, so this give us the six that are needed by the end of April. Today, we looked at two more in Rotterdam, that we will contract in the near future. NOW, we have the task of furnishing them all. Next Thursday we travel into Belgium, to Genk, to get that apartment ready. We notified a member of the church there, and they will have several Ward members waiting for us to help unload and set things up. I made a comment several months ago, that I would rather go to bed exhausted, than to just sit around . Dad has mentioned several times, that I need to be careful of what I wish for. Today we brought the Mission Van home, and tomorrow we will go to Ikea and purchase tables,bookcases, and Wardrobes. Monday, the appliances and beds will start to be delivered to the church warehouse in Hilversum......'Hastening' the Lords work is really WORK getting ready for the 'hastening! Dad is also having to deal with all the Mission dealings, and I have spent the week getting all the supplies ready for Zone Conference next week. We hope the new office couple know what and how to do lots, cause right now we feel like we are just keeping the boat afloat. We laugh at what some of the Missionaries want......I have had to tell them that we are NOT Desert Book, we are a Mission Office in the Netherlands!!

The weather has still been cold and windy. We heard today that the next two weeks are suppose to warm up to 16 degrees.....wow, in our language, that is 60 degrees!!!!!!!!! The trees have not even started to bud, and the fields are still brown. When spring does come, the Netherlands IS beautiful! We just may have to wait until summer this year :) We just hope the days will be sunny for the week the girls are here.

At Institute last Wednesday we had another young girl that is not a member of the church.  Everyone made her feel so welcome, and she told us how much she enjoyed the evening, and that she would be back. She lives in Diemen, so we will get her address and have the Sisters contact her. We are SO excited for this Wednesday,when  the students from Amsterdam University will be at Institute. There is a great evening planned, and we hope someone will feel the spirit, and want to hear more. Missionary work IS amazing!!!!

This is a short email, not sure if you will hear from us next week, as we will have FAMILY here! So much to see and do, so little time. Wish you ALL could come for a visit, so you could experience just a little of what Missionary work is all bout. Corey, you have an experience of a lifetime waiting for you......and Travin, you keep doing all that is needed to prepare for your mission. in just ONE year, you will be filling out your papers. AND, any of the grand DAUGHTERS, that want to serve.....something you will cherish a lifetime!

This week the Hymn, "Praise To The Man', came to mind. We give thanks to 'him' who communed with Jehovah, Jesus anointed that Prophet and Seer. Blessed to open the last dispensation, Honored and blest be his ever great name! Please give thanks each day for this man who DID commune with Jehovah, and for the LIVING Prophet we have today. 'Come Listen to a Prophets Voice" this weekend.

We love you, and know we are being blessed by the prayers offered in our behalf. Thank you. We love the Lord, we love being Missionaries.

Vader and Moeder

Opa and Oma

Elder and Zuster deLeeuw