Fun!

What a day we have had. The winter  has been very warm here as well, but winter is coming and today it was cold with rain .  Reminded us of Seattle. After a much needed good nights sleep we got up and put all our things away then went to the Amsterdam chapel for a District meeting with the Missionaries and the Mission President.  That is a meeting I will have to cook for each week. This afternoon Elder and Sister Pankratz took us shopping...what an experience.  You have to pay 50 euros to get a shopping cart...you get your money back when you take the cart back. Everything is in Dutch so I have to guess what I am buying.  I laughed all the way through the store.  You have to take your own shopping bags and bag your own groceries.....then pay in Euros. The little shopping center is not far away and has a Post Office, several variety stores, beauty shop, pet store, flower shop, clothes store, bakery to die for, meat market.  I SOOOO wish you could come enjoy the culture.  We have not seen much of the town, but what we have seen is hard to describe the beauty.  There is a canal just in front of our apartment and there are lots of geese and ducks.

Tonight we went back to the church for a 'ward' dinner and institute.  I cook every Monday for FHE, Tuesday District Meeting and every other Wednesday for the Institute.  We met several of the Young Adults and ward members tonight and I told dad that I WILL be crying in 18 months when we leave these people.  We will attend the Amsterdam ward this week then visit the other 5 wards in this area to introduce ourselves as the new Missionaries for the Young Adult Center. Tomorrow we will go with the Elders as they teach an 87 year old investigator and bear our Testimony......we have hit the ground running!  One of the Sisters here is Phil and Mattie Kresge neice.  Small world!  We will probably have the 6 Missionaries that live here over for dinner on Sunday.  Here we go!! 

I will take some pictures of our apartment and the beautiful area around here in a few days.  We are feeling the spirit of Missionary work already and are excited to be here.  Thank you all SOOOO much for your love and support. We know this is where we are suppose to be. Dad is speaking Dutch to the Missionaries and the members and I am saying the few words I know.  The people smile and give me a thumbs up.

We met the neighbors next door today....we smiled and shook hands...they speak no English. At least they know we are friendly.

Well, it is late and we are still having a bit of jet lag.....oh, the Mission Presidents wife sent me a picture of a rash on one of the Elders feet for me to diagnose.  The Mission nurse is happy to have me here to help with the skin problems. 

We love you!

Elder and Sister deLeeuw  AKA: mom and dad