Dear Family,
How are things at your homes? School has started and a new routine in place, I feel. Hope everyone is enjoying being back into that school routine and learning. Learning is a lifetime endeavor if we are diligent. We can learn something new everyday-
The weather is changing here in Holland. We had a super heat wave the middle of August but the days are obviously getting shorter as the sun does not wake us nor give us enough light in the early morn in our closet to get dressed.:)
We have had two new couples join our mission and a third is arriving and will come visit for a few days
here in Deventer. It is enjoyable to get to know them. These last two are putting an honest effort into learning the language; i admire that. I could offer a simple prayer in Dutch at this point but understanding a conversation or church talks, is still beyond me. I can catch a word here and there. I can smile, though!
Sister Christensen took the stitches out of my nose this week. I have a divet in the top section, but it will be something to bring home from our mission. An emergency room visit and 3 stitches cost 87 euro here in the Netherlands and they were fast and efficient. Is that one bonus from this type of medicine? The Jovos said it was highly unusual to be taken care of that efficiently: a mission blessing.
We have Zone Conference in two weeks and are preparing the meal for it. We have had Zone training the past two months and have not been asked to prepare the meal. They have been for just two hours in the afternoon. Our combined Zone has changed this time and so we have 3 senior couples preparing the meal. Sister Caldwell is doing chicken salad sandwiches, Sister Jonson is doing a vegetable and I have dessert and the table ware to bring. ( I got off easy)
We love you all . You are in our prayers always. Keep the Faith and the home fires burning!
Have a great month and enjoy the fall colors! Mom
Sunday, September 4, 2016
Sunday, June 26, 2016
Dear Family,
Yes, we are alive and well ! and Hope you are too!
So much news the past few days on Whats Ap. Can I tell you it is my Lifeline to Home and it would be hard to be so far away without its daily read and love and 'ribbing' too. I do love when you busy men folk take time to make even a small comment. I am glad you are out there!
We have begun Missionary apartment checks again so have started to travel and see other places again. We tried to see a castle near Arnham but got rained out and opted to see it on a more sunny day. The weather here in Holland is variable at any given hour. We laugh and say 'It is Holland' but it is truer than words. Is truer a word? Sunday seems to roll around every 4 days or sooner. Everything else is crunched in between . It must mean we are busier or becoming more accustomed to a routine whic h makes time flow. Our ward is still wonderful, but I did enjoy visiting 2 other wards in our Stake and learning about them and feel of their spirit. Each ward even the church here in Holland has their Core families who provide leadership and strength in the Church. Bless those faithful strong families. We were interviewed by the 2nd counselor of the Mission President today at church ; we had never met him nor heard of his name. He was wondering how we were doing and if we were busy enough. I do not think they will move us when these new couples come, but I put it in the Lord's hands. It was interesting to learn that for the church, the densest areas of membership is in the Rotterdam, Den Hag, Amsterdam Utrecht area. So in dividing the stakes they have taken a pie wedge from that more densely populated area and included it in each stake. I had wondered why the boundaries were so ascue.
The Issyll River is very full currently. it is at a High for what we have seen and is Beautiful. You boaters, when the water is higher is it easier to navigate boats?or does it make a difference? Friday was so hot and our apartment was hot , so after dinner we walked down to the river where there is usually a breeze and sat on a bench near the water. I finally took off my shoes and went wading close to the shore. I was walking on grass- it was just me and 2 ducks enjoying the cool!
Yes, so the whole week had been pretty warm for us and than it turned into sweater weather Saturday with a drop in temperature and rain again. We went out and bought another fan for our apartment to use upstairs. We have a couple from Germany serving over the Jovo Missionary couples coming to stay the first of August during the Jovo Camp. We live the closest (1/2 hour away) so they have asked us to travel back and forth freeing up sleeping accommodations there. Yea, we get to sleep in our bed and shower in our own bathroom!but the fan would serve them in their bedroom when they come to stay and Dad can use it by the desk now.
WE had our 2-Zone Conference this past week and served Tacos. The missionaries were taught how to use their family group sheets as a new approach in contacting. It has energized the work and the missionaries even for the rest of this week. We left early from Rotterdam to be home for Institute that night and served dinner here. Friday we had a Birthday dinner for the sisters in Apeldoorn since they had both just had b-days. We did kabobs per request and did them in the oven which turned out well.. So in case you want to know, the internet and us are good references to it's success.!! We did oven roasted cauliflower and broccoli, and spinach salad, because I love it and the guy missionaries don't seem to be fans .Is it a girl-y dish ?
It is the summer months and families are leaving on month long vacations. We learned employers are obligated to give 20 day paid vacation days here in Holland! that is besides Christmas, King's Day, and their traditional celebrated days. No wonder they go to the Czech Republic, Croatia. Austria and countries to stay and visit. One of the ward families came back from Italy recently. One of our Institute teachers and his wife went to Croatia this spring and were robbed by gypsies who just cut his pants pocket and ran with the wallet - with his cash, credit cards and drivers license! They finished their vacation somehow; well, they were on the southern end of the country and had to make it home any way. ; Travel abroad is a drop in the hat for many here too, which is also surprising for me .
We went to our first funeral on Saturday which was a learning experience. The undertaker literally wears a black coat with tails, silver vest and a stove top hat. The bodies of the dead are not enbalmed (sp) due to the chemicals that would go into the ground. The families have the option of having the deceased stay in their home for the days prior to the funeral and because this was the choice of this family, they had a closed casket 'give your condolences to the family ' hour prior to the funeral. I am in favor of the closed casket idea; it is alot less harsh emotionally, I feel. That is a fair warning of what is to come. See, one thing I learned on this mission.
One weekend the Primary planned a hike and campout for the ward. We had been to inspect apartments for the day but the sisters asked if we could not give them a ride. We had planned on going up and playing games and doing the hike with the ward and than come back home.It had rained throughout the day but the Dutch are like ducks in their ability to handle the rain, so we had no idea they would cancel the outing. We picked up the sisters and our GPS went beserk and could not locate any of the areas and coordinates given to us. The elders TomTom had done a much better job and they were at the location so tried to guide us over the phone to their location. We just kept doing circles it seemed and even were on a dirt road at one point. Finally the Elders called a ward member who informed him the event had been cancelled due to the rain. We never met up with the Elders, but we saw alot of pine trees and flowers and forest that made the 'goose chase' worth while!
Our lesson today was Durrant's Ponderizing talk from the Oct 2015 Conference Session. I think we should all adopt a weekly scripture and think about it everyday for the week. Post it on your bathroom mirrors, Refrigerator, TV screen or some prominent place. Read it every day, think about it, think how it can draw us to Christ by following it, memorize it if you can, but just implement it into your schedule each day. Look at it while you go to the bathroom- is that too much information?! Talking about looking at things in the bathroom- we visited the Jones' home in Arnham one day on apartment checks and to pick her up to go to Makro ( a store like Costco). Here in Holland they have toilet rooms much like Lisa's mom has in her home in Provo by her kitchen. It fits under the stairs. Anyway, the Jones' have this small toilet room and on the back of the door, she has put LDS Quotes and Scriptures and two or three LDS jokes to read. She changes them periodically to keep them interesting. I thought it was a Brilliant idea. Inspiring Uplifting and all! Try it , you might like it!
Did you know we love you all and pray for you everyday; on an individual basis as we feel your needs or our concerns for you. You are out of sight but NOT out of mind.
I was reading Elder
Desmond Jeffrries Mission post this week . Their mission has the Theme "Go with the PROS" Go with Prayer, Go with Reading, Go with Obedience, and Go with Service. Desmond just had his exit interview with his Mission President who challenged him to use the Theme his entire Life. and he would not go astray after his mission. It makes so much sense to keep that balance going. Do you have any ideas of your own , Guys , Did your missions have themes to keep you going while you served?
WE LOVE YOU- STAY PERFECT!!! MOM and DAD
Yes, we are alive and well ! and Hope you are too!
So much news the past few days on Whats Ap. Can I tell you it is my Lifeline to Home and it would be hard to be so far away without its daily read and love and 'ribbing' too. I do love when you busy men folk take time to make even a small comment. I am glad you are out there!
We have begun Missionary apartment checks again so have started to travel and see other places again. We tried to see a castle near Arnham but got rained out and opted to see it on a more sunny day. The weather here in Holland is variable at any given hour. We laugh and say 'It is Holland' but it is truer than words. Is truer a word? Sunday seems to roll around every 4 days or sooner. Everything else is crunched in between . It must mean we are busier or becoming more accustomed to a routine whic h makes time flow. Our ward is still wonderful, but I did enjoy visiting 2 other wards in our Stake and learning about them and feel of their spirit. Each ward even the church here in Holland has their Core families who provide leadership and strength in the Church. Bless those faithful strong families. We were interviewed by the 2nd counselor of the Mission President today at church ; we had never met him nor heard of his name. He was wondering how we were doing and if we were busy enough. I do not think they will move us when these new couples come, but I put it in the Lord's hands. It was interesting to learn that for the church, the densest areas of membership is in the Rotterdam, Den Hag, Amsterdam Utrecht area. So in dividing the stakes they have taken a pie wedge from that more densely populated area and included it in each stake. I had wondered why the boundaries were so ascue.
The Issyll River is very full currently. it is at a High for what we have seen and is Beautiful. You boaters, when the water is higher is it easier to navigate boats?or does it make a difference? Friday was so hot and our apartment was hot , so after dinner we walked down to the river where there is usually a breeze and sat on a bench near the water. I finally took off my shoes and went wading close to the shore. I was walking on grass- it was just me and 2 ducks enjoying the cool!
Yes, so the whole week had been pretty warm for us and than it turned into sweater weather Saturday with a drop in temperature and rain again. We went out and bought another fan for our apartment to use upstairs. We have a couple from Germany serving over the Jovo Missionary couples coming to stay the first of August during the Jovo Camp. We live the closest (1/2 hour away) so they have asked us to travel back and forth freeing up sleeping accommodations there. Yea, we get to sleep in our bed and shower in our own bathroom!but the fan would serve them in their bedroom when they come to stay and Dad can use it by the desk now.
WE had our 2-Zone Conference this past week and served Tacos. The missionaries were taught how to use their family group sheets as a new approach in contacting. It has energized the work and the missionaries even for the rest of this week. We left early from Rotterdam to be home for Institute that night and served dinner here. Friday we had a Birthday dinner for the sisters in Apeldoorn since they had both just had b-days. We did kabobs per request and did them in the oven which turned out well.. So in case you want to know, the internet and us are good references to it's success.!! We did oven roasted cauliflower and broccoli, and spinach salad, because I love it and the guy missionaries don't seem to be fans .Is it a girl-y dish ?
It is the summer months and families are leaving on month long vacations. We learned employers are obligated to give 20 day paid vacation days here in Holland! that is besides Christmas, King's Day, and their traditional celebrated days. No wonder they go to the Czech Republic, Croatia. Austria and countries to stay and visit. One of the ward families came back from Italy recently. One of our Institute teachers and his wife went to Croatia this spring and were robbed by gypsies who just cut his pants pocket and ran with the wallet - with his cash, credit cards and drivers license! They finished their vacation somehow; well, they were on the southern end of the country and had to make it home any way. ; Travel abroad is a drop in the hat for many here too, which is also surprising for me .
We went to our first funeral on Saturday which was a learning experience. The undertaker literally wears a black coat with tails, silver vest and a stove top hat. The bodies of the dead are not enbalmed (sp) due to the chemicals that would go into the ground. The families have the option of having the deceased stay in their home for the days prior to the funeral and because this was the choice of this family, they had a closed casket 'give your condolences to the family ' hour prior to the funeral. I am in favor of the closed casket idea; it is alot less harsh emotionally, I feel. That is a fair warning of what is to come. See, one thing I learned on this mission.
One weekend the Primary planned a hike and campout for the ward. We had been to inspect apartments for the day but the sisters asked if we could not give them a ride. We had planned on going up and playing games and doing the hike with the ward and than come back home.It had rained throughout the day but the Dutch are like ducks in their ability to handle the rain, so we had no idea they would cancel the outing. We picked up the sisters and our GPS went beserk and could not locate any of the areas and coordinates given to us. The elders TomTom had done a much better job and they were at the location so tried to guide us over the phone to their location. We just kept doing circles it seemed and even were on a dirt road at one point. Finally the Elders called a ward member who informed him the event had been cancelled due to the rain. We never met up with the Elders, but we saw alot of pine trees and flowers and forest that made the 'goose chase' worth while!
Our lesson today was Durrant's Ponderizing talk from the Oct 2015 Conference Session. I think we should all adopt a weekly scripture and think about it everyday for the week. Post it on your bathroom mirrors, Refrigerator, TV screen or some prominent place. Read it every day, think about it, think how it can draw us to Christ by following it, memorize it if you can, but just implement it into your schedule each day. Look at it while you go to the bathroom- is that too much information?! Talking about looking at things in the bathroom- we visited the Jones' home in Arnham one day on apartment checks and to pick her up to go to Makro ( a store like Costco). Here in Holland they have toilet rooms much like Lisa's mom has in her home in Provo by her kitchen. It fits under the stairs. Anyway, the Jones' have this small toilet room and on the back of the door, she has put LDS Quotes and Scriptures and two or three LDS jokes to read. She changes them periodically to keep them interesting. I thought it was a Brilliant idea. Inspiring Uplifting and all! Try it , you might like it!
Did you know we love you all and pray for you everyday; on an individual basis as we feel your needs or our concerns for you. You are out of sight but NOT out of mind.
I was reading Elder
Desmond Jeffrries Mission post this week . Their mission has the Theme "Go with the PROS" Go with Prayer, Go with Reading, Go with Obedience, and Go with Service. Desmond just had his exit interview with his Mission President who challenged him to use the Theme his entire Life. and he would not go astray after his mission. It makes so much sense to keep that balance going. Do you have any ideas of your own , Guys , Did your missions have themes to keep you going while you served?
WE LOVE YOU- STAY PERFECT!!! MOM and DAD
Saturday, May 21, 2016
Spring in the Netherlands
May 20, 2016
Hi everyone,
The time seems to be flying by for Sister Hill and I here in the Netherlands. It seems like just yesterday we were celebrating the end of winter (February was over) and now it's mid-May. Holland is beautiful in the spring. We started seeing daffodils and crocuses growing in lawns and in parkways between the city streets in early March. They were everywhere and seem to flourish here like our weeds do back home. You can buy flowers in the open-air markets all year round. They were selling bouquets of tulips in January and they are still available today, although roses seem to be the more popular cut flower now. However, at the markets you can get about any kind of cut flower you can imagine.
April in Holland is tulip month. They actually have flower farms in Holland where tulips are raised and cross-bred and grown for their bulbs. Then the bulbs are exported all over the world. The sale of tulip bulbs is a big business in Holland and they export millions of tulip bulbs each year. In mid to late April you can drive through tulip growing areas where the fields are full of beautiful flowers . . . strips of yellow and pink and red and purple covering acres and acres. They have a beautiful garden on the west coast near Amsterdam called Keukenhof ("kitchen garden" in English). It's open to visitors for about six weeks in the spring. The tulip growers contract for spots in the garden to plant and show off their flowers. Buyers come to the garden to see new varieties of flowers. Hundreds of thousands of visitors come to the garden every year to see the gardens and enjoy the flowers.
We spent much of April visiting Keukenhof with family and showing them this beautiful country we are serving in. As senior couples we are given a lot of leeway to travel in the mission and see the country and as family or friends come to visit we can spend time with them. Our daughter Angela came to visit with her family (husband and 4 children) on March 25th and stayed for two weeks although they spent a few days in Amsterdam and Belgium on their own. Then on April 9th, our daughter Amanda and her husband arrived and spent 8 days touring the country and visiting with us. On April 16th our daughter Lindsay and her husband arrived and spent some time with us also. While it sounds like we just partied for a month, we did take care of our missionary responsibilities while our children were here and they attended some of the missionary events and activities with us but once our responsibilities were taken care of we did go and do a lot with our children. It was great fun.
In addition to having leeway to spend time with family or friends as they come to visit, senior couples can also talk to their children as often as they want. We are not limited to calls only on Mother's Day or Christmas like the young missionaries are. With modern technology we can Skype or Facetime and actually see and talk to our children and grandchildren as often as we want and as often as we can get hold of them. With an 8 hour time difference their nights are our days and vice versa, so it isn't always easy to reach one another. We also have fun communications with our children through a program called "Whats App."
Because our apartment here in Deventer is actually a "Young Adult Center," it is quite large and nice. It is two stories with a nice living room area, a large eating area, a kitchen, a "smart" TV, a piano and a small bathroom. Upstairs we have a master bedroom and bath plus three additional bedrooms, another bath and a small area with desks for study and business. We also have a washer and dryer upstairs. As you can tell, we are not really "roughing it."
As a YA Center we hold meetings and classes here. Each Monday night we have a family home evening for the Young Single Adults and if possible with friends or investigators who will attend. We hold an institute class every Thursday evening. On Tuesdays, the missionaries in our district hold their district meeting here and have lunch following their meeting. Once each month Susan prepares a meal for them and on the other weeks the missionary companionships rotate bringing food and preparing lunch for the district here. We recently have been encouraging the Elders here in Deventer to start teaching English to foreign college students that live here in Deventer and go to school here. The classes at the college in Deventer are taught in English as they are at several other colleges and universities in the Netherlands. The tuition costs are also very reasonable and so many foreign students come here for college. There are quite a few Asian students living here and going to school. We have been told that in the past Elders have had good success meeting people and finding contacts by offering free English lessons to those interested students. We designed and ordered business-type calling cards advertising free English classes for the Elders to hand out. The Elders are excited to try it and last night they held their first English class here in the Young Adult Center. While they only had one attendee on their first night, we understand it takes a few weeks for the word to spread. In the past Elders have had as many as 20 students attending each week. We are hoping it will be a wonderful way to make new friends and have more opportunities to share the gospel.
In addition to the missionary responsibilities mentioned above, we try to visit with members in the Ward, both active and inactive, including the young adults. We also have visiting teaching and home teaching assignments. We have also been encouraged by our stake leaders to visit other near-by wards (there are 3 other wards within about 35 miles of Deventer) to meet their young adults and try to build relationships and encourage them to attend our institute whenever possible.
The members here in the Netherlands are wonderful. We love them and love the young missionaries who are serving here. Sister Hill is popular with the missionaries. I'm not sure if that's because of her great personality or because she cooks wonderful "American type" meals for them. I do know that her chocolate chip cookies are becoming "legend" not only with the missionaries but also with the young adults who come to our meetings just to get her "treats." We love the gospel and are grateful for the privilege we have of serving a full-time mission. Know that we love and miss all our friends and neighbors from back home and think of you often. May the Lord bless each one of you. Tot Ziens.
Elder and Zuster Hill
Friday, March 4, 2016
3/4/2016
Well, winter is almost over (Feb.29) and it has been a mild one here in the Netherlands. We have had a few snow days but in each case not more than an inch and it melted quickly. We have probably not had more than four or five days where the high temps were below 32 degrees. Some nights we get frost but the coldest it's been is 23 or 24 degrees at night. Most of the days, our highs have been in the 40's. I think we're going to survive our first winter here just fine.
In late January we received a call from the mission president asking if we could help them with a different problem. There was a sister missionary struggling with depression and anxiety attacks and we were asked if she could come and stay with us while she tried to recuperate and unwind. That would allow her companion to be paired with someone else and continue to work rather than sit in their apartment with the sister who was struggling. We consented and so had this sister with us for about three weeks. About one week after she joined us we got another call from the mission president. It seems a new sister missionary arrived in the mission from the MTC and within three or four days was in the hospital with pneumonia. They suggested she also come to our apartment and recuperate before going back out to do missionary work. Now Elder Hill was starting to confirm other people's thinking that Mormons were polygamists (he and his three women). Fortunately, both cases have been resolved. The sister with depression was only three weeks away from completing a successful mission and so she was released to go home three weeks early. The sister with pneumonia has fully recovered and is now back doing missionary work.
We hold family home evening for the Young Adults in the area each Monday evening and Institute for them on Thursday evening. Susan prepares treats every week for FHE and a dinner for the Young Adults on institute night. She also prepares or assists in preparing meals for the missionaries at zone conferences. In February we had a zone conference in Rotterdam and she fed 60 hungry elders and sisters sloppy joes with potato salad, chips, a tossed salad and brownies.
During January a young lady from Viet Nam began attending our meetings. The sister missionaries in our district had found her and began teaching lessons to her. She was invited to FHE and Institute and began attending both every week. She also began attending church on Sunday. She was wonderful, always with a smile and happy to be around. She was not a Christian or religious in any way but described herself as a "free thinker." She said she just wanted to gain knowledge and learn about our church. She began reading the Book of Mormon and brought questions to institute about what she was reading, but was reluctant to pray about it. She told us she liked to be around members because there was this wonderful feeling she had when she was with us. She was a student at the local University studying hotel management. She received an opportunity to interview for an internship with a well-known hotel chain in Amsterdam. Before her interview we asked her if she was nervous and she responded that she was. We suggested that if she would pray and asked Heavenly Father to bless her to be calm and confident when she interviewed He would help her. She had the interview, got the internship, and then told us that she had prayed before her interview (I believe the first time she had ever prayed). She is now in Amsterdam and, hopefully, still attending institute and receiving missionary discussions.
We are loving our mission. The country is beautiful and the people are wonderful (unless you want to talk religion with them). It is a sifting process for the missionaries, trying to find those who are humble and open to receive the message of the restored gospel. We have seen Elder Thornock a few times now and he has become a great missionary. We think of our wonderful friends back home often.
With love,
Elder and Sister Hill
Sunday, February 21, 2016
Hello Family!
We are alive and doing well in Holland! It has been a good week and you have all been on my mind each day. How are you all doing? Did I tell you I love What's Ap and feeling somewhat connected to you all( who I Love) when we are so far away. It has made my being here easier, just so you know. But life is good here just for the record.
We had Zone Conference on Tuesday and our sisters left. We stayed(have I told you this already?) at the mission home with sister Johanson that night and took here to the office to meet her Mom but there was some misunderstanding that the Office Elders were going to pick her Mom up at the airport and bring the Mom back to meet Sis. Johanson. We ended up taking Sis Johanson out to the airport to avoid the train ride and give her a little more support. I could see she was wilting as the scenerio unfolded with confusion. We dropped her off and did not stay with her but in checking with the office she did reunite with her Mom and was happy. I was glad to hear she had not melted into a crying frenzy or fainted on her way through the airport. There was still some confusion on where she was to meet her Mom after customs, but they gave her an international calling phone to make the connection. Not that you wanted to hear all that. So after dropping her off we went to the Kookenhoff(sp) gardens to se if the tulips were up and blooming sinces the daffodils are blooming and I am here to officially say, we did not see any out of the ground yet!!! They should be if full splendor when you come in April.( Lisa your gardens in Texas are gorgeous and have beat ours so far!) We drove up to the castle there which was impressive and than we drove to Delft to buy some neckties for Dad and to see the factory. We wanted to check out a few recommended places to see if they are of interest when you come. The stroop waffles at our market have improved in flavor and the chocolate dipped ones were soooo good. We will definately take you there to taste and the speculos stroop waffles are still my favorite. We need to stock up on some of them before you arrive.
At the mission president's home they had every kind of chocolate cereal I could imagine! Even All Bran chocolate cereal. There were chocolate muesili ( pretty good), and nutella fulled cereals, chocolate krispies ( which we have) and many more. DAd and I have looked for them while shopping, but have not found all varieties - take heart we are still looking!!!
We had only one Jovo for Institute this week and the Deventer Elders came later. DAd's lesson was well prepared and interesting. There was alot of discussion. Willam is a computer guy and he had seen an article stating they had found the skeleton of Goliath ( the skull had a stone embedded in it) Men or archeologists were kneeling by the skeleton and the comparison is size was convincing that the skeleton was of a very large man. ( trivia really) and he had been sent an article where Archeologists think they have found the place where Nephi named the land Bountiful and where the ship was built. The article was interesting; I think it was from LDS Living. It matters neither here nor there- it was just interesting. I wonder who pays for these people to go around trying to find substantiation of Book of Mormon sites.?
It was Stake Conference Sat. nite and Sunday. WE had Elders come to stay with us in one bedroom; the word is out that we have room!! Some apartment did not have to house 6 extra bodies with our keeping two. We should tell them we have more room, but another time. I had just washed EVERYTHING after the girls left, the one bedroom was not even made up yet.
At Stake Conference we were able to meet the Jones' family from Malad who live in our stake!!!! Can you believe that, come to Holland to meet someone from Malad Idaho! She is a cook and the missionaries love her. They have the elders over once or twice a week, so all missionaries who have served in Arnham are all familiar with the Jones family. Sister Jones, Debbie, is really fun ; they have a 15 year old daughter here living with them. She is from New Jersey and she and her husband Kirby met at BYU. She is definately going to be a resource for good food and maybe a friend.
Let's see, is there anything else interesting to tell you? We saw Jamison Thornock twice this week once at Zone Conference since their Zone was combined with ours this time and at the Young Adult Meeting tonight in Gouda. He seems happy and well adjusted to mission life. Okay, Chris, the new food this week was a carmel/salt chocolate bar which was scrumptious. A definate one to try for you all. I was telling Dad tonight we need to host a chocolate tasting party- buy the same kind of chocolate bar in the different popular brands and see which is the best tasting on a blind try. It was Sister Jo who told us of the Belgium chocolate under the brand Tony's. It is worthwhile, truly.
WE love you all and pray for each of you! And are so Thankful for who you are and that you are ours. Stay true and hold on tightly to the Gospel. Live the Gospel and not just our religion. Have a great week! MOM
We are alive and doing well in Holland! It has been a good week and you have all been on my mind each day. How are you all doing? Did I tell you I love What's Ap and feeling somewhat connected to you all( who I Love) when we are so far away. It has made my being here easier, just so you know. But life is good here just for the record.
We had Zone Conference on Tuesday and our sisters left. We stayed(have I told you this already?) at the mission home with sister Johanson that night and took here to the office to meet her Mom but there was some misunderstanding that the Office Elders were going to pick her Mom up at the airport and bring the Mom back to meet Sis. Johanson. We ended up taking Sis Johanson out to the airport to avoid the train ride and give her a little more support. I could see she was wilting as the scenerio unfolded with confusion. We dropped her off and did not stay with her but in checking with the office she did reunite with her Mom and was happy. I was glad to hear she had not melted into a crying frenzy or fainted on her way through the airport. There was still some confusion on where she was to meet her Mom after customs, but they gave her an international calling phone to make the connection. Not that you wanted to hear all that. So after dropping her off we went to the Kookenhoff(sp) gardens to se if the tulips were up and blooming sinces the daffodils are blooming and I am here to officially say, we did not see any out of the ground yet!!! They should be if full splendor when you come in April.( Lisa your gardens in Texas are gorgeous and have beat ours so far!) We drove up to the castle there which was impressive and than we drove to Delft to buy some neckties for Dad and to see the factory. We wanted to check out a few recommended places to see if they are of interest when you come. The stroop waffles at our market have improved in flavor and the chocolate dipped ones were soooo good. We will definately take you there to taste and the speculos stroop waffles are still my favorite. We need to stock up on some of them before you arrive.
At the mission president's home they had every kind of chocolate cereal I could imagine! Even All Bran chocolate cereal. There were chocolate muesili ( pretty good), and nutella fulled cereals, chocolate krispies ( which we have) and many more. DAd and I have looked for them while shopping, but have not found all varieties - take heart we are still looking!!!
We had only one Jovo for Institute this week and the Deventer Elders came later. DAd's lesson was well prepared and interesting. There was alot of discussion. Willam is a computer guy and he had seen an article stating they had found the skeleton of Goliath ( the skull had a stone embedded in it) Men or archeologists were kneeling by the skeleton and the comparison is size was convincing that the skeleton was of a very large man. ( trivia really) and he had been sent an article where Archeologists think they have found the place where Nephi named the land Bountiful and where the ship was built. The article was interesting; I think it was from LDS Living. It matters neither here nor there- it was just interesting. I wonder who pays for these people to go around trying to find substantiation of Book of Mormon sites.?
It was Stake Conference Sat. nite and Sunday. WE had Elders come to stay with us in one bedroom; the word is out that we have room!! Some apartment did not have to house 6 extra bodies with our keeping two. We should tell them we have more room, but another time. I had just washed EVERYTHING after the girls left, the one bedroom was not even made up yet.
At Stake Conference we were able to meet the Jones' family from Malad who live in our stake!!!! Can you believe that, come to Holland to meet someone from Malad Idaho! She is a cook and the missionaries love her. They have the elders over once or twice a week, so all missionaries who have served in Arnham are all familiar with the Jones family. Sister Jones, Debbie, is really fun ; they have a 15 year old daughter here living with them. She is from New Jersey and she and her husband Kirby met at BYU. She is definately going to be a resource for good food and maybe a friend.
Let's see, is there anything else interesting to tell you? We saw Jamison Thornock twice this week once at Zone Conference since their Zone was combined with ours this time and at the Young Adult Meeting tonight in Gouda. He seems happy and well adjusted to mission life. Okay, Chris, the new food this week was a carmel/salt chocolate bar which was scrumptious. A definate one to try for you all. I was telling Dad tonight we need to host a chocolate tasting party- buy the same kind of chocolate bar in the different popular brands and see which is the best tasting on a blind try. It was Sister Jo who told us of the Belgium chocolate under the brand Tony's. It is worthwhile, truly.
WE love you all and pray for each of you! And are so Thankful for who you are and that you are ours. Stay true and hold on tightly to the Gospel. Live the Gospel and not just our religion. Have a great week! MOM
Sunday, February 14, 2016
Dear Ones!
It has been a pretty chill week with these two sister missionaries. Sister Johanson still has her high and low days. Her Mom flies in this Wednesday and they will tour and go back home. Sister Maughan was sent to Belgium for legal work and spent the night with sister missionaries there. She came home looking like she had been ran over and coughing to boot! We have a check up with the doctor tomorrow and hope her lungs are clear and her ears!
Zone Conference is Tuesday in Rotterdam. Both sisters will go their own way after that. We stay with sister J. at the Mission home and than deliver her to the office where she will meet her Mom. They plan on spending nearly a week touring and visiting people and than return to St George.We will feed 60 at this Zone Conference and since I am doing the bulk of the cooking. I am making sloppy joes from 20 lb. of hamburger! I hope I have not overshot the amount. 120 buns. I will report next Sunday!
We shopped at Makro last Friday and bought alot of needed supplies. I had asked Sister Romig what she cooked when she did it alone and she gave me this idea. We hope it goes over!
Monday we clean, I have visiting teachers and than cook all day. Dad will take the girls to the Doctor app't.. And I am sure we will see the Elders; they have already texted to see if they could do something special for Sister Johansons last p-day. Its fine as long as they won't come hang out all day!! We have FHE tomorrow too. They may get some store bought treat that night.
We had a good turnout for Institute but not all that we have had the past 2 weeks. In all I think there were 9 or 10 for the lesson. Sister Johanson did not come down for the lesson. and Sister Maughan caught a late train for Belgium that night.
We hung some hooks and some racks to hang clothes in two of the bedrooms and will do one for the last bedroom later.
It has snowed all day today but nothing is sticking. The roads are wet and slushy. The Issyl River is at the highest oint sinces we moved here. We were both surprised to see how close it is to the docks and walkway. When the sisters leave we will make more walks down that direction. We saw kayacks out on it Friday on our way to Arnham to shop. A heavy loaded tanker was clipping along yesterday making quite a wave in front of it as it plowed through the deep water.. The water has been measuring 11 on the poles since we arrived and now it is at 8. I wonder if the spring melt from higher elevations will make a differencestill. I'll ask my visiting teaachers tomorrow morn who live here in Deventer.
WE Love you all from afar. I love Whats Ap, It keeps me alive! Love Mom
It has been a pretty chill week with these two sister missionaries. Sister Johanson still has her high and low days. Her Mom flies in this Wednesday and they will tour and go back home. Sister Maughan was sent to Belgium for legal work and spent the night with sister missionaries there. She came home looking like she had been ran over and coughing to boot! We have a check up with the doctor tomorrow and hope her lungs are clear and her ears!
Zone Conference is Tuesday in Rotterdam. Both sisters will go their own way after that. We stay with sister J. at the Mission home and than deliver her to the office where she will meet her Mom. They plan on spending nearly a week touring and visiting people and than return to St George.We will feed 60 at this Zone Conference and since I am doing the bulk of the cooking. I am making sloppy joes from 20 lb. of hamburger! I hope I have not overshot the amount. 120 buns. I will report next Sunday!
We shopped at Makro last Friday and bought alot of needed supplies. I had asked Sister Romig what she cooked when she did it alone and she gave me this idea. We hope it goes over!
Monday we clean, I have visiting teachers and than cook all day. Dad will take the girls to the Doctor app't.. And I am sure we will see the Elders; they have already texted to see if they could do something special for Sister Johansons last p-day. Its fine as long as they won't come hang out all day!! We have FHE tomorrow too. They may get some store bought treat that night.
We had a good turnout for Institute but not all that we have had the past 2 weeks. In all I think there were 9 or 10 for the lesson. Sister Johanson did not come down for the lesson. and Sister Maughan caught a late train for Belgium that night.
We hung some hooks and some racks to hang clothes in two of the bedrooms and will do one for the last bedroom later.
It has snowed all day today but nothing is sticking. The roads are wet and slushy. The Issyl River is at the highest oint sinces we moved here. We were both surprised to see how close it is to the docks and walkway. When the sisters leave we will make more walks down that direction. We saw kayacks out on it Friday on our way to Arnham to shop. A heavy loaded tanker was clipping along yesterday making quite a wave in front of it as it plowed through the deep water.. The water has been measuring 11 on the poles since we arrived and now it is at 8. I wonder if the spring melt from higher elevations will make a differencestill. I'll ask my visiting teaachers tomorrow morn who live here in Deventer.
WE Love you all from afar. I love Whats Ap, It keeps me alive! Love Mom
Monday, February 8, 2016
Dear Family,
It is Monday night and we are waiting for the Jovos to come for FHE. I am hoping you are all having FHE in your homes too. We love you all! Those were happy days having FHE at home with all of you. Your children will feel the same when they get older; not all of you were so anxious at the time.{smile}
We are adjusting to having more than just us at home here in Deventer. We have experienced different things as these girls face their challenges' . Anxiety and mild depression manifests itself in different ways. Sistser Maughan is feisty and so positive; non members you better not get in her way! She is very excited for each day. She has a hard time going to sleep at night because she can't wait for the new day!! I wonder what 2 years will do with some more maturity.
We have Zone Conf next week and they are moving on or home. We will go through another adjustment...maybe. Church was super good on Sunday and the testimonys were great. I have enjoyed having my own interpreter with sister Johanson. I will miss her when shopping and when reading signs and things.
Know that we love you and are proud of you. MOM
It is Monday night and we are waiting for the Jovos to come for FHE. I am hoping you are all having FHE in your homes too. We love you all! Those were happy days having FHE at home with all of you. Your children will feel the same when they get older; not all of you were so anxious at the time.{smile}
We are adjusting to having more than just us at home here in Deventer. We have experienced different things as these girls face their challenges' . Anxiety and mild depression manifests itself in different ways. Sistser Maughan is feisty and so positive; non members you better not get in her way! She is very excited for each day. She has a hard time going to sleep at night because she can't wait for the new day!! I wonder what 2 years will do with some more maturity.
We have Zone Conf next week and they are moving on or home. We will go through another adjustment...maybe. Church was super good on Sunday and the testimonys were great. I have enjoyed having my own interpreter with sister Johanson. I will miss her when shopping and when reading signs and things.
Know that we love you and are proud of you. MOM
Sunday, January 31, 2016
Dear Family,
We are alive and well and safe. We have traveled this week to Tillburg to get Sister Johanson and than today we had to go to Lelystad to take some medicine to another sister in need! Sister Johanson is doing much better with the no stress life style. She is very charming and can attract people to share conversation with. She is at ease declaring the gospel and sharing her testimony of principals. She is not 100 percent, I can tell.
The President called Friday to see if we would consider housing another sister. This Sister Lindsay is a greenie who came with pneumonia and has been in the hospital in Belgium. Pres. Bunnell was hoping to go see her today and bring her here with us. The Doctors have said she will need two week recovery. The good thing is we have Sister Johanson who can be her trainer while she recoups and Sister J. Can run their missionary life, without the stress of meeting quotas and deadlines! She is an upbeat type person, but can stress and have anxiety pretty quickly. Poor mission President t having to deal with all this emotional stuff, besides mission responsibilities. Please pray for all mission presidents too! Some of these girls can have had not a care at home and come out here and things go haywire.
We have stayed inside most of the week. I was going stir crazy Tuesday and insisted Sister J. Come to the grocery store with me. And she did fine. It was the start of a little more adventure for her,but we have not been out and about nearly as much as we once were. President Bunnell said when sister Lindsay comes, we can leave the two of them to do their thing and go out ourselves. It has been a good experience and she is fun to have for company. She plays the piano wonderfully and sings.
And she is great to take around and interpret for both of us! I thought Dad was understanding more than he must.
Transfers were Wednesday and we got to keep our Deven tear Elders and Elder Parr from Eindhoven came to replace Elder Reese. It will be a great group. I think one of our guy missionaries gets blue sometimes, too. What do you say, it happens.
Elder Davison t extend tonight and asked if we had any leftovers they could finish off! They came late and we cleaned out the frig! I decided it would be a Leftover Sunday anyway due to,our unexpected trip to Lelystad.
I finished cleaning curtains and bedding In another bedroom so that is done. Dad bought tulips for our kitchen at the market Saturday. I will keep you informed on how the tulip season is progressing.
We helped get Alice ready to,returned said to China for Chinese New Year. She has graduated and her visa came back . She was out of here in two days but thinks she will come back to Netheralnds. She came and fixed us Chinese food this week. I can not say tofu is a favorite. Or ,these little pouches of dried meat that are pretty oily. She said they were more snack type food.I gave one to one of the Elders and he said it smelled like cat food! She is a tidy cook ; she actually learned on the internet she said. Adam did you ever have fried tomatoes and scrambled eggs together? I liked the frozen peas and corn with shrimp stir fry. Everything else was a "glad I tried it" type dish. It is interesting to hear her talk of what is healthy to eat and what is not.
We love you all and miss you. We pray for all of you each day! Mom
We are alive and well and safe. We have traveled this week to Tillburg to get Sister Johanson and than today we had to go to Lelystad to take some medicine to another sister in need! Sister Johanson is doing much better with the no stress life style. She is very charming and can attract people to share conversation with. She is at ease declaring the gospel and sharing her testimony of principals. She is not 100 percent, I can tell.
The President called Friday to see if we would consider housing another sister. This Sister Lindsay is a greenie who came with pneumonia and has been in the hospital in Belgium. Pres. Bunnell was hoping to go see her today and bring her here with us. The Doctors have said she will need two week recovery. The good thing is we have Sister Johanson who can be her trainer while she recoups and Sister J. Can run their missionary life, without the stress of meeting quotas and deadlines! She is an upbeat type person, but can stress and have anxiety pretty quickly. Poor mission President t having to deal with all this emotional stuff, besides mission responsibilities. Please pray for all mission presidents too! Some of these girls can have had not a care at home and come out here and things go haywire.
We have stayed inside most of the week. I was going stir crazy Tuesday and insisted Sister J. Come to the grocery store with me. And she did fine. It was the start of a little more adventure for her,but we have not been out and about nearly as much as we once were. President Bunnell said when sister Lindsay comes, we can leave the two of them to do their thing and go out ourselves. It has been a good experience and she is fun to have for company. She plays the piano wonderfully and sings.
And she is great to take around and interpret for both of us! I thought Dad was understanding more than he must.
Transfers were Wednesday and we got to keep our Deven tear Elders and Elder Parr from Eindhoven came to replace Elder Reese. It will be a great group. I think one of our guy missionaries gets blue sometimes, too. What do you say, it happens.
Elder Davison t extend tonight and asked if we had any leftovers they could finish off! They came late and we cleaned out the frig! I decided it would be a Leftover Sunday anyway due to,our unexpected trip to Lelystad.
I finished cleaning curtains and bedding In another bedroom so that is done. Dad bought tulips for our kitchen at the market Saturday. I will keep you informed on how the tulip season is progressing.
We helped get Alice ready to,returned said to China for Chinese New Year. She has graduated and her visa came back . She was out of here in two days but thinks she will come back to Netheralnds. She came and fixed us Chinese food this week. I can not say tofu is a favorite. Or ,these little pouches of dried meat that are pretty oily. She said they were more snack type food.I gave one to one of the Elders and he said it smelled like cat food! She is a tidy cook ; she actually learned on the internet she said. Adam did you ever have fried tomatoes and scrambled eggs together? I liked the frozen peas and corn with shrimp stir fry. Everything else was a "glad I tried it" type dish. It is interesting to hear her talk of what is healthy to eat and what is not.
We love you all and miss you. We pray for all of you each day! Mom
Sunday, January 24, 2016
Dear Family,
How are you all? Will you incorporate a plan each Sunday to have one of our grandchildren write us an email for their Sunday free time? It can go towards some award ,I am sure! Sydney, it was fun to hear of your more diligent piano practicing due to a YW goal! It is fun to hear what is going on in their lives. Count us as a pen pal!
We were contacted by the mission president and asked if we would keep a young sister missionary while her medications work themselves out. Our appointment to go to the temple with a recent convert fell through, so David and I went to the temple onFriday because I wanted to go. While there I recognized Sister Anderson who serves in Germany over the Jovo groups. We have skyped with them a few times. The Germany temples are being renovated so they came to our temple. She introduced me to a woman who had come with them from their office; her husband is the psychologist working with the missionaries. We were able to visit with her husband about this Sister Johansen who was coming to stay with us,which was super helpful! I felt it was meant to be.
sSister Johansen is from a super over achiever family, so the pressure has been felt. She is from Washington Terrace near St George,is a tremendous piano player which I have enjoyed. She plays a fantastic Disney theme song, makes tremendous comments in lessons taught( picks up the slackfor the Elders ) on temple lessons! I am sure she has been a tremendous missionary. Her scheduled release is March, but if her medications won't let her function, she will have an early release.
Alice, the Chinese convert expects to be going home next week. Sh is awaiting for her passport to be returned after applying to come to the United States. Her lease on her apartment is up the end of January so she won't have a place to stay. I told her today on the way to church she could come stay with us. We will see how things work out. Thanks to the early visitors, I Have washed duvet covers and drapes in the bedrooms so they will be fresh for you all too. I will wash the ones again that have been slept in; don't worry!
It has been colder this week. Dad was excited to see the canals frozen and part of the river! We had some snow which made all the children at the nearby school have fun. I don't know if the cold was country wide, because we saw daffodils blooming in the parkways on our way south to pick up Sister
Johansen.
We had a worldwide missionary broadcast Wednesday night and the district came to watch it here and have dinner. The rolls and spinach salad were the best part of the dinner! The broadcast was great and informative. The new member of the pr siding bishopric Spoke with Elder oaks,Bednar and Sister Oscarson from the young woman's organization. Some were led in a panel discussion type forum. I wonder how the elders and sisters were chosen to participate.
We changed Institute to Thursday nite and had 16 in attendance this past week!! I am sure that will be unusual where some came to have a meeting with each other and we had two investigators and one visitor, but we were over joyed with the response! I think I will serve taco salad every week, It was easy and well received!?! We have pizza nite every week. Really, why not!?
I find myself wondering how your missions were for you ,my sons. Your feelings and your frustrations. I wonder how leadership was for you, whether you lead or supported those who did, were your district meetings beneficial. Sometimes were they more fun than spiritually high? I love you all and am so proud you chose to serve missions and were faithful! Missions are revealing to many. Show you what you are made of! I Do Love You!
We love you all, Mom and Dad
How are you all? Will you incorporate a plan each Sunday to have one of our grandchildren write us an email for their Sunday free time? It can go towards some award ,I am sure! Sydney, it was fun to hear of your more diligent piano practicing due to a YW goal! It is fun to hear what is going on in their lives. Count us as a pen pal!
We were contacted by the mission president and asked if we would keep a young sister missionary while her medications work themselves out. Our appointment to go to the temple with a recent convert fell through, so David and I went to the temple onFriday because I wanted to go. While there I recognized Sister Anderson who serves in Germany over the Jovo groups. We have skyped with them a few times. The Germany temples are being renovated so they came to our temple. She introduced me to a woman who had come with them from their office; her husband is the psychologist working with the missionaries. We were able to visit with her husband about this Sister Johansen who was coming to stay with us,which was super helpful! I felt it was meant to be.
sSister Johansen is from a super over achiever family, so the pressure has been felt. She is from Washington Terrace near St George,is a tremendous piano player which I have enjoyed. She plays a fantastic Disney theme song, makes tremendous comments in lessons taught( picks up the slackfor the Elders ) on temple lessons! I am sure she has been a tremendous missionary. Her scheduled release is March, but if her medications won't let her function, she will have an early release.
Alice, the Chinese convert expects to be going home next week. Sh is awaiting for her passport to be returned after applying to come to the United States. Her lease on her apartment is up the end of January so she won't have a place to stay. I told her today on the way to church she could come stay with us. We will see how things work out. Thanks to the early visitors, I Have washed duvet covers and drapes in the bedrooms so they will be fresh for you all too. I will wash the ones again that have been slept in; don't worry!
It has been colder this week. Dad was excited to see the canals frozen and part of the river! We had some snow which made all the children at the nearby school have fun. I don't know if the cold was country wide, because we saw daffodils blooming in the parkways on our way south to pick up Sister
Johansen.
We had a worldwide missionary broadcast Wednesday night and the district came to watch it here and have dinner. The rolls and spinach salad were the best part of the dinner! The broadcast was great and informative. The new member of the pr siding bishopric Spoke with Elder oaks,Bednar and Sister Oscarson from the young woman's organization. Some were led in a panel discussion type forum. I wonder how the elders and sisters were chosen to participate.
We changed Institute to Thursday nite and had 16 in attendance this past week!! I am sure that will be unusual where some came to have a meeting with each other and we had two investigators and one visitor, but we were over joyed with the response! I think I will serve taco salad every week, It was easy and well received!?! We have pizza nite every week. Really, why not!?
I find myself wondering how your missions were for you ,my sons. Your feelings and your frustrations. I wonder how leadership was for you, whether you lead or supported those who did, were your district meetings beneficial. Sometimes were they more fun than spiritually high? I love you all and am so proud you chose to serve missions and were faithful! Missions are revealing to many. Show you what you are made of! I Do Love You!
We love you all, Mom and Dad
Saturday, January 16, 2016
Dear ones,
Sorry we are slow to write.! I need to post one thing at least each week.
We have stayed busy, but it is all good. Some days we just stay home and "collect ourselves" again.
We had interviews with the mission president again and he did not follow up on his New Years Eve question of "How are you enjoying being in Deventer and your apartment."
We have a couple in Gronegan who are leaving in 10 days and a new couple coming in March. The new couple has family close to Deventer so it was a more opportune location for her, but I do not want to move. In the end David told the president we would do whatever he decided. The couple in Belgium would actually like to move to the Gronigan apartment, because of the amenities it provides and the view, but they are doing so much good in Belgium, I don't know how you weigh the pros and cons. Gronigan has a active Jovo group and their church is being remodeled so the elders meet forDL meeting in the apartment and the Jovos meet their too. They need someone there to keep that going. Did I ever tell you how difficult the life of a mission president is? And that I am so glad it is them and not us!
We were part of a missionary discussion in our apartment with the sister missionaries which was terrific. Glory has continued to come to home evening and institute last night! She is here studying hotel management, and enjoys cooking. She wanted to make tiramisu for dinner last night but changed her mind due to the coffee in it. She has been reading the Book of Mormon and had questions that first lesson on why God would tell Nephimto kill Laban when to kill is forbidden. I was interested in listening to the sister missionary explain that one.
We have been to a Stake baptism and I marveled at the ward support for this woman who had investigated the church for probably ten years! She is a professor at a college in Hangelo where the ward is.
It's the 3rd Sunday of the month so we will go back to Gouda for the Jovo Meeting/fireside tomorrow. I don't have to cook so no worries here, other than driving at night. I have decided I don't like to be out on the roads on uncharted courses at night. we went to Belgium a week ago to start the drivers license procedure. We turned in Dads to start but in hind sight we should have resigned them both and saved a trip to Belgium. David still drives, he has proof of our Utah license and the copy of the application for a Belgium license. It will all work. We had the opportunity to do lunch with the Caldwells in Mechelin and they actually drove us to Brussells for our license. It is old hat for them and I do not enjoy driving there either! Too many scared experiences alreadY! We had a tender mercy given us - the DL office was closed with a sign it was open only on Mondays and we tapped on a window and pled our case, the one woman was I budging but a second opened her window and helped us! Tender mercy for sure. I have found a peace in trying to recognize the "tender mercies" we receive daily. Each of you try it- I used to call it luck,but know I know better.
This week will prove to be another busy week. They joked at the MTC that CES should not mean " cooking every second" , but in truth some weeks are just that way! But that is really why I came,right? That was my end of the deal. We are having a good time and are enjoying the missionaries and ward members. ...but are missing each of you. There is no doubt.
We love you all, Mom
Sorry we are slow to write.! I need to post one thing at least each week.
We have stayed busy, but it is all good. Some days we just stay home and "collect ourselves" again.
We had interviews with the mission president again and he did not follow up on his New Years Eve question of "How are you enjoying being in Deventer and your apartment."
We have a couple in Gronegan who are leaving in 10 days and a new couple coming in March. The new couple has family close to Deventer so it was a more opportune location for her, but I do not want to move. In the end David told the president we would do whatever he decided. The couple in Belgium would actually like to move to the Gronigan apartment, because of the amenities it provides and the view, but they are doing so much good in Belgium, I don't know how you weigh the pros and cons. Gronigan has a active Jovo group and their church is being remodeled so the elders meet forDL meeting in the apartment and the Jovos meet their too. They need someone there to keep that going. Did I ever tell you how difficult the life of a mission president is? And that I am so glad it is them and not us!
We were part of a missionary discussion in our apartment with the sister missionaries which was terrific. Glory has continued to come to home evening and institute last night! She is here studying hotel management, and enjoys cooking. She wanted to make tiramisu for dinner last night but changed her mind due to the coffee in it. She has been reading the Book of Mormon and had questions that first lesson on why God would tell Nephimto kill Laban when to kill is forbidden. I was interested in listening to the sister missionary explain that one.
We have been to a Stake baptism and I marveled at the ward support for this woman who had investigated the church for probably ten years! She is a professor at a college in Hangelo where the ward is.
It's the 3rd Sunday of the month so we will go back to Gouda for the Jovo Meeting/fireside tomorrow. I don't have to cook so no worries here, other than driving at night. I have decided I don't like to be out on the roads on uncharted courses at night. we went to Belgium a week ago to start the drivers license procedure. We turned in Dads to start but in hind sight we should have resigned them both and saved a trip to Belgium. David still drives, he has proof of our Utah license and the copy of the application for a Belgium license. It will all work. We had the opportunity to do lunch with the Caldwells in Mechelin and they actually drove us to Brussells for our license. It is old hat for them and I do not enjoy driving there either! Too many scared experiences alreadY! We had a tender mercy given us - the DL office was closed with a sign it was open only on Mondays and we tapped on a window and pled our case, the one woman was I budging but a second opened her window and helped us! Tender mercy for sure. I have found a peace in trying to recognize the "tender mercies" we receive daily. Each of you try it- I used to call it luck,but know I know better.
This week will prove to be another busy week. They joked at the MTC that CES should not mean " cooking every second" , but in truth some weeks are just that way! But that is really why I came,right? That was my end of the deal. We are having a good time and are enjoying the missionaries and ward members. ...but are missing each of you. There is no doubt.
We love you all, Mom
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