Feb 27-Mar 5, 2022

 SUNDAY

We spoke in church today...really just introduced ourselves and bore our testimonies. I had an interpreter in the beginning and then bore my simple, testimony (that I had written out beforehand) in Dutch. Doug spoke only in Dutch and did a wonderful job.

In Relief Society, Annalise de Haas sat between Norma and I and interpreted throughout the lesson. That was very helpful. But even better was the teacher, Jannalyn, had her power point in Dutch, but read the slides in English. It was great! Jannalyn has been in Holland about 30 years. She moved here when she was about 40 with her Dutch husband. She speaks wonderful Dutch, but when she speaks English, it's easy to hear that she is native US. Her husband is atheist, but was there to support her and is very supportive of her beliefs and activity in the Church.

MONDAY

As we left the house to walk to the office, we saw how the trash is managed here. Our job is to open the chute with a card-reader and drop in the trash bag. Today we saw what happens next! A truck with a crane pulls up to the 'dumpster' and lifts it straight up, releases the bottom and the trash tumbles into the truck to be hauled away. A worker uses a hose and cleans the area surrounding the opening and the container is lowered back into place.

 

A busy day at the office getting ready for transfers, departures and arrivals. Five of our Sisters are going home and 22 more missionaries are arriving this week. The APs have been very busy coordinating all of it.  

We took Elders Snow and Andersen out to dinner tonight. Sjoerd, a YSA in our ward, is a chef at a nice Steak house in Utrecht. When we were getting to know him last week at church, we decided to take the Elders to eat at his restaurant. It is a charming restaurant in what used to be the wine cellar of the castle several centuries ago! It was so nice to be with them and the food was delicious! Elder Andersen is being transferred this week so it was good we could go out before he left.

                                                                                     Elder Atticus Snow (left)

                                                                                  Elder Leif Andersen (center)

TUESDAY

The office was busy today with Sisters Hunt, Goodall, van Der Werf, Reed and Taggert coming for their Departing Interviews with President Watson, the APs finishing the transfer and Arrivals details and making sure everyone will have the transportation they need to get to Amsterdam tomorrow whether it is a car or a train ticket.

We also had a friend of a member of the Utrecht Ward come to the office to get clothes and supplies for her friend who has just fled Ukraine. She is driving to The Netherlands with her two nieces to escape the war there. She was very grateful for the dresses, coats, scarves and gloves. We hope our little contribution from the Second Hand Room at the Mission Office can relieve some of the suffering for this little family. 

WEDNESDAY

New arrivals and transfers!

What a fun and busy day getting our 22 new missionaries here. The APs did a fantastic job arranging for and changing plans as needs arose today. We met at the Amsterdam chapel which is fairly close to the airport and easier to accommodate a crowd. We both introduced them very briefly to the vehicles, finance and medical. Elder Glauser started by telling them that 'everything is spiritual' and we need to be sure to include the Lord in everything in our day. There will be difficult days but we can be filled with joy if we include the Lord. They are all jet-lagged and tired so we kept it all short. They were introduced to their new companions, given a sack lunch and off they went to their new areas. 

Those who were being transferred met as well, got their new companions and headed home to start.

While we were in Amsterdam I wanted to go to a yarn shop to get yarn for a baby afghan (I had started a little afghan for Annie with yarn from the supply at the office, but quickly realized it would not be enough). I had checked Maps for a yarn store nearby but found nothing. So we went to the center of Amsterdam to a little shop. I found some soft baby-type yarn and now can get started....again!

The bonus was being able to see a small portion of the city. Narrow streets and beautiful architecture.

This was also the day of my sister's funeral. I'm so grateful that Ann, Emily, Karin, Katie and Matt were able to travel to Utah to be there. Elizabeth, Mike, Jill and Doug and I were able to participate by Zoom. Technology is certainly a blessing!

Since it was Matt's birthday, they gathered for dinner with the San Bernardino friends.

Katie, Matt, Emily, Brenden Stuart, Taylor Rohm, Andrew Schelhous, Beau Laureski

THURSDAY AND FRIDAY

Back to normal at the office except there is no heat! Thursday we just wore coats, but Friday I emailed the Facilities Management group to report the problem and someone came to fix it that day. Why didn't I call the first day there was a problem?? Next time I'll know!

Sister VandeWal told me they had found a yarn store in Gouda!! What? My internet search had let me down, but we still got to see a part of Amsterdam. We need to go back to really explore the city. In the meantime, I can easily walk to the shop here for my crocheting supplies 😃

SATURDAY

Today began with a beautiful, albeit COLD walk. It was 29 degrees ('but feels like 22') and sunny. This little city is charming! The streets and alleys are curvy, twisty and narrow. It's easy to get turned around but always an adventure!

This was a tiring day for Elder Van der Wal and me.  We helped a member do dry wall at his house.  It was fun to do manual labor and to help a member of our Utrecht Ward.  He and his wife and their 14 year old daughter are wonderful people.  they are in charge of the FSY activity in the mission area this summer and are excited for the 200 or so youth that could be involved.  

We love the work of the Lord and have strong testimonies of our Savior and his gospel.  We pray for our family every day and desire the Lord's blessing in your lives.