April 17-23, 2022

 SUNDAY

Happy Easter! Alja Schuur, our friend and the RS President in the Utrecht Ward painted this beautiful picture of that first Easter morning. 

I love how we are looking outward from  the sepulcher. We can rejoice with Mary that Jesus Christ really did rise again. Because of Him, we will all be resurrected and can live again with our Father in Heaven and our families. 

MONDAY

It gets light early (and stays light late) so we have time for a bike ride/walk in the mornings before going to the office. We have time for some personal study in the mornings as well. We get up early, but it is a great way to start the day. Gouda is celebrating 750 years; the city was founded in 1272. From now til October will be a time of celebration. The Market Square is decorated, there are statues that have been painted in various ways all over town. Flags fly on the main streets and over the canals and the King of Nederlands came to town to start off the festivities.

TUESDAY

The Mission Office is in the building where church meetings used to be held when there was a Gouda Ward (Branch?) so there are a couple pianos and an organ there in the 'chapel'. I have enjoyed playing the organ a little when we first arrive each day before the other office staff arrive. I have always regretted not continuing with piano lessons when I was a teenager. But I can play the Hymns and really enjoy that.

WEDNESDAY

Doug and Gerrit went to Gronigen today to meet with the landlord, the neighbor to our missionaries and a mediator. The neighbor has been complaining for years about our Elders even though they have tried so hard to do everything he has asked and have been very conscious of the noise. One of the young missionaries, Elder Carter Hunsaker, met them there. The three of them had prepared through fasting and prayer. Elder Hunsaker was very articulate (in Dutch) as he explained who they were and why they are here. The woman representing the landlord visibly softened as she heard him speak. So the Spirit of the Lord was there and the gift of tongues was manifest. There are still issues to work out, but overall a good experience for all.

Gronigen is in the far north of Nederlands, so on the way, they picked up bikes that needed to be repaired and took needed things to apartments on the route. 

THURSDAY

Doug's birthday! The VandeWal's heard him say he likes Bugels so they brought some for him!

🎉🎈🎊

We had an appointment to go to Den Haag and pick up our IND cards. Just outside the train station was a flower shop-- there are flower shops everywhere!--so Doug bought me some tulips 💕🌷

We drove to Apeldorn this afternoon. Sister Bryant was at Urgent Care yesterday and we had offered to come for Elder Glauser to give her a blessing. The other three sisters in the apartment, Sisters Vassar, Reynolds and Medico (on exchanges today) received Priesthood blessings as well. It was a sweet experience to feel the Spirit as these valiant young women were blessed.

While there a little maintenance worked was accomplished 

FRIDAY

My morning walks have been filled with 'nature' this week. The sun is just coming up while I'm out, the ducks have hatched, the geese are swimming and there is even a herd of deer in the neighborhood. The trees are getting the new leaves and the flowers are blooming. Spring is here!

I was finally able to find the birthday gift I have been looking for for Doug's birthday. A Glauser-size Salt Shaker!! So he ended up getting it a day late.

SATURDAY

We took three bikes needing repair to the local bike shop and picked up three that were finished. The way there was uneventful with Doug pushing two bikes and me pushing one.

But on the way back to the office with the three repaired bikes, Doug encouraged me to just ride and he would follow. So off I went, arrived at the office, no problem. Doug had decided to ride one bike while steering the other and got tangled in the two bikes and crashed. He has only minor injuries to his left arm and hand. We are so grateful it was not more serious!

Since Gouda is celebrating 750 years, the market is packed with people. Next week, April 27, is the King's birthday which the entire country celebrates. We shopped today and found some orange shirts to wear that day. While at the market, we had a fresh stroopwafel after getting a Kip Pesto Panini at the backerii for lunch. 

Elder van der Put called with another piece of the Gronigen Book of Mormon story. This is the Book of Mormon that Doug had written his name in 48 years ago that was found in the Gronigen apartment. We had assumed it had just moved from apartment to apartment for 48 years. But Elder van der Put said that about 8 months ago he was serving in Gronigen and he and his companion, on occasion, would go to thrift stores to try and find the oldest Bible. This is where they found the Gronigen Book of Mormon and bought it for 2 euros. So it has actually been on a journey somewhere, perhaps influencing someone. Where will our journey take us? Who will we influence?

Another week has passed! We love our mission and the experiences of each day.