APRIL 3-9, 2022

SUNDAY 

General Conference weekend! Because of the time difference, we watched the Saturday morning session at 6pm on Saturday. We joined the VandeWal's and Elders Ludlow and Blodgett at the office to watch the Saturday afternoon and evening sessions on Sunday morning. Sunday morning session was watched at 6pm Sunday and Sunday afternoon session we finally heard on Tuesday morning. I love hearing from the living prophets and apostles! This time, instead of taking notes of things I heard, I tried to focus on how I felt. There were several impressions that came to me throughout the conference. 

I know that Heavenly Father loves me, despite my shortcomings and weaknesses. 

I have been endowed with power from God.

I can 'lend my candle to the cause'.

Jesus Christ will not leave me...I am His

God is a God of miracles

I trust God

Just as Peter trusted the Savior more than he trusted his boat. I can have courage and trust the Savior more than anything earthly.

In order to repent (change) I need to be humble, have faith in the Atonement of Jesus Christ and know that through His grace I can change. I am beginning to understand that Christ atoned not just for everyone, but for me personally.

I consciously accept the word of God and am converted to doing the will of God. I truly want to do whatever the Lord would have me do.

I am bound to God through my covenants.

I have been forgiven

Jesus Christ knows my capabilities and my vulnerabilities.

I seek and expect miracles.

I loved President Nelson's invitations and promises. 1) get on and stay on the Covenant Path, 2) repent daily, 3) Learn about God through daily scripture study, cast out Satan's influence, 4) Seek and expect miracles, and 5) end conflict in my personal life. Promise

At first, I didn't recognize  the impact conference had on me, maybe because of the different schedule in watching it. But as I write all my impressions one by one, it may have been one of the most impactful times of my life. I'm so grateful for a loving Father in Heaven and Jesus Christ, my Savior, Redeemer and Finisher.

We had Elder Ludlow for the afternoon and evening while his companion, Elder Blodgett went with E VandeWal to the Book of Mormon Musical to greet and answer questions to those who attended the show. Doug got a call from Elders de Souse and Christensen that the trains were not running and they needed to get back home to Breda from Rotterdam. So he and E Ludlow walked to the office, got a car, drove to Rotterdam, picked up the Elders and drove them to the bus station in Breda so they could get to their appointment to watch conference with a less-active family. We love that the Elders and Sisters know we will do anything in our power to help them with their work and will call when they need help with anything.

MONDAY

The Amsterdam Zone has been participating in the Book of Mormon Musical event for the past three weeks. They have been there every night greeting people as they came out of the theater, ready to answer any questions and inviting them to learn what the Church is really like. They are finished and home in bed by 1:00-2:00 in the morning and many days just up and going at the regular mission time of 6:30. There have been several interested people who are now being taught the Gospel. So to celebrate the successes and as a Thank You, we went to the Pannenkouken Boerderij for dinner tonight. It was delicious! And so fun to be together. 

Elders Vellinga and Cervantes

VandeWal's and Glauser's

Sister Watson, Elder Ross, Pres Watson, Elder Christensen

Elders Hipps, Norton, Cervantes, Petersen and Schafer

Elders Andersen, Jones, Hansen, Vellinga,
Bevell, Wright, Blanken, Burt and Bybee

Sister Vassar, Pres Watson, Sisters Kirchner, Jensen, Coates, Clark, Johnson

Elder Ludlow, Sisters Reynolds and Ricks, Elders Austin, Kempenaers and Blodgett

Sisters Carling, Hammer, Lybbert, Flake, Aldridge and Nay

TUESDAY

 

Elders Austin and Kempenaers (APs) were in Gronigen a few days ago. They brought back the Book of Mormon that has moved with the apartment for the past 48 years. Elder Glauser had written his name and the name of his companion, Elder Buck, inside along with their phone number and the name and address of the church building. What a treasured find!

WEDNESDAY

District Council is always a highlight of the week. Transfers are next week so this is the last time this group will meet together. We have grown to love these amazing young people and feel blessed to be taught by them and feel of their desire to serve the Lord. 

Elder Austin  (AP, Front), Elder and Sister VandeWal, Elder Norton (ZL), Elder Hipps (ZL, returning home next week), Elder Kempenaers (AP), Elder Blodgett (DL), Sister Aldridge (returning home next week),Sister Flake, Sister Lybbert, Elder Ludlow, Sister Hammer, Elder and Sister Glauser.

THURSDAY

We met Sisters Aldridge, Lybbert, Hammer and Flake for lunch today. Sisters Aldridge and Lybbert are the Social Media Specialists at this time and we wanted to get a few ideas for how to use SM better. These are outstanding young women who are happily giving of their time and talents to the work of the Lord in helping to gather Israel.

Sisters Hannah Hammer, Katie Aldridge, Ashlynn Lybbert, Tess Flake, Elder Glauser

Elders Ludlow, Blodgett, Weber and Snow came for our regular Thursday dinner. The Office Elders come each week and sometimes others join in. We love getting to know these good young men. They are diligent and work hard at the assignment given. Elders Weber and Snow are charged with creating and filming the audio/visual content to be posted on FaceBook and Instagram. And Elder Snow and Blodgett are cousins (their moms are sisters!)

                                         Elders Ludlow, Weber, Snow, Blodgett, Glauser

Elders Atticus Snow and Adrian Blodgett

FRIDAY

I am trying to be more consistent praying to 'get my errand from the Lord' each morning. This morning as I was studying, the thought kept coming to me to call Mary. We had a wonderful visit with her. Just that small thing testifies to me (again!) that Heavenly Father knows each of our needs.

Tonight we had dinner with President and Sister Watson and the VandeWal's at the Mission Home. It was a really fun time just gathering informally and getting to know each other better. We love serving with these great people.

Elder Glauser, Sister Monic Watson, President Daryl Watson, 

Elder Gerrit VandeWal, Sister Norma VandeWal

SATURDAY

The VandeWal's needed to meet with the new landlord, Bishop Onne de Jonge and also take some things to the new apartment ahead of our new Senior Couple arriving on Tuesday so they invited us to join them.  After stopping at the new apartment, we took a short 15 minute walk to the beach. It was cold and windy, but that didn't stop people from getting in the water! 

After the beach, we drove to Leiden to get things from the storage unit to deliver to other apartments. Elders Blodgett and Ludlow live in the apartment above the storage and since it was P-day for them this week, they saw us come and came down to help. We loaded the small van with 2 full-size bikes, a dryer, a mattress pad, a vacuum, a toaster, towels and sheets. Remember, there are four of us in it 😂. It was a tight fit, but Doug and Gerrit got it done!

The Elders invited us to walk to the grocery store nearby that has a nice deli and get some lunch to bring back to their place. We love that the Elders seem to actually enjoy our company. We have certainly come to love them.

Next we dropped off the two bikes to the Leiden apartment since they will be getting two new missionaries this week. On we went to the Sisters in Schiedam to fix their broken shower (after a quick stop at Gamma to buy a new shower set-up). It was a busy day but a lot of fun...seeing new places and spending time with friends. We are loving this mission!