May 15-21, 2022
SUNDAY
Doug spoke in church today. He spoke in Dutch and from his heart. He was able to communicate his thoughts very well. Every day he has opportunity to use the language and is improving all the time. I am so proud of him as he works hard to learn the language and then uses it in many settings. Even though most everyone speaks English as well, he reminds them he is trying to relearn Dutch and they are very gracious and help him with pronunciation and words he is not familiar with.
It was a nice afternoon of study. Just as we were finishing dinner, we got a call from Elder Grey and Elder Andersen. They were in Belgium for a baptism and the train they planned to take home had been canceled. We were able to get them tickets on Thalys but had to quickly walk to the office to use the credit card to complete the transaction.
About an hour later, we got a phone call from Elder Austin and Elder Kempenaers who had heard about Sonya (Utrecht Ward) who had been at the hospital for some swelling around her eye and was wanting a priesthood blessing. We had heard of her situation earlier in the day from the VandeWal's and Doug had planned to take some of the office Elders on Monday to give her a blessing. But since they were on their way to her house, we walked to the office, got the van and drove to Sonya's house and met Elders Austin and Kempenaers there. Sonya joined the church when she was 15 years old. She is now probably in her 40s or 50s. She has not been able to attend church for many years because of transportation issues. When there was a Gouda Branch, she could attend, but now she only has a bike and Utrecht is about 45 minutes by car. We were able to pick her up a couple weeks ago and she wants to attend as often as possible.
MONDAY
It seems that this week there are so many things that we need to do at the office. The normal things we are used to, but the extra things or things we didn't know we were supposed to be doing are coming into view. I had to go back in the files to January and find, scan and send to the Area financial person the records and receipts for everything we used Petty Cash for. The records are all there (minus a few receipts) but it takes a long time to find them. Now that I know, I can just take care of it monthly. Doug has known that sometime this year we will be replacing 8 of the mission vehicles. Today he received word that 5 of them are ready to be picked up at the dealership. So arranging the logistics and all the details are suddenly upon him. And there have been some (minor) accidents involving cars and bikes that all need to be reported. Reporting a bike accident should be the same as reporting a car accident, but the form used to report it doesn't work for bikes. All of this is just Stuff. One thing is for sure...we never have to think we may not have enough to do!
We talked to Garrett today. He is serving in the Liberia Monrovia Mission. He has been having some health concerns and just wanted some other opinions. I thought to call my Area Medical Advisor, but couldn't find the email regarding the new AMA since the change happened just a few weeks ago. Then I saw an email with all the AMA, AMHA, MMA, etc in the whole world. So I looked at the Africa West Area and emailed, then called the AMA over Liberia. He had some thoughts on what may be causing Garrett's symptoms and we feel confident that he will follow up. It's just another tender mercy to see the Lord working with us each day. It's a very small thing that I didn't have the contact information for the AMA over Europe, but I had the one for West Africa. I believe the Lord knows what we need and when we need it.
TUESDAY
We made an appointment at the bank for tomorrow to set up a Dutch bank account. We thought we could just avoid this, but in order to get certain things you must have it.
Another trip to Sligro today. The Elders and Sisters have discovered we can get items there that are not available at the smaller grocery stores. Our assignment for District lunch tomorrow is the pulled chicken from Sligro. It is already cooked, seasoned and shredded so it makes an easy start for a meal.
WEDNESDAY
District Council is always a highlight of the week. This time we met with the Leiden District because they met at the Office since Elder Blodgett and Boyer needed to be there when the tech people from Frankfurt came to switch out all the computers. I was asked to give the spiritual thought:
God has a work for me to do.
v.29 "...aprayer and supplication to Almighty God for forgiveness of all my sins and follies, [supplication: pleading, begging, requesting, beseeching, asking for something humbly and earnestly]
“…I had full bconfidence in obtaining a divine manifestation, as I previously had one. Since I have felt promptings and inspiration in the past, I should expect revelation
v.30 “…While I was thus in the act of calling upon God, I discovered a alight appearing in my room, which continued to increase until the room was lighter than at noonday, when immediately a bpersonage appeared at my bedside, standing in the air, for his feet did not touch the floor.” This vision also came because of prayer. We need to act, in this case praying order to demonstrate our desire to learn.
v.42 “…the vision was opened to my mind that I could see the place where the plates were deposited, and that so clearly and distinctly that I knew the place again when I visited it.”
When the Lord provides REVELATION it's always "clear and distinct" from His perspective
From our perspective the revelation can also be "clear and distinct" but sometimes it will not be for a variety of reasons such as:
we are not in tune
we may not be spiritually prepared
our own bais, or stubbornness, busyness, sin / transgression
we are distracted
It sometimes takes time to understand each aspect of the revelation (eg. Doug and my revelation to get married -- there were events we didn't connect right away but later as they became connected we confirmed and validated with clarity and distinctiveness the revelation)
But it occurs to me that if the Lord needs something done immediately he can make it very "clear and distinct" as he did with Joseph in JS-H 1: 42.
v.46 “…rehearse or repeat over again to me the same things as before;…” The message Moroni delivered 4 times to Joseph was so important—it had to be ‘clear and distinct’. The gathering of Israel in the Last days will and is being brought about by the Book of Mormon. These records, given to Joseph, have been preserved for centuries to come forth and testify of Christ.
We opened a Dutch bank account today. We haven't had too much trouble with using cash or our credit cards, but in order to get the Museum Pass, we need a Dutch account. And it will make it a little easier at the smaller stores and shops in Gouda that don't accept foreign cards.
THURSDAY
The Office Elders came for dinner as usual for Thursdays. This will be the last time for Elder Ludlow as he goes home next week. And Elder Blodgett will be transferred as well. We have come to love these young men and pray for their success.
Last night we got a call from Elder Hoopes because they had been in a minor car accident. Then this morning Elder Blodgett admitted there is a scrap on the side of his car from backing into a too-tight space yesterday. It seems we have had a fair share of car and bike accidents this past month. Thankfully, they have all been minor with no real injuries.
FRIDAY
This beautiful photo was taken by Doug on his morning bike ride today. The spider web in the foreground inspired the thought he posted on FaceBook.
Doug went with Elder and Sister VandeWal and Elders Blodgett and Boyer to the new apartment in Nijmegen to help with the furnishings. They put together bunkbeds and tables, installed the washer and dryer, and made ready the apartment for missionaries to come next week. This is a new area in the Mission. An exciting time to open (or reopen) a city for the work of the Gathering of Israel!
I stayed back and worked at the office. Even though the Finance side of Missionary Portal is down for upgrades for a few days, I had plenty to do. Several of our missionaries have had health issues and I was able to catch up all the insurance paperwork. It seems there have been so many issues the past month with car accidents, bike accidents, sickness and injuries. Likely this is in part due to having so many more missionaries than we did a few months ago. But we remind them to be aware, cautious, careful, mindful and smart as they go about their day.
SATURDAY
We spent a little time at the office today...there is ALWAYS more to do! This afternoon we went with the VandeWal's to the Leiden storage to finish getting items for the Nijmegen apartment and to stop at Sligro to get some of the food for next week's Orientation lunch for the arriving missionaries.
This evening we were invited to have dinner with Phillip and Danielle Riem from the Utrecht Ward. The meal was delicious but it was especially good to get to know the Riem's a little bit. She joined the Church as a teenager and was friends with Sister Watson in the Utrecht Ward when they were Young Adults. He served a mission here in The Netherlands, his home country. He joked that when he put in his papers he didn't care where he went as long as it was far away...well, you can't get much closer than your own backyard! They are delightful people!
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