Doug and Marcia Glauser, Senior Mission 2021-2023

  SUNDAY Lots of visitors at church today. Corrine and Johan from Sacramento, a family of eight from Salt Lake and a friend of Sam's from Brazil ( I can't remember her name). Johan is Dutch and Corrine is from Idaho but they are living in Sacramento and have started a business there serving fresh stroopwafels. They even went to Gouda for some training so the wafels would be authentic. Next time we're in the area we plan to visit them at Midtown Farmer's Market. We were asked by Sjoerd to come help at the JoVo Conference this week. Our part would be to help out at the dance on Saturday night. The JoVo's gather in conferences all over Europe to help each other find support in numbers with other Young Adults. This one is for The Netherlands and Belgium but others are welcome as well. It is being held in a hotel out in the farming area south of Hengelo, about a 90 minute drive for us. MONDAY Regular day at the office. Doug took another car into Van Loon's for repair...

SUNDAY Today was Elder Maxfield's last Sunday in the BNZ. He will return home on Thursday. We have certainly come to love him and will miss him. He spoke in church today and bore a sweet testimony of the Savior and the gathering of Israel.  Our Ukrainian friend, Mariya, will also leave this next week. She and her two daughters are relocating to Vancouver, BC. Hopefully, this will be a good and safe place for them until they can return to their home in Ukraine. It has been very humbling to get to know personally these good people who have become refugees. Mariya (center) Anastacia (left) Kate (right) MONDAY We were delighted to have not only Elder Grey and Elder Andersen come for dinner, but to add Elders Henrie, Boyer, Bevell and Kempenaers. We love so much having the missionaries in our home. They bring an added measure of the Spirit and great insights as we discuss the gospel and their experiences. Elders Landon Boyer, Leif Andersen, Aiden Henrie, Jarrich Grey, Dou...

  SUNDAY Our Ukrainian friend Mariya brought a friend with her today. Liliana is also a refugee from Ukraine. She lived near the airport in Kiev and when the airport was bombed, she and her 15 year old daughter got in the car and started driving. They just needed to get out! They continued to drive, not knowing the destination. They ended up here in The Netherlands and she is planning to stay. She met with the missionaries today during the 2nd hour, wants to read the Book of Mormon and will be back to church next Sunday. President Nelson's prophesy about Europe certainly is being fulfilled in the Utrecht area! Theo's baptism yesterday and Liliana's interest in the gospel today. Truly those who are here and those who are coming will recognize the truth and will join the Church. We took dinner to Henk and Alja. She was diagnosed with a ruptured achilles tendon and was casted Thursday. She will be in wheelchair for six weeks. We heard their conversion story to...

  SUNDAY A good day at church meeting with the Utrecht Ward. President and Sister Watson spoke in Sacrament Meeting and the 2nd hour was devoted to the topic of missionary work. About 20:30 we got a phone call that the Markus' who had been in charge of the FSY activity this past week, were at the office to unload their van with the things leftover from FSY and they because of the other cars parked there, they couldn't get unloaded. Doug walked over, moved the other vehicles and spent a couple hours there.  MONDAY There is a ping pong table at the office so this afternoon Elder Leif Andersen and Elder Glauser played a quick game. Elder Andersen is known for his skills so it was fun to watch. As a side, he was also a gymnast on the Norway National Team before his mission. Another very accomplished young man. We love him! TUESDAY Another beautiful start to the day!  Our friend Alja was injured playing badminton on Saturday so this evening we went to visit her and h...

  SUNDAY After church we were invited to dinner at the home of our Bishop, Martin and Ilona Kleijweg. Their two daughters were there, Bensa, 12 years old, and Nomie, 7(?). Their son, Mace, age 10,  is at a camp this week. What a lovely afternoon we had with them. Every time we visit in someone's home, we feel very grateful for this opportunity to get to know the good people of The Netherlands.  ZONE CONFERENCES Tuesday Norma and I shopped for the food for both the Zone Conferences. We are going simple again this time and just having sandwiches, fruit, chips and cookies. I love going to ZC! The messages are meant for the young Elders and Sisters but I always get spiritually recharged and come away with things to improve. My take-aways this tie are to study DC 4 in depth and to identify the debris in my life that prevents me from coming closer to the Savior. The afternoon of each conference was spent doing role plays of how to be more effective at street contacting and...