Oct 9-15, 2022
SUNDAY
Stake Conference in Rotterdam. It is so good to gather with the Saints in our Stake. We have been here long enough that there are many friends and familiar faces. And then a quiet afternoon catching up on some study and rest.😁
MONDAY
We are trying to stick to a Missionary Schedule and find time each day for personal study, exercise, companion study and (for Doug) language. He is very diligent at continuing the study of the Dutch language and it pays off! He has conversations about bikes, cars, taxes, the gospel and is able to speak to anyone in the shops.
We have been using companion study time to study Come Follow Me. It is good to read together and talk about impressions and insights that come to our minds. This week we are reading in Jeremiah. One thought is that Jeremiah was a contemporary with Lehi. Lehi was called to leave Jerusalem and Jeremiah was called to stay. Both were righteous men but with different 'mission calls'. It is sometimes tempting to look at others and think their call is better or more desirable than ours, but if we are following the Lord, the specific call doesn't matter.
TUESDAY
Last night the Office Elders called to say one of their bikes had been stolen even though it was locked. They ended up walking home from the train station but now they were without a bike. So this morning we delivered another bike to their apartment. We didn't realize or remember that the helmet was stolen as well and did not think to bring another. So we quickly looked up the nearest bike shop in Leiden and set off to get one. Well...the streets in Leiden are similar to other cities in The Netherlands, one-way streets, very narrow streets etc. On the way to the bike shop we had googled, we saw another one but were already past it on a one-way. We soon found the original shop but there was no parking anywhere near it. Trying to get back to the one we passed, we missed the turn and turned the opposite way. No problem! Or so we thought. We soon passed another bike shop and this time I just jumped out since there was no place to park. After purchasing the helmet, I went back outside to wait for Doug to drive back around. He called a few minutes later but didn't know exactly how to get back to where he had dropped me off. I dropped a pin for him and he started finding his way back. As I waited there I started to realize there were only delivery trucks and buses, bikes and scooters, but no cars on this particular street. When Doug got back and I climbed in he said "well, I think we just got two tickets, one for each time I came down this street." It appeared the street was closed to regular cars and trucks. So we shall see. It was a frustrating hour as we tried to get a helmet for the Elders. Just a day in the life of the Vehicle Coordinator!
We had previously arranged to visit a family in our ward and take them a little treat. It was great to visit with Joaquin and Marieke Muurling and their 5 kids. We had prepared a very short lesson on the importance of prophets and were so pleased to see how much these kids knew about Noah, Moses, Joseph Smith and President Nelson. They excitedly sang for us "Follow the Prophet". It was a good visit to a delightful family!
Today we were fasting for one of the grandkids who is struggling a bit. I have been studying and trying to become better at fasting and really using it to become closer to God instead of just doing something out of duty. I was fascinated that throughout the day as I concentrated on this grandchild, whenever I started to feel a little hungry I would say a prayer and the hunger seemed to go away. It may be the first time this has happened. Even at this point in my life I am learning so much! You are never too old to learn and grow and become closer to the Savior.
WEDNESDAY
We try to call the kids and grandkids on their birthdays. It gives us a chance to talk to everyone regularly. Today is Odin's 12th birthday. Because of the time difference, we need to catch him before he leaves for school. For us that is 14:15. It happens that on Wednesdays the Social Media District is in the office along with the Office Elders so we got Odin on a video call and then had that group sing him the Dutch Happy Birthday song. It was so fun for us and for him!
THURSDAY
Our regular Thursday dinner with the Office Elders. This time Elders Atticus Snow and Ethan Fowler joined us as well. Sadly, no picture this week. We love having the missionaries in our home regularly.
FRIDAY
I listened to the talk by Stephen Lund from BYU Speeches 20 Sep 2022 today. https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/byu-speeches/id993043203?i=1000580131131
It is a very insightful idea of the flashes of 'light' or revelation we have throughout our lives. He cited miracles big and small from his life. It led me to pray to see the miracles today. I know they are happening because I have witnessed miracles especially in the past few years. While Doug was on the Taal Zoom meeting, he paused to tell me what was happening. The very thing he had studied for language this morning and had many questions was exactly what the Elders were teaching today. I am grateful he shared the experience with me because that was exactly what I had prayed for...to be able to see the miracles today!
At President Watson's request, I talked with a missionary about her eating habits today. At first it did not seem too concerning, but the more I think about it the more concerned I become. I will talk with her again soon and follow up with her. I worry not only about her physical health but her mental health. How we have grown to love each of our missionaries and want the best for them.
After dinner we drove to the President's home to get signatures needed on documents for Frankfurt before next week. We had a pleasant evening drive. Why do I even mention this?? I guess it is to remind myself that no matter what we are doing, we are enjoying our time together and the mission in general.
SATURDAY
We actually took a P-day today! We joined the VandeWal's and Black's for a day in Den Haag. We started at the Japanese Gardens. It was a damp day but no serious rain...just that mist rain that seems very common here.
We walked a short distance to the Museum Panorama Mesdag. This was really amazing! There are various artists represented, but the reason to go is the 40 meter high, 120 meter long panorama painting done by Hendrik Mesdag. As you stand in the pavilion, it seems you are actually standing on the dunes in the late 1800's. As you look northwest, you are facing the North Sea. Behind you is the city of Scheveningen. A must-see for visitors!
We got back to the car, but decided the day was young and we were so close to the Mesdag home (which is also a museum) so we turned around and walked the few blocks.
By now we were very hungry so we stopped at the PEX restaurant for an early dinner.
Yum!
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