Oct 30-Nov 5, 2022
SUNDAY
It was my week to play the piano for Sacrament Meeting today and I like to be there early enough to play the prelude music. We were there by 9:50 so I was not late, but felt I needed to get in and start. I didn't realize until the Bishop started the meeting that I did not stop to pick up a headset for translation. So I tried to understand the speakers but I didn't get anything. Thankfully, the Primary sang today. Even though I didn't understand the words, I felt the spirit and my heart was touched. These are the days I wish I could communicate in Dutch.
The Ward had a pot luck lunch after church. We had some leftovers from the JoVo dance last night and everyone brought food. So there was a lot and to spare. Being able to gather with the good people of the Utrecht Ward is one of the joys of serving here.
Another Primary Program this week.
Casandra and Michael both did a great job on their parts. Meli is in the Primary presidency and is the 'helper' today. We love being able to participate through technology.
MONDAY
Halloween is not as big here as it is in the US but our missionaries all love the treats and the office was filled with the leftover treats from the YSA dance on Saturday. Doug 'dressed up' by going with the European look and was a great hit!
WEDNESDAY
A couple days ago, President Watson texted me about a 1909 Dutch Book of Mormon that was for sale on eBay and asked me to purchase it for the Mission. It arrived today!
Every few weeks the Temple is open for just our missionaries. We appreciate so much the Brandenburg's, the Temple President and Matron, and those Ordinance Workers who come on Wednesday afternoon for one Endowment Session with the missionaries. Today we were able to attend with those that will return home next week along with about 30 others. Sister Watson keeps a schedule so everyone is able to go to the temple about once a quarter. I love the feeling of the Temple. Today was no exception. I felt a closeness with the Elders and Sisters and recognize we are all children of our Heavenly Father and are bound to Him through our covenants.
We would have driven the office mini van but sadly, it needs some maintenance and shouldn't be driven until that is completed tomorrow. Sisters Packard and Boyer were at the office for District Council and were also invited to the temple today so we were able to get a ride with them. For the way home, they dropped us at the train station in Zoetemeer and we rode 20 minutes back to Gouda with Elders Thomas and Doxford. Even though it was late in the afternoon, Elder Doxford felt he needed to get to the office to begin the paperwork for the 12 missionaries coming next week. We just found out yesterday that they all have travel plans.
Since none of us had had dinner, we ordered Domino's Pizza for us and for them. After eating, we headed home and they stayed to work a few hours. I love to see the dedication of our missionaries!
THURSDAY
It's always good to have the missionaries in our home. Tonight the Office Elders and the APs were able to come for dinner.
FRIDAY
The excitement is in the air as the APs and those of us in the Office prepare for Transfers. It's fun to be part of that group. We don't make any of the decisions about Transfers, but since we are getting 12 new missionaries (11 of them Sisters), there will be two new sets of STLs (Sister Training Leaders). The APs said today about 75% of the mission will be moving or accepting new leadership roles! That's a lot of movement all at once! Doug is making sure the cars and bikes are in place for the changes and the VandeWal's are getting the Rotterdam North apartment ready for young missionaries rather than the Senior Couple for which it was originally set up (change the Queen bed for two twin beds). Transfer Calls are tomorrow morning 😀
SATURDAY
We had a lovely drive to Leeuwarden and back today. We had arranged with the Sisters there to take them to lunch. Leeuwarden is in the far north of the country and they rarely get visitors. They travel for interviews, they travel for District Council, they travel for Zone activities. But today, we went to them! We ate at a Pannenkoeken cafe that is on a ship in one of the canals! It was such a fun atmosphere.
The Leeuwarden church building is about 100 meters from the restaurant.
We had a good visit with these wonderful girls and then headed back to Gouda. We took the route along the Afsluitdijk, a major dam and causeway that runs for 32 kilometers with a width of 90 meters.
Comments
Post a Comment