Dec 4-10, 2022

SUNDAY

I had a lovely birthday this year. I counted all the activities of the past few days (Brugge, the Mission Conference, Village Soest) as being part of the birthday celebration. 😁 Annelies sent flowers, Alja gave me lotion and chocolates, Doug gave me flowers, clothes and shoes and Norma gave me a Delft spoon holder. Most of all, the messages of love from family and friends. I am blessed!

MONDAY

Today is 5 December, Sint Niklaas Day! We were invited to spend the evening with Justin and Daphne Bijkerk and their family for dinner and to see what the traditions are in Holland. What a fun, fun time together!

We started with Hot Chocolate with all the trimmings.

As we were singing, there came a loud KNOCK, KNOCK, KNOCK on the door. 6 year old Sirah ran for the door and came back dragging three large bags full of gifts. The first gift was taken out, the recipient opened and admired it, then that person reaches into the bag for the next gift and so on til all the gifts are distributed and opened. We received a cutting board with treats and a ceramic Dutch house with a tea light inside to light the windows.

Dinner was Make your Own Pizza using an electric pizza oven at the table. It was so much fun, we would love to try this when we get home! Aram and Maira played the piano for us and we said our good-byes. Another wonderful family here I the Utrecht Ward. We feel so blessed to know them.

Maira and Aram Bijkerk

TUESDAY

We visited Harm and Kitty Wolthers tonight. They are another delightful couple in the Utrecht Ward. Their home is decorated for Christmas and the feeling there is always a good one. They have a sweet relationship with each other, have been married nearly 45 years and are planning to go to the temple soon to be sealed. We hope to be able to go with them for that special occasion.

Doug, Marcia, Kitty and Harm Wolthers

WEDNESDAY

We had the opportunity to go to the Den Haag Temple with some of the missionaries this afternoon. It is always good to be with them. Some will depart for home next week so this was an especially nice time.

Front: Julia Hyer, Kalynn Allen, Sophia Packard, Sarah Boyer, Libby Wilcox, Hannah Hammer, Rebecca Allen,Hallie Huber, Meri Dunford, Alex Holje, Landon Boyer, Leif Andersen, Thomas Jones, Fernando Cervantes, Matalyn Weaver, Charlie Stewart, Esther Lay,

Karissa Ashdown, Emma Thomas

Back: Marcia Glauser, Doug Glauser, Coulson Rich, Jared Yuyes, Daniel Ornelas, Dinis Santos, Jefferson Millward, Jackson Burt, Richard Hoopes, Horne Kempenaers, Hayden Peterson, John Brown, Ethan Fowler, Harrison Wright, Jacob Price, Benjamin Nixon, Henry Whitney,

Richard Vellinga

THURSDAY

I was feeling a bit overwhelmed at the office today so when Norma came in and asked if we wanted any of the Christmas decorations for our house, I felt a little like Scrooge. I didn't think I could do anything else right then. But we took some things, Doug came home, helped with dinner and decorated our living room!

We had our neighbor Benjamin over for dinner along with five missionaries. We had a great time getting to know all of them a little better.

Benjamin, Harrison Wright, Richard Vellinga, Landon Thomas, Nathan De Jong, Dallin Doxford, Marcia, Doug

FRIDAY

Each morning we read from the Book of Mormon right after breakfast. We both had to chuckle a bit this morning after our discouraging day yesterday to see that part of our reading was Alma 26:27. "Now when our hearts were depressed, and we were about to turn back, behold, the Lord comforted us, and said: Go amongst thy brethren, the Lamanites, and bear with patience thine afflictions, and I will give unto you success."

When we feel like we are not doing all we can do, and we just want to stop and sit down or even turn back, we can be assured that the Lord will comfort us and give us the strength and courage to go forward and succeed.

Transfer calls will happen tomorrow! The changes are happening by the moment as we don't as yet have the final count of new missionaries that will be coming next week. Doug is busily trying to figure out which apartments will need another bike and with the input of the APs, where the new cars will be going. Some of the areas are so big the costs of public transportation each month is crazy. And the time involved to get to appointments on public transportation is lengthy. So everyone would like a car, but we only have 20 cars for 40 apartments. It is exciting to anticipate the changes 😄

SATURDAY

We have bought little gift bags/baskets of chocolate and will deliver them to our neighbors and acquaintances around town today. Just a little 'thank you' for the kindness we have felt here in Gouda. Benjamin, Liliana and Kevin, Jan Pieter (bike repair shop), the key maker, hairdresser, flower shop, cleaners, optometrist, Linart at Van Loon car service, the paint store and the Notary have all been so nice to us.

We received a phone call today asking us to help (be in charge?) of the food for an initiative the Rotterdam Stake is doing this winter. Every Tuesday and Wednesday from 20 December until March, we will be serving soup, bread, warm drinks and dessert to anyone from the area surrounding the Rotterdam Stake Center who wants to come. We have no idea how many to expect since this has never been done before. And to purchase the food, prepare it, serve it and clean up is a big commitment twice a week. Hopefully we will get some more details and clarification in the next couple days.

The Utrecht Ward Christmas party was today. There was beautiful music, abundant food, festive decorations and a visit from Santa. Doug is such a good Santa! The Primary presidency had bought and wrapped gifts for each of the children. They knew of nine that would attend and bought an extra six gifts in case others showed up. Turns out there were over 20! Thankfully, they have a basket of little toys in the Primary room so Camille quickly got more so that every child got a gift from Santa.