Mar 19-25, 2023

 SUNDAY

The Utrecht Ward has a few new people who have recently moved in. Jackson and Hannah Murdoch have moved from the US and will be here for the foreseeable future. A new brother from Uganda came for the first time today. We hope to get to know him soon. And the new couple from South Africa, Lache (pronounced LaShay) and her husband. She is taking the missionary lessons. Our little ward continues to grow!

Through Zoom, we were able to watch Mason Zarges speak in his home ward in Wheatland, CA. He was just released a few days ago. It is with mixed emotions we see our missionaries go home. We will miss him, but know he will go on and serve the Lord wherever he lives. Next stop BYU 😁

MONDAY

It was so good to meet the parents of one of dear missionaries! Hannah Hammer was just released last week and her parents came to pick her up. They stopped by the office today for a short visit.

Doug, Marcia, Hannah, James and Mamie Hammer, Gerrit and Norma VandeWal

Even though we were not actually there, it was so exciting to hear that Elder Hanks was able to make an appointment at St Bavo's Kerk in Haarlem to play the organ. He is an accomplished organist and had contacted the City Organist to ask if it was possible to come play the organ. He said the City Organist was very gracious and gave him about an hour and a half. He gave him some instructions and showed him some of the registers that would sound good together. Elder Hanks played some Bach and some hymns. He said it was an amazing experience! This is the same organ that Mozart played when he was about 10 years old.

                  Haarlem City Organist and Tyler Hanks, St Bavo's Kerk

TUESDAY

A quiet day at the office. Norma and I went to Sligro to get food for Orientation tomorrow and the canned/bottled things for Zone Conference in a couple weeks. Filled up the small van!! It takes a lot of food to feed 150 people! 😂

WEDNESDAY

After the Orientation meeting and lunch, we had the opportunity to go to the Temple with the new missionaries, their companions and others assigned by Sister Watson. 

(front) Marissa Stephens, Kalynn Allen, Averi Hanny, Alexandra Williams, Madeline Nay, Karissa Ashdown

(middle) Landrie Gouding, Kate Welton, Jaislynn Kimball, Gracie Adams, Megan Carroll, Daryl Watson, Monic Watson, Doug, Marcia, Anna Jensen, Ryann Halladay, Melody Morrise, Dana Astle, Betty Besaw

(back) Thomas Jones, Pedro Amato, Drew Tadje, Jared Yuyes, Phillip Larsson, Gavin Jones, Gabriel Mildenstein, Adam Kujanpaa, Landon Boyer, Bannon Schafer, Dallin Doxford, Adrian Blodgett

THURSDAY

On Tuesday I spoke with Judi Nielson, the Assistant Executive Secretary for the Area Presidency. She was trying to arrange to get a little booklet about Keukenhof for the Mission Leaders who will be having their semi-annual training in April. This time they will be coming to The Netherlands. As part of it, they will be visiting Keukenhof and she was hoping to get these books before they arrive. Since we were already going to Amsterdam today, we offered to stop by and purchase the books. The workers at Keukenhof were kind, but it turns out we need to pay for the books online and then pick them up the day of the visit to the Park. But, it was fun to just see the excitement of the first day of this season at Keukenhof. We look forward to a few visits this year with family and also the missionaries on May 2.

We then drove to the Amsterdam church building to pick up Elder Maxwell. We got there just as they were finishing Zone Council and sitting down for lunch. We brought our lunch in from the car (we had assumed we would be eating while driving today) and joined them for a few minutes. 

Doug had had the impression that it would be a good idea to have a prayer with Elder Maxwell, his companion and roommates before we left for the doctor's appointment. Since Zone Council had just finished and we were at the church, Elder Maxwell wanted to invite them and also the STL's who know about his health problems to join us. We found a room, knelt down and Doug offered a beautiful prayer. It was a spiritual experience for me to kneel with these faithful young people in prayer in behalf of Elder Maxwell.

Doug, Forrest Maxwell, Marcia

Next we went to Breda to drop off the tracking device to be installed in the new car we are getting for the mission. It was a quick stop at the dealership and then off to Tilburg.

Elder Maxwell has not been feeling well for a couple months, has seen a doctor and had labs drawn that were all normal. Still he continues with symptoms. So I contacted Dr Joshua Boom at the request of President Watson. Dr Boom is kind enough to give advice and write prescriptions for the missionaries when a visit to the doctor is not necessary. But today we asked him to see Elder Maxwell and offer an opinion and suggestions. He was very gracious and actually came into his practice in Tilburg on his day off. We appreciate so much his expertise and generosity.

While there, Elders Mahe and Henrie brought the mail from Brussels (long, long story about that...)

Then back to Amsterdam to return Elder Maxwell. We met Elder Grey at the church and the four of us went for dinner at a burger place near by.

Doug, Marcia, Forrest Maxwell, Jarrich Grey

FRIDAY

A day for catching up at the office after our travels yesterday...and preparing for Jeremy, Natalie and kids to visit tomorrow!

We had a Zoom call with Steve and Bonnie Johnson who will be arriving in August to replace us here in the mission. What a fun surprise to start the Zoom call and see our dear friend Sheri Ray on the screen!! She is in the same ward as the Johnson's. We made the connection earlier this week but did not expect to see her today!

Once each transfer Doug has a Zoom meeting with all the missionaries who have access to a car. This is to provide ongoing training and a place to give instruction on anything that may need reviewing. 

SATURDAY

It was so good to welcome Jeremy, Natalie and family to The Netherlands today! Hopefully the rain and wind of today will calm down soon.

Gavin, Will, Kate, Millie, Doug, Jeremy, Owen