SUNDAY
Happy Mother's Day! I'm so grateful for a wonderful mother who taught me how to live through her example and her teachings. Mom taught me to do the necessary work to keep a family and home running smoothly. She taught me to rely on the Spirit when I had questions or challenges. She taught me to be compassionate and caring. I learned from her how to take care of family members, neighbors and friends. She was a great example of noticing what needed to be done and just doing it. She balanced her job and family very well and always had time for others. She loved to read, play the piano and organ, work in her garden, travel to new places and make quilts. But mostly she loved to have the family gather at her home or in the mountains or at the lake -- anywhere as long as we were all together. As the family grew, that became more of a challenge but always a good time!
At Stake Conference we sustained Percy De Wilde as the new Stake President, Joeri Verwaard, 1st Counselor and Reuben Boom 2nd Counselor. President De Wilde is from Eindhoven and President Boom is from Breda, wards that were just added to the Stake. President Verwaard is from Rotterdam currently serving as Bishop of the Rotterdam 2nd ward.
As President Bijkerk was released today, he spoke about some of the things he has learned over the past several years.
1) The Holy Ghost never sleeps. There were many times he was awakened in the middle of the night with an answer to a problem or situation.
2) "Forget yourself and go to work". Find joy in living the gospel of Jesus Christ.
3) Love is all you need. The Atonement of Jesus Christ is the ultimate sign or symbol of love.
4) The answer to everything is Jesus Christ. He referred to President Russel M Nelson's conference address last month:
"I plead with you to come unto Him so that He can heal you! He will heal you from sin as you repent. He
will heal you from sadness and fear. He will heal you from the wounds of this world.
"Whatever questions or problems you have, the answer is always found in the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. Learn more about His Atonement, His love, His mercy, His doctrine, and His restored gospel of healing and progression. Turn to Him! Follow Him!"
Sister Bijkerk reminded us that 'the Lord will strengthen us as we step into the unknown. He will qualify those whom He calls.
President De Wilde: It is possible to love others immediately! Even though they are new to this part of the Stake, he feels a great love for all. "We will follow the Savior -- there is safety in this."
Elder Alliaud: He had the children all stand (on the benches so we could all see them) and said "Behold your little ones". He told them 'we love you, we need you and you are entitled to do wonderful things right now'. He explained that one of the names of Jesus Christ is Advocate. An advocate or lawyer is someone who prepares a person for the day they will be judged. In this role, Christ prepares us for the judgement day as we learn, understand and keep His commandments.
MONDAY
Elder Maurits Arts arrived in the BNZ today! He is from Rotterdam, has been at the MTC in Birmingham, England for the past two weeks and is called to serve in Cape Town South Africa. He will be with us until his passport is ready. Doug and I know his mom from our involvement with the Warmekamers initiative in the Rotterdam Stake. She has been so excited for her son to serve a mission. It will come as a surprise to her that for at least the first few weeks Elder Arts will be serving in his home ward! He is very happy that his first companion and trainer is Elder Cannon. They talked on several occasions and became friends before Elder Arts left for the MTC.Doug, Elder Maurits Arts, Marcia
TUESDAY
After many months of preparing, studying, practicing and passing the tests, Doug got his Dutch driver's license today!
The day before Zone Conferences we buy and prepare the food. Today, Norma and I went to Sligro and Albert Heijn to pick up all the food. (It takes a lot of food to feed 160 missionaries!) Doug and Gerrit helped us bring it in the office, organize it for the two days and prepare and package each item. We had 14 boxes of buns for our Pulled Pork Sandwiches and just had them on the tables in the big room ready to be loaded into the van tomorrow morning. The VandeWal's left to do some errands and Doug and I were the only ones in the office. We heard some noises, but didn't think much of it. After a few minutes, Doug went to investigate.
There was a random man in the foyer who told Doug he had a friend who needed help and asked if he could take a Liahona that was on the table. It seemed like a strange question, but of course, that was ok. He took the magazine and left. Doug went into the big room and realized one of the boxes of buns was opened. And all 24 buns were gone! Where this guy had them will be a mystery, but he must have been pretty hungry if he needed all of them!
A few minutes later we got another visitor. This was the son of the man Elder Snow helped on Saturday. The man was on the street and Elder Snow performed CPR until paramedics arrived. This man wanted to contact the young man who helped his father and let him know how grateful he was. He is certain is dad was saved by Elder Snow. He is still in the hospital but is awake and talking and appears to be making a good recovery. Doug called Elder Snow to let him know how much the family appreciates him and his knowledge of how to perform CPR properly.
WEDNESDAY and THURSDAY
Random thoughts from Zone Conferences!
Elder Pedro Amato and Sister Charlie Stewart were called on to give the Surprise Talks. About a week ago, everyone in the mission was given the topic 'What does it mean to you to preach the gospel with truth and soberness? Alma 42:31' Everyone prepares a 3-5 minute talk in Dutch, but no one knows until they are called on who will actually give the talk. This happens every ZC. It is so good to see even the new missionaries stand up and speak on a gospel topic in their new language.
Elder Pedro Amato Sister Charlie Stewart
Sister Watson: 'Sometimes we need to grasp onto other's testimonies. Many times, we are the iron rod for others.'
President Kleijweg: 'Do I serve myself or do I serve the Lord?'
President Watson: "URGENCY" Don't forget to ask in faith for miracles.
Christian Adams Adam Kujanpaa
The APs, Elders Christian Adams and Adam Kujanpaa presented a training about 'rending the veil of our unbelief' Using Ether 3:4-6, 9,19 they talked about how we need to use faith to remove the veil from our eyes and have the confidence to move forward in missionary work. Don't focus on the things we don't think we can't do, or on the traditional belief that missionary work is hard in Europe or any other obstacle. Exercise faith and remove the veil of unbelief.
The Lord uses the unlikely to accomplish the impossible.
Part of the afternoon was spent outside practicing through role play
Our newest missionary, Elder Arts, was asked to share his 'take-away' for the day. "I have felt the atonement of Jesus Christ. I must share the gospel. I feel like standing on the rooftop and shouting 'This is the Gospel of Jesus Christ!'
Elder Maurits Arts
FRIDAY
After being out of the office for two days, it was time for some serious 'catch up' work.
We had scheduled an appointment at the temple for an Endowment session this evening. It was a pleasure to see Elders Isaac Auger and Luke Wray walk in! Turns out, their Ward Mission Leader was there to receive his Endowment so the Elders were able to be there as well.
We love spending time often in the temple. It is where we come to know the Savior and to feel of the power in the ordinances and covenants. We are reminded of the promises and covenants we have made to be obedient, to sacrifice, to live the gospel of Jesus Christ, to be morally clean and to consecrate our lives to God. We feel blessed to live so close to the temple here and can go often.
SATURDAY
We had been asked to help with Temple baptisms for one of the Service Missionaries this morning. It was good to be in the Temple again! Elder Kujanpaa and Elder Adams were there to perform the baptisms. Doug recorded the ordinances. My only real job was to give towels to those coming out of the font. But my testimony was strengthened and my heart enlarged as I thought how Sister DenDuk is probably the purest of all of us.
Sister DenDuk has some limitations and her mom always accompanies her to meetings and activities. Today my heart was so touched as I watched her mom be baptized while Sister DenDuk was a witness. The thought came to me that her mom was proxy not only for the deceased ancestor, but for her daughter who had the assignment. There is a special place in heaven for this mother and daughter.
We walked through the Gouda Market on our way home to get some fresh bread to go with our lunch. Then we saw the fresh fruits and stopped for watermelon, strawberries and pears. Good thing we had our hands full by now...it's a little dangerous to walk through the Market when you're hungry! 😋
The Utrecht Ward had a game night activity tonight. One of our ward members, Brother van Beek, is a Grand Master in the game of Dram or Draught. He showed us how to play and gave some tips. It is played on a board similar to a checker board but with 100 spaces. It was fun to learn! Now we want to get a board and sharpen our skills!
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