June 11-17, 2023

 SUNDAY

Elder Gavin Jones has been transferred to Utrecht. We are happy to be able to get to know him better. Today he spoke in church. He has only been in The Netherlands for 3 months so he is still learning the language but spoke very well. Of course, I listen through a translator to hear the message and I was so impressed with his thoughts:

                        1. We need to be careful where we get our information

                        2. Search for truth from the words of the scriptures and words of the prophets--   

                            which really are the words of God

                        3. The only way to know the truth is to honestly search with the Spirit guiding us.

Doug was the interpreter for Priesthood meeting today. His Dutch skills improve everyday!

We got a phone call from Izaak Bevell who was just released on Thursday. His parents have come to pick him up from his mission. They were in Gouda and wondered if we could open the gate to the office parking so they could park for a while. We were excited to walk to the centrum and meet his parents, sister and brother-in-law.

Braylon and Danielle (Izaak's sister and brother-in-law) 

Sean A'lee and John Bevell, Marcia, Izaak Bevell, Doug

We are so grateful for technology! Tonight we were able to watch and listen to Benji Nixon as he gave his Welcome Home talk in his home ward.

And a little while later, Nichole Cullumber. How we love these dedicated missionaries!

MONDAY

The office was packed with missionaries today! The APs and Content Team are quite often there. The three Senior Couples. Sisters Conlee and Reid came early to Sister Reid's IND appointment so Sister Conlee could help a little more with Sister Wagner. The Social Media Team had a meeting this afternoon.  Elder Piket and Elder De Jong. Elders Evans and Holje came by to pick up Books of Mormon. They are hoping to give out 750 books this transfer in the Den Haag Zone! President Watson was in all afternoon for the office meeting and the SM meeting. The VandeWal's got news today that we have acquired an apartment in Maastricht for the Senior Couple coming in July to be Military Relations missionaries, so Doug made a quick trip to Jumbo to get chocolate cake (for Norma) and fruit (for Gerrit) to celebrate!

As we were talking with family members this evening, we were reminded again that our family will be blessed while we serve a mission. DC 100:1 "Verily, thus saith the Lord unto you, my friends, [Doug and Marcia], your families are well; they are in mine hands, and I will do with them as seemeth me good; for in me is all power."

TUESDAY

The skyline view from our apartment in the early morning light. St Jan's Kerk is the longest in the Netherlands. They actually built an extra chapel to get the distinction. And the Stadhuis, built in the 1400's, is in the center of the city, surrounded by shops and restaurants.

Usually Tuesdays are very quiet at the office, but today the Elders and Sisters in our District decided to have P-day at the office and play ping-pong. And Johan van der Put came by to visit! He was released a few months ago. He has extended family here in The Netherlands and is spending two months working and visiting with them. It was so good to see him and catch up on what he is doing.

WEDNESDAY

Orientation meeting with our new arrivals in the morning. Part of the Orientation Day is the afternoon at the Temple. We are so grateful the Temple Presidency arranges for this Endowment Session every transfer (and another one for the departing missionaries at the end of the Transfer). The Den Haag Temple is open regularly only on Fridays and Saturdays. On Thursday evenings there is usually a Ward Temple time for baptisms, Initiatory and Endowment. And then those two Wednesdays for the missionaries. We love being so close to the temple and able to attend regularly.

Shauna and Dave White (Senior Couple assigned to work with the JoVo's (Young Adults)

Kate Welton, (back)Logan Brown, Richard Hoopes, Coulson Rich, Landon Boyer (trainers)

Jaya Gilbert, Enrique Solorzano, Isaac Robinson, Trent Perrins, Jard Gardner (new)

We had a fun experience looking at a new apartment for the VandeWal's. As part of their Housing assignment, they check out new apartments. but today they were assigned to go to the temple with the missionaries. Since they didn't want to miss the appointment for the apartment, we went in their place. It is a small, but lovely place in a great location in Zoetermeer. Hopefully we will get it for the new couple coming in July!

THURSDAY

One of the local members began serving a part time mission a few months back. Elder Adri Piket comes in to the office on Thursdays and is a great resource for us. Since he is Dutch, he understands the tax laws, health insurance laws, rental agreements, etc that are very different from things we know in the US. So every Thursday, I have at least one item for him to research (sometimes a stack of items!) He has helped solve many financial questions for me and I noticed today Elder Wagner has him working on some legal items. We are grateful for his service!

The Sisters in Den Haag called a couple days ago to report a problem with one of their bikes. Turns out, someone stole the little clamp that keeps the seat at the correct height. Who does that!?! This afternoon Doug and I drove to Den Haag to replace the clamp. It was good to get out of the office for a few minutes 😁

Doug was asked to help at the temple this evening so I planned to do an Endowment session. But when we arrived, Sister Jensen asked if I would be the Sister Session Leader (not sure if that is the name of that assignment...) since Doug was the Officiator. It is always good to be in the temple! It was a Dutch session so I used earphones to listen in English. Doug was told he could use Dutch or English for the prayer. He offered a beautiful prayer in Dutch. He has worked so hard on relearning the language. Tonight we saw some of the fruits of his labors.

FRIDAY

The VandeWal's heard back from the rental company for the apartment we saw on Wednesday in Zoetermeer. We got it!!

Elder Yuyes had reported his phone got left on the train and was gone. He had checked with Sister Wagner about a new phone but we didn't know he was coming to the office. Just a few minutes after the Wagner's left, Elders Bethers and Yuyes showed up at the office hoping to get a new phone. Not long after that, Elders Ammon Leman and Gavin Jones came by on their way to a dinner appointment. With a lot of help from these Elders and others on the phone, including Elder Thomas, Elder Doxford, Sister Thomas and Sister Conlee, we were able to unlock and set up the phone except for unlocking the SIM which needs to be done by someone in Frankfurt. 

Doug, Jared Yuyes, Gavin Jones trying to unlock the phone

Since their teaching appointment postponed, we were able to take Elder Bethers and Yuyes to a little restaurant for dinner. It was really good to get to know these young men. 

SATURDAY

This morning we had time for a long walk/bike ride. I went a different route because I wanted to find the cemetery that Doug had noticed on his ride many times. It was a beautiful place.

On down the road from there is another windmill.

I thought I was getting to know this city pretty well, but when I take a different path...well, let's just say I'm thankful to have Google Maps on my phone! 😂

Our time is getting short and there are dozens of fun-looking cafes and restaurants in Gouda so we had lunch at one today. Another hit!