July 2 - 8, 2023

SUNDAY

A good day at church with several people there for the first time along with some visitors. One first-time person met with the Elders earlier this week and today asked what he needed to do to be baptized. They will follow up with more lessons this week!

Another person is a neighbor to David and Pamela Markus. She is very friendly and loved church. She said she will be back next week.

A quiet afternoon to study and catch up on the journal. It is easier to record things daily, but last week was so busy...early mornings and late nights...so today was a good catch up day.

About 9pm, Doug got a call from Sam Lund from our ward. He said Sonia, a sister from our ward that rides to church with us each week, was very distraught because of her son. We didn't get all the details but Sam said Sonia was determined to go to the location she thought her son would be. She has no car so he was wondering if we could take her. Not knowing any more than that, we put on shoes and started for the office to pick up the van. Just as we were leaving, Sam called again and said Sonia's son had been found and all was well. We were still very confused about the details, but relieved that everything had worked out...so far.

MONDAY

This morning while studying in Preach My Gospel, I was reading in DC 109. The blessings that Joseph Smith is requesting for the faithful who have been endowed in the temple are in the Dedicatory Prayer for the Kirtland Temple. As I read verse 22 I thought of our missionaries, specifically Adam:

22 And we ask thee, Holy Father, that thy servants may go forth from this house armed with thy power, and that thy name may be upon them, and thy glory be round about them, and thine angels have charge over them;

Really, the blessings are for all who have been endowed in the temple, but today I was focused on the missionaries.

There was a small meeting at the office today for those involved with the legal issues of the mission. President Kleijweg, Elder Piket. Elder Doxford, Elder De Jong and Elder Wagner. We had previously offered to get lunch for them and in the meantime had the rest of the office staff join the lunch. We ordered sandwiches again from a great bakery close to the office, Bakker Bart. The various breads/rolls are so good and the fillings are delicious!

Elder De Jong came in to our office mid-afternoon. He needed to talk. It had been a very stressful day for him and we were grateful that he knew he could talk to us. We assured him that whatever he said to us would be confidential. He was able to tell us of the things that are causing him stress and worry. Doug asked him if he would like a priesthood blessing. It was a beautiful, calming, comforting blessing. We are so thankful for the relationship we have with Nathan De Jong along with many other Elders and Sisters. It is the most rewarding aspect of serving in the office...getting to know the missionaries!

TUESDAY

Doug went with Gerrit to switch out a refrigerator in the Den Haag apartment. They stopped at the storage unit, picked up a fridge, drove to Den Haag, carried the fridge up the narrow stairs, made the switch, carried the broken fridge back down the stairs and then back to the office. I wish I had a picture to see the process up that little stairway!

We took the Utrecht Elders out to dinner at The Broadway in Utrecht. Our friend from church, Sjoerd, is the head chef there and the food is so good!. Elders Jones and Leman thought so too!

Gavin Jones, Ammon Leman, Marcia, Doug

The canal-side table was fun...just be sure not to move too close to the edge, there is no barrier, just a drop into the canal if you get too close!

Gavin Jones and Ammon Leman

And it is super cool to have the chef visit your table.

Doug and Sjoerd Graaf

WEDNESDAY

The skies were overcast and it was windy for our bike ride/walk early this morning. The rain started before we got home and by the time we were walking to the office a few hours later it was very rainy and windy!

At District Council we spent most of the time studying and sharing things we have noticed in Preach My Gospel 2nd Edition, chapter 4, Seek and Rely on the Spirit. President Nelson taught in April 2018, "In coming days, it will not be possible to survive spiritually without the guiding, directing, comforting, and constant influence of the Holy Ghost."

We seek to have the Spirit with us through prayer, searching the scriptures and keeping our covenants. These things are simple and basic. "The voices of the world compete for your attention. They can easily crowd out spiritual impressions unless you give place for the Spirit in your heart." (PMG, pg 107)

THURSDAY

We arranged to have Jasper De Haas and his mom Annelies come to the office for lunch and some ping-pong. Jasper is 15 years old. We have done several things with this good family in the time we have been here. Elder De Jong, a service missionary, is in the office on Thursdays and Elders Leman and Jones came by after a teaching appointment. We all had a good time! Jasper seemed to really enjoy the company of the missionaries. They are much closer to his age and able to relate to him. It was good to see him interacting with them.

Doug, Marcia, Jasper and Annelies De Haas, Norma and Gerrit VandeWal

Our regular Thursday dinner, tonight with the Content Team and Elder De Jong, was Breakfast-for-Dinner. It doesn't;t really matter what we eat...they love being together and we love having them! The question of the night was "What is it that you have an interest in and are studying now or would like to study?" Sister Anderson was quick to say she has been and continues to be fascinated by everything about the Atonement of Jesus Christ. It encompasses everything! We always have a good discussion and are amazed at the depth of these young people.

Doug, Marcia, Nathan De Jong, Anthony Wood, Janessa Anderson, Emma Bair, Atticus Snow

Just as they were getting ready to leave, I suddenly felt I wanted to share with them the video of Lilah that Joanna sent today. Her school has been 50% speaking and 50% ASL. We have been praying that she will be able to learn to communicate well. In the video she is showing us a picture she drew and telling all about how Jesus was on the cross and then was resurrected. We had never heard her say so much! I got so emotional as we watched her speak. I know the Lord hears our prayers and continues to bless our family.

FRIDAY

Doug rides out to the fields and meadows on his bike each morning and today was there just as the sun was coming up. Beautiful!!

We needed to deliver some things to Elders Bigelow and Thomas in Almere, so we arranged to be there at lunch time. We absolutely love being with the missionaries, especially in a small setting. Elder Thomas loves meat. But the place they had chosen to eat, supposedly the best in Almere, was mostly Vegan. The look on Elder Thomas' face when we realized it was priceless! But as it turns out, there were also meat dishes, so all is well 😁

Spencer Bigelow, Landon Thomas, Marcia, Doug

Avocado, beef, broccoli, pickled red cabbage over rice. So good!

SATURDAY

We had such a wonderful day with the Senior Couples! After driving to Den Helder, we boarded a ferry for a 25 minute trip to the island of Texel (pronounced Tessel).

We picked up our reserved e-bikes and began our tour. Elder and Sister Ehlert had researched the route and led the way.

We mostly followed this route, with a few planned and unplanned detours, about 40 km total.

As we ride along the top of the dyke dividing the Wadden Sea from the farmland, the sheep are just grazing along the path.

We stopped several times along the way. Sometimes to take a break and sometimes to fix the bikes. The ring that holds the seat in place on Tom Black's bike broke. We called the rental company as they had told us to do when we left, and sure enough, they were there within 20 minutes to trade out the bike. We were in a little village with the windmill (pictured above) at the time of the break-down. There was also a little museum and a shop with all things 'wool'.