Aug 6 - 12, 2023
SUNDAY
I don't know everyone's history in the Utrecht Ward, but at least six of the nine people who bore their testimony today are first-generation members of the Church. Some are still the only members in their family. But they all have strong testimonies of the Savior and the Restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
"Even with our questions, trials and struggles, the gospel is true and shows us the way."
"I hope my testimony helps all of you."
"Commandments are not a struggle, they will lead us to God."
"I have a testimony of the Book of Mormon and Joseph Smith. The words of the prophet gives me peace."
I am so grateful to have associated with these and others in the ward. They have taught me to be more grateful by the way they live.
MONDAY
A few days ago we realized that we would soon be moving out of our apartment so the Johnson's could move in when they come on Aug 26. There are no extra missionary apartments and the local hotel has no availability on the dates we need so we found a vacation rental and booked it. It could be canceled with no fees up until Aug 10. Today we talked with the President about housing options for us. In the end it was decided we will take the place we had booked. It is about as close to the office as our apartment so it will be very convenient.
TUESDAY
Last week we traded in one of the mission cars. At the dealership, Doug realized the registration was not in the car so when we got back to the office, he went to the file cabinet. Every car has a file folder...except the car we just traded in. Where could it be?? For days, he looked. I looked. We checked every file drawer thinking it may have somehow gotten into another place. But to no avail. We needed it today so the Gent Elders can get it tomorrow at Zone Conference and take it to the dealership in Gent.
This morning Doug prayed specifically to be able to find the registration. Then we left for the office. FIVE MINUTES after arriving at the office, he came to show me the registration!! He had gone directly to it. Absolutely miracles happen at the Mission Office!
We spend the Tuesday of ZC week buying and preparing the food. This week we are serving Rice Bowls again, one of the few things we can make with our limited kitchen facilities and something the missionaries really love.
Norma makes a Cilantro-Lime dressing that is a real hit, so she makes a lot of it. After blending it, she lifted the blender off the base and the entire contents went all over. The bottom had not been snapped into place after the last use. There was dressing all over the counter-top, the floor, her clothes and shoes...everywhere! (Just wanted to document how sometimes things don't go smoothly😂)
WEDNESDAY
This is our first Zone Conference in the new Breda Building...and our last ZC for our mission. So many emotions! This ZC followed the same general pattern as in the past, Surprise talks, instruction from Sister and President Watson, beautiful music, training by the APs and Social Media Sisters. But unlike the previous ones, the Elders and Sisters were asked to bring their P-day clothes and be prepared for activities.
There was a sack race, egg toss, sponge carry, stick pull, constructing contest and egg carry.
Everyone was having a great time, President Watson included....until he slipped on the grass and landed on his shoulder. His broken clavicle will help him SLOW DOWN for at least three weeks.
To finish off the day, we drove back to the office in Gouda to refrigerate the leftover food. Almost to Rotterdam, Doug got a call from the Antwerpen Sisters that they had locked their keys in the car while still at the church. Thankfully, he had all the extra car keys with him, so we turned around and went back to Breda
Back on the road again (at least the traffic had cleared), we headed once again to Gouda, unloaded the food and picked up the gift and the desserts for Julia Oostveen's wedding reception. Now headed to Nieuwegen to help Fabian and Julia celebrate. She is in the Utrecht Ward and they have found a place to live in the ward so we will continue to see them. Today they were married and tomorrow will be sealed in the temple.
THURSDAY
The second day of Zone Conference follows the same outline as the day before. We go early to get the food started and make sure the tables are set for lunch. There is a group photo and then we go in to start the day. Doug inspects the cars for the first part of the morning. Elder Christian Adams took over for President Watson and did an amazing job presenting the training.
After the afternoon games, we gathered back in the chapel for Departing testimonies. Doug and I were the last ones to share our testimonies. What an emotional time! I thought I may just go blank in the moment so I wrote a few things to share....
My love for each of you.
Alma 17:2 "....[I] did rejoice exceedingly to see [my] brethren [and sisters]; and what added more to [my] joy, they were still his brethren in the Lord; yea, and they had waxed strong in the knowledge of the truth; for they were men [and women] of a sound understanding and they had searched the scriptures diligently, that they might know the word of God." This is the hope of my heart!
We have laughed together
Cried together,
Worked together,
Rejoiced together,
Worried together,
Learned together,
Worshipped together,
Cooked together,
Eaten together,
Sang together,
Prayed together,
Ministered together,
We have deepened our conversion and are steadfast followers of Jesus Christ.
Testimony:
God lives and is our Heavenly Father. He loves each of us individually and is in the details of our lives.
I have a sure and certain knowledge that Jesus is the Christ
He is my Redeemer and Savior. He is the author and Finisher of my salvation. I can strive to keep the commandments and honor my covenants with God, but in the end I am not Finished, completed or perfected without the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ.
The Book of Mormon is truly the word of God. It was preserved and translated by the power of God through Joseph Smith, the Prophet of the Restoration.
Russell M Nelson is God’s living prophet on the earth today. He is the prophet to all the world. He has recently reminded us of three ways we should identify ourselves; a Child of God, a Child of the Covenant and a Disciple of Jesus Christ.
Of these things I testify….
Elder Doxford played the organ in Breda yesterday for the opening and closing hymns. Doug missed the opening because he inspects the cars at the beginning of the day. So today Elder Doxford agreed to repeat "Hope of Israel" He just uses the Hymn book for the basis, but adds his own notes and flair. Magnificent!
FRIDAY
The Senior Couples have decided that an activity together once each transfer is important, so today we went to Edam and Volendam. Edam is another charming village, a little off the radar for tourists. The Edam Museum was once the house of a successful merchant. It is over 500 years old and is definitely leaning. Because the water level was so high before the Afsluitdijk was built, if a house had a cellar, it was a 'floating cellar'. From the kitchen of this house, you descend 5 steps into the cellar. It is floating on the water! It tips like when you stand in a boat and you can see the water as you look over the edge of the half-wall. Fascinating!
We shopped at the cheese store and of course tried the many sample cheeses! The village is quiet and very picturesque.
After lunch
we walked to the Grote Kerk and admired the beautiful stained glass windows.
We had a prior commitment to have dinner with a member of our ward, Dirk Smit. The other Seniors drove to Volendam just 10 minutes away and finished out the day.
We drove to Utrecht, picked up the Elders and went to Dirk's house. While he and Doug were finishing making dinner, Elders Jones and Leman and I decided to put into practice the lesson from ZC this week from Sister Watson about ministering. So we pulled weeds in the backyard.
Doug joined in as well.
Dirk was very grateful and asked if the Elders would come back next Friday to finish the job. Then we enjoyed a nice dinner and conversation. The Elders shared the Pursuit of Purpose pamphlet with Bro. Smit. A good evening!
SATURDAY
We spent the day with Mathieu, Annelies and Jasper De Haas, our good friends from the Utrecht Ward. Annelies' sister Ivonne was visiting from England and joined us as well. We drove to Otterlo, a little village near Ede, rented Quad Pedal bikes and spent a couple hours on a scavenger hunt of sorts. We were given a GPS and instructions where to stop and look for certain things. So fun! It was raining when we started but the sun came out and it was a beautiful day.
It was still fairly early so we walked through the forest and enjoyed the beauty of the earth.
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