Blessings! Week of May 27th

We have a new senior couple!  Elder and Zuster Anjierwierden arrived Tuesday morning!  They will be taking the place of the Bushes at the Center for Young Adults in Deventer, the Netherlands.  They were both born in Holland, and immigrated to America with their families as young children.  Later they met in an accounting class at the University of Utah.  

 We took some time to visit and get to know each other a little better at La Place restaurant.  The Saldens met us there, and we loved hearing a little bit about this amazing couple that have come back to their homeland.

 Thursday was Zone Leader's Council at the mission home.  Sister Pankratz helped me with the lunch.

 The missionaries couldn't believe theirs eyes when they were served Sister Pankratz' homemade strawberry shortcake!

 The Zone Leader's discussed with each other how to motivate our missionaries to apply what was taught in Zone President's Training- Becoming Consecrated Missionaries.  Elder Davies, Elder Ellis, and Elder Andrews gave a big high 5-  the Belgium Netherlands Mission Has the BEST missionaries!

 Practice Makes Perfect!

 After Zone Leader Council, it was time for a little fun on the tandem bike!

 The next day, on Friday, all the District Leaders met at the mission office for training from President Brubaker and the assistants.

Elder Wait and Elder Benson

Elder Mohrman, Elder Leach, and Elder Maughan

Elder van de Graaf, Elder van Overbeek, and Elder Wait

A great day of training by President Brubaker.

We have the best District Leaders!  

Book of Mormon Converts Antonella in Amsterdam

Antonella Gervasio, 27 May 2012

Amsterdam

Elder van Overbeek, Elder van degraaff,Antonella, Massanilliano

Ivanarosa, and Giusepe

Antonella has been in contact with the church for many years. Her wonderful husband Giuseppe is a member of the church. Her testimony really lies within the Book of Mormon. She read it and prayed and knew it was true. Although it required a great step of faith she knew that she must be baptized. She took the step and is now excitedly preparing with her husband to be sealed in the temple for time and all of eternity next year! written by Elder van Degraaff

Many Blessings May 20th-26th

Here are a few of the highlights of the week of May 20-26.  

We started out the week in Leuven, Belgium.  President Brubaker and I spoke in Sacrament Meeting.  The members in Leuven are amazing!  When we lived in Brussels, we enjoyed going to Leuven often.

 Surya is from Tibet.  He is a new faithful member of the church.  We were honored to meet his wife, who joined him just a few months ago.  She is now being taught by the missionaries.  Surya taught Sunday School!  He was well prepared and taught a beautiful lesson.  I love watching Surya at church. The Gospel means everything in his life!

Libo Li is like a son to us.  He is from Shanghai, China.  We were so happy to see Libo at church.  He has been in Belgium, studying Electrical Engineering for the past three years, and is preparing to graduate in July.  

 On Wednesday, looked who came to the mission home?  Fifteen beautiful sister missionaries!!!!

 Sister Jeffs was instrumental in bringing us all together for a Sister's P-Day.  

We were taught simple healthy recipes by Sister Stout, Sister Jones taught us about skin care, and I shared my love of exercise using the Pilates roller.  

 We all looked lovely after our facials!

Whoa!!!! Where did the time go?  We had a glorious time together.  We have the best sisters in the world!  

Thursday was a great opportunity for us to meet Elder Davis and Elder Stoddard in Arnhem.  They are teaching a wonderful family who are from the Congo.  President Brubaker and I translated the lesson in to French for the family.  We love these two elders so much!

On Saturday, we met President Kopischke at the Schiphol Airport.  He was returning home from a conference on the family in Madrid, and several exit interviews with the mission presidents preparing to go home in Spain.  Can we really be going home in a few weeks?  We were so privileged to meet and have a few hours together.

Vincent Kleiwegt Embraces the Gospel

Vincent Kleijwegt, 20 May 2012

Spijkenisse

 Elder Bickham, Vincent and Elder Huff

Vincent is truly an amazing man, incredibly prepared by the Lord to receive the Gospel of Jesus Christ and be baptized. He had studied tons of different religions but never quite found the one right for him. From our first appointment with him to his baptism was a period of about 6 weeks. He was always super willing to do everything that we asked and that the Lord wanted him to do. He read in the Book of Mormon, prayed about it, received an answer of its truthfulness, discovered his relationship with God, and found true happiness through the Gospel. It was a spectacular experience being able to teach him and see the light that the Gospel brings come into his life. He was baptized May 20, 2012!

Antwerp Zone President's Training

Last, but not least!  We drove to Antwerp on Friday morning to be with the Antwerp Zone!

We are in Belgium!

The missionaries were all in their seats when we arrived.  We were filled with a peaceful feeling as we heard beautiful hymns being sung as we entered the building.  An unexpected car with a dead battery made us a little late.   The office elders came to the rescue and traded us cars.  

The missionaries were happy to see that we made it.  They were anxious to learn from their president.  

Great missionaries in Antwerp!  Sister Herring, Elder McDaniel, and Elder Kunz are new to the Antwerp Zone!  They love the opportunity to serve in a different country.  We all celebrated our birthdays together today!

Elder Mohrman and Elder Jones play the part of missionaries as they teach Elder Merrill about the plan of salvation.  The missionaries help them learn what they did right and what could be improved upon.  This is the teaching model.  The missionaries then divided up with a different companion to practice.

Elder Mathis and Zuster Herring

Elder McCarlie and Elder Mower learn from each other as they role play.

Effective teachers are always working to improve their knowledge and abilities.

Elder Schow and Sister Nielsen

"Preach the first principles of the Gospel-

Elder Burgess and Elder Leach

preach them over again; you will find that day after day....

Elder Nish and Elder McDaniel

new ideas and additional light concerning them will be revealed to you.

Elder Taylor and Elder Andrews

You can enlarge upon them as as to comprehend them clearly.

Elder Stanley, Elder McCarlie, Elder Schwartz, and Elder Mower

You will then be able to make them more plainly understood.......

Elder Sanderson and Elder Kunz

by those you teach.  PMG page 6  Hyrum Smith

The Wonderful Antwerp Zone
back row l-r  Elders Mohrman, McCarlie, Jones, Mower, Schwartz, Schow, McDaniel, Mathis, Burgess
middle row l-r  Elders Sanderson, Stanley, Nish, Taylor, Douglas, Kunz
front row l-r  Elders Merrill, Leach, Zusters Nielsen, Herring and Elder Andrews

We do it right in Antwerp..........we have fun doing missionary work!

The zusters in Antwerp have devised a wonderful plan that fits in with 2-2-5!  They are mapping out every less active on the map, and have enlisted the ward members, elders to help them rescue the "one."

Den Haag Zone President's Training

The Den Haag Zone is the largest zone in the mission.  Thursday was an inspiring day to be with these missionaries!  

The search for happiness......As good as anyone is, everybody still needs to improve at certain things.

We find happiness in life as we move forward, creating, loving, praying and learning.

We must look outward with love.  As we tell the missionaries "Love is the Key."

Loving someone often involves some degree of sacrifice.

Following Heavenly Father's plan requires us to sacrifice.

Following Heavenly Father's plan requires us to offer service to others.

The pattern is in place.  Christ, who is the ultimate example of love, showed us the way.

If we can figure out how to take these principles that he taught and stood for,

and weave them them into life in the 2000's we will have found the most important pattern of eternity.

One of the most curious truths is that when we put our personal whims and wants on hold,

and focus on serving those around us we become happier.

Matthew 13: 44-46
44  Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field.

45  Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls:

46  Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it.

So how do I sell everything I have for the PEARL of great price?

Make a list of the things you need to jettison in order to become pure.

i.e.  Sarcasm, favorite 'little sins', bad habits, walking into the other room when it's time to do the dishes,

speaking unkindly about someone, shortchanging on our prayers, a closed mouth in contacting,

a fixation on a wordly thing, etc.

As you feel the joy that comes from understanding the gospel, you will want to apply what you learn.
Strive to live in harmony with your understanding.

  " Let us Cherish one another, watch over one another, comfort one another,

and gain instruction....

that we may all sit down in heaven together."  Lucy Mack Smith

The Amazing Den Hague Zone
back row l-r  Elders Davies, Guanuna, Calkins, Cundick, Taylor, Klippel, Maughan, Mortensen, Thueson
middle row l-r:  Elders Moore, DeLeeuw, Zusters Moore, DeLeeuw, van Overbeek, Romer, van de Graaf, Farmer, Wayman, Bjork,  Zuster Páleniková, Elder Wright, Christina, Elder Mickelsen, Elder Brown
front row l-r:  Zuster and Elder Salden, Zusters Moses, Stout, Hinchcliff, Jeffs, Davies, Townsend, Larsen

Lucky, from the Amsterdam Ward is an example to me of Christlike living.  She helps the missionaries by feeding them going on joint teaches, sharing her strong testimony with all she meets.

The t-shirts are finally done!  The missionaries met the challenge of "making or breaking your mission."
For 30 days they were perfectly obedient in keeping the morning schedule from 6:30-11:00!

One last hug from the sisters who hadn't left yet!