Can We Have One of These President Brubaker?

Zuster Fritz and Zuster Fowler found just what they need to make it to all of their appointments on time! We thought this would be a little better than a bike, and takes up just about the same amount of room! What do you think President?

I was able to meet this sweet family from Bulgaria. One of the highlights of the week for us was to be able to teach with our missionaries in Amsterdam. Elder Douglas had several investigators that only spoke French, and was pleased to have President Brubaker help teach his investigators! I was able to do some street contacting in Amsterdam with Zuster Fowler and Zuster Fritz. They had two appointments lined up. I was able to meet this sweet family from Bulgaria. They were so kind to translate the lesson into English for me, and I had the privilege of sharing my testimony of Joseph Smith with Vilie and her daughter Annie.

Zuster Fowler and Zuster Fritz are excited to be in Amsterdam. It was a privilege for me to feel of their desire to share the message of the restored Gospel of Jesus Christ. They are blessing the lives of many people, as they are not afraid to share the Gospel with everyone they meet.

Harry Challenges Us to Eat 'Harring'

We were in Breda today, starting our two weeks of interviews with our missionaries. While President Brubaker interviewed, I sat in on the training given by the Zone Leaders. At lunchtime, Harry offered to buy lunch for everyone. He came back from the store with raw herring for everyone, including us! When in Holland, it is a required initiation for the missionaries to eat herring as the hollandais do! Guess who was lucky enough to be initiated?

Here goes it!

That is one big raw fish!

Harry was so nice to provide us with a lunch we shall never forget!

Elder Verwey tells us you can acquire a taste for it.

Elder Adams and Elder Christensen know just how to do it!

Congrats Elder Robert!

We Felt Like We Were Home

We had a marvelous experience at church in the Hague Ward today. It was like being in our home ward! The chapel was full to capacity, and everyone was very friendly! We felt instantly connected with this ward.

President Brubaker and Brother Scherrif, a recent convert to the church, is having a great influence for good as he helps the members of the ward in the Hague.

My friend in Holland, Zuster Vander Pudt. She spreads sunshine wherever she goes.

Zuster Bennett working the crutches like a pro. We were relieved to find out that there were not broken bones!

The popular mode of transportation in the Netherlands. I was so excited to take this picture of this family as they were leaving church.

Totzeyns Eldr Dalpais and Elder LeFevre!

A Sweet Experience in Den Haag

This was a day that Zuster Bennett and Zuster Robbins will never forget. Karla's baptism was a very eventful day! Zuster Bennett slipped on the stairs of the church just an hour before her baptism. She was not able to put any weight on her foot. The ward members rallied, and Zuster Bennett was surrounded by loving ward members when we arrived. Zuster Bennett was not going to miss this baptism. With the help of some ward members she hobbled into the room where the service was taking place. It was a beautiful service. Karla bore a strong testimony. I love to hear the testimonies of our about to be baptized new members of the church.

Karla and Zuster Bennett

Karla preparing for baptism.

Zuster Robbins and Zuster Bennett performed a beautiful musical number for Karla. After the baptism Zuster Robbins was so patient and kind to show a sweet member of the ward how to hold a violin.

Training and Food Make Happy Missionaries

Our First Visitors

Brugges, Belgium

The beautiful fall fields of the Netherlands.

We spent an afternoon at the Oudt Museum in Arnhem. It is an outdoor museum, where they have

re-created a village in the Netherlands from the 1800's.

Kinder Dijk

Our oldest son Benjamin, and his wife, Stephanie, with our adorable grand children, Luke, Emma and Sophie came to visit us! We welcomed them with open arms. We had so much fun showing them the beautiful parts of our mission. We enjoyed every moment we had together!

Emma and Luke felt right at home in Brussels, conversing in French with the locals.

The Grand Place in Belgium has many chocolate shops. We had to sample them all, and then we took a vote of our most favorite!

Emma and Luke enjoyed a train ride, as we became more familiar with the countryside of our mission.

You can't come to Belgium without trying their famous Gaufres!

Our Departing Missionaries

This is the second group of missionaries to go home since we arrived. The night before their departure, we are able to have an evening together and share our testimonies with one another. We are grateful for their dedication and service. They share with each other life changing experiences that have taken place during the last two years.

Our Departing Missionaries

front row- l.-r. Elder Sorensen, Elder Whittle, Elder Ballard, Soeur Brubaker, President Brubaker

back row - l.-r. Elder Laursen, Elder Chlarson, Elder Alger, Elder Nielsen, Elder Doussett, Soeur Thrasher, Soeur Santos

We will greatly miss Elder and Sister Hickenbotham!

Where would we be without Elder and Sister Panctratz to help us with the missionary luggage?

Little Gestures

That sweeten the moment, stop time,

allowing us to pause to express or

receive love, for that instant, we're not

going anywhere-we're simply stopped in our

tracks, feeling the warmth of our loving connection

The Missionaries Receive Their First Assignment

We had a wonderful evening with our new missionaries. They were so excited to open their letters, and to find out where their first city is, and who their first companion will be of their mission.

Soeur Flood is staying in Brussels, Belgium, and her trainer will be Soeur Gagon.

Elder Johnson's first assignment is to The Hague, in the Netherlands! His trainer will be Elder Mecham.

Soeur Gappmeier is going to Lille, France! Her trainer will be Soeur Fritsch.

Elder Rogers is going to St Quentin, France, Elder Darguence to Mons, Belgium, and Elder Paoli to Lille, France. Theri trainers will be Elder Howard, Elder Benedetti, and Elder Hoskyns.

Elder Matthews is going to Almere, Holland. His trainer will be Elder Relitz.

Zuster Fritz is going to Amsterdam. I think she is excited! Her trainer will be Zuster Fowler.

Zuster Sharp is going to Zwolle, Holland. She has two trainers; Zuster Baxter and Zuster Erickson.

The Dedication Site in Tervuren Park

After naps, we drove to the Dedication Site. The weather had improved, and it was a beautiful evening. I love coming here! There is a very peaceful feeling here, and you know for sure you are on sacred ground. President Brubaker and Elder DeMaas shared the story of Elder Jeffrey R. Holland coming to bless this land for missionary work.

Left to right: Elder Darguence (French), Elder Rogers, Sister Flood, Sister Fritz, Sister Sharp, Elder Johnson, Elder Matthews, and Elder Paoli (French)

New Missionaries Arrive!

We were up early, and off to the airport to meet our new missionaries. Scott and I tried to memorize the names of our new missionaries on the way to the airport. We have 7 new missionaries coming from the U.S. We have Sister Fritz, Flood, Sharp and Elder Johnson, Matthews, Rogers. What a great group of missionaries! We are so excited, and feel that each one of them has so much to add to our mission! We went to the office, and the office elders talked to them about legality and money issues. After photos, we took them all to the mission home. We had chicken Caesar salad and sliced meats and cheese and French bread. The French elders were especially excited for the cheese. We put them all down for a nap. I think they were really relieved to have a few hours to rest and sleep.

Bienvenue Les Missionaires à Bruxelles!

A happy day for the missionaries to finally be at the mission home!

Our two French elders joined us for the festivites. They arrived a day early.

Sister Sharp and Sister Fritz were very helpful getting lunch ready!

We enjoyed getting to know our new missionaries. We feel so blessed to have these dedicated, excited missionaries join the best mission in the world!