Three New Missionaries Arrive in Amsterdam

Elder van Rij, Elder Kunz, and Elder Mortensen arrived today in the Netherlands.

All luggage accounted for, we went directly to the train station at Schiphol airport, and let the new missionaries experience Europe at it's best! The mission office in Leiden is only a short 13 minute ride.

Once in Leiden, the walk to the mission office is only about 5 minutes from the train station.

That means no more driving to the airport, no more dealing with traffic, no more trying to find parking, no more lifting suitcases in and out of the mission van. The location is ideal!

The new missionaries were greeted by lots of friendly faces!

Our legality secretary, Elder Alexander was organized and prepared to handle this group all on

his own. He oriented the missionaries about being legal in the Netherlands and Belgium.

Elder Benson has been a joy to have in the office, and has trained Elder Alexander. We will miss Elder Benson, but Utrecht is going to be so happy to have him come! Elder McCarlie talked to the missionaries about the pertinent information about all the financial information a missionary needs to know in the Netherlands and Belgium

After lunch, the missionaries had their first experience contacting real people!

After having a much welcomed nap at the mission home, we experienced a new tradition!

Pannekoeken!

Pannekoeken is Holland's version of the pancake. A pannekoek (pronounced: paw-nuh-cook) (plural pannekoeken) or pannenkoek (new Dutch spelling) is a Dutch pancake. Pannekoeken are usually larger and thinner than American or Scottish pancakes. They may incorporate slices of smoked bacon, mushrooms, onions, potatoes, apples, seasonal fresh strawberries, or other fruits, stem ginger, cheese, or raisins.

We love this new tradition!

The assistants were happy to suggest their favorites!

The new missionaries took no time at all adjusting to the culture!

Leiden is a beautiful city.

Leiden is located on the Old Rhine, at a distance of some 20 kilometers from The Hague to its south and some 40 kilometers from Amsterdam to its north.

A university city since 1575, Leiden houses Leiden University and Leiden University Medical Centre. It is twinned with Oxford, the location of England's oldest university.

Back to the mission home were calls waiting to be opened!

Elder van Rij will be serving in Haarlem with a great trainer, Elder Marshall.

Elder Mortensen will love serving in the Hague with another marvelous trainer, Elder Andrews.

Elder Kunz is going to Apeldoorn to serve with Elder Sanford. There is no doubt he will be trained by one of our best!

President Brubaker brought out the map of our mission, and showed them where they will be serving.

We are honored and privileged to have these energetic, dedicated, willing, and able new missionaries join our mission!

"After all that has been said, the greatest and most important duty is to preach the Gospel."

President Joseph Smith 1830-1844

PMG page 12

A Family is Reunited Through the Gospel!

Sampsons, Natasje and Dwight, Spijkenisse, August 27, 2011

Dwight and Natasje were found by missionaries over a year ago. They were very interested in the message the missionaries had to share and also when coming to the church, found out that Natasje was related to several members in the Spijkenisse ward. Over time they gained personal testimonies of the truth of the message, looking forward to the day that they would be able to be baptized. However, Dwight and Natasje were not married and due to circumstances, were not able to be married for some time. After going through some hard times they fell out of contact with the missionaries and the church, but by themselves working out personal problems, they were married in the Spring, then came back to church unexpectedly, where once again we were able to meet with them, and prepare them for baptism. They were baptized August 28, 2011 by Elder Davies, and then confirmed a week later on September 4th by President Broekzitter, who also is a family member of Natasje's. They are a wonderful young couple, looking forward to the day when they will be able to go to the temple and be sealed for all time and eternity with their two little sons Dj and Jd. (Written by Elder Mohrman)

the YoVo Center in Rotterdam Is Thriving with the Anderson's At the Helm

The Rotterdam Young Adult Center is thriving! We had the opportunity to talk to them about dating and marriage! They were really good sports as we suggested the idea of going on a double date! President Brubaker explored with them ways to change the culture of dating in the Netherlands! They liked the idea!

This young group are actively involved in setting a righteous and joyful example of living the Gospel of Jesus Christ!

Eindhoven and Heerlen, Breda and Den Bosch

We started out our day by driving to Utrecht. We had a mix-up with the Utrecht missionaries because of a change of schedule. We then drove to Eindhoven to meet with Elder Schwartz and Elder Schow. We were all so excited about the joint teach we had with them, that I completely forgot to get a photo of them at their apartment. But what a great picture just after we finished our joint teach with them. It was a great privilege to observe Elder Schwartz and Elder Schow teach a lesson to a very humble, knowledgeable, and eager to learn investigator.

We are enjoying being in Belgium, and visiting our missionaries in this country that is very different from

the Netherlands. Elder Brown and Elder Leash are doing so well in Heerlen.

They love to receive mail from home!

The sisters in Breda love the ward and the ward members are so excited to have sister missionaries in Breda again.

How did they know that we hadn't had lunch? We were famished, and it was so nice of them to have lunch waiting for us!

The missionaries in Den Bosch were a little late getting back to their apartment, so we walked a few blocks away to this amazing monument! They came and found us as we were visiting with a mother and her two daughters. We almost got a referral for them!

Elder Leach and Elder Bastiaens needed to buy dessert for their dinner appointment. So we got to taste a very famous boschbolen! Oh, the calories......It is a pastry about the size of a baseball filled with whipped cream and dipped in chocolate! Yummmm!

On our way back, we ran into a former investigator that they had lost contact. They were able to set up an appointment with him! They were so excited to make contact again!

Zuster Idema Was a Welcomed Referral

Hermine Idema, Gouda, August 23, 2011

At the end of April, we received a phone call from the Elders in Hengelo... they had a referral for us! They didn't give us too much information, just a name and a phone number. We called, and Zuster Idema answered! She let us know that she would be moving to Gouda in May and that we were more than welcome to come over then and visit. Our first appointment with her was great! She was very open and sincere. We introduced a teaching calendar and she accepted. Our second lesson was very powerful. Zuster Idema has a strong testimony of the Plan of Salvation and she was really touched when we taught about what happens after our time on earth ends. The gospel of Jesus Christ provides healing for broken hearts, and she has experienced that healing firsthand. Her husband passed away just over a year ago, and although there has been much heartache, she understands and has experienced the peace that comes from the atonement of the Savior and the comforting power of the Holy Ghost. Every appointment was a spiritual high point of our week. Things were smooth sailing! The baptismal service was beautiful-- her wonderful family members were there and missionaries, investigators and ward members all came to support her in her decision to come closer to Christ. Her testimony of the restored gospel is strong. She is a beautiful woman with a strong desire to learn more from the scriptures and from the living prophet and apostles. She will help anyone without question, will lend a listening ear, will put her arm around you and offer comfort if you are having a hard time; she is a true follower of our Savior, Jesus Christ. Working with her has been a pleasure and an absolute blessing. She has changed our lives for the better. WE LOVE HER!!! (Zuster Perry and Zuster Moses and Zuster Holbein)

"Living the Gospel of Jesus Christ"

The Hague Zone all congregated at the mission home for a service project. The initial plan was to have the missionaries help landscape our yard at the new mission home, but the church magically landscaped it for us. What a blessing in disguise! We were able to turn it into a neighborhood service day.

The missionaries got to know our neighbors by serving them!

Trees were trimmed along the canal.

She loves me ......she loves me not. Hmmmm......

Much good was accomplished in just a short few hours.

Gardens became weed free.

Our neighbors were so impressed by the happy and enthusiastic and willing attitude of these young men and women.

The seniors; the Beckstands, Saldens and the Tibbitts got all the food prepared for our lunch.

We had a real feast prepared!

We were greatly blessed with a warm sunny day!

President Brubaker was the chef for the day!

Sister Tibbitt's sister, Gayle was visiting from the United States with her son, who will have a

mission call waiting for him when he returns home!

"Do you want to be happy? Forget yourself and get lost in this

great cause. Lend your efforts to helping people......

Stand higher, lift those with feeble knees,

hold up the arms of those that hang down.

Live the gospel of Jesus Christ."

President Gordon B. Hinckley