150 Year Celebration of the First Baptized Member in the Netherlands

The 150 year celebration of the beginning of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is in full swing. The monument that Mission President T. Edgar Lyon commissioned to be erected and dedicated in 1936 has been scrubbed, weeded and repainted. If you saw it before you will recognize the face lift. If you have never seen it then it is standing there all schoon gemakt, waiting to remind us all of the sacrifices of the many who have paved the way for us to be here in the Lord's service at this time.

Jan Weening, a dedicated member from Groningen, arrived early Saturday morning and with the help of two local men who believe the monument belongs to the community as well as the "Mormons," helped him plant the flowers depicting 150 years since the first baptism in that location.

Thies de Jonge, another member dedicated to the commemoration effort, rallied his "awesome" Assen Branch to come out and support the fietstocht from the Leeuwarden Church to the Baptism Monument located between Broeksterwoude and Damwoude.

The Assen group included a few deJonge family members from Zwolle and other locations. The group stopped to have prayer at the Church then 21 brave bikers headed out.

This group included President and Sister Brubaker and our Senior couple from Deventer, Elder and Sister Bush.

We passed by the famous landmark windmill called the Bullemolen in Lekkum.

President Brubaker and I enjoyed getting know some these wonderful people along the route.

The Elfstedentocht is a very famous 200 km race conducted on frozen canals, rivers and lakes between 11 historic cities. Adding to that, the tour currently features about 15,000 amateur skaters taking part, putting high requirements on the quality of the ice. There is a stated regulatory requirement for the race to take place that the ice must be (and remain at) a minimum thickness of 15 centimetres along the entirety of the course. All skaters must be a member of the Association of the Eleven Frisian Cities. A starting permit is required. Further more, in each city the skater must collect a stamp, as well as a stamp from the three secret check points. The skater must finish before midnight.Adding to that, the tour currently features about 15,000 amateur skaters taking part, putting high requirements on the quality of the ice. There is a stated regulatory requirement for the race to take place that the ice must be (and remain at) a minimum thickness of 15 centimetres along the entirety of the course. All skaters must be a member of the Association of the Eleven Frisian Cities. A starting permit is required. Further more, in each city the skater must collect a stamp, as well as a stamp from the three secret check points. The skater must finish before midnight.

The tour is not held every year, mostly because it isn't cold enough for the tour to take place. Since the Elfstedentocht is such a rare event, its declaration creates excitement all over the country. The last race was in 1997.

The finish point of the Elfstedenttocht is a canal near Leeuwarden called the Bonkevaart.

Each small tile has a picture of those who participated. In 1997 the crown prince participated in the Eldfstedentocht under a false name.

We were awarded to have made it to this beautiful and historic monument that has been lovingly and painstakingly restored by Elder and Sister van Komen.

We are happy to report that everyone survived

the bicycle marathon and returned in good spirits.

While we were riding to the monument, a series of Open Houses started with the first day, and to be held for four Saturdays in a row (in conjuction with the fietstocht) at the Leeuwarden Church.

Six of the Elders from the Apeldoorn District walked the streets inviting everyone to come into the Church, both literally and figuratively.

The final tally was more than 100 people were issued an invitation to Come Unto Christ, starting with a tour of the Open House. Between 30 and 40 people walked through the doors. Many of them chose pamphlets or handouts that interested them. Several expressed an interest to come back and see a church service. One man who talked to Elder Wilcken did come to Church the next day.Advertising research shows that a person must have a minimum of 7 exposures to a new idea, product, or concept, to be converted to it. Even if the person buys the product on the first contact he or she will still need at least six more exposures to be fully invested in what the product is or does.

.Saturday several hundred people received one of those exposures to the restored Gospel of Jesus Christ..... Hooray!A big thank you to the Brubaker's, the Bush's, Jan Weening,Thies deJonge, and the Elders for supporting the history of the past so that we can see where we need to go.

Sister Janie van Komen

A big thank you to Elder and Sister van Komen for the hours invested in organizing this worthwhile experience!