Kurt is Baptized in Antwerp

Kurt Schaepens – May 23, 2010

Antwerp, Belgium

Kurt is a 24 year old Belgian who was raised with religious norms but without religious beliefs. He was invited to church by his good Friend Lauren van Bever. The first time he came to church he was greatly surprised at the quality of people to be found there, especially with the young single adults. He didn’t know that there were groups of young people like that, it was a pleasant surprise. He struggled believing in God when we first started teaching him, but he never stopped coming to church, and developed a desire to follow Christ and be a member of the church by being baptized. The change that has come in his life is tremendous. He has proven that he wants to serve the members in the ward as he helped organize and carry out a YSA activity, and is planning on starting a free cooking class this upcoming fall. He is an outstanding Chef, and a wonderful new member in the Antwerpen ward.

Regina Kwesiba is Baptized in The Hague

Regina Kwesiba, The Hague, May 23, 2010

We ran into Regina outside another investigator’s apartment. It was one of the first days of spring and we commented on the nice weather. We started talking and she told us that she had run into the missionaries a few years back and they gave her “a Bible.” She’s read in it often since then and really likes it. We started teaching her and she was baptized about 2 months later.

Bishop Muntiga – about 2 weeks before Regina’s baptism, Bishop Montiga asked if he could come on a split because he wanted to get to know Regina better. We biked to her house which took about 20-25 minutes. The lesson went really well, but really long, and we finished at about 5:25. We started biking home and 2 minutes later, my pedal fell off. We tried to put it back on and I kicked it, hoping it would stay better. It didn’t. So the Bishop biked with me and was ghost riding the other bike from Den Haag Central to our apartment.

Miracles Happening in Antwerp, Belgium

Baptism of Joanne Bas in Groningen

Joanne Bas first started investigating the church through a friend in her teenage years. She attended church meetings, but the timing wasn't quite right for her.

At the beginning of December in 2009, she contacted the sister missionaries and said she had interest in learning more about the gospel. After a short period of 3 months she made the decision to be baptized. She had receive an answer that the Book of Mormon is true and that Joseph Smith was a prophet and was thankful that she could be baptized a member of the Church of Jesus Christ.

Joanne has been extremely involved in church activities ever since she came in contact with the church; cooking for Institute, teaching lessons, playing and singing are just a few of the many things she did to serve in the church before her baptism.

Her baptism was well attended. She was supported by family members, and many friends, as well as many ward members. She truly is an example for all and radiates the love Jesus Christ in all she does.

She now has a calling in the Primary, teaching the 9-year olds. She loves being able to serve and especially teaching from the Book of Mormon.

Rafael is Baptized in Leuven

Rafaël Oñate - Ghenk, Belgium - May 15, 2010

Rafaël was found through a member referral and is from a part member family. After our very first appointment we realized he was so prepared. He accepted a baptismal commitment for May 16 in the very first appointment and actually ended up being baptized on May 15 one day sooner. He was such a good investigator because he understood everything so very well and immediately accepted our commitments and lived them. He also has a girlfriend who is now investigating and two other friends that are also interested. Through this conversion story not only Rafaël has entered the fold of God but also his inactive mom and sister with two kids have started finding their way back also. It truly is a wonder what the gospel can do for people and families. It was a great honor to teach Ra.

Zone Conference in Antwerp

We had another great day with our missionaries in Antwerp for our 2nd Zone Conference!

The assistants invited a ward mission leader, a branch president, and bishop, some young adults

for a panel to help answer questions the missionaries had about improving member relations.

The missionaries were able to role-play and practice with each other, after brainstorming

and listing their questions and concerns about working with members.

Elder Jex, this is supposed to be a candid shot!

Elder and Sister Tibbetts , our newest senior couple, are instantly engaged in missionary work with

the other senior couples.

A welcomed lunch break!

Missionaries waiting for afternoon session to begin.

Elder Duran is not so sure about life after mission! We love you Elder Duran and will miss you!

Zone Conference is a time for visiting with former companions, meeting other missionaries for the first time,

and saying good-bye to those that won't be with us next Zone Conference.

Miracles in Keukenhof

Elder Pratt shares this miracle:

"Op maandag 10 mei 2010, we went to Keukenhof, in lisse (15km north of Leiden). It was my second time! 21euros for bus and entrance fees. But it was worth it to meet people from méxico, taiwan, ontario canada and chiba, japan! I packed extra boeks of mormon and pamplets just in case! Sure enough, we prayed and acted. The Lord put people into our paths. I was sad at first since nobody seemed to care that I wanted to chat with them in their language, but one elderly japanese couple they knew the name badges- oh mormon?? That's great! I shared a pamplet with them. Two elderly dutch zusters took fotos of us four elders. We also met five church members. one from france who's a bus driver and the others were canadians and americans. We then met a familie from vietnam! Finally, it was time to leave our day of miracles and adventures in the flowers!! Instead, we were there to teach wonderful children of heavenly father and admire nature!! I was sad I didn't chat with anybody that was chinese speaking. But then a huge bus arrived with so many chinese speakers! I took fotos of elder kramer (hé's serving in hengelo) and I offered to take fotos for some chinese zusters- they were so amazed that I spoke chiense! They declined. We left onto our bus and I still felt sad, but the Lord provides a way! That same couple was in the bus, speaking to me in chinese and telling me to sit beside them for the 25 minute bus ride back to Schipol! Such a miracle! The Lord knew my desires. They know church members in their hometown of taipei, taiwan. They knew that we go all over on bicycles and teach people about jezus christus. It was a blessing. I shared with them the chinese restoration pamplet and my testimony in chinese!

Such joy to meet zr Yang Fa Long!"

Zone Conference in Amsterdam

We had a wonderful Zone Conference today! The missionaries came prepared, having studied Chapter 13 in Preach My Gospel. We love being with out missionaries so much! We had a large group today!

Our senior couples are invaluable to our mission!

Elder Salden is enjoying something to the last drop!

Sister Dabel is adored by all of us! How will we ever survive without the Dabels? We have tried all kinds of tactics to convince them to extend their mission!!! We understand...........

grand children have been so patient, and can't wait to get them home in two weeks!
Elder and Sister Dabel have loved the missionaries as their very own. Our missionaries have been really spoiled by all the delicious meals provided with so much love and care!
We met in the Cultural Hall, and the missionaries were grouped around tables, prepared to be able to be involved in role-playing. The assistants asked them what concerns they had about working with members. Then they were divided in groups and practiced by role-playing, until their questions were answered. It was a learning and growing and discovering time to learn how to become better at getting to know the members, and practicing in engaging conversation with them. We had ward members come and help out, and give us suggestions and encouragement.

Elder and Sister Salden, and Sister Dabel all had birthdays this month! During lunch, the missionaries have a special robust traditional Happy Birthday song they love to sing in Dutch! Afterwards we went back into the chapel to start the afternoon session of Zone Conference. At the beginning of the afternoon session we have started a tradition where the missionaries have the opportunity to say something short that they admire about the missionary who has had a birthday that month. All the hands were immediately raised for the Saldens and the Dabels. The missionaries all wanted to say something. It was really a meaningful moment. I think this is one of the most special things we do! It has brought a feeling of unity and love among the missionaries, and we feel like one big happy family! I just wish we had had more time to let every missionary express their love to our dear senior missionaries.

Birthday Song......Enjoy!!!

A Welcomed Delay

All week long, we were half jokingly hoping that the volcano would keep our family here for just a few more weeks. We made a a mad dash to the airport this morning, only to find that their plane had been delayed! Samuel’s prayers were answered! The plane was delayed because of the volcano!

Our new missionary, Elder Seaman was delayed also. So we had to regroup! President and I went to the office, and Tiffany and Jacob enjoyed a few more hours in Brussels. There were a few hot gaufres waiting for them in the Grand Place!

President Brubaker and I went back to the airport and picked up Elder Seaman a few hours later. We have been waiting a long time! We were so grateful he is finally here! After recuperating from a minor surgery in the MTC, he finally arrived today! We took him with us to meet our family, and tell them a final good-bye.

Dankuwel for the unforgettable memories!