Office Surprise!

What a wonderful surprise! Three of our precious French missionaries came by to pick up supplies. Soeur Burgoyne is finishing her mission on Thursday. She came by to say good-bye. They all looked happy and well! Time has flown by so fast. It has already been a year since the boundary changes to our mission. Elder Rakonidrainabe and Elder Rutman are serving in Brussels, and share an apartment with our office elders. We had much catching up to do!

Nous vous aimons beaucoup!

Enough Love to Go Around

I just happened to mention to the elders about the group hug photo taken last time we were here! They instantly wanted to do it again! This time I got up on a chair so we could get their faces! I think we can see everyone but Elder Bastian! So sorry-next time Elder Bastian!

President Zone Training went well today!

I just had to get a photo of the amount of food our elders eat!

We enjoyed our day in Apeldoorn!

The Sun is Shining on Belgium!

I think it has been several months since we have seen sun! As we spent the day in Zone President's Training in Antwerp, missionary spirits were high!

Zuster DeGroot and Zuster Ence are enjoying the time they have with Sister Martha who is waiting for her visa to the United States to serve in the Philadelphia Pennsylvania mission. We have absolutely loved having her here!

What a great day to be on a mission!

Anticipating Spring!

I almost fell into the canal when I saw these beautiful flowers along the country road on our way to meet the assistants just outside of Utrecht! After a very long cold winter joy comes as we see little signs of spring!

It was our P-Day, so we decided to meet the assistants at the Castle De Haar before our meeting.

We were amazed to find this gem hidden away in the country.

A little history

De Haar castle is probably one of the most visited castles in the Netherlands. We went at a good time of year. We practically had the entire place to ourselves! This Gothic fairy-tale castle we see today was built from 1892 to 1912 with incorporations of the 15th century ruins of the original castle.

Elder Matthews and Elder Brockbanks tried out their finding techniques.

They are fearless like the dragon slayers of another century.

The Armour of God

Doctrine and Covenants 27

15Wherefore, lift up your hearts and rejoice, and gird up your loins, and take upon you my whole armor, that ye may be able to withstand the evil day, having done all, that ye may be able to stand.

16Stand, therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, having on the breastplate of righteousness, and your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace, which I have sent mine angels to commit unto you;

17Taking the shield of faith wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked;

18And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of my Spirit, which I will pour out upon you, and my word which I reveal unto you, and be agreed as touching all things whatsoever ye ask of me, and be faithful until I come, and ye shall be caught up, that where I am ye shall be also. Amen.

Delroy Palm's Conversion Was No Coincidence

Delroy Palm, Amsterdam, February 4, 2011

We found Delroy back in November during a consecrated hour. We gave him a copy of the Book of Mormon and made an appointment for the following week to meet again in the park. Despite that fact that the weather was freezing cold and snowy, he showed up to his appointment and had read a stunning amount from the Book of Mormon already. He believes that "toeval bestaat niet." (coincidence does not exist) He later told us that the very day we met him he had prayed to get to know God better and to find his purpose in life! He came to every appointment and while he had some difficulties, he overcame them all through building up a relationship with God through prayer. He experienced many miracles along the road to baptism - his conversion process was truly magnificent to behold! Delroy is dedicated to the Gospel and will make a fine priesthood-holder and leader in the church. (Written by Zusters Holbein and Kremer)

Zone Leaders Are Taught Important Truths

Over many hundreds of years windmills in the Netherlands have been re-invented and the Dutch have always tried to find new ways of making them more efficient. They are very proud of their history and many of the old windmills are still working today. I love the old windmills. On our way to Zone leader council, we saw this sight along the freeway. it was a cold, misty day in Holland.

President Brubaker talked about teaching investigators of the importance of attending Sacrament Meeting. We all discussed together the challenges specific to our mission that investigators might have to keep them from attending church.

Missionaries discussed together the blessings that come from Sacrament Meeting attendance.

President Brubaker admonished the missionaries to make the decision right now that throughout their lives they will commit to being in Sacrament Meeting each week.

We are promised blessings in our lives.

Moroni 6:4

4And after they had been received unto baptism, and were wrought upon and cleansed by the power of the Holy Ghost, they were numbered among the people of the church of Christ; and their names were taken, that they might be remembered and nourished by the good word of God, to keep them in the right way, to keep them continually watchful unto prayer, relying alone upon the merits of Christ, who was the author and the finisher of their faith.

5And the church did meet together oft, to fast and to pray, and to speak one with another concerning the welfare of their souls.

Happy birthday Elder Sanford! We had a little celebrating to do during lunch with brownies and candles and of course birthday hats all provided by his companion Elder Robinson.

Zuster Rich and Zuster Garvin were happy to be our zuster representatives.

Like the windmills missionaries are learning how to become powerful and steady servants

of our Heavenly Father.

Golden Couple Embraces the Gospel

Gilbert Iloanusi and Augustina Ikpetha, Antwerpen

February 27, 2011

Gilbert Iloanusi and Augustina Ikpetha were referrals from Grace and

Joseph Tunde (a member family in our ward). After a leak in their home

destroyed Augustina's Bible, she asked Grace to get a new one for her.

We were contacted and gladly accepted the opportunity to bring them a

new Bible. During our first lesson with Augustina, we learned that she

already had a copy of the Book of Mormon, and she slept with it under

her pillow every night because it helped keep the nightmares away. :)

We set up another appointment to teach her and Gilbert about the Book

of Mormon and how it helps us build our relationship with Jesus

Christ. We quickly learned that they were more than ready to accept

the gospel in their lives! :) They usually committed themselves to

living the principle we taught before we had the opportunity to extend

a commitment and were so excited to share how living it increased the

presence of the Spirit in their lives. They progressed super quick and

gratefully accepted the invitation to be baptized a week earlier than

their original date. They were baptized on Sunday, February 27, 2011

by their best friend Joseph Tunde. Many tears were shed as they

expressed gratitude and testimony about how their lives have been

blessed. Afterwards, Gilbert shared their next goal by saying, "In one

year, we're getting married in the Temple!" :) What an amazing couple!

The Overjissel Region of Holland

After Zone President's Training we drove to a region of Holland called the Overjissel. It is located in the mid eastern part of the country, right on the German border. It is a beautiufl region of Holland.

It was a misty day in Holland

The swans are very prolific here. You see them everywhere!

We loved the difference in the architecture.

Beautiful and unique windmills

Almost every home in the countryside has this interesting and unique decorative piece on the gable.

I have not yet succeeded in finding out the significance in these wonderful pieces of art. Stay posted, I am so intrigued by these!

Holland never ceases to amaze us for it's beautiful architecture, nature, quaint villages, and cleanliness.

A Great Day With Missionaries from the Hague Zone

President Brubaker and I had our last training with the elders and sisters in the Hague. Again, as I entered the room where all our missionaries were anxiously waiting for the day of training to begin, I was overwhelmed with a feeling of gratitude and love for each one of our missionaries.

Elder Klippel and Elder Brownell came with a willing and open heart to be learn from their president.

Elder Da Cruz and Elder Benson are two of our newest missionaries. They are willing to do whatever they are asked, and come with a freshness and energy to work hard and be guided by the spirit as they learn each day what REAL mission life is.

Elder Favero and Elder Bair were cooking up a storm for us.

President Brubaker asked for volunteers to role-play Quality Gospel Conversation Techniques.

They each had about 5 minutes to practice a QGC. It can be very intimidating to do this in front of all of the other missionaries. But they learn as they practice when put on the spot.

Missionaries learn so much from each other, and gain insight and new ideas come as they see other

missionaries try to become better contactors.

Elder Osmond took advantage of the opportunity to practice.......

then Elder Garrett and then Sister Holbein. How did they do? Evaluation is a very important part of the learning process.

Den Haag Zone

we love you!