transferred!!!

So hello family and friends! Its been an absolutely fabulous week in Belgie- but soon it will be Belgie no more for me! Tomorrow Im taking a train toRotterdam, and there I will join Zusters Knoelk and Cobenda. Theres a bit ofa shakeup happening on the sisters side of the mission because within thenext three transfers, 8 sisters are going home and there arent any comingin. So we found out they mission in closing down Antwerpen for the sisters,and in September a senior couple will come. Its kind of sad to be leaving myfirst area after only five weeks here - I was just getting to be able tomake small talk in Flemmish! =) But I got to work with Zr. Knoelk onexchanges last week and shes pretty much amazing - I will learn a lot fromher. I barely got to talk to her comp, but shes a really cute girl fromSuriname, so thatll be really cool to learn more about her and her country.So overall Im really excited. The mission is going to rent a new apartment for the senior couplein September, so we spent almost all day yesterday cleaning stuff out ofours and organising everything. Its amazing how much random stuff gets leftin missionary apartments! Baking supplies that expired seven years ago, acassio keyboard, and some very, very creative plan of salvation visualaids... So my new motto for transfers is ´´Junk not lest ye be junked.`` =) So last Thursday we drove up to Den Hagg with the Zone Leaders to workout some legality stuff for Zr. Barkume. We had to go to the Stadt Huis(city hall) to get some paperwork done - it was like the DMV (in terms ofwaiting) in a stark white, utilitarian building with huge amounts ofinterior space and sky windows. To complete the Kafka-esque feel, one piecein the modern art display there in the hall was an enormous inflatableGeorge W. Bush head. While waiting, I struck up a conversation with a youngMoroccan woman about culture and religion and prayer. It was one of themoments that just felt so European - talking about religion and the world inThe Hague cuty hall with a Moroccan Muslim woman, with George W. loomingover us, no less. I love being here! Another fun thing has been the American family that just moved into ourward. We got to visit with them twice at their home, and it was SO FUN to beable to understand their kids! Id missed how adorable kids are, and Imexcited to be able to understand Dutch kids in Rotterdam! They had two sonsand a ten year old and six year old daughter. The youngest reminded me somuch of Lauren - she rehearsed half of the plot of one of her fav movieswith barely time to breathe - so cute. =) Anyway, this fa,ily will reallyenjoy getting to be part of a multicultural European ward and being able todo ,issionary work here. Plus they were from Houston and were a major BYUfamily, so it was fun just talking about home. =) Friday evening we had a Music Evening with the ward that we missionarieshad organized. It was all music and short spiritual thoughts centered aroundChrist. It really was a lovely evening and a nice way to end our transferhere - plus one nonmember came and thought it was a really wonderful evening- he told his friend if we ever do it again, he wants to come. So that wasgreat. As far as the work goes, Lola and her family came to church on Sunday!That was amazing! Its so weird transferring all our investigators to theelders, especially because all 8 of our progressing investigators come fromfamilies - always a strong missionary goal. But were just the messengers,and I know these people will continue to come closer to Christ and HeavenlyFather through the gospel. It really strikes me as a missionary how for somuch of my life, the gospel was always part of me, but not literally myfocus. Thats natural I suppose - but I am so grateful to know why Im onearth and how I can have joy through serving others and following Christ. Itall comes out as trite cliches in an e-mail, but everyday I see peoplewithout this knowledge who desperately need it - I really am grateful to behere. There are just so many great people in this ward. Sunday we had lunchwith an adorable couple in their 60s - hes a Belge and shes an Irish woman,and they met by the London Temple. She constantly brings candy to themissionaries at church, and as we left for the final time, she gave uscookies; popcorn, and... Virgin Mary circus peanuts. She said Belgians goingon pilgrimages sell them. All I can say is theyre not that tasty, and it waspretty funny going contacting right afterwards carrying around apostasy inplastic wrap (just kidding - sort of). Pictures shall come when I figure outhow to develop them in the Netherlands. I just love you all! You can send ,ail to the address below from now on- the Antwerpen elders will check our mail still en route and forward it tous.My new mailing address is
Baronie Straat 18a
3051 ED
Rotterdam Nederland

Love,
Zr. Baxter