Hallo familie and vrienden!!!
So it was a crazy blessed week. On Saturday Monik got baptized, alongwith another Dutch man who the senior missionaries have been teaching. Ididn't mention her last week because, well, I thought she hadn't been quitwith smoking long enough for her to make her date. Turns out I'm a slightlyovercautious missionary - after some awesome district prayers, she finallythrew all her cigarettes away and was ready. It was a beautiful, beautifulbaptism - she called us later that day just to tell us how great and lovelya day it had been. I love love love seeing members take in people. So good.Don't ever forget that the people the missionaries bring to church are nottheir investigators - they're the ward's investigators.
So Zr. Knoelk flies home on Thursday morning, and Zr. Matos (a friendof my roommate Amalia from my junior semester) is coming on down to R'Dam!It'll be tons of fun. We have pretty different personalities but verysimilar viewpoints on social issues and such (let's just say I don't thinkwe'll be afraid to contact Muslim men, because let's be honest, you neverknow who's open to learning more) - so I think it'll be super awesomeworking with each other. As for Zr. Knoelk, she's done a fabulous job ofnot getting trunky - possibly because the entire ward did so for her. Let'sjust say I'm glad I'm not prone to homesickness - and also that itdefinitely pays to be comps with a well-beloved missionary who's served in award for 10 months, because then every gift she gets you get one of too. ;)So it wasn't too bad to stay focused and such until I got some letters atinterviews on Thursday and found out the first of my freshman guy friends isgetting hitched [congrats Greg and Lindsay!] - I wasn't surprised, just alittle weirded out at how quickly that went down. It's always weirdrealizing time doesn't stand still on the other side of the world, but it'sawesome. It's cool hearing how much everyone's lives are changing and insuch positive ways. It's a little weird not being in Provo with everybody,but I love what I do here.
So before interviews with our mish president Thursday, we had areally cool training from the zone leaders. Elder Carey showed a short videohe made of a Nigerian convert in another area telling his life story and howhe got to the Netherlands. The man went to school in Nigeria - in order tosupport himself, he had to steal oil from the pipe lines. After graduationit was next to impossible to get a job in Lagos without connections, so hepayed 1,200 euros to get smuggled to Europe in a container (a big metalshipping box about the size of a classroom) with about 15 other people. Thetrip was about 12 days. There was no ventilation, and he brought onlydigestives (sweet crackers) with him. 6 or 7 people died in route. He gotlet out in Spain, lived off of thrown away McDonalds food with the othersurvivors for a while, and finally made his way to Nederland, where he nowhas financial help from another wealthier African man. It was an incrediblestory that reminds me a lot of Monik and her coming to Holland as a refugeefrom the Rwandan genocide. And hearing this man talk about the church -"They are my life. They are my family. They have never left me. I feel likeI have parents in Nederland." Something inside my broke and something insideme was healed. I didn't cry until Elder Carey did as he said, "I have neverfelt so great joy as I did when I heard DJ [his americanized name since wecan't pronounce his Nigerian name] tell this story." The ward fell in lovewith this man. He blessed the sacrament in Dutch for the first time a fewweeks ago. Sometimes you forget how every single person you meet has astory.
Things are going well with Ingemar, who should get baptized inDecember and is working on quitting smoking. He cried during the PrimaryPresentation on Sunday. He's a really good man. I absolutely love watchingnew converts take care of eachother. Irene is a crazy intelligent Dutchsingle mom who used to do drugs and who is now absolutely illuminated by thegospel. She's become such good friends with Helen, who's from Suriname andnever married or had children. They both want to invite Andre along with usover for Christmas dinner. It's just so positive watching people's heartsbecome knit together in love through the Spirit, a la Mosiah 18 (I think).
Along slightly more trivial lines, it snowed this week!!!! It wasabsolutely nuts. So we got to go tracting in snow, which was magical, andluckily some memebers gave us a ride home Sunday from church so we didn'thave to bike through it. We also got to see Sinterklas come ashore in hisboat with his Swarte Piets on Saturday. No, it's not Santa Claus, but aBishop from Turkey, according to legend. His Swarte Piets ("Black Petes")either give kids treats or throw them in a sack and take them to Spain aspunishment for being bad. Apparently they're black because they go down thechimney. All I know is that growing in the Bible Belt South where we went toplantations for fieldtrips makes me a little wary of boats with lots ofblack guys and a white guy in charge of them all - but whatev's. It's acultural holiday, so it's all good, right? ;)
We continue to be crazy blessed here in Rotterdam. I love thisward so much, and this transfer will bring me to 6 months here, so we'll seewhat happens next... I love you all!!! Have a great week!!!
Liefs,
zr. Baxter
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
Monday, November 17, 2008
November is passing on by...
Hello family and friends!
Oh goodness, another week gone by in what feels like a day. So we'reheard hints about and pieces of news about it at meetings, and we were askedto pray for the decision as the amendment was passing as a mission abouttwo weeks ago, but last Tuesday we finally heard more details about thebacklash from Amendment 8 (I think that was it?) for heterosexual marriagein California. Crazy. I want you all to know I love and support you as youhandle this. Here in Holland no one's said anything - everyone's too stokedabout Obama as president to pay much more attention I guess. ;) But I'mincredibly saddened to hear about the protests and the vandalism going down- especially because it's terribly hypocritical to do destructive things inthe name of equality, and I know people with homosexual tendencies that Ithink would also be saddened by that kind of poor logic and poor reaction.In any case, I'm thankful for prophets and apostles in this church, and I amSO thankful for the church members in California.
Things are going well here. We had exchanges this week, so Zr. Matos(my old roommate Amalia's friend) came up to R'Dam. We totally suspectshe''ll get transferred here and we'll train together, so it was coolworking with her. I suspect if that happened she'd definitely help my chillout as a missionary - we have a lot of the same interests and views but verydifferent personalities so that'd be pretty awesome. It was also a goodwarning sign of how used I am to Zr. Knoelk. Everything is the Lord's handstho, so it's all good.
As far as investigators, we had an awesoem return appointment withShehera, the single mom (I swear there are no husbands in Nederland - atleast that want to hear the gospel from American girls) from Suriname. Thistime her mom sat in on the lesson, so we did a review of the Restoration,and it was amazing. !!!! Shehera totally explained to her mom as Meggie (themom) said, "Well, you say this is true, but so do so many other churchs onthe street." As we talked about prayer and why it's so important to ask Godabout this, Shehera jumped right in with how you have the follow thefeelings of your hear. Then she told us that before we first met her, she'sbeen crying and praying to God to help her life, because things were prettydifficult. And when we came to her door, she had such a calm feeling insidethat she knew we were a good thing. It is so humbling to play roles inpeople's answered prayers. They still haven't made it to church yet, but Ifeel wonderful about these incredibly prepared, searching women.
Ingemar has been taught everything but still needs time to quitedrinking and smoking, which makes sense. Wednesday we taught him the Law ofChastity with two recent converts who'd had really cool experiences learningto live that law, so it was pretty much the chastity dream team. BUt the bigsuprise was when Ingemar began to ask why Christ had to suffer what he did,and began to cry. I swear most people would assume this man is a thug ifthey saw him on the street. You NEVER know who is prepared.
Andre is doing AWESOME and hasn't touched a cigarette since he got hispriesthood blessing a week ago. I LOVE this gospel, and I love seeing howthe light and joy of it has come into this man's countenance. It's soamazing.
After maybe 2 or 3 notes, several voice mail messages, and countlesstimes stopping by her door, Sherryl's roommate used her phone the text us tosay that Sherryl is in Suriname with her dad - so she's alive! And she gaveus her e-mail address, so Zr. Knoelk can totally e-mail her when she goeshome. Which is good, because that woman was so prepared it was nuts. She'sprobably met missionaries in Suriname and has a baptisimal date there,knowing her.
Saturday night we had a return appointment with a woman from the Congo- she wanted us to come back when her boyfriend was there because he speaksbetter Dutch. So we stopped by to find not only the boyfriend but alsoLiliana's sister and the family pastor. So that was fun! We were as clear aswe could be, steered clear of Bible Bashing, and left pretty gracefully. Itwas sad because they were entirely not open, but they'll have a real chancein the future, and it really increased my thankfulness for the Restoration.There's nothing like hearing people go off about the mystery of the trinityto make me incredibly thankful for the First Vision. So that was cool.
So I'm happy. I'll try to develop pictures and mail them homesometime. You people are amazing. I love you!!!!! This gospel is soincredibly and has the power to change lives and do more good than anythingelse. Never forget prayer.
Liefs,
Zr. Baxter
Oh goodness, another week gone by in what feels like a day. So we'reheard hints about and pieces of news about it at meetings, and we were askedto pray for the decision as the amendment was passing as a mission abouttwo weeks ago, but last Tuesday we finally heard more details about thebacklash from Amendment 8 (I think that was it?) for heterosexual marriagein California. Crazy. I want you all to know I love and support you as youhandle this. Here in Holland no one's said anything - everyone's too stokedabout Obama as president to pay much more attention I guess. ;) But I'mincredibly saddened to hear about the protests and the vandalism going down- especially because it's terribly hypocritical to do destructive things inthe name of equality, and I know people with homosexual tendencies that Ithink would also be saddened by that kind of poor logic and poor reaction.In any case, I'm thankful for prophets and apostles in this church, and I amSO thankful for the church members in California.
Things are going well here. We had exchanges this week, so Zr. Matos(my old roommate Amalia's friend) came up to R'Dam. We totally suspectshe''ll get transferred here and we'll train together, so it was coolworking with her. I suspect if that happened she'd definitely help my chillout as a missionary - we have a lot of the same interests and views but verydifferent personalities so that'd be pretty awesome. It was also a goodwarning sign of how used I am to Zr. Knoelk. Everything is the Lord's handstho, so it's all good.
As far as investigators, we had an awesoem return appointment withShehera, the single mom (I swear there are no husbands in Nederland - atleast that want to hear the gospel from American girls) from Suriname. Thistime her mom sat in on the lesson, so we did a review of the Restoration,and it was amazing. !!!! Shehera totally explained to her mom as Meggie (themom) said, "Well, you say this is true, but so do so many other churchs onthe street." As we talked about prayer and why it's so important to ask Godabout this, Shehera jumped right in with how you have the follow thefeelings of your hear. Then she told us that before we first met her, she'sbeen crying and praying to God to help her life, because things were prettydifficult. And when we came to her door, she had such a calm feeling insidethat she knew we were a good thing. It is so humbling to play roles inpeople's answered prayers. They still haven't made it to church yet, but Ifeel wonderful about these incredibly prepared, searching women.
Ingemar has been taught everything but still needs time to quitedrinking and smoking, which makes sense. Wednesday we taught him the Law ofChastity with two recent converts who'd had really cool experiences learningto live that law, so it was pretty much the chastity dream team. BUt the bigsuprise was when Ingemar began to ask why Christ had to suffer what he did,and began to cry. I swear most people would assume this man is a thug ifthey saw him on the street. You NEVER know who is prepared.
Andre is doing AWESOME and hasn't touched a cigarette since he got hispriesthood blessing a week ago. I LOVE this gospel, and I love seeing howthe light and joy of it has come into this man's countenance. It's soamazing.
After maybe 2 or 3 notes, several voice mail messages, and countlesstimes stopping by her door, Sherryl's roommate used her phone the text us tosay that Sherryl is in Suriname with her dad - so she's alive! And she gaveus her e-mail address, so Zr. Knoelk can totally e-mail her when she goeshome. Which is good, because that woman was so prepared it was nuts. She'sprobably met missionaries in Suriname and has a baptisimal date there,knowing her.
Saturday night we had a return appointment with a woman from the Congo- she wanted us to come back when her boyfriend was there because he speaksbetter Dutch. So we stopped by to find not only the boyfriend but alsoLiliana's sister and the family pastor. So that was fun! We were as clear aswe could be, steered clear of Bible Bashing, and left pretty gracefully. Itwas sad because they were entirely not open, but they'll have a real chancein the future, and it really increased my thankfulness for the Restoration.There's nothing like hearing people go off about the mystery of the trinityto make me incredibly thankful for the First Vision. So that was cool.
So I'm happy. I'll try to develop pictures and mail them homesometime. You people are amazing. I love you!!!!! This gospel is soincredibly and has the power to change lives and do more good than anythingelse. Never forget prayer.
Liefs,
Zr. Baxter
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
Ik houd van zendingswerk!
Hallo familie and vrienden! Een andere geweldig week in Rotterdom! We hadzone conference Wednesday, which is always pretty much spectacular. Ourmission president is amazing, and we talked a lot about how to truly be goodlisteners as missionaries and uncover challenges and concerns of the peoplewe teach. After a lot of discussion the zone leaders showed us some funequations - [love] x [purity] = teaching with the Spirit. [listening] /[questions] = the key to uncovering concerns. Also fun was the chance tomeet Zr. Rose Wielan, an old roommate of Jennie Newton who just got to themission this transfer. She seems to be doing great and it was funninggetting to know her better - especially since we've crossed paths beforethrough Jennie's bridal shower and such.
Things are going well with our investigators. We had a fabulouslesson with Sofi, our Ethiopian single mom, about the Restoration. I thinkit may have finally clicked to her (there's quite the language barrier andshe's quite shy in front of new people, which was the case since we broughtour fabulous RS president along as joint teach). She wants to come to churchagain - it's just a mess with mass transit and her 3 daughters. Buthopefully this Sunday we can get a ride for her from a member, especiallysince Zr. Knoelk is speaking (and pretty much using that as motivation toget anyone and everyone to come to church. I love my comp. "Use everyhonorable means!" - PMG).
Andre, the depressive divorced Surinaamer, is making INCREDIBLEprogress. For those whop have been keeping him in your prayers, THANK YOU!Sunday he received a priesthood blessing after church. We weren't therebecause we had to go to a YSA Missionary Sacrament Meeting in Gouda (more onthat later) but our RS president called and told us it was quite emotional.Later that night we taught him about temple work (which he pretty much hadalready taught himself through flipping through the Gids [kind of like theBible dictionary; can be found in the back of foreign language BoM's] in theback of the BoM and paying close attention at church). It was awesome. Henow has a goal to go to the temple in Salt Lake City when he comes nextOctober for General Conference (so maybe it would be okay if dad retires andmoves to Utah before I come home from my mission). This man's countenancehas completely changed in the past two months. He is sincerely becominghappier through the gospel of Jesus Christ, and it is so incredible to see.This morning he sent us a text message saying he has no idea how ithappened, but he woke up this morning with just this glorious feeling ["zoheerlijk een gevoel"] that he couldn't put into words of plain happiness,and he wanted to thank us and Heavenly Father. Priesthood blessings areamazing.
We also had a really cool miracle Thursday night. We got a referralfrom the Gouda sisters for a man who'd gotten a Questions of the Soul BoMcard [see Preach My Gospel and the Book of Mormon chapter - it's thosequestions but printed out on a card] from a friend who didn't really want it- Jan Willem found the questions incredibly pertinent and called the Sistersasking where he could get a book of mormon. He's in our area, so we wereable to swing by and give him one. He's a Dutch man in his early 30s or late20s. That morning during studies, we'd both glanced through the questionsand both separately felt prompted to study #9, "Does God hear and answer myprayers?" with a reference to Enos 1. So as we walked through the book withhim, we explained it was scripture - he in turn shared that he'd grown upwith a basic Christian belief, but several years ago had become entirelyexhausted and run down with work, so much so that he had a mental breakdown.Since then he's really been looking (sorry this is vague - I still have ahard time understanding Dutch Dutch people perfectly) and seeking to know ifthere's a God. We showed him the question and read a few verses out of Enos,which he found interesting. The conversation continued, but I felt like weweren't done, so I pointed verses 6 to 8 to him, as Enos hears the voice ofGod telling him his sins are forgiven, and it has happened through his faithin Christ. "Thy faith hath made thee whole." Jan Willem pretty much flippedout at that point - he found the whole spiritual healing thing far tooapplicable to be coincidence. "How did you know to share this with me? Youdidn't know my history and medical problems until tonight?" So we talkedabout the Holy Ghost. He asked if we attended theology school before cominghere, and we explained more of what we do. He said he's not ready to come tochurch yet but he is so excited to read the Book of Mormon, and was sotouched he exchanged e-mails with Zr. Knoelk and gave her a cool trinketfrom Paris (Dutch people are incredibly gift happy - it's awesome!). It wasjust a beautiful moment. And he's fine with us keeping in contact with himas he reads more, so we'll see what happens in the future.
Sunday was an incredible day. There was a special YSAmissionary-focused Sacrament Meeting in Gouda. We went to do a musicalnumber. The first hour was testimony meeting, the second workshops, andduring the last 40 minutes or so President Woodland spoke. The workshopsfilled me with, well, a deeeeep sense of irony. It was pretty hilarious as amissionary to listen to Dutch stake presidents give essentially the samepro-marriage talks and advice I've heard in stakes at home and BYU - but thetalks were really incredible. I love these people so much. Of course it'sall far more applicable for my comp who's going home in 2 weeks, but it waspretty interesting and spiritually uplifting. There's something aboutteaching the importance of eternal families to people that just takes thefun out of mocking the pro-marraige fests that are YSA activities. Thesepeople are so good. I love the Dutch young single adults. The third hour when President Woodland spoke was just incredible. Thereis so much responsibility on this age group as they become leaders. WhenPresident speaks, it just evokes a sense of urgency coupled with eternity,as Zr. Knoelk puts it. And as I sat there, watching him bless these yougnsingle adults with the strength to meet the last days with joy, hope, and adesire to move forward, I was just filled with gratitude. It was incredible.
And so it goes. Rotterdam continues to be beautiful - it seemslike the leaves began changing in September and they're sitll changing -there's nothing like tracting down a street filled with falling maple leavesand watching Dutch grandmas and little children meticulously select theprettiest fall foliage to bring home. Or biking past olibolen stands andsmelling deepfried batter with powdered sugar (they're just like beignets(benyays?) but smaller). Saturday we got to stop by Eunice, a 27 year oldrecent convert from the other ward. Her father passed away quiteunexpectedly almost a year ago, and she's having a rough time coming up onthe anniversary of it. We got to just listen to her talk and talk, and askquestions to keep her going until she felt like she'd talked enough. Andthis is what Zion is, and this is what life is - just serving other peopleout of your sheer love for their goodness and brightness. Lending a handwhen it's needed, and more often simply listening. I never realized how muchlistening I would do as a missionary.
So! I love you all. Keep on keeping on, and do your fabulous thing,whatever it be. This gospel is true. Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ havethe power to change lives and heal souls, and I'm lucky enough to see itaction. Remember prayer.
Love, Zr. Baxter
Things are going well with our investigators. We had a fabulouslesson with Sofi, our Ethiopian single mom, about the Restoration. I thinkit may have finally clicked to her (there's quite the language barrier andshe's quite shy in front of new people, which was the case since we broughtour fabulous RS president along as joint teach). She wants to come to churchagain - it's just a mess with mass transit and her 3 daughters. Buthopefully this Sunday we can get a ride for her from a member, especiallysince Zr. Knoelk is speaking (and pretty much using that as motivation toget anyone and everyone to come to church. I love my comp. "Use everyhonorable means!" - PMG).
Andre, the depressive divorced Surinaamer, is making INCREDIBLEprogress. For those whop have been keeping him in your prayers, THANK YOU!Sunday he received a priesthood blessing after church. We weren't therebecause we had to go to a YSA Missionary Sacrament Meeting in Gouda (more onthat later) but our RS president called and told us it was quite emotional.Later that night we taught him about temple work (which he pretty much hadalready taught himself through flipping through the Gids [kind of like theBible dictionary; can be found in the back of foreign language BoM's] in theback of the BoM and paying close attention at church). It was awesome. Henow has a goal to go to the temple in Salt Lake City when he comes nextOctober for General Conference (so maybe it would be okay if dad retires andmoves to Utah before I come home from my mission). This man's countenancehas completely changed in the past two months. He is sincerely becominghappier through the gospel of Jesus Christ, and it is so incredible to see.This morning he sent us a text message saying he has no idea how ithappened, but he woke up this morning with just this glorious feeling ["zoheerlijk een gevoel"] that he couldn't put into words of plain happiness,and he wanted to thank us and Heavenly Father. Priesthood blessings areamazing.
We also had a really cool miracle Thursday night. We got a referralfrom the Gouda sisters for a man who'd gotten a Questions of the Soul BoMcard [see Preach My Gospel and the Book of Mormon chapter - it's thosequestions but printed out on a card] from a friend who didn't really want it- Jan Willem found the questions incredibly pertinent and called the Sistersasking where he could get a book of mormon. He's in our area, so we wereable to swing by and give him one. He's a Dutch man in his early 30s or late20s. That morning during studies, we'd both glanced through the questionsand both separately felt prompted to study #9, "Does God hear and answer myprayers?" with a reference to Enos 1. So as we walked through the book withhim, we explained it was scripture - he in turn shared that he'd grown upwith a basic Christian belief, but several years ago had become entirelyexhausted and run down with work, so much so that he had a mental breakdown.Since then he's really been looking (sorry this is vague - I still have ahard time understanding Dutch Dutch people perfectly) and seeking to know ifthere's a God. We showed him the question and read a few verses out of Enos,which he found interesting. The conversation continued, but I felt like weweren't done, so I pointed verses 6 to 8 to him, as Enos hears the voice ofGod telling him his sins are forgiven, and it has happened through his faithin Christ. "Thy faith hath made thee whole." Jan Willem pretty much flippedout at that point - he found the whole spiritual healing thing far tooapplicable to be coincidence. "How did you know to share this with me? Youdidn't know my history and medical problems until tonight?" So we talkedabout the Holy Ghost. He asked if we attended theology school before cominghere, and we explained more of what we do. He said he's not ready to come tochurch yet but he is so excited to read the Book of Mormon, and was sotouched he exchanged e-mails with Zr. Knoelk and gave her a cool trinketfrom Paris (Dutch people are incredibly gift happy - it's awesome!). It wasjust a beautiful moment. And he's fine with us keeping in contact with himas he reads more, so we'll see what happens in the future.
Sunday was an incredible day. There was a special YSAmissionary-focused Sacrament Meeting in Gouda. We went to do a musicalnumber. The first hour was testimony meeting, the second workshops, andduring the last 40 minutes or so President Woodland spoke. The workshopsfilled me with, well, a deeeeep sense of irony. It was pretty hilarious as amissionary to listen to Dutch stake presidents give essentially the samepro-marriage talks and advice I've heard in stakes at home and BYU - but thetalks were really incredible. I love these people so much. Of course it'sall far more applicable for my comp who's going home in 2 weeks, but it waspretty interesting and spiritually uplifting. There's something aboutteaching the importance of eternal families to people that just takes thefun out of mocking the pro-marraige fests that are YSA activities. Thesepeople are so good. I love the Dutch young single adults. The third hour when President Woodland spoke was just incredible. Thereis so much responsibility on this age group as they become leaders. WhenPresident speaks, it just evokes a sense of urgency coupled with eternity,as Zr. Knoelk puts it. And as I sat there, watching him bless these yougnsingle adults with the strength to meet the last days with joy, hope, and adesire to move forward, I was just filled with gratitude. It was incredible.
And so it goes. Rotterdam continues to be beautiful - it seemslike the leaves began changing in September and they're sitll changing -there's nothing like tracting down a street filled with falling maple leavesand watching Dutch grandmas and little children meticulously select theprettiest fall foliage to bring home. Or biking past olibolen stands andsmelling deepfried batter with powdered sugar (they're just like beignets(benyays?) but smaller). Saturday we got to stop by Eunice, a 27 year oldrecent convert from the other ward. Her father passed away quiteunexpectedly almost a year ago, and she's having a rough time coming up onthe anniversary of it. We got to just listen to her talk and talk, and askquestions to keep her going until she felt like she'd talked enough. Andthis is what Zion is, and this is what life is - just serving other peopleout of your sheer love for their goodness and brightness. Lending a handwhen it's needed, and more often simply listening. I never realized how muchlistening I would do as a missionary.
So! I love you all. Keep on keeping on, and do your fabulous thing,whatever it be. This gospel is true. Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ havethe power to change lives and heal souls, and I'm lucky enough to see itaction. Remember prayer.
Love, Zr. Baxter
Monday, November 3, 2008
mission dreams coming true...
Hallo familie! And vrienden!
This week has been so many awesome mission dreams coming true. Lastweek we got tracted into by JW's (who were absolutely wonderfully sweet andas of yet I seriously don't understand why so many RMs are so antagonistictowards them - although it does get tiring to be called a JW multiple timesa day) and that was pretty awesome. This week I got to place an Arabic BoMinto the hands of an Iraqi who formerly fought with and translated for theAmerican forces in Iraq until he got injured, and is now living in Rotterdamwith his 3 sons. He's basically an elapsed Muslim who sees good in allreligions, but was definitely willing to read the BoM. So good! And he toldus he'd come to church before we even invited him. So that was pretty muchamazing. Pray with Riam!
And later that night my second mission dream came true - I got to eatAfrican food with my fingers! Wahoo! We headed over to Danny, a recentconvert from Cote D'Ivoire, who speaks French and a little Dutch. He made usthe most amazing couscous with fish and spicy vegetable sauce. Um, I lovebeing a missionary. =)
I also got to go frolick in a Dutch knitting store this week. We'dbeen talking for weeks of teaching Monik how to knit so she'd have somethingto keep her hands busy besides smoking, and last week Irene (a recentconvert) pointed out a knitting store to us. So we picked up some gorgeousyarn and needles and got Monik started on a scarf - she's a natural at it,but said it gave her a headache after too long. But it was really fun! Inever thought I would use that random talent as a missionary.
We also got to see Halloween celebrated in the Netherlands. There area few American women (or Dutch women who've lived in the US) getting theirneighborhoods involved in trick or treating, but the funniest thing is thatwe saw parades and people out trick or treating on Saturday night...November 1st... so I guess they Dutchified it and made it a two day event,just like their Christmas and Easter!
As far as actual missionary work goes, things are FABULOUS here!We're so busy... we don't really have much time to stop and eat... Let'sjust say my mission is totally not like The Best Two Years. At all. Andre isdoing fabulous, and Saturday we showed him the Restoration DVD with twowomen from the church there. After the DVD they began getting to know himbetter, and it ended up being more like a group therapy session thananything, with Andre spilling his life story, Zr. de Grote her conversionstory, and the two 22 year old American girls looking on in bemusement. Itwas so so so good for this lonely man to be able to express (to people withmore life experience than us) how it feels to be abandoned by his family (hewas orphaned at 14 with 8 younger siblings and no social welfare system inSuriname, then his wife left him 12 years ago) and then discover a newfamily at church. That was an awesome awesome miracle. It's also amazingseeing how these new converts are taking care of each other. Sunday afterchurch, Sharlon came up to me saying Irene told him about Andre's situation,and saying he (Sharlon) would be sure to get to know him more at church andmade sure he got more attention. I love these people.!!!
We had a fabulous first lesson withShehera, a Surinaams mom with two kids. She's been searching for the rightchurch for a long time and just loved the Joseph Smith story. She got sickand couldn't make it to church, but totally accepted a soft baptisimalcommitment. I'm so excited to go back and teach her.
Alisa asked about the Kastijn's (sounds like cost-stines) - we keep onhaving scheduling problems but we're due to finally go back and teach themWednesday night, so that will be fabulous. I have a really, really goodfeeling about that family. Sherryl is still MIA after her dad in Suriname getting sick - pleasecontinue to pray for her. She is the most ridiculously prepared woman I'veever met. Knowing her, she's probably met the missionaries in Suriname andhas a baptisimal date there.
In other awesome miracles, we got Sofi and her three (veryhyperactive) girls to church!!! Sofi is our Ethopian investigator with a bitof a language barrier problem. She told us months ago that she could nevermake it to church with all her girls, so this was quite a miracle - and nowI see why. Between the three of us vs. her three girls, navigating one busand one metro line, it was still absolute madness getting them there - butthey LOVED it. Sofi said if she had a car she'd come every Sunday. Wahoo!Even cooler, in Sacrament Meeting, her 4 year old Heeuwan saw a painting ofthe First Vision in the chapel and asked me if it was Joseph Smith. So good!Even if things don't work out with their mom because of the languagebarrier, I know these girls will meet sister missionaries again.
I just absolutely love being a missionary in Europe. It'sgetting cold, but that just means awesome delicious Christmas food, sowhatev's. =) Saturday we went with Irene to a gorgeous private maintainedpark in East Rotterdam. We biked through gorgeous older houses (most of theolder beautiful architecture in R'Dam was bombed out during the war, so thiswas quite the treat) and got to wander around a beautiful Dutch Park in thefall, talking about the gospel. I love what I do.
It's still hilarious and wonderful being Zr. Knoelk's companion.She's so delightfully out of the political scene because she's been here thelast 16 months - as she was asking me about the presidential election (whichI really don't know that much about) on our bike ride home, the quote of theevening was - "Oh, Obama's black?" I love my comp. Her family is alsorabidly repuclican and I was amused to see in the e-mail from her mom thesentiment that if the democrats win, our nation is going in Satan'sdirection, and the government truly will hang by a thread. That should makeAlisa happy! ;) But Zr. Knoelk's pretty happily ambivalent about it all -who cares about politics when you get to share the gospel with the coolestcountry ever?
Life is good, I love you all, and I'm so happy to be here. Some ofyou (namely Mom and Erica and Alisa) have questioned if I really am as happyas I sound - the answer is, on preparation days, absolutely! The rest of theweek - pretty much! There are indeed hard days, but they're much fewer andfar between than I thought they'd be. The gospel is true, so not much elsereally matters. Have a fabulous week, and know that Heavenly Father reallydoes hear and answer prayers!
Liefs,
Zr. Baxter
This week has been so many awesome mission dreams coming true. Lastweek we got tracted into by JW's (who were absolutely wonderfully sweet andas of yet I seriously don't understand why so many RMs are so antagonistictowards them - although it does get tiring to be called a JW multiple timesa day) and that was pretty awesome. This week I got to place an Arabic BoMinto the hands of an Iraqi who formerly fought with and translated for theAmerican forces in Iraq until he got injured, and is now living in Rotterdamwith his 3 sons. He's basically an elapsed Muslim who sees good in allreligions, but was definitely willing to read the BoM. So good! And he toldus he'd come to church before we even invited him. So that was pretty muchamazing. Pray with Riam!
And later that night my second mission dream came true - I got to eatAfrican food with my fingers! Wahoo! We headed over to Danny, a recentconvert from Cote D'Ivoire, who speaks French and a little Dutch. He made usthe most amazing couscous with fish and spicy vegetable sauce. Um, I lovebeing a missionary. =)
I also got to go frolick in a Dutch knitting store this week. We'dbeen talking for weeks of teaching Monik how to knit so she'd have somethingto keep her hands busy besides smoking, and last week Irene (a recentconvert) pointed out a knitting store to us. So we picked up some gorgeousyarn and needles and got Monik started on a scarf - she's a natural at it,but said it gave her a headache after too long. But it was really fun! Inever thought I would use that random talent as a missionary.
We also got to see Halloween celebrated in the Netherlands. There area few American women (or Dutch women who've lived in the US) getting theirneighborhoods involved in trick or treating, but the funniest thing is thatwe saw parades and people out trick or treating on Saturday night...November 1st... so I guess they Dutchified it and made it a two day event,just like their Christmas and Easter!
As far as actual missionary work goes, things are FABULOUS here!We're so busy... we don't really have much time to stop and eat... Let'sjust say my mission is totally not like The Best Two Years. At all. Andre isdoing fabulous, and Saturday we showed him the Restoration DVD with twowomen from the church there. After the DVD they began getting to know himbetter, and it ended up being more like a group therapy session thananything, with Andre spilling his life story, Zr. de Grote her conversionstory, and the two 22 year old American girls looking on in bemusement. Itwas so so so good for this lonely man to be able to express (to people withmore life experience than us) how it feels to be abandoned by his family (hewas orphaned at 14 with 8 younger siblings and no social welfare system inSuriname, then his wife left him 12 years ago) and then discover a newfamily at church. That was an awesome awesome miracle. It's also amazingseeing how these new converts are taking care of each other. Sunday afterchurch, Sharlon came up to me saying Irene told him about Andre's situation,and saying he (Sharlon) would be sure to get to know him more at church andmade sure he got more attention. I love these people.!!!
We had a fabulous first lesson withShehera, a Surinaams mom with two kids. She's been searching for the rightchurch for a long time and just loved the Joseph Smith story. She got sickand couldn't make it to church, but totally accepted a soft baptisimalcommitment. I'm so excited to go back and teach her.
Alisa asked about the Kastijn's (sounds like cost-stines) - we keep onhaving scheduling problems but we're due to finally go back and teach themWednesday night, so that will be fabulous. I have a really, really goodfeeling about that family. Sherryl is still MIA after her dad in Suriname getting sick - pleasecontinue to pray for her. She is the most ridiculously prepared woman I'veever met. Knowing her, she's probably met the missionaries in Suriname andhas a baptisimal date there.
In other awesome miracles, we got Sofi and her three (veryhyperactive) girls to church!!! Sofi is our Ethopian investigator with a bitof a language barrier problem. She told us months ago that she could nevermake it to church with all her girls, so this was quite a miracle - and nowI see why. Between the three of us vs. her three girls, navigating one busand one metro line, it was still absolute madness getting them there - butthey LOVED it. Sofi said if she had a car she'd come every Sunday. Wahoo!Even cooler, in Sacrament Meeting, her 4 year old Heeuwan saw a painting ofthe First Vision in the chapel and asked me if it was Joseph Smith. So good!Even if things don't work out with their mom because of the languagebarrier, I know these girls will meet sister missionaries again.
I just absolutely love being a missionary in Europe. It'sgetting cold, but that just means awesome delicious Christmas food, sowhatev's. =) Saturday we went with Irene to a gorgeous private maintainedpark in East Rotterdam. We biked through gorgeous older houses (most of theolder beautiful architecture in R'Dam was bombed out during the war, so thiswas quite the treat) and got to wander around a beautiful Dutch Park in thefall, talking about the gospel. I love what I do.
It's still hilarious and wonderful being Zr. Knoelk's companion.She's so delightfully out of the political scene because she's been here thelast 16 months - as she was asking me about the presidential election (whichI really don't know that much about) on our bike ride home, the quote of theevening was - "Oh, Obama's black?" I love my comp. Her family is alsorabidly repuclican and I was amused to see in the e-mail from her mom thesentiment that if the democrats win, our nation is going in Satan'sdirection, and the government truly will hang by a thread. That should makeAlisa happy! ;) But Zr. Knoelk's pretty happily ambivalent about it all -who cares about politics when you get to share the gospel with the coolestcountry ever?
Life is good, I love you all, and I'm so happy to be here. Some ofyou (namely Mom and Erica and Alisa) have questioned if I really am as happyas I sound - the answer is, on preparation days, absolutely! The rest of theweek - pretty much! There are indeed hard days, but they're much fewer andfar between than I thought they'd be. The gospel is true, so not much elsereally matters. Have a fabulous week, and know that Heavenly Father reallydoes hear and answer prayers!
Liefs,
Zr. Baxter
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