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