Beste Familie and Vrienden,

Hoi van Gouda! For the surprising number of those of you who'veasked, yes, I now work in the town the cheese is named for. Thoughapparently they no longer actually make it in city limits, but insurrounding villages and dairies. =)

So it's been a pretty intense week. We've some really wonderfulmiracles in Ilse, the divorced mom of two. We went back Tuesday and taughther more of the plan of salvation, which raised a lot of her questions aboutChrist. She's had some beautiful experiences with God, but also has a lot ofquestions she hasn't been able to solve in a church (like about the trinityand child baptism). At one point she asked us how you can really know ifyou've chosen Christ 100%. At which point my companion taught her aboutbaptism from 3 Nephi 27 and asked her if she would prepare to be baptised ifshe comes to feel these things are true. So she thought about it for amoment, began to nod her head, and then her 10 year old Manouk went offabout something or other. =) But she really wanted to meet a convert to thechurch, someone who's made this adjustment before. So Saturday we broughtthe Brink's, a couple who converted 9 years ago. It was a really cool lesson- she's very skeptical and has a looot of questions, but once we explainedthe Restoration, she began to really make a lot of connections. Do you knowhow incredible it is when you tell someone that the truth and goodness ofthe Book of Mormon is evidence that Joseph Smith was a prophet, and theyactually get that connection? It's AMAZING! Anyway. =) Her kids totally wantto come to church (It's hilarious how much they want to, actually) and shereally admires and loves us and the Spirit we bring ("I didn't let you inthe door for nothing," she said) but has also had some very bad experienceswith organized religion and wants to take the time to really read more ofthe Book of Mormon (she read what we suggested for her! Again, do you knowhow wonderful that is? =) ) and ponder and pray. So we don't have a returnappointment, but we'll call and invite her to church and go from her. Ilseis so sincere that I can't believe that she won't get baptised someday.Incredible.

We also had a really cool experience with the Brinks. Their oldest twokids are inactive and their youngest, a 15 year old piano proficient namedKiefer, recently saw a program on TV about evolution and decided not tobelieve in God (I really am so baffled at why people see science and God asmutually contradicting - it is such a depressingly prevalent attitude herein Nederland). So the mom invited us over for dinner to see if we couldhelp. We were early on accident, but Kiefer's best friend Dolph was alsothere, so it was perfect to chat with them about Europe and America, musicand film and culture, and actually get to be real people for them. PlusKiefer loves playing the theme to Amelie, my favorite movie ever (!!!) so wehad a great time listening to him and talking about music a bit. They aresuch delightfully geeky, polite, well-mannered and funny kids. After dinnerwe taught them the Restoration, and invited the family to fast with us for areconfirmation of the truth of the gospel. After we asked, there was totallysilence until Dolph (the non-member friend from an atheistic family) said,"Well, that seems cool! I'd like to try it!"Hilarious! So we gave him a Bookof Mormon, and he began reading off the Questions of the Soul card(questions answered in the Book of Mormon) - " 'Hrm, is there a God?'Wouldn't we all like to know! 'Is there life after death?' I sure hope so!"I think poor Kiefer was totally weirded out that his friend was interestedin that crazy faith his parents have. It was such a cool miracle. I hopethat as Dolph learns more about the church he can help Kiefer see it withfresh eyes.

On the more random side of proselyting, we went back to a man wefound last week who loves church music and was a huge fan of the children'shymns we sang for him. We brought him a hymn book and sang a couple withhim, O My Father and Joseph Smith's First Prayer. That man sight read thosehymns on organ like he'd known them for years and between verses churned outcadences and accompaniments and interludes like nobody's business. It wasamazing! Unfortunately he wasn't too keen on learning about Joseph Smith...We did our best, and he's certainly welcome to us visiting if we're ever inthe area, but very much a fan of his own church right now.

And no one came to church yesterday except... Joris! (The recordgeek / pot smoker we found tracting) It was absolutely hilarious. He wascrazy about the hymns as well, and began sightreading them before theSacrament Meeting started so he could sing along (the reverence of our wardisn't so great so I don't think anyone noticed over the lovely cacaphony ofseveral Dutch children and families in a very tiny chapel). We have anotherappointment with him on Friday - I'm thinking we''ll just sing our way hymnstyle through a 1st lesson with him. And although that idea began as a joke,I think it would actually be more effective with him than a normaldiscussion. ;)

Elon is totally not keeping his commitments and being lame, butLisette is back on track and coming to a dinner appointment with members onTuesday. Overall, the work goes forth. Hopefully you enjoy these anecdotesof the crazy wonderful people I get to know. My Dutch is now actually goodenough that I can comfortable make small talk with ward members, which Ilove. And I love you people. Thanks for all your letters and support (NickSlay - your letter was easily the most unexpected of my mission! Thanks forthe thought!). Have a wonderful week, and know that I know that HeavenlyFather answers our prayers.

Liefs,
zr. Baxter