We had such a cool week! We finally got to met with some cool contacts and
make investigators out of them. One, M. Bastiaan, is an old, old Dutch man
who is okay with us teaching him more about Christ. His house is covered
with trophies and pictures of his agricultural achievements. Hilarious. He's
a cool man.
On Wednesday we met with Jeroen, an amazing Dutch guy in his 30's who
lived in the states for a year as a teen and whom my bold companion Zr.
Erickson boldly approached on a bridge while he was drinking a beer and
admiring the sunset. He really admires that we just live our faith and live
to share it. He's always been believing; he remembers as a child biking past
churches and just always having his head in the clouds, feeling that there
was a God. Amazing. He'd done his research - he knew about temple baptism,
that we've no set clergy, a little bit about Joseph Smith, and a few other
random things. He's never found a church he's settled into but he's been to
maaaaaany in his life. We shared the Joseph Smith story and gave him a Book
of Mormon. He's super Dutch so we won't see him till he's had time to read
and ponder (2 weeks.... sigh) but he's such an amazing person. I'm excited
to teach him more.
We also got to meet with Nanda, one of the coolest people of my whole
mission. She's a 54 year old Brazilian married to a Dutch man. She plays
harp, reads voraciously (she'd read through Alma 50 since January when the
elders gave her a copy), and designs and makes kimonos. She just loves what
we do as missionaries and is super super super social and chatty - makes
teaching a little tricky, but she's such a beautiful soul. She was raised in
a Protestant faith in Brazil. God is truly everything for her, and she's
open to the Book fo Mormon, so we'll see what happens!
At interviews with President Brubaker, we had a marvelous time. I
stinking love the Brubakers. We talked a lot as a Zone about where are
desires are in missionary work. I was translating most of the time for
Susannah, an amazing Dutch girl who actually will be serving in this, her
home mission, come September. Her english is okay but not so great,
especially for Church stuff, so I probably missed some stuff in translating
but it was so fun to just be with missionaries. We also brought out Ghana
dresses and changed into them for a couple minutes right before we all left
to show some elders. Sister Brubaker found them hilarious. I think President
Brubaker would have, had the weight of his calling not constrained him to
ask Sister Erickson where she found that and had she actually paid for it?
Apparently the Virgin Mary print was found less than edifying. ;) "I think
we might need to have another interview," he joked. Good times.
Church was so good. Zr Erickson and I both gave talks, and Sairah (a
less active) came for the second time in a row, and so did Roda, a recent
convert who's been struggling lately. It's SO rewarding to see people you're
working with actually coming. Wahoo!
Things are good overall. We had the most amazing street contact with an
agnostic Dutch young mom who said of course we could come over and talk to
her more about God's plan so she can decide if she wants to believe in that
or not. I love missionary work. So much!
And I love you all. Thanks for your support and love. I'm not sure
how much longer this blog thing will last. Soon enough you will all be able
to see me or call anyway. But I thank you for your support and prayers. I
love this gospel with all my heart. Oh! one more thing!!! Irene from
Rotterdam is going to the temple on October 3 to recieve her endowment and I
get to go with her!!!!!!!!!! I am SO excited! It'll be my last time in the
temple in Nederland. What a blessing. I love you all!
Liefs,
Zuster Christa Lou Baxter
Monday, August 31, 2009
Monday, August 17, 2009
Zwolle continues to be a great place. We had some major successes
meeting inactive women this week. It's a good time for Zwolle to have
sisters. [now don't interpret this wrong - I do not think Elders or Sisters
are better than the other - there are just definitely some shy women in the
church who are more open to sisters. And anders om (the other way around) as
well - some women love elders and couldn't care less for sisters!] So
that's been cool.
On Thursday we had the first full mission conference (with the French
and Dutch side) I've ever experienced. Elder Nelson came. So we got to hear
from him, his wife, the Europe West Area President (Elder Kopischke), and a
Dutch couple whose calling I forget but who are great. It was fun seeing
Soeur Thrasher, the French sister I flew with, as well as old district
members and friends from the Dutch side. It was really fun seeing Zuster
Fowler and Zuster Robbins. The Spirit there was incredible and just helped
me a lot to remember why I'm here and what the possibilities are. I really
like missionary work. It's going to be fun to go tracting with sister
missionaries stateside without a tag... =)
Meske still wants to be baptised. We don't know how that's gonna go down
with the wheel chair situation - it makes it hard for him to come to church.
But a member tapes sacrament meeting and brings it to him. We'll see what
our leaders advise! but it's always cool to teach people who have sincere
desires to change.
We also met the coolest recent converts ever, Familie Knarren. They got
baptised in England while he was there for chiropractice school. They have
the most beautiful 9 month old boy named Hyrum. And.... next Saturday
they're having dinner with us and a friend with whom Zr K wants to share the
gospel. amazing! I love Zwolle.
On the train to Elder Nelson's conference in Rotterdam, I met the coolest
Vietnamese girl who studies in France and and was here in vacation. She was
pleased to practice English and had actually met Elders in France before -
she said she liked going to Christian churches, altho she was buddhist, and
would love to practice her English with american elders. I love the gospel
and I love talking to people on trains. Also, apparently if I ever go to
vietnam, I have an instant travel guide. =) You show people love and it
comes back.
We also had a cool lesson with Roda, a recent convert, and her sister
was over... so hopefully we can start teaching her sister too.
I really can't explain what's happening at this point in my mission. I
absolutely love what I'm doing but I know it's totally boring to you people
at home. Suffice it to say I am thankful for the things I know, and sharing
that joy with others is pretty much what I want to do for the rest of my
life. I love you all. Thank you all for your letters and support. I was so
excited to get the last letter from Abram Skidmore from Korea that I'll get
- another friend home from the mission. And Briana, I got your letter and
head band and I LOVE IT and am currently wearing it and it's awesome. I also
heard Jul Lamb had a baby girl!!! And I don't know if she ever got my letter
back in December / January when she first learned she was pregnant, so if
someone could find her address for me, that'd rock. Thank you all for your
love and support.
Veel liefs,
Zuster Christa Baxter
meeting inactive women this week. It's a good time for Zwolle to have
sisters. [now don't interpret this wrong - I do not think Elders or Sisters
are better than the other - there are just definitely some shy women in the
church who are more open to sisters. And anders om (the other way around) as
well - some women love elders and couldn't care less for sisters!] So
that's been cool.
On Thursday we had the first full mission conference (with the French
and Dutch side) I've ever experienced. Elder Nelson came. So we got to hear
from him, his wife, the Europe West Area President (Elder Kopischke), and a
Dutch couple whose calling I forget but who are great. It was fun seeing
Soeur Thrasher, the French sister I flew with, as well as old district
members and friends from the Dutch side. It was really fun seeing Zuster
Fowler and Zuster Robbins. The Spirit there was incredible and just helped
me a lot to remember why I'm here and what the possibilities are. I really
like missionary work. It's going to be fun to go tracting with sister
missionaries stateside without a tag... =)
Meske still wants to be baptised. We don't know how that's gonna go down
with the wheel chair situation - it makes it hard for him to come to church.
But a member tapes sacrament meeting and brings it to him. We'll see what
our leaders advise! but it's always cool to teach people who have sincere
desires to change.
We also met the coolest recent converts ever, Familie Knarren. They got
baptised in England while he was there for chiropractice school. They have
the most beautiful 9 month old boy named Hyrum. And.... next Saturday
they're having dinner with us and a friend with whom Zr K wants to share the
gospel. amazing! I love Zwolle.
On the train to Elder Nelson's conference in Rotterdam, I met the coolest
Vietnamese girl who studies in France and and was here in vacation. She was
pleased to practice English and had actually met Elders in France before -
she said she liked going to Christian churches, altho she was buddhist, and
would love to practice her English with american elders. I love the gospel
and I love talking to people on trains. Also, apparently if I ever go to
vietnam, I have an instant travel guide. =) You show people love and it
comes back.
We also had a cool lesson with Roda, a recent convert, and her sister
was over... so hopefully we can start teaching her sister too.
I really can't explain what's happening at this point in my mission. I
absolutely love what I'm doing but I know it's totally boring to you people
at home. Suffice it to say I am thankful for the things I know, and sharing
that joy with others is pretty much what I want to do for the rest of my
life. I love you all. Thank you all for your letters and support. I was so
excited to get the last letter from Abram Skidmore from Korea that I'll get
- another friend home from the mission. And Briana, I got your letter and
head band and I LOVE IT and am currently wearing it and it's awesome. I also
heard Jul Lamb had a baby girl!!! And I don't know if she ever got my letter
back in December / January when she first learned she was pregnant, so if
someone could find her address for me, that'd rock. Thank you all for your
love and support.
Veel liefs,
Zuster Christa Baxter
Monday, August 10, 2009
Happy Sunday
Hallo! So now I'm no longer hailing from Haarlem... as of Wednesday, Zwolle,
a tiny town north of Apeldoorn (which is north of Den Haag.... or the
Hague.... the basically in north Holland), is my new area. It's just a
smidgeon smaller than Haarlem. I was pretty heartbroken to leave Haarlem,
but it would've been pushing it to stay till the end (that'd be 9 months
straight). Saying goodbye to Azelea and Ade and Catherine was hard, but they
are so excited to see Elder Nelson this Thursday speak in Rotterdam, and
seeing how Ade especially has come to love the Book of Mormon and Joseph
Smith was a wonderful note to leave on. She knows where the LDS church is in
her town in Ethiopia and said she's definitely going to look it up when she
goes home at the beginning of September. !!! I love those people SO MUCH.
It was also kind of a bummer leavign Emerlien and Tom, two of the
coolest member referrals ever. They'd read Alma 40-42 and had questions
about what happens to people who die without accepting Christ. Since they've
been to the Den Haag temple open house and LOVED it, we very tentatively got
into Plan of Salvation and Temple Work stuff. It was SO COOL! As they read
about the celestial kindgom and related it to the celestial room, it was
amazing to see how much of an impact the Spirit of the temple had had on
them. Tom especially said he felt like he was home, and felt such a peace
there, so much like how he imagined heaven would be like, so much like the
presence of God was there. Well.... =) They'll get there. They only meet
with us once every 2 weeks, but it'll come! When I told them that was the
last time I'd see them, they were very kindly disappointed - Tom asked if he
could give me a hug goodbye. If I weren't a zuster missionary! =) They are
two of the kindest, nicest, best people I've ever met on my mission.
Zwolle is pretty cool. I'm now serving with Zr Erickson, one of my
favorite people ever! She's on her 7th transfer and trained twice in a row
like me so I thought we'd never be comps. But we are and it's great! We've
also got Zr Hamblin with us, a wonderful person from Roosevelt Utah on her
2nd transfer. Last transfer Zr Erickson trained Zr Hamblin and whitewashed
this area, so it's been pretty crazy starting over in a lot of ways. But the
members are incredible. Ironically enough there are several families in the
branch with an infertility history and adopted or foster children - I do not
find that coincidental and am so excited to get to know these people better
and learn more about their stories. I can't really explain it but I already
feel like I've been here a long time - I know the branch presidents brothers
from other areas I've worked and other friends of other members. Even in the
city there've been small moments of deja vu. I don't know what's in store
but I'm excited.
We've taught some cool people this week, including Meske, a perpetual
investigator of more than 3 years. We watched the Restoration DVD and out of
the blue he said he's taken James advice to heart, and keeps on coming abck
to this church as he studies it out, and wants to get baptised. That's a
little tricky since he's in a wheelchair, and the church building isn't
realy designed for handicaps, and so he doesn't come to church very often.
So we'll see what happens!
I love you all. Thanks for your support and letters. If you want my
mailing address, e-mail my gmail and my mom will get it to you. Have a great
week!
Liefs,
Zuster Christa Baxter
a tiny town north of Apeldoorn (which is north of Den Haag.... or the
Hague.... the basically in north Holland), is my new area. It's just a
smidgeon smaller than Haarlem. I was pretty heartbroken to leave Haarlem,
but it would've been pushing it to stay till the end (that'd be 9 months
straight). Saying goodbye to Azelea and Ade and Catherine was hard, but they
are so excited to see Elder Nelson this Thursday speak in Rotterdam, and
seeing how Ade especially has come to love the Book of Mormon and Joseph
Smith was a wonderful note to leave on. She knows where the LDS church is in
her town in Ethiopia and said she's definitely going to look it up when she
goes home at the beginning of September. !!! I love those people SO MUCH.
It was also kind of a bummer leavign Emerlien and Tom, two of the
coolest member referrals ever. They'd read Alma 40-42 and had questions
about what happens to people who die without accepting Christ. Since they've
been to the Den Haag temple open house and LOVED it, we very tentatively got
into Plan of Salvation and Temple Work stuff. It was SO COOL! As they read
about the celestial kindgom and related it to the celestial room, it was
amazing to see how much of an impact the Spirit of the temple had had on
them. Tom especially said he felt like he was home, and felt such a peace
there, so much like how he imagined heaven would be like, so much like the
presence of God was there. Well.... =) They'll get there. They only meet
with us once every 2 weeks, but it'll come! When I told them that was the
last time I'd see them, they were very kindly disappointed - Tom asked if he
could give me a hug goodbye. If I weren't a zuster missionary! =) They are
two of the kindest, nicest, best people I've ever met on my mission.
Zwolle is pretty cool. I'm now serving with Zr Erickson, one of my
favorite people ever! She's on her 7th transfer and trained twice in a row
like me so I thought we'd never be comps. But we are and it's great! We've
also got Zr Hamblin with us, a wonderful person from Roosevelt Utah on her
2nd transfer. Last transfer Zr Erickson trained Zr Hamblin and whitewashed
this area, so it's been pretty crazy starting over in a lot of ways. But the
members are incredible. Ironically enough there are several families in the
branch with an infertility history and adopted or foster children - I do not
find that coincidental and am so excited to get to know these people better
and learn more about their stories. I can't really explain it but I already
feel like I've been here a long time - I know the branch presidents brothers
from other areas I've worked and other friends of other members. Even in the
city there've been small moments of deja vu. I don't know what's in store
but I'm excited.
We've taught some cool people this week, including Meske, a perpetual
investigator of more than 3 years. We watched the Restoration DVD and out of
the blue he said he's taken James advice to heart, and keeps on coming abck
to this church as he studies it out, and wants to get baptised. That's a
little tricky since he's in a wheelchair, and the church building isn't
realy designed for handicaps, and so he doesn't come to church very often.
So we'll see what happens!
I love you all. Thanks for your support and letters. If you want my
mailing address, e-mail my gmail and my mom will get it to you. Have a great
week!
Liefs,
Zuster Christa Baxter
Sunday, August 2, 2009
So on Tuesday we had a crazy cool day. We met Jean Luc, a 19 year old kid from Rwanda (well, born in Ukraine, and Rwandan parents, and grew up in Holland, and speaks Dutch, French, and English.... typical crazy Dutch uber multinational!) who's converted to Islam but seemed more than satisfied with our answers to the questions he likes to stumps Christians with. He mentioned how he loves the palindromes in the Koran and that triggered my English major reflexes so I gave him Alma 36 to read in the Book of Mormon (wahoo for chiasmus! and middle eastern cultural literary styles!) and he's open to talk more. So tonight he and a friend are coming to the church to learn more about the crazy Mormons. Good times.
We also had a great lesson with Emerlien and Tom, the referrals from our bishop. We brought along Zr Reijnders, a convert of more than 40 years who's just amazing. So that helped a lot. They're open, just very busy. =) Due to my lovely and talented and creative companion's visual aids (life is like a maze, and prophets have a walkie talkie to God so they know the route back to him, and there's a gate in the middle requiring a key of authority... and she'd never seen the crazy cheesy 80s seminary video that is eerily akin to her sketch. I love having different comps with cool strengths!), they seemed to really understand more of what the Restoration is all about. It's coming.
We also stopped by a former investigator of a year ago that our bishop felt like we should look up. She welcomed us in - she's an older Dutch woman named Inneke. She has lost several family members and her partner in the last few years, and as we were discussing why she believes in God ( "And not just 'something' like everybody says!" she retorted.... =) ) she mentioned those coincidences that can't just be coincidental - like Zr Peets and Zr Force stopping by one day and helping her weed her garden. I love hearing people's reactions and impressions of former missionaries in the area. Inneke was really curious about the Book of Mormon when we shared Alma 7, and asked if she could borrow a copy, and could we explain more of what exactly it is we believe? Next Week? Yes maam! So we'll see her on Tuesday.
On Wednesday we had interviews with our new mission president. He is a wonderful, wonderful man, and his wife is just amazing. So it was great getting to know them both better and talking about the work.
Azelea and Ade are doing pretty good. Ade's now gotten hooked on the Book of Mormon as well - "Ether 12 was great! Exactly what we needed about faith, and examples of faith. Do you have another chapter we could read together?" So our visits are pretty much the Book of Mormon book club. Sweet! Azelea still can't come to church because of work. But Elder Nelson is coming to Utrecht in August and they are very curious and want to come to that! So things are good.
We had a CRAZY miracle this week. Tuesday we got a call from an unknown number that left no message, so I called back only to have a very awkward conversation with a very unenthusiastic young man speaking english who wanted to know more about what we share about Christ. When I asked when we'd talked to him and tried to explain I couldn't remember him by just his name b/c we talk to so many people, he seemed slightly weirded out, but then he still wanted to just make an appointment and be done with it. A few minutes later he texted to say, "Sorry I sounded so weird on the phone. My neighbors can hear me and I can hear them so I don't feel very comfortable talking. But I've just been sad and empty feeling lately and want to have more of Jesus Christ in my life so I can finalyl get some peace of mind. Can we just meet at your church where I'd feel more comfortable?" So we met him on Thursday night, waiting inf ront of the church building with Tirza, our joint teach, having no idea who would show up... And then we see Daniel, a guy from Sweden in his 20s we'd met more almost 3 weeks ago. We knocked on his door and had not the most spectacular contact ever and just gave him a card with our number... and that's how he called us. I was so surprised that it was him. You really never know. He's a crazy story - half Jordanian, half Italian, raised in Sweden (speaks Swedish and a little Arabic and really good English, but no Dutch) - raised Muslim but later converted to Christianity as a yougn adult because of the peace and happiness he saw in so many Christians - moved to Holland for work but will probably be moving back to Stockholm soon. He just wants to know more about Jesus Christ and have peace in his life again. He's super shy - didn't want to come to church, almost didn't come to out appointment - but he recognizes the Spirit, and is willing to meet with us. Honestly if he moved back to Sweden it'd be better for him because then he could get to know church members and missionaries who speak the same language he does - but I'm not complaining. You never ever ever know who's needing the gospel. "It's really weird - I mean, people have knocked on my door before. But lately I'd just been thinking about finding a church, and getting more involved, and then you come on my door... I mean, do you believe in coincidences?" No. =)
On Friday my comp had to go to Brussels for legality, but there were other sisters who also had to go, so I ended up working with their comps in Den Haag. So I got to work with my lovely Zr. Fowler again and with Zr Bennet, who I knew at BYU and have always wanted to work with. We find otu about transfers next Mondat and apparently everyone thinks I'm going to Den Haag. I'm not too worried about it - I'd be happy staying and happy going, and I know whatever the Lord decides will be best. But it'd be cool to work in a city one more time. And it would be amazing to work with Zr. Bennet! We had a great day and lots of cool appointments.
At interviews President Brubaker asked me if Haarlem would be a good city for a mini-missionary.... so as of Sunday, we are now working with the lovely Zr Poulaert, a 16 year old from Spijkinesse (a southern suburb of Rotterdam). She's hilarious, VERY spunky, and not at all afraid to share her testimony. The past 24 hours have been very, very fun. And she's amazing for our Dutch. She'll be with us for 2 weeks!
Magalie did decide to go on vacation for two months, so we'll miss her, but hopefully be able to help her more when she comes home... And soon a few other people will be coming back from vacation that we can teach more. So the work goes on! I love you all and miss you but I'm happy here and I love Haarlem. Have a great week!
Veel leifs,
Zr Christa Baxter
We also had a great lesson with Emerlien and Tom, the referrals from our bishop. We brought along Zr Reijnders, a convert of more than 40 years who's just amazing. So that helped a lot. They're open, just very busy. =) Due to my lovely and talented and creative companion's visual aids (life is like a maze, and prophets have a walkie talkie to God so they know the route back to him, and there's a gate in the middle requiring a key of authority... and she'd never seen the crazy cheesy 80s seminary video that is eerily akin to her sketch. I love having different comps with cool strengths!), they seemed to really understand more of what the Restoration is all about. It's coming.
We also stopped by a former investigator of a year ago that our bishop felt like we should look up. She welcomed us in - she's an older Dutch woman named Inneke. She has lost several family members and her partner in the last few years, and as we were discussing why she believes in God ( "And not just 'something' like everybody says!" she retorted.... =) ) she mentioned those coincidences that can't just be coincidental - like Zr Peets and Zr Force stopping by one day and helping her weed her garden. I love hearing people's reactions and impressions of former missionaries in the area. Inneke was really curious about the Book of Mormon when we shared Alma 7, and asked if she could borrow a copy, and could we explain more of what exactly it is we believe? Next Week? Yes maam! So we'll see her on Tuesday.
On Wednesday we had interviews with our new mission president. He is a wonderful, wonderful man, and his wife is just amazing. So it was great getting to know them both better and talking about the work.
Azelea and Ade are doing pretty good. Ade's now gotten hooked on the Book of Mormon as well - "Ether 12 was great! Exactly what we needed about faith, and examples of faith. Do you have another chapter we could read together?" So our visits are pretty much the Book of Mormon book club. Sweet! Azelea still can't come to church because of work. But Elder Nelson is coming to Utrecht in August and they are very curious and want to come to that! So things are good.
We had a CRAZY miracle this week. Tuesday we got a call from an unknown number that left no message, so I called back only to have a very awkward conversation with a very unenthusiastic young man speaking english who wanted to know more about what we share about Christ. When I asked when we'd talked to him and tried to explain I couldn't remember him by just his name b/c we talk to so many people, he seemed slightly weirded out, but then he still wanted to just make an appointment and be done with it. A few minutes later he texted to say, "Sorry I sounded so weird on the phone. My neighbors can hear me and I can hear them so I don't feel very comfortable talking. But I've just been sad and empty feeling lately and want to have more of Jesus Christ in my life so I can finalyl get some peace of mind. Can we just meet at your church where I'd feel more comfortable?" So we met him on Thursday night, waiting inf ront of the church building with Tirza, our joint teach, having no idea who would show up... And then we see Daniel, a guy from Sweden in his 20s we'd met more almost 3 weeks ago. We knocked on his door and had not the most spectacular contact ever and just gave him a card with our number... and that's how he called us. I was so surprised that it was him. You really never know. He's a crazy story - half Jordanian, half Italian, raised in Sweden (speaks Swedish and a little Arabic and really good English, but no Dutch) - raised Muslim but later converted to Christianity as a yougn adult because of the peace and happiness he saw in so many Christians - moved to Holland for work but will probably be moving back to Stockholm soon. He just wants to know more about Jesus Christ and have peace in his life again. He's super shy - didn't want to come to church, almost didn't come to out appointment - but he recognizes the Spirit, and is willing to meet with us. Honestly if he moved back to Sweden it'd be better for him because then he could get to know church members and missionaries who speak the same language he does - but I'm not complaining. You never ever ever know who's needing the gospel. "It's really weird - I mean, people have knocked on my door before. But lately I'd just been thinking about finding a church, and getting more involved, and then you come on my door... I mean, do you believe in coincidences?" No. =)
On Friday my comp had to go to Brussels for legality, but there were other sisters who also had to go, so I ended up working with their comps in Den Haag. So I got to work with my lovely Zr. Fowler again and with Zr Bennet, who I knew at BYU and have always wanted to work with. We find otu about transfers next Mondat and apparently everyone thinks I'm going to Den Haag. I'm not too worried about it - I'd be happy staying and happy going, and I know whatever the Lord decides will be best. But it'd be cool to work in a city one more time. And it would be amazing to work with Zr. Bennet! We had a great day and lots of cool appointments.
At interviews President Brubaker asked me if Haarlem would be a good city for a mini-missionary.... so as of Sunday, we are now working with the lovely Zr Poulaert, a 16 year old from Spijkinesse (a southern suburb of Rotterdam). She's hilarious, VERY spunky, and not at all afraid to share her testimony. The past 24 hours have been very, very fun. And she's amazing for our Dutch. She'll be with us for 2 weeks!
Magalie did decide to go on vacation for two months, so we'll miss her, but hopefully be able to help her more when she comes home... And soon a few other people will be coming back from vacation that we can teach more. So the work goes on! I love you all and miss you but I'm happy here and I love Haarlem. Have a great week!
Veel leifs,
Zr Christa Baxter
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