A stranger in a strange land

22/08/2015

What a crazy week. We lost 5 and gained 24 missionaries this week. And with the exception of about 4 or 5, every companionship changed. And it became a little clearer who my next (and last) companions might be. But more on that in about three weeks, probably.

We started the week with a review of the week's plan and the various assignments and details. Once again, we are at the Golden Tulip, for my 4th time (After February, October, and December 2014). Beside the meeting, I started on travel plans, which were not too terribly complicated, except for the fact that I had to get 24 trainers to the Golden Tulip by 9 and then figure out how their companions would not have to come. Once again, I was busy all day with various projects that President Bunnell had for me.

The next morning, we dropped by the office before heading to Schiphol to meet up with the President and Sister Bunnell. Since it was such a big group, we had to split it and take one half to the government building in Hoofddorp for biometrics and the rest to Rijswijk, so one of my companions did that while the rest went to the Golden Tulip and I rode with the baggage in a bigger van driven by a member. Things were a bit crazy for a few hours, but then it got back to normal and by dinnertime, everyone had been interviewed and followed all the necessary orientations.

Wednesday, transfer day. We once again have elders in Leiden, and finally they are normal elders, as opposed to singing elders. So I would imagine that things will start picking up again in Leiden. Both of them (one is a greenie and the other will go home in November) seem to be good missionaries and ready to build up this city again. Everything went well with the transfers as well as the training of the new missionaries and their trainers. President Bunnell changed a few things, but nothing major (not that I have ever trained, haha). After lunch, the greenies headed for the city hall for legality work. Meanwhile, the departing missionaries arrived and weighed their bags and stuff. 

Back to normal on Thursday. We were not needed to drive the baggage to Schiphol, so we got back to our normal work. And so it goes. Before long we will start getting ready for next transfer. And then the next. There is no end to transfers. 

Holidays are coming to an end, so we should be able to start teaching more people again. We did teach a lot of first lessons this past transfer and we saw a lot of good things happen, but it was harder to make appointments with people or to find them at home. Though there is a single mother we are teaching who is doing great and is interested in our message. If only we can help her understand the importance of the message we share, then it will be fine.

"Be not forgetful to entertain strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares." - Hebrews 13:2