May day

16-05-2015

President Robinson's last zone conferences were this week. There remains only the zone trainings in June, before he goes home. I got a lot out of the presentations given. Amsterdam's was on Wednesday, and it was held in Zoetermeer, along with the Den Haag zone. 

During the first part of the conference, President and Sister Robinson, President Scheltinga and Van der Put all spoke. One presentation that was unusual (since the others were mostly about spiritual things and missionary work), was President's: he spoke about the iPads that will one day be rolled out in this mission. For the time being, they are being issued in 10 European missions, still as a test, but they will eventually arrive here and yet another tool will be available to missionaries. Probably after my mission, but that's fine by me, since I do not really want an iPad, haha. The APs gave a short presentation on the white handbook, discussing a few practical things, mainly as a reminder.

In the second half of the conference, we were shown a documentary from BYUtv about the Book of Mormon, that I highly recommend. And then, for the fourth time in my case, the singing elders performed their "Journey of No End", something I also recommend. They will be performing that next in Antwerpen on the 6th of June 2015, and later in other places (inquire with your local missionaries for more dates). It is always great to listen to the singing elders.

The next day, Thursday, we drove the Rotterdam and Apeldoorn zones' orders and mail down to Rotterdam, for their zone conference around lunchtime. We ate there with them, of course. Just after Sister Robinson had done birthdays and the birthday song had been sung, the singing elders surprised the Robinsons with some Western love song. They loved it, and it was great.

The rest of the week was pretty normal, with some days being a bit busier than others. We had less time to teach this week, but we still had appointments with our investigators, and another YSA game night on Wednesday. Things are going well, we are blessed.

"Uneasy lies the head that wears a crown" - William Shakespeare

Behold thy Mother

09-05-2015

Nothing too crazy happened this week. District meeting, office work, dinner appointments, teaching investigators, Brussels trip... The usual, really.

We are being really blessed in our missionary work lately. On Wednesday, we went to the church with one of our investigators and the singing elders and they sang for her. It was really a great appointment, wherein we also spoke about the gospel, and answered her questions. Teaching in the church is really good.

Another investigator, with whom we met yesterday, is really into China and video games. I love the connections he makes between mythology or games or films and what we teach him. I think it makes it really personal to him. We gave him a Book of Mormon in Chinese yesterday and he loved it. Hopefully that will help him to get even more out of it. 

A few weeks ago, some university student came to church, as part of a study she is doing into our church. She has been a few times since and has also gone to a relief society activity. We met with her and answered the questions that she had about what we do as missionaries. It remains to be seen whether she is actually interested in learning more, but she said that she will not just discard what she has learnt so far.

Tomorrow we get to skype home and next week is zone conference again. The last time for President Robinson.

"Her children arise up and call her blessed." - Proverb 31:28

I'm a Mormon

02-05-2015

Canadians are weird... I just wanted to throw that out there. I still love Canada, and maybe the peculiarity of its people has something to do with that, but they are just strange people. I'd probably enjoy living there, except for the -40 winters, I guess. 

Anyway, we have seen a lot of miracles this week and have taught more lessons than in recent weeks. Things are really going well with our investigators and there is one who has a baptismal date for some time in the middle of June. She was brought up catholic and that affects a lot of her beliefs, but she is also very open to the gospel and is willing to learn and pray. The other investigators are also very open and willing to listen, and are willing to act on what we preach to them at varying levels. For what it is worth, 4 of them have committed to coming to church this Sunday, which is a lot.

I must say, I do enjoy correlation with our ward mission leader every Monday. It is always very entertaining, both because of the other elders (and sometimes my companions) and their shenanigans and because our ward mission leader often tells us stories of his own mission in Indonesia, which was crazy from the sound of it. So it's unfortunate (for us) that he is moving to another city sometime this year. We will have to make do with another mission leader (for a few months in my case). 

One of my companions seems gung ho on seeing all the sights in northern South Holland and all of North Holland. I cannot say I blame him, since at some point he will return to the USA and maybe not come back for a very long time. It just sounds tiring. Today, we will probably go see the car museum in northern Den Haag, or some other museum. We plan on going to the beach in Katwijk at some point, when the weather is warmer. 

"Glorious it is when wandering time is come." - Inuit proverb (likely)

For God So Loved The World

18-04-2015

Another transfer week! This time was also the end of one pair of office elders' term and the beginning of another. I am curious as to how the next 6 months will be. Like I have mentioned before, there is a lot of crazy stuff happening around the middle of this year. We are still looking for a new apartment for us, the office elders, and a new office (probably just across the street from the current one). Now that the official arrival date of President Bunnell is known (30 June), it seems even more real that change of mission presidents will happen.

On Tuesday, we welcomed the greenies and went to eat at the pancake restaurant yet again (not that I am complaining: I love pancakes). After that, they went to the IND to get their biometric information taken and then to the mission home for a nap. The next morning, they were at the office at 9 for trainings, then lunch and a quick visit to the city hall in Leiden with some contacting. The departing missionaries were weighing their bags and getting ready to go home, at the office.

The following morning, we were up at 5:30 to take the departing missionaries' bags to the airport. Hardly that early. But it was still a rather long day. Having been with my past companions for more than the usual time, it is weird to move on to the next pair. 

"I get by with a little help from my friends." - Beatles

As You Like It

11-04-2015

This week, we had the wonderful opportunity to go to the temple and thereafter to Keukenhof. The temple visit was as great as always, unlike the flower viewing. I think it was too early in the season (and still too cold) for Keukenhof, but there were still a lot of flowers. That's probably one reason why I was not disappointed not to be able to go twice again this year. But it was fun talking to the other missionaries that were also there on Tuesday.

On Wednesday, we went to the Zoetermeer church at lunchtime, to open the church and get the pizza set up for lunch. I had a good time then too, talking with the missionaries serving in Antwerp at the moment, including a former companion. They had some interesting stories to tell, as usual.

Today, together with 7 other missionaries, 6 members and 1 non-member, I played football in Wassenaar. It was better than when it was just 5 of us, like the last time we were there. Who knows what we will do the rest of the day, probably go into the centre of town to shop or look around, dunno. 

The new office elders take over completely from the old ones, on Wednesday. Here comes the next 6 or so months with my new companions. One thing is for sure, it will be different from the past 14 months.

"All the world's a stage,

And all the men and women merely players:

They have their exits and their entrances;

And one man in his time plays many parts"

- William Shakespeare, "As You Like It"