Temple visits with the mission

PLEASE NOTE: 
We ran out of space so this blog is continued at http://verpleegster2.blogspot.com

We spent two days at the temple with the missionaries. Half the mission the first day and the other half the second day. I got to lead a session which allowed me to look into the faces of the missionaries. they looked back and smiled. It gave me a glimps into what the Brubakers must feel about these wonderful missionaries.

Sister Kremer, on the left, ended her mission a few months ago but came back for the temple session.

This is Sister van Stokem. She is one of our YSA in Utrecht. She is on her way to the Ukrane but needed to spend a night in the Netherlands to get her visa.

Peter by the river

We had Peter over for dinner on Saturday. He brought his dog which he knows is not allowed which is a good indication he has had too much to drink. He was upset but cooled down some what during dinner. After we invited him to go for a ride. We drove along the river. He had us stop and a point we had not explored before. We walked through mud and marsh for about 5 minutes before we got to this bench. It is on a sandy cove on the river. Peter used to walk here to get away from his father. The walk would take serveral hours. He would sleep on the bench sometimes.



Peter would go swimming on at this "beach" - even at this time of year. It as cold.



On the way out we took a different path that led through this row of trees. Peter was feeling much better.

Early April

This is Ismarei on the right. She was attending the Rotterdam 1st ward for 2 years before deciding to be baptised. We went on a joint teach with the Edlers when they met with her to initaite planning for the baptism.  She bore her testimony as part of the baptismal program. She talked about how one day there was a spin (spider) in her room. She opened the window to put it out and hit somehow got on her had. She looked at it and felt the spirit whisper not to be afraid. She then realized the spirit was saying not to be afraid of being baptised. She was then at peace.



This is Elder Brownell on the left. He returned to the mission with his partents about a month after he departed for home. They came to Ismarei's baptism. He is like Bill Niegh the science guy. Always thinking and inquiring. 4/7



When we first heard of Edler Brownell, he was known as the fix it guy. The first time we met him he had a steam cleaner in hand and was steam cleaning the Utrecht apartment. 3/28/11

Stacy and Barbara . Best friends. 4/8

It is spring in Dordrecht and the trees are in bloom.

The sisters planned an Easter egg hunt on the Monday after Easter. It was a rainy day so they hid easter sacks in the Utrecht church. We had a fun time finding them and blowing bubbles. 4/9

More March

Elder Swensen who is our Area Medical Advisor visited us. We met them at Kinderdijk. 3/21

When we left Kinderdijk we saw this family riding on the dijk. I thought they were stylish.

This is Annafluer on her bike. It was dang cold. She is married. She and her husband have motorcycles. They do not have a car. They help with the YSA program in Utrecht. 3/12

This is Isabelle. She visited us with her mother who is investigating the church. The sisters came and we all had dinner and then a lesson. 3/17

Sisters Rich and Schwab fixed lunch for district meeting. We had a picnic on the church patio with hamburgers and strawberry smoothies. It was the first warm and sunny day of the year. 3/27

This was taken on transfer day. We picked up sister Palenikova's bike and luggage. She was headed to Amsterdam. Sister Larsen went to Den Haag. Sister Hill went home. The Elders took over the nicest apartment in the mission. 3/28

We saw this old Harley in Merksem which is a suburb of Antwerpen. Notice the shifter on the side of the gas tank. I thought the shifter on this vintage was down on the crank case. You can see how they make a chopper from this bike by removing the spring supported seat.



It has a side rider and New York City license plate holder. 3/30



Mary the Turtle



This is Mary the turtle. She has lived in Sharon Stuip's home for many years. She sleeps in the sink every night. In the winter when it is cold she likes to spend the day under the wall heater to keep warm.

This is Elder John Copier in 1974 doing a wheelie. He was a dirt bike fanatic and could do a wheelie forever on a dirt bike or bicycle. Sharon wanted to get a picture.  I had forgotten that the bike tires were white.  Carolyn noticed I was wearing levi's. It was P-day. Sharon said I was a rebel.



Sharon cooked hamburgers on their outside charcoal grill. Elder Copier is on the far right.

Willemstad



The sisters had a referral from SLC in Willemstad.  I looked it up on google maps. The satelite view showed the city was built in the shape of a star with a moat around it.  They did this for protection long ago, so it is a very old city.



We are not sure what this building is. We plan to come back when it is warm to explore this little city.

There is a molen near the center of town.

There is also a harbor. The city is located on one of the lagest rivers flowing out of the Netherlands.

There are also lots of sail boats. I would guess in good weather this is a busy place. You can see the grassy berm which surrounds the city for protection and is located inside the moat. The star shape of the moat and berm makes it easier to defend the city.

Basketball

Quincy played basketball in a league where each city had a team. Like Amsterdam and Rotterdam. Quincy lives in a small city but they were competitive. He was surprised when we came to watch his game. The other players parents were there. Quincy's mother came to only one of his games. He kept looking at us with a big smile on his face. We made him nervous at first but then he settled down and played well.

This is his team and coach. He was the only black player we saw in the league. Luke, who is stading on the otherside of the coach has an African father. It was a strange trunky  feeling to watch Quincy play basketball. It brought back the feelings we had when we watched Ben.

This is Quincy at YSA FHE. He has pasted pictures and quotations of the prophets into his scriptures.

More February

This is at the baptism of John. Elders Neilson and van Rij from Turnhout were present. 2/11

This church is in Middleburg. We were in the Zeeland province with time between apointments. Middleburg was Paul Nordin's first city. It was a special feeling to walk the streets of old Middleburg and think about Paul. 2/16

Friday the 24th we visited Hilverson, Amersfoort, Zwolle, Goude, Den Haag and Rotterdam picking up stuff and making deliveries.

This is what the car looked like when we got it fully loaded.  They should never give Seniors cars.

This is our favorite way to go grocery shopping. It was a beautiful day when we left so we asked a man to take a picture of us as we rode by a pond by the shopping center. 2/25

We were in the shopping mall in Sterrenberg and saw this Chess Master. It would take him a few seconds to make a move and then he would move to the next player. 2/25



This is Hans and Matilda at their baptism with Bishop and Sister Roberts on the right. They are wonderful members from Ghana. 



Here are the sisters with Barbara and Stacy. Stacy is Matilda's daughter and Barbara is Stacy's friend.  But Barbara lives with Stacy and they are just like sisters.

The bishop from Gouda is also from Ghana. His children are here with Stacy and Barbara. The tallest young man is Emanuel. He is planning on a mission but has a few years before he can go. They are a wonderful family. 2/25

Stacey and Barbara came to YSA in Utrecht. They frosted and decorated the banana cake Sister Everton baked. Those are strawberries on top.  They hurried and finished eating so they could wash the dishes. They are gracious and kind and very polite. They have been well taught by their mothers.  Stacy is 17 and Barbara is 18.

YSA Valentines Dance in Rotterdam

Joachim (on the left) is the Stake YSA leader and is part of our Utrecht YSA group. He helped the disk jocky pick music.

Amy who is the cup cake expert and friend of Sister Everton and Season was helping serve food.




This is Mithell and his brother Jason (or maybe Jason's twin Brandon) with Quincy. 

 

The gym was decorated very nicely for the event. Everthing was organized and decorations put in place by the YSA committee.

Gent

We visited the old part of Gent with the Antwerpen Zone missionaires. We visited a castle which has been rebuilt.  Here we are standing under an original arch at the entrance to the castle.

I wish I had a picture of these Elders when they stood in the center of the square in old Gent and sang Happy Birthday to Sister Everton. Sister Everton had been inside McDonalds checking on missionaries with minor health problems. When she came out, they started singing to her. It was beautiful and she loved it. The missionaries have a great love for her.  We had taken them oreo cookies, fla and milk.  The milk in Belgium is warm in cartons and has been radiated.  Apparently is tastes awful.

This is Sister Palenikova in one of the castle rooms.

This is exiting the gate of the castle into old Gent.