Hallo Lievers. :)
Long time, no talk. Haha it was SO good to talk to everyone on Christmas. Really, it was the best present ever (though I did love everything you sent). I was so happy that we were able to talk with everyone. I wish that we would've had more time so that I could hear more about how you all are doing.
I was thinking about my birthday and really, the only thing that I can think of that I would want would be a nice letter from each of you. I know that I don't always have time to write back personally but I want to get better at that and I would really like to hear how everyone is doing and to hear your testimonies and stuff. You all are a big strength to me and I love you a lot!
Julia, Happy almost birthday! I sent a card to you today but I had to send it to the Kentucky address because I couldn't find yours. Please give Rhett a kiss and hug for me and tell him to feel better! Lots of people here are sick too, it's just not a good time of the year.
As far as housing goes, I would love to live in Condo Row but I'm not sure who with. If you could get a hold of my friends -- I have no idea who is still going to be at BYU -- and ask them? I have also been talking with some girls here and need to kind of see how that is going to work. Sorry, I promise I'll get more info and get back to you next week.
Also, for my birthday, Zuster Fritz did this, but if you could put a notice on my Facebook that people could write something on my wall or send a message or something then you all can send it on to me. That would be nice.
And then the coat. So I've been looking and looking and just can't find anything warm enough here. I'm sure they have stuff but time on P-day just goes by so fast. So I actually think it might be a good idea for you to buy one and send it. I'm sorry, I know that's probably annoying! Because the mission dress code has changed I was actually thinking it would be nice to get a coat with color. People always think we're nuns because we wear so much black -- haha. I thought a nice lighter/sky blue color could be nice or a purple coat. Or a gray one if they don't have any nice colored ones. And then just nice looking. Professional, well fit. I would guess to get a size 8. Ok so done with all that stuff. Thank you for taking care of things all the time!
Yesterday was Tweede Kerstdag and it was a lot of fun. We went to church, and Vili, one of the investigators I told you about was able to come. No crazy disruptions this time too which was good. After church we went to the Bishop’s house for lunch. I love Bishop De Jonge! It was great to go and get to know his family a little better. They have 3 adorable children and Zuster Kremer and I really encouraged their daughters to go on missions. Too bad they are 5 and 8 years old -- haha. But hey it's never too early to start preparing. We played the Dutch version of Gestures which was a lot of fun and we all got to light candles and bear our testimonies of the Saviour. After that we went to Lucky's house and had dinner... mental note-never make more than one eating appointment on holidays... so so much food. Overall it was a wonderful Christmas.
We met some of the most amazing people the past few days and I'm excited to begin a new year. Because Amsterdam is so insane President has asked us to be in our apartments by 4:00 p.m. on New Year’s Eve. I hear from other missionaries that it gets pretty crazy around here. I'm sure there will be good stories to follow.
I feel like I actually don't have a lot to write about considering we just spoke. But know that I love you all. I appreciate so much everything that you all do for me. The letters, the emails, the prayers, they all make such a difference. I feel like such a blessed missionary to have such a wonderful family behind me. Please send my love to everyone! Oh and I got the Christmas card from the ward. Let them know that I love them and still pray for the Beaumont Ward. So many people there have touched my life in so many ways, I owe a lot to them. Also tell the extended family I love them and have been thinking of them this Christmas season.
Happy New Year everyone! Crazy, but the next email will be sent in 2011! What a blessed year it has been. :) Tot volgenda jaar!
Met liefde,
Zuster Holbein
Wednesday, December 29, 2010
Pre-Christmas
Dear Family!
Merry almost Christmas! It's crazy to think that by the time I write my next email we will have already spoken.
So it's been quite the week. Actually, being honest, kind of a hard one. We got dropped by our 2 investigators progressing to baptism. And that was hard. This past week was transfers, I'm staying in Amsterdam with Zuster Kremer which is such a blessing. Zuster Fritz went home which was weird, and also Zuster Pierson had to go home this past week. That was the hardest thing. She's been suffering some pretty serious health issues for awhile now and they sent her home to get them fixed. Please pray for her, I know this is almost killing her more than the health issues. Also please pray for Zuster Fritz. Her bag was stolen at the Brussels train station and it was the bag that had her wallet, passport, camera, and every single mission and study journal she had ever written. Oh it just breaks my heart to write that. I know that happened to you Mom. Maybe you can call her? If you look her up on Facebook it's Jillian Fritz. I know she would love to hear from you. So yes, that's kind of the difficult things of this past week. But the wonderful thing is, looking back it has been more of a week of joy than anything. I have seen so many miracles and really felt a confirmation of the Lord's love for me and his approval of my mission and the work I am doing.
Zuster Kremer is also struggling with her health, but even that is bringing blessings. On Wednesday we were out and we stopped in a pharmacy because she had to buy medicine. I was just looking around while she was buying stuff and all of a sudden one of the workers stopped me. She asked about my name tag and said she had seen other people with it before but had never talked with them. I was able to talk with her for about 15 minutes about the Church and being a missionary -- it was great! I gave her a card our mission uses on prophets and she was really interested. She wouldn't give me her number and didn't want to make an appointment because she said she was so busy, but I really felt the Spirit when I talked to her. So we left. The next day we were getting ready to go to an appointment but our investigator called off just before. So we were getting ready to go off somewhere else but before we left we got a phone call... and it was the woman from the pharmacy! She said she had been really thinking about what I said and wanted to learn more. She asked if we could come over right then, and as it turns out we happened to be in the area where she lived already. And because our other appointment had cancelled we could. Haha geen toeval! We went over and had a beautiful first lesson with her. Her name is Afsaneh. She's from Iran but has lived here since she was 17. She doesn't believe in God yet, but is very open to learning. She is praying about the Book of Mormon and invited us back. It was such a miracle. She's totally going to get baptized. :)
Funny moments of the week have all come because of the horrible snow. Tjonge jonge we have soo much snow! They actually cancelled church yesterday because it is too dangerous to go out. Many lessons have been learned. One -- no matter what you might think, don't try and go out with your bike, you'll either fall, which I did MANY times, or you'll just end up having to push it. We've basically been walking everywhere. It's great fun. Zuster Kremer and I have also been working on the "what to do if one of us falls in a canal plan." Haha which is quite funny (and won't actually happen; don't worry).
I'm excited to talk to you all. I love you so very much. I am so grateful for this time of year to reflect on the life and birth of the Saviour. I am so so grateful for Jesus Christ. I know He lives! I love the message of the restoration. I love studying the scriptures and coming to know my Saviour more. I love being a missionary this time of year. Wat ben ik blij! Ik hou van jullie.
Met liefde,
Zuster Holbein
Merry almost Christmas! It's crazy to think that by the time I write my next email we will have already spoken.
So it's been quite the week. Actually, being honest, kind of a hard one. We got dropped by our 2 investigators progressing to baptism. And that was hard. This past week was transfers, I'm staying in Amsterdam with Zuster Kremer which is such a blessing. Zuster Fritz went home which was weird, and also Zuster Pierson had to go home this past week. That was the hardest thing. She's been suffering some pretty serious health issues for awhile now and they sent her home to get them fixed. Please pray for her, I know this is almost killing her more than the health issues. Also please pray for Zuster Fritz. Her bag was stolen at the Brussels train station and it was the bag that had her wallet, passport, camera, and every single mission and study journal she had ever written. Oh it just breaks my heart to write that. I know that happened to you Mom. Maybe you can call her? If you look her up on Facebook it's Jillian Fritz. I know she would love to hear from you. So yes, that's kind of the difficult things of this past week. But the wonderful thing is, looking back it has been more of a week of joy than anything. I have seen so many miracles and really felt a confirmation of the Lord's love for me and his approval of my mission and the work I am doing.
Zuster Kremer is also struggling with her health, but even that is bringing blessings. On Wednesday we were out and we stopped in a pharmacy because she had to buy medicine. I was just looking around while she was buying stuff and all of a sudden one of the workers stopped me. She asked about my name tag and said she had seen other people with it before but had never talked with them. I was able to talk with her for about 15 minutes about the Church and being a missionary -- it was great! I gave her a card our mission uses on prophets and she was really interested. She wouldn't give me her number and didn't want to make an appointment because she said she was so busy, but I really felt the Spirit when I talked to her. So we left. The next day we were getting ready to go to an appointment but our investigator called off just before. So we were getting ready to go off somewhere else but before we left we got a phone call... and it was the woman from the pharmacy! She said she had been really thinking about what I said and wanted to learn more. She asked if we could come over right then, and as it turns out we happened to be in the area where she lived already. And because our other appointment had cancelled we could. Haha geen toeval! We went over and had a beautiful first lesson with her. Her name is Afsaneh. She's from Iran but has lived here since she was 17. She doesn't believe in God yet, but is very open to learning. She is praying about the Book of Mormon and invited us back. It was such a miracle. She's totally going to get baptized. :)
Funny moments of the week have all come because of the horrible snow. Tjonge jonge we have soo much snow! They actually cancelled church yesterday because it is too dangerous to go out. Many lessons have been learned. One -- no matter what you might think, don't try and go out with your bike, you'll either fall, which I did MANY times, or you'll just end up having to push it. We've basically been walking everywhere. It's great fun. Zuster Kremer and I have also been working on the "what to do if one of us falls in a canal plan." Haha which is quite funny (and won't actually happen; don't worry).
I'm excited to talk to you all. I love you so very much. I am so grateful for this time of year to reflect on the life and birth of the Saviour. I am so so grateful for Jesus Christ. I know He lives! I love the message of the restoration. I love studying the scriptures and coming to know my Saviour more. I love being a missionary this time of year. Wat ben ik blij! Ik hou van jullie.
Met liefde,
Zuster Holbein
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
Christmas Is Coming!
Hello Family!
So good news just so you all stop worrying -- my intestine is fine. I've been taking the medicine and the pain is going down. I know that you all have been praying for me too and I believe that helps better than the medicine. So thanks. Poor Zuster Kremer was sick this week though! Dang it, Satan. It's ok though she's feeling better, I'm feeling better, and we are ready to get back to full speed. The weather has even warmed up a little bit. Though actually, just looking out the window again, I see it's snowing. Oh well, at least it's pretty. ...
William, congrats on Pageant and Youth Salute! I thought about you this morning and got a really good feeling. You're awesome. Good luck to all the BYU students with finals. Haha I remember that last year. Mom, I'm glad you have another year of Seminary behind. You're a great teacher. Daddy, thank you for your sweet testimony. Oh and tell Uncle Bruce I love him!
I bought cute Christmas cards today that I'll be sending, but I don't think that people will get them before the holiday. The mail people here are actually on strike right now. Oh, but I did get the Christmas package! Thank you so much! I have bought things for you all, but I want so badly to give them to you in person, so I think you might just have to wait a while -- haha.
So the miracles and great moments of this week. AHH LAME!!! -- guess what just happened?? THE INTERNET CRASHED AND I LOST MY EMAIL. :( And now I don't have time to write. Oh goodness, I'm sorry.
Ok so miracles. I know Neal Oddens who served his mission with Julia. It was so funny. He lives in Den Haag but his family lives here in Amsterdam and he was there at dinner last night. He told me there was a Sister Holbein in his mission, and I said that's funny because you served in the same one as my sister. And then we both just looked at each other and said ...hey...cool! So yeah, he's awesome and that was really funny.
Unique's baptism on Saturday was incredible. Oh my goodness I am so happy for her. I got a lot of great pictures I'll send them home with my Christmas card.
Yesterday we went singing at old peoples’ homes with the ward and really touched a lot of people. Tuesday we had the zone Christmas concert. I played my flute and sang. It was a special night. And... yeah, I wish I had more time now, but we have to get to the church. I love you all though!
Enjoy the Christmas season. Be the angels the world needs right now. Spread the joy. Nooit opgeven jonges. Houd van jullie.
Liefs-
Zuster Holbein
So good news just so you all stop worrying -- my intestine is fine. I've been taking the medicine and the pain is going down. I know that you all have been praying for me too and I believe that helps better than the medicine. So thanks. Poor Zuster Kremer was sick this week though! Dang it, Satan. It's ok though she's feeling better, I'm feeling better, and we are ready to get back to full speed. The weather has even warmed up a little bit. Though actually, just looking out the window again, I see it's snowing. Oh well, at least it's pretty. ...
William, congrats on Pageant and Youth Salute! I thought about you this morning and got a really good feeling. You're awesome. Good luck to all the BYU students with finals. Haha I remember that last year. Mom, I'm glad you have another year of Seminary behind. You're a great teacher. Daddy, thank you for your sweet testimony. Oh and tell Uncle Bruce I love him!
I bought cute Christmas cards today that I'll be sending, but I don't think that people will get them before the holiday. The mail people here are actually on strike right now. Oh, but I did get the Christmas package! Thank you so much! I have bought things for you all, but I want so badly to give them to you in person, so I think you might just have to wait a while -- haha.
So the miracles and great moments of this week. AHH LAME!!! -- guess what just happened?? THE INTERNET CRASHED AND I LOST MY EMAIL. :( And now I don't have time to write. Oh goodness, I'm sorry.
Ok so miracles. I know Neal Oddens who served his mission with Julia. It was so funny. He lives in Den Haag but his family lives here in Amsterdam and he was there at dinner last night. He told me there was a Sister Holbein in his mission, and I said that's funny because you served in the same one as my sister. And then we both just looked at each other and said ...hey...cool! So yeah, he's awesome and that was really funny.
Unique's baptism on Saturday was incredible. Oh my goodness I am so happy for her. I got a lot of great pictures I'll send them home with my Christmas card.
Yesterday we went singing at old peoples’ homes with the ward and really touched a lot of people. Tuesday we had the zone Christmas concert. I played my flute and sang. It was a special night. And... yeah, I wish I had more time now, but we have to get to the church. I love you all though!
Enjoy the Christmas season. Be the angels the world needs right now. Spread the joy. Nooit opgeven jonges. Houd van jullie.
Liefs-
Zuster Holbein
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
Juich, wereld, Juich
Goededag lievers. :)
Thank you for your wonderful emails this week! I love your spirit and beautiful testimonies. It means a lot to me to know that I have your love and support. I'm excited to talk to you all too! Unfortunately I can only make one phone call on Christmas but I would LOVE to be able to talk to everyone so I think a 3-way call would be wonderful if that's possible. I am excited to hear your voices. Oh and I can only talk for 30 minutes as far as I know. I'm not sure on times or the number yet but I will get that to you next week.
Snow in KY, eh? It's been snowing all week here. Yesterday it rained though and now everything is iced over. GEVARLIJK. And as a bit of sad-ish news, I've been really sick all week. So Mom, I know the feeling. I woke up Tuesday night at 3 in the morning with terrible pain in my stomach and lower back; I couldn't walk. That pain stayed through the whole week. Thank goodness I am surrounded by so many amazing people; I had a lot of help. Because I'm stubborn I wouldn't go to the doctor... yeah, I know, stupid me. But I tried a lot of other things first. Zuster Pancratz the senior sister here thought that it was some kind of kidney infection. I had a fever the first few days. It was so so so so frustrating. I do not like being sick as a missionary. I don't like to stop and I can't just lay around; that drives me crazy. It was not a fun time. But we did our best to keep the work going. I went out as much as I could and a lot of members helped by going out with Zuster Kremer. We were still able to keep teaching and we got 5 new amazing investigators. And, yes, I went to the doctor this morning because people started threatening to kidnap me if I didn't go. Long story short, the doctor said I have a very swollen intestine and he gave me some pills. So no worries! It's going to all be better by tomorrow I know it.
But besides that it's been a great week. I can't believe I left this out of my email last week, but I got to go to the temple again this past Saturday. Luckiest missionary in the world, I know. Marijke Zen is a wonderful older woman here in the ward; she was baptized and taught by Zuster Fritz a year ago, and she went through the temple! I got to go as well as Zuster Fritz because I have been helping her prepare and she asked me to come. Oh it was glorious. Almost the whole Amsterdam ward came. And, get this, best thing ever -- we show up to the temple late, we had to drive through a big snow storm, and when we walk in a group was coming out of the baptismal font, and guess who it was... all of the young adults from ANTWERPEN. And guess who was there? Heidi and Andy! Ahhh two of my favorite converts ever. It warmed my heart more than I can describe to see them both in the temple. I really had this duh moment of yeah, the temple is really the goal we work for. It's not just baptism; we're going for higher covenants here. It was such a beautiful day. After the session Marijke was able to be sealed to her husband. I had never seen a sealing before but I have to say it was the best part of the day. It made me cry to see Marijke there so so happy. When it was over she jumped up and said "Ik heb mijn man weer terug!" (I have my man back again!) Oh it was WONDERFUL. I was glad I was able to feel well enough to go. Miracle of the week.
And the random funny moment of the week. Yesterday in church in the investigators class the lesson was on the law of chastity. Haha my favorite. And of course this happens to be the day that we had this younger 24 year old guy who we met on the metro show up to church. So we're sitting here in the lesson and our ward mission leader Br Zonneveld was supposed to give the lesson. He gets up and says, “Alright so this is the lesson, law of chastity..." and all these random things. And then he turns to me and says, "Well, Zuster Holbein I think you could explain it better, what do you say?" And I got to explain it all... thanks Br Zonneveld. It was fine, it just made me laugh more than anything.
Oh other miracle, remember Unique? She's getting baptized on Saturday and I get to go! I am SO happy for her! I'll try and send pictures.
Well I love you all. Stay warm! I'll email you next week about the phone call. You're wonderful! I appreciate so much all you do. Tomorrow is the mission Christmas concert in Leiden. I'm playing my flute. Pray it goes well and that I feel better!
Met liefde,
Zuster Holbein
Thank you for your wonderful emails this week! I love your spirit and beautiful testimonies. It means a lot to me to know that I have your love and support. I'm excited to talk to you all too! Unfortunately I can only make one phone call on Christmas but I would LOVE to be able to talk to everyone so I think a 3-way call would be wonderful if that's possible. I am excited to hear your voices. Oh and I can only talk for 30 minutes as far as I know. I'm not sure on times or the number yet but I will get that to you next week.
Snow in KY, eh? It's been snowing all week here. Yesterday it rained though and now everything is iced over. GEVARLIJK. And as a bit of sad-ish news, I've been really sick all week. So Mom, I know the feeling. I woke up Tuesday night at 3 in the morning with terrible pain in my stomach and lower back; I couldn't walk. That pain stayed through the whole week. Thank goodness I am surrounded by so many amazing people; I had a lot of help. Because I'm stubborn I wouldn't go to the doctor... yeah, I know, stupid me. But I tried a lot of other things first. Zuster Pancratz the senior sister here thought that it was some kind of kidney infection. I had a fever the first few days. It was so so so so frustrating. I do not like being sick as a missionary. I don't like to stop and I can't just lay around; that drives me crazy. It was not a fun time. But we did our best to keep the work going. I went out as much as I could and a lot of members helped by going out with Zuster Kremer. We were still able to keep teaching and we got 5 new amazing investigators. And, yes, I went to the doctor this morning because people started threatening to kidnap me if I didn't go. Long story short, the doctor said I have a very swollen intestine and he gave me some pills. So no worries! It's going to all be better by tomorrow I know it.
But besides that it's been a great week. I can't believe I left this out of my email last week, but I got to go to the temple again this past Saturday. Luckiest missionary in the world, I know. Marijke Zen is a wonderful older woman here in the ward; she was baptized and taught by Zuster Fritz a year ago, and she went through the temple! I got to go as well as Zuster Fritz because I have been helping her prepare and she asked me to come. Oh it was glorious. Almost the whole Amsterdam ward came. And, get this, best thing ever -- we show up to the temple late, we had to drive through a big snow storm, and when we walk in a group was coming out of the baptismal font, and guess who it was... all of the young adults from ANTWERPEN. And guess who was there? Heidi and Andy! Ahhh two of my favorite converts ever. It warmed my heart more than I can describe to see them both in the temple. I really had this duh moment of yeah, the temple is really the goal we work for. It's not just baptism; we're going for higher covenants here. It was such a beautiful day. After the session Marijke was able to be sealed to her husband. I had never seen a sealing before but I have to say it was the best part of the day. It made me cry to see Marijke there so so happy. When it was over she jumped up and said "Ik heb mijn man weer terug!" (I have my man back again!) Oh it was WONDERFUL. I was glad I was able to feel well enough to go. Miracle of the week.
And the random funny moment of the week. Yesterday in church in the investigators class the lesson was on the law of chastity. Haha my favorite. And of course this happens to be the day that we had this younger 24 year old guy who we met on the metro show up to church. So we're sitting here in the lesson and our ward mission leader Br Zonneveld was supposed to give the lesson. He gets up and says, “Alright so this is the lesson, law of chastity..." and all these random things. And then he turns to me and says, "Well, Zuster Holbein I think you could explain it better, what do you say?" And I got to explain it all... thanks Br Zonneveld. It was fine, it just made me laugh more than anything.
Oh other miracle, remember Unique? She's getting baptized on Saturday and I get to go! I am SO happy for her! I'll try and send pictures.
Well I love you all. Stay warm! I'll email you next week about the phone call. You're wonderful! I appreciate so much all you do. Tomorrow is the mission Christmas concert in Leiden. I'm playing my flute. Pray it goes well and that I feel better!
Met liefde,
Zuster Holbein
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Oh the weather outside is frightful
Helloo everyone!
Welcome to winter in the Netherlands! We had a first snowfall on Thanksgiving, and as I speak it is pouring buckets. Biking in the snow is well... interesting. Definitely going to take some practice and a lot of slowing down. The cold weather itself also makes things fun. I will have to send pictures home of Zuster Kremer and me when we go out. The other day I wore 3 skirts, 4 shirts and a sweater, 2 scarves, 2 hats, boots, gloves, just about everything I could find. I'm sure I look hilarious. But hey, it's worth it to stay warm. I'm also fighting a cold at the moment but I have medicine-ish stuff and I took a nap today so it should go away soon.
Thank you for your wonderful emails! I'm glad that you were all able to come together for Thanksgiving. What a wonderful holiday. We had hands down the best Thanksgiving ever. (Haha, Zuster Kremer makes fun of me because I say “the best” or “the coolest thing ever” all the time. Oh well, it's still true.) We spent most of the day finding, and met some of the most amazing people. I only met one American, but I did get to say Happy Thanksgiving to him. That evening we went to Claire’s, an American's house and had a wonderful feast with her. It was Zuster Kremer's first Thanksgiving, haha.
I actually don't have much time to write because the snow kind of messed up our plans, but I will share a cool miracle. Saturday night we went to a member's home for dinner and we had a lesson with them on being led by the Spirit. We talked about how as missionaries we do consecrated hours of finding every day, and that we pray the night before and then look at the map to be led by the Spirit to know where to go. So we had them kneel down in prayer with us and then look at our map, and we all picked out a street together. We told them that we were going to do it from 4:00 to 5:00 on Sunday, yesterday, and that they could pray at 4:00, and then we could call them at 5:00 to tell them what happened. So they picked this little street kind of in the middle of nowhere and we went. The hour started and was ok, nothing really big happened. But we were not discouraged! About 10 minutes before the end of the hour we knocked on a door. A man answered and after we introduced ourselves and asked him about his belief in God he said, “No, no, I don’t believe,” and went to shut the door." But suddenly I felt something so strong to stop him so I just blurted out, “No, please, we have a very special message. Is it ok if we just come in for a minute?” He looked at me and then said, “Well... ok, yes”! So we went inside and met his wife and ended up teaching them a whole lesson about the Book of Mormon and gave them a copy. They were both really touched, and after the prayer they asked us to come back! Their names are Fam Graas and they are incredible. I'm so happy to go back. And it’s all because of the faith of some members combined with ours. It was a miracle.
Thank you so much for your letters and love. I miss you this holiday season, but I am so excited to be here and to share the gospel of Jesus Christ. What a perfect time of year to do it!
Met liefde,
Zuster Holbein
Welcome to winter in the Netherlands! We had a first snowfall on Thanksgiving, and as I speak it is pouring buckets. Biking in the snow is well... interesting. Definitely going to take some practice and a lot of slowing down. The cold weather itself also makes things fun. I will have to send pictures home of Zuster Kremer and me when we go out. The other day I wore 3 skirts, 4 shirts and a sweater, 2 scarves, 2 hats, boots, gloves, just about everything I could find. I'm sure I look hilarious. But hey, it's worth it to stay warm. I'm also fighting a cold at the moment but I have medicine-ish stuff and I took a nap today so it should go away soon.
Thank you for your wonderful emails! I'm glad that you were all able to come together for Thanksgiving. What a wonderful holiday. We had hands down the best Thanksgiving ever. (Haha, Zuster Kremer makes fun of me because I say “the best” or “the coolest thing ever” all the time. Oh well, it's still true.) We spent most of the day finding, and met some of the most amazing people. I only met one American, but I did get to say Happy Thanksgiving to him. That evening we went to Claire’s, an American's house and had a wonderful feast with her. It was Zuster Kremer's first Thanksgiving, haha.
I actually don't have much time to write because the snow kind of messed up our plans, but I will share a cool miracle. Saturday night we went to a member's home for dinner and we had a lesson with them on being led by the Spirit. We talked about how as missionaries we do consecrated hours of finding every day, and that we pray the night before and then look at the map to be led by the Spirit to know where to go. So we had them kneel down in prayer with us and then look at our map, and we all picked out a street together. We told them that we were going to do it from 4:00 to 5:00 on Sunday, yesterday, and that they could pray at 4:00, and then we could call them at 5:00 to tell them what happened. So they picked this little street kind of in the middle of nowhere and we went. The hour started and was ok, nothing really big happened. But we were not discouraged! About 10 minutes before the end of the hour we knocked on a door. A man answered and after we introduced ourselves and asked him about his belief in God he said, “No, no, I don’t believe,” and went to shut the door." But suddenly I felt something so strong to stop him so I just blurted out, “No, please, we have a very special message. Is it ok if we just come in for a minute?” He looked at me and then said, “Well... ok, yes”! So we went inside and met his wife and ended up teaching them a whole lesson about the Book of Mormon and gave them a copy. They were both really touched, and after the prayer they asked us to come back! Their names are Fam Graas and they are incredible. I'm so happy to go back. And it’s all because of the faith of some members combined with ours. It was a miracle.
Thank you so much for your letters and love. I miss you this holiday season, but I am so excited to be here and to share the gospel of Jesus Christ. What a perfect time of year to do it!
Met liefde,
Zuster Holbein
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
Happy Thanksgiving!
Dear Family,
Happy almost Thanksgiving! It's funny because here everything for Christmas and Sint Niklaas is under way because yeah, obviously they don't have Thanksgiving here. And my companion isn't American either haha so I actually almost forgot it was this week. I am happy everyone can be together! Please send everyone my love. Eat lots of yummy pie for me. We'll be going to an American's house on Thursday for dinner but I won't be having any pie. :)
I decided that for this week's email, especially since I don't have a lot of time I just want to send a list of things that I am grateful for so that you can add my thoughts to the family list. Also, being honest, it's been kind of a stressful morning, so I think this will be good for me. So here we go. Things I am grateful for on my mission.
First and foremost I am grateful for my Saviour Jesus Christ. I am grateful for the opportunity I have to represent and serve Him here in Belgium and the Netherlands. I am grateful for His atoning sacrifice and that through Him I can overcome all my weaknesses. I am grateful for a loving Heavenly Father who knows me personally and who tailors trials to fit me and is always there to help me along the way. I am grateful for my mission in general. Haha an all-encompassing statement. I'm grateful to be in this part of the world. I'm grateful for the Dutch language. Haha it's weird, but I love it.
I'm grateful for my personal testimony because without it I wouldn't be able to do the work I'm doing. I am grateful for the Book of Mormon -- the keystone of our religion. I am grateful for moments when I can hand the Book of Mormon to someone and watch them hold it for the first time, to watch them read in it for the first time, and then slowly but surely to watch them gain a testimony of it. I'm grateful for opportunities to bear my testimony.
I'm grateful for the hymns of the Church and the spirit they bring. I'm grateful for people who will let us pray with them on the street during a contact or people who will let us sing.
I'm grateful for my journal that I have faithfully kept, never missed a day, since I was set apart. I'm grateful for all the pictures I've taken and the memories behind them. I'm grateful for inspiring quotes from general conference that teach gospel principles clearly. I'm grateful for the first prayer I say when I wake up and the last prayer I say before I go to bed. I'm SO grateful for long prayers and times when I can just talk with my Heavenly Father. I'm grateful for the Holy Ghost. The way that it speaks to me and the way that it touches the people much more than I ever could. I'm grateful for the love of God -- the warm, fuzzy kind that makes everything else going on around me ok. I'm grateful for repentance and the miracle of forgiveness. I'm grateful for lessons guided by the Spirit and those moments when I say something that I know wasn't me.
I'm grateful for my family. I'm grateful for every email, every card it the mail, and every prayer.
I'm grateful for the priesthood and for priesthood blessings. I'm grateful for Joseph Smith and the restored knowledge we have about the plan of salvation and the purpose of our lives.
I'm grateful for open and honest communication. I'm grateful for warm blankets and my bed at the end of a long day. I'm grateful for tea -- honey lemon and minty morocco being my favorites.
I'm grateful for an hour everyday to spend in the scriptures during personal study and the awesome opportunity to study not just for myself but for other people. I'm grateful for the everyday tender mercies and the little miracles and funny moments. I'm grateful for other missionaries’ examples of faith. I'm grateful for all my wonderful companions and the things they have taught me. I'm grateful for EFY music and time at the end of the day to maybe have a random EFY music dance party haha.
I'm grateful for charity, the pure love of Christ. I'm grateful for Bible gems -- those precious little scriptures in the Bible that I had never found before my mission. I'm grateful for my eternal worth as a daughter of God.
I'm grateful for weather -- all kinds, sunny and rain. I'm grateful for my health. I'm grateful for my agency and that I can chose to be happy. I'm grateful for goals and that with the Lord's help I can set and achieve them. I'm grateful for investigators who make progress because they chose to, and because they have received a testimony. I'm grateful for the early saints of the Church who suffered so much. I'm grateful for the principle of obedience.
I'm grateful for oatmeal and bananas. I'm grateful for green apples with peanut butter.
I'm grateful for Preach My Gospel. I'm grateful for exercise and being able to run in the mornings. I'm grateful for black pens, because blue are yucky. I am grateful for my flute. I'm grateful for my planner and being organized. I'm grateful for cell phones; they make things so much easier.
I'm grateful for member referrals, members who come on joint teach or finding, or who have us over for dinner. I'm grateful for people I can laugh with. I'm grateful for days when nothing falls through and for good back up plans when it all does. I'm grateful for district meetings and zone conferences. I'm grateful for a weekly email from President that always says exactly what I need to hear. I'm grateful for long bike rides home at the end of the day when I can pray. I'm grateful for baptismal services and strong new converts. I'm grateful for the sacrament, it's always the same no matter where you go.
I'm so blessed to be a missionary. I love this life and I love my Saviour.
Please know how grateful I am for all of you this time of year. I love you!
Met Liefde,
Zuster Holbein
Happy almost Thanksgiving! It's funny because here everything for Christmas and Sint Niklaas is under way because yeah, obviously they don't have Thanksgiving here. And my companion isn't American either haha so I actually almost forgot it was this week. I am happy everyone can be together! Please send everyone my love. Eat lots of yummy pie for me. We'll be going to an American's house on Thursday for dinner but I won't be having any pie. :)
I decided that for this week's email, especially since I don't have a lot of time I just want to send a list of things that I am grateful for so that you can add my thoughts to the family list. Also, being honest, it's been kind of a stressful morning, so I think this will be good for me. So here we go. Things I am grateful for on my mission.
First and foremost I am grateful for my Saviour Jesus Christ. I am grateful for the opportunity I have to represent and serve Him here in Belgium and the Netherlands. I am grateful for His atoning sacrifice and that through Him I can overcome all my weaknesses. I am grateful for a loving Heavenly Father who knows me personally and who tailors trials to fit me and is always there to help me along the way. I am grateful for my mission in general. Haha an all-encompassing statement. I'm grateful to be in this part of the world. I'm grateful for the Dutch language. Haha it's weird, but I love it.
I'm grateful for my personal testimony because without it I wouldn't be able to do the work I'm doing. I am grateful for the Book of Mormon -- the keystone of our religion. I am grateful for moments when I can hand the Book of Mormon to someone and watch them hold it for the first time, to watch them read in it for the first time, and then slowly but surely to watch them gain a testimony of it. I'm grateful for opportunities to bear my testimony.
I'm grateful for the hymns of the Church and the spirit they bring. I'm grateful for people who will let us pray with them on the street during a contact or people who will let us sing.
I'm grateful for my journal that I have faithfully kept, never missed a day, since I was set apart. I'm grateful for all the pictures I've taken and the memories behind them. I'm grateful for inspiring quotes from general conference that teach gospel principles clearly. I'm grateful for the first prayer I say when I wake up and the last prayer I say before I go to bed. I'm SO grateful for long prayers and times when I can just talk with my Heavenly Father. I'm grateful for the Holy Ghost. The way that it speaks to me and the way that it touches the people much more than I ever could. I'm grateful for the love of God -- the warm, fuzzy kind that makes everything else going on around me ok. I'm grateful for repentance and the miracle of forgiveness. I'm grateful for lessons guided by the Spirit and those moments when I say something that I know wasn't me.
I'm grateful for my family. I'm grateful for every email, every card it the mail, and every prayer.
I'm grateful for the priesthood and for priesthood blessings. I'm grateful for Joseph Smith and the restored knowledge we have about the plan of salvation and the purpose of our lives.
I'm grateful for open and honest communication. I'm grateful for warm blankets and my bed at the end of a long day. I'm grateful for tea -- honey lemon and minty morocco being my favorites.
I'm grateful for an hour everyday to spend in the scriptures during personal study and the awesome opportunity to study not just for myself but for other people. I'm grateful for the everyday tender mercies and the little miracles and funny moments. I'm grateful for other missionaries’ examples of faith. I'm grateful for all my wonderful companions and the things they have taught me. I'm grateful for EFY music and time at the end of the day to maybe have a random EFY music dance party haha.
I'm grateful for charity, the pure love of Christ. I'm grateful for Bible gems -- those precious little scriptures in the Bible that I had never found before my mission. I'm grateful for my eternal worth as a daughter of God.
I'm grateful for weather -- all kinds, sunny and rain. I'm grateful for my health. I'm grateful for my agency and that I can chose to be happy. I'm grateful for goals and that with the Lord's help I can set and achieve them. I'm grateful for investigators who make progress because they chose to, and because they have received a testimony. I'm grateful for the early saints of the Church who suffered so much. I'm grateful for the principle of obedience.
I'm grateful for oatmeal and bananas. I'm grateful for green apples with peanut butter.
I'm grateful for Preach My Gospel. I'm grateful for exercise and being able to run in the mornings. I'm grateful for black pens, because blue are yucky. I am grateful for my flute. I'm grateful for my planner and being organized. I'm grateful for cell phones; they make things so much easier.
I'm grateful for member referrals, members who come on joint teach or finding, or who have us over for dinner. I'm grateful for people I can laugh with. I'm grateful for days when nothing falls through and for good back up plans when it all does. I'm grateful for district meetings and zone conferences. I'm grateful for a weekly email from President that always says exactly what I need to hear. I'm grateful for long bike rides home at the end of the day when I can pray. I'm grateful for baptismal services and strong new converts. I'm grateful for the sacrament, it's always the same no matter where you go.
I'm so blessed to be a missionary. I love this life and I love my Saviour.
Please know how grateful I am for all of you this time of year. I love you!
Met Liefde,
Zuster Holbein
Monday, November 15, 2010
With Love
Hello family dear :)
Thank you so much for your wonderful emails! And for the Thanksgiving card. That really touched me when I got it and as always it came on a day when I needed it. I really do love getting those cards in the mail. Letters mean a lot and you all are wonderful!
It's been a really blessed week. I love Amsterdam more and more every week that I am here. I think that having someone new to the mission field as my companion has especially helped me to see just how much I love it here. Every bit is great – the investigators, the members, the people, even the challenges because they usually make for a funny story after.
Zuster Kremer is an absolute doll, I love working with her. She is such a hard working missionary already and she's a lot of fun to be with. Training is well, good. I don't think I really do anything different than what I did before. People seem to learn best by example and love more than when someone says, "Do this or do that." Besides Zuster Kremer already is fantastic. We have seen so much success since she came, it's like the work is on a jump start again. We've been doing so much finding, which I LOVE. I don't know why, because I know a lot of missionaries who don't like it, but I love love love finding. It's like the life-blood that keeps me going. I love talking too and so I think that helps – haha.
We've met some interesting people this week, and we've had the chance to use Zuster Kremer's French a lot. We had a random man come up to us in a park and ask if we speak French. Totally random, but thank goodness we did and we ended up getting his number and everything. We also got proposed to, again – you'd be amazed how often that happens – and a lot of other crazy things.
As a side note, the weather this week has been horrible! Big storms have been coming through and everyone has been amazed that we even went out in that weather. Haha, best moment of the week – it was super windy on Friday and we were biking to go do an hour of finding and a gust of wind came that was so strong it blew me off my bike! Literally! We could not stop laughing, it was so funny. Thursday was particularly crazy. It was rainy and hailing and we were trying to bike from an appointment with Melinda to the church, which takes like 45 minutes when it's not raining. And then all of a sudden Zuster Kremer's fiets breaks and it starts pouring and all this crazy stuff and we were totally not in the best part of town. So we locked the bikes up and went into a gas station where we had to call the senior couple to come and pick us up because we were literally in the middle of nowhere. It was insane. But everything worked out.
So the miracle of the week came in working with one of our investigators who is really struggling with drug addiction. My time here in Amsterdam is teaching me so so much about working with people in situations like this. Addiction to anything really is a real thing, and it's sad because when someone is addicted to something they do give up their agency. But people can overcome these things, and the Church has an excellent program for addiction recovery. We are using this program with one of our investigators and they have really been making progress. But then this past week during studies I was studying for them and I came across an activity in Preach My Gospel that talked about trying to give up something that was just a part of our lives, something that is so normal we don't even think about it. That's how hard it is for someone who has an addiction. So I thought about that. And Zuster Kremer and I talked about it. And we decided that to help support this investigator we are going to give up sugar, which considering Christmas season is coming up that is going to be interesting. We're still working on the details, but we really want to try and understand better what these people feel.
I guess another thing that I'm really coming to learn is that the Church is like a big hospital. The Church isn't for the spiritually healthy fine people. For one thing, none of us are like that. We all have problems and weaknesses and that's why we come to the Church; that's why we come unto Christ, so that through the atonement we can be healed. That's what repentance is. It's a healing. And it's beautiful. I'm so grateful for the opportunity I have to repent. I love helping others come to realize the joy that it brings. I love that famous painting of Christ visiting the sick and poor people, the one where he is reaching down looking to the one homeless man under a tent or something. I was looking at it the other day and one of the members was with me and she pointed at it and said, "This is Christ's church." It's true. I'm grateful for the opportunity I have to be a member and to share the gospel with people. I love the line in Hark the Herald Angels Sing that says that Christ is "Risen with healing in his wings." My favorite way to picture the Savior is with his arms wide open. I've been looking for that in my scripture study lately, scriptures that talk about Christ's arms and the way he is always reaching out to us. I know that Christ lives. I know that He loves me. I know that everyone here on this earth is a child of God. That's such a precious truth. Thank you so much for your testimonies, they strengthen mine. You all are wonderful!
Met liefde,
Zuster Holbein
Thank you so much for your wonderful emails! And for the Thanksgiving card. That really touched me when I got it and as always it came on a day when I needed it. I really do love getting those cards in the mail. Letters mean a lot and you all are wonderful!
It's been a really blessed week. I love Amsterdam more and more every week that I am here. I think that having someone new to the mission field as my companion has especially helped me to see just how much I love it here. Every bit is great – the investigators, the members, the people, even the challenges because they usually make for a funny story after.
Zuster Kremer is an absolute doll, I love working with her. She is such a hard working missionary already and she's a lot of fun to be with. Training is well, good. I don't think I really do anything different than what I did before. People seem to learn best by example and love more than when someone says, "Do this or do that." Besides Zuster Kremer already is fantastic. We have seen so much success since she came, it's like the work is on a jump start again. We've been doing so much finding, which I LOVE. I don't know why, because I know a lot of missionaries who don't like it, but I love love love finding. It's like the life-blood that keeps me going. I love talking too and so I think that helps – haha.
We've met some interesting people this week, and we've had the chance to use Zuster Kremer's French a lot. We had a random man come up to us in a park and ask if we speak French. Totally random, but thank goodness we did and we ended up getting his number and everything. We also got proposed to, again – you'd be amazed how often that happens – and a lot of other crazy things.
As a side note, the weather this week has been horrible! Big storms have been coming through and everyone has been amazed that we even went out in that weather. Haha, best moment of the week – it was super windy on Friday and we were biking to go do an hour of finding and a gust of wind came that was so strong it blew me off my bike! Literally! We could not stop laughing, it was so funny. Thursday was particularly crazy. It was rainy and hailing and we were trying to bike from an appointment with Melinda to the church, which takes like 45 minutes when it's not raining. And then all of a sudden Zuster Kremer's fiets breaks and it starts pouring and all this crazy stuff and we were totally not in the best part of town. So we locked the bikes up and went into a gas station where we had to call the senior couple to come and pick us up because we were literally in the middle of nowhere. It was insane. But everything worked out.
So the miracle of the week came in working with one of our investigators who is really struggling with drug addiction. My time here in Amsterdam is teaching me so so much about working with people in situations like this. Addiction to anything really is a real thing, and it's sad because when someone is addicted to something they do give up their agency. But people can overcome these things, and the Church has an excellent program for addiction recovery. We are using this program with one of our investigators and they have really been making progress. But then this past week during studies I was studying for them and I came across an activity in Preach My Gospel that talked about trying to give up something that was just a part of our lives, something that is so normal we don't even think about it. That's how hard it is for someone who has an addiction. So I thought about that. And Zuster Kremer and I talked about it. And we decided that to help support this investigator we are going to give up sugar, which considering Christmas season is coming up that is going to be interesting. We're still working on the details, but we really want to try and understand better what these people feel.
I guess another thing that I'm really coming to learn is that the Church is like a big hospital. The Church isn't for the spiritually healthy fine people. For one thing, none of us are like that. We all have problems and weaknesses and that's why we come to the Church; that's why we come unto Christ, so that through the atonement we can be healed. That's what repentance is. It's a healing. And it's beautiful. I'm so grateful for the opportunity I have to repent. I love helping others come to realize the joy that it brings. I love that famous painting of Christ visiting the sick and poor people, the one where he is reaching down looking to the one homeless man under a tent or something. I was looking at it the other day and one of the members was with me and she pointed at it and said, "This is Christ's church." It's true. I'm grateful for the opportunity I have to be a member and to share the gospel with people. I love the line in Hark the Herald Angels Sing that says that Christ is "Risen with healing in his wings." My favorite way to picture the Savior is with his arms wide open. I've been looking for that in my scripture study lately, scriptures that talk about Christ's arms and the way he is always reaching out to us. I know that Christ lives. I know that He loves me. I know that everyone here on this earth is a child of God. That's such a precious truth. Thank you so much for your testimonies, they strengthen mine. You all are wonderful!
Met liefde,
Zuster Holbein
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
