Mission Home--Part 3

Here is the rest of the main floor.  As you come in the front door, this is the entry way.  The tile on the floor is beautiful.  At the end of hall you turn left for the garage, or right to go into the main living area and the kitchen.

 I'm sorry you couldn't see the beautiful flower arrangement that was on the table by the mirror when we first arrived.  When I get my barring straight and my head above water, I plan to get more fresh flowers for the table.  To the left you see a door----

 It is to this cute WC!  (half bathroom)  WC is Water Closet.

 That little WC has Dutch touches too.

 As you come into the main living area.

 The Dining Room and table.  The chandelier came from the old Mission Home in Brussels, Belgium.  (Notice President sitting outside at the sitting area)

 You can see the door to the kitchen.

 The sideboard is an old beautiful piece of furniture.

 Across the room is the living area with the fireplace.

There are three couches, enough for plenty of seating for Elder and Sisters.

There is a painting of the Savior above the piano given to the home by President and Sister Brubaker.

Looking back toward the kitchen and the entry hall.  

We will be getting an area rug to put under the table between the couches.  I think it will make this area even more beautiful.

This is where we get to call home for three years.

Finished Up Zone Conferences

We finished up our first round of Zone Conferences for the mission.  What a wonderful week. 

Thursday, July 5, we were with the Den Haag Zone which is the Zone closest to home.  We had a wonderful day with awesome Elders, Sisters and Senior Couples:  How luck are we!  We came home feeling so very blessed.  (Side note:  We have a wonderful Sister Davies who is Steve Davies daughter.  Steve is brother to Jack, Dan, June and Lynette--what a small world.  She is in the flowered shirt, fifth from the left, front row.)

The Den Haag Zone after conference!

Friday, July 6, we spent the day with the Elders and Senior Couples from Apeldoorn Zone.  It was our last conference of the week, and I think President and I just felt the pressure lift a little.  We really enjoyed the day in Apeldoorn. That evening we went to the Jo-Vo Center in Deventer.  It was great to see a Jo-Vo Center in action.  It was Friday night, they had about 20 young adults there for Institute and supper.  Many were investigators.  Before supper, I went with the Elders, and President went with another set of Elders, and we each participated in teaching two investigators.  Again, a time to share and bear testimonies of the gospel and of Jesus Christ.  Again, a time to really feel the Spirit testify to everyone present.  This is great fun!

 The Apeldoorn Zone before we all went our way.  We'll met up again next week for interviews.  Looking forward to spending time with these truly great missionaries again.  Elders--we had a great testimony meeting, we thank you!

President and I spent Friday night in Apeldoorn.  President's regret--he wishes he had written down the address where he lived 40 years ago when he work in Apeldoorn. He would have liked to have found the house he lived in and the family he lived with, perhaps someone could have told him about that family and were they might be today.  

The Week of Getting to Know the Mission

We are spending this first week going to Zone Conferences in all four Zones.  We are also meeting with as many Stake Presidents as we can.  On Tuesday night we met with Elder Boom, the Area Authority Seventy for our area.  He and his wife graciously invited us into their home for a wonderful meal.  It was authentic Dutch.  Next week we will meet with the Temple President here in Holland.  I really can't believe we are doing what we are doing--but I am having fun!

Antwerpen Zone in Antwerpen, Belgium

Rotterdam Zone in Rotterdam, Netherlands

The Dutch Language

--I'm speaking it, not the whole time, but when I pray and when I bear testimony.  The meetings are part Dutch and part English.  I am getting to where I understand more and more of what they are saying and talking about.  I have picked up some phrases that I need to add to my vocabulary and use.  Thanks you Sis. DeGroot/Anderson for all you have done to help me get ready with the language for this great adventure.  

Mission Home--Part 2

Here are more pictures of the home and the yard.  Lucky me, the yard work is done once a week for me.  Good thing--I don't have time to do it.  We usually get home around 7:00 or 8:00 pm.  Get some supper and we drop into bed!  Dead tired!!

What we see as we drive up the street.

 As we pull into the driveway.  This is the front door.

 The side yard with the sitting area. 

A nice area to relax.  It is light here until 10:30 or 11:00 pm.

(Summer may be great, but we will get the dark in winter!!)

From the setting area to the backyard.

From the door coming from the living area.

This is the 'water feature' is get to enjoy now.  Early every morning there are ducks in the canal.  Yesterday, they hopped up into the yard to waddle around awhile.  Nope.  No droppings.

 The back of the home.

Another view from the back.

 I love the deck!

 We have beautiful plants everywhere.  I had planned to plant some flowers when I came--I need flowers in my life. Found out is was already done for me!

 Yes, we do get a chance to enjoy the yard a little at a time.

These flowers are all over the front yard.  They are more beautiful than the picture shows.  They had some of these flowers cut and in a glass vase for me when I arrived.  I plan on putting more in the home.

Mission Home Tour Part 1

 Here are some photos of the Mission Home in Leiden Netherlands.  I want to share with you along the way so you can see this beautiful home!  Part 1:

 The Deck with enough tables and chairs for everyone!

 Over on the side of the home, coming out of the dining room, there is another sitting and dining area.

 This kitchen is beautiful and bright.  There is an 
eating area in the kitchen just right for breakfast, last night suppers, and when there is just the two of us.                   

The stove and oven are great.  It's just the instruction manual is in Dutch!

 It all has just the right touch of Dutch and Belgium.  The tile above the stove is beautiful.  Notice the Dutch touches.

These are my two refrigerators.  The Microwave and storage are between.  Yes, there are two freezers also.  Oh, and a refrigerator in the garage!  Just like home. :)

I love the country sink with the front apron.  Oh, and all the fresh flowers.  All the flowers in the kitchen are real or fresh cut!

The dishwasher is just to the right of the sink.

Weekend in Netherlands

What a weekend.  

Saturday, June 30, 2012 we spent the morning shopping for a few things to make it through the week --like food!  For the afternoon and evening we went with two Elders from Den Hague out contacting and teaching.  What a blessing that was.  In one home we visited, Elder Bickman asked me to pray.  So, I did.  They actually understood me!  During the lesson, I understood enough of what they were teaching and with help from the Spirit, I knew when it was right to bear my testimony.  Later I asked how my timing was and they informed me it was perfect.  They didn't realize that I wasn't understanding the whole lesson, and I had just followed the Spirit to tell me the right time.  Wow!  This whole missionary thing is miraculous.

Sunday, July 1, 2012.  Remember on Father's Day I spoke about the 'cosmic pick' Sacrament Meeting, because we had no idea where we would go to church.  Well, we went to the Zoetoemeer Ward. It was Fast Sunday and so I bore my testimony in Sacrament meeting---and they understood me there also.         

Zoetoemeer Ward is home ward to Sister Disere.  Alden taught her and her husband in 1969 when they joined the church. We walked into church and she was just ahead of us walking into the chapel.  Alden touched her on the shoulder.  She turned around and looked up at him.  I watched her as she suddenly recognized him.  I will never forget the love and joy in her eyes as she reached up to hug him.  Tears fill everyones eyes.  Then Alden said, "Ik hou van u!" as he hugged her.  (I love you!)  That was a remarkable moment for all of us.  Later that afternoon she along with her daughter and son-in-law came to the Mission Home for dinner with us. It was a wonderful afternoon. 

 President Robinson helping in the kitchen!

Sister Robinson in the kitchen--some things stay the same!

Sunday evening we went to our first baptism in Gouda.  Again, the Spirit was there and it is amazing to see the Sister missionaries in action.  This was their investigator that was baptized.  I am impressed!  I am blessed!  We are excited to be on our mission. 

The Beginning of the Best Three Years!!!

President and Sister Burbaker

President and Sister Robinson

The Burbakers are wonderful.  The took us right to the Mission Office where we met Elder and Sister Pankratz whom we knew previously and love dearly.  They are the office Senior Missionary Couple.  We feel honored and privileged to work with them so closely for the coming months.

Next, we met Elders Calkins and Klippel.  I just love these missionaries.  What a  welcome we received.  We spent the morning in the office getting 'up to speed' with everything--and dealing with jet lag.

At 2:00 PM the Burbakers took us out to lunch in Leidschendam, in a shopping center close to the mission home.  It was just nice to talk and share with these new found friends.  They have been so very kind, supportive, helpful and through in preparing for this change.  

They drove us to the mission home and we all walked through the home together to help us get familiar with everything.  I want to personally and publicly thank the Burbakers, especially, Sister Burbaker, for the wonderfulness and peacefulness of the mission home.  They chose colors and deco for the home last year as the mission home was build and plans were made to move from Brussels to this new home in Leidschendam.  They moved treasured pieces from the old home that has been collected over the years and have placed them in the home now in such a way as to preserve the culture of both counties, and make it a place the Spirit can dwell.  The home has a feel of peace and reverence.  The Spirit is in the home.  Parents, it is a wonderful place for your sons and daughters to anchor to for 'home away from home' for their missions. 

Around 5:00 pm President Brubaker, Sister Brubaker, Elder Van De Graaff, Elder Van Overbeek, President and Sister Robinson knelt for a prayer of thanksgiving for the wonderful miracle mission work is and for the blessing we each have had and will have to be part of the work.  They took their last look and said goodbye to the wonderful home they have created for the Belgium Netherlands Mission.  Thank you President and Sister Brubaker.  We pray Godspeed to be with you as you now begin a new chapter in your life.  Have a wonderful family reunion when you get back to Utah.  Our love. 

We were told that the mission home was 'above the standard of a chapel and beneath that of a temple'.  It is true.  I quietly walked through the home tonight as I locked doors and turned out lights.  I feel grateful to be steward of it for three years.  We settled into a beautiful home that truly feels like home already!