Scripture Bags from Fillmore Utah Stake Girl's Camp

In August 2012, I was given 24 scripture bags that had been sent to the Belgium Netherlands Mission.  They had been in the cabinet in the Mission Office since December 2011.  Sister Pankratz gave them to me knowing that I would know what to do with them.  I was completely shocked and delighted to find that these scripture bags were made by Young Women and Leaders at Stake Girl's Camp 2011 from my home ward and stake, Fillmore Utah Stake.

Sister Pankratz and Sister Robinson

Here is the rest of the story..............

On August 14, 2012 President and I had President Oddens, Stake President of the Den Haag Stake, and his wife to the Mission Home for dinner.  We wanted to met them and introduce ourselves.  At that time, we talked about the mission plan and the missionary efforts in the Den Haag stake.  At that time, I shared the story of the scripture bags with him and asked if his Young Women's program would assist in this missionary effort. He was very favorable and wanted to talk with the Stake Young Women's President.

On August 23, 2012 I met with Sister Naomi 't Hoen, the newly called Stake Young Women's President. She shared with me that she had felt the Spirit when President Oddens had told her about this project, and after I shared my story, the Spirit again confirmed to her that this was a project she would like the Young Women of the Den Haag Stake to participate in doing. 

On October 20, 2012, The Den Haag Stake Young Women celebrated

100th Anniversary of Young Women Camp

This activity was for all women 11 years of age and older.  They used this activity to make their own bags to put Books of Mormon in and give to a friend, neighbor, family member, co-worker or acquaintance.  The  Relief Society Sisters made the bags and everyone decorated them.  I was invited to tell the story of the Scripture Bags from my stake.  And yes, I actually did it in Dutch.  Wow, I do happen to know the Spirit was with me while I did it.  Couldn't do that on my own!! Not yet.

Here are the pictures from the Den Haag Stake Young Women's Activity held in Den Haag Church on Saturday, October 20, 2012.

 The tables are ready with all the supplies.  Notice the letter in the foreground.  It is a copy of the letter that was sent with the Scripture Bags from the Fillmore Utah Stake Young Women's Girls Camp.  I took several copies so they could see your picture.

 Here are your bags, next to bags that they are making.

 Sister 't Hoen is introducing me to tell the Story of the Scripture Bags from Fillmore Utah Stake and how this whole activity began.

 The Young Women were great!  

 Afterward, Sister 't Hoen gives instructions on how to make a bag.

President is in the back.

They served 'camp food' at the activity.  Yes, sandwiches.  Isn't that the universal camp lunch?!?!

 Then the fun began!

 As I watched the Young Women begin, I could see the same frenzy happening on a sunny summer day at Girls Camp 2011.  Young Women of the Fillmore Utah Stake, the Young Women here in the Den Haag Stake had just as much fun as you did in making the Scripture Bags.

Decisions, decisions, decisions!!

Some are waiting for their chance.

It was a delight to watch the Sisters, young and not so young, working together on this wonderful missionary project.

Everyone helped and as we say in English,

'Many hands make light work'.

The R.S. Sisters were busy sewing as Young Women and 

other sisters decorated the bags.

Yes, I got a smile out of them!

Thank you Sister 't Hoen for your efforts and testimony to make this

activity a reality.

This is the Gospel--Happiness and Service.

I just love the Young Women.  Ronja Vreven is in the purple shirt.

(I couldn't get her to look at the camera)

I loved watching everyone helping everyone.

Fillmore Utah Stake Young Women--this is

SENDING OUR LOVE AROUND THE WORLD AND BACK TO YOU

The following scripture bags were give to the Den Haag Stake.

Suzannah Coats

Julie Jackson

Kambell McPhail

Shaylee Anderson

Mariana Rodriquez

MaryAnn Swallow

Leona Moat

Maylee Stevens  

Maylee's scripture bag

was given to Ronja Vreven.

A part of the letter sent with the scripture bags read: 

"Through your missionaries could you make sure one goes to 

Ronja Vreven in Holland"

I personally gave the bag to Ronja and gave her a hug

from all the Young Women in Fillmore Utah Stake.

Sister Robinson with Sister van der Put from the Lelystad Branch

My testimony:  Thank you to all of the Young Women who made Scripture Bags at camp in 2011.  A special thanks to those who made the bag that were sent to the Belgium Netherlands Mission.  I do not believe in accidents or 

coincidences--I do believe in a loving Heavenly Father who takes our small offerings--our few loaves and fishes--and feeds thousands.  Miracles are wrought  by small and simple things.  This was a small and simple thing on a summer afternoon at Girls Camp up Kanosh Canyon, but look what has happened.  Hundreds of people will be impacted before the ripples of this activity have ended.  The Lord is feeding the five thousand right before our eyes.  Thank you.  I feel so very humbled to play a small part in this beautiful story.

Another Friend Along the Way

I would like you to meet Ejad Androun.

 Ejad and President Robinson

Ejad and Sister Robinson

Ejad's Story

President and I are always looking for new and different ways to share with the missionaries to help them find contacts and investigators.  In August we sent out 24 introductory letters on Church letterhead that basically introduced us, told about a message of hope and happiness for everyone, would you please give us 10 minutes of your time to share this message with you when we call on you sometime in the next two weeks.  Our names and phone numbers were on the letter and we signed it.

We fasted and prayed for an area in our neighborhood that the Lord would have us deliver the letters.  We found one an apartment building not far from the Mission Home and picked 24 families to receive the letter.

One family was Ejad Androun from Sierra.  He actually called us the next day for an appointment.  We taught him three lessons, and gave him the Book of Mormon in Dutch, later in Arabic.  When it became obvious that he was not all that interested in the gospel, we do as all missionaries do, dropped him.  He, himself, had no idea why he let us in because it is so out of character for him to do that kind of thing.  Well, we left friends and grateful for the opportunity to get to know him.  We learned about his family, and that they were safe after the uprising and killings in Sierra during August and September. 

Out of the blue, Ejad called us and invited us over for dinner at his apartment on Monday, September 17, 2012.  Reason:  He missed us and enjoys our friendship and talks.  He and President have similar "sense of humors".  It was a great evening, he served steak--the first I've had since Keyhole Beef in Flowell.

In turn, we then invited Ejad to our home for dinner on Monday, October 15, 2012.  We had a great dinner and Ejad shared more of his life's story with us.  It is amazing what this man has done in his short life.  He is 33 and never been married.  Quite a remarkable man.  He told us he was moving to Belgium in November.  We will miss him. 

I don't know why the Lord had us met and develop such a great friendship.  He looks to us a lot like parents, as well as friends.  We are going to miss him.  Only the Lord knows where this will end. 

Family in Zwolle Ward

We worked with the Elders from Zwolle on October 10, 2012.  We did some look up and call back that didn't turn out to be productive, so we went knocking on doors.  It is always a pleasure to do that with Elders.  I really learn a lot when I go with Elders.

 President Robinson, Elder Stanley, Elder Leach, Elder Culkins and Elder Li (Zone Leaders there for a quick pickup of their phone)

Outside the Zwolle Ward Meeting House

We knocked on the doors up and down the street.  Finally, we knocked on the door for house #33.  Both Elder Leach and I thought it was going to be a luck door.  We were both excited to discover it was a young family.  The children were under 10.  The father listened to what Elder Leach had to share, but said he had no interest.  When asked if he know of anyone that might have a desire, the man gave us a name and an "I think he lives at #18 over on another street" and he gave us the name of the street.  We were not sure if it was a real referral or a practical joke. Non the less, we looked up #18 and it was the real deal.  Very nice young father who had almost given up looking for the truth.  He asked very thoughtful questions as Elder Leach shared the message of the Book of Mormon.  We left him a Book of Mormon and our contact information, as well as information to get on the church website.  I felt the Spirit as Elder Leach taught at the door.  I know this young father felt it also.  He also had two of the cutest boys ever, maybe with the exception of my grandsons of course  :).  

We next had a lesson with a progressing investigator.  In the middle of the lesson he bore testimony that he knows the church is true and that the Book of Mormon is true. Also, he expressed his great desire to go to the temple and have his family sealed together.  Then added that he wants to be baptized.  So, November 17 he will be baptized.  Then a week later he will baptize his 9 year old son who is waiting for his dad.  Mom and older brother are already members.  I love seeing forever families. Well done Elder Stanley and Elder Leach.

P-Day in Den Helder

Another interest of President's is the Redding Boats of the Netherlands.  Redding Boats are the boat that use to be rowed out into the North Sea to rescue crew and passengers on ships that had run aground, or were capsizing, or in other dangerous situations.  It has been especially acute due to the fact that President Monson has called for the "Rescue" by our missionaries and members.  President Monson has even found a picture that depicts what he so urgently feels. It is a picture of an old redding boat, the kind that had oars in it,  rowing out in a stormy sea toward a founder ship while a mother and children huddled on the shore watching and waiting for word of the safety of their loved ones.

So, President wanted to go to the Redding Boat Museum in Den Helder.

 Aboard a older Redding Boat  (forerunner for what we call the Coast Guard)

 The Elders found the interactive displays.  We call this picture 

"Off to the Rescue"

Elder van de Graaff, Elder Ellis, Elder Hansen, Elder van Overbeek

 Light hearted moment on the boat tour.

Sister Robinson, President Robinson, Elder Ellis, Elder Hansen, Elder van Overbeek 

Notice the bridge in the background.

 Here's the bridge.  Didn't leave much head room.

 Under we go!

 Our boat captain and co captain--ages 17 and 16 respectfully.  The other three are on the tour with us.

 Back on shore we found the final photo op.

Elder van de Graaff, Elder Ellis, Elder Hansen, Elder van Overbeek

Thanks Elders for a great day.  I really love hanging out with the Missionaries.

More Wonderful People

After a great day in Ieper, we went back to President Willlims' home for dinner.  His wife had so graciously prepared for us a wonderful meal.  I love the warm welcome we receive from the Dutch families.  

Front row:  Elder Ombach, President Willims, his granddaughter, Sister Willims,

Back row:  Sister Robinson, Elder Merrill, Bro. Willims (his son) and President Robinson

Thank you for the day and the wonderful visit.  It was our pleasure to meet you and get to know you and your family.

Ieper Belgium

I mentioned on the Mission Blog a little about our P-Day in Ieper, Belgium with the some of the missionaries from the Antwerpen Zone.  It really was a remarkable day.  President's Grandfather Christensen was part of the "Lost Battalion" during WWI.  That battle took place in France.  However, the opportunity to visit sites of WWI was meaningful and important to us.  Here are the pictures of the day.

 A part of the group at a WWI Cemetery in the city of Ieper.

 It was beautiful and peaceful here by the canal.

 Group Photo

Sister Hinchcliff, Sister Robinson, President Robinson, Elder Van Rij, Elder Ombach, Elder Praag, Elder Klippel, Elder Huff with the Book of Mormon held high, Elder Moscon in the shadow, Elder Stoddard, Elder Farmer, Elder Mathis, Elder Merrill, and Sister Jones.  Kneeling is one of our tour guides, a member of the Kortrijd Branch.

President outside the wall of Ieper.

Joined by Elder Huff and his Mighty Dutch Boek van Mormon!

Group photo with President and...the Boek Van Mormon!

Centrum Ieper

Behind President and to the left is what is known as the "Cat Tower".

The public buildings were all destroyed in WWI, however, because the blueprints to all public buildings has been move to a location outside of the city, the blueprints were not damaged and everything could be rebuild as it originally was prior to the war.  There are a few touches that are not original however.

I love the old Flanders Dutch buildings.

The rest are from the various cites we visit outside the city of Ieper.

Trenches on Hill 62 where the British held out against the Germans.

Original shell blast craters.

The trenches with Elders walking the length.

More shell blast craters.

The other end of the trenches.

Original blasted tree stump from WWI.

Perhaps you have heard of the story during WWI when, at Christmastime, the soldiers heard the singing of 'Silent Night' by the enemy and began singing also.  This resulted in both sides coming out of the trench into what was called "no man's land" to spend Christmas.  They actually spent several days between Christmas and New Years.  They talked, played football, buried their dead.  All against the General's command.  Eventually, they went back into the trenches to begin the battle again.  Well, this site is about a mile from where that incident actually took place by Ieper.

Our last visit was to the British Cemetery.  It was raining by then with President under the red umbrella, me under my gray coat.  President Willims helping me out with his umbrella.  


Thank you President Willims for a memorable day.