Speaking in Church

I've been a little lax in keeping up to date with all the wards and branches we speak in each Sunday.  On December 23, 2012 we spoke in Vlissinging Branch. Elder van de Graaff and Elder Ipson are serving in that branch. 

President Robinson

 Elder Ipson vacuuming after church.  President is really helping.  He's pointing out a crumb or two.

 Branch President van Eijzeren and his family invited us for lunch after church.  Here is the family.

 Elder Ipson, President Robinson, Sister van Eijzeren, their son, President van Eijzereen, their daughter and Elder van de Graaff

Elder Ipson, Sister Robinson, Sister van Eijzeren, President van Eijzeren, their son and daughter, Elder van de Graaff

Sister van Eijzeren is a wonderful friend and we have emailed. I marveled that I could read and understand it.  Hooray for me!  Maybe, just maybe I'll get the hang of the language!

Lieve zr. Robinson,

 

Hallo! Hopelijk alles goed met u en uw man.

 

Elder Van der Graaf en Elder Ipson zijn woensdag aangekomen in Vlissingen!

Gisteravond hebben ze bij ons gegeten en ze zijn fantastisch...

 

We vinden het heerlijk dat we weer Elders in Vlissingen hebben en we zullen hen helpen met alles wat we kunnen.

 

Vandaag gaan ze proberen een fiets te vinden.

 

Melissa en ik zien er naar uit u weer te zien op 11 november in Antwerpen!

 

Lieve groetjes uit Vlissingen,

Sjac, Birgitta, Melissa en Björn van Eijzeren.

We love the van Eijzeren Family.

Candy

For Sinter Klass on December 6, children from the Netherlands get a special kind of candy--maarziepijn (not spelled correctly) It is an almond paste with sugar in it to make it sweet.  It is pliable like play dough. Way cool. 

What makes it unique is the candy can be made into different shapes.  We had friends deliver some to us.  I sent some home to the grandkids for Christmas but it was not as cute as these critters.  Next year I have to go on a better search to find the good stuff!

For Christmas, they have a raisin bread and when you cut a slice, there is maarziepijn in the middle.  Great surprise.

Our Favorite Thing

Our favorite thing is to work with the Elders and Sisters.  On Friday, December 14, 2012, we worked in Groningen with Elder Davis and Elder Wayman.  It was a cold day, but it was a lot of fun.  

That evening, Elder Wayman supported a ward Christmas Program and we went with Elder Davis on a first contact on a referral from Salt Lake City.  This is a man that had requested a Book of Mormon.  So, off we went to the next adventure.

The family was a man and wife, Wil and Thea from Leek. This family travels to America a lot.  They absolutely love UTAH!  They were so impressed with how friendly, warm and helpful the people are in Utah.  They couldn't believe that everyone is that same way--friendly, warm and helpful--anywhere they go.  They have never experienced that in any other place they have visited.  They went to Temple Square and knew there was something different there also.  They learned about Joseph Smith and heard of the Book of Mormon and filled out a referral card.  

Elder Davis and President taught  the first lesson and they kept asking, "But what make the Book of Mormon different, and your church different from all their others?  We don't want to join your church, we just want to know what the difference is."  It was wonderful to share the restored Gospel of Jesus Christ.  We shared the last two paragraphs of the introduction of the Book of Mormon with them and shared the promise of the book also.  But the most powerful experience was when first President bore his testimony of the Book of Mormon and than I bore my witness.  I was in tears because the Spirit was so strong and Thea was crying also.  When I finished, we just sat there for a moment and then, as I wiped my tears and apologized, I commented it's just "vrouwen" (just women) and we all laughed.  That was a turning point.  After that experience with the Spirit, they committed to read and pray for themselves to know if it is true.  President and I have a real love for this couple.  Don't ask me how that happens with people, but it does and it is real. I look forward to going back to visit with them the next time we are in the Groningen area.

Wil and Thea Kuit with President Robinson

Notice the pictures on the wall--every wall in their home is covered with photos of Bryce Canyon, Zion's, Cedar Breaks, Great Basin National Park, Monument Valley,  and Canyonlands National Park.  

They love hiking in slot canyons.  We have a lot in common.   I ALMOST got homesick as I looked at all the photos.  Some were so close to Lake Powell!!  But the Red Sandstone cliffs and buttes and that deep blue Utah sky---wow, I miss that sky.  You NEVER see a blue sky like that here in the Netherlands.  

The Blessings Never Stop

On December 9, 2012, President Robinson had a most unique and spiritual experience.  He was invited to stand in the circle of a baby blessing.

Here is the beautiful family.

Sister Robinson, Sister Dezaire, President Robinson, Phillip, Christina Marie and baby Phillip.

Sister Dezaire and her husband, Joseph, were tract out, taught and baptized my Elder Robinson in 1970.  Christina Marie is their daughter.  Baby Phillip is the first child of Phillip and Christina Marie.  They live in the Den Haag Ward.

It is always a joyful day when we cross paths with Sister Dezaire.  And I always get tears when they greet each other with a hug.  The first thing she always tells President is "Ik hou van uw." 

And President always replies, "Ik hou van uw, ook."  

(I love you. I love you, also)

 Here is Sister Dezaire holding her grandson, talking with Phillip and President Klijweg, the Den Haag Temple President.  President Klijweg's daughter is married to Sister Dezaire's son, David.

 Lunch afterward in the Cultural Hall.

 They asked the missionaries to stay for the lunch.

Elder Praag, Elder Li, Elder Taylor

This is Sister Dezaire's son, David and his wife, their two boys, and President and I.

The blessing that topped it all off for us was when Christina Marie told President  he now had a new grandson in the Netherlands.  Isn't the Gospel of Jesus Christ a beautiful thing.  I am positive that the Elder Robinson in 1970 had no idea the blessings of that one family baptism would still be unfolding 43 years later. 

Update on Scripture Bag

I just want to share with you how the following bags were used.  

It is really remarkable. 

Abigail McPhail

Daisha Elvin

Kathleen

Liz

Sydney Condie

Lorena Enriquez

Hailey Kesler

Alicia S

Lydia Koyle

Daisy Bray

Sariah Swallow

Leisa

Adela Maxfield

These scripture bags were part of a truly remarkable miracle.

Sister Annemarie Janssen, the newly called Stake Relief Society President for the Antwerpen Stake, was sustained just a week prior to our stake activity.  This is about her and her family. 

Sister Janssen's 8 year old son was planning his baptism, and as he is the only member of the church in his class, he wanted to invite his whole class.  Bro. and Sis. Janssen supported that and helped him invite and plan for his classmates to come to the baptism.  All classmates came but three.  Afterward, the classmates were very interested in knowing more about the church.  Sister Janssen is a member of the parents council for the school, and at her next meeting with parents (many who attended the baptism with their children who are classmates with the son) asked Sis. Janssen about 'this Book of Mormon' and when was she going to tell them about it.  

Well, at the next meeting, Sister. Janssen walked into the meeting with a whole shopping bag of gifts--the scripture bags listed above all with het Boek van Mormon in the bag.  After the meeting she passed out every bag.  They were received warmly.  Sis. Janssen said she felt like Santa!

Here is the email that she sent me to report the event:

Hi Sister Robinson,

here's my report:

Yesterday evening we had a school counsel meeting with a few parents. I entered the meeting with my big shopper full of the scripture bags with a book of Mormon. Some wondered what I brought with me, and I told them it was a present for after the meeting. And after the meeting I showed them the bags and the book of mormon. I told them the origin of the book and that the young women from Utah made these bags for this country so I could give them away. It looked like santa claus. They were really happy and also enjoyed picking out the nicest bag. A father came to me and asked me more about it. Since I joined the parent counsel of the school I thought he could be the twin brother of Elder Hans Boom. The father is called Hans Bruneels. And he is going to read it. I could feel it. He looks like Hans, he is a man of his words. And I know now why I had to give away these books of mormon. Because of him! The scripture bags were the perfect items to open a conversation and to give away 13 books!

Thank you so much for saturday! The sisters gave perfect classes and to decorate our own give away scripture bags was an enjoyable activity. And thank you for the extra bags that I could give away yesterday.

Love Annemarie Janssen - Muurling

Young Women, thank you, truly thank you, for your Scripture Bags.  Little did anyone, except the Lord, realize how far reaching this was going to spread before the scripture bags found a home.  I don't think the ripple effect is over yet.  It is so evident to me that the hand of the Lord has been in this from the beginning.  No one could have planned this, organized it and made sure it had such a happy conclusion thus far.  I marvel and stand in awe at how the Lord's work rolls forth when we truly do our very best, He takes our 'loaves and fished' and we see miracles.  I am humbled. 

Scripture Bag Story in the Antwerpen Stake

The Antwerpen Stake also participated with the Scripture Bags that were made by the Fillmore Utah Girls Camp 2011.

On August 16, 2012 President and I met with the Stake President of the Antwerpen Stake, President Boom, for a Special Zone Training of our Elders and Sisters in his Stake.  At that time, I shared my story of the Scripture Bags from the Fillmore Utah Girls Camp 2011.  He was very impressed and asked that we met with his Stake Relief Society and Young Women's Presidents to talk about doing Scripture Bags in the Antwerpen Stake for their member missionary efforts.

So, on August 28, 2012 President and I drove to Breda to visit with the two stake auxiliary presidents.

Sister Van der Waard, Stake Relief Society President, and 

Sister Van Gijsel, Stake Young Women's President

 After sharing my story of the Scripture Bags, we were all tearful and felt the Spirit, and then the ideas started to flow from them.

Sister Van der Waard and Sister Van Gijsel

 Before they left Breda, they were excited and since they had traveled to the meeting together, had the long ride home to start brainstorming to take information back to their presidencies.

Front row:  Sister Van der Waard and Sister Van Gijsel

Back row:  Sister Robinson and High Councilor from Antwerpen Stake.

They planned a wonderful stake activity for all women of the Antwerpen Stake.
The theme was: "Sending Out Our Love"  
So on November 10, 2012, President and I again attended a wonderful event and shared our Scripture Bag story.  And yes, I did it in Dutch again.  This time I had it written down!

Following are pictures from the activity.  Half the group worked on decorating their Scripture Bag.  The other half were divided into three groups.  The Sister Missionaries taught these workshops.  The Sister Missionaries taught the sisters how to present a Book of Mormon to a friend, family member, co-worker, neighbor or acquaintance.  They were taught to briefly tell about the book, share why the book was important to them and how a place in the book that their friend or acquaintance could read from--a shot story, a favorite scripture, something that has answered a question or concern in their own life.

 Sarah, in the yellow sweater, is one of the newly baptized members in the Antwerpen Ward.  I think she glows with the Spirit.  She is so happy to do missionary work.  After the activity, that evening she went on joint teach with the Antwerpen Sister Missionaries.  Within 12 hours of this picture, she had her baby.  Mom and daughter are doing fine.

Sorry this is blurry.  This is the only picture I have of these wonderful sisters.

The workshop were great.  The Sister Missionaries were thrilled to be a part of this experience.  Thank you Sister Missionaries!

Sister Jones and Sister Hinchcliff serving in Antwerpen

 Sister Herring and Sister Davies currently serving in Dordrecht.

Sister Gallego and Sister Gardner currently serving in Amsterdam

The wonderful Stake Young Men's took care of the child care for the mothers.  I think everything was in running smooth.

Food for the kids while they watched a movie.

 Someone to watch the door! :)

 Sharing goodies.

 Thank you Brethren, for you help and support.

 Bags for 'Het Boek Van Mormon'

 Sister Van de Riet is in the dark blue jacket.  She made five bags and took five Boeken van Mormon home to Eindhoven.  She is a wonderful sister and member of the church.  Sister Jones, our missionary, is role playing with the two sisters on how to give het Boek van Mormon to a friend or neighbor.

Our own super Sister Hinchcliff.

 Two sister practice their role play on how to tell a friend about het Boek van Mormon.  The young woman reading the Book of Mormon on the right is a nonmember that came with a friend.  Afterward, she requested to receive a Book of Mormon in Chinese. It was a great day for missionary work.

More role playing.

Our very own cooks for the day!  Thank you brethren.

 The Priesthood support was so appreciated.

 The desserts are ready, just waiting for the Pumpkin Soup.  By the way, THAT was delicious!

President Robinson wanted me in some of the pictures....so

see if you can find me.  (Like 'Where's Waldo')

I could not resist this--runaway from the nursery.

 And another!  I miss may days of teaching and being with kids.
I can talk with kids.  If I speak slowing, they understand me!  

Lunch is served.

Melissa and Sister van Eijzern.  These two, mom and daughter, have become fast and valued friends. I think Sister van Eijzern and I hung out in the
 Pre-Existence-just for fun.

I so enjoyed the day with the Antwerpen Stake.  There is excitement and love from these sisters to do missionary work.  I love them for their willingness to be bold and talk with friends, neighbors and family.  It is not any easier for them in the Belgium Netherlands mission than it is for members in the Fillmore Utah Stake to share the Gospel with nonmember friends, neighbors and family.  Yet, I witnessed over 70 sisters in the Gospel of Jesus Christ show they were willing to do just that with het Boek van Mormon.  One important thing I have learned while serving, I was not a very good missionary my whole life--I thought I was, but I know now, on a deep level, what the Lord expects from us as members.  We are under covenant to open our mouth and invite others to Come Unto Christ.  We will never convert anyone, we are here to invite and help.  I love these sisters so very much for living their life as 'covenant keeping women of Christ' and inviting others to Come Unto Christ.  The day I leave the mission field and return to Fillmore Utah Stake, I will know how to be a member missionary because I have watched and felt the example of so many valiant members in the Belgium Netherlands Mission.  Dank u wel mijn zusters voor je voorbeeld te predick de herstelde evangalie van Jezus Christus.