Belgium Netherlands Mission

This week was awesome. We had Zone Training on Tuesday in Zwolle and it was fabulous. We talked a lot about faith and receiving revelation. One of the workshops focused on the difference between Emotions & Revelation. One quote I really liked was "Emotions can end in a finite extravaganza, but the fruits of the spirit are eternal... Emotions draw on the flesh" I think it was by Elder Holland (?) In another workshop, we talked about preference vs conviction. The zone leaders started off by asking us what our favorite colors were, and then they immediately responded negatively by saying "terrible choice" and stuff like that. Then some people changed their answer or said things like, "but I also like green" after the negative response. It was a cool activity to help really illustrate the need to be convicted in our beliefs and faith. We read JSH 1:23, 33 where Joseph talks about how there were so many people against him, but he was able to stand up for what he believed to be true because (v 25) he had a conviction of his beliefs. 

Super good stuff.

We had exchanges right after zone training and the next day as Zr Huber and I were waiting for our train to exchange back, this guy came up to us. He was tattooed all over and had massive gauges and was carrying all this super professional camera gear. He came up and started talking to us (in english) as we were eating our lunch. "Hey are you mormons?" 
".. yes!" 
"Oh well I'm sorry I'm just going to say this, I think you guys are a cult. I mean, I don't know much about you guys, I've only seen an episode of like Family Guy or something but I think you're a cult. You have polygamy, right?" and all kinds of funny things. It was a really funny conversation. He was super cool though, because he was willing to listen. We had a cool conversation and he took our card and said he'd come to church sometime. He was funny :) Love when that happens.

Also when we were on the train going to Zwolle to exchange back, this man was walking along as the train was moving and he fell on one of the sisters. It was hilarious and also awkward.

An appointment this week was LOVELY. We talked about the word of wisdom and she was super receptive to everything. (She basically lives it all already.) At the end she kind of just looked at us and blurted out, "I want to get baptized! I just don't know when or how all of that works, but I just know I want to" We DIED of happiness. :) So we set a date. Which is the week after transfers, so I'd better stay! Otherwise I guess I'd just come back, but still. She's wonderful. All we have to teach her now is the law of chastity, which I'm pretty sure will go down great. :) She's amazing. 

We accidentally forgot to call someone to cancel our appointment because we'd be in Zwolle on Tuesday, and they were really upset so we made cookies and a nice card to try to say sorry, but then the cookies got burned and it was just a hilarious situation. Until I realized that I had gotten cookies in a package from my mom, so I used a few of those, and it was a miracle and now he isn't mad at us anymore because we gave him cookies :) BLESSINGS

Saturday was a cool day where we just ran into a bunch of former investigator people randomly and timing was just great and it was a miracle and a half because we haven't been able to get a hold of them in a while. So we were really happy about that. :)

I'm so grateful for my experiences here and for my companion :) Love you all! have a great week!
Zuster Watts

Okay sorry now you're all singing that song, but SERIOUSLY this week has been so good mostly because I can now officially ride my bike with no handlebars, but also because it was just full of a lot of fun and awesome things :)

This last Tuesday was Zr Kimmons' 6 month mark! So we celebrated by cutting up an apple and putting cinnamon and brown sugar and whipped cream and a little lemon juice on top and it was just lots of fun :) She's the best.

We had FHE with a Familie on Wednesday, and their little 4 year old daughter, asked zr K and I if we take our skirts off over our heads or if we pull them off the bottom.... haha her mom was so embarrassed and we just laughed. Sorry, maybe that was inappropriate but she was just adorable and asked it so innocently. We love that family!

Our friend or investigator came to instituut this week and we were just so happy to have her there! She loved it and we're excited that she had an opportunity to meet more members. She and zr K downloaded the gospel library app on her phone, so now she's been using that to study as well. She's the COOLEST.

6 Tools to an Amazing Life:
1. Never forget who you are and where you came from
                "you are remembered by the most majestic person in the universe. You are loved by the king of infinite space" Dieter F Uchtdorf
2. Attack this day with enthusiasm never before known to mankind
3. You can do hard things
                Exodus 3:11-12
4. Focus on the things you CAN control: the things that are important. (sometimes all we can control in a situation is our attitude about the situation)
5. Don't be afraid to make mistakes
              Deut. 31:6
              Matthew 25: 15-18, 21-29
6. Count Your blessings, Not someone else's
              Make a list tonight of the things you do well, and thank God for them. Don't show anyone the list, but keep it for yourself to have.
+ bonus number 7. Understand that God loves you and has a plan for you. 
             "[the love of god] never changes... it is not changed based on your talents and abilities... it is simply always there." T.S. Monson

There was so much more from President and Zuster Robinson as well as Elder Bourne, and the Sister Training Leaders that I wish I had time to share, but it was just an incredible day. I loved seeing everyone. Only 13 of the people who were there were at the last zrs conf. Because everyone else is new! There were so many new people to meet as well, so that was fun.
We have such a good mission!

Yesterday was one of the best Sundays ever! Our friend was there (this is her 5th time in church!!) as well as a recently baptized guy so we were very excited. We had an appointment with our investigator, whose brother and father are members, and she was super cute. She was very encouraged and enthusiastic to read again. She's the cutest.

We also had an AMAZING appointment with a member referral (LOVE those). She's a lady from Poland, has lived here for 15 years, and has a 15 year old daughter. They are the most adorable pair. The daughter is so cute, and her mom is so patient and loving to her. The mom took alpha courses (religion classes from protestant churches) and is very religious, but she told us "I just feel like I know a lot about the bible, but I don't know how I can truly talk with God. I need to know what he expects of me and what he desires. I want to be able to make him proud of me and make Him happy!"
We had a really good appointment, and when we left, we may or may not have skipped down the road... what? haha we were really excited!

Groningen is so good and I am just so grateful for the blessing it is to be able to serve here. God is so good and He knows us. This week was so good, and there were also some hard moments, but I'm learning so much about forgiveness and about charity and it’s just is so good. There aren't words enough to express it. I'm so blessed with a companion that lets me cry on her shoulder if I need to and that makes me laugh so hard my stomach hurts every day. I'm so blessed to have loving members who are doing missionary work too and who give us food because they're awesome. I'm so blessed to be surrounded with people who make me feel loved and important, and happy. I'm so blessed to have the gospel in my life and to have this perspective that gives me so much hope and joy. I'm blessed to have a place to sleep and food to eat and a bike that hasn't had a flat tire yet. I'm blessed with a knowledge that my family is being taken care of back home and that Heavenly Father is watching over them and loving them. I'm so grateful for everything that I've been given and I can't even believe how much God has given me. 

That doesn't mean that my life is easy, but, it's just so much richer with the gospel. It's so much more full of hope and direction and I'll never stop feeling the joy that comes from the knowledge that He loves me and you and everyone.

I LOVE YOU ALL!!!! 

have a good week and don't forget how special you are!
I'm gonna go and ride my bike no hands now :D
Zuster Watts

First week of the transfer and we're off to a good start. We had so much fun!

On Wednesday we were knocking doors and there was this guy who answered at one point. His name was Carl, but with the way they pronounce it here, Zr Kimmons thought he said "Cuddle" and then after as we were walking around on the street below, we caught him looking out his window every time and it was just awkward as ever. haha We also were biking by the centrum about 30 minutes later and he biked past us! We died laughing. It was hilarious. Maybe you had to have been there. 

There's just so much to tell and my mind isn't very organized today. 

I've really enjoyed transfers on my mission because each one is an opportunity to look back at what exactly I've learned and the progress I've made. I definitely feel like I'm more confident in my Dutch and in my teaching skills. I'm learning a lot about humility, true faith, and charity. And so much more. I love being a missionary! 

The sweetest experiences are the ones where people open up and we as a companionship are given the opportunity to just bear pure testimony about the cleansing, empowering impact of the atonement. It's so cool.

We had some super cool lessons this week with multiple investigators where we were all just able to be so open and honest with one another and it felt so good :) Zuster Kimmons is so good at showing love to people and just being genuine. I'm grateful for her. We're being so blessed right now with people who are really seeking for the gospel. Groningen is WONDROUS.

My brain isn't working I'm just sorry
Promise this week was amazing, I just am running out of time and I don't know how to compile this all into one letter. 

I love you all!
Zuster Watts

Zuster Hopkin is gone! And it feels so weird. Transfers never feel real, and then suddenly, BOOM you have a new companion.

Change is good, but it's always just... different  ^_^Transfers feel like forever ago, and this week flew by. It feels like Zr Kimmons and I have been companions for longer than just 5 days, but it's the gospel truth.

Every new companion has a couple days where they are surprised that I talk in my sleep, but eventually they just get used to it. It's embarrassing but also funny. Apparently I was setting some baptismal dates in my sleep this past week, as well as bearing my testimony about the sacrament, and then talking about how much I love stroopwafels. All of this was in Dutch, so that makes me feel better. haha more updates to follow next week. Maybe we'll make that a weekly feature: "While Zuster Watts Was Sleeping" or something. I don't do titles. haha

Zuster Kimmons is hilarious! We just sing songs all the time and talk in southern accents to each other and it's wonderful. I'd like to thank my mom for teaching me how to do a southern accent. My texan companion was impressed with my southern drawl. awe yeah ^_^

We got a new bishop on Sunday, which nobody was expecting, and the daughter of our new bishop let out a very loud gasp when the stake president announced it. It startled all the people around her so it was just a very dramatic moment and we all laughed. haha

We had a couple really cool miracles:
1. I felt like we should go and look up a couple people randomly that we'd been trying to get in contact with, and they were finally home and were able to make appointments, so that was cool :)

2. All this week it's been so sunny and today I'm just wearing a t shirt with a jacket (we're playing volleyball with the district at the church today) SPRING IS GORGEOUS HERE

3. Our investigator friend told us she wants to be baptized, she just doesn't know when yet! aaaaah!!!! She's wonderful.

4. I got to hold a bunny and a small cat at the same time. I'm becoming such an animal person on my mission I feel like I'm not the same person anymore. It's wonderful

5. I got a new bike seat and achter slot (nice type of bike lock) for freeeee and also a bike seat cover! I feel so blessed and lucky!

6. My companion and I get along so well and this transfer just seems like it is going to be such a good one! :D

7. We got permission to go to our Amsterdam investigator’s baptism in Apeldoorn this last Saturday, and it was just such a sweet experience. She's a doll.
          I'm loving life here. 

My favorite scripture:
In Matthew 26:47-50 we read of the betrayal of the Savior. I noticed in John chapter 13 that it says He washed the feet of all the apostles, even Judas. A few chapters later (John 15:13-15), Christ says, "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." And then in the betrayal, he calls Judas his friend. When I read that all of those things just clicked in my head and I just wanted to cry. It was beautiful. Christ loves us all, even those that betrayed him. 
We need to have love for everyone and be willing to forgive, no matter what they did to wrong us.

LOVE YOU ALL

So this week was what they call "crocus vacantie" (crocus vacation) or "voorjaar vacantie". It wasn't harder to get appointments though, like we were worried it would, so that was nice. The north is gorgeous this time of year! They just don't mow any of the lawns because all of these purple crocuses and white blue-bell-looking things start popping up and the grass is basically just covered in purple, white, and yellow! It's incredible. I love it!

We went to the monument of the first baptism in Nederland last Monday as a district and we all cleaned the monument and jumped the canal and had a picnic. After, the Romigs (the missionary couple in Groningen) took zr H and I to this Klompen factory. It was super cool! [We love the Romigs! Missionaries who get to serve with couples are extra blessed.]
Zr H and I bought two pairs of mini klompen that we're going to hopefully paint and then swap one with each other :)

It was kind of a hard week to begin with because on Monday one of our investigators had her neighbor call us to tell us that she didn't want to meet anymore, and then the next day we had two appointments in which 2 other investigators told us they didn't want discussions anymore either. So that was... rough. But then we met with Karin van der Velde (who lived with the Reese's on a student exchange program about 5 years ago) and it was so gezellig and she was so sweet that it made up for the hard couple of days! She made us this delicious pasta and we just talked about a billion things. It was so good to see her! :)

Zone Conference was also this week. We had a little mini break-out session with just the Zusters and Zuster Robinson, and it was SO good! We talked about the three things we need to believe in order to have a firm foundation:
1. Knowledge that God exists. That's the easy part (for most of us.)
2. A Correct of idea of God's nature, character, and perfections. Basically, knowledge and a testimony that He is perfect. 
3. Knowledge that my life's direction is according to his perfect plan and will. This is the hardest one to truly have. It doesn't mean that our lives will be perfect, but that we see the wisdom in the difficulties and trust that God knows what he's doing and that our trials are exactly and perfectly what we need to go through to be able to learn.

We spent the most time talking about that last one and it was just really impactful and incredible. I wish I had more time to write about that. But then she played "Glorious"By David Archuleta, and we all just had a cry session and the spirit was SO  strong!
Then they surprised us by showing us Meet the Mormons at the end of the conference. It was soooo good!

Fun things this week:
- zr H and I got a mini pizza to share because we were craving pizza
- we met a crazy guy on the train on the way to Apeldoorn, and it was.. interesting.
- had many close calls with crashing into each other as we were rushing to get places.

We found out last night that Zuster Hopkin is getting transferred to Dordrecht! :( We're both sad that we only got one transfer together, but luckily we'll both be in the same country for the next year ;) Being her companion was so refreshing and so wonderful and fun! We had a good time together. 
My new companion is Zuster Kimmons, who is from Texas! She was actually our sister training leader's companion so I've been on exchanges with her and we're just going to have so much fun.

Also! This Saturday and Sunday was Stake Conference, and on Sunday I ran into someone I would've never expected to see: An investigator in Amsterdam that we kind of switched off teaching with the elders in Zaandam, but she was at the Apeldoorn stake conference. I was super caught off guard but we talked and I asked how it was going with taking the lessons, and SHE'S GETTING BAPTIZED NEXT WEEK! Ah! I'm so sosososooo happy! Miracles!

So many other great things this week, but not enough room in my head to compact it all into one or two more paragraphs!

Veel liefs, Zuster Watts