Wednesday, transfer day, actually went pretty smoothly, considering we had 6 suitcases and 2 bikes to get to Utrecht, then Leiden, and then to Amsterdam and Lelystad respectively. Broeder Van Drogen, our favorite old dutch member man, drove with our suitcases to station and waited with us on the spoor until we got everything loaded on. Then there were missionaries waiting for us at Utrecht to help with all the stuff. Zr Maughan and I sang on the train ride for the last time together. I miss her beautiful voice so much already! So Bittersweet. Also, an investigator called us back while we were on the train! We'd left a message before, but it was good to get the actual goodbye in and officially invite her to accept contact from the elders. God is good.
The rest of transfer day was fun. There is a jovo member here in Lelystad, Christiaan, that was randomly at Utrecht station so he rode with us the rest of the way back it was so funny and random. I got to see Zr Kimmons, Karlson, Hopkin, Ramirez, so basically all my former companions! It was awesome :)
I was thinking about it the past couple days, and those 6 transfers that Arnhem was open for sisters were just a wonder. I am So grateful I got to serve there for the 3 transfers I got, and I know it was no accident. I learned a lot there. I will definitely miss those people!
But the people here in Lelystad are also super cool. This place is just booming as far as missionary work goes. Zr Jones is one of the most bubbly, happy people I've ever met in my life, so it's been real fun so far.
Fun fact: This area of the Netherlands was pumped out of the ocean in the 70s or something, so it's pretty new and modern. We're below sea level, and there are dikes that Zr Jones said take 2 hours to bike across. :)
We watched a session of conference with these investigators. They made us a super dutch lunch (broodjes) and after conference was over, she said "Everyone needs to hear this!" She loved conference. There were a few times where the speaker would say something, and she'd say "daar heeft 'ie gelijk in" (he's right about that!) and just agree with him, it was so funny and adorable and awesome. She also gave us some cute spoons afterward. Now I know why the sisters have just been calling her Oma. She's so adorable!
I really loved how they focused on the Sabbath day, following the Holy Ghost, where we can gain a testimony, and just being different from the world! It was absolutely 100% what I needed! I'm excited to re read Elder Hales'talk. So applicable for us now. My mission has definitely been preparing me for my future family, that is something I'm seeing more and more, and I loved Elder Nelson's talk, when he said, "raise a SIN-RESISTING generation" :) That was so powerful. I loved that. Also the encouragement to testify with Clarity and to have Courage to speak the truth from Elder Schwitser was awesome.
I can't wait to watch the Sunday afternoon session and priesthood session and sister's conference session! I'm sure they were awesome as well. :)
I love you guys!
veeeeel liefs
Zr Watts