Week 61 - We can't go through life untouched by adversity, but we can go through life touched by our Saviour.

Goede Morgen Allemaal!

I´m going to try and do better sharing more details of the week's experiences.  Like I mentioned last week, we had transfers on Wednesday and quite a few things changed.  Sounded like I didn´t mention my new comps name.  My bad.  Elder Cook is his name and doing the Lord's work is his game.  He´s a solid missionary.  Really good with people and likes to have fun. I´m excited to serve with him....even though we´ll be going on exchanges almost everyday this coming transfer but I am excited to learn and serve with him.  It´s nice serving with experienced missionaries.  Their dutch is amazing, they know how to do missionary work and it´s so fun to teach in unity.  We´re both guys that like to plan things out but at the same time love to go with the flow.  This past week was a lot of time spent planning for the coming transfer, creating a "zone vision" and then preparing for another zone training this week.  Its kind of nerve racking to work up a zone training the first week.  I think I´m most nervous about teaching the youngest zone in the mission.  Most of the missionaries are younger than 6 months on their mission.  A lot of them are 1-3 transfers out on their mission.  I remember learning "Teaching Skills" in PMG section 10 on my first transfer in the land.  The words that were shared by our mission leaders really impacted me and I´m praying that the Lord will continue to lead and guide me so that I can help the missionaries learn what He wants them to learn in order to help them become more converted disciples in His work.  

On transfer day, a bunch of trains were cancelled effecting how missionaries could travel.  It was a long day at Rotterdam Central. Fortunately, in the end everything worked out.  It was a tad stressful but the Lord has a plan and tries and tests our patience and helps us learn how to react under pressure.  Before my comp left to Belgium, one of our Friends who was baptized not to long ago happened to walk by us at the station.  He got to say goodbye to her and they exchanged contact info.  The Lord and his tender mercies.  

Elder Cook is on his last 4 months. He´s had a good mission and likes sports....voetbal and football are his biggest ones.  Sick.  We're very similar dudes and I feel like he´s going to help me learn what I feel the Lord is trying to teach me here in Rotterdam; how to become a man that lives strong by his beliefs, kind of become like a Moroni guy but at the same time...being a man of fun and jokes.  It's always been amazing for me to hear the jokes that the Prophets and Apostles throw out. They are such spiritual giants and so funny. The gospel is fun. We may come against opposition that may make it feel otherwise, but that´s why we have the words of older and modern day prophets.  To lead and guide us.  To be that example for us.  To help us in the changing world we live in.  How great and blessed we are as a people to have the privilege to hear from such great people such as the Prophets in our time.  I was listening to a talk by Spencer Kimble.  He was given a really long introduction at this BYU devotional he spoke at.  I think it was  BYU devotional. Anways...At the end of this mini biography....he walked up to the pulpit and said something like..."well...the good news is that if I die right now, there won´t be any need for a funeral service." haha.  He threw a bunch of other one liners after but man....to be able to know that these men are truly prophets and messengers from our Heavenly Father is a such a blessing.  Its nice, and it wasn´t the easiest, to know that they are special witness of the reality of our Savior and Redeemer.  

We had a lot to do this week.  Happy to say that everything seems to be working out.  Still working on my presentations but hey....the Lord will never let us down.  We just gotta go pushing forward in patience with hope and don´t let the weather dampen our spirits.  We met someone this week.  A really pleasant and nice person.  Someone who'd think, if you met them on the street, was a really happy person.  You can't help but smile as they smile at you while they talk with you.  It's contagious.  We got to teach him this week.  As we taught him....you could see and feel the emptiness to their happiness.  You could feel how they were trying to so hard to be happy and that they are searching a way on how they could obtain a happiness filled with hope and faith.  I can't get to grips with how amazing people can be.  This person is from a country that is filled with war, sickness and poverty.  They escaped everything as a teenager and made their way to Nederland.  It's really sad to have felt the pain from their heart as they shared how they didn't know where his family was, that everyone just did their best to flee the country where they lived and in the end....they all lost contact with one another.  This person is the oldest of 6 children.  It breaks his heart to not know where his little siblings are, to know if they are ok, to know if they are safe or not, to be left in a world filled with unknowns.  It's hard not to feel his sorrow.  I don't know what has made him seek for Christ, seeing how was grown up in the Islam faith, but he has gained the desire and has been led to want to know Christ.  I feel like he knows Christ can help him.  He just doesn't know how or why. 

How hard it must be for our Father in Heaven to see His children filled with such pain and sorrow, to know how they are feeling, to be reaching out to them, but sometimes, we just can't see his hand reaching out to help us.  As Latter-Day Saints, we know this. We know that He reaches out to us.  We know that He can help us. We have felt the goodness that comes from Christ.  If we don't know anymore, at one point, we did, with surety and without a doubt that He is the remedy to a changed and cured heart.  However, this feeling...this testimony, sometimes becomes lost.  The feeling becomes disrupted.  We begin to forget this sure feeling.  This causes us to forget our Father in Heaven.  This causes us to be pulled away from His arms of love, consisting of light and warmth, filled with hope, to be dragged into a cold, dark, dreary world that seems to want nothing good for us. It's no coincidence that in the end, we are pulled back to the truth we once knew.  Why is it...that everyone doesn't 100% forget God?  Whether it be positive or negative, people always have the thought of God in their mind.  That's because He will never leave us alone.  He tries to bring us back and He helps us to see how we can come back to Him.  The question is, will you take His hand that is stretched out towards you?  Why wouldn't you want take hold of His hand and become enclosed in His arms of love?  The arms of hope and protection. The arms that will help you with all you are in need of.  He lives.  He is real.  He loves you.  At times, this may seem silly.  But know that He truly is there.  The Spirit helps us to know what it is we need to do. 

Moroni 7

   

 11 For behold, a bitter fountain cannot bring forth good water; neither can a good fountain bring forth bitter water; wherefore, a man being a servant of the devil cannot follow Christ; and if hefollow Christ he cannot be a servant of the devil.

 12 Wherefore, all things which are good cometh of God; and that which is evil cometh of the devil; for the devil is an enemy unto God, and fighteth against him continually, and inviteth and enticeth to sin, and to do that which is evil continually.

 13 But behold, that which is of God inviteth and enticeth to do good continually; wherefore, every thing which inviteth and enticeth to do good, and to love God, and to serve him, is inspired of God.

 14 Wherefore, take heed, my beloved brethren, that ye do not judge that which is evil to be of God, or that which is good and of God to be of the devil.

 15 For behold, my brethren, it is given unto you to judge, that ye may know good from evil; and the way to judge is as plain, that ye may know with a perfect knowledge, as the daylight is from the dark night.

 16 For behold, the Spirit of Christ is given to every man, that he may know good from evil; wherefore, I show unto you the way to judge; for every thing which inviteth to do good, and to persuade to believe in Christ, is sent forth by the power and gift of Christ; wherefore ye may know with a perfect knowledge it is of God.

Hope is what is needed.  Hope is the anchor to faith.  As we strive, with hope, to know of God, He will make himself known unto us.  Feast upon His good words that come through the writings of our Prophets.  Speak to your Father in Heaven daily, often and early.  Seek for the counsel and support from those that have been called to help be an advocate for your Father in Heaven on this earth and at this time; the leaders of the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ.  Our Heavenly Father has given us a lot to help us.  The Priesthood, the scriptures, prophets, a church family, His Son, temples....all things to help us come closer to him.  Don't ever let yourself forget who you are.  You are a child of God and you have more potential that you can ever imagine.  Don't let your potential become lost in the cold darkness in the world.  Do all you can do to INVITE God's love in your life.  Do all you can do to ENTICE God into your life.  Do all you can do to FIGHT with God in your life. Well....don't fight with Him but alongside Him.  It may not be the easiest but it will always be worth it.  Christ came to this earth and lived and died so that you could always come back to His Father's presence. 

My friend, who was mentioned earlier, is now working on his journey back to his Heavenly Father.  As we taught him...his countenance changed.  He felt this goodness.  He felt the love of of his Heavenly Father and He felt that truth that he will be helped as he works to get to know his Heavenly Father.  As he invites God into his life to the point where he will see Him more.  We can't go through life untouched by adversity, but we can go through life touched by our Saviour.

Love you all and I hope you have a good week.  Love you and thanks for all your support!

Love, 

Elder Holt  

Front Row L to R:  Elder Krebs, Elder Bitters, Elder Bean, Elder Yocom, Elder Giles, Sister Bradley, Sister Verdegem, Elder Johnson, Elder Moreira, Sister Moreira, Sister Robinson, President Robinson, Elder Bonner, Elder Lott, Elder Price, Elder de Silva, Elder Larsen, Elder Hirsch

Second Row L to R:  Elder Holt, Elder Alston, Elder Heinricks, Elder Bourne, Elder Evans, Sister Whittington, Elder Corsini, Sister Johanson, Sister Clement, Sister Manning, Sister Greenwell, Elder Claflin, Elder Bishop, Elder Toole, Elder Key, Sister Maughan, Elder Rozendaal, Sister Kohlert, Elder Cook, Elder Shaw, Elder Conatti, Sister Jaramillo, Elder Argueta, Elder Neptune, Elder Kemp, Sister Frandsen, Elder Hunt, Elder Lovin, Sister Taylor, Sister Watkins, Elder Thom, Elder Wiscomb, Sister Thorley, Sister Twiggs, Sister Woodbury, Sister Watts, Elder Robbins, Sister Doxey, Sister Voss, Elder Hunter, Sister Fleming, Sister Van Dam, Elder Van Dam, Elder Robison, Sister Robison, Elder Johnson, Sister Johnson
Back Row L to R:  Elder Hulet, Elder Taggart, Elder Andrew, Elder Brown, Elder South, Elder England, Elder Besendorfer, Elder Pouwer, Elder Bonney, Elder Fowkes, Elder Tjong-Ayong, Elder Bishesar, Elder Cooper, Elder Endicott, Elder Reynolds, Elder Silva, Elder Rasmussen, Elder Lundberg 

Week 60 - A Few Questions Answered

Haha, it's hard to decide what to write home with the limited time that is given. I'll try and do better with answering life questions. I'll start off by answering the list that you gave me.  Our apartment is pretty dang sweet.  It's relatively new, it's clean, not too big and not too small.  Actually, we have a really nice view of a really pretty Mosque.  At night it’s lit up and you can't help but be grateful to see it. We can see a bridge called, ''The Erasmus'' which is also lit up at night and also the Feijenoord Stadium...I think we’ve got the best view in the mission.  You can see everything cool.  Yesterday...our appointment fell through. haha we met this man on....Thursday...set up an appointment for Sunday...went to his house...he wasn't home...started walking to our apartment to get lunch and just our luck....we run into the guy who we had the appointment with haha.  He was kinda shocked.  He explained that he couldn't meet this week but we set something up for next week and we got his number. That seems to happen a lot here haha.  We get appointments with people but then they fall through and the people don't really know what they are missing.  

Favourite thing I ate this week....shoot....that's a hard one.  I feel like I ate a bunch of delicious things but I'm going to have to say the Kapsalon. It’s kinda of like a more exotic poutine.  You got fries topped with cheese, a bunch of vegetables, some meat( I usually eat chicken) and some sambal sauce on top. So good.  But, we ate a ton of good food.  I ate calamari and a member made a delicious macaroni with beef mix and another member made a delicious casserole....so many things to choose from.

Well...as for the shoes...I have been wearing the Costco shoes a lot...and they're holding up wonderfully. I couldn't answer the Ecco vs Rockports question...sorry haha.  I haven't worn Ecco shoes.  They probably suck though because they’re not Rockports but that's my opinion. It seems like a lot of missionaries have neither for their proselyting shoes and for things like zone training, zone conference, mission conference and interviews, they wear the ''fancy'' on sale European shoes. Heck...I would suggest Costco shoes...however...if it pours...my feet get a little wet...I just can't stand the thought of my Rockports getting destroyed in the rain so I wear my Costco shoes.  My feet are going to get soaked usually anyways.  

Elder Krebs is a very funny dude.  He has a talent of taking a situation that can be awkward or something that one doesn't really want to do, say something funny expressing what he would like done, and then people laugh and it gets done.  He has been a good example of how much humour can help one be a leader.  For example.  If he sees that something needs to be addressed concerning behaviour...he can say a funny joke or a one liner that totally makes the situation funny while at the same time getting the point across. He's a super good teacher and the missionaries in the zone love him.  It's going to be a bummer after he leaves this coming Wednesday and heads to Brugge, Belgium. He can also take almost every sentence you say and end it by quoting a song or a movie.

The Grossest thing I have eaten on my mission is...there's actually not too many things that come to mind.  I would have to say the Rum chocolate that I bought ( I didn't know it was rum chocolate...on my first transfer I really wanted to try some Belgium chocolate. I asked the lady, who owned the chocolate store what her favourite kind was… she pointed to a rack of chocolates that looked really appealing and said something....I'm guessing she said the flavour but I had no idea what she said.  Anyways...I ended up buying some chocolate...It was like 10 euros for the chocolate!  As I pulled out the first chocolate, my mouth started to turn into a waterfall.  I couldn't wait to eat my first real Belgium chocolate from a real, authentic, Belgium chocolate store. Placed the piece of chocolate in my mouth and boom......tasted like rum.  It was horrible.  I haven't gone to another one of those stores ever since.  I also ate some anchovies from a bottle....that was not good either.  I think the anchovies were expired too.

The hardest thing about being asked to be a zone leader would probably be...well, I still see myself as a brand new missionary.  I see myself as the same old missionary that entered the MTC in November 2013.  Sometimes I forget that how others see me, is different to how I see myself.  I really don't like being the one to advise a missionary to do something different.  Whether it be with how missionary work is done or behaviour.  I would say that would be the hardest; to have to be the one to bring up ''problems''.  I guess it's a good skill to learn.  I do like how you get to work with a lot of amazing missionaries.  It's been cool to see the changes in missionaries.  To see them progressing with the language and with the way they work.  Your motives kind of change to.  You receive your joy from seeing and hearing about the success, miracles or awesome things that the missionaries in your zone experience.  The picture is less focused on you and more on them.  

Coolest thing that happened this week was probably...shoot.  That's a hard one.  Well...We met a lady yesterday who runs a daycare and has adopted a bunch of kids.  She is very faithful and has had many experiences that have helped her come to know that God exists and that Christ is her Saviour; that He is with her every step of the way.  We talked to her for a while trying to set up an appointment or exchange numbers but something was stopping her.  I remember my initial thought was, ''find those that will accept you…''.  I was waiting for that opportunity to say thank you for her time and then move on.  However...the more she talked...and the more I listened...I knew that listening to her share her testimony through her experiences is what was going to help her become closer to her Heavenly Father.  We listened and at the end...we thanked her...and said that we hope to see them again.  She then opened up and let us know where she lived.  We gave her a Book of Mormon and let her know that this book would help her to find that strength and guidance that is needed in this life.  It was pretty cool.  We also met a dude on the street who is a member from Aruba.  He hasn't gone to church since coming here but we're going to be meeting with him this week hopefully!

Weirdest thing...haha.  I don't know where to begin.  Well.  We met a guy on the street.  Started talking to him about the Gospel.  We talked about John the Baptist and asked why Jesus went to him to get baptized.  According to his answer, we told him that the same authority was restored on the earth and what we did helped people to come to know the truth for themselves and helped them become baptized by one holding the same authority as John the Baptist.  haha.  After we asked him what that meant to him...he said. ''Ik wil me laten dopen!''  haha he wanted to get baptized.  Unfortunately...someone yelled at him and told him to hurry up so he took off in a panic.  

The mission has been fun.  This week, as I mentioned earlier, Elder Krebs will be transferred to Belgium meaning that I will be serving with a new companion.  The Elder that will be coming to Rotterdam is a super good missionary.  I've been super lucky with my companions and it looks like that streak’s going to continue. He has 4.5 months left on his mission and is an amazing leader.  I'm excited, nervous and looking forward to serving with and learning from him.  This probably doesn't mean anything....but I thought it was a privilege to be the zone that is receiving all of the new elders that are coming in into the mission this transfer.  At least to my mind...that meant that the Lord will be wanting us to give it all we got to help this missionaries have an awesome start to their mission. Heck...we're getting one of the only 2 new sisters too. We were told that we'll be holding a zone training the first week of the new transfer again haha.  It's always fun doing that.  It's going to be fun!

Love you all and I hope you have an awesome week!

Elder Holt

Week 59 - Many Are Called

This week was fast and good.  I got better from being sick.  We had an amazing meeting and are getting ready for the new transfer coming up in a week.  I wonder what will happen with Elder Krebs.

Shoot....haha I bet Spencer had an awesome time in Honduras.  I can't imagine how different and amazing that would be!  Hard to believe that he's already there doing his thing!  It seems like yesterday when I was sitting in Belgium being informed that he was called to serve in Honduras...wow.  I know he is going to treasure these next couple years as he serves with all his heart with faith and diligence.

Dad’s email was first so I did get to see that he is your new Bishop.  Crazy eh?!  I couldn't think of a man better for the call than him.  Heck...he's got an amazing companion to help him fulfill his call, my mother!  President and Zuster Robinson shared the story of when they were called to serve in Nederland.  Elder Eyring looked at Zuster Robinson and asked if she would take the call as wife to a Mission President.  He said if she said no that there was no need to go forward haha Goes to show how important a spouse is in our day to day lives.  The new Mission President was publicly announced and it is getting weirder and weirder as more of my missionary friends go home. It seems like the longer I sit here on my mission....the faster the time is going by.  Time is a precious thing and things are changing oh so very quickly that I have been pondering on how I use my time to fulfill my calling. 

We read in Alma 13:10-13, how many were called and foreordained. President Harold B. Lee explained that even though we are called and foreordained in the pre-existence because of our exceedingly great faith and good works, we must continue to exercise faith and accomplish good works (in our callings) during mortality to realize the full blessings of our calling.  We were all chosen to perform a certain work while spending time in this mortality. We were ''called'' to perform these certain callings in our pre-mortal life.  Every calling we have or have had or will have, are part of a pre-designed plan through the wisdom of our Heavenly Father. He saw what we were capable of, how we reacted under certain situations and he saw our faults.  He knew what tasks we could help him do.  After being called, we are left with the choice on how well we are going to perform this pre-ordained call.  Yes we were pre-ordained, but because we were pre-ordained does not mean that will fulfill what is needed without putting in the effort.  ''...I fear there are many among us who because of their faithfulness in the spirit world were 'called' to do a great work here but like reckless spendthrifts they are exercising their free agency in riotous living and are losing their birthright and the blessings that were theirs had they proved faithful to their calling. Hence as the Lord has said, ' there are many called but few are chosen' ''  

Heavenly Father is trying to help us all He can.  He will help us in all the situations he finds us in.  Some of us are mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters, cousins, grandmothers, grandfathers, bosses, workers, primary teachers, bishops, ward missionaries, choristers....all of these, in my mind, are callings.  We were all predestined to come here at this time, to be here with the people we are so that we could help as many as possible to come unto Christ so that they too, could receive their birth right in the kingdom of our Heavenly Father.  

I know that our Heavenly Father loves us and that we will be successful, if we seek to fulfill our various callings with His help.  As we feast upon his teachings through the prophets of old and the prophets or our day.  I know that as we prayerfully seek to better our callings and plead with out Heavenly Father to help us...that we will see the joy that comes from fulfilling our preordained call.

I love you all and hope that you have a good week.  Hard to believe that one year ago was when I first enter into the world as a missionary. I thank you all for your love and support and wish you all the best!

Love,
Elder Holt 

Fireworks, Oliebollen and Bronchitis...Happy New Year!

Sounds and looks like it was a blast!  Dang.  Fake New Year’s...Oliebollen...family soccer...charades...games...family...friends...I'm happy that you guys had a good time!  It sounds like it was a good time!  haha I bet Om Geralds oliebollen were de lekkerste!  haha they look like they were well cooked!  haha.  Oliebollen are super popular here and on New Year’s...you got huge line ups at the oliebollen stands in order to celebrate the New Year.  I was amazed that people would stand in line for like 20 mins to get their oliebollen.  Luckily we lived by one of the best oliebollen stands in the city.  Probably should eat a little better considering the amount of oliebollen that we eat this past week.  

So we had to be in our apartment by 4 pm on the 31st of November.  At 3:30 pm, stores had or were boarding up there windows with giant planks of wood. It looked like people were preparing for a dooms-day. I was starting to understand why we were asked to go inside fairly early.  Fireworks are huge here.  It seemed like everyone was buying fireworks.  They were going off regularly but at 6 pm...it was like everyone thought it was 12 am.  Crazy amount of fireworks were going off.  Fireworks and ambulances. I was trying to think how crazy it was going to get when the New Year rolled around at 12 am.  I was sleeping and forgot to set my alarm for 11:55 pm, didn't matter because all the fireworks were our alarm clock.  I never could have imagined what we experienced in Rotterdam.  Fireworks were going off EVERYWHERE.  Some were going off not too far from our balcony. All throughout the streets, close and far.  I can't explain how much of a party it was.  The streets were filled with smoke due to the crazy amount of fireworks...all you could smell were fireworks....wow.  Would have never imagined that.  Pretty dang cool.  The next day looked like mayhem.  Firework boxes and holders over all the streets, and nobody outside.  It was like a ghost town.   

Wednesday morning I woke up with a sore throat.  Started to do all I could to help it get better.  Even slept a lot during the time we were asked to stay inside during New Year’s Eve.  The next day...I woke up with an even more sore throat and feeling not too hot.  We had exchanges planned so I did my best to shrug it off, to get some time in with my missionary friend and to fake it till I could make it…  we had a really good day.  Got to see a lot of cool things.  Filled our day feeling productive and successful.  But by 8 pm I couldn't fake it anymore.  We had to go inside.  Throughout the day I had developed a cough haha.  I stayed in Friday, sleeping and drinking fluids.  Saturday I called Zuster Robinson...let her know what was up and she helped me to see a doctor that day.  Turns out I got Bronchitis...What the heck...I don't remember getting sick like that in San Diego!  So...I've been out of commission for the past couple days.  Doesn't feel good.  These past few days have really made me treasure the ability to be able to do the things I can.  I forgot how fortunate and blessed I was and I'm happy to be reminded of that again.  Heavenly Father blesses us all with so many amazing and subtle things.  Subtle to our eyes.  But in reality...if we think about it...these little subtle things have a great impact on our everyday lives.  This part is for Mom and Grandma.  I got medicine from the doctor and I have been taking my puffers.  All is well.  The cough is almost all gone and I am feeling good enough to not lay down all day!  It's wonderful. 

I really want to get better at seeing all the ''little things'' that my Heavenly Father does for me.  For He does many. James 1:17, ''Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.''  I have a goal to every night...recollect all of the good things that I have or had experienced.  Seeing His goodness will help all to know that he is there and will help open up strength needed to endure.  He exists.  This is a reality.  Let us all enjoy all He has given us and use this thankfulness to not be overcome by the trials we will face.  They will come.  But good will always be with us.  The question is, will we allow ourselves to see this?  Or will we blind and rob ourselves of the truthfulness of His existence.

I love you guys.  It was so nice to see you guys on Christmas!  It was nice speaking with the people on the phone...I love free internet things!  Take care and have a good week!

Love, 

Elder Holt