Week 64 - Blessed in Rotterdam

Elder Holt and Elder Cook

Shoot.  This was probably the fastest week yet.  It's hard to see that we're in week 4 of the transfer already.  It's hard to remember all of the stories' exact details but I've seen how better one can remember the feelings or impressions of the past.  

We started off the week with doing service for a family in the ward.  We ended up priming and preparing to paint their house.  A missionary and I ended up being attacked by a child of the family who covered us in primer haha.  Sad to say instead of turning the other cheek we attacked back which ended with us all being covered in primer....which wasn't the easiest to get off. We thought it was water based...we ended up having primer stuck in our ear for a couple days but it was all worth the laughs and fun.  

We taught the most lessons that I have taken part in while serving in Rotterdam.  As we were evaluating our week and we looked at our goals and results...we noticed that we had been blessed with many opportunities to share the Gospel and let people know about the restored Gospel.  The same went with the whole zone.  Shoot it made everyone happy.  

This past weekend one of our friends in Rotterdam was baptized!  They had been learning about the church for 3 or so years and felt like it was their time.  It was insane how many people showed up.  It was as big as our Sacrament meeting service.  Tons of their family and neighbours were in attendance and you couldn't help but feel the love that was all around as our friend was baptized.  They asked if they could be confirmed with the Holy Ghost right after so that all her friends and relatives could be there to witness, see and take part in their special day.  People came from all parts of Nederland to support their friend that they had met throughout the years.  Dang it was special.  

We have our friend, who has been working towards baptism for the past 9 weeks or so, working towards their baptism this coming weekend.  They're a super good example of dedication and setting priorities straight.  Our friend has a ton of Christ-like attributes and I feel that they have no idea that they posses them.  Maybe that's the secret.  To not try to see what you posses but to see what you want to posses and do all you can to obtain them. 

We made lunch for one of our Dutch Omas. Don´t worry...she lived.  She even said it was lekker.  We´re going to be making dinner for members this week as well.  Going on a streak of serving the people of the ward and building our love for them.

After painting...we were asked a question by a family member of the family we served while eating dinner.  We were asked why we decided to return or to stay on the path of following of Saviour and she didn´t want the answer...´´I felt it was true through the Holy Ghost...´´ This was a nice reflecting question to answer.  I had thought about this question many times before but I haven´t thought about it recently.  After thinking about this...and continuing to think about it throughout the week...3 main reasons came to mind:

1. I´ve been happier and am happier and will be happier with the gospel a centre point of my life. 

2. As I come to know the teachings and learn more and more about the Gospel...everything makes sense and I gain a better understanding and peace about the world and the events that are happening with in it.   

3.  Because I have come to know it´s true by seeing the changes in my life and the lives of those around me as they apply the principles that are taught in the Gospel.  These changes all are positive.  They are all changes that help us as we seek for a good life. 

I have this mentality now...I am planning on keeping it forever...but I feel at one point...everyone thinks or has thought the same thing, but through time...fall away from this thought and forget their converting feelings.  I´ve been thinking about how this could be avoided as we go through life.

Mosiah 3:19 For the natural man is an enemy to God, and has been from the fall of Adam, and will be, forever and ever, unless he yields to the enticings of the Holy Spirit, and putteth off the natural man and becometh a saint through the atonement of Christ the Lord, and becometh as a child, submissive, meek, humble, patient, full of love, willing to submit to all things which the Lord seeth fit to inflict upon him, even as a child doth submit to his father.

Here we read the importance of becoming as a child.  Submissive, meek, humble, patient, full of love, willing to submit to all things that the Lord seeth fit to inflict upon us.  Why is it so important to aquire these attributes?

D&C 29:47 Wherefore, they cannot sin, for power is not given unto Satan to tempt little children, until they begin to become accountable before me;

Here we are taught how little children are saved through the grace of Christ because they are held unaccountable.  But I found it interesting how this could be related to those who are older as well.  I feel like that the more we become as a child...the less influence the adversary will have on us.  The more that we become dependant on our Heavenly Father, the more we put Him into our thoughts and decisions (Alma 37:37)...the more we allow the influence of Christ into our hearts...which in return makes us more spiritually strong.  And we all know as we become stronger...the less power the adversary will have over us.

The Gospel is true.  We may fall into doubts every now and then.  It happens.  But we make mistakes to learn.; to have experience.  Christ suffered so that we could fall and make these mistakes in order to be brought back up and back into the presence of our Heavenly Father.  His atoning sacrifice is real.  And it works.  Look at those around you who apply the Gospel in their life and know that you can also do that.  Use the power of the Atonement to help you and know that your Father who is in Heaven and our Saviour await for us all, including you, to come back to his presence.  Through our daily repentance, and following the guidance from our Church leaders, we become as little children. Smile at the steps forward no matter how hard they seem to be and only look towards your Saviour who is waiting for you at the top

Love you guys.  Have a good week and keep on, keeping on.
Elder Holt