January 12, 2015
I'm making it through the winter, slowly but surely. It's not too
cold, so nothing to complain about there... it's just the wind and rain
that make it hard. At least I'm in a car and not on a bike when I'm in
Alkmaar. (I apologize to all those missionaries who bike. I've been
there, too.)
Anyways, today's email won't be
too long, because we went shopping in Zaandam earlier today, and I don't
have much email time. I'll try to give you the good stuff.
This
Tuesday, we had interviews with the mission president and his wife. I
always look forward to those -- some people don't realize just how big
of a role the mission president and his wife play in the lives of the
missionaries they work with. I love President and Sister Robinson. Our
interviews were during district meeting in Amsterdam on Tuesday
afternoon. When it was our turn, they pulled me and Elder Pouwer out of
district meeting. First was my interview with President. It was going
well -- we were having a good talk. He asked me a question about back
home, and I started to answer, but while I began answering, I watched as
his head started nodding..and nodding..and then he was asleep. All
within about five seconds of asking me the question. I just sat there
for a little bit, not exactly sure what I should do... "Are you a little
tired?" He sits up straight again. "Just...closed my eyes for a little
bit there. It's been a long day." I thought it was hilarious. Like Elder
Moreira, the area 70, once said, if the mission president is falling
asleep in meetings after two and a half years as mission president, you
know he's been doing a good job. Haha.
On
Wednesday, we were on exchanges with Hoorn -- I worked with Elder
Womeldorf in Hoorn. It was cold and windy. We taught a lesson in
Enkhuizen, and the lesson went a little long. Right after, we got a text
from our dinner appointment, canceling -- something came up. I said,
jokingly, "dang, we're working hard, and our dinner appointment doesn't
even go through! We have to eat!" We took the train back to Hoorn
afterwards to make some lunch. It was around 3 PM. We made some great
burritos (I'd like to say that Elder Womeldorf can make good Mexican
food because he's from California, but I'm not sure if that's
stereotyping or not). I thought it wouldn't be a bad idea to eat a lot,
especially since our dinner appointment had just canceled. Right after
stuffing myself, we got a call from a member, inviting us to eat out
with her and her son that night. To an all-you-can-eat Japanese/Chinese
buffet. I don't know if I've ever been so full as I was that night.
Making room was a challenge. In conclusion: don't complain about not
having a dinner appointment, because Heavenly Father will give you a
blessing so big there won't be "room enough to receive it."
We
had splits in Den Helder on Thursday, and...that was probably one of
the hardest days of my mission. Elder Crowson, a young missionary
finishing his first month, and I hit the streets of Den Helder, in the
cold rain. We then watched all of our appointments for the day fall
through. Bummer. It wouldn't have been so difficult, except for the fact
that the rain was wrecking us. Elder Crowson's bike broke, so we had to
walk the whole day. My gloves were so soaked that I took them off -- my
hands were warmer in the cold, wet wind than they were in the soaking
gloves. My shoes and socks were soaked all the way through. As was my
jacket. I remember knocking doors, counting off the hours until we had
dinner. We endured, though, and ended up finding seven people that day,
which was definitely a miracle. In conclusion: things may be horribly
awful. But, it gets better.
On Saturday, we
participated in a blitz in Amsterdam, led by the Amsterdam ward mission
leader. Right when it started -you guessed it!- the rain and the wind
kicked in hardcore. I'm pretty sure it blew everyone off the street,
because there was no one to be found. Elder Pouwer and I just went down
the street doing bell-ups. We didn't find anyone that day. But while I
was nearly being blown off the face of the earth, I realized how much I
love this windy, rainy little place, and how much I'll miss it when I go
home. I might as well keep enjoying it while it lasts.
Oh,
before I forget -- Aafje had her baptismal interview on Tuesday. The
district leader, Elder Nielsen, came up to do it. I waited outside with
Aafje's middle-aged daughter. They came out, and Aafje had a huge grin
on her face. I told her, "congratulations, you passed!" She just winked
at me and said, "psh, of course I passed!" Of course. Since then,
though, she hasn't been able to remember if the prophet's name is
Nielsen or Monson. We have to help her out on that. Thanks, Elder
Nielsen. I'll have to ask him about what he told her during that
interview...haha.
She was baptized on Sunday,
and it was a great service. The members stand behind her 100%. She'd
asked me to speak on the Gift of the Holy Ghost in the service, and that
was definitely a privilege. She was so happy. Maybe she is 79, but she
says she's planning to live until 102, and that wouldn't surprise me.
So, she's still got 23 years left to be a solid member of the Alkmaar
branch. ;)
And that's all for today. Stay dry.
-Elder Bonney
 |
| Elder Pouwer, Br. de Bruijn (he baptized her), the queen Aafje herself, Coen (he stood in the corner -- Aafje wanted another one in the water just to feel safer), and yours truly. Right before the baptism. |
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