Week 16: "Don't think, with the last sheet in sight, that whoever comes next will be alright."

September 30, 2013

Hey guys! This week actually went by pretty quickly. It was nice. I can't believe that Monday is here already again... Time is a funny thing on a mission. Some weeks are like days; some are like months.

I'll have you all know that I managed to find a new bike for sale, not too expensive. Then, I went and bought a good lock. Like, a really good lock. Oh, fun fact: if you go to tell the police that your bike was stolen, and it didn't have a city tag or whatever on it, they will respond with, "Okay...? Go steal another! Just don't let us see." So, yeah. That's cool.

Between my bike getting stolen and me getting a new one, our thug less-active friend (who I will start referring to as 'Chile') let me borrow his 800 euro mountain bike. Which was awesome -- it works really well, and is really fun to ride. Except...one day, Elder Toole and I are riding home from an appointment with our ward mission leader. We somehow decide to start racing. Now, Chile's bike can go fast. Like, really fast. Elder Toole and I are cruising, then there's a light... I think I'll be one cool cat and skid to a quick stop. Chile's bike says otherwise -- its brakes work really well. When I brake before the light, the wheels both immediately stop, and the bike flips over, back wheel over front wheel. All I remember is Elder Toole lifting the bike off of me, and getting up, with torn suit pants and bloody hands. Oh, memories.

We went back down to Brussels this past Friday for legality reasons -- I picked up my Belgian residency card. There were about 25 missionaries there. Between the time we finished and when our train left, we had about 2 hours, so we got some food and went to see the famous gem of Brussels: the 'Mannekin Pis' statue. I don't know if I have been so disappointed by a statue... He's so small! I'll attach a picture. Like... I have no words to describe this. I knew he'd be a small guy, but I thought he'd be a little bigger.

On Wednesday, we spent most the day in Antwerpen for a zone conference. Our mission President (President Robinson), Sister Robinson, and President Boom (Antwerpen stake president) spoke. It was inspiring and enlightening. President Boom shared a common Dutch saying with us, which translates into "don't think, with the last sheet in sight, that whoever comes next will be alright." Yes, he is referring to toilet paper. But, he said that we can't make the assumption about the gospel that someone else will share it if we don't. Now is the time. We are the responsible ones. There are souls to be saved, and we're called to find them.

Missionary work is still hard, but good. I'm learning things that will help me throughout the rest of my life. If my companion and I are working hard and doing our best, then we are successful missionaries. And, if we can bring a few souls to Christ while we're at it, all the better.

Oh -- and I'm super stoked for Algemene Conferentie (General Conference). More stoked than I've ever been.

Stay cool, stay true.

--Elder Bonney

Elder Toole, Elder Bitters (who was in the MTC with Elder Toole and me), and yours truly, standing in front of the disappointing Mannekin Pis statue.

 Elder Cook and me, reunited at zone conference -- the dream team.

Week 15: "Dude, where's your bike?" "You have got to be kidding me."

September 23, 2013

Hey everyone!

Another week over. I wish I could say it was an especially exciting week... But, it wasn't. Though I will share some highlights.

So yes, my bike was stolen. Again. I don't know what it is, maybe I'm just really unlucky, but getting my bike stolen is rather annoying. As soon as I found out, I called up my thug less-active friend from Chile, who used to work in a bike store, to ask where a good second-hand bike store is. He came with a friend to go to this bike store with me and Elder Toole. They were asking 240 euro for a decent USED bike. Needless to say, I'm still working on my bicycle situation. Though our friend did say he had friends who could get me a really cheap, good bike...illegally. We had to decline his offer.

What else happened this week... Well, our previously golden investigator is now a Jehovah's Witness, super anti, and he thinks that "all Mormons are stupid." Elder Toole and I found a few new investigators. Just standard missionary work, really. I have no cool stories. Though, Elder Toole and I have been getting really close with the less-active members here in Kortrijk. They really are great people, just got a little sidetracked on the way. They're my favorite -- they invite us over for dinner, love to talk to us, and I'll miss them tons when I eventually leave.

The zone leaders came down from Antwerpen to do splits for a few hours on Thursday. It really made me realize how much this is the Lord's work and not our work. I was with a really good elder who is a few months away from the end of his mission. We were knocking some doors in a nearby town, where many people are Belgian, born and raised. And he couldn't understand ANYBODY, the dialect is so hard to understand. I then realized that I don't understand a lot of people in this area, either. Then, I took a step back to look at our situation in Kortrijk -- the Lord put two second transfer missionaries, who both started learning Dutch in June, in a city where we don't understand a lot of people, and a lot of people have trouble understanding us. No logical person would do that. But, He knows better. If we work hard, He'll provide the success. There are always miracles as a missionary. I've seen the Lord's hand more than once on my mission.

Well, back to the grind. Remember to pray for all the Lord's missionaries. We need it. Tot volgende keer.

Fight the good fight, finish the race, keep the faith. Or something like that.

--Elder Bonney

Week 14: "You guys are Polish, right?"

September 16, 2013

This week was definitely an improvement on last week. A slow week, but I feel good about it.

Elder Toole and I have been pushing onward and upward. We got dropped by a few investigators this week, and we ended up doing a lot of finding -- which entailed a lot of knocking doors. We made some good appointments for this week, but we ended up not teaching too much last week.

So on Saturday, Elder Toole and I followed the counsel of our ward mission leader and biked out to this little town, Rekkem, to do some finding. It was a 45 minute bike ride, and we were biking in some of the strangest rain I'd ever seen. EVER. (Thank you, Belgium.) It wasn't even raining hard -- it was like a really thick mist. Like 100 percent humidity. I'm pretty sure I got wet in places I didn't even know I had. Anyway, we get to Rekkem, and we knock doors for about four hours -- no success. No appointments made, no good potential investigators found. But, one guy did answer the door, and because of my accent when speaking Flemish (I sound a lot more genuine when speaking Nederland Dutch, but Flams is hard), he thought that Elder Toole and I were from Poland. Nope, just Mormons. Also irrelevantly relevant -- some guy came up to Elder Toole and I on the street and asked if we were twins. That was funny, because we don't think we look anything alike (maybe all Americans just look alike).

In church yesterday, I realized that every Sunday in Kortrijk thus far, I've been sitting with these four older ladies. They talk and joke with me, and I adore them (I'm sure they adore me, too -- how could they not?). It's like having a bunch of grandmas. It was a funny realization -- it's like I'm part of some exclusive club. I love it. When I eventually get transferred, I'll miss my Kortrijk Branch family.

Lately, I've been really thinking about my calling as a missionary -- missionaries are called to be representatives of the Lord, Jesus Christ. 'Representative' is a big word that means a lot and carries a lot of responsibility. So, one of my goals has become to be as Christlike as I can, especially when dealing with those I teach. It's not easy, and I'm not perfect. I often wonder if I appear to stiff or fake, though I do my best to be loving and real. But, yesterday evening, Elder Toole and I were sitting in our apartment. An inactive member (the same one who ripped the porn off his walls six weeks ago or so) called to talk to me, and said that he was having a rough night, and he "just needed to talk to a friend," someone he knew cared about him. Few things touch your heart like that; a moment like that makes the whole week, however long, worth it. "Representative of Jesus Christ" is starting to mean a whole lot more to me than it used to.

This Gospel is true. It changes lives, and I'm blessed to have the opportunity to share the great message that He lives and loves us, more than we could ever know.

Stay true.

--Elder Bonney

Week 13: "So what do you use to brush your teeth?!"

September 9, 2013

Well, it had to get hard at some point.

This past week has probably been THE most stressful week of my life (though that is debatable). Where to begin...

Well, this past Wednesday, I said goodbye to Elder Eastmond and welcomed Elder Toole. Essentially, I said goodbye to experience and welcomed responsibility. Before I say anything about my companionship, I would like to preface it with this: I love Elder Toole; he has a heart of gold and is a great, sincere missionary. Now that I've said that... We simply cannot overlook the fact that neither he nor I has much experience. Since I've already been in Kortrijk for a transfer, I'm expected to 'take over' the city. Speaking a foreign language. Of which my companion speaks even less. But, I started off optimistically -- this would be the "transfer of miracles," I said. It would have to be. Shortly after I made that statement, I was informed by this crazy excommunicated lady who attends our branch that our star investigator has become a Jehovah's Witness and no longer wants to meet with us (so far unconfirmed). And, one of our Muslim friends told me I need to change, or I'd face hellfire.

It's been a rough week.

A crazy man came up to Elder Toole and I this past week when we were walking somewhere. He started talking AT us in rapid Flemish. I could understand a portion of what he said, but he was using a lot of words I didn't know. Elder Toole had no clue what was going on, and this crazy man could tell, so he switched to English. Then he told us about how 1) our solar system is going to collide with another solar system this December, 2) the governments of the world know this and have prepared large shelters which can only house half a billion people, and 3) said governments are thus trying to kill off 6.5 billion people so there are no problems with the shelters. He then proceeded to tell us how the governments are killing people -- the obviously fake war in Syria, cancer-causing cell phones, and many other ways -- including through fluoride. Those sneaky governments! Our friend (his name is Maxim, but don't tell anyone; the Belgian government might find out and try to shut our freedom fighter down) told us that fluoride toothpaste was deadly! By now, as you can imagine, I'm panicking. I need those white teeth! Almost shaking with shock, I ask him, "So how do you brush your teeth?!" "The solution is simple, but less known - I will tell you. Simply use toothpaste... WITHOUT flouride."

Glad we solved that.

I had a fever on Thursday, so we stayed inside most of the day 'cause I was sick as a dog. But, being stuck inside made me feel like a horrible missionary, so Elder Toole and I went out for a few hours in the afternoon (not the best idea for my health, it turned out, but no matter).

I got to witness a baptism this past Friday -- one of Brugge's investigators got baptized. It was a really good experience, seeing the fruits of missionary labors. Elder Toole's old trainer, still serving in Brugge, turns to Elder Toole and I, and says, teary-eyed, "that's what it's all about, guys."

That's what it's all about. Helping people come closer to Christ. Not to mention the Kortrijk branch is still my absolute favorite -- so adorable. That's why we're sticking it out in this little Belgian town. There are ups, there are downs, there are times you think you'll die of stress, but you need to remember what it's all about.

Until next week. Use toothpaste carefully. I hope to see you all in the shelter this December.

--Elder Bonney

Elder Eastmond and my last minute together. We had bought matching ties. I miss that elder.

 Elder Toole and I, taken a couple weeks ago on P-day -- before we knew we'd become companions.

Week 12: "Which street corner would be most comfortable for sleeping on?"

 September 2, 2013

Hello everyone!

Once again, I am strapped for time. Our branch president is giving Elder Eastmond and I a P-day tour of Ieper, a historical WWI city. We have a train to catch. But first, gather round, boys and girls. I have a story to tell.

Last Thursday, my companion had to go up to the mission headquarters in Leiden, Nederland, with another missionary in our district -- Elder Bishop. So, we had exchanges: I would work with Elder Toole, Elder Bishop's companion, in their city in Brugge. On Wednesday, we met up with the Brugge elders and the zone leaders at around 9 PM in Gent, another city in our district. As our companions drove off with the zone leaders, Elder Toole (who is also a greenie) and I watched them drive away in shock and realized we had no clue where we were. We eventually found the Gent elders and their apartment (where we were supposed to stay the night), and everything was okay.

The next day, Elder Toole and I got to Brugge. Now, Elder Toole and I were in the MTC together -- he was in a different district, but we know each other pretty well. We've both been out for about six weeks now. He is a great missionary, but he has big struggles with Dutch. It was okay, though -- we had a day of miracles, and through knocking doors, ended up finding two new investigators and teaching two unplanned lessons. As greenies! Super cool. As we finished one lesson, we turned the corner, high-fived, and I said, "who needs our trainers? We should just be companions!" While moon-walking down the sidewalk. We had a good laugh -- of course we need our trainers! There's no way we could do it without them. I mean, we've only been out for six weeks.

Elder Toole is my new companion.

Transfer calls came in yesterday, while Elder Eastmond and I were biking home. I heard Elder Eastmond say, "Apeldoorn? I'd love to." with a look of shock on his face. That was the moment I knew he was leaving me -- I picked up my bike and threw it into a bush on the side of the road. On Wednesday, Elder Eastmond is becoming a zone leader and moving up to Apeldoorn in the Netherlands. Elder Bishop is becoming the new district leader and getting a new greenie. And Elder Toole is coming down to Kortrijk. We'll be co-senior companions together (and once you go senior, you rarely go back). So, we had our junior-companion childhood stolen away. I guess it's time to be responsible. Time to have more faith than ever before.

This also means that my address stays the same! For those who have been wondering, my address is:

Elder John Bonney

Jan Persijnstraat 20/B3 bus 1

8500 Kortrijk

Belgium

Any letter will get here from America with three forever stamps. If you've written me a letter -- I love you.

Keep calm and carry on.

-Elder Bonney

PS -- The photo is from last week on P-day, taken in Brugge. I'm with some sort of troll (I refuse to believe he's a devil). I was not comfortable in this picture. His hand was touching my back.

 

 

 

 

Week 11: (In a mosque) "...are you guys converts?!"

August 26, 2013

Well, it's about that time again. Time to try to connect with the real world.

This week was a little slower than the past few weeks, but it was definitely a good week. Started off well -- Elder Eastmond and I set a baptismal date with the investigator from last week, the one with the dream. And, that's just a snippet of what's happening in Kortrijk. This city is on FIRE. (Not literally, my constantly soaked body is telling me that may not even be possible for this city.) But seriously, the Lord is doing work here, and I'm blessed to be a part of it.

So get this -- Elder Eastmond and I are basically the coolest Christians in Kortrijk right now. At least, in the eyes of Kortrijk's large Muslim community. I guess I need to start the story on Wednesday evening...

On Wednesday, Elder Eastmond and I ended up having hardly any time in Kortrijk. We had zone training that morning/early afternoon, so we were in Antwerpen until about 4 PM. We hopped on the train, headed back to Kortrijk, and got there around 6.30 PM. After getting home and eating some dinner, we hit the streets to find some people and do some lookups. We run into this Somalian guy (not a pirate) and start talking to him. He's Muslim, and we're having a good discussion. Then, two of his buddies show up (also Somalians). We sit on a bench, talk for about 45 minutes. Then, they invite us to go to their prayer service on Friday. Woah. We ask them if they'd go to church with us sometime if we went with them. They said for sure. We agree, then head off.

Between then and Friday, Elder Eastmond calls our mission president, President Robinson, to see if something like this is even allowed. Turns out, it is, and President thought "it would be a good experience." So, we meet up with these "brothers," and head over to the mosque with about seven Somalian Muslims, one of which is acting as a sort of tour guide. We take off our shoes and walk in the mosque, the only one in Kortrijk. There are literally hundreds of Muslim men in this mosque. They all start praying, and it was basically the coolest thing ever. We were there for half an hour or so - the only two non-members there. After it ended, pretty much everyone shook our hands. One kid, eight or nine years old, came to us and said, "Zijn jullie bekeerlingen?!" (Are you guys converts?!) Nee, alleen bezoekers (no, only visitors). It was pretty great. Afterwards, the Somalian crew had us over for dinner, and we had a good discussion with the "brothers." They all agreed to come with us to church next Sunday, and they were sincere. They had some serious respect for us after we went to their church.

Fast forward to that evening, and beyond -- almost every relatively devout Muslim man in Kortrijk knows Elder Eastmond and me now. And they all wave at us, shake our hands, or acknowledge us in some way. We feel like superstars. It's the best thing ever. They used to give us weird looks. Now they smile at us as friends.

Life is good. Transfer calls come next week, and Elder Eastmond and I are praying that we both stay here to see all the baptisms that will inevitably happen in Kortrijk next transfer. I love the people in this city. But, my address may (but probably won't) change as of next Wednesday. We'll see. I'll know by next Monday, and I'll keep you all posted. Thank you to everyone who has written me -- letters here are few and far between, so they're so great to get. Remember, three forever stamps, and it'll get here!

Tot volgende keer. Stay true.

Elder Bonney

Week 10: "This isn't funny. I left my bike right there."

Hello again! Another week is done already, seriously? By the end of this week I'll have been in Belgium for a month. Time flies when you're doing WORK!

Let me start with a short story that exemplifies the frequently shown attitude here. So on Tuesday, I was on exchanges in Sint-Niklaas, another city in our district (yes, with the same name as Santa). I was with Elder Pouwer, another greenie who was in my MTC district. That in itself was a cool experience -- doing real work with someone I was taught with back in the MTC. Anyway, we're out doing some street contacting. We contact this girl who's just sitting in the town centrum. We introduce ourselves, then this guy, holding a glass of beer, who is walking a few meters away with his buddy sees us. He yells, "Americans?" "Yeah!!" responds Elder Pouwer, enthusiastically. Oops. This guy yells some unrepeatable things about us and our country, the tries (unsuccessfully) to throw his beer on us. Since that doesn't work, he throws his beer glass itself directly at us. Fortunately, we dodge it, and he misses again. But, he did hit the window behind us, shattering it. He hurries away with his buddy. Then Elder Pouwer and I finish talking to this girl like nothing had happened. It was a weird experience. So, yes, people in Belgium aren't always the nicest.

On Wednesday, all the recently new missionaries went to Brussels for legality reasons, so I got to see my MTC buddies again! It was an awesome reunion. It's like they were all in a different country or something. Oh wait... They were. Shared some stories, caught up a little, then we were torn apart again. So is it.

Elder Eastmond and I are tearing it up here in Kortrijk. There are definitely people here who are ready for the gospel. Cool experience -- we were teaching this one lady (one of the many who are so ready for the gospel), and she said she'd had a question for years. After ten minutes with her, she said we'd answered it. She also told us of a dream she'd had two weeks before (I won't go into detail, it's a special thing), and she saw Elder Eastmond and me in a dream. I speak the truth. We challenged her to baptism and she accepted. The message we share is real.

So, there has been this summer festival going on in Kortrijk for the past three days. It's been pretty crazy. And I'm not sure what happened, but somehow, sometime yesterday my fiets (bike) was stolen. MIJN FIETS WERD GESTOLEN. I think Satan stole it.

Keep cool. Tot volgende week.

--Elder Bonney

PS -- I finally remembered to send some pics. First one is me with Elder Eastmond and a guy from Gementee Kortrijk, Aaron Leman, at his farewell. Now he's in the South Africa MTC. He's a stud.

The other picture is my district, all of west Flanders. It was P-day and we went to a sweet castle in Gent. Everyone else is wearing normal clothes because they planned to play frisbee afterwards. And forgot to tell us Kortrijk elders. Because they hate us. And I don't know what my companion is doing (he calls it his "thug face," I think he does it to make friends).