Viola is officially a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. The baptismal service went really well, especially since the members helped us out a ton! Great people. Viola was really happy, excited, and definitely prepared, so that was great to see. Then she got baptized and she looked a little bewildered and really happy as she came out of the water. Super cool =) The next day, she asked me to confirm her. CRAP! So I hurried and memorized how to say the beginning of the prayer in Dutch and thought I had it down (don't get ahead of the story). But we went up there, and the words totally just left my head. Crap. I remembered the first line, but couldn't remember the rest. So I repeated the first line, paused, then hurry and tapped on the member's shoulder next to me. He helped me to say the rest of the beginning and then I paid hard attention to the Spirit and gave her the rest of her blessing from what I felt. I love the Priesthood. We actually had a lesson on it the hour before sacrament meeting in our investigator's class, so that was really good. Long story short, the scriptures are definitely true when they describe how happy you feel knowing that you've helped somebody take that first huge step towards the Kingdom of God. She's such a nice lady and I really hope that she brings her sons into the church as well. And I can't wait for the day that her husband gets the baptisms for the dead done for him and then she's sealed to him. That's awesome to think about. What if I'm in the Celestial Kingdom and then walks up Viola with her whole family? Holy shmokes....
But unforunately, this was also an extremely hard week. Had to drop two investigators. One was the investigator who had the amazing gift of feeling the spirit for that one period of his life, helping prepare him to try and find that later. The problem for the past month or so though, has been that he's not doing anything that we say. Not really praying, not really reading the book of mormon, never been to church, keeps dropping our appointments. He thinks that he's doing enough and that he doesn't need anything that we say. So he's not gonna let us help him, so we went over there one last time to see if we could help explain to him why we (and God) ask him to do these things. But he wasn't really having any of it, so I had to tell him that there wasn't anything we could do unless he would at least pray. But he started just arguing with us, bringing up stupid points, justifying his inactions, saying things that didn't make sense with what he earlier said, etc. Freakin sucked to just sit there and not be able to do anything to help him otherwise, so I just started packing up and we got up and said buh bye. Then the Spirit was SUPER strong though and I almost felt uncomfortable because I was feeling the Spirit so strongly after we left. Oh one more thing, I had a migraine the whole day before that, and then now all of a sudden it left. I was feeling the Spirit so strong that I knew God knew that I was gonna be really upset after dropping that investigator, so he gave me that strong comfort.
Second dropped person. Remember the Syrian family who wants money from us and won't listen to our messages, so we had to stop going over there? I'm on exchanges the next day after the other dropped investigator with Elder Torniainen (2nd transfer), when the Syrian husband rides by on his bike, calls out to me, waves a little, rolls his eyes, and shakes his head. We haven't seen him since he last got mad at us for not talking to the bishop yet. So I called out to him (cuz I'm not gonna let him think that we're trying to run from him or anything like that just because he asked the Mormons for money), he comes over, and immediately just starts going off saying that we still haven't talked to the bishop. I keep trying to tell him that we have, but his Dutch sucks and he wasn't listening. Then finally he says, "Oh you have?" Yeah, so stop freakin out at me. Then the Spirit comes over me super strong again and I start telling him that we can't give him money, but we help people to have a better life now and after this life. A life of happiness with your whole family together again. Etc, etc. Spirit's super strong and everything, but he just starts trying to make me feel bad again and then gives me this mocking grin, says thank you, and rides off. This is the same guy who used to tell us that we are like his sons. But it's his choice and I know what I'm doing is right. We did copy those paper hand-outs for him before, it's not like we've done nothing for his family. Plus, we're trying to help his family in the eternal sense. I feel bad for them. Again though, Heavenly Father loves me and gave me that same strong Spirit again afterwards. I know he's definitely there and knows each of us personally!
Okay lighter stuff: I ate vla with seaweed the other day. Seaweed isn't necessarily horrible, but I don't like it either =( gross aftertaste. My companion couldn't take it and ended up sneakily throwing it all away. Pretty funny =) Our fridges (we have a big one and a smaller one) are both completely stuffed with food. Members have been giving us leftovers, a couple members brought us a ton of food, we have our own food that we bought before, etc. It's awesome. But it's terrifying because we can't remember how long we've had certain things, so we don't really know what's probably expired and what isn't. So if I get sick, blame it on Wijk Hengelo (Hengelo Ward). Just found out that I'm apprently playing piano for tomorrow's zone conference (with the President, his wife, the AP's, and two zones there). I'm pretty scared because I haven't played hymns too much actually while on my mission. I think word is starting to get out though that I can play piano well.... Crap. I've actually messed around a lot on pianos though when we're waiting at the church or after district meetings and stuff. But playing hymns is totally different. Wish me luck! Also, our return trip to Belgium for this last Friday got cancelled, so we're going this Friday. Also, transfer calls are this coming Sunday, so I'll let you guys know next week if I'm staying in Hengelo for one more transfer or if I'm off to another city with another companion! Crazy. And then the following Wednesday, the 19th, I'll be either staying or out of here.
Okay love you guys and thanks for all the good emails! Bye bye!
But unforunately, this was also an extremely hard week. Had to drop two investigators. One was the investigator who had the amazing gift of feeling the spirit for that one period of his life, helping prepare him to try and find that later. The problem for the past month or so though, has been that he's not doing anything that we say. Not really praying, not really reading the book of mormon, never been to church, keeps dropping our appointments. He thinks that he's doing enough and that he doesn't need anything that we say. So he's not gonna let us help him, so we went over there one last time to see if we could help explain to him why we (and God) ask him to do these things. But he wasn't really having any of it, so I had to tell him that there wasn't anything we could do unless he would at least pray. But he started just arguing with us, bringing up stupid points, justifying his inactions, saying things that didn't make sense with what he earlier said, etc. Freakin sucked to just sit there and not be able to do anything to help him otherwise, so I just started packing up and we got up and said buh bye. Then the Spirit was SUPER strong though and I almost felt uncomfortable because I was feeling the Spirit so strongly after we left. Oh one more thing, I had a migraine the whole day before that, and then now all of a sudden it left. I was feeling the Spirit so strong that I knew God knew that I was gonna be really upset after dropping that investigator, so he gave me that strong comfort.
Second dropped person. Remember the Syrian family who wants money from us and won't listen to our messages, so we had to stop going over there? I'm on exchanges the next day after the other dropped investigator with Elder Torniainen (2nd transfer), when the Syrian husband rides by on his bike, calls out to me, waves a little, rolls his eyes, and shakes his head. We haven't seen him since he last got mad at us for not talking to the bishop yet. So I called out to him (cuz I'm not gonna let him think that we're trying to run from him or anything like that just because he asked the Mormons for money), he comes over, and immediately just starts going off saying that we still haven't talked to the bishop. I keep trying to tell him that we have, but his Dutch sucks and he wasn't listening. Then finally he says, "Oh you have?" Yeah, so stop freakin out at me. Then the Spirit comes over me super strong again and I start telling him that we can't give him money, but we help people to have a better life now and after this life. A life of happiness with your whole family together again. Etc, etc. Spirit's super strong and everything, but he just starts trying to make me feel bad again and then gives me this mocking grin, says thank you, and rides off. This is the same guy who used to tell us that we are like his sons. But it's his choice and I know what I'm doing is right. We did copy those paper hand-outs for him before, it's not like we've done nothing for his family. Plus, we're trying to help his family in the eternal sense. I feel bad for them. Again though, Heavenly Father loves me and gave me that same strong Spirit again afterwards. I know he's definitely there and knows each of us personally!
Okay lighter stuff: I ate vla with seaweed the other day. Seaweed isn't necessarily horrible, but I don't like it either =( gross aftertaste. My companion couldn't take it and ended up sneakily throwing it all away. Pretty funny =) Our fridges (we have a big one and a smaller one) are both completely stuffed with food. Members have been giving us leftovers, a couple members brought us a ton of food, we have our own food that we bought before, etc. It's awesome. But it's terrifying because we can't remember how long we've had certain things, so we don't really know what's probably expired and what isn't. So if I get sick, blame it on Wijk Hengelo (Hengelo Ward). Just found out that I'm apprently playing piano for tomorrow's zone conference (with the President, his wife, the AP's, and two zones there). I'm pretty scared because I haven't played hymns too much actually while on my mission. I think word is starting to get out though that I can play piano well.... Crap. I've actually messed around a lot on pianos though when we're waiting at the church or after district meetings and stuff. But playing hymns is totally different. Wish me luck! Also, our return trip to Belgium for this last Friday got cancelled, so we're going this Friday. Also, transfer calls are this coming Sunday, so I'll let you guys know next week if I'm staying in Hengelo for one more transfer or if I'm off to another city with another companion! Crazy. And then the following Wednesday, the 19th, I'll be either staying or out of here.
Okay love you guys and thanks for all the good emails! Bye bye!