So this week might be pretty boring again, because I've just slipped into a pattern with our missionary work and the weeks blur together. First off, this last week sucked for us as far as misisonary work goes. A bunch of appointments fell through and so that just kind of killed us. BUT, the great thing about when that happens is that we can do a ton of finding work (which I actually still think is really fun). So this next week should be freakin awesome if even half of our potentials go through. Some highlights of finding this week were: One Jehovah's Witness let us in and for once, didn't actually preach to us or argue with us at all. Stunning. So we'll probably go back and teach him, see if he's open to it. Two very cute girls answered the door for me. Yes, we all talk about girls a lot on our mission. It's fine as long as it doesn't get in the way of missionary work. So the first one, I'm with my district leader on a split, and this girl (around the same age, I think) has great blonde hair and these striking blue eyes, she says she's not really sure, but we can try coming back later to talk to her family when her parents are home another time. So we get their number and go. Not too eventful. Another day in the life. Anyways, then the other day, I'm by myself finding because we have three companions, so we can't overload a door. So one of us stays within sight and sound and goes on the other side of the street. Anyways, I'm by myself at this door, and all of a sudden BOOM! Very attractive brunette opens the door. So I just start explaining how I'm a volunteer for my church and I'd like to bring the Book of Mormon by another time, it's not looking positive at all, but then she figures out that I'm American and is suddenly SUPER flirtatious!! So I'm like, crap... I gotta get out of here. So we talk a little about America and the Netherlands, and then all of a sudden she asks, "So... what do you want from me?" AAAAHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!! Uhhhh can I come back to bring your family the Book of Mormon? And she's suddenly positive about it and so I get her family's phone number. Then she takes me planner and writes down her name for me (because she said her name was difficult... psh!). So she's holding onto my planner and just keeps talking to me, so I say I gotta get going because I don't have much time, get my planner, and peace out of there. Door closes, I'm across the street about to find my companions when all of a sudden.... "Hey! *bla bla bla*" The next thing I know, she's running towards me and now asks for my planner again and gives me her personal cell phone number!!!! I'm just being kind and say thanks, okay bye bye! But now (half a week later) I'm freaking out. Thank goodness that when we go back, it'll be me and two other companions. Jeez........... Anyways, that's my funny story for this week. Girls are terrifying on your mission.
We also had our Zone Conference this week with the Area President Quorum of the Seventy person. He had a lot of really good things to say and was really helpful. But he was also very straightforward and kind of called us all to repentance. Ha ha =D It was really good though and I'm trying to implement a lot of the ways he said we can better do our missionary work. A funny thing that happened there was the mission president's wife was giving a short talk and she said, "Well we love you all and haven't forgotten about any of you. Even you Elder Johnson, Elder Huff, Elder Nielsen." It's funny because Hengelo is just kind of on the outskirts of our mission and doesn't get contacted as much as the areas that are larger or closer. Anyways, one spiritual thing that I've been explaining a lot to our investigators lately is that if you have a testimony of the Book of Mormon OR Joseph Smith as the prophet of the restoration OR the Spirit you feel from the Gospel, etc. Then you have a testimony of all of it. Because they all work exactly together and if one is true, then it's all true. And also if you have hope that one of these things are true, or that it is all true, then Alma tells us that that is the same as faith. So holding onto and strengething that hope/faith will give or strengthen your testimony of the Church. So knowing all of this, it makes me pretty sad to hear when my investigators don't read, pray, come to church, etc. Because those are what's most important. That's what's gonna change your life at this point for the absolute better! Some people think they already have the happiness they desire, but you can experience greater happiness than you ever could otherwise, through the gospel! The Church makes so much sense in every way. It's sad to see how misled people get. Anyways, importance of the principles of the Church. Just do it =D It's not hard to just try and pray. It's not hard to read a little of the Book of Mormon. Just try it sincerely (key word there) and then let it all improve your life. ya know? Gosh... c'mon peeps.... Frustrating. But oh well, everybody's got their agency and our purpose here is just to help and invite them to do these things of their own free will. Cuz that's God's plan.
We also had two nights of our stake's Christmas concert. Their Christmas concerts are so freakin weird. It's not all like spiritual and uplifting songs, but they were doing some rock songs too and some random different stuff! Some of the weird songs were Happy Christmas (the sad one that makes you feel like you do nothing for the world), Adoramus (with some nice drumset going), etc. Those are the only weird ones I can remember the names of right now, but there were other weird ones too, I promise. Pretty cool though. Fun and enjoyable. And it was fun to participate in too. Most of all the Christmas songs they sing are in English. And some people have horrible accents when they try to sing in English =D 'Tis funny. But yeah, they had piano, guitar (electric and acoustic), harp, organ, keyboard, cello, and drumset. And then all of the choirs and solo singers and stuff. Cool beans. We didn't get home both nights though until like 11. So that was rough Sunday morning and this morning.
Okay so your package didn't get to me yet, but no problemó. I'm actually going to Belgium on the 20th to get my legality there done. So I'll pick my package up from the mission office then. Anyways, one of my zone leaders saw that I didn't get anything, so he took out a wrapped up present out of his package, scribbled out his name, wrote my name in, and put it in our companionship's bag. I saw it though, knew that it should have been in a package and asked if it was really mine. Anyways I gave it back to him, but that was super nice of him to try and sneak that to me. And as I understand it, you guys don't want me to send anything home yet, right? I'll send a letter home with my SD card whenever you guys want. Just let me know as soon as you're really achin for pictures. I really haven't taken that much though to be honest.... I'll try and take more. But yeah, I'm not too much of a picture guy. Oh did I mention my awesome new haircut? I got it done in a more European style. The guy did part of it with a straightedge razor and everything, at first I was like, uh oh. But it only stung a little bit when he put the oil on afterwards to calm my skin down. A european hair cut is usually a lot shorter on the sides, or totally shaved on the sides, and then fades really well into long hair on top. I like it a lot.
Let's see.......... Yup. Okay love you guys, dfalskdjfkljsdajf, bla bla bla. Just kiddin, loves and bye byes!
We also had our Zone Conference this week with the Area President Quorum of the Seventy person. He had a lot of really good things to say and was really helpful. But he was also very straightforward and kind of called us all to repentance. Ha ha =D It was really good though and I'm trying to implement a lot of the ways he said we can better do our missionary work. A funny thing that happened there was the mission president's wife was giving a short talk and she said, "Well we love you all and haven't forgotten about any of you. Even you Elder Johnson, Elder Huff, Elder Nielsen." It's funny because Hengelo is just kind of on the outskirts of our mission and doesn't get contacted as much as the areas that are larger or closer. Anyways, one spiritual thing that I've been explaining a lot to our investigators lately is that if you have a testimony of the Book of Mormon OR Joseph Smith as the prophet of the restoration OR the Spirit you feel from the Gospel, etc. Then you have a testimony of all of it. Because they all work exactly together and if one is true, then it's all true. And also if you have hope that one of these things are true, or that it is all true, then Alma tells us that that is the same as faith. So holding onto and strengething that hope/faith will give or strengthen your testimony of the Church. So knowing all of this, it makes me pretty sad to hear when my investigators don't read, pray, come to church, etc. Because those are what's most important. That's what's gonna change your life at this point for the absolute better! Some people think they already have the happiness they desire, but you can experience greater happiness than you ever could otherwise, through the gospel! The Church makes so much sense in every way. It's sad to see how misled people get. Anyways, importance of the principles of the Church. Just do it =D It's not hard to just try and pray. It's not hard to read a little of the Book of Mormon. Just try it sincerely (key word there) and then let it all improve your life. ya know? Gosh... c'mon peeps.... Frustrating. But oh well, everybody's got their agency and our purpose here is just to help and invite them to do these things of their own free will. Cuz that's God's plan.
We also had two nights of our stake's Christmas concert. Their Christmas concerts are so freakin weird. It's not all like spiritual and uplifting songs, but they were doing some rock songs too and some random different stuff! Some of the weird songs were Happy Christmas (the sad one that makes you feel like you do nothing for the world), Adoramus (with some nice drumset going), etc. Those are the only weird ones I can remember the names of right now, but there were other weird ones too, I promise. Pretty cool though. Fun and enjoyable. And it was fun to participate in too. Most of all the Christmas songs they sing are in English. And some people have horrible accents when they try to sing in English =D 'Tis funny. But yeah, they had piano, guitar (electric and acoustic), harp, organ, keyboard, cello, and drumset. And then all of the choirs and solo singers and stuff. Cool beans. We didn't get home both nights though until like 11. So that was rough Sunday morning and this morning.
Okay so your package didn't get to me yet, but no problemó. I'm actually going to Belgium on the 20th to get my legality there done. So I'll pick my package up from the mission office then. Anyways, one of my zone leaders saw that I didn't get anything, so he took out a wrapped up present out of his package, scribbled out his name, wrote my name in, and put it in our companionship's bag. I saw it though, knew that it should have been in a package and asked if it was really mine. Anyways I gave it back to him, but that was super nice of him to try and sneak that to me. And as I understand it, you guys don't want me to send anything home yet, right? I'll send a letter home with my SD card whenever you guys want. Just let me know as soon as you're really achin for pictures. I really haven't taken that much though to be honest.... I'll try and take more. But yeah, I'm not too much of a picture guy. Oh did I mention my awesome new haircut? I got it done in a more European style. The guy did part of it with a straightedge razor and everything, at first I was like, uh oh. But it only stung a little bit when he put the oil on afterwards to calm my skin down. A european hair cut is usually a lot shorter on the sides, or totally shaved on the sides, and then fades really well into long hair on top. I like it a lot.
Let's see.......... Yup. Okay love you guys, dfalskdjfkljsdajf, bla bla bla. Just kiddin, loves and bye byes!