The Guy with the Crush, Gastendienst, and some New Jammies!

We taught a lot again this week. Yay teaching! We met with that investigator who has a crush on me, and we were outside and he starts looking down and picking up the empty bags of weed. We're like what the heck. Then he starts putting them all together, like the little leftovers from the bags, and he's like I don't do drugs, but I'm going to make someone very happy with this. Then he pulled up a marajuana plant  and took it with him when we were done teaching him. Yep. But, he also came to church yesterday! That was really cool.
Yesterday, our branch had a gastendienst, or a guest service thing. We werent really sure what was going to happen, or if people were going to come. Throughout the week, we were meeting with members, and everytime we saw them they would be like please be remembering to pray for missionary work, and for people to come to the service on Sunday. Basically they were reminding us to do our job. Ha. But these are great people, and they give everything they have to missionary work. Anyway, there were a ton of people at the service yesterday. Some families invited two or three families to come, so it was super full. Meanwhile, out of the 7 investigators we have, and how ever many the Elders had, only one investigator showed up. So, it just goes to show you that the members know where it's at. also, the branch president texted us 40 minutes before the meeting and told me i had to talk after all. about why i served a mission and my testimony and such. So I wasnt happy, and it was stressful. So i just made it super short. :)
We also taught the investigator, who we found door to door, who was a former investigator of the elders months and months ago, but he never progressed and read the Book of mormon on his own. Well, this week in the lesson, he told us that he had read 10 chapters out of 2 nephi. 10! That's not even the best book in the Book of Mormon.  It was super exciting for us. Then he testified to us about Joseph Smith and the Restoration, and then was like what do you think ladies, doesnt it make perfect sense that there needed to be a restoration of Christ's church. And we're like uh yes. Clearly. It's great. He's really awesome.
The other teaching appointments were just normal things.
So did I tell you about Sister Raun making brownies for a guy who fixed her bike? do you know this story, I dont know if i've said it before. Anyway a couple weeks ago we were biking and the spokes on the back tire of sister rauns bike start snapping. Anyway, it was right in front of this huge family with like 7 generations in it, and they all just happen to have a tool kit to fix it. So they fix it for her, and since then Zuster Raun has been set on making them brownies and then somehow trying to find them again to give them to them. So we made them this week, and we go to look for them at their shed thing and dont see them, and the numbers on the shed dont correlate to the  house numbers, so thats too bad and we're like well we'll come back later. So we go back and we find one of the guys and she gives them to him. And im pretty sure he did not remember us at all. He looked us like we were crazy people, of course. So then, this week, we were biking and we passed them so i just waved and said hello and then just continued biking. The other guy had waved back. Zuster Raun however, was convinced that he was trying to flag us down because he wanted to be baptized. Haha. So this guy, saw us continue to bike, stop, talk to one another, and then ride all the way back to him. Raun is like were you trying to stop us? And hes like no, she said hi and i was saying hi back.  And Zr. Raun is like ohhhhhh..... well bye.  Basically she was super embarrassed. She went on and on about how it was the most embarrassing day of her mission. Personally, I can think of like 100 other things that have happened that were worse but thats okay. But it was pretty funny. Also, this week, we needed a joint teach to go to teach the guy who read 10 chapters in the BvM. But she called and told us that she didnt have a bike so she wouldnt be able to come. But, we currently have three bikes in our locker because Zr Raun borrowed one from the Senior couple when hers was being fixed. So Zr. Raun had to ghost ride a bike out to this member.Thats when you are riding a bike and youre holding the other bike so that theyre riding next to each other. It's not too hard except for the fact that we had to go over some windey bridges to get there. fun times.
One of the members here she loves us, and we love her. Shes amazing. This week, she said that she wishes that we were her daughters. It was really sweet.We also cleaned out her garden for her this week, and it made her so happy. She told every person who called, and who she talked to on sunday about how much she loves the sister missionaries.  I hope she knows sisters get transferred too, or that is going to be extra sad when one of us leaves. Also, transfers are this week, so I will know next week if I'm moving.
Zuster Raun's mom sent her a package this morning, and her mom made me Pjs. Theyre hilarious. Basically, they are one huge square of fabric, and when you put your arms out, you look like a flying squirrel. Theyre huge, but super comfy. Im sure I will love them in the winter. But we were super excited to get them, and it was really nice of her mom.  Also, this week when we met with the Suriname lady, she used some of the worlds hottest pepper in her cooking, and then thankfully told us not to eat it. But, the husband was daring us to try a piece. So all four of us tried a piece. I was the only one who could swallow it. Because I'm so tough like that. ;) But really, I thought I was going to die. I though for sure my mouth was bleeding. But it was a fun experience.
I have no idea what we will be doing with President and Zuster Robinson tomorrow. We've had some appointments lined up, but today, they have all fallen through, even our dinner appointment, but we are going to be trying to teach an investigator, eat with a member, and go tracting with them. It's a little stressful, but I'm sure it will be a great time. Yes, there are sidewalk drawings here. At least in Lelystad. I havent actually seen them anywhere else. I don't know if I  will be able to meet grandma. I suppose I can ask, but techncially, it is against the rules. But there are people who have gotten permission to see people when they've been here. Is she going to Amsterdam? Thats two train stops away from us. Schipol is the airport stop, and thats far away. like an hour by train. I havent gotten the envelope yet, and I will get the package in a couple weeks, with the new transfer because we will be having zone conference that same week. Well, thats all I can think of this week. Love you.

karoline.

"Even Old Goats Have a Taste for Fresh Grass" and some pictures

Yes, I can definitely believe it is mid-august, I'm pretty excited. Except for the fact that it is going to be getting colder here soon then, and that is not so fun, but the heat is way worse. I got the package envelope thingy last wednesday, I think. Thank you. :)  Also, next week, I will be emailing monday morning because on Tuesday, President and Zuster Robinson are going to be coming up to work with us, because they try to do that with all the areas once in a while. Anyway, since they will be here Tuesday we will have to email Monday. So yeah.

Anyway, yesterday for Pday, we had a zone pday in a park in Amsterdam with all the young single adults from all of Holland. It was fun, except it was super long, and all I wanted to do was take a nap :)  We taught a lot of lessons this past week, and it was great! Teaching is fun, especially when you have word mix ups and the people are just staring at you like what the heck? And then they correct you and you all laugh. Great times. That one investigator, who we picked up because he was hitting on me? We taught him again this past Saturday, he bought us breakfast again and everything. Anyway,  we were teaching him out on this bench, that is really only for drunks and drug addicts but we didnt have a joint teach so you do what you have to do, anyway, we were teaching him, and one of his friends, because he is the most popular guy in Lelystad, comes up to him and joins in on the lesson we were teaching. Why did he join? Because he was hitting on me, and it was gross. But hilarious too, Sister Raun and I have been laughing about it since. Basically, he was asking if I was married, and he was making sure I understood that he was alone. There's a phrase they use in Dutch. ""Even old goats have a taste for fresh grass" Hilarious. Don't worry, it was in the middle of the day in public so it wasnt too creepy, but then he asked if he could buy me lunch and I'm just like uh no.  Great times.  

Oh, then theres this market in Lelystad on saturday mornings, and he took us there. Last week, we bought a cake bread thing that was less expensive because it was broken. It´s called ugly bread or something. Anyway, Sister Raun was trying to ask him where it was, but he misunderstood and thought it was an american bread. So he went to all the baking stands and asked them if they had ugly american bread. haha. 

Anyway, then we have another investigator, who is the one who was a former form the elders months ago that we found door to door. He never read the book of mormon alone. But the other day, he did, and he totally understands it. He's the one who pretty much teaches us. We've figured that if we arrange the lesson more like a bible study class and give him the chapters and the topics for next time that he will keep his commitments. He even knows that Joseph Smith was a prophet and that we need the proper authority for baptism. So we're working on it.

then theres the investigator from Suriname. Basically, she has told us that she wont keep her commitments ever, but l;ikes having us over for dinner each week and likes to learn about Christ. Her husband is progressing though, so we go back.  Also, she totally defended us to the jehovas witnesses the other day. They were bashing on the BoM and shes like uh no it cant be an evil book. They're great people and I love having them in my home. It was great to hear.

Karoline and their Suriname investigator, wearing the Sari she was given

Another investigator is a Jew, and we run into him everywhere. This past week, he told sister Raun that she reminds him of the teacher on little house on the prairie. People love that show here. They think thats what america is like. Therefore people ask me all the time when they see the name Western, if I live on a ranch and shoot guns and like cowboys. Weird.

I have been sleeping better recently which is great. Last night was the best sleep I´ve had since I got here. Also, I know I wont be training next transfer because there aren't any sisters coming in, just a huge group of elders, but, transfers are getting close, we will know sept 1, and I think Sister Raun or I will get transfered but I dont know. But as far as mail goes, yeah, I think everything should be there before then, but I wouldn't send anything next week.

Thats all I can think of this week.

Love you.

Karoline

Brussels,  8/2013

Zrs. Western and Raun   8/2013

Zr. Western  8/2013

Zr. Western and Zr. Brown in Amsterdam

Obligatory Windmill picture

Einkhuisen  6/24/2013

Week of August 6-13.

I don't really have too much to say this week.

Belgium: That is a forever long train ride away. We had to catch the 630 train in the morning from Lelystad to get down to Rotterdam by 9 to meet all the other missionaries going, and then it was another two hours to Brussels. So no, my companion didn't go, she went on exchanges with another person for the day. There were about 35 or so missionaries who had to go for one reason or another. We were in city hall until about 3, and our train left at 420. And it was pouring rain, so the companion and I just went back to the train station got lunch and then got on the train. I figure I'll see Brussels when we go back next month to pick up our IDs. Belgium is kind of ghetto, I'm not sure what it is exactly, because you would think it would have to be a nice place. But, ask the missionaries, and they all agree. But they all love it too. The train ride was really fun though, because it was just a chill day to get to talk to a lot of people and get to them and things. We did spend about 8 1/2 hours on a train that day though. We got to our apartment right at nine. One of the Elders that I sat next to on the train to Belgium thanked me for having an intelligent conversation with him. Not the worst thing I've ever been thanked for.  

Yes, it is starting to cool off, just like that we are back to wearing sweaters and scarves, but I don't think it will stay like that too much longer. We should be able to just wear regular clothes for a bit this week. 

Nothing really exciting happened this week, so I'm not really sure what to write about. My talk got cancelled though, they totally changed the program around for that sunday, so none of the original speakers have to speak anymore. So, whoever was praying that I wouldnt have to speak got their prayers answered. :) Yesterday we went to a single adult activity with the old people in the branch (which is pretty much everyone). Like people in their 50s 60s and such. It was like a family home evening thing. Anyway we walk in and someone is like which one of you is allergic to mushrooms? Sister raun and I just looked at each other like uh none of us. So Sister Raun just told them I was allergic. So, I will never have to eat mushrooms at a members house again since they think I'm allergic. Tender mercies. ;)

We taught the guy who was hitting on me for the first time on Saturday. We showed up to his apartment, and we couldnt find a joint teach so we told him we would have to teach him out in the courtyard place thing and hes like you girls ha ve a lot of rules. He then hands me a cup of coffee and I'm like Zuster Raun what do I do? And shes like just trip and make it look like you dropped it on accident. But shes just like  uh actually we have another rule too. We dont drink  coffee. And hes like no coffee? What do you live for?  And then we were teaching him and hes like "girls, i'm from south america, i'm living in the Netherlands. I've seen a lot of things. But I never thought it'd be two white blonde girls from America who would show up and surprise me". Anyway, he said he'd be baptized because he didn't think it would hurt  him. So we shall see where that goes.

That's pretty much all I can think of. Love you.

Karoline

This is a picture of Zr. Western and Zr. Brown, another missionary.  She's has been there one transfer longer than Karoline, this picture was taken in Amsterdam.

She speaks Dutch!

 So, this past week marked 3 months that Karoline has been a missionary. Time has gone by quickly and she reached a milestone!

So I asked about the prescriptions. If you send them in a package, you can’t list them on the custom forms. you say things like. books, clothes, candy, misc. that’s what sister Robinson said to do, and that’s how they get theirs. or, you can try sending them in an envelope.... she didn’t say to do that though. She also said you can call the MTC and send it in with the next senior couple who is coming over,  but you would have to give them like a year supply. I’m not sure, it all sounded really complicated to me to do it that way. But if you do send another package sometime, or send that package back, some real deodorant would be nice. I still have some... but who knows for how much longer.

This week.... well, let´s see. On Sunday, I had to translate. I´m not even kidding. It wasn´t even something easy like testimonies. It was the Sunday school lesson. Where you get everyone mumbling and talking really quickly, and you can’t see their mouths. Anyway, it was probably the most spotty translation she´s ever had, but it was still cool to realize I could do it. I don´t know when I started to speak Dutch, but it´s weird to think I know another language now. Oh, I was also asked to give a talk in church on the 25 I think it is. Yeah. Ha, it will probably be a train wreck. but they asked for it. 

This week we have walked a lot. Mainly because Zoster Rain’s bike is broken. And she refuses to buy a new one. Which is really annoying because it has problems all the time. And because it is really too hot and sticky to walk anywhere. At least when you bike you get a breeze. We also had exchanges this week again. So I was working with the sister training leader person.  She was pretty impressed. So was I. I surprised myself that day. But it´s a new Sister from the last time, and I like her a lot, she’s a great soul. One of our investigators also dropped us. That was sad. But this is the one who came into our first lesson saying there was no way the Bump was true. It was only our second lesson with her last week. But basically she’s like you need to read the bible and that’s my challenge for all. and imp like uh I have. So are you willing to read the BvM= And she would do it. She wasn’t willing at all. So it was a waste of time to go back. So yeah, she’s dropped. Sad. Oh! On my way back to pick up sister Raun and the STLs companion, there was some drama elsewhere, so the training leader had to go work with those sisters. So, I had to stay in a room by myself for a couple hours while they worked it all out privately. Drama. But I guess those things are bound to happen with sisters.

Today, Sister Raun and I have two! Dinner appointments. I know. It´s like we´re Elders. One is at 530 and it´s with the Suriname lady, and the other is with a member and and investigator together. Yay Super member present lessons. Do I think any of the investigators will be ready for baptism soon. no. but that’s okay. people will get there eventually. even if it´s not these people yet. Oh, did I tell you about the time the lady from Suriname, she’s like do you like powdered milk it´s my favorite. and I’m like uh no I’ve never had it. so she set a bowl of powdered milk down in front of me and sister raun each, and gave us a spoon. and then expected us to eat it. ew. I ate one bite and she could tell I didn’t like it and she didn’t make me eat more. sister raun had to eat a few more bites hahaha. people eat some weird things.

Yes, tomorrow is the day I go to Belgium. And it´s by high speed train. So that’s actually pretty exciting. Except for the fact that we have to get up ridiculously early to make it down to Rotterdam where we are meeting everyone else who is going. Ugh I’m not excited to get up so early but that’s okay. 

  And yes, they do sell some weird things over the counter. Like contacts. You just go buy a box and call it good, but I haven’t seen what I need. I think that's all I can think of. Have a good week. Love you!

On Tue, Aug 6, 2013 at 4:18 PM, Western, Karen <Karen.Western@jetblue.com> wrote:

So you speak Dutch!!!  See, you can do it!  And I’m proud of youJ  I love knowing that you are being blessed because of your efforts and because of the work you need to do  When you get back we can go to St. Martin and you can speak both French and Dutch! 

Yeah. This past week, I had to give the thought to a member while we were on exchanges. And the member just stared at me and was like Sister, when did you start speaking Dutch? and I'm just like uh I’m not really sure . the powdered milk was seriously gross. I can’t decide why people eat it just straight up. she didn’t even add milk to it. nasty.

love you