She was sick, Zone Conference, How a Member Helped with Missionary Work.

Hello,

This week was okay. It was my turn to be sick this week. :) Basically everyone in the mission is getting the same cold/flu thingy. And now it's in the cough everything up stage. Yay! Zone conference was really interesting. They basically told us that they’re cutting out all of our time in the apartment, as in 12 week, for the new people which is usually an hour is going to only be 15 minutes, and that they want us to have lunch at 1 for 30 minutes,  instead of at 2 for an hour. Which is kind of annoying, because we don’t have dinner til six, and you get exhausted out there for 5 hours when you are just constantly tracting and knocking on doors, but whatever, I dont make the rules. Then, after the training portion of zone conference was over, it was like a teaching portion, so president and sister Robinson decided that we need to study the book of revelations as a mission so they walked us through up until the beginning of the seventh seal, which we will talk about next time. It was super interesting. Sister Robinson also said that the world is a completely different place than when she left and she talked about how there’s an open season on Christians in Egypt and such. Yes, sister Robinson does speak. The sister training person, she speaks at zone training, along with the zone leaders. At zone conference, it's just president and sister Robinson, and then someone else they ask, like this time it was the stake president of the Rotterdam stake. I did get my package, thank you! :) Sister Rosenlof got a package as well, actually she got three because her mom sent them for now, her birthday, and Christmas, with someone who was coming to the Netherlands, but she’s only allowed to open the one right now. She got reeses and velveeta cheese and some other things. But she was screaming for joy at the velveeta. Nasty. I don’t know about the tights or garments... We have not seen the women’s meeting, and probably won't.

For conference, we have to go to the Groningen building. We watch the Saturday morning session Saturday afternoon, and then we will watch the next three on Sunday. Also, I bought a winter coat last Monday. It was 100 euros, and it's beautiful. Instead of the quilted winter coat thing on the outside, it has it on the inside, as a removable lining, and then the outside is this wool thing... anyways it's cute.  It was also needed, because yesterday it was super cold when we had to leave for church, like 40ish. So, winter is on its way here too. Yes, you can send stuff to the apartment here. I'll need a refill semi soon. Transfers are on Wed 16 Oct.  So, we're almost done with this transfer. I would be surprised if I left so soon, but crazier things have happened. My guess would be sister Rosenlof getting transferred, but I don’t know. Also, I thought of other things I would like. Gushers, and jolly ranchers. Oh, and my fan geneology thing. Do you know what I'm talking about?

Now on to the fun things. In this area, peoples English is terrible. Seriously bad. I don’t know how it's so bad when everyone else we've talked to has great English, but they also barely speak Dutch a lot of times, so when we stop people, it's always an interesting experience. Lately, more people have been stopping me. Mainly because of my name. Western. They love it. Then they ask about the rest of it, and if I like western movies, and live in the western part of the US. It always surprises me. But whatever gets people to talk to us. This Sunday, since it was the fifth Sunday, it was combined for relief society and Sunday school. So what did we have? We had a two hour block lesson on eating healthy and exercising and how to deal with stress. I’m not sure what this branch is supposed to do with all that info. They’re all old and such. Most of them can’t even climb the stairs to get to the real relief society room, so we have to have it in the chapel. Interesting.

The other day we were in this little town called Drochten, it's an hour by bus, but anyway when we were there there was, for some reason, a bunch of old people folk bands. They had about three stages set up in the centrum area, and then a different band playing a little segment on each, and then switching. There was one, they were all dressed up like pirates. It was super interesting, and very entertaining.
So this week, we got a notice from the water people telling us we were going to have our water shut off if we didnt give them a reading on our water meter. The problem is that it's over three euros a minute to call them, or it's free online. So, we had to call the office, and theyre going to get it all worked out. Anyway, when sister rosenlof originally called the office, she had to leave a voicemail, and it went a little something like this, "Hey, this is Eld... Elder Rosenlof... yes, I just called myself an elder. I have problems okay?" I hope they keep that voicemail on that phone forever. We were in a  lesson with a member this week, when a sales man guy came to the door, trying to raise money for lung charities. She invited him in, and then sat him down, and then turned to us and winked at us. And we are just sitting there like what the heck is she going to do. She then taught him all about the church and our humanitarian program and the good that we do as a community. Well, that’s one way members can do missionary work I guess. Poor guy didn’t see it coming.

Sister Rosenlof and I were on a train, like always, and we see this woman walk in with a suitcase, and shes trying to put it up in the storage place, and clearly it''s heavy, so a guy gets up to help her, but right as hes getting up, she loses hold on the suitcase, and it flies right into his neck. I swear his head almost got taken off. I'm sure it hurt super bad, but I we were also cracking up. The weirdest things happen on trains. You just never know what's going to happen. Like on wednesday, we traveled down to den haag, which is a three hour trip, to sleep over so we would have to get up at 4 on Thursday for zone conference, and the conductor guy who checks cards, he looked us and said. Oh! I know you! And we're like huh? He’s like you guys have the temple in den haag. And we're like yeah. And hes like oh I see the boys on the trains all the time, I didnt know girls did this thing. And we're like mhmm we exist. Then he looked at our business cards, and he’s like oh, you’re traveling on echt business? ( like real business) and we're like yeah, we're going to den haag for a sleep over. Anyway we totally charmed this conductor, and then he gave us candy everytime he came to continue checking tickets at other stops. Nice guy, he also loved my name, and asked lots of Western related questions.

Other than that, nothing too exciting. we didn’t find any investigators this week, but we always try so that’s okay. You just do the best you can do.

Well have a good week

Love you!

Karoline

A day in Belgium, A Sick Companion, a little this, a little that.

So, we are pretty much down to 0 investigators. We dropped our last one this week. :( It was really sad, because he has a testimony of the Book of Mormon, but he went on and on about how we don't know what it's like to have to change your life completely. No, we don't, not in the same way he has to, but we tried doing all that we can for him, so we are going to give him a little break, because he wants to figure things out and what he needs to do. Which is okay. On Wednesday, we went to Belgium. And it was such a long day! Sister Rosenlof and I had to get up at  4 in order to catch our train. It was a about 6 1/2 ours from here to Belgium, so we spent  13 hours on the train that day. It was crazy. We did get to see more of Belgium this time though, which is great. I think Belgium is pretty than the Netherlands, in it's own way. Like the architecture is prettier, and they have all those grand cathedrals and things. 

Also, we all had to meet up at Rotterdam Centraal this week to meet the other missionaries  going to Belgium, and Sister Raun was there with her companion, and Sister Raun told me that one of our investigators from Lelystad that we found has decided to get baptized. :) But they haven't set the date yet. It's the man who read all those chapters from second nephi between our lessons. I'm excited for him. Also, she delivered a  message from one of the ward members that she wishes, that if she ever had the opportunity to have a daughter, that it would be me. So that sweet, shes said that before, but it's always nice to hear it again.

So Sister Rosenlof has been sick again this week, so we have spent a lot of time inside... boring. But she's getting better now. Anyway, on Tuesday, at district meeting, it was pouring rain, like it has been every day for a couple weeks, but we were talking in the hall waiting for lunch to be ready, and we see this guy come in to take shelter from the rain, under the church's veranda thingy. Sister Rosenlof and I stare at him for a minute before we realize that we should invite this guy inside. So right as we're opening the door, he bikes away, and I refused to let that happen. So I yelled after him. And then he turned around and came back, and so I invited him inside to take cover and to eat with all of us. So he came in, although he didn't eat. And he was able to talk to us there and another one of the missionaries told him all about the church and he talked to us about his family and his beliefs and everything.  He said he would be bringing his two girls to church yesterday, and that the missionaries were welcome to come to his house anytime. He was a nice guy. I don't know if he came to church, because it was in Groningen, but I hope so.

Oh, so every Saturday we eat dinner with the Elders at one of the branch members houses, and hes Egyptian, and always makes super spicy food.  Anyway, Sister Rosenlof, because shes been sick for about a month asked the elders for a  blessing, but they didn't have any oil with them, so they asked this member for some. So, after dinner, he goes to put the oil on Sister Rosenlof, and the top flies off, and oil goes flying everywhere, and he starts yelling "Shit!" It was hilarious. Mainly because it was the most  inappropriate time to swear every, and because it  means totally nothing to him because English means nothing to him. Anyway, it was funny. Also, yesterday we were at dinner with this family who feeds us every sunday, theyre super cool, but their grandma is pure dutch, but every one else speaks English because the mom is American. Anyway, the oldest boy was talking about something not to do in Italian, that the grandma had done because it's like flipping people off, and she looked so surprised, and was like oh I didn't know! Yadda yadda. Then, she turns to the boy, and flips him off. And hes like what was that for? And then she gives him both fingers. And laughs. And then continues on in her conversation. People are weird.

We have zone conference on Thursday, and it's in Rotterdam, which  means Sister Rosenlof and I will have to get up at 4 again to take the same train we did on Wednesday. Yay. That's the only bad thing about being in this area. Since we are at the top of the Netherlands,  we are the furthest away from everything, so travelling also takes forever. My Blegium ID is just one of the passport pictures, so no, it's not a cute picture. We will be getting Ipads eventually, but no one knows when. President and Sister Robison were just a conference thingy for it, so maybe we will know at zone conference.  It sounds like yalls trip to St Lucia was fun, and I am glad grammie is doing better, and is out of the hospital, because hospitals sucks. Hmmm I can't think of anything else to say really. Oh, actually. It was warm yesterday! And it didn't rain. It was really nice. I'm going to miss the sun. It sets at 4 pm in the winter here, because we are so far north. In the summer, the sun didn't set until about midnight. It was really weird.

Hope you have a great week!

The Hard part about Being a Missionary is..........

(a week late due to being on vacation)
So, this week was a little difficult. We got dropped by pretty much all of our investigators this week, so that was a little sad, and then we're probably going to have to drop a couple others this week. That's too bad. And it was pretty slow because Sister Rosenlof got sick, so we had to stay in a day. So I watched The Testaments in Russian, with Dutch Subtitles. It was hilarious. And, yesterday I had to talk in church. It was based off the conference talk from Elder Cook from the April session.  I just made it pretty short because there was no way I was going to talk up there for 15 minutes. So I went with about 5 instead. :) Afterwards though, a member thanked me for having the most understandable dutch out of any of the missionaries theyve had there. That was nice. Also, this week was pouring rain! Everyday, ahhh so wet. And cold. I've had to pull out my boots and scarves and tights. So today we are probably going to go buy a winter coat, if we can find one. Right now they only have autumn coats. Weird. And I'm probably going to buy some black boots so I dont have to wear my brown ones everday.

On Tuesday we had to get my locks changed on my bike, and it was intense. They got this giant saw thing, and had to saw the achterslot locky thing off. There were sparks flying everywhere. But all is good now. Yesterday, we were waiting for a bus to go out to this little village for a member dinner that we have every sunday, and this guy comes up asking for money, and it's not allowed that we give him anything, and he was talking to sister Rosenlof, so I was just ignoring it, but then I hear him ask, well what about her? And sister Rosenlof is like oh, she doesnt hear. And then I ruined it because I was startled, and I said what? I wanted Sister Rosenlof to scream about how it was a miracle, but she didnt, but we laughed about it all the way to the members house.

This Wednesday, Sister Rosenlof and I both have to go to Belgium to get our Belgian IDs. We have to be at the trainstation at 6 in the morning to catch our train. It is going to be the longest ride ever. Meanwhile, we still don't have our Dutch IDs, so lets hope we don't get stopped anytime soon. :) Oh, this week, we learned that Leeuwarden has the number one most dangerous street in the Netherlands, it is also a street that we walk or ride on everyday, so now we get to take longer routes to avoid it. There is a redlight district here, but we've only seen it once, on accident, because we didnt know it was there, so now we avoid that street too. It's actually really close to this library...

So we do take a lot of trains here, as well as busses, and biking, because it would take us hours and hours and hours to bike out everywhere, so we usually have to take a train somewhere, and then rent a bike at that train station. Theyre usually terrible bikes with bake breaks, which are going to kill us one day since both our real bikes have  hand breaks. But it's nice. A lot of the areas are pretty rural, or cute little villages. It also definitely smells like cows a lot of times.

That canal is not the one that is in our backyard, it's one we pass pretty often. Oh, this week, a less active member, for some reason, gave a presentation on the church to her business class. Apparently, they were curious about it, because she said the church was her passion, so  she asked us for a ton of book of mormons, and she taught her class the whole first lesson, and the gospel of Jesus Christ. We helped her find videos and things on the LDS sight and the mormon messages sight thing. It will be nice when we have our Ipads so we can show investigators these things. Then we gave her some pass along cards and pamphlets and things. 

 

Anyway, happy birthday this week! and I hope you and dad enjoy your trip! Love you!

 

Karoline

 

 

A Miraculous Story........................and her companion asks about getting a weave at the afro store.

Let me start by telling a miraculous story. Also, you may think that we were really stupid, but there wasn't really any danger involved. We're safe. :)

 Okay, so yesterday was stake conference, and we had to go to Zwolle to get to it. So, like we always do, we locked our bikes up in the station fiets-stalling place. Anyway, we come back, and my bike got stolen. At first, I don't think I really realized what was going on, because I saw Sister Rosenlof's bike and I was like wasn't mine right next to yours? And she's like yes. And I'm like hmm... weird well it's got to be here somewhere. Then we see a member, and she's like hey girls how is it going, and I'm like my bike was stolen! And then it hit me, that someone stole my  bike. And I started crying. In the middle of the bicycle parking place. It was horrible. I just cried and cried. I love my bike, it's been through a lot with me.

 Anyway, eventually we are able to catch the bus back to the apartment. And by this time it's like 4 and we haven't eaten anything all day, so we eat lunch, and then we have to go back to the station to get Sister Rosenlof's bike and lock it into the church, because you arent allowed to take bikes onto the busses. We also wanted to see how much it is per month to lock your bike in a secured parking thing where you have to scan a pass thing to get it out, for future reference. So, we go down there, and there's a former investigator who is working there! Apparently they had been trying to get in touch to teach him again and stuff but it just wasnt working. So, this guy is still reading his Book of Mormon and we had a nice gospel conversation and all that stuff. Then he told us places to go to go buy a new  bike, and how we should still file a police report even though every one had told us not to because they won't do anything about it. But he said if you have a report filed and you find your bike you can call the police and they will come get it for you type of thing. So we leave and we went to a members to fill out the police report online, and it took forever! And the questions were ridiculous and there was no English option, so it was all in Dutch. So she was really awesome and helped us out with it.

 Then we went home and we were planning for today and Sister Rosenlof asked if I wanted to go and buy a new bike today and I'm like uhhhh I dont know, I just feel like I'm going to see my bike again.
 So today, we rented an OV fiets from the station since we still had to do all of our grocery shopping and stuff. And then we looked at a couple bikes, and on the way to another store, I see a guy riding my bike! So I brake and yell at Sister Rosenlof, that that was my bike. So what do we do? We follow him, of course.  So we turn the corner, and I can't see him, but I see my bike, then we see the guy walk into a store. So we go, and make sure the bike is mine, and it is, it has the shop sticker and the number and everything on it. So, Sister Rosenlof is like okay, I'm going to go contact this guy, and you call the police. So I call the police, and it's three euros a minute, so the church isn't going to be happy about our phone bill..... anyway after a whole bunch of miscommunication she tells me to stay and theyll be by soon.

 Meanwhile, sister Rosenlof had walked into the store. It's an afro store, where like Black people can buy weaves and things for their hair. So she walks in, and shes like How much would it cost for me to get a weave? And everyone stares at her, because she's the only white person in there, and shes asking for a weave. Then she gets to talking with the guy who was riding my bike, and he's getting ready to leave, but shes still able to talk to him, so there we are, all of us standing now outside of the store. She keeps talking to him, and I get to fend off all the creepers. One guy asked if we would go visit him since we're missionaries. I said we could get someone to go visit him. And hes like no, I want you to come, and I want you to come alone. And im like no. Never. Eventually I'm able to get that one to go away, only to fend off other creepers, one of whom, thought I was working for the CIA. Anyway, Sister Rosenlof teaches this guy the whole first discussion, and gets enough information to write his biography.  Seriously.

  Fast forward 2 1/2 hours, and we are still standing there, talking to this guy, and theres no police. Eventually, Sister Rosenlof and I come to the conclusion thats theres just no way that this was the guy that stole it based on the way we're reading him and what's hes told us and everything.  So I just get the thought to ask for it back. Which is crazy. So I'm just like hey, I dont want to offend you, you seem like a really nice guy, and it's been great talking to you, but my bike was stolen yesterday, and that's it right there. And hes like really? And I'm like yes. And  hes like man that stuff happens all the time. So then Sister Rosenlof is like yeah, so can she have it back? And hes like of course! So yep, we just asked for my stolen bike back. Then he told us how he had bought it off this other guy and such and hes like thats so weird that they would choose yours, because mine has an expensive lock on it, that locks the back wheel, and a chain lock. So, he gave it back to us, and then, we set up another appointment to meet with again. So, we got my bike back, and a new investigator. It's seriously a  miracle. 

 Then, the police called a few minutes ago asking us if we were still there, this is 4 hours after we originally called them, ridiculous. So  I have my lovely bike back. :)

 Something else cool that happened this week, the other day we were coming out of a dinner appointment, and this guy rides up and talks to us, and he turns out to be this investigator that they had who was progressing super quickly and had a testimony and everything but then dropped off the face of the planet. But, he was super excited to see us, and  he still wants to take the lessons, and is still planning on getting baptized, so thats awesome. 

 Other than that, we have an investigator who is from the Congo, but doesnt speak french.... He speaks swahili and English, and we taught him this week, and we showed him the restoration video and he said his soul was speechless. We have to work a little more slowly with him, they've been teaching him for three transfers now, he was one of the first investigators they got when Sister Raun and her companions opened this city before the transfer I came to the Netherlands. The other two investigators we have are Vietnamese, and are here studying for school,  one is a girl who met the missionaries in vietnam, and the other is her friend that the sister found when they went to go look up the other girl. 

 So, theres a missionary who was serving in this city up until  a couple of days ago, and he put his birthday on all the pass along cards he gave to the members. I think that's genius. I might do that sometime. 

 Zone conference isnt until the 27th, so I will get that package you sent forever ago then.  I dont think I need rain boots.... just cold weather boots a coat. 

 District meeting is in Groningen on Tuesdays, yes.  They didnt tell either of us that one was senior companion or not, it doesn't matter anyway, but we assume sister Rosenlof because shes been in the city the longest. 

We have seen a lot of this huge area, a lot of it is farmland. And old little villages. There are some windmills, I will try to get some pictures. I have picked up a little Fries this week. Thats exciting. Here, everything is written in Fries first, then in Dutch.  Thats pronounced Freees by the way. Not like fries and a shake. Sister Rosenlof is from California, death valley, and is studying editing and BYU-I. We get along well, yes. :) 

Okay, that's all I can think of for this week. I love you!

Karoline

Goodbye, Hello and some pictures

As I suspected, Karoline was transferred.  It did happen a few days early but that's ok.  She also sent some pictures. And she has now been a missionary for 4 months!

Hello,

So... I've moved! I'm now in Leeuwarden, and it's adorable. It's at the top of the Netherlands. My new address is :  (For Karoline's safety, if you want or need to send her a letter/card please check with me for her address.  If you want to send a package, or card or letter, you can use the mission office address which is on the blog.)

Technically, transfers don't happen until Wednesday, but I got a call on Friday afternoon that I was going to be in Leeuwarden the next day, and that we needed to meet the other sisters at 11 on Sat. So, that was a stressful day, because it was late afternoon, and we had no idea what was going on. Anyway, I guess one sister had to do some updating of her medical records or something, so she had to spend the weekend at the mission home and office, so they had to transfer some people early. So anyway, that was pretty stressful. My new area covers all of Frisland. It's huge. Oh my goodness. If I stay here in the winter I'm going to die. This is one of the coldest cities in the Netherlands, so I'm going to need to buy my winter coat and boots soon. Yay! But this city is awesome. It's  a traditional dutch town, and it's gorgeous. Ah so cute. Also, we live almost at the top of our apartment building, and the back view is a canal, so we get to see boats passing through it all the time. Also, they speak another language up here. Fris? I'm not sure if thats how you spell it, they also have a different accent, so it's going to take just a little time to adapt to understanding this Dutch thing again. But that's okay, I'm glad to be here.  Also, they only speak Fris out in these little villages, so that will be interesting to go there. We have to bike a ton here, so my legs will get nice and muscular. :)

My companion is Sister Rosenlof. She was in the MTC at the same time I was, but she was in the other district. I'm really glad I get to serve with her, shes awesome, and just great. I was sad to leave Sister Raun though. Actually, leaving Lelystad was harder than I thought it was going to be, probably because it was on a weird day, and no one was expecting it, and we were all wondering what the heck was going on that some of us had to leave early. When I went to go say goodbye to the Suriname lady and her husband, she starting sobbing, like sobbing sobbing. And then told us how she had a dream this was going to happen but that she hoped it wasn't true.  It was really sad. And then we told the investigator who has a crush on me that I was moving and I thought he was going to have a fit. He's like "you know I hate these rules they can't have you Sister Western, I didnt even have time to get you a gift!" It was getting ridiculous, but then he really pushed us into getting breakfast with him before I left the next morning, so we did. But we have breakfast with him every saturday. 

Then, when we met up with everyone the next day, sister rosenlof and I had to wait forever to get a train up north because something was wrong with the tracks, so we waited for a couple hours. Then it's a couple hours on the train, and it was packed. Ah, craziness, but we made it, with all my stuff, and my bike, and we didnt even lose each other. Good times.

Anyway, this last Tuesday, Sister Raun and I worked with President. We thought for sure it was going to be super awkward, but it was a lot of fun. Great experience. Also, their car was really nice. ha.  We went and looked up a bunch of people, and taught an investigator that we had found a couple of days before. Then we had a member appointment for dinner, and then looked up more people after. It was really cool to get to work with them.

So yesterday, we had three investigators in church. And all three of them don't speak Dutch. So Sister Rosenlof translated for one, I translated for one, and one of the Elders took one. It was crazy. Also, our church is in a building that used to be a bank. The baptismal font is under the floor. It's a cool little building, it's also three stories.

Saturday night, we had a member appointment for dinner. The guy is Egyptian, and he's a convert of about five years. He's been through the temple and stuff, so I was a little surprised to walk in and see a shrine to Jesus and Thomas S Monson. Then I laughed a little. And he's like what? And I'm like uh... nothing. He also has book of mormons all of his house. Like everywhere. Basically, he's amazing, but it's like what the heck? But he's super nice. Whenever he says anything, it's always like Thanks to the gospel of Jesus Christ........ in the name of Jesus christ amen. Everything, he ends with in the name of jesus christ amen. When you tell him his food tastes good he looks at you and says " Ï'm chef cook", and "it tastes good because I always pray in the name of Jesus Christ to make sure the food is tasty. You can't go wrong." His Dutch is also really easy to understand, so yay. He's really cool though.

Also, I got the envelope with my medicine on Tuesday, so thank you!

Hmmmm so that's all I can really think of for this week.

Love you, miss you!

 Karoline

 This is the view from her new apartment in Leeuwarden.

Her new companion Sister Rosenlof.


Note:  Wikipedia has some interesting information on Leeuwarden and also Lelystad.