Update on the Twins and other Investigators.

Hey,

Sister Fredrickson and I  had a great week this week. We worked super hard, and it went super fast. And, we had four investigators in church again this past Sunday, which was cool.

The twins that we are teaching are doing super well! We picked them up for church on Sunday, because the member who would normally bring them wasn't going to be at church. I'm never going to have one of my own kids on the back of my bike. It's terrifying, they just move around and are crazy, and I'm scared they're going to injure themselves haha. Anyway, both of the twins got up and bore their testimonies in church on Sunday! They just got up there and thanked the members for being so  nice and loving and that they enjoy coming to the church and that the sisters teach them about Jesus, haha. They're so cute. but of course, they made me go with them...  but that's okay, it was my last fast and testimony meeting of my mission, so I figured I should probably get up there. Oh my gosh. It's so scary! Speaking Dutch in front of all those people gets me every time. 

We had a super  cool miracle this week! We were in an appointment with an investigator, but we hadn't started the appointment yet, and our phone starts ringing, and I answer it like a person with no manners, and there's this guy on the other end who is like hey, you came to my house a few months ago, and I'm like uh... I've definitely never been to your house, and I have no idea who you are. So I explain the situation, and then he says that the sisters met with him months ago, and that he told them that he would call sometime when he felt like he had more interest and wanted to come to the church. And he called. What? No one actually calls. So I give him the address of the church, and he actually showed up on Sunday! and had a great time. We have an appointment with him tomorrow, so we'll see how that one goes.

On Monday night, we taught a members girlfriend, except she speaks chinese, and so we would teach, and then the chinese elder, Elder Lee, would translate, and then teach more, and then it was  just crazy. My brain felt like it was going to explode with too many languages being spoken that night. It was exhausting.

The lady that we're teaching to read, she just had a death in her family, and we went to go see her, and it was crazy. African people are very... expressive, with their emotions, and it was just a really weird experience for us, but we'll stop by sometime this week and see how she is doing, because she wasn't in church on Sunday.

Sister Fredrickson and I moved back into our apartment again, so I don't have to sleep in an Elders bed anymore, it's wonderful. :)

 Oh, question, can you make an eye appointment for me? i really hate these contacts I'm wearing, and would love to get some American ones. .

okay, Have a great week.

I love you.
Love, Karoline

A Child's Prayer, Teaching a 50ish Woman to Read and, Ewww, Living in the EldersApartment.

Hey,

First of all, sorry that I forgot to wish you happy birthday last week, so happy birthday.

This week, we started teaching two twins, who are almost 9. One of them runs up to me and is like teach me about Jesus, you're my sister and I want to hear. And I'm like what? So I sat there and answered all of her questions, and then sat with her in primary yesterday. It was awesome! I really do feel like she is my little sister. Then I had her on the back of my bike yesterday on the way to take them back from church and she's like Western! and I'm like what? And she's like I'm going to start praying now, and I'm like what? And then she just starts praying while sitting on the back of my bike, thanking God for all that she has and that she has someone to teach her about Jesus and it was just so sweet! Oh my goodness, it touched my heart. Ah, it was just special, I don't know how to describe it.

We also had a breakthrough with one of our other investigators this week! He's one of the most difficult people I have ever taught. oh my. But this week, we just sat him down, and read from the Book of Mormon with him, and went through step by step about how he could apply it to his own life. It was awesome. you could just see the understanding finally sink into him, it was such a good feeling.

We're working with a less active in the ward, and she can't read or write, and I'm like this is crazy, I studied neuropsychology, and sister Fredrickson studied education, if anyone can teach this lady to read it's going to be us. So we taught her how to spell and write her name. I couldn't believe it. Here's this 50 something year old lady, who doesn't even know what her name looks like! But then, she finally got it down after like 40 minutes or so, and she just starts crying talking about how it was a miracle and all those things. It was one of the most touching things I've experienced. Sister Fredrickson and I almost cried right along with her. But I held it together. :) ha ha.

Living in the Zone leaders apartment is creating some incredibly awkward moments. I am sleeping in an elder's bed, It's freaking me out. Anyway, we were sitting there after finishing our planning the other day when all of sudden we hear our door start to open, and we're like uh, what? And then you hear Elder Moomey yelling, Fetch! The chain lock is on? How did they do that? They just start asking if anyone was home and then Sister Fredrickson and I round the corner and make eye contact with Elder Moomey and he's like we thought you weren't home!! And you can bet I was in my PJs. How many elders are going to see me in my pajamas?! Then yesterday, they came over at like 11 to fax their numbers, and we open the door, only to realize that all 4 of us are wearing gypsy pants. I can't wait to get back to my own apartment. i was freaked out when I went in their shower, and put my body wash on the shelf, only to realize that one of the elders uses the same body wash, and it's definitely for girls

Today we are in Delft, because there's someone here who wants his girlfriend to be taught by the sisters, which is awkward because the elders to delft have been teaching her but okay. Anyway, we decided to just come spend pday here because we wanted to come anyway, and it's the place to buy souvenirs.so, I took 70 euros out of my account, fyi.  And I'm almost completely done now, except that they wrapped absolutely everything, so I have no idea whats what.

I feel good, coming into my last transfer. Like, I know I've done what I'm supposed to have done. I'm not stressing out, and it's just work as normal. Except there are some cool things finally beginning to happen in Den Haag, so we are excited about that. Sister Fredrickson is doing super well, I basically put her in charge of everything, it's great. But it's better for her, because now she knows that she can do anything, because shes going to be training if not this coming transfer the one after, since all the sisters are leaving.

Okay, I think that's all. Have a great week, I love you.

Love, Karoline

Starting her Last Transfer and a Report on Mission and Sister's Conference.

So, I'm starting my last transfer, and things will be staying the same, with me and Sister Fredrickson serving here in Den Haag. So that's good. Although, we are moving this week, so I have to pack up all my stuff anyway. Which is super annoying, but whatever.  We're going to be moving in Wednesday night.

The Ballard conference was pretty good. I  learned a lot. He talked about making sure we know the lessons, and letting go of whatever it is that is keeping you from completely serving the Lord. All in all, it was an uplifting experience, so that's good. No, I did not get pictures. That's not allowed. Also, he and his wife are so cute. I was sitting on an aisle seat during the stake conference later that day, and I got to speak to her for a few minutes as she was trying to leave but got stuck with all the people who don't know church protocol. Poor thing was so tired. But she's cute. 80 year old people are fun. I liked this sisters conference in Amsterdam a lot. I also really liked that Elder Ballard just threw down on people getting offended if they felt like a talk was only directed at a certain group of people. I didn't listen to it in Dutch. I think the translators are super annoying, and most of the Dutch people were using the English headsets because they prefer it that way. Actually, when the conference first started, we were listening to it in Danish for the whole first speaker, because there was some kind of problem, where our location was listed incorrectly.

This week we met with one of our investigators, and he bought a couple giant bags of chocolate kruidnoten for me. Isn't that nice!? the week before he had mentioned sinterklaas and I had talked about how those chocolate things were my favorite and that I hoped I could get them before I got home and then, toevallig, they were available in the stores the next week, and he saw them and thought of me and then bought a couple bags so that I would for sure have some. I thought it was nice! Thoughtful investigators are the best.

We had a service project this week with all the missionaries at this home of one of the members helping them rearrange everything for their new baby, and we were painting walls, and I went into another room and I walked in on one of the zone leaders painting himself. I decided at that moment that the missionaries won't be allowed to help with anything in my house, ever. But most people in the states don't use missionaries that way anyway.

We did have an investigator at church yesterday. We're teaching this guy who comes pretty much every week, but for whatever reason won't  commit to baptism, which is okay for now, because he has some major concerns that still need to be cleared up .

On Monday, we had FHE with the JOVOs, and sister Fredrickson was leading the music, acapella, and we were supposed to be singing spirit of God,  but she accidentally got the group to sing it to the tune of how firm a foundation. haha. I'm pretty sure I was the only one who noticed, because I was the only one laughing, until everyone got to the chorus and the words suddenly didn't fit anymore.

Well, that's about all for this week. I love you and miss you.

Love, Karoline

Giving away Books of Mormon, Another Ethnic Cuisine, Bought a New Dress

Hey,

We had a good week. :)

I'm super proud of Sister Fredrickson! My little baby is growing up! :) She gave away two Books of Mormon on her own this week. (okay the bell-up I walked her through because she panicked, but still.) We're finally seeing things happening in Den Haag! I feel like that is always the way it works out. Like you slave away for the first transfer, and then the second transfer things always start happening.

Yesterday we had some random lady show up at church and she said she was taught by the missionaries a couple of months ago.  And we're like well, we've literally never heard of you before. So we got all of her information and are going by to meet her this week. She seems super cool, and we're both excited to go teach her. The minimal investigators we do have right now are very frustrating. But we gave away several books of Mormon this week, so that was fun. this week we were out tracting and I knocked on a lady's door and she wanted a  Book of Mormon, and I thought I  had one in Dutch and I go to give it to her, and realize it was in French... ha. oops. Oh well, it just gave us an excuse to come back later.

I'm still super upset with the other sister missionaries who  were just here, because they did absolutely nothing with the area book for months, and it was literally several stacks of paper scattered all over the apartment when we got here. Really?! Oh man, gets me upset just thinking about it. Like anyone the worked with or any potentials they found are just lost. But that's their fault and they're going to be responsible for that, so oh well. Sister Fredrickson and I have a few problems with the Sisters who were just here. I can tell you why they weren't teaching people. But that's not my place, so whatever.  Anyway, i'm glad things are finally getting somewhere.

I tried Korean food this week. We have an Elder from Singapore serving here too, and he made food for us at a dinner appointment we were at. It was interesting. Good, but definitely not something I'm used to. But hey, the next day we had a dinner appointment where they made us burritos and seeing him try to eat them was  hilarious.

I did not buy a ballgown for the Ballard conference, unfortunately. :( I did get another dress though, since I pretty much had to... Did I tell you that I'm singing in the Choir for the stake fireside with Elder Ballard that night? The conference is Thursday in Zoetermeer. Yes, we do have the sister's conference this coming week, and it should be good, so that's something to look forward to. I fixed one of the Elder's bikes this week. I felt pretty accomplished. Usually it's the other way around.

Yes, I am expecting to stay my last transfer here with Sister Fredrickson. I think it would be pretty weird if we got transferred. Oh! Next week, we have to move into the zone leaders place for a week and a half, because they're going to remodel our apartment to make it a lot less ghetto. :) Super exciting. I'm upset that I have to pack all my stuff up a gain, because all of our things have to be out of the apartment, but whatever. It's also a little frustrating because the zone leaders have a car, so they l ive super far away from everything. We now will be an hour bike ride away from the church instead of 2 minutes. OH well, it's a lot better than being homeless. But the zone leaders are excited to room with the other elders for a while, so at least they'll be having fun.  It is getting very fall like now, yes. It's nice. The weather has been really bipolar recently, but that's okay. I think by the end of the month I'll be wearing my heavier coat. maybe not because this last week was super warm, and didn't rain at all. :) It was weird.

I don't think there's anything  I'm going to need you to do for me. I was going to ask you to make a dentist appointment, but you already did so... hmm... well, I'm going to need a job, so if you see anything, let me know.

Okay, have a good week. Love, you, miss you.

Love, Karoline

She's Coming Home Next Month

So, I'm coming home next month. :)  That's pretty crazy.

We have one progressing investigator, and we found a new investigator this week. He was a look up from the area book and he seems pretty positive. We have an appointment with him again this week, so we will see what happens there. Other than that, we did a lot of finding, and met with a lot of inactives. A member from Aruba gave me a pair of maracas and some coasters, haha. I'm glad Katelyn had a good birthday.  Oh, grandma mentioned sending me a birthday card months ago, but I definitely never got it, just so you know. 

We do work with the Jovos (Young Adults) here, because there's tons of  them. FHE and institute start again for them this week, so we'll be going as well. Which should be pretty fun. From what I've heard it's a party, and it's a great place to bring investigators, so we will see what happens.

Zone conference was okay...  oh. It was interesting. President Robinson did this section where he addressed "Anti" material, because he doesn't want anyone to be surprised when we stumble across it one day, or an investigator does or whatever. So that was fun. I think it was probably a good thing. The Elder Ballard conference is next week, and people are freaking out. And there's a strict dress code.They're making all the sisters wear nice dresses, instead of skirts,  (lame)  but I've been tempted to get a ballgown to wear It's a dress, isn't it? i don't understand why people are freaking out. Like it's Elder Ballard. I think he knows what missionaries look like, and what they do. There's no need to go trying to impress him, but whatever.

Yes, I do like the new Elder and Sister Romig. (New Senior Couple.  He is the brother of Elder And Sister Romig who are serving in Groningen, Karoline loves them too.)They're a lot of fun. We went over to their place twice this week. Once to do service with them and then yesterday to eat dinner with them, so that was really nice. Yes, we do get fed a lot. This ward is really good at feeding the sisters, so that's always a good thing. unless they're the stressful members, but that doesn't happen too often. 

 I'm glad you got the information from the office finally. I don't know why you never got that info from them. Yes, I should be home on the 30th.(October)

We had a less active member come to church yesterday for the first time in a year, so that was super cool! She looked like she was completely at ease, so that was super nice. Hopefully she'll keep coming.

The other day, it started  pouring rain, and sister Fredrickson and I were ringing bells, and a  Muslim guy  let us up and he took a book of Mormon. I've been teaching a lot of Muslims recently, which is always interesting, because you never know what to expect.

okay, well... there's not really much to say, because we're not really teaching right now. So hopefully next week there will be something more exciting.

I love you and miss you. Have a good week.

Love, Karoline