Thursday, August 30, 2012

Sister Omozokpia Arrives in the Mission

On August 29, 2012 Sister Omozokpia joined our mission.  We are so thrilled to have her here!

Sister Robinson, Sister Omozokpia, President Robinson

We took the train back to the Mission Office and decided to do her training at the Mission Home, so off we went.

While Elder Van de Graaff, and Elder van Overbeek helped me prepare dinner, President trained Sister Omozokpia.

After dinner we had a short fireside and testimony meeting.  I was so impressed with Sister Omozokpia's strong testimony, her humble and complete faith.  Wow, we are so honored to have her in our Mission.  I am grateful that we have such valiant Missionaries to serve with in Belgium Netherlands Mission. 

She opened her "Area Call" letter to find out what city she would serve.  The Lord called her to serve in Zoetermeer with her trainer Sister Townsend and Sister Welch.  She was thrilled and could hardly wait until morning to get to her new assignment as a missionary!




Welcome Sister Omozokpia!

Tuesday, August 28, 2012

Our Private Mission Miracle


We now have an even dozen!!
(In Netherlands, eggs come 10 in a carton, 
so some may not know about an "even dozen")

On August 27, 2012, at 3:20 pm our 12th grandchild arrived to begin his great adventure on earth.  It's a 'journey' back to his Heavenly Father.  We welcome Nixon Lee Sagers to our family with open arms and open hearts.  This little guy was one of the main reasons that it was hard to say goodbye in June, knowing I would miss the event.  However, Sally and Lance made sure we could 'FaceTime' during the day today.  I checked in several times to see how things were going and got great updates. I got up at 2:00 AM in Leidschendam, Netherlands to FaceTime again and little Nixon was a half hour old.  He was getting cleaned up and ready to come back to his mom.  


Here is happy and tired mom and new baby boy, Nixon.

We visited for a short time and then Layton and Parker came into the room to meet their new little brother.  With FaceTime still going, we were able to watch the two boys see their baby brother for the first time.  That was precious! We are so far away, but for that few moments, we were in that room watching an eternal family welcome a brand new member with all the love and excitement that come with these events. I feel Heavenly Father's blessings in this event.  I felt so reassured over and over by the Spirit that all was well in my absence.  I felt such a calm about Sally and Lance, such an ease, even though 'mom' was not there, they were doing great.  I knew they would do great, but I was not so sure on February 10, when we stopped at their home to tell them about our mission call. Sally and I both cried knowing I would miss this great event.  That's what hung heavy on our hearts.  

The mission miracle-
My heart is at peace and is being buoyed up by the Spirit.  The Lord has blessed my heart to not break for not being with Sally and supporting her and her family in this life changing event.  The Lord has blessed my heart to be full, my joy boundless and my gratitude deep for the blessing of Nixon. 


Nixon Lee Sagers
7 lbs. 11 oz.
19 1/2 inches long
And he looks just like his older brothers--he fits!

Monday, August 27, 2012

President's Weekly Letter


 …VAN EEN VERNUFTIGE MAKELIJ…
(1 Nephi 18:1)


Belgium/Netherlands Mission

                  



ATTRIBUTES OF CHRIST

Every missionary in the Belgium Netherlands Mission has been set apart as a full time missionary.  The Elders have been ordained with the Priesthood of God.  We have set out to do a difficult job that for most is in a foreign language making it even more difficult.  Equal to the difficulty, we are blessed abundantly with a love for these two countries where we serve and deep satisfaction of faithful fulfillment of our responsibilities. 

The Lord has promised power with the ordination.  President Kimball wrote (p. 4, PMG)
“The setting apart may be taken literally…set apart from the world to a higher plane of thought and activity.  The blessing is conditional upon faithful performance.”

As you faithfully exercise your authority, you will raise to this higher plane of thought and activity.  Then you can expect to be blessed with greater spiritual power.  How do you exercise your authority?  You Keep Covenants.  The first covenant you made was to take the name of Christ on yourself, meaning you will strive to incorporate into your life the attributes of Christ.  You repent and continually improve your purity.  You work, meaning you expend the long hours and effort to fill your day.  You seek the spirit and follow its promptings so the Savior can guide you.  Finally, you develop and maintain love for the people and God.

The Zone Conferences last week focused on your commitment to develop the attributes of Christ (Chapter 6, PMG).  One reason you follow His example and become like Him by incorporating His attributes into your life is best stated by Elder Oaks regarding the final judgment:

“… scriptures …refer to our being judged by the condition we have achieved.”

 “… the Final Judgment is not just an evaluation of a sum total of good and evil acts – what we have done.  It is an acknowledgment of the final effect of our acts and thoughts – what we have become.  It is not enough for anyone just to go through the motions.  The commandments, ordinances and covenants of the gospel are not a list of deposits required to be made in some heavenly account.  The gospel of Jesus Christ is a plan that shows us how to become what our Heavenly Father desires us to become.” (Elder Dallin H. Oaks, Oct 2000 Conference)

I showed you a painting of a mountain by my home in Fillmore, Utah.  I shared several sacred mountain top experiences I have had on that mountain as I approached serious turning points in my life.  The mountain became my friend representing the attributes of: steadfast, immovable, unwavering, dependable, firm and it stood tall as a beacon in my times of need.

The group looked up numerous accounts of scriptural events occurring on or having to do with mountains or rocks.  The list is exhaustive where mountains are used when special events took place or rocks are used as significant metaphors.   

We then provided each of you with a rock, taken from a mountain.  It is granite, part of the mountain and a symbol of the mountain and the mountain’s attributes of steadfast, immovable, unwavering, dependable, firm and standing tall as a beacon.  These are the same characteristics of my commitment and your commitment to incorporate Christ-like attributes into our lives.

Christ-like attributes determine my relationship with God, my relationship with me and my relationship with other people.  For me, I have assigned Christ-like attributes as follows:

Relationship with Heavenly Father:
            Faith in Jesus Christ
            Knowledge
            Love & Charity
            Humility
            Obedience

Relationship with myself:
            Hope
            Diligence

Relationship with other people:
            Virtue
            Patience
            Love & Charity

My commitment to develop Christ-like attributes is steadfast, immovable, unwavering, dependable, firm and it stands tall as a beacon.  The rock reminds me of my commitment.

God can count on me.  Others can depend on me. I know where I stand.
President Robinson 
                                                                                                                    

Thursday, August 23, 2012

Zone Conference for the Mission

In two days, August 21 and August 22, 2012, we held Zone Conference with every zone.  It was great.  Here is a sampling of pictures for both conferences.





















On September 5, 6, and 7, 2012 we will hold Special Zone Conferences with Elder Kearen of the Seventy.  He will be touring our mission and we are sooooo looking forward to that event.  There are some special things coming!

Sunday, August 19, 2012

President's Weekly Letter

 …VAN EEN VERNUFTIGE MAKELIJ…
(1 Nephi 18:1)



Belgium/Netherlands Mission

                  



MIRACLES

 At the begin of his ministry, Jesus called his Apostles.  We read:

18 And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers.

19 And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.

 20 And they straightway left their nets, and followed him.

 21 And going on from thence, he saw other two brethren, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in a ship with Zebedee their father, mending their nets; and he called them.

 22 And they immediately left the ship and their father, and followed him.
(Matt. 4:18-22)

 He then went directly to teaching and performing miracles.

23 ¶And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people.

The prophet Mosiah prophesied about the Savior’s ministry in Mosiah 3:5-6:

5 For behold, the time cometh, and is not far distant, that with power, the Lord Omnipotent who reigneth, who was, and is from all eternity to all eternity, shall come down from heaven among the children of men, and shall dwell in a tabernacle of clay, and shall go forth amongst men, working mighty miracles, such as healing the sick, raising the dead, causing the lame to walk, the blind to receive their sight, and the deaf to hear, and curing all manner of diseases.

6 And he shall cast out devils, or the evil spirits which dwell in the hearts of the children of men.
Why do we not see such great physical healing in our missionary work today?  We have all been called and ordained and have authority to preach the gospel.  We have all consecrated our lives to accept the Lord’s commandment to become fishers of men.  If we hold the priesthood we also have the authority to administer the ordinances thereof.  As we prayerfully and worthily exercise that authority we receive spiritual power.  Yet it may appear that we barely seem to muster the power to find and help a few people come unto Christ without great physical miracles.

However, I see great miracles every day that are performed by each of you dedicated missionaries in the Belgium Netherlands Mission.  These miracles are spiritual and every bit as impressive as the physical miracles performed by Christ.  Do we not heal spiritual sickness, raise the spiritually dead, heal the lame that cannot walk the narrow path, give the blind man vision to see the benefits of a Christ centered life, give the deaf man power to hear the word of God and cast out evil spirits that dwell in the hearts of men? 

The miracles he performed were what were needed in his time and ministry.  The miracles you are performing are what we need today.  These miracles are real and come from the powers of heaven to the saving of souls.  I encourage each of you to continue your consecrated efforts and continue the purification of the vessel so we can realize even greater outpouring of these spiritual miracles, then watch and marvel for what they are.

Remember the words of the Lord to Joseph Smith concerning the Belgium Netherlands missionaries:

“5 And they shall go forth and none shall stay them for I the Lord have commanded them…
10 …the Lord shall come to recompense unto every man according to his work, and measure to every man according to the measure which he has measured to his fellow man.”

President Robinson

Single Young Adults

Having taught Institute for thirteen years, I have a very special place in my heart for the Single Young Adult Program of the church.  The Single Young Adult program here in the mission is vibrant and alive!  It is a source of great missionary work.

Every third Sunday, all the Single Young Adults from all seven of our Single Young Adult Centers come together for a three hour activity.  The first hour is a fireside, the next hour is a light supper together, and the third hour is their own sacrament meeting.

This afternoon President and I attended the three hour block meeting in Gouda and enjoyed a fun time with the Young Adults, the leaders, and the Spirit.

 It is held in the Gouda Ward--President Robinson entering the building.

 We had over 80 people in attendance tonight.  These are great Young Adults.

 There is friendships and unity among the members and non members.

 This is a wonderful time to share testimonies and bring friends and investigators to the Gospel.

 There were opportunities to visit and laugh.

 Get caught up since they have last been together.

 Even after three hours, it's hard to say good bye.

 They are headed to the door, but not too fast.

And of course, our Senior Couples that work at the Single Young Adult Centers--Sister Anjewierden, Sister van Komen.  Sister Seiter, Sister Everton and Sister De Leeuw got away too fast!  Thanks Mission Senior Couples for all you do for our Single Young Adults!

Another Sunday--Another Ward

Today, Sunday, August 19, 2012, President and I woke up without a fore- thought as to where we were to go to church.  So, we listened to the Spirit and ended up in the Rotterdam Zone at the Spikenisse Ward.


Elder Lewis, Elder Hendrickson, President Robinson

We had a wonderful day.  The ward is happy and friendly.  There is a great feeling of care and concern of one another.  Elder Lewis spoke in church today. He did an outstanding job.  He has been in the Mission less than a month and spoke for five minute in Dutch--did a great job!

Another Miracle

Please meet Ama! Ama is a miracle.  That's what Elder van Komen  and Elder Mohrman tell me.  I was blessed to be able to participate in Ama's baptismal service on Saturday evening, August 18, 2012. I was asked to say the closing prayer--Ama is unbelievable. 




Elder van Komen, Ama, Elder Mohrman
(I don't know who has the brighter, happier smile--
Ama or the Elders!)

Elder Mohrman and Elder van Komen found Ama in Den Haag and at first were just being 'disciples of Christ' and helping someone who was in great need of assistance.  Well, seven weeks later, Ama is one of the newest members of the Church in the Den Haag Ward.  

I met Ama the night of her baptismal interview.  All she could do was cry with joy and happiness.  She speaks very little Dutch, very little English.  She is from Ghana and speaks Tway (not spelled correctly) as her native language. The night of her interview all we could do was hug and cry.  

There is such a special spirit about Ama.  The Elders love her dearly.  President and I love her dearly, and the members in Den Haag Ward love her dearly.  There were tears of joy at this baptism.  She was confirmed today, Sunday, August 19, 2012.  She was looking forward to receiving the Gift of the Holy Ghost so she could have it with her always.

  Thank you Ama and thank you Elders for the opportunity to participate in a small way in the baptismal service.  Missionary work is real and exciting.  Zendingsverk is echt en enthoesieast.

Our First New Senior Couple

On Saturday, August 18, 2012, we went to Schiphol Airport to pick up our first Senior Couple to arrive since we came six weeks ago.
We were happy to welcome Elder and Sister Seiter.


Elder Pankratz, Sister Pankratz, Sister Seiter,
Elder Seiter, President Robinson


After taking the train back to Leiden, after the interview with the President and after some instructions--it was off for pannekoken. (NOTE:  Notice all the sunshine.  It was a beautiful sunshiny clear WARM day!  It was 85 degrees fahrenheit--a perfect day for me.  I would loved to have bottled it up for future rainy days to come)

 Elder Pankratz, Sister Pankratz, Sister Sieter,
  Elder Sieter,  Elder Culkins

Elder Culkins, Elder Wait, Elder Pope, 
President Robinson

Elder Cundick, Elder Harvey


 Congratulation to the Sieters', they will be working with the Young Single Adults in the Den Haag District.  When the Den Haag ward found out and was introduced to them--well, there were tear of gratitude! Thank you for sending us a wonderful Senior Couple for our mission.  
Hemelse Vader, wij zijn dunkbaar!



Friday, August 17, 2012

Special Antwerpen Zone Conference

August 16, 2012 Antwerpen Zone held a SPECIAL Zone Conference.  President Boom, Stake President for the Antwerpen Stake, spent two hours sharing his Mission Plan for his stake and how and where the missionaries fit into that plan.  
He shared that the plan was really an operation--
Operation-- Aurea Salvatio  (Golden Rescue)

We spend two wonderful hours feeling the Spirit of Mission Work for this stake and being trained in how to work hand in hand with the stake members in sharing 800 Books of Mormon before the end of the year, 
and, with faith, 80 baptisms.  

The Missionaries serving in this Stake are enrolled and excited to be working so very closely with their ward members and Bishops and Branch Presidents.
Thank you President Boom for the vision and inspiration for your Mission Operation--Aurea Salvatio!

Following are all the missionary companionships and were they are serving in Antwerpen Stake.


Elder Jones, Elder Goethals serving in Leuven

 Elder Taylor, Elder Roemer serving in Eindhoven


 Elder Davies, Elder Sumter serving in Brugge
(You can see President Boom in the background.  Thank you President for preparing your Stake for such wonderful missionaries.)


 Sister Herring, Sister Hinchcliff, Sister Jones serving in Antwerpen


 Elder Merrill, Elder Ombach serving in Kortrijk



Elder Klippel, Elder Andrews serving in Merksem

 Elder Burgess, Elder Moscon serving in Turnhout


 Elder Mathis, Elder Huff serving in St. Niklaas


 Elder Roemer, Elder Harry (The best member missionary on earth) Elder Taylor 



Elder Christensen, Elder Burton serving in Heerlen

 Elder Mower, Elder Thueson serving in Breda


 Elder Praag, Elder Schow serving in Gent


Sister and President Robinson standing outside the chapel in Antwerpen.
We are serving all of these great
missionaries and working for their success.