Another Good Bye this Week

Friday, March 22, 2013 we said good bye to Elder Schulte.  Elder Schulte served us well.  Not only in the mission as an outstanding Elder, but as AP for four transfers.  He is a dear and loved friend as well as missionary.  We are so grateful for his service to us.  We spend Thursday evening in the Temple in Zoetermeer with Elder Schulte and the AP's--Elder Van Rij and Elder Li.  Sessi who was taught and baptized by Elder Schulte went through the temple for the first time last night.  We were all there to support her.  It was a perfect ending to Elder Schulte's mission.  

So, at 6:30 am this morning, we said good bye to another friend.  Sure hope all our friends are waiting on the other side for us when we finally get home!

We love and miss you all.

 After all the times Elder Schulte helped us get missionaries through this experience, here he is finally doing it for himself!

Elder Schulte, President Robinson, Sister Robinson

Elder Li, Elder Schulte, Elder Van Rij

We wish you success, Elder Schulte!

Thank You to Great AP's

Thank you Elder Li and Elder Van Rij for all you love and support these past weeks with transfers, Zone Conference and our coming and going Elders.

We couldn't do what we do without you lifting where you stand. You are that extra strength when ours starts to wear out.

Elder Li, President Robinson, Elder Van Rij

Some Go and MORE Come!!

This is the end of our small groups coming in from the MTC in Provo.  So we were especially excited to get Elder Alston and Elder Rowley.  On Tuesday, March 19, 2013, we welcomed our newest missionaries. 

President Robinson, Sister Robinson, Elder Alston, Elder Rowley

Off to the Mission Office in Leiden to get the paper work done, the legality finished, and the financial issues taken care of before we take them to an early lunch for Pannekoeken. 

 Elder Alston, Elder Li, Elder Andrews, the financial Office Elder; Elder and Sister De Leeuw, our interim Office Couple

 Pankratz in the back, Elder Moscon, the legality Office Elder, Elder Van Rij, Elder Rowley (our only Elder in the mission from England)

 Sister and Elder Pankratz--last lunch with them 
at Oude Leiden for Pannekoeken

 Elder and Sister De Leeuw, our interium Office Couple until our 
newly called Office Couple arrive in May

 President Robinson and Elder Alston


After lunch and legality, off to the Mission Home for a nice nap after almost 22 hours of little to no sleep.  After a nap and a dinner at the Mission Home, we held our Welcome and testimony meeting.  Afterward they both opened their call to their new area and who their trainer would be for their first transfer.

 Elder Rowley will be serving in Den Haag with Elder Stanley as his trainer.  
Elder Stanley is currently serving as District Leader in Den Haag District.

Elder Alston will be serving in Gent, Belgium with Elder Bickham as his trainer.

President told Elder Alston he would now have to learn another language--

Flemish!

Next morning before we head back to the office to meet their new companions, we stop for a picture to document that they are truly in the Netherlands.

Elder Alston

Elder Rowley

Elder Alston, Elder Rowley Sister Robinson, President Robinson

Elders, welcome to the Land of Windmills and soon, very soon,

the Land of Tulips!

We love you and are so very glad you are here!

Good Bye to Elder Merrill

Tuesday March 19, 2013, we took Elder Merrill to Schipol Airport to send him back home to his family.  What a wonderful missionary.  Sad to see him leave but so excited and happy for the so-to-happen reunion for him and his family.  

Sister Robinson, President Robinson and Elder Merrill

Tot Ziens and wij houden van je, Elder Merrill.

Zone Conference for Rotterdam and Antwerpen Zones

Rotterdam and Antwerpen Zones met on March 15, 2013 at Antwerpen Chapel for Zone Conference.  It was wonderful to met with everyone again.  We love Zone Conferences--they always bring renewed friendships, energy, and enthusiasm.  The best thing about conference is feeling the Spirit.

The following pictures are an overload.  I gave my iPad to Sister Schwab and asked her to get some pictures.  Well....., she did the job!

Elder Li and Elder Van Rij had a friendly competition between the Zones on how well they knew the lesson in Chapter 3 of Preach My Gospel.  Elder Li would give a clue phrase or sentence, the missionary that knew the answer would grab the marker, repeat the sentence and then quote the sentence that came next.  The Zones had a great time!

 Sister Israelsen and Elder Armstrong

 Competition runs deep on both sides!

Sister Israelsen knew her lesson!

 We felt save just enjoying the competition!

 Zone members supporting each other!

 Some enjoyed, some worried they might get called on!

 When you're not up front, of course you can quote the next sentence!

Elder Huff and Elder Mathis

 Elder Muse and Elder Ombach

 Elder Ombach won that round!

 Everyone waits to see who gets called for the next round!

 Sister Stout and Sister Hinchcliff

 Sister Stout didn't miss a word. 

 She was good--just kept going!

 Elder Taylor and Elder Christensen

 Tie grab!

 Round One tie barker--no one wins.

 Make it a little harder--still no one wins!

 Hardest!  Quote every other word correctly until someone misses!

 These two are champs--never broke the tie--Points to both Zones!

 Elder Bickham and Elder Shoemaker

 Elder Bickham was good, but.....

 Elder Shoemaker has a great comeback!

 Elder Van Overbeek and Elder Huff

 Tie again!

 Back to tie breakers.

Both won a point for their Zones.

Elder Hyer and Elder Rosendaal

 Points to Rotterdam Zone.

 Sister Juchau and President Robinson--That was close,
 but the Sister Missionary got it!

 President asked for another round!

 Sister Juchau gladly accepted!

 So President got serious!

 He missed the opportunity again!

 Yes, Sister Juchau knows her stuff--she studied with Sister Stout!

 Opps!  Stuck!

 One more round and Sister Juchau still dominates. 

 Point for Antwerpen Zone--goed gedaan Sister Juchau.

 Antwerpen Zone wins today.

 Elder Cooper, Elder Sanderson, Elder Kemp

 Elder Christensen, Elder Lyons, Elder Pimentel

 Elder Davis, Elder Harry Van de Sanda, Elder Nish, Elder Sosa

 Elder Sanderson, Elder Kunz, Elder Hyer

 Sister Stout, Elder Shoemaker, Sister Hinchcliff

 Elder Armstrong, Elder Huff, Elder Mathis, Elder Hansen

 Elder and Sister Pankratz--Leaving for home on March 28, 2013
We love you and will miss you dearly!

Elder Alfaro and Elder Bickham

Elder Pitts, Sister Israelsen, Elder Ombach
Elder Ombach was not smiling, 
so I ask him to smile while I took another picture.

 Elder Pitts, Sister Isrealsen and Smiling Elder Ombach!  
We love you!

 Elder Burton, Elder Gomez, Elder Ipson, Elder Lind
The Sign that Elder Burton is holding is "10".  Elder Burton feels that these three Elders are all "10's" and we agree!

 Elder Lind, Sister Juchua, Elder Muse

 Elder Muse, Elder Taylor, Elder McDaniel

 Elder Pimentel and Elder Burgess

 Sister Woodhouse and Sister Kruizinga

 President and the AP's, Elder Li and Elder Van Rij

 Sister Gallego and Sister Schwab

 Sister Robinson, President, and AP's

Birthdays for Sister Juchau and Elder Cooper

 Ground rules shared, ready, set, go....

 For one minute, all the great things we know about Sister Juchau.

 For one minute, all the great things we know about Elder Cooper.

 Our Dutch Birthday Song!

 Elder Van Overbeek's last time to lead us in our Song!

 Role Play how to be real and personable 
when you first teach a family in their home.
1.  Find three things they are interested in--photos, 
wall hangings, decor in home.
2. Find one thing in the home about their family.
3.  Find one thing you have in common with them.
4.  Try to get them to relax and laugh.

 It must have worked, Sister Robinson could not contain her laughter.

 

The missionaries always do a great job with role play.

The Sister missionaries have a way a making everything fun.  Good Job!

The missionaries were also challenged to prepare for our next Zone Training in April, our Temple Conference.  They were encouraged to study D&C 109, the dedicatory Prayer for the Kirtland Temple, and bring a question or concern with them to the temple. There we can all be spiritually edified.

Thank you for a wonderfully fun and spiritual day.  
Wij houden van jullie, allemaal.