More Changes

With this transfer we say goodbye to Elder Lewis as our AP and welcome Elder Eastmond to work as AP with Elder Sumter.

These Elders take a huge load from the President's shoulders and help in so many obvious ways and through thousands of unknown deeds and quiet service.  We love you Elder Lewis, and thank you for all you have done for us, and the Belgium Netherlands Mission and our missionaries. 

 Elder Lewis, Presiden Robinson, Elder Sumter

Elder Sumter, Elder Lewis

Welcome Elder Eastmond.  Looking forward to great experiences we will surely have over the coming transfers.   We will teaching you about President's adage---'pressure is a privilege'. 

 Elder Sumter and Elder Eastmond

Oh boy, here we go again!!!  Keep your hand and feet inside the ride at all times!  

Transfers Alway End with Goodbyes

April 2, 2014 five missionaries met in the Mission Office for their final interview with President.  It is a unique group.  We remember welcoming the Sister Israelsen, Sister Raun, and Sister Juchau into the mission just a short time ago.  Elder Van Komen and Elder Hansen were the first Belgium Netherlands missionaries we met at the MTC in Provo in March 2012.  

President and I spent three separate weeks at the MTC in Provo prior to arriving in the Mission field.  During our first week in the MTC we met these two Elders in the cafeteria.  They had heard their new Mission President was at the MTC working on his language.  What were the odds that we would walk into the cafeteria and sit down on the same table as the Belgium Netherlands missionaries.  So, we say goodbye to them, after spending two wonderful years  and many unforgettable experiences together.  

We love you all.  The mission will certainly be different without you.

 Elder Hansen, Elder Van Komen, Sister Juchau, Sister Israelsen, Sister Raun,

Sister Robinson, President Robinson

Sister Israelsen's parents came to pick her us from the mission and we enjoyed having them join us for the evening.  It was a pleasure to meet your parents Sister Israelsen!

 Sister Israelsen, Sister Israelsen, Brother Israelsen

Also, Elder Hansen's parents came to pick him up from his mission.  It is such a pleasure to meet the parents of the wonderful missionaries we have grown to love and call 'our own'.  Thank you Elder Hansen, it was great to meet your parents.

 Sister Hansen, Elder Hansen, Brother Hansen

 We love you Sister Juchau, we will miss you!

Bright and early the next morning, April 3, 2014, we say our final goodbyes until we meet again!

 It's hard giving that 'last' hug!

 Love you Sister Raun.  We will miss you.

 Everyone is going on to a new life, going in new directions.

 Tot volgend keer.  Love you and miss you.

 Fellow missionaries--fellow friends

 Never gets easy!

 Elder Hansen, Elder Van Komen, Sister Juchau, Sister Robinson, President Robinson, Sister Raun, Sister Israelsen

Thank you for all you have left in the mission and all you have become.

 A bit of our hearts go with every group.  We hope there is a time when we can all spend time together again.  Ja, wij zullen!

One Final New Missionary in the Transfer

April 2, 2014  Elder Thom arrived in the mission.  He has spent the last two weeks learning Preach My Gospel at the MTC in England.  As Elder Thom was born and raised in Surinam and then moved to the United States.  Because he is a native Dutch speaker, his MTC training was in England.

Welcome Elder Thom

 Elder Thom and Elder Goff
Elder Thom will be serving in Sliedrecht with Elder Goff as companion and trainer.

 Elder Thom

Welcome Elder Thom.  You have friends in America and Surinam.  Now you have 160 missionary friends in Belgium and Netherlands.  You will make hundreds more with the members in this mission and the many investigators you will teach and grow to love.

God's Army is unbelievable.  It is President's and my pleasure to serve shoulder to shoulder with these remarkable young missionaries.

Welcome to Five More Missionaries

Must be spring because our missionaries are 'popping' into the mission at three different time this transfer.

April 1, 2014 four new missionaries come from the MTC in Provo, and another missionary who has been serving in San Diego waiting for his VISA finally got to the mission.

 President Robinson, Elder Holt, Elder Heinricks, Elder Conatti, Sister Adams, Sister Robinson

 Waiting at the train station.  Elder Lewis, AP; President Robinson, Elder Heinricks, Elder Holt

 Elder Conatti, Sister Adams, Elder Sumter, AP.

Well, true to the nature of mass transit, the trains were shut down and we had to call the Office Elders to come with the Mission Van and pick us up at the Airport.

Back to the office for all of the paperwork and legality.  Then we took a walk over to the De Valk Molen

 Sister Adams, Elder Holt, Elder Heinricks, Elder Conatti

We are very impressed with these missionaries.

Sister Robinson, Sister Adams, Elder Holt, Elder Heinricks, Elder Conatti, President Robinson

 Elder Holt

 Elder Conatti

 Elder Heinricks

 Sister Adams

 Then lunch at Oude Leiden

 Elder Rozendaal, Elder Sumter, Elder Lewis, Elder Hunt, Elder Cockbain, Elder Evans, Elder Lind, Elder Holt, Elder Heinricks, Elder Conatti, Sister Adams and President Robinson

After signing into Leiden and the Netherlands, they spent 30-40 minutes street contacting with the AP's and Office Elders.

 After a nap at the Mission Home and a great dinner together, they had a short fireside and testimony meeting with President Robinson and opened their 'first area of service' letters.  

 Sister Adams will be serving in Breda with Sister Spencer as companion and trainer.

 Elder Heinricks will be serving in Antwerpen with Elder Bean as companion and trainer.

 Elder Holt will be serving in Genk, Belgium with Elder Robbins as companion and trainer.

 Elder Conatti will be serving in Den Bosch with Elder Lewis as companion and trainer.

 When he realize that Elder Lewis was his new companion and trainer, there were hugs and smiles all around.

 Newest companionship in the mission!

Then it was off to bed with the rest of the training tomorrow morning 

at 9:00 AM in the Mission Office where they will meet their new trainers.

 Sister Spencer and Sister Adams

 Elder Holt and Elder Robbins

 Elder Conatti and Elder Lewis

 Elder Heinricks and Elder Bean

 Welcome to the Belgium Netherlands Mission.

You are in for the most unique experience of your life.

We love you and look forward to serving with you.

Goodbye to the Kruizingas

March 26, 2014 we had the honor of having Elder and Sister Kruizinga come to the Mission Home prior to our taking them to the airport on March 27, 2014.  It is hard to believe they have completed their mission and it is time for them to be released.  It will take them two months to get back to Australia as they will be touring and spending time in Ireland and United States prior to returning home.

 Thank you Elder and Sister Kruizinga

Elder Kruizinga, Sister Kruizinga, President Robinson

President Robinson, Sister Robinson, Sister Kruizinga, Elder Kruizinga

Thank you.  We love you and wish you great success in the coming years with you and your family.

Well done, thou good and faithful servants. 

Two New Elders

On March 26, 2014 we met our two new Elders from Surinam, Elder Abankie and Elder Bishesar.  We are so excited to receive additional Elders from Surinam.  We now have five serving in the mission with us.

 President Robinson, Sister Robinson, Elder Abankie and Elder Bishesar

 Waiting at the train station--Elder Sumter, AP; Elder Abankie, Elder Lewis, AP; President Robinson and Elder Bishesar

 President Robinson and Elder Bishesar

 Excited to have these two Elders here serving.

 Elder Bishesar andElder Abankie were serving as companions in the Surinam mission prior to getting their VISA for Netherlands.  

 Elder Abankie

 Elder Bishesar

 Off to Oude Leiden for a pannekoeken lunch

 Sister Robinson, Elder Lyman, Elder Abankie, Elder Bishesar, Elder Evans, Elder Cockbain, Elder Lind, Elder Kettler, President Robinson, Elder Lewis 

 Elder Abankie reads his 'first call' letter.  He will serve with Elder Lyman as his trainer and companion and serve in Gouda

 Elder Bishesar will be serving with Elder Kettler as trainer and companion in Lelystad.

Congratulations to both Elders.  

 Elder Bishesar and Elder Kettler

Elder Lyman and Elder Abankie