Keukenhof

Yesterday was spent in Keukenhof with the Den Haag and Rotterdam zone. Best preparation day of my life. It was absolutely breathtaking, all the flowers. And the best part? Getting to see Kim and Joyce. They came along and it was an absolute blast to be with the other elders and zusters as well. Man, I love being a missionary in Holland!!

This past week was MIRACULOUS! We found 6 new investigators who are absolutely sincere in their desire to know more about the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. Let's not forget that among the tribulations and trials, God also allows us joy. It is He who is in control of this, His work.

April 23, my father's birthday and one year since I entered the temple, I experienced the prettiest miracle of my mission. It's breathtaking, humbling and empowering. And through it all, I know that our Heavenly Father's plan of happiness is real and desirable for every soul. For the worth of every soul is great in the eyes of God.

This pretty miracle of mine will require a bit of an uitleg (explanation). It goes something like this: Sometime in the MTC experience, Zuster Spencer presented a piece of paper to us with a referral on it from a certain Becky Townsend Ballstaedt. She was an exchange student in Rotterdam (get this) 44 years ago, trying to make contact with the daughter of her host parents, Aty van Dalen. Becky wrote the address of the house where they lived in 1966 with a few details in hopes that missionaries heading to the Netherlands would be able to find her.

I tucked the paper into my journal and thought no more of it until a tijdje into my service in Amsterdam. At that time, I called the zusters te Rotterdam to give the information through. It was weeks until I heard back from them and their answer was exactly as I'd expected - Aty doesn't live there anymore and the current residents know nothing more.
As soon as I got transferred to Rotterdam, I took the search back into my hands to find Aty van Dalen. I guessed we probably wouldn't find anything more than the other sisters, but I felt a pull to not give up....to be continued next week when I have more time.

The gospel is true, brothers and sisters. Love you all. Incredibly much.

-Zuster Fritz

even in Antwerpen

This past week was all over the place and crazy amazing. Zuster Gulliver, Hamblin and I spent Monday in Antwerpen, Belgium (SOOO rad to see the lower half of the mission) to teach a family preparing to get baptized next month. Tjonge jonge, are they incredible! Heidi and Marie Therese. They have so much light and are so eager and excited to live the commandments and experience the blessings. Here in Rotterdam, Zuster Hamblin and I continue to teach Tamia from the Ivory Coast. She's also one of those elect who is so prepared to accept the gospel in its fullness. I love watching her progress.

A mission is such a wonderful thing and I'm so grateful to be serving my God and Savior. Blijf maar geweldig, jonges!
Ps - Kim Z - je weet hoe veel ik van je houd hoor!

Tamia and the temple

Hello lovelies,

We're tearing Rotterdam north apart this week with our own wonderful Zuster Gulliver, who is joining us for a week until her new greenie arrives. Rotterdam is actually her own greenie city, so we're contacting lots of former investigators and getting them back on the bandwagon. We'll see if this go can bring them further. :D
Transfer calls came last night and Zuster Hamblin and I are super pumped to be staying here another 6 weeks!!! WOOHOO! We have lots of work to do and people to assist to the waters of baptism. The sisters, Edelina and Tania, have been coming to church and LOVING it - they're super excited about their baptism! What miracles they are.

Tamia is another woman we are teaching who is such a miracle - she'll be following them into the water not too long afterward. Tamia was an investigator over a year ago who wasn't quite ready to keep going at the time. However, Zuster Hamblin found her name in our books this transfer and felt strongly that we should look her up again. (that's called the spirit, brothers and sisters) She was willing to meet again with us and oh my is she GOLDEN!!!! She was not ready then, but is ready now. I can see so clearly how the Lord prepares us for His everlasting gospel. Not only is she reading daily from the Book of Mormon and getting SO much out of it, but her brother, Soloman, is now reading and wants to learn and become more. Families are forever, eh? ;)

Our zone conference at the temple was wonderful. I have never been so inspired to keep going in all my life. Endure to the end, right?

You better all know how much I love you. I think of and pray for you all often and am confident in the plan of salvation, which allows us to dwell in eternal bliss together. :) Seriously. I love you all.
Here's a little something to empower you.

Now my brethren, we see that God is mindful of every people, whatsoever land they may be in; yea, he numbereth His people, and His bowels of mercy are over all the earth. Now this is my joy, and my great thanksgiving, yea, and I will give thanks unto my God forever. -Alma 26:37

veel liefs,
Zuster Fritz

land of the daffodils

The yellow daffodils are sprouted on every bit of green grass Rotterdam has and it's sunny and gorgeous. Man, I love Holland in the spring. (I gotta say, the people are friendlier too!)

General Conference was UHmazing. I wrote down several questions that I had and EVERY SINGLE ONE was directly answered through numerous addresses. I love modern day revelation. Additionally, Edelina and Tania came!!!!! It was a MIRACLE!

My friends, the Book of Mormon is the word of God. Read it, love it. Do something about it.

We are heading to the Zoetermeer temple on Friday for zone conference: the best kind of zone conference ever! I love it. Can't wait to get that feeling again. You know what I mean?

Love you all and miss you.
Zuster Fritz