shotgun baptism and killing off companions in Antwerpen

Surprise: Anne-Marie van Winckel was baptized yesterday!!! I know, I know...the planned date was 14 December but we went kinda shot gun baptism here. :) It all came about something like this: We showed up for our appointment on Friday night and Anne-Marie announced upon our arrival that she had gotten the job she applied for at the fietshaven and would therefore be working by then. "So, Zusters, we'll have to make it earlier..." Of course we were ecstatic and started proposing 27 November as a nice day, but since she knows everything and hasn't missed a beat, and she didn't want to make it a big to-do, we all came to the conclusion that we would mak e it for Sunday. :) And for all the right reasons, she agreed there was no more reason to set it out.
We planned the whole thing in two days and it went down beautifully. Anne-Marie was beaming and twirling around and singing in her white, flowing baptismal gown. The service itself was extremely interactive and, because it's Anne-Marie, full of good humor. We missionaries sang "The Olive Tree" for a musical number. I love my good friend, "Anne-Mie." I am so grateful I got to have been a part of the teaching process and be present to witness her baptism through Br. Nuyens (who received revelation at general conference that she would be baptized before the year was out hahaha) and the warm interaction between her and Christine, her bosom friend who introduced her to the gospel just 2.5 months ago.
After the ordinance, Anne-Marie stood and bore her testimony and I've never been so engulfed by the spirit of furthering the work. She stood and shared her conversion with perfect poise and ability and the most beautiful part cannot even be adequately shared in words, but I know I'll never forget it.
Love this work.

Exciting: I am ending my mission in Antwerpen with Zuster de Groot. juist.

special Zusters' training

You’ll never guess what I’m doing right now. I’m at the mission home surrounded by every Zuster in the mission watching season 2 of the district (it's about as close to the office as you can get here. It’s so totally awesome) It's pretty amazing. We've had a day of sister training here in Brussels and are continuing tomorrow in Brussels and Mechelen. I love my mission.

Beyond being a total blast with the girls, it’s been a great training and I’m feeling really excited about using these honed skills the last seven weeks. Looking around the room and seeing all these beautiful Zusters in all the phases of the mission. I remember being Zuster Ence and Perry in the first transfer. Skipping that phase, I remember tackling my second city in my 5th and 6th transfers like Zusters Holbein, Pierson. And seeing Zuster Robbins and Driggs preparing for takeoff in 10 days...wow. This life as a missionary is the greatest thing on earth besides the gospel itself.

This past week Zuster De Groot and I have had the AMAZING opportunity to train our newest Zuster, Zuster Kremer who arrived 2 weeks early from the MTC. She. Is. Fabulous. Not only does she talk like Keira Knightly but she is laughter, testimony, and poise. I don't want to turn her over to her real trainer and greenie city - she's so fantastic for the city and ward of Antwerpen. Her greenie faith has put me in my place several times...and gotten us several young male phone stalkers....hahahaha. harmless and hilarious. oh, to be a Zuster.

Because I wrote two days ago, nothing new has happened worthy of a paragraph, but I am excited to tell you about Nico next Monday. We, the Zusters of Antwerpen, are sharing him with the Elders of Breda and he's getting to baptism the 5th of December. I’m exercising all my faith in that one - submissive, child-like faith.

I can't leave out the incredible news that Beatrix Werner got baptized in Rotterdam 16 Oktober. She was my first appointment the day that I transferred to Rotterdam. She's from Germany, a former member who decided to come back to the fold. It was a long journey and she made it through triumphant. I learned so much from teaching her those months in Rotterdam with Zuster Hamblin. She has such righteous desires and she's focused on the goal. To be there would've been incredible, but not being present doesn't make it any less of a beautiful experience of the mission.

It's not about us. It's about 1) the savior and 2) the people. and as long as they link up, we've done our job.

I love you all so indescribably.
Zuster fritz

star of the week: Anne-Marie van Winckel

Here's the haps with our friends:
Liliane is going completely strong; reading night and day, giddy about her baptism every time we see her. Only thing is, we don't know when that will happen. We’re waiting on the softened heart of her opposing daughter. That’s not getting her down, though. We are planning like it'll happen any day and praying like mad.

Anne-Marie set her own baptismal date for 14 December, which happens to be her birthday. She’s got all the fine details worked out. She knows the gospel inside and out so we feel a bit useless when we go to teach the lessons. More supervising than teaching, really. I wish all investigators were member referrals. :) This woman has a heart of gold and is completely set on doing everything asked of her and then some. She gets the ABCD (above, beyond call of duty) award.

Fernand is a new friend whom we found in a park in Hoboken. He meandered over to us, his 70+ year old legs clad in a vintage suit, and when we approached him and told him we talk to people about religion, he looked around the leafy path and motioned to a bench. We sat there for 80 minutes teaching about the restoration. Our follow up appointment was brilliant - he has read dozens of pages from the Book of Mormon and received an answer to his prayer that it's true. He’s currently on holiday with his wife but we are expecting a terrific appointment on Wednesday.

Willy is from the Congo and Zuster Holbein and I met him as he was walking down the street op Linkeroever (very far from where he lives). We had a brief interaction in Dutch in which we explained that we share the Book of Mormon. He expressed interest in a French copy and we set up an appointment to deliver it. That and several more appointments fell through but Zuster Van Wauwe, our ward missionary and friend loves her brothers and sisters from her native Congo and encouraged us to keep trying. She accompanied us to our first lesson where we learned that Willy does not speak nor understand Dutch. Confusion and awe followed because we truly carried on a whole conversation with him that first day and we were speaking Dutch. Well, he has read through Alma in the Book of Mormon after several appointments and asked to be baptized into the church he's been looking for all his life. A sweet experience.

Nico is just one more miracle that will have to wait until Monday when I can give his conversion justice. But in the meantime, attend and enjoy church and I love you all.

veel liefs,
Zuster Fritz

the good and the best things

I have no idea how to put any of the miraculous and incredible things into words and I just feel silly trying. I serve in the best mission with the best missionaries, among the best members, teaching the best people. It probably becomes cliché to read my letters every week because the only thing I can do is rave about all the "good" and "best" things. Now, I remember a certain lady in my life who hated positive Christmas letters and demanded to know the negative. I just feel sorry for this woman's existence because focusing on the negative is so ridiculous. Really though, there are a million things I could focus on - I could type for hours about the rude and obscene things that people have said to me in 16 months, I could rant about my frustrations with people who don't commit to the most important thing on earth due to either lack of understanding or lack of desire. and then there's the constant tiredness I feel. It never goes away. Neither does the weather. There's just no need to even mention these things, even to myself. And it's definitely a battle, choosing to disregard something that truly makes its presence known, but the gospel of Jesus Christ is the POWER to do it. I finished my study of the Doctrine and Covenants this week and while reading about Joseph Smith's history, I was so impressed with his attitude: as for the perils which I am called to pass through, they seem but a small thing to me...nevertheless, deep water is what I am wont to swim in...and I feel like Paul, to glory in tribulation." -Doctrine and Covenants 127

That's the gospel message. Liliane is suffering health problems, Juliette's son is dying of cancer, and Ethel is looking for a job. And while they are all very difficult trials for them, eternal perspective in the plan of salvation that our loving Heavenly Father has created for us is the only way to make it sanely through. :)

I love sharing that with others. So. much.

and love you all,
Zuster Fritz

l'automne in Belgique

What else could you expect than a week of miracles? First of all, I have the most sensational companion ever: Zuster Amber de Groot and I have never laughed so much in my life - the mission is such a riot, I love it. We do and give our best to enjoy every aspect of the work and there really is nothing better than what's happening here in Antwerpen. We had 9 new investigators this week which is fantastic and our regulars are going so strong. It's now been several months teaching them and though they are completely ready for baptism, it's all working in the Lord's timing, which for a missionary is sometimes ridiculously long. Hahahaha. Liliane and Juliette and Anne-Marie are all completely elect and prepared and it is such a privilege to teach them and witness their faith in action. Each one of these ladies is SO involved in the scriptures and everything else that teaches them the principles of the gospel. I love them ridiculously much.

We are still teaching Florence Mensah from Ghana and her whole family and it's incredible - the lessons are full of hallelujahs and really good questions. Man, I love that family. Joseph came with us on joint teach and it blows my mind that it was only four months ago that we introduced him to the Book of Mormon. Now he's got the priesthood and teaching and inviting people to the gospel like crazy. He is a marvel to behold and leaving to England in a few short weeks. I know he'll endure to the end no matter where in the world he finds himself.

I love this fall weather that is descending upon us in Belgium. Best time to go finding on the streets. :)

love you all
-me

Whoa, ok so I loved conference and got a lot of inspiration about what I can do to finish strong and restart my life again at home.

Ok, down to business here - I love love love Zuster De Groot. We spent the beginning of p-day cleaning and I mean really cleaning! We then shopped and cooked lunch together and we are heading out for a day on the town in Antwerpen with our favorite member, Katie from Canada and her new husband.

Joseph Mendy is moving back to England in just a few short weeks and Antwerpen will not be the same without him but what a testimony that he needed to find the gospel here and now. I am so grateful to be a part of it.

I hope you all are watching and sharing the Mormon messages on lds.org and youtube.com. These are incredible.

Love,

me

Zuster de Groot to come to Antwerpen!

Transfer calls came today and as expected, Zuster Holbein is leaving me. :( I have enjoyed every crazy minute we've had together but I'm excited for her to get out of her greenie area and stretch her wings in the best city in the world: AMSTERDAM! I've asked her several times to take me with her but she's already got more luggage than she can handle.

However, I am beyond words in my excitement about my new companion: Zuster Amber de Groot. FYI: she and I are already friends from my BYU ward at Park Place! I always told her before I left that I'd go convert her Dutch ancestors. And now she's here to help me haha. She is beyond cool and I never thought I would be lucky enough to serve with her. But God is a God of miracles, dat zeker.

Last Saturday’s pday was spent in Brussels with missionaries and members - awesome. Neat to visit another mission's city and eat delicious frites, waffles, and chocolate...too much salt, sugar and money after a while. :)

It's been a full week and I can't possibly describe it. I wish that you could just be here to experience it all with me. *sigh* But until then, enjoy the fall and I'll see you at Christmas. Love you all tremendously. ENDURE TO THE END!

ENJOY GENERAL CONFERENCE!
love love love you,
-Zuster Fritz