Another Crazy Week

Hello Family!

Well, this week was CRAZY! We have put a new focus on goal making in our companionship and we have seen TONS of blessings as a result. We were busier than ever, and we saw so much progress in the work here. Our district leader was blown away with our numbers this week. The coolest thing about it was that through the week, each day seemed so hard, and we were constantly exhausted. It just felt like we were trying our best and our best just wasn't good enough, but we kept pushing forward every day and saw amazing miracles that helped us surpass our goals. We had 5 investigators in church, which is higher than I have ever seen on my mission so far. It was such a miracle, and as we counted up our numbers on sunday night, we were all three humbled by how much we were able to accomplish despite our weaknesses and shortcomings throughout the week. It was a hard, tiring week, but we all learned that that is simply what it takes to see progress in this great work. The Lord blesses you after you have done ALL you can and can give no more. He is always waiting to help you go even farther when you show him you are willing to give him your all.

This week I traveled to Brussels with Sister Bennett (my MTC comp). We had to go down and get our Belgian residency permits. It was a fun trip. We got to see our old district and hear how everyone's areas were doing, and it was overall a really fun experience. I ate my very first Belgian sugar waffel (which was really, really tasty) and tried Belgian frits (not too impressive- I like dutch patat with curry sauce better- mmmm!) It was a lot of fun, but it drove me crazy to be on trains all day in a land where everyone spoke french- I just wanted to be on the streets talking to people!

As for the bike, the tally on flat tires is now 3, so I took it to a bike shop, and the really nice bike man took one look at my tires and told me I needed new ones- which I totally agreed with (mine were really, really old and nasty). It cost 45 euro for 2 new tires and one new innertube, so it was kind of expensive, but the bike is in much better condition now, and that should solve my problems. Funny story- a few weeks ago, I patched the inner tube on my bike tire, which I was very excited about- it wasn't probably perfect, but I was very proud of myself. The man at the bike shop took my tire off to see if I needed a new inner tube, and looked at the tube and said something that translates basically to "well, there is a hole here, and it looks like its been patched a few times. And this patch here(pointing to my patch)... its just a little weird." I said something to the effect of "oh yes... that one does look quite weird. Ok, I guess I need a new one" and tried not to start laughing. Dutch people are just so honest, but there was no way I was going to admit that the weird one was my patch. Honestly, what does he know anyway...

Well, I think that pretty much wraps up the adventures from this week. I have passed my 4 month mark on the mission. That means I have been on my mission for a third of a year! Crazy! It really is starting to fly by. Oh, and I've decided I never want to leave Rotterdam- I just love it too much! Well, I'd better go- we have to hop on a train and run to Den Haag (the "Hague") to pick up my companions residency permit- so much for a restful p-day!

I love you all and pray for you nightly! Ik houd van jullie allemaal!

Love,
Zuster Cherie Gulliver