Joy in Missionary Work!

Liefte familie, 3/16/2009

I love you all so much!! Thank you for the e-mails! They were all so perfect- just a little info to keep me updated, but not too long so that I have no time to write-- you guys are just amazing!

What can I say about the work….It is more amazing than I have ever experienced. We have seen the work here in Rotterdam multiply this transfer to the point where we as sisters can't keep up with it. We are starting to work with the sisters from Gouda (a neighboring city) one day a week so that we can cover more ground, because there is just no way we can keep up with it all. We are all dead by the end of every day, but we have been blessed with the purest joy as we devote ourselves to the work. It is a joy indescribable that penetrates us even in the worst of circumstances. It is so interesting, we go out on the streets every day teaching people about finding joy and happiness, and even though so many people reject that joy every day, we as missionaries begin to understand and experience that joy more and more. I have felt more pure joy in the past week than I have ever in my life, and I am so grateful. I think the joy we experience as we serve the Lord wherever we are in life, on a mission, or just in normal life, is a foretaste of what it will be like in the eternities. It is a joy that I recognize from significant moments in my life- my first time through the temple being one of them. The Lord just wants us to be happy and joyful, and he is so willing to let us experience joy if we do the simple things that he asks us.

We are now working with 7 baptismal dates and this week we taught 43 lessons. WHEW! We were BUSY! It was so awesome! Serving with Sis. Kriser, who has about 3 weeks left in her mission, has been so fun. She has seen the blessings from serving an honorable mission and is so willing to share her joy and love for the people and the work with us. It is a contagious joy and I feel so blessed to serve with her.

The weather is starting to warm up drastically- I was actually warm the other day on my bike! And of course, with the warm weather comes FLOWERS! They are so beautiful. The tulips will take a few more weeks to bloom, but there are daffodils everywhere and the world is just such a beautiful place here in spring. Of course, the awesome weather just adds to our enthusiasm, so life is great! I am a little worried however- I'm pretty sure it will be downhill from here because I can't imagine my mission getting any better than this :)

As for your questions: No, I can't really get attachments. You can try one next week if you want, but I don't think it will work. No flat tires since I got my new outer tires put on! Keep praying for em! As for the ward, it is amazing! It is a very multi-cultural ward, but is over half Dutch, and the members are so devoted and prepared to work with us to increase the work. My favorite lady is Sis. Hoppen- she's actually English, but speaks perfect Dutch (she translated the Book of Mormon for the church) and comes on joint teach with us all the time. She is so awesome! She reminds me a lot of papa with her enthusiasm and sense of humor. We call her our Dutch grandma, and she just loves the sister missionaries. As for special experiences this week, we were on splits, so it was just Sis. Wieland and I a few evenings ago, and we went to go see a member who wasn't home, but we contacted a young Dutch man who is pretty much the most golden investigator I've ever heard of or seen. He is TOTALLY prepared for the gospel and came to church 2 days after we met him and had read like 6 chapters from the Book of Mormon. AMAZING! We also went to Kinderdijk today with the Servoss's (a senior couple in our area) That was so fun to see all of the windmolen (windmills). I think windmills and wooden shoes will always have a special place in my heart for ever.

Well family, I love you tons! Take care of yourselves!
Ik hou van jullie
Love,
Zuster Cherie Gulliver
P.S. Congrats on Cal Poly little family!