From the Lady Patrolling the Streets of Rotterdam

Hello Family! 4/27/2009

I sure do love you all. I hope you know what an amazing family you are! I consider myself very blessed to be able to come from such a wonderful, faithful family.

The Subject line in this e-mail this week comes from one of our referrals we received from an investigator in Zoetremeer. We called up this man, who lives in our area, and he turned out to be from Nigeria. We have lots of "African Brothas" who live here in the Netherlands, and they love to hear the "word of God" whenever we come by. Their English speech pattern is really quite comical at times and they just say some of the funniest things. Anyways, we talked to our African Brother on the phone and he explained that he was really excited to meet with us and already had a Book of Mormon. He had received it from "the ladies patrolling the streets of Rotterdam". My companion and I couldn't help but laugh at that one. If any of you are ever concerned about the state of the city of Rotterdam, have no fear-- Zuster Gulliver and Wieland are on patrol!

This week was a rough one. I experienced for the first time life as a really sick missionary. Tuesday I started feeling really sick at district meeting, and by that evening, I went home an hour early because I had a really high temperature and couldn't really function. We had to take an hour out of each of the next two days so I could sleep, and I was pretty much miserable for like 4 days in a row. It really stunk. The worst part was that I really, really wanted to be out working and doing the work I was called to do here, but I had to stay in bed. It was NOT fun. I'm pretty much recovered, I still have cold-like symptoms, but I don't feel nearly as weak as I did earlier this week. It really makes me grateful for my health, and also for senior missionaries who mother us like crazy when we're sick!

Another blow this week was that, while I was sick with the flu, we went and visited Albertina, our baptismal candidate for this week, and in talking to her, she admitted to us that she was actually not fully living the word of wisdom yet, making her not quite worthy for baptism. We had to get busy real fast to call off her baptism, which was not very much fun. She is a great woman and will be baptized soon, but it was still disappointing to have it not go through.

Despite the unique challenges this week, we are still doing great. We are definitely in a time of learning and growing, which is quite painful at times, but reminds me of who is really in charge of this work. I know the Lord makes us enough for our callings- he always has for me, and I know he always will. I love the Lord. Serving Him as a full-time missionary has already blessed me more than I could ever imagine.

Well, I have to go. I love you all!! Take care, and parents- you're amazing!

Love,
Zuster Cherie Gulliver