Hoi!

Dearest of families, 6/15/2009

It was a rough week numbers-wise. We didn't get to teach nearly as many lessons as usual, but that’s because it was an awesome week of great experiences. I have learned SO MUCH this week about the kind of missionary the Lord wants me to be and of my potential as a missionary and a daughter of God. The week started with a "zone p-day" in Utrecht. We all went up to Utrecht as a zone and proselyted for like 3 hours. We were trying new finding techniques. One group surveyed people on the streets to strike up conversations. The people here are kind of closed and our leaders ask us to be as creative as possible to help them put their guard down and talk to us. I was in the survey group and it was fun... until some creepy old Dutch guy in one of the sidewalk cafes kind of fell in love with my American accent. It was creepy, so we gave him a pass-along card and moved on-- hey, if it gets him to look at the website, it’s all good :) The other two groups had a really fun time and saw a lot of success. One group gave tours of the church to people passing by, and taught like 5 lessons in just 2 hours. The other group went to the park and drew the plan of salvation in sidewalk chalk in one of the open pleins (is plein an English word? Hmm, its kind of like a town square thing) and they had a TON of success with people who stopped to ask what the pictures were all about. Very cool. Then we went and played ultimate frisbee for a few hours. It was really inspiring to be with the whole zone and work together. The elders in this zone are amazing elders who are such great examples of talking to everyone they meet. It was great.

As if that wasn't great enough, we had our final interviews with Pres. Woodland (he's going home in a few weeks) and I had a great conversation with him. He gave me lots of great advice and I am totally inspired to do better.

On top of zone p-day and interviews, we also had sister exchanges, so I got to spend a day in Den Haag (the Hague) serving with Zr. Kabenda, who's leaving next week for home, and Zr Bennett! It was fun to spend some time with her. She is like a sister and we just have too much fun together.

I have learned so much this week from all of the super-exciting things we got to do. Our baptism is still scheduled this Saturday, and I've never seen a more prepared investigator. He understands so well the restoration, priesthood, and pretty much everything. He has so much faith, I can't believe it. He is just so sensitive to the spirit and humble to accept what he is learning and change his life to better be in line with what the Lord would want. He will be my 5th baptism since coming out here, and I am so excited to see him receive the Holy Ghost and become cleansed through baptism. Saturday will be a very sweet day indeed! It is also Zr. Highams last Saturday on her mission, and it is so cool that she gets to spend it at a baptism.

Well, the work just keeps getting better and better. The only bad thing is that the longer I’m here, the more I love this work and the more I don't want to leave-- yet time just keeps going by faster and faster. It reminds me of how important it is to not waste a minute of time here. The time is short!

I love you all!! I miss you, and appreciate your support and love so much. Stay safe and pray every day!

Love,
Zuster Cherie Gullvier
P.S. Ik hou van jullie!