So!

Hello Family!

Well, we had a surprise this week. On Tuesday, we were called by the "big bosses" in the office in Brussels and told that we were needing to vacate our apartment the next day so they could come and clean it before the new senior couple comes here to Dordrecht. Unfortunately, we also had to be in Antwerpen the next day, so we ran (or actually biked) home and threw our things into a suitcase or two and then headed down to Belgium the first thing the next morning. By the next evening we were totally moved out-- and now are living in Hendrick Ido Ambacht! It was a surprise, but its a relief to have all of the moving over with.

Meeting President Brubaker and his wife was a very special experience. I just love them! They are very sweet. Zuster Brubaker is all smiles and I even impressed her while she was introducing herself by being the only sister missionary who could explain to the elders what a sampler is... I think she likes me :) They have sacrificed so much to be here and follow the call of inspired leaders. Apparently being mission president was not at all in their life plan, yet they dropped everything and are now doing a great job figuring everything out here. I am looking forward to next week when we have our first interview with him. It will be great to get to know him a little more personally.

As far as our new home, it is AWESOME! Dad, good work with the restricted info-- you got the address right! It is:
Gemeenlandskade 12
3343 NB Hendrick Ido Ambacht
Netherlands

Sister Roberts is probably my favorite person ever. They work the home like a boarding house for us-- so she cooks a warm meal every night, and if we're in the area, we come home and eat it, and if we're not, we eat it for left-overs the next day. She is Dutch, so we have fun speaking Dutch with her and getting to know her really well. She is such a mom for us. She always comes running out the door after us to give us apples, or raisin-currant rolls (yummy!) so we don't get hungry while we're out working-- so sweet! We are just living in a little attic room upstairs, which is tight quarters, but really a lot of fun, and very Dutch. Hendrick Ido Ambacht is a beautiful little village/city/dorpje and is so much fun to live in. It is covered in little Dutch farms and new housing neighborhoods with young families. It is very traditional as far as what the land looks like and the layout of the city. I am so grateful to be living here!

As far as the work, it continues to be difficult as I try and learn from the Spirit what kinds of approaches will touch the hearts of the people here. It is very different, and my companion is quite jaded from being here for so long, so it is a challenge to keep her momentum up. She is willing, just a little bit tired. Despite the difficulty and the lack of new investigators, I am enjoying the work more than ever. The pure joy that comes from doing your best and staying worthy to be directed by the Lord is possible no matter how hard circumstances may be.

My talk on Sunday went great! I was nervous, and there were a few times when my Dutch wasn't exactly "the queen's Dutch", but I got through the talk and even got those old Dutch men to chuckle once or twice, so I'd consider it a success. It was really a miracle- some of the members who Sister Owen considered a little less friendly to the missionaries said that they were really impressed with our talks, and even invited us over for dinner! It was awesome! I love this language. It’s getting to the point where I can say just about anything I want to, even if it is sometimes in a roundabout way, and I am finding that I love speaking it. It’s just a great language! I love the Netherlands!

Oh, a quick question- is it true that our last name of Koch is formerly a Dutch last name that is spelled kok? Because I meet people with that last name a lot here. Let me know if you know.

I love you all! I hope you are all enjoying your summer. We had a really rainy week-- probably to teach me not to complain about it being too hot :)

Ik hou van jullie! Don't forget to read your scriptures- they're awesome! :)

Love,
Zuster Cherie Gulliver