Still Kickin'

Goede Dag Familie!

I got your package this week. Thank you!! It was great to see so many pictures. Cozette and Niki look so much older! I can't believe Niki went to a dance-- I hope the boys she danced with were good ones :)

Dad, the withdrawals are fine. I had to buy a new coat for this winter- my other one got lost/stolen. Thanks for keeping an eye on the finances for me.

As far as the city, it is still going slow, but we have seen a few awesome miracles. They are like rays of sunshine that energize us to keep working to see the miracles that will lead others into the waters of baptism. Zr. Ekstrom and I heard this morning that there will be no changes in our companionship this transfer, which we were both excited about. We're great friends, we've already decided to be friends when we get back to BYU after our missions. We seriously have too much fun together. She is even goofier than I am, which is great when the work is going a little bit slower. I am grateful to be serving with her.

We got work this morning that they have closed the city of Haarlem for missionary work right now, but have opened Antwerpen again for sisters! Finally we have sisters in the northernmost and southernmost areas of the mission! This is truly exciting. I hope to be able to serve in Antwerpen sometime before I go back home... I'd love to learn Flemish. Exciting things are happening in the mission. Our numbers are going down, but the work, and number of baptisms just keeps climbing. We're excited to get Groningen going as well.

My Dutch is going really well. Not teaching very many lessons this transfer has taken a toll on my language skills, but as we start teaching more, it will all come back. Most people are really impressed that we speak Dutch as well as we do- or at all. Most people from other countries just get by with English, which almost everyone speaks. Its to a point where few people switch over to English while I'm talking to them, which hopefully means that my accent is improving :) I'm starting to be able to trick kids into thinking that I'm Dutch, so that must count for something. I am enjoying so much the ward and area here.

We have a new directive from our mission leaders-- no more tracting along doors to find people. Well, at least not too often. They really feel like there are better ways to find people, which I think is great. We are starting to find people a lot more as they walk on the streets or through surveys and things. It is a very exciting time to be here as the mission makes so many changes.

Well, my time is up! Take care family- I miss you all and love you tons!

Love,
Zuster Cherie Gulliver