Dearest of families, 3/1/2010
What a week of ups and downs! We had an amazing zone conference, and I was also able to work a day in Zwolle with Zr. Sharp on exchanges, which was a lot of fun. While I was gone, Zr. Stapleton and Zr. Wieland were supposed to have a really bold lesson with Joanne and committ her to baptism within 4-6 weeks, which I felt strongly needed to be done. She has stopped progressing and was just waiting for her answer- still studying and learning, but she was ready to take the next step, which is, of course, baptism. She didn't end up accepting a date, but we had a lesson the day after I got back, and before we started speaking, she pulled out her agenda and said "sisters, I would like to be baptized on the 20th of march". I was so shocked! It was all i could do to not cry, I was so happy! Even more importantly, she was happier than I had ever seen her. She said that she had received her answer, but wanted to wait until I was there to set her baptismal date. It was so sweet! After the appointment, I had the most wonderful feeling that everything I could do for Joanne was completed- that I had accomplished with her what I was sent here to do. Of course, that is a dangerous feeling for a missionary to have, and sure enough, the next day (Sunday night) I received a call from President Brubaker informing me that I will be transfered on Wednesday.
My destination, however, was a total suprise. I am being sent to Antwerpen, Belgium! It has had sisters for 3 transfers now, but the weird part is, I will be serving with Zr. Bennett- my MTC companion! She is going home at the end of this transfer (she opted for the 11 transfer plan isntead of teh 12 transfers like me), so I will be sending home the companion that I started my mission with-- so funny! I will also be training again, but my trainee is waiting for her visa, so will serve in an american mission for a few weeks, so we'll wait for her as just the 2 of us and then she'll join us as soon as she can to make a three-sister companionship. I am so excited!! The most stressful part is that Zr. Bennett is actually leaving a week before the transfer ends, so I will have 5 weeks to get to know a really large city and ward, not to mention learning flemish (its dutch, but really, REALLY different), and then it will be left to my greenie and I to take over... oh boy...this is another one of those moments where I just put my trust in the Lord and trust that all will be well :)
I really am excited, and I feel like this will be a wonderful transfer. I am a little sad, becuase the chance of me serving again in the Netherlands is very slim, and I just love the culture of the Netherlands so much! I haven't even seen the tulips yet :( But hey, thats not what is really important- the reason I'm leaving is that the Lord needs it to be so, and that is good enough for me, even if I won't really have a chance to bring home any dutch stuff or pictures of tulips. I haven't really done any souvenier shopping yet. Oh well, I'll just have to come back on vacation soon!!!! I'm sure I will learn to love Belgium as much as I love here.
I love you all tons! Thank you soooooo much for the acne meds and candy (mmmm!) I have developed a love of candy on my mission- yikes! But Butterfingers taste so good after a year and a half. It was a fun treat.
Wish me luck as I head for the deep south!
Ik hou van jullie!
Liefs,
Zuster Gulliver
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