Hello Family! It is getting harder and harder to enjoy p-days these days. It seems the ability to relax a little brings lots of thoughts about the inevitable end of my mission, which makes me grumpy, tired, and most of all sad. Don't get me wrong, I am excited to come and see you all, it’s just I really don't like thinking about it when I don't absolutely have to. I have been praying to just forget about it during the week, and as a result, my weeks are blissfully ignorant until p-day comes around. Oh well, I guess at the end of your mission, p-day just has to be endured. We'll go get some frites and ice cream, and I'll be fine ;)
Anyways, it’s so great to hear from you all. I have been enjoying getting to be a part of all the excitement and fun stuff surrounding the wedding plans and all. I am excited to help a little when I get back! As for dress shopping, if Jamie still hasn't found a dress when I get home, I'd be happy to drive up and help her :) Can I borrow the car?? HeHe! Oh, and I'm so sorry I didn't thank you for the Easter package! It was great! We even used the eggs you sent to do a fun little Easter egg lesson on Easter- kind of a mini version of what we do every year with the eggs. It was a huge success!
This week has been great! We are seeing so many rewards from our efforts to find new people to teach. We are finding so many people who are truly prepared to investigate and gain testimonies of the Gospel, and as we begin working with them, it is such a testimony builder to see them grasp these wonderful truths and find the joy that is contained in the pure doctrines of the Gospel. Or rather, the application of the pure doctrines of the Gospel. My companion and I are doing great! Zr. Holbein is SUCH a great missionary. She is doing so great jumping into missionary work and doing her best to talk with these Flemish speakers. I read aloud the journal entries I had written at the beginning of my mission, and we realized that she and I are very similar, and the things I struggled with and felt inadequate in are the exact things that she struggles with and feels inadequate in. It has been so wonderful to work with her and know that even if I am a super old missionary, I can still teach her a lot. She still needs me to work my hardest to show her by my example how to be an effective missionary- which means that I still need to keep improving and becoming that kind of missionary :) If I were ever struggling with working my hardest, that thought is enough to keep me energized and working hard!
Our investigators Heidi and her mother Marie are doing great! They are set to be baptized on May 30th, even though their lessons will be done by the end of the week. They are so wonderful and committed to living all of the principles that they have learned. Heidi is a very special friend of mine now. She got stuck in Madrid, Spain this last week with the problems with flying, and she wasn't there for one of our lessons. We arrived, and her mom said "Heidi isn't here, but she wanted to talk to you for a minute;" we called, and I chatted with her for about 30 minutes while my comp did a great job carrying on a conversation in Flemish with Marie. It was so fun, and reminded me of what a miracle it is that we can get to know such wonderful people and communicate with them in their own languages. It is so great! I love my mission more and more each day and love the people we get to work with.
Oh, before I forget, I was thinking about mistakes I've made in my life the other day, and I need to confess something- Mom, one time in like 11th grade, I took one of Gramsie's broaches to use for the renaissance thing at school (with permission, of course) and I was not really very responsible with it, and someone stole it! I don't think I ever told you because I was scared you'd be mad at me. I'm sorry. Ok, I feel much better8
Love you all! I hou van jullie!
Zr: Beebs
Monday, April 26, 2010
Monday, April 19, 2010
Exciting News!
Dearest Jamie and Family-
AAHHH!!!!! I am so excited for you Jamie! What a wonderful proposal, and centered on the temple- couldn't have been more perfect. So, was it expected? Did you already pick out the ring ahead of time? I wish I could have been there to see the excitement and emotions and all- I probably would have been crying right along with Jamie :)
So, putting aside the weird realization that my little sis is getting married before me ( ;) ) I am very excited that I will be home for the wedding! I just love wedding planning!! We're going to have to arrange that I meet Spence as soon as possible so I can get to know him a little before the wedding. Oh hey... that means that you get to go through the temple soon!! Yay! I'm so excited!!
So Mom and Dad- how’s the coping? Don't worry; I'll soon be coming home to fill that vacant spot in the home with a whole lot of ME. Actually, if I keep eating Belgian waffles, there will be too much of me coming home, but I think we’ll be ok on that one.
Anyways, it has been a great week. My companion's name is Zuster Holbein, and she is from Kentucky (mom, I thought of you). You can see pictures of her on the mission blog, and some of me I think. She is a wonderful missionary and her faith is AMAZING! We have seen soo many miracles since she has come- we have found new investigators almost every day. Her Dutch is quite good as well, and as soon as she recovers from the jet-lag, she's going to run circles around me with her energy level, I'm sure.
I have learned in the past few days what people mean when they talk about how the last transfer is a fight to endure to the end. I have been working the hardest I have on my mission this last week, and my tired body is just not cooperating very well. I have been tired, but sooooo happy!! The joy that comes from missionary work is really incredible, and, in my opinion, best enjoyed while resting VERY weary feet at the end of the day with a box of Belgian chocolates. Being tired, although a trial, has taught me to rely on the Lord for physical as well as spiritual strength to do the work He has called me to do. When we rely on Him for EVERYTHING, that is when we see the miracles. It is a total realization of our dependence on God, and produces an amazing humility when we give everything to the Lord and realize how much we need Him to make our offering enough.
Love you all so much!
Liefs;
Zuster Cherie Gulliver
AAHHH!!!!! I am so excited for you Jamie! What a wonderful proposal, and centered on the temple- couldn't have been more perfect. So, was it expected? Did you already pick out the ring ahead of time? I wish I could have been there to see the excitement and emotions and all- I probably would have been crying right along with Jamie :)
So, putting aside the weird realization that my little sis is getting married before me ( ;) ) I am very excited that I will be home for the wedding! I just love wedding planning!! We're going to have to arrange that I meet Spence as soon as possible so I can get to know him a little before the wedding. Oh hey... that means that you get to go through the temple soon!! Yay! I'm so excited!!
So Mom and Dad- how’s the coping? Don't worry; I'll soon be coming home to fill that vacant spot in the home with a whole lot of ME. Actually, if I keep eating Belgian waffles, there will be too much of me coming home, but I think we’ll be ok on that one.
Anyways, it has been a great week. My companion's name is Zuster Holbein, and she is from Kentucky (mom, I thought of you). You can see pictures of her on the mission blog, and some of me I think. She is a wonderful missionary and her faith is AMAZING! We have seen soo many miracles since she has come- we have found new investigators almost every day. Her Dutch is quite good as well, and as soon as she recovers from the jet-lag, she's going to run circles around me with her energy level, I'm sure.
I have learned in the past few days what people mean when they talk about how the last transfer is a fight to endure to the end. I have been working the hardest I have on my mission this last week, and my tired body is just not cooperating very well. I have been tired, but sooooo happy!! The joy that comes from missionary work is really incredible, and, in my opinion, best enjoyed while resting VERY weary feet at the end of the day with a box of Belgian chocolates. Being tired, although a trial, has taught me to rely on the Lord for physical as well as spiritual strength to do the work He has called me to do. When we rely on Him for EVERYTHING, that is when we see the miracles. It is a total realization of our dependence on God, and produces an amazing humility when we give everything to the Lord and realize how much we need Him to make our offering enough.
Love you all so much!
Liefs;
Zuster Cherie Gulliver
Monday, April 12, 2010
What a Week!
Hello wonderful family!
Anyways, this week has been a crazy one. Zr. Bennett’s Dad came into town on Tuesday night to surprise Zr. Bennett for her birthday, so we had to find a way to convince her to go to a certain restaurant and be there at a certain time (which proved rather difficult) to meet her dad. It was a tearful reunion, but I think she was ready to go home, and she went off smiling to enjoy some travel with her dad. It is weird sending my MTC comp home- not only am I the oldest one in the mission, but I'm in the "super old" stage of a sister missionary's mission. One of the assistants yesterday told me that I'm pretty much a 70 year old grandma as far as the mission is concerned. I hope that doesn't have any reflection in my wardrobe :)
I was blessed this week to go to Zone conference twice- once with my own zone, and then again with the Rotterdam Zr.s zone because I am working with them for this week. The best part is that this transfer, zone conference was at the temple, so I was blessed to go through the temple two times this week. As I talked with the matron of the temple this week, I was taught a valuable lesson by the Spirit that I shared with her and would love to share with you. Last time zone conference was at the temple, I wasn't able to go through because I was sick. I was very disappointed, as we had been preparing for months, but I just made the best of the situation, and went on. Little did I know that this transfer, I would be able to go to the temple 3 times in just one transfer- once with Lenneke, and twice with the zones. It was so special to realize that I have been blessed with a two-fold increase in my temple experiences that totally make up for my lost temple trip. The Lord truly does bless us if we endure our trials well. Of course, a temple trip is not a life or death situation, and the trial was not so taxing as other trials in life, but I learned in a very real way that the Lord will make up for any losses that we experience through trials in this life if we keep going and endure well, knowing that everything will turn out for the best. The Lord truly is aware of us and honors our righteous desires.
My temple trip was an emotional one. I broke down in the celestial room on the second day as it finally hit me that I will have to leave my mission soon. I've been tearing up ever since whenever I think about it. One very sweet experience I had was talking with Zr. Fritz, who was Zr. Ekstrom's (my comp from Groningen) companion last transfer. She was talking to me and said that she learned from Zr. Ekstrom how to really enjoy her mission and truly love it. I remembered a moment at the end of my time serving with Zr. Ekstrom when she told me that I had been the one who taught her to truly love and enjoy her mission. I was humbled to realize that the effect we have on others is so far reaching. When we touch someone's life, we never know whose life they will touch in return. It was a rewarding moment for me as an old-lady missionary. I had so many wonderful experiences this week, and there just isn't time to write them all here unfortunately. Now, however, I am enjoying being back in Rotterdam and checking up on quite a few investigators and new members who have fallen through the cracks over the past year. The sisters here are having a liberty jail-style transfer, and one is suffering from ankle problems, and the other from some depression, and its fun to work with them and hopefully lift their spirits a little. The coolest part is that they have a car because of the ankle problem, and I get to drive to help them relax while we travel :D Watch our Europe!
I am a little worried about Antwerpen, but I know that Heavenly Father is watching over the city while I am away. We are going back tonight to teach a lesson, and it will be great to be back. President expects that I will get my new companion before the end of the week. My assignment will remain training, so I'll get my little one hopefully Wednesday and start working again in Antwerpen.
I love my mission, it is so wonderful! I am just so grateful to be here. One of the impressions I got this week is that all of the things happening right now are "right". It is right that I am here on a mission, right that I stay an extra transfer, and, as hard as it is, right that I go back home in 6 weeks. I just can't wait to start the next transfer and have the best transfer of my mission!!
Ik hou van jullie!
Liefs,
Zuster Cherie Gullvier
PS- Dad, the flowers look amazing!
Anyways, this week has been a crazy one. Zr. Bennett’s Dad came into town on Tuesday night to surprise Zr. Bennett for her birthday, so we had to find a way to convince her to go to a certain restaurant and be there at a certain time (which proved rather difficult) to meet her dad. It was a tearful reunion, but I think she was ready to go home, and she went off smiling to enjoy some travel with her dad. It is weird sending my MTC comp home- not only am I the oldest one in the mission, but I'm in the "super old" stage of a sister missionary's mission. One of the assistants yesterday told me that I'm pretty much a 70 year old grandma as far as the mission is concerned. I hope that doesn't have any reflection in my wardrobe :)
I was blessed this week to go to Zone conference twice- once with my own zone, and then again with the Rotterdam Zr.s zone because I am working with them for this week. The best part is that this transfer, zone conference was at the temple, so I was blessed to go through the temple two times this week. As I talked with the matron of the temple this week, I was taught a valuable lesson by the Spirit that I shared with her and would love to share with you. Last time zone conference was at the temple, I wasn't able to go through because I was sick. I was very disappointed, as we had been preparing for months, but I just made the best of the situation, and went on. Little did I know that this transfer, I would be able to go to the temple 3 times in just one transfer- once with Lenneke, and twice with the zones. It was so special to realize that I have been blessed with a two-fold increase in my temple experiences that totally make up for my lost temple trip. The Lord truly does bless us if we endure our trials well. Of course, a temple trip is not a life or death situation, and the trial was not so taxing as other trials in life, but I learned in a very real way that the Lord will make up for any losses that we experience through trials in this life if we keep going and endure well, knowing that everything will turn out for the best. The Lord truly is aware of us and honors our righteous desires.
My temple trip was an emotional one. I broke down in the celestial room on the second day as it finally hit me that I will have to leave my mission soon. I've been tearing up ever since whenever I think about it. One very sweet experience I had was talking with Zr. Fritz, who was Zr. Ekstrom's (my comp from Groningen) companion last transfer. She was talking to me and said that she learned from Zr. Ekstrom how to really enjoy her mission and truly love it. I remembered a moment at the end of my time serving with Zr. Ekstrom when she told me that I had been the one who taught her to truly love and enjoy her mission. I was humbled to realize that the effect we have on others is so far reaching. When we touch someone's life, we never know whose life they will touch in return. It was a rewarding moment for me as an old-lady missionary. I had so many wonderful experiences this week, and there just isn't time to write them all here unfortunately. Now, however, I am enjoying being back in Rotterdam and checking up on quite a few investigators and new members who have fallen through the cracks over the past year. The sisters here are having a liberty jail-style transfer, and one is suffering from ankle problems, and the other from some depression, and its fun to work with them and hopefully lift their spirits a little. The coolest part is that they have a car because of the ankle problem, and I get to drive to help them relax while we travel :D Watch our Europe!
I am a little worried about Antwerpen, but I know that Heavenly Father is watching over the city while I am away. We are going back tonight to teach a lesson, and it will be great to be back. President expects that I will get my new companion before the end of the week. My assignment will remain training, so I'll get my little one hopefully Wednesday and start working again in Antwerpen.
I love my mission, it is so wonderful! I am just so grateful to be here. One of the impressions I got this week is that all of the things happening right now are "right". It is right that I am here on a mission, right that I stay an extra transfer, and, as hard as it is, right that I go back home in 6 weeks. I just can't wait to start the next transfer and have the best transfer of my mission!!
Ik hou van jullie!
Liefs,
Zuster Cherie Gullvier
PS- Dad, the flowers look amazing!
Monday, April 5, 2010
Happy Easter from Antwerpen!
Dearest of families, 4/5/2010
Well, this week has been good- a little bit difficult at times as we prepare Zr. Bennett to go home. It has been really weird preparing her to go, and not go myself. I have had to check myself a few times when I seem to fall into the same mindset she is in, which is kind of a "I´m going home anyways..." mindset. I really don’t like it, and I have avoided it pretty good, but it will be much easier with my new comp to avoid those distracting feelings. Mom, you are the best- the classes you signed me up for are great- I’ll work with the scheduling and everything when I get back, but I think that should be sufficient for now as far as preparing for school before I get home. With the way my life is looking, I have no idea how things will play out this summer, but I feel better knowing that BYU is somewhat taken care of.
As for what will happen this week, Zr. Bennett is being picked up on Wednesday, and will take me up to Rotterdam, and since my new comp still hasn´t gotten her visa, I will be working in the blessed city of Rotterdam for another whole week waiting for transfers a week from Wednesday, when 2 new greenies will come in, and hopefully mine as well- then we´ll be able to come back to Antwerpen to work full-time. There is no guarantee that I will keep my calling as a trainer next transfer- the Lord might have other ideas, and there are so many wonderful sisters in the mission who are completely qualified to train the new ones. We´ll see what the Lord has in mind- as for me, I´m excited to see what the next transfer brings, and excited to help Heidi and her mother move toward baptism next transfer. They are so wonderfully integrated into the ward and Heidi has just come alive as she has learned about the gospel and associated with the young adults here. As we say in the mission "her light has turned on". The Light that the Spirit brings has just taken over her countenance, and has brought a ton of confidence and happiness to her. I love the gospel!!!!
Conference was just wonderful wasn´t it? It was wonderful to sit at the feet of living prophets and listen to the words the Lord has to tell us today, in our time. I was especially touched with the focus on the role of women in the family and society. It made me realize and appreciate so much more what mom, and all mothers for that matter, do to raise their kids right. i am so grateful that I get to be a missionary before taking on that responsibility. I definitely needed this time to learn to teach the gospel before I teach my kids the gospel.
I love you all so much. Thank you for your loving notes and support. I couldn´t ask for better family! My next e-mail will come from Rotterdam- I´m so excited to get to serve there again, even if its just for a week. We´re going to go look up a lot of my old investigators and see how they´re doing. It´ll be great.
Ik hou van jullie!
Liefs,
Zuster Gulliver
Well, this week has been good- a little bit difficult at times as we prepare Zr. Bennett to go home. It has been really weird preparing her to go, and not go myself. I have had to check myself a few times when I seem to fall into the same mindset she is in, which is kind of a "I´m going home anyways..." mindset. I really don’t like it, and I have avoided it pretty good, but it will be much easier with my new comp to avoid those distracting feelings. Mom, you are the best- the classes you signed me up for are great- I’ll work with the scheduling and everything when I get back, but I think that should be sufficient for now as far as preparing for school before I get home. With the way my life is looking, I have no idea how things will play out this summer, but I feel better knowing that BYU is somewhat taken care of.
As for what will happen this week, Zr. Bennett is being picked up on Wednesday, and will take me up to Rotterdam, and since my new comp still hasn´t gotten her visa, I will be working in the blessed city of Rotterdam for another whole week waiting for transfers a week from Wednesday, when 2 new greenies will come in, and hopefully mine as well- then we´ll be able to come back to Antwerpen to work full-time. There is no guarantee that I will keep my calling as a trainer next transfer- the Lord might have other ideas, and there are so many wonderful sisters in the mission who are completely qualified to train the new ones. We´ll see what the Lord has in mind- as for me, I´m excited to see what the next transfer brings, and excited to help Heidi and her mother move toward baptism next transfer. They are so wonderfully integrated into the ward and Heidi has just come alive as she has learned about the gospel and associated with the young adults here. As we say in the mission "her light has turned on". The Light that the Spirit brings has just taken over her countenance, and has brought a ton of confidence and happiness to her. I love the gospel!!!!
Conference was just wonderful wasn´t it? It was wonderful to sit at the feet of living prophets and listen to the words the Lord has to tell us today, in our time. I was especially touched with the focus on the role of women in the family and society. It made me realize and appreciate so much more what mom, and all mothers for that matter, do to raise their kids right. i am so grateful that I get to be a missionary before taking on that responsibility. I definitely needed this time to learn to teach the gospel before I teach my kids the gospel.
I love you all so much. Thank you for your loving notes and support. I couldn´t ask for better family! My next e-mail will come from Rotterdam- I´m so excited to get to serve there again, even if its just for a week. We´re going to go look up a lot of my old investigators and see how they´re doing. It´ll be great.
Ik hou van jullie!
Liefs,
Zuster Gulliver
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