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!