Dear family,
Whew! Today was the first day since getting sick that I really felt "back to normal". What a relief! After almost 2 weeks of either lying in bed all day or severely adapted work schedules, it is great to get out and work!! Well, actually today is p-day so we went shopping!!! We just got a new investigator- she's a good friend of a member and called us for an appt. She is 22 and super awesome! She's a great investigator and is also a great friend. She came shopping with us and showed us all of the places to get the clothes we need to stay warm this winter. I used the generous gifts of money from my grandparents to buy a really cute hat and some warm scarves today. This California girl is FINALLY learning how to stay warm!! We won’t have any cold heads this season! I'm hoping it will help a lot- last winter I kept getting a cold, but I'm determined to avoid getting sick this season.
I sent your Christmas package today. It is full of fun Dutch Christmas things... actually, I think it’s completely food- hey, that’s Dutch for ya- but unfortunately, because of my sickness, it will probably be very late. Know that I was totally planning on having it on time :) This will probably be the last package that I send. It’s really expensive. But I really wanted everyone to get a taste of my mission experience!
We have seen amazing success considering our lack of work for 2 weeks. The Lord has blessed us with new investigators such as JoAnne, who called us to set up an appointment, or another referral from a member who wants to meet with us tomorrow and learn about the plan of salvation. It is so amazing to me that when we try our best, the Lord sends us success even in our weakest of moments.
I love you all and hope that you are having a wonderful Christmas season. It is such a wonderful time when we all get to think extra about the Savior and all that He has done for us. I loved President Monson's talk at the Christmas Devotional about helping others feel God's love through our kind acts of service and expressions of love. That is something that we can all do this season to show the others around us how much they are loved by their Heavenly Father. The sweetest moments on my mission have been moments where I have talked with someone and after our conversation thought "God sent me here to this moment to make sure I was here to help this person". That is a feeling we can each have in our regular lives if we are constantly willing to follow the Spirit. Each of us can become a tool in the master's hands as we go about our everyday activities- even more so in this season. I love the Lord and I am so glad that I can be here in the Netherlands serving Him this year.
Ik hou van jullie!
Love,
Zuster Cherie Gulliver
Monday, December 14, 2009
Thursday, December 10, 2009
Still Alive!
Hello family,
Sorry this e-mail is so late. I have actually been in bed for the last 8 days with a horrible stomach problem. Mom, I feel your pain- my first 5 days or so were the same way.
It all started last Tuesday when I was feeling nauseous and started throwing up. We needed to leave to start traveling all the way across the country to Zoetermeer because we were going to our bi-yearly temple trip Wednesday. I figured it was just food poisoning, and we had been looking forward to the temple for months, so we set off- a half hour bike ride, 2 hour train ride, and 40 minute metro ride later, we arrived in Amsterdam to spend the night, and it became evident to me as my condition worsened that I wasn't getting better. But hey, the temple is important, so we left for Zoetermeer the next morning and after a few more trains, metros, and walking, arrived at the temple. I had a little glimpse into the feelings some members probably have who make such huge sacrifices to travel to their temples to do work there. Anyways, My mission president gave me a blessing in the temple waiting room and then I sat in the waiting room while Zr. Ekstrom got to go through the session and then a senior couple drove us back up to Groningen that night.
I was sick for the next 6 days or so, and actually went to the emergency room twice by recommendation of the mission doctor to get some fluids, which I was turned away for both times :(. Luckily, through miracles and American members, I was able to get my hands on some Gatorade, so after 5 days of not being able to take in any fluids or food, I got myself re-hydrated more or less and now I can eat some simple foods and drink all I need. I lost a lot of weight and still feel pretty weak, so we haven't really worked since last Tuesday, but we walked over here to the church (a 15 minute walk) and I did pretty good, so tomorrow maybe we can work for a few hours. The doctors at the hospital told me that I had either inflammation in the stomach from food poisoning or something like it, or a stomach flu. Either way, it took quite a toll, but I have improved a TON! The ward, mission president and wife, and senior couples have taken very good care of me, not to mention Zr. Ekstrom who has mothered me and nursed me back to health- she's so awesome! I fell very blessed to be surrounded by such helpful people.
The ER here was quite hilarious. The hilarious part was trying to communicate correctly in Dutch when I was feeling horrible. Quite frankly, my medical vocab is pretty good, but not perfect, so there may have been some minor misunderstandings (did I tell them I was having frequent burping problems? I meant pressure in my stomach. Oh well, they get the point...). The best part was trying to translate for my confused companion while communicating with the doctors and trying not to throw up. The comical side of all experiences on a mission are easy to find if you're looking hard enough :)
Well, that was pretty much all that happened this week.
I love you all so much! I hope you all are happy and healthy, and know how much I love you!
Love,
Zuster Gulliver
Sorry this e-mail is so late. I have actually been in bed for the last 8 days with a horrible stomach problem. Mom, I feel your pain- my first 5 days or so were the same way.
It all started last Tuesday when I was feeling nauseous and started throwing up. We needed to leave to start traveling all the way across the country to Zoetermeer because we were going to our bi-yearly temple trip Wednesday. I figured it was just food poisoning, and we had been looking forward to the temple for months, so we set off- a half hour bike ride, 2 hour train ride, and 40 minute metro ride later, we arrived in Amsterdam to spend the night, and it became evident to me as my condition worsened that I wasn't getting better. But hey, the temple is important, so we left for Zoetermeer the next morning and after a few more trains, metros, and walking, arrived at the temple. I had a little glimpse into the feelings some members probably have who make such huge sacrifices to travel to their temples to do work there. Anyways, My mission president gave me a blessing in the temple waiting room and then I sat in the waiting room while Zr. Ekstrom got to go through the session and then a senior couple drove us back up to Groningen that night.
I was sick for the next 6 days or so, and actually went to the emergency room twice by recommendation of the mission doctor to get some fluids, which I was turned away for both times :(. Luckily, through miracles and American members, I was able to get my hands on some Gatorade, so after 5 days of not being able to take in any fluids or food, I got myself re-hydrated more or less and now I can eat some simple foods and drink all I need. I lost a lot of weight and still feel pretty weak, so we haven't really worked since last Tuesday, but we walked over here to the church (a 15 minute walk) and I did pretty good, so tomorrow maybe we can work for a few hours. The doctors at the hospital told me that I had either inflammation in the stomach from food poisoning or something like it, or a stomach flu. Either way, it took quite a toll, but I have improved a TON! The ward, mission president and wife, and senior couples have taken very good care of me, not to mention Zr. Ekstrom who has mothered me and nursed me back to health- she's so awesome! I fell very blessed to be surrounded by such helpful people.
The ER here was quite hilarious. The hilarious part was trying to communicate correctly in Dutch when I was feeling horrible. Quite frankly, my medical vocab is pretty good, but not perfect, so there may have been some minor misunderstandings (did I tell them I was having frequent burping problems? I meant pressure in my stomach. Oh well, they get the point...). The best part was trying to translate for my confused companion while communicating with the doctors and trying not to throw up. The comical side of all experiences on a mission are easy to find if you're looking hard enough :)
Well, that was pretty much all that happened this week.
I love you all so much! I hope you all are happy and healthy, and know how much I love you!
Love,
Zuster Gulliver
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
Prettige Thanksgiving!
Dearest of families,
Thank you so much for your notes about thanksgiving. It is so great to hear about all of the fun things that are going on back home. It sounds like your thanksgiving was awesome! Mine was also great. We had dinner on Friday with an American-Dutch family and it was a total blast! I got to play with a bunch of rowdy kids and give their poor mother a break! I thoroughly enjoyed it, and the mother did as well :)
As far as the news, I totally accept the invitation to go to Thailand! When I read it, I was soooo excited! I figured I would write Elise and tell her first about how excited I am, but you can let her know and that she can expect a letter soon with an elaboration on my excitement.
Heather and Phil´s news was just as exciting- another little girl! That is awesome! I am so excited. I must admit that I chuckled a little bit- I guess we´re all still in the running to break this sista-friend tradition and have the first male heir to the Gulliver bloodline :) Maybe it’s completely unachievable... time will tell! Although I must say, little girls are extremely blessed to be born into a family with such amazing female (and a choice few male) role models in it. We love girls! I´m so excited to welcome our newest little sista-friend when I get home.
Speaking of getting home, I have some news. After praying, and taking a vote from the elders in my MTC group, I have decided to stay 12 transfers instead of 11, so I have received my release date for May 26th 2010. That makes my release date 3 weeks longer than my official 18 month mark, but it was either 3 weeks longer, or 3 weeks shorter-- an obvious decision that was confirmed through prayer this week. I am so excited to stay 3 extra weeks!
I Love you all so much and miss you a ton! I look forward to next years holidays when we can all be together again! Take care of each other and don´t forget the true reason for the Christmas season as it begins to blossom.
I love you!
Ik hou van jullie!
Love,
Zuster Cherie Gulliver
Thank you so much for your notes about thanksgiving. It is so great to hear about all of the fun things that are going on back home. It sounds like your thanksgiving was awesome! Mine was also great. We had dinner on Friday with an American-Dutch family and it was a total blast! I got to play with a bunch of rowdy kids and give their poor mother a break! I thoroughly enjoyed it, and the mother did as well :)
As far as the news, I totally accept the invitation to go to Thailand! When I read it, I was soooo excited! I figured I would write Elise and tell her first about how excited I am, but you can let her know and that she can expect a letter soon with an elaboration on my excitement.
Heather and Phil´s news was just as exciting- another little girl! That is awesome! I am so excited. I must admit that I chuckled a little bit- I guess we´re all still in the running to break this sista-friend tradition and have the first male heir to the Gulliver bloodline :) Maybe it’s completely unachievable... time will tell! Although I must say, little girls are extremely blessed to be born into a family with such amazing female (and a choice few male) role models in it. We love girls! I´m so excited to welcome our newest little sista-friend when I get home.
Speaking of getting home, I have some news. After praying, and taking a vote from the elders in my MTC group, I have decided to stay 12 transfers instead of 11, so I have received my release date for May 26th 2010. That makes my release date 3 weeks longer than my official 18 month mark, but it was either 3 weeks longer, or 3 weeks shorter-- an obvious decision that was confirmed through prayer this week. I am so excited to stay 3 extra weeks!
I Love you all so much and miss you a ton! I look forward to next years holidays when we can all be together again! Take care of each other and don´t forget the true reason for the Christmas season as it begins to blossom.
I love you!
Ik hou van jullie!
Love,
Zuster Cherie Gulliver
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Football in the Rain!
Hello family!
Sorry this letter is late. P-day was yesterday, and it was totally crazy. We got permission to travel all the way to Apeldoorn to meet with the zone and have a thanksgiving dinner and a turkey bowl. It was intense. I, Zuster Gulliver, played football in the rain for 3 HOURS! It was really, really fun, but I am soooooo sore today. It was two-hand touch football, and sisters had to tag sisters, so we honestly didn´t get to touch the ball much, but hey, it was still a blast, and I still managed to be completely covered in mud by the end of the game. Oh, and I caught the ball once- then I slipped and fell in the mud and ended up surrounded by half of the elders on the ground who all ended up sliding to avoid having contact with zr. Ekstrom and I. Ahh, the joys of co-ed missionaory football. It was really fun. Thanksgiving dinner with the zone was also great. I just love the elders and sisters that we work with. They are such great examples. I look up to the other missionaries so much. They are one of the greatest blessings in my mission.
The work is still going forward at a steady pace. We are seeing some great progress from our investigators. There is an awesome couple from Angola that we have started teaching, and they are just so sensitive to the Spirit. It is amazing to work with them.
Well, I have to make this one extra-short, because we have district meeting now. I love you all!!
Ik hou van jullie!
Liefs,
Zuster Gulliver
Sorry this letter is late. P-day was yesterday, and it was totally crazy. We got permission to travel all the way to Apeldoorn to meet with the zone and have a thanksgiving dinner and a turkey bowl. It was intense. I, Zuster Gulliver, played football in the rain for 3 HOURS! It was really, really fun, but I am soooooo sore today. It was two-hand touch football, and sisters had to tag sisters, so we honestly didn´t get to touch the ball much, but hey, it was still a blast, and I still managed to be completely covered in mud by the end of the game. Oh, and I caught the ball once- then I slipped and fell in the mud and ended up surrounded by half of the elders on the ground who all ended up sliding to avoid having contact with zr. Ekstrom and I. Ahh, the joys of co-ed missionaory football. It was really fun. Thanksgiving dinner with the zone was also great. I just love the elders and sisters that we work with. They are such great examples. I look up to the other missionaries so much. They are one of the greatest blessings in my mission.
The work is still going forward at a steady pace. We are seeing some great progress from our investigators. There is an awesome couple from Angola that we have started teaching, and they are just so sensitive to the Spirit. It is amazing to work with them.
Well, I have to make this one extra-short, because we have district meeting now. I love you all!!
Ik hou van jullie!
Liefs,
Zuster Gulliver
Monday, November 16, 2009
Wonder of Wonders....
We had an awesome week! We received 4 new investigators this week and have 4 more lined up as a result of referrals next week. That is double the amount we found in the entire last transfer! It really has boosted our spirits and we actually have people to pray, study, and plan for, which adds a LOT to missionary life. We feel so blessed.
It sounds like you had an exciting week. I remember good times at the ranch. Dad, remember the first time I drove your car? That was good times. I still have the leaf that was stuck in the wind shield wiper after I almost hit that tree. I think it’s buried in one of my boxes. I`m sure Niki was a much more able student ;)
I got the pictures of Cozette and the Halloween candies this week. Thank you so much! She is getting so big. She looks like a different person, and Heather- the baby bump is looking good! So did the camera shots. I´m excited to see the Hamer photo portfolio when I get back. Dad, thank you for the copy of the talk. I found it really inspiring actually. You sound like a mission president :)
I´m so excited for Bob Nelson. A mission will be so awesome for him. It’s awesome for everyone.
I´m already scheduled for a fireside? Wow. I love the idea of a fireside, but is it really getting that close? I figured out this week that I will only get 3 or 4 more transfers after this one... a strange thought. I miss it already if I think about it.
The weather is starting to get colder, and much much rainier. We get soaked pretty much daily, which makes cute hair nearly impossible. Oh well, ponytails are cute too I guess. Luckily my companion is easy-going as well, so when we´re soaking wet it turns into more of an opportunity for jokes than an actual hardship. The winter coming back makes me think of my first few days in the land, when I didn´t think I`d live through the experience. Now I know that its just part of the adventure.
The Dutch holiday Sinterklas is coming really soon (its basically the commercial side of Christmas) which means that Sinterklas will come bring presents on his big horse with zwarte piet (his sidekick) and leave them in the shoes of the kids. That means that everyone gives the missionaries presents and that the bakeries are full of super delicious goodies for the holidays. They have stands all over the streets for oliebollen (deep fried dough balls) filled with apples, currants, pudding, pineapple, you name it, they put it in it. They are delicious and you can smell the stands a mile away. I´ll have to make you some when I get home.
We´ve been invited to an American member´s house for Thanksgiving this year. It´ll be really fun. The elders will come too, so it should be nice and gezellig. We also already have plans for Christmas Eve. I think the ward will take really good care of us during the holidays.
Well, I love you all a ton! Take care, and be safe!
Ik hou van jullie
Liefs,
Zuster Cherie Gulliver
It sounds like you had an exciting week. I remember good times at the ranch. Dad, remember the first time I drove your car? That was good times. I still have the leaf that was stuck in the wind shield wiper after I almost hit that tree. I think it’s buried in one of my boxes. I`m sure Niki was a much more able student ;)
I got the pictures of Cozette and the Halloween candies this week. Thank you so much! She is getting so big. She looks like a different person, and Heather- the baby bump is looking good! So did the camera shots. I´m excited to see the Hamer photo portfolio when I get back. Dad, thank you for the copy of the talk. I found it really inspiring actually. You sound like a mission president :)
I´m so excited for Bob Nelson. A mission will be so awesome for him. It’s awesome for everyone.
I´m already scheduled for a fireside? Wow. I love the idea of a fireside, but is it really getting that close? I figured out this week that I will only get 3 or 4 more transfers after this one... a strange thought. I miss it already if I think about it.
The weather is starting to get colder, and much much rainier. We get soaked pretty much daily, which makes cute hair nearly impossible. Oh well, ponytails are cute too I guess. Luckily my companion is easy-going as well, so when we´re soaking wet it turns into more of an opportunity for jokes than an actual hardship. The winter coming back makes me think of my first few days in the land, when I didn´t think I`d live through the experience. Now I know that its just part of the adventure.
The Dutch holiday Sinterklas is coming really soon (its basically the commercial side of Christmas) which means that Sinterklas will come bring presents on his big horse with zwarte piet (his sidekick) and leave them in the shoes of the kids. That means that everyone gives the missionaries presents and that the bakeries are full of super delicious goodies for the holidays. They have stands all over the streets for oliebollen (deep fried dough balls) filled with apples, currants, pudding, pineapple, you name it, they put it in it. They are delicious and you can smell the stands a mile away. I´ll have to make you some when I get home.
We´ve been invited to an American member´s house for Thanksgiving this year. It´ll be really fun. The elders will come too, so it should be nice and gezellig. We also already have plans for Christmas Eve. I think the ward will take really good care of us during the holidays.
Well, I love you all a ton! Take care, and be safe!
Ik hou van jullie
Liefs,
Zuster Cherie Gulliver
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