Familie!
Hello from the Netherlands! After having every p-day so far in Spijkenisse be, let's just say not the best weather, today it's finally sun, and warm, and just great!! Which means were going to go out of our little bubble here, and go see something cool! We've decided to go to Kinderdijk, which is a very well known place here in this country, it has a lot of windmills I guess, and a "must see" for anyone who comes here.. or so I've heard.. we'll see, and I'll let you guys know if it's really that great ;) Were going as a district so that'll be just great, it's always fun, spending time with other missionary's. I felt pretty bad for the new elder in our apartment, he came on Wednesday, and we hadn't gone shopping for food for the week.. so we had to really get creative to eat these past few days, and definitely applied the principle "waste not" this week. It was good though, A few weeks ago I was saying that you all would be suprised at my cooking skills now.. well get this, my companion and i have now moved on to baking! More so my companion than me, he's a fiend when it comes to baking now.. makes bread and cookies and all that.. but get this, because he's had this baking bug these past few weeks, it's kinda rubbed off on me as well, and so a couple days ago, we pulled a sister missionary thing, and made a list of people we'd give cookies too.. Is that not weird? What's weirder, we don't think it's that weird, were just trying to think outside the box, so we made a list to give cookies to people, to brighten there day! It's been fun. =)
There's not that many questions being asked by you guys anymore.. I wonder though if it's because I"m not that good at responding to them.. =0 probably it.. sorry.. but the one question that I got unanimously from all the emails, was how did District Meeting go.. well let me tell ya. I got the little sheet from Elder Bjork our previous district leader right before he got shipped off to his new city, and I come to find out that the subject that it's supposed to be on, he already did.. so I was left with scratch.. so I made my whole district meeting, and it didn't go too bad.. The topic of district meeting was on finding faith to find, and so I used a talk from elder hales, titled finding faith in Jesus Christ, and he uses enos story as a example for us to develop faith, so I used that because he had 5 points and I wrote them on a board, then I had the missionary's in my district apply them to us.. it was neat.. also had everyone share there favorite scripture on faith that they use with investigators, and then apply it to themselves.. it was neat to come up with these ideas to use.. like you said, using my creative mind for good! ;) It seemed to go pretty well.. at least for the first time, just glad 'that it's over, not going to lie! But.. my personal study was shot preparing for this thing, so i haven't really read that much in the new testament, I'm really enjoying the new testament.. the epistles are interesting, I don't know where they've been my whole life, but i'm glad that I found them on my mission!! Pretty much that goes for the whole bible =0 sad huh..so i'm in 1 corinthians 15 or something, i'm reading the epistles in order, so it's the 4th epistle i've read.. pretty cool..
Well that's about it for little odds and ends.. it was a little odd not having to do anything on transfer day, just have a normal day.. but it's pretty sweet, glad that i'm going two transfers with Elder Davies. We have some great investigators like i've been saying the past few weeks, Hendryetta the girl that texted us about having a testimony.. we set a baptismal date with her on wednesday, and then testimony dates with her two sisters, and one of the sisters, aaltje, went to church for the first time yesterday!! It was so cool, and she loved it, and said she will go back! It's so amazing, because there the first people I met when I came to spijkenisse and just seeing there change that they've all gone through, Aaltje wouldn't pray and didn't even pray, and said she would never, go back to a church, and now Aaltje says she believes in god, and went to church.. and there loving the jovo center, where all the single adults meet, they've been hit with some pretty heavy subjects in the jovo center and they've been cool with them all, so were really excited about them!
We once again are meeting with tom, tonight, really looking forward to seeing what he's done this past week, i imagine, that he would have read, i have that faith, and we also got our "dream" joint teach I guess you could say to come along.. it's awesome when you make plans for people, think of things to teach them, or people for them to meet, and then have it all work out.. we had that with our other investigator Gino.. we thought that the bishop would be the best person for Gino to meet, and we got the bishop to come last night for our appointment and they talked for almost 2 and a half hours!! Intense.. but it was awesome, made me late getting numbers for my first time =0 but ah well..
It was interesting president brubaker sent me an email, saying pretty much, that this is the point in my mission that really determines my potential, and that I really need to strive to be an example and 100 percent obedient.. it was pretty neat, I don't know what is in store for me, with this mission thing, but I'm just grateful that i'm getting confident enough, and yeah don't know other words to describe it, i'm drawing a blank, but to be having the success i'm having..
Well That's pretty much all I believe.. if you all have any questions, I'll put an extra amount of effort into trying to answer them.. umm.. oh we found two young families this past week, that was just great.. and.. yeah.. love.. you.. all!
Tot Ziens,
--Elder Mohrman
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
Monday, July 18, 2011
Spijkenisse... The Week of July 18th
Hoi Familie!!!
Transfer week! And.... i'm staying. And so is my companion.. craziness.. I've never had a companion for more than one transfer before! In fact my longest companion that i've been with, was in the MTC, with my "teaching partner" Sister Kraemer.. It'll be interesting, i'm excited we have some really good things going on here in Spijkenisse. The other two elders in our apartment, Elder Bjork and Elder Guanuna are getting shaken up a little bit.. Elder Guanuna is staying and getting another companion who's name is Elder Fullmer, but Elder Bjork is getting shipped off to be Zone Leader.. he was our District Leader.. but now I've been called to be the District Leader =0 Crazy huh? I'm pretty nervous about this.. I wasn't expecting it at all.. I thought if I got any leadership it would be to train someone.. but of course got shocked again.. what's transfers without something shocking happening?? ;0
So that's transfer news, I give my first district meeting on Friday, with president there.. because of course were having interviews that day.. so it'll be just great.. got a smile on my face and can't wait to see what happens =P
But now let me tell you about the interesting things, about our investigators! I told you last week about how we have some pretty awesome investigators and the lessens didn't disappoint.. Start off with Hendryetta.. Hendryetta is the oldest investigator that we've had, meaning we've taught her the longest, and on wednesday after having not the best lessen on the plan of salvation in the world, i committed her to reading the plan of salvation pamphlet and then to pray directly afterwards that night.. after she had said that she thinks it's all true, but not too sure, so I said to read then to pray that night to know for sure, and then to text us after she did it.. well.. she did.. and she texted us saying that she knew now for certain that the things that we were saying were true, that the book of mormon was true and everything.. that was quite an amazing text to receive, man... brought so much joy to me!! You ask, and ask, and invite and challenge so many people to do these small little things, and when someone finally does it.. it's pretty amazing.. haven't had people do so well with keeping commitments on my mission so far, so that was really neat, we'll be talking with her again on wednesday and talk about baptism.. try and set a date and alles.. Also we had a really great lessen with Tom.. we gave him a general conference liahona and after we left, he read the magazine til 12:00 midnight!! He's making a lot of progress as well.. keeping all of his commitments as well.. what's cool about tom is he's a member of a reformed church's council.. part of the leadership.. and were teaching him and he's being this awesome.. Really excited about him.. And Gino.. watched the film with him last night.. prophet of the restoration, but the neat thing is, his wife, who we haven't taught yet, she looked it up for herself, and they watched it together, but he still wanted to watch it with us as a review.. he's amazing.. he knows the book of mormon is true, knows that Joseph Smith is a prophet... knows that he needs to be baptized again, and knows that we have the authority.. he just has one hiccup that we need to work through and were going to baptize I believe a future bishop of spijkenisse.. I'm being so blessed here with investigators.. I don't know where this is coming from.. investigators who keep there commitments.. man.. I might be seeing baptisms here!! Crazy huh?! =P Well I love you all.. thanks for all the emails, got a bunch this week, so i'm very apppreciative.. You all are always in my prayers!
Tot Ziens!
Elder Mohrman
Transfer week! And.... i'm staying. And so is my companion.. craziness.. I've never had a companion for more than one transfer before! In fact my longest companion that i've been with, was in the MTC, with my "teaching partner" Sister Kraemer.. It'll be interesting, i'm excited we have some really good things going on here in Spijkenisse. The other two elders in our apartment, Elder Bjork and Elder Guanuna are getting shaken up a little bit.. Elder Guanuna is staying and getting another companion who's name is Elder Fullmer, but Elder Bjork is getting shipped off to be Zone Leader.. he was our District Leader.. but now I've been called to be the District Leader =0 Crazy huh? I'm pretty nervous about this.. I wasn't expecting it at all.. I thought if I got any leadership it would be to train someone.. but of course got shocked again.. what's transfers without something shocking happening?? ;0
So that's transfer news, I give my first district meeting on Friday, with president there.. because of course were having interviews that day.. so it'll be just great.. got a smile on my face and can't wait to see what happens =P
But now let me tell you about the interesting things, about our investigators! I told you last week about how we have some pretty awesome investigators and the lessens didn't disappoint.. Start off with Hendryetta.. Hendryetta is the oldest investigator that we've had, meaning we've taught her the longest, and on wednesday after having not the best lessen on the plan of salvation in the world, i committed her to reading the plan of salvation pamphlet and then to pray directly afterwards that night.. after she had said that she thinks it's all true, but not too sure, so I said to read then to pray that night to know for sure, and then to text us after she did it.. well.. she did.. and she texted us saying that she knew now for certain that the things that we were saying were true, that the book of mormon was true and everything.. that was quite an amazing text to receive, man... brought so much joy to me!! You ask, and ask, and invite and challenge so many people to do these small little things, and when someone finally does it.. it's pretty amazing.. haven't had people do so well with keeping commitments on my mission so far, so that was really neat, we'll be talking with her again on wednesday and talk about baptism.. try and set a date and alles.. Also we had a really great lessen with Tom.. we gave him a general conference liahona and after we left, he read the magazine til 12:00 midnight!! He's making a lot of progress as well.. keeping all of his commitments as well.. what's cool about tom is he's a member of a reformed church's council.. part of the leadership.. and were teaching him and he's being this awesome.. Really excited about him.. And Gino.. watched the film with him last night.. prophet of the restoration, but the neat thing is, his wife, who we haven't taught yet, she looked it up for herself, and they watched it together, but he still wanted to watch it with us as a review.. he's amazing.. he knows the book of mormon is true, knows that Joseph Smith is a prophet... knows that he needs to be baptized again, and knows that we have the authority.. he just has one hiccup that we need to work through and were going to baptize I believe a future bishop of spijkenisse.. I'm being so blessed here with investigators.. I don't know where this is coming from.. investigators who keep there commitments.. man.. I might be seeing baptisms here!! Crazy huh?! =P Well I love you all.. thanks for all the emails, got a bunch this week, so i'm very apppreciative.. You all are always in my prayers!
Tot Ziens!
Elder Mohrman
Monday, July 11, 2011
Spijkenisse.. July 11, 2011
Familie.. Hey.
Thank you, once again, and always for the wonderful emails you guys send! A lot of things happened this past week, it's always amazing to me, how 1 week can feel like 2-3 weeks because so much happened in the week! Monday.. July 4th, our wonderful nations independant day.. kinda sad, that there was no celebration over here.. no parties or fireworks.. no american flags.. songs about america and freedom.. I really took for granted July 4th back home.. I didn't realize how much it meant to me.. It was just another day =0 But for district meeting the next day, we sang the national anthem before we ate, which was really neat.. So grateful to be american!!
I think I also forgot to wish dad a happy birthday.. I wrote it down in my planner and everything, and I even remembered that morning, but I had a brain cramp, and totally forgot to achnowledge it last week!! So dad, Happy late Birthday!! No I didn't forget.. but at the same time I kinda did??.. =0
So last week, we had a slower week.. things weren't working out for most of our potential investigaters and also some of our better investigators.. but this week exploded for us, and we saw some pretty neat miracles. We managed to get 5 new investigators which is the most that we've had this whole transfer.. and there pretty solid as well.. One is a sister of the two girls were teaching, that went to the talent show last last week.. she also went to the talent show, but this past week we finally taught her along with the other two, and it was a pretty powerful lessen.. really felt the spirit.. I really felt the spirit bare testimony to that girl.. and I know.. that she felt it as well.. We committed them to every day reading and praying and to keep records of all that they do.. and they agreed and have been doing it.. one sister, has been texting us every day to wish us a good day, and to say that she's praying for us to be able to find other people to share gods word with ;) It's really neat.. she was the one, who is really shy, and had problems with saying prayers outloud.. so what she has done is send us a prayer through texting.. it sounds a little weird, but it was a start for this girl, and she has since wrote out a prayer and said it out loud in an appointment, and also said she will say the prayer without notes the next time.. I think personally the coolest part of my mission (besides the people I meet) is seeing actual progression in investigators.. to see them commit and then do, things we ask them to do.. and then to see them change a little every time we meet with them.. We have a few of those type of investigators right now.. Another one that I don't know if I mentioned her name is Pat.. she is from Nigeria, she has two kids and i'm pretty sure I talked about her in the last email.. but this week we once again had a really good lessen with her.. I once again distracted the little kids, so pat could focus on the lessen.. so weird to have little kids climbing all over me.. but I guess it's good practice for my on-the-way nephew ;) Also with Pat she said she would come to church again, she's been once but with her husband.. he's gone which is why she hasn't been coming, but she said that she would come to church with the two little girls, which is no easy thing, since she doesn't live very close and doesn't have a car, meaning that she has to use the public transportation system.. but however once sunday came around we were waiting and she never showed! Which was really sad, but I called her up, and she explained how she had tried to come! but the poor woman got lost, and had wandered around spijkenisse for a couple hours with her two little girls.. she had eventually found the church but just after church had ended.. really sad, but really neat that she tried, and she's really dedicated to now coming this coming week!
Found some other really cool people.. don't really have time to talk about them though.. but pretty powerful lessens with them, there names are Tom and Gino.. Gino knows the bible inside and out, and has been reading the Book of Mormon and loves the thing.. He's actually a refereal from the other elders in our apartment and I got to meet him last night for the first time.. were going to go back this next sunday and watch prophet of the restoration with him and his family.. the man sure seemed like a sincere seeker of truth, one of the most positive people i've ever met on my mission.. with the exception of Nancy.. and she got baptized.. so i'm praying.. he's getting some pretty hardcore anti thrown at him from friends and colleagues, and he's noticed and said this isn't from god these feelings, and that's actually why were going to watch the prophet of the restoration.. to show that with all good things there is always opposition.. should be really powerful.. i'm excited..
Well hey, I love you all, thank you again for all your support and prayers..
Oh and also, I don't think i've written a letter in about 3-4 months something like that.. and so all of you out there who may read this that has sent me a letter in that time frame or even earlier.. I really apologize, I'm going to repent and write you back!! Have faith in me! Don't hate me! I love you!
-Elder Mohrman!
Thank you, once again, and always for the wonderful emails you guys send! A lot of things happened this past week, it's always amazing to me, how 1 week can feel like 2-3 weeks because so much happened in the week! Monday.. July 4th, our wonderful nations independant day.. kinda sad, that there was no celebration over here.. no parties or fireworks.. no american flags.. songs about america and freedom.. I really took for granted July 4th back home.. I didn't realize how much it meant to me.. It was just another day =0 But for district meeting the next day, we sang the national anthem before we ate, which was really neat.. So grateful to be american!!
I think I also forgot to wish dad a happy birthday.. I wrote it down in my planner and everything, and I even remembered that morning, but I had a brain cramp, and totally forgot to achnowledge it last week!! So dad, Happy late Birthday!! No I didn't forget.. but at the same time I kinda did??.. =0
So last week, we had a slower week.. things weren't working out for most of our potential investigaters and also some of our better investigators.. but this week exploded for us, and we saw some pretty neat miracles. We managed to get 5 new investigators which is the most that we've had this whole transfer.. and there pretty solid as well.. One is a sister of the two girls were teaching, that went to the talent show last last week.. she also went to the talent show, but this past week we finally taught her along with the other two, and it was a pretty powerful lessen.. really felt the spirit.. I really felt the spirit bare testimony to that girl.. and I know.. that she felt it as well.. We committed them to every day reading and praying and to keep records of all that they do.. and they agreed and have been doing it.. one sister, has been texting us every day to wish us a good day, and to say that she's praying for us to be able to find other people to share gods word with ;) It's really neat.. she was the one, who is really shy, and had problems with saying prayers outloud.. so what she has done is send us a prayer through texting.. it sounds a little weird, but it was a start for this girl, and she has since wrote out a prayer and said it out loud in an appointment, and also said she will say the prayer without notes the next time.. I think personally the coolest part of my mission (besides the people I meet) is seeing actual progression in investigators.. to see them commit and then do, things we ask them to do.. and then to see them change a little every time we meet with them.. We have a few of those type of investigators right now.. Another one that I don't know if I mentioned her name is Pat.. she is from Nigeria, she has two kids and i'm pretty sure I talked about her in the last email.. but this week we once again had a really good lessen with her.. I once again distracted the little kids, so pat could focus on the lessen.. so weird to have little kids climbing all over me.. but I guess it's good practice for my on-the-way nephew ;) Also with Pat she said she would come to church again, she's been once but with her husband.. he's gone which is why she hasn't been coming, but she said that she would come to church with the two little girls, which is no easy thing, since she doesn't live very close and doesn't have a car, meaning that she has to use the public transportation system.. but however once sunday came around we were waiting and she never showed! Which was really sad, but I called her up, and she explained how she had tried to come! but the poor woman got lost, and had wandered around spijkenisse for a couple hours with her two little girls.. she had eventually found the church but just after church had ended.. really sad, but really neat that she tried, and she's really dedicated to now coming this coming week!
Found some other really cool people.. don't really have time to talk about them though.. but pretty powerful lessens with them, there names are Tom and Gino.. Gino knows the bible inside and out, and has been reading the Book of Mormon and loves the thing.. He's actually a refereal from the other elders in our apartment and I got to meet him last night for the first time.. were going to go back this next sunday and watch prophet of the restoration with him and his family.. the man sure seemed like a sincere seeker of truth, one of the most positive people i've ever met on my mission.. with the exception of Nancy.. and she got baptized.. so i'm praying.. he's getting some pretty hardcore anti thrown at him from friends and colleagues, and he's noticed and said this isn't from god these feelings, and that's actually why were going to watch the prophet of the restoration.. to show that with all good things there is always opposition.. should be really powerful.. i'm excited..
Well hey, I love you all, thank you again for all your support and prayers..
Oh and also, I don't think i've written a letter in about 3-4 months something like that.. and so all of you out there who may read this that has sent me a letter in that time frame or even earlier.. I really apologize, I'm going to repent and write you back!! Have faith in me! Don't hate me! I love you!
-Elder Mohrman!
Monday, July 4, 2011
Happy 4th of July
Hoi!
Thank you for the emails, Sorry about your job.. kinda caught me by suprise, won´t lie.. but.. yeah I trust all will work out, you have two missionary´s out.. I mean you can´t help but get blessed!
To be honest there´s not really a lot to share this week.. it was one of those weeks, where you build up a lot of potentials, and things are starting to get really exciting!! And then the next week things unravel and you have to start over.. pretty much what happened this week.. which means the next couple weeks will be on the upward pattern again! Njurka, are baptismal date.. haven´t had contact with her for two week or so, so we had to drop her date.. hopefully we´ll get into contact with her soon.. praying so at least.. Pat, an investigator who we had a very spiritual expirience with, committed her to pray and read everyday, she had been doing it too, and she said that she was going to come to church.. but she had a "family meeting" before church, and then she didn´t show up and haven´t heard from her yet.. kinda a bummer, worried about that.. and the referall from the former missionary, the man wants to meet with us, but doesn´t have time right now, so he´ll call us.. oh and the old lady the member referal she dropped us.. so.. yeah.. pretty depressing if you just hear all that, but we had positives as well.. like I said PaT Was doing amazing, keeping commitments, the best investigator in keeping commitments i´ve had on my mission.. we had a lessen with her this past tuesday, and she has two little kids, who are pretty distracting for her.. so While elder Davies taught the lessen, I distracted the little kids and played around with them.. let them draw pictures in my note book.. and it worked, because Pat paid attention.. and it was just great! We also are teaching these two dutch sisters.. and we got them to come to a Jovo activity, this past friday and they participated and had a blast.. they even brought there other sister, who will become a new investigator for us this coming week.. it was awesome.. it was great to get them to a church activity! Let them socialize with other kids, and let them see the other great blessings of church.. it was really great.. there just making more and more progression which is really wonderful to see.. Oh and this was really really great, at the Jovo activity I got to play.... PING PONG!! for the first time on my mission!! Oh man.. it was so great.. little rusty.. but it came back pretty quick.. we played around the world for a while with everyone, that´s the game that broke our investigators in with the other young adults.. then I played my old companion Elder MIckelsen in a game, and smoked him.. so that was pretty sweet :) And get this.. the activity was a talent show.. and so all the games and what not were before the talent show part, but during the talent part, our investigators sister sang a song, and also one of the investigators!! Way cool.. I even played my Book of Mormon stories on the piano.. some talent huh, but hey I participated!! ha ha While I was playing some of the other jovos came up and started doing the signs for the song.. pretty cool experience, and a good night.. and we also have appointments with other potentials.. been visiting less°actives and members also.. so staying busy and lot of positive stuff to balance out the not so great stuff!!
Love you all loads..
Elder Mohrman!!
Thank you for the emails, Sorry about your job.. kinda caught me by suprise, won´t lie.. but.. yeah I trust all will work out, you have two missionary´s out.. I mean you can´t help but get blessed!
To be honest there´s not really a lot to share this week.. it was one of those weeks, where you build up a lot of potentials, and things are starting to get really exciting!! And then the next week things unravel and you have to start over.. pretty much what happened this week.. which means the next couple weeks will be on the upward pattern again! Njurka, are baptismal date.. haven´t had contact with her for two week or so, so we had to drop her date.. hopefully we´ll get into contact with her soon.. praying so at least.. Pat, an investigator who we had a very spiritual expirience with, committed her to pray and read everyday, she had been doing it too, and she said that she was going to come to church.. but she had a "family meeting" before church, and then she didn´t show up and haven´t heard from her yet.. kinda a bummer, worried about that.. and the referall from the former missionary, the man wants to meet with us, but doesn´t have time right now, so he´ll call us.. oh and the old lady the member referal she dropped us.. so.. yeah.. pretty depressing if you just hear all that, but we had positives as well.. like I said PaT Was doing amazing, keeping commitments, the best investigator in keeping commitments i´ve had on my mission.. we had a lessen with her this past tuesday, and she has two little kids, who are pretty distracting for her.. so While elder Davies taught the lessen, I distracted the little kids and played around with them.. let them draw pictures in my note book.. and it worked, because Pat paid attention.. and it was just great! We also are teaching these two dutch sisters.. and we got them to come to a Jovo activity, this past friday and they participated and had a blast.. they even brought there other sister, who will become a new investigator for us this coming week.. it was awesome.. it was great to get them to a church activity! Let them socialize with other kids, and let them see the other great blessings of church.. it was really great.. there just making more and more progression which is really wonderful to see.. Oh and this was really really great, at the Jovo activity I got to play.... PING PONG!! for the first time on my mission!! Oh man.. it was so great.. little rusty.. but it came back pretty quick.. we played around the world for a while with everyone, that´s the game that broke our investigators in with the other young adults.. then I played my old companion Elder MIckelsen in a game, and smoked him.. so that was pretty sweet :) And get this.. the activity was a talent show.. and so all the games and what not were before the talent show part, but during the talent part, our investigators sister sang a song, and also one of the investigators!! Way cool.. I even played my Book of Mormon stories on the piano.. some talent huh, but hey I participated!! ha ha While I was playing some of the other jovos came up and started doing the signs for the song.. pretty cool experience, and a good night.. and we also have appointments with other potentials.. been visiting less°actives and members also.. so staying busy and lot of positive stuff to balance out the not so great stuff!!
Love you all loads..
Elder Mohrman!!
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