Hoi!
Familie!
hoe gaat het... :)
August 27th, 2011.. the day Dwight and Natasha Samson will be baptized.. mark it on your calenders, because well.. it´s awesome :) Were really excited about them.. there doing great and everything is in order for them to be baptized this saturday! There making us dinner tonight, Some surinamse food called Roti.. which is extremely delicious, and our zone leaders will be giving them there baptismal interviews.. then after all that were all going to go together to a baptism in Gouda.. it´s going to be a great night! I´ve only been District Leader for a month or so now, but I feel like I´ve done everything a district leader can do.. Last week sometime... oh it was saturday, Gave my first baptismal interview to the lady who is getting baptized in Gouda.. really neat expirience.. Just being able to ask her to bare her testimony on the different questions, the spirit was really strong, she was a little nervous about the whole interview thing.. this old dutch lady, but she was amazing.. Being the district leader I get to follow the progression of my districts investigators, so every week I would get updates on this lady from the sister missionary´s in gouda, so pretty special for me to be able to finally meet her.. and also see the joy in her face after it was all done.. when we got out of the room, she threw her arms in the air and started to do a little dance thing with the sisters :) Pure joy and happiness.. can only be found in the gospel.. church is true.. period.
Other investigators are doing well.. we did something strange with one of our investigators his name is Vincent.. he wants to be baptized, been investigating the church for a few years, but just has to work out some personal problems/concerns, and so we decided to go a different route with him, we took him to a members house for dinner... he´s dutch, the lady was from the carribean completely different expirience for him, and then we took him, vincent, our investigator, as a joint teach to another investigators house Tom. I wouldn´t say it was the best lessen in the world for tom.. but it didn´t hurt anything, and made a huge impact on Vincent, as he was able to expirience the church and what we do in a different way, as if he was a member.. he came to church then on sunday, and was able to meet our mission president who suprised us by showing up.. so president brubaker came to our sacrament meeting, to meet our baptismal dates, dwight and natasha.. but.. they weren´t there.. perfect timing to not come to church right? But also we had a lady walk into the church, who was just curious about how we worshipped.. so I sat by her during sacrament meeting explained a little what goes on.. gave her our articles of faith.. and also a book of mormon.. she seemed to like it and said she would do her best to come to the baptism on saturday and then again on sunday.. I dón´t think I´ve ever had a lady walk into church before because she was curious.. it was definitely an interesting expirience! And during sacrament meeting, our bishop felt impressed to have Elder Davies, me, and President Brubaker all give our testiomonies in the middle of sacrament meeting... that was also a pretty neat expriience.. right before that happened, i was actually thinking to myself.. "what would I say, if I had to bare my testimony right now..." so I was thinking about that, then that announcement came up.. so I was a little prepared!!
Were developing a pretty good relatioionship with the ward, were switching things up a little bit, whenever we go over to there house, instead of us teaching a small lessen, were having them teach us.. and that was also announced during sacrament meeting.. a lot of the members were shocked about this.. so we´ll see if we´ll still be getting as many dinner appointments now :) A big thing in the ward, for a group of the men, is to go play squash.. so I finally got the bishop to take us to go play squash yesterday.. pretty fun game.. just like raquetball.. I had begginners luck and beat our bishop all 3 games we played :) But now i´m really sore and stiff.. man.. i´m getting out of shape!!
Also this past week, went to my first ever funeral.. an old dutch lady from the ward passed away.. so me and elder davies went to show our support.. I don´t know how dutch funerals are different from american funerals but I thought it was interesting, and it was a pretty neat service.. neat to see how many lives a person can touch in there lifetime.. and to hear different stories about them..
Well.. that´s about it.. I´ve rambled long enough =P Love you all.. thanks for all the emails, letters.. and prayers.. you all are the best!
Tot ziens!
tot de volgende week!
Elder Mohrman
Tuesday, August 23, 2011
Monday, August 15, 2011
Great week!
Hoi Familie!
This week, was just a happy week. Had some downer moments sure.. but the highs were amazing.. Last week when I sent my email on wednesday I said I was going to go to an appointment to try and set a baptismal date.. that appointment was with one of those three sisters that we've been teaching, Aaltje.
Aaltje is the middle sister, the oldest is Hendryetta with the baptismal date, and then the youngest is Petra.. this was our first lessen with Aaltje without the other two sisters.. What an amazing appointment.. She had asked us to meet with her seperatley, and the progression with this girl has been extroardinary.. I'll back up a little bit, she was found by Elder Davies and the other Elder before me.. and had one lessen with them before I came.. My first lessen we talked about faith, and shared Alma 32 with her.. she was very skeptical, didn't beleive in god.. but did believe in something.. would not pray.. she had said that if she would pray she would be a hyprocrite.. would not come to church, because of bad expiriences in the past.. and really wasn't that open because her life was okay at the moment for now.. but we shared that chapter, told her and promised her that if she does the invitations that we give, and read and what not, she would notice something change in her.. that she would feel a seed grow in her.. again.. very skeptical.. but she said why not.. so she read a little bit at first.. then a little more.. then she went to a young adult center and liked it.. she started to pray on her own every now and then.. then a little more and a little more.. and every week was a noticable change in her.. even though she was trying to fight it, the gospel of jesus christ was touching her life and we were excited.. it's neat so see the light of christ fill someone up.. Well eventually she went to church.. she liked church.. she prayed out loud for the first time and thought that was a neat exprience.. and she just opened up more and more, and made many new friends and made so much progression.. so last wednesday, we shared once again Alma 32.. asked her if she remembered it.. she said she did.. asked her if this chapter was applicable to her.. and she said it was.. We were able to bare our testimony's about how much growth and progression we have seen in her.. and I lie not, she was glowing.. absolute transformation. We set a baptismal date with her.. for September 24th.. and as we were walking away from that appointment My companion had tears in his eyes, and I had a itch in mine.. so powerful.. so much joy.. One of the best moments of my mission so far.. ;)
We made great steps with our other investigators as well.. Dwight and Natasha we talked to them about the commandments and what they need to do to be baptized.. Dwight committed to living the word of wisdom, and as of yesterday has been clean.. there really excited for there baptism which is now on the 27th of august.. Hendryetta came to church once again.. meaning all of our baptismal dates were at church! It was amazing.. Tom, said he would come to the baptismal service of Dwight and natasha, and we gave him Joseph Smith the prophet of the restoration movie to watch as well as the movie about President Monson.. Another Investigator, who has been investigating for two years wants to be baptized this coming saturday! But that won't happen.. but hopefully in a couple weeks.. an inactive family came to church that we've been visiting! That was super, wish I had more time to tell you about that appointment.. and the other miracles that happened this week.. but.. alas.. I don't have any more time! Thank you all for your emails! Love you all so much!
Pray for these people.. there all going through some sort of adversity but there making it.. slowly but surely there making it to baptism!! ;)
Tot Ziens!
Elder Mohrman
This week, was just a happy week. Had some downer moments sure.. but the highs were amazing.. Last week when I sent my email on wednesday I said I was going to go to an appointment to try and set a baptismal date.. that appointment was with one of those three sisters that we've been teaching, Aaltje.
Aaltje is the middle sister, the oldest is Hendryetta with the baptismal date, and then the youngest is Petra.. this was our first lessen with Aaltje without the other two sisters.. What an amazing appointment.. She had asked us to meet with her seperatley, and the progression with this girl has been extroardinary.. I'll back up a little bit, she was found by Elder Davies and the other Elder before me.. and had one lessen with them before I came.. My first lessen we talked about faith, and shared Alma 32 with her.. she was very skeptical, didn't beleive in god.. but did believe in something.. would not pray.. she had said that if she would pray she would be a hyprocrite.. would not come to church, because of bad expiriences in the past.. and really wasn't that open because her life was okay at the moment for now.. but we shared that chapter, told her and promised her that if she does the invitations that we give, and read and what not, she would notice something change in her.. that she would feel a seed grow in her.. again.. very skeptical.. but she said why not.. so she read a little bit at first.. then a little more.. then she went to a young adult center and liked it.. she started to pray on her own every now and then.. then a little more and a little more.. and every week was a noticable change in her.. even though she was trying to fight it, the gospel of jesus christ was touching her life and we were excited.. it's neat so see the light of christ fill someone up.. Well eventually she went to church.. she liked church.. she prayed out loud for the first time and thought that was a neat exprience.. and she just opened up more and more, and made many new friends and made so much progression.. so last wednesday, we shared once again Alma 32.. asked her if she remembered it.. she said she did.. asked her if this chapter was applicable to her.. and she said it was.. We were able to bare our testimony's about how much growth and progression we have seen in her.. and I lie not, she was glowing.. absolute transformation. We set a baptismal date with her.. for September 24th.. and as we were walking away from that appointment My companion had tears in his eyes, and I had a itch in mine.. so powerful.. so much joy.. One of the best moments of my mission so far.. ;)
We made great steps with our other investigators as well.. Dwight and Natasha we talked to them about the commandments and what they need to do to be baptized.. Dwight committed to living the word of wisdom, and as of yesterday has been clean.. there really excited for there baptism which is now on the 27th of august.. Hendryetta came to church once again.. meaning all of our baptismal dates were at church! It was amazing.. Tom, said he would come to the baptismal service of Dwight and natasha, and we gave him Joseph Smith the prophet of the restoration movie to watch as well as the movie about President Monson.. Another Investigator, who has been investigating for two years wants to be baptized this coming saturday! But that won't happen.. but hopefully in a couple weeks.. an inactive family came to church that we've been visiting! That was super, wish I had more time to tell you about that appointment.. and the other miracles that happened this week.. but.. alas.. I don't have any more time! Thank you all for your emails! Love you all so much!
Pray for these people.. there all going through some sort of adversity but there making it.. slowly but surely there making it to baptism!! ;)
Tot Ziens!
Elder Mohrman
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
weekly email...two days late :)
Hoi Familie!
You were worried, weren't you? Admit it.. you all thought, that I had forgotten about you guys! But of course I haven't, Just late that's all, it's what happens when you spend 5-6 hours of your p-day cleaning your apartment.. it was insane, our mission president is re-dedicating all of the mission apartments, which means for us.. cleaning.. and lot's of it.. but that's the reason why no email on Monday.. not going to be a regular occurance no worries!
Thank you all for the emails and the letters, I had mentioned a few weeks ago, that I hadn't written a letter in a long long time (no need to repeat how long that was =0) but now I'm happy to say that I am almost all caught up with the letter writing thing, and most have been shipped off and on the way! Yay.... =0 sorry for being so late with them!
What a week we had, some really great great lessens with our investigators and also less actives.. I had this past week District Leader Council, where all the district leaders come and we get a special conference with our president, it was sweet, learned a lot, things that we talked about the most were baptismal dates and church attendance and how important they are to a investigators progression.. well it made me think about all of our investigators, and i was able to apply what I learned with our investigators and make some really big steps in the right direction! We had 8 progressing investigators this past week, a record for me.. I've never been so blessed so far on my mission! It was also pretty crazy at the council.. every other district leader in the mission has been out for over a year and a half.. and then there was me.. out for 11 months.. felt pretty young =0 Dwight and Natasha the couple with the baptismal dates for August 20th, they were doing so good! and then this last lessen yesterday, dwight had a cigarette.. man, that was a bummer.. we thought they were clean.. but we have another lessen on thursday, and we'll once again talk about word of wisdom with them, but who knows, the baptismal date may have to be pushed back.. hope not.. but possibility, still great, awesome and going to get baptized.. it's just stopping and overcoming these small things!
After I'm done sending this email, we'll be off to an appointment with Aaltje, who is the sister of Hendryetta who has a baptismal date.. she's had some amazing experiences these past few weeks, and on monday said her first ever prayer out loud.. amazing.. were going to talk to her and commit her to baptism today.. and hopefully her sister as well petra.. that's the plan! So we'll see how it goes.. Other investigators.. making progress not much to report about.. life is good.. a member asked me just this morning if i've been fasting a lot.. because i don't look as fat as I did before.. ha ha anyways.. thanks again for all you do,
Love you loads,
Tot Ziens!
Elder Mohrman
You were worried, weren't you? Admit it.. you all thought, that I had forgotten about you guys! But of course I haven't, Just late that's all, it's what happens when you spend 5-6 hours of your p-day cleaning your apartment.. it was insane, our mission president is re-dedicating all of the mission apartments, which means for us.. cleaning.. and lot's of it.. but that's the reason why no email on Monday.. not going to be a regular occurance no worries!
Thank you all for the emails and the letters, I had mentioned a few weeks ago, that I hadn't written a letter in a long long time (no need to repeat how long that was =0) but now I'm happy to say that I am almost all caught up with the letter writing thing, and most have been shipped off and on the way! Yay.... =0 sorry for being so late with them!
What a week we had, some really great great lessens with our investigators and also less actives.. I had this past week District Leader Council, where all the district leaders come and we get a special conference with our president, it was sweet, learned a lot, things that we talked about the most were baptismal dates and church attendance and how important they are to a investigators progression.. well it made me think about all of our investigators, and i was able to apply what I learned with our investigators and make some really big steps in the right direction! We had 8 progressing investigators this past week, a record for me.. I've never been so blessed so far on my mission! It was also pretty crazy at the council.. every other district leader in the mission has been out for over a year and a half.. and then there was me.. out for 11 months.. felt pretty young =0 Dwight and Natasha the couple with the baptismal dates for August 20th, they were doing so good! and then this last lessen yesterday, dwight had a cigarette.. man, that was a bummer.. we thought they were clean.. but we have another lessen on thursday, and we'll once again talk about word of wisdom with them, but who knows, the baptismal date may have to be pushed back.. hope not.. but possibility, still great, awesome and going to get baptized.. it's just stopping and overcoming these small things!
After I'm done sending this email, we'll be off to an appointment with Aaltje, who is the sister of Hendryetta who has a baptismal date.. she's had some amazing experiences these past few weeks, and on monday said her first ever prayer out loud.. amazing.. were going to talk to her and commit her to baptism today.. and hopefully her sister as well petra.. that's the plan! So we'll see how it goes.. Other investigators.. making progress not much to report about.. life is good.. a member asked me just this morning if i've been fasting a lot.. because i don't look as fat as I did before.. ha ha anyways.. thanks again for all you do,
Love you loads,
Tot Ziens!
Elder Mohrman
Monday, August 1, 2011
happy pday!
Familie!
Hey.. what's up? Everything is just great and... wonderful here! I'll just start off with the biggest news, we set two new baptismal dates this past week with a young couple.. there amazing, a true miracle, they were former investigators about a year ago, there whole problem was law of chastity, they were living together.. they got married this past april, and then showed up in church, we got an appointment with them, set the baptismal date for august 20th! So real soon, and there on fire, I went through all the baptismal interview questions with them, and there great, passed every one.. we still want to review everything with them though before hand, and we made a great plan on how to do so! Really excited, as well because our other baptismal date, Hendryetta went to church for the first time! And she brought her boyfriend along! Miracles.. gotta love them right? ;) We have some really great appointments set up for tonight, and if all goes well,
then we'll have hopefully 2-3 more baptismal dates.. really hope we can create an eviornment for the spirit to testify to these people, but me and ELder Davies, are getting better and better at teaching in unity.. I've felt the most comfortable teaching alongside him, then any other companion I've had so far. It's been great.
We started delivering cookies now! The referal that we received from the return missionary a few weeks ago, he had told us that he didn't have any time to meet with us, but we made him cookies and delivered them to him, and he really appreciated it.. said that he wants to talk with us, and so were going to go back in a week, when his children aren't around.. it was awesome, glad that he just got back into the picture.. he's an amazing guy..
Well.. There's a lot more that has happened, but.. my mind is drawing a blank.. so I think I might have to end this pretty short this week =P Sorry.. but, hey know that i love you all, and appreciate all the emails you send..
Take care,
Elder Mohrman
Hey.. what's up? Everything is just great and... wonderful here! I'll just start off with the biggest news, we set two new baptismal dates this past week with a young couple.. there amazing, a true miracle, they were former investigators about a year ago, there whole problem was law of chastity, they were living together.. they got married this past april, and then showed up in church, we got an appointment with them, set the baptismal date for august 20th! So real soon, and there on fire, I went through all the baptismal interview questions with them, and there great, passed every one.. we still want to review everything with them though before hand, and we made a great plan on how to do so! Really excited, as well because our other baptismal date, Hendryetta went to church for the first time! And she brought her boyfriend along! Miracles.. gotta love them right? ;) We have some really great appointments set up for tonight, and if all goes well,
then we'll have hopefully 2-3 more baptismal dates.. really hope we can create an eviornment for the spirit to testify to these people, but me and ELder Davies, are getting better and better at teaching in unity.. I've felt the most comfortable teaching alongside him, then any other companion I've had so far. It's been great.
We started delivering cookies now! The referal that we received from the return missionary a few weeks ago, he had told us that he didn't have any time to meet with us, but we made him cookies and delivered them to him, and he really appreciated it.. said that he wants to talk with us, and so were going to go back in a week, when his children aren't around.. it was awesome, glad that he just got back into the picture.. he's an amazing guy..
Well.. There's a lot more that has happened, but.. my mind is drawing a blank.. so I think I might have to end this pretty short this week =P Sorry.. but, hey know that i love you all, and appreciate all the emails you send..
Take care,
Elder Mohrman
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
Pday
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
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
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!!
Monday, June 27, 2011
Spijkenisse
Hoi familie!
Another week. Crazy huh? It was an interesting week, missionary work wise, we found a few people on our own this week.. finally! That was pretty neat, we knocked on this door, and a young guy answered and started talking.. really cool guy, told us his purpose in life was to do the will of god.. I asked him what he thought god wanted him to do, and he said to preach his gospel.. both really good answers.. very knowledgable person.. knows the bible really well.. and he's young! Maybe like 24-25.. pretty crazy, don't see young people like that, that knows the bible so well.. but we talked about Joseph Smith and the restoration, and he said he's never heard about that before.. we made an appointment for this coming wednesday.. so.. hope that goes through, and hope we can create an atmosphere where he'll be able to feel the spirit.. But he was the most positive person that we found on our own from this past week.. it was pretty interesting, when I came into the land I was picked up by Pres. and sister Brubaker, and after I went with the two assistants to go do some contacting in Brussels and to eat out and what not my first day and night. One of the assistants was leaving the next day, so it was pretty neat to be able to talk with him as I was coming in, and he was leaving.. now.. 7 months later or something, he came back with his family, and turns out he served in spijkenisse, and we were able to go to a dinner appointment with a member and this former elders family.. which was cool, I've always enjoyed talking with returned missionary's, but his mother who's name is... Beverly Koons.. who grew up in some place I think called Lakewood, Florida, which is right by a place called Liveoak I guess she said.. And she hung out with/ran around, was good friends with a guy by the name of Jay Mohrman.. what a small flippin' world.. is that not crazy? I don't think I've ever met someone that has only known Uncle Jay and not you dad.. she didn't remember you.. but wow.. so yeah, it was a fun appointment/dinner thing, she couldn't believe that I was related to Uncle Jay.. and she said to tell Uncle Jay that Beverly Koons says hello.. I don't know if you knew her dad? maybe.. probably.. but anyways.. And then for the past three days this other returned missionary has been around, he served about 4-5 years ago, and we've kept being invited to homes that he's visiting, so we've had three appointments with him the past three days.. crazy.. been able to talk to him a lot also, which was pretty cool as well.. he gave us a referal.. just some random guy that he remembered he met during a finding session one time, and he still remembered where he lived, so we went and looked him up yesterday and.. wow one of the most humblest men I've every seen.. we didn't say much, just that we were sent by this former missionary, and he brought up, that he wanted to talk with us again, he told us when, gave us his number.. it was amazing.. we were able to tell the former missionary that today, and he seemed pretty excited.. cool experience for him, to be able to give us missionary's a referal from someone during his time here.. maybe someday I'll be able to do that ;)
Funny guy though, the former missionary that is.. he left his wife behind, and so he brought a camera to make little videos to show her and what not.. and every time he wanted to do something that he hasn't done since he was here.. like eat some vla.. (dutch dessert) or riding a bike.. he would forget to make a video, so I had to remind the guy three different times, to make videos for his wife! Kinda funny.. maybe you had to be there ha ha,
I think this coming week were going to go visit this Jehova Witness guy... should be fun and interesting.. I'm not a good person to bash.. or have people bash with me.. I ask and say to random of things which I suppose is a good thing! Yesterday we were let in by some Jehova Witnesses and they kept wanting to talk Doctrine.. but I kept asking them random questions about how they met.. how many children did they have.. and nothing about faith at all.. it was kind of fun, just because we left with a good feeling of getting to know these people instead of, thinking to ourselves.. wow these people are morons.. so it was fun.. also a really neat experience that I'll quickly share, we have this investigator named Pat, she was found before I got here, and we haven't had a lessen with her my whole time here.. we finally had one a couple days ago, and we were able to really get to know her and know her background I guess you could say about religion.. she's from nigeria and says she's very religious and all.. but a couple of years ago, when she married the dutch guy, she had a problem and she prayed to god every day for a while, but she never received an answer she said.. so she said she was tired of it, and quit praying and all.. quit reading the bible.. everything.. still believes, but just tired of making an effort.. we had a powerful appointment where we committed her to a "testimony" date, and we promised her that if she read, pondered, and prayed ever day til this date, that she would have an answer that the book of mormon was true.. and then I felt impressed to say, that as she reads the book of mormon, thinks about it and prays, that she'll also get an answer to her other problem, question that she had earlier.. she said that she would do it.. pretty neat experience.. hopefully she does..
went to the zoo last p-day.. think I mentioned that we were going last week.. it was cool.. took pictures.. you'll see them I suppose sometime.. but it was sweet.. okay that's all you get from me this week,
Love you all
Tot Ziens
Elder Mohrman
Another week. Crazy huh? It was an interesting week, missionary work wise, we found a few people on our own this week.. finally! That was pretty neat, we knocked on this door, and a young guy answered and started talking.. really cool guy, told us his purpose in life was to do the will of god.. I asked him what he thought god wanted him to do, and he said to preach his gospel.. both really good answers.. very knowledgable person.. knows the bible really well.. and he's young! Maybe like 24-25.. pretty crazy, don't see young people like that, that knows the bible so well.. but we talked about Joseph Smith and the restoration, and he said he's never heard about that before.. we made an appointment for this coming wednesday.. so.. hope that goes through, and hope we can create an atmosphere where he'll be able to feel the spirit.. But he was the most positive person that we found on our own from this past week.. it was pretty interesting, when I came into the land I was picked up by Pres. and sister Brubaker, and after I went with the two assistants to go do some contacting in Brussels and to eat out and what not my first day and night. One of the assistants was leaving the next day, so it was pretty neat to be able to talk with him as I was coming in, and he was leaving.. now.. 7 months later or something, he came back with his family, and turns out he served in spijkenisse, and we were able to go to a dinner appointment with a member and this former elders family.. which was cool, I've always enjoyed talking with returned missionary's, but his mother who's name is... Beverly Koons.. who grew up in some place I think called Lakewood, Florida, which is right by a place called Liveoak I guess she said.. And she hung out with/ran around, was good friends with a guy by the name of Jay Mohrman.. what a small flippin' world.. is that not crazy? I don't think I've ever met someone that has only known Uncle Jay and not you dad.. she didn't remember you.. but wow.. so yeah, it was a fun appointment/dinner thing, she couldn't believe that I was related to Uncle Jay.. and she said to tell Uncle Jay that Beverly Koons says hello.. I don't know if you knew her dad? maybe.. probably.. but anyways.. And then for the past three days this other returned missionary has been around, he served about 4-5 years ago, and we've kept being invited to homes that he's visiting, so we've had three appointments with him the past three days.. crazy.. been able to talk to him a lot also, which was pretty cool as well.. he gave us a referal.. just some random guy that he remembered he met during a finding session one time, and he still remembered where he lived, so we went and looked him up yesterday and.. wow one of the most humblest men I've every seen.. we didn't say much, just that we were sent by this former missionary, and he brought up, that he wanted to talk with us again, he told us when, gave us his number.. it was amazing.. we were able to tell the former missionary that today, and he seemed pretty excited.. cool experience for him, to be able to give us missionary's a referal from someone during his time here.. maybe someday I'll be able to do that ;)
Funny guy though, the former missionary that is.. he left his wife behind, and so he brought a camera to make little videos to show her and what not.. and every time he wanted to do something that he hasn't done since he was here.. like eat some vla.. (dutch dessert) or riding a bike.. he would forget to make a video, so I had to remind the guy three different times, to make videos for his wife! Kinda funny.. maybe you had to be there ha ha,
I think this coming week were going to go visit this Jehova Witness guy... should be fun and interesting.. I'm not a good person to bash.. or have people bash with me.. I ask and say to random of things which I suppose is a good thing! Yesterday we were let in by some Jehova Witnesses and they kept wanting to talk Doctrine.. but I kept asking them random questions about how they met.. how many children did they have.. and nothing about faith at all.. it was kind of fun, just because we left with a good feeling of getting to know these people instead of, thinking to ourselves.. wow these people are morons.. so it was fun.. also a really neat experience that I'll quickly share, we have this investigator named Pat, she was found before I got here, and we haven't had a lessen with her my whole time here.. we finally had one a couple days ago, and we were able to really get to know her and know her background I guess you could say about religion.. she's from nigeria and says she's very religious and all.. but a couple of years ago, when she married the dutch guy, she had a problem and she prayed to god every day for a while, but she never received an answer she said.. so she said she was tired of it, and quit praying and all.. quit reading the bible.. everything.. still believes, but just tired of making an effort.. we had a powerful appointment where we committed her to a "testimony" date, and we promised her that if she read, pondered, and prayed ever day til this date, that she would have an answer that the book of mormon was true.. and then I felt impressed to say, that as she reads the book of mormon, thinks about it and prays, that she'll also get an answer to her other problem, question that she had earlier.. she said that she would do it.. pretty neat experience.. hopefully she does..
went to the zoo last p-day.. think I mentioned that we were going last week.. it was cool.. took pictures.. you'll see them I suppose sometime.. but it was sweet.. okay that's all you get from me this week,
Love you all
Tot Ziens
Elder Mohrman
Monday, June 20, 2011
Hey.. it's me.. again! =P
Hoi Familie!
Hoe gaat het met jullie! Oh man.. what a week.. rain, rain.. go away.. what has been going through my head this whole week! I love the rain, always have.. but the rain here.. it doesn't go away. And it's not the most amazing experience in the world when you have to bike for an hour to an appointment while it's pouring rain!! But it was okay, because traveling all that way paid off, as we were able to set a baptismal date with our investigator! So once again.. able to set a date.. we'll see what happens, still hoping that Lilian will get baptized down in heerlen, waiting on that news.. finding has been difficult here.. haven't had much success.. in fact we haven't found a new investigator yet.. we've had referals from members which have been awesome! But nobody that we've found.. Sometimes you get into a rut with finding.. get into a pattern.. and well, my companion and I have gotten into one.. but it's good.. fighting through it.. were going to force ourselves to talk to more people on the street, instead of doing doors.. but also like I refered to above, we've gotten referals from members, and Me and my companion have set the goal to really push that and get more from the ward! Had a really neat experience, my first week here, we went to a member house, had dinner what not.. the lady who is single with a few kids, she started talking about a friend she knows and how she wishes that she could find a way to help him, and share the gospel with them.. but he's sick and she had no idea how to reach him or what to do.. And she said that she prayed for him every night.. after she said that I felt really prompted to challenge her, to instead of praying just for his welfare, to pray instead for what she could personally do, to help him.. to ask god what she could do.. I promised her that if she did that she would receive an answer and know how to help her friend. It was pretty neat... never have done that before.. and yesterday at church, I followed up with my challenge and she had done it.. she said that in fact yesterday when she was brushing her teeth, the thought came into her head to send him a card, with our info on it, because he's still sick.. really cool.. I had such a good feeling, just because the sister kept the commitment that we gave her.. so.. pretty neat experience.. Another sister in the ward had a miscarriage this past week.. really sad, so we went by and left a card saying that we loved them, and hope everything was good type of thing.. they showed up the next day to church, and said there thanks to us, that it meant a lot.. just neat little experiences..\
We haven't been finding, but the pool of investigators that we do have are pretty solid.. we have the potential for 3-4 more baptismal dates that could happen this coming week.. really excited about it.. if my companion and I are really dilligent and on top of things, I know that it will happen.. I just have felt that it will.. now the hard part is being dilligent, and doing the little things to keep in contact with these people!
I'll tell you a little about Spijkennisse now.. we actually don't live in Spijk.. we live in a city across the river called hoogvliet.. and the elders to Rotterdam south also live in that apartment.. oh man.. it's a party.. the oldest one (mission wise) is Elder Bjork, and he's on his 7th transfer.. I'm the second oldest on my 6th.. my companion is on his 5th and the other one is on his 3rd.. so a really young apartment.. but it's a blast, I love these guys! It's a really goofy apartment too.. it seems like were always laughing and joking about something.. were saying that this apartment would be a perfect "missionary sitcom" =P
But yeah so we live in hoogvliet and we have to travel over a huge river every day to enter Spijk.. just an outside town, doesn't have any history or anything.. but there's other awesome little towns in our area that have a lot of history.. the area that I am in now is the most dense in terms of members, there's 3 wards around here, two in rotterdam and then spijk.. so it's cool to be more in the thick of things than in the middle of no where in heerlen..
But everything is good.. I said last week that the apartment had decided and were determined to do dutch week.. well.. we got to friday night.. it's difficult.. man.. but we almost did it! We just kind of got burned out.. but it was the best attempt of dutch week I've ever had on my mission, so next transfer I'm excited for dutch week! (at the start of each new transfer, the first week is dedicated as dutch week)
Oh yeah.. so now that I'm back up here in the heart of the Netherlands, people are telling me once again, that i pronounce my name wrong.. really interesting, at church I introduce myself to people, and I say my name.. they look shocked at first then théý'll get really close and look at my name badge, and say "oh! It's MohrmAAn, not "Mormon".. To which I respond, "Well no.. ít's pronounced Mormon" and they'll actually try and argue with me.. amazing.. got to experience it I guess to understand ha ha
Well I guess were going to go to some zoo with a bunch of other missionary's.. so I gotta go.. Love you all, and thanks so much for all the emails, I love hearing about everyone, and yeah.. Doei! Tot Ziens, tot de volgende week! Ik verwach uitstekend emailen van jullie voor de volgende week!
Ik hou van jullie!
Elder Mohrman
Hoe gaat het met jullie! Oh man.. what a week.. rain, rain.. go away.. what has been going through my head this whole week! I love the rain, always have.. but the rain here.. it doesn't go away. And it's not the most amazing experience in the world when you have to bike for an hour to an appointment while it's pouring rain!! But it was okay, because traveling all that way paid off, as we were able to set a baptismal date with our investigator! So once again.. able to set a date.. we'll see what happens, still hoping that Lilian will get baptized down in heerlen, waiting on that news.. finding has been difficult here.. haven't had much success.. in fact we haven't found a new investigator yet.. we've had referals from members which have been awesome! But nobody that we've found.. Sometimes you get into a rut with finding.. get into a pattern.. and well, my companion and I have gotten into one.. but it's good.. fighting through it.. were going to force ourselves to talk to more people on the street, instead of doing doors.. but also like I refered to above, we've gotten referals from members, and Me and my companion have set the goal to really push that and get more from the ward! Had a really neat experience, my first week here, we went to a member house, had dinner what not.. the lady who is single with a few kids, she started talking about a friend she knows and how she wishes that she could find a way to help him, and share the gospel with them.. but he's sick and she had no idea how to reach him or what to do.. And she said that she prayed for him every night.. after she said that I felt really prompted to challenge her, to instead of praying just for his welfare, to pray instead for what she could personally do, to help him.. to ask god what she could do.. I promised her that if she did that she would receive an answer and know how to help her friend. It was pretty neat... never have done that before.. and yesterday at church, I followed up with my challenge and she had done it.. she said that in fact yesterday when she was brushing her teeth, the thought came into her head to send him a card, with our info on it, because he's still sick.. really cool.. I had such a good feeling, just because the sister kept the commitment that we gave her.. so.. pretty neat experience.. Another sister in the ward had a miscarriage this past week.. really sad, so we went by and left a card saying that we loved them, and hope everything was good type of thing.. they showed up the next day to church, and said there thanks to us, that it meant a lot.. just neat little experiences..\
We haven't been finding, but the pool of investigators that we do have are pretty solid.. we have the potential for 3-4 more baptismal dates that could happen this coming week.. really excited about it.. if my companion and I are really dilligent and on top of things, I know that it will happen.. I just have felt that it will.. now the hard part is being dilligent, and doing the little things to keep in contact with these people!
I'll tell you a little about Spijkennisse now.. we actually don't live in Spijk.. we live in a city across the river called hoogvliet.. and the elders to Rotterdam south also live in that apartment.. oh man.. it's a party.. the oldest one (mission wise) is Elder Bjork, and he's on his 7th transfer.. I'm the second oldest on my 6th.. my companion is on his 5th and the other one is on his 3rd.. so a really young apartment.. but it's a blast, I love these guys! It's a really goofy apartment too.. it seems like were always laughing and joking about something.. were saying that this apartment would be a perfect "missionary sitcom" =P
But yeah so we live in hoogvliet and we have to travel over a huge river every day to enter Spijk.. just an outside town, doesn't have any history or anything.. but there's other awesome little towns in our area that have a lot of history.. the area that I am in now is the most dense in terms of members, there's 3 wards around here, two in rotterdam and then spijk.. so it's cool to be more in the thick of things than in the middle of no where in heerlen..
But everything is good.. I said last week that the apartment had decided and were determined to do dutch week.. well.. we got to friday night.. it's difficult.. man.. but we almost did it! We just kind of got burned out.. but it was the best attempt of dutch week I've ever had on my mission, so next transfer I'm excited for dutch week! (at the start of each new transfer, the first week is dedicated as dutch week)
Oh yeah.. so now that I'm back up here in the heart of the Netherlands, people are telling me once again, that i pronounce my name wrong.. really interesting, at church I introduce myself to people, and I say my name.. they look shocked at first then théý'll get really close and look at my name badge, and say "oh! It's MohrmAAn, not "Mormon".. To which I respond, "Well no.. ít's pronounced Mormon" and they'll actually try and argue with me.. amazing.. got to experience it I guess to understand ha ha
Well I guess were going to go to some zoo with a bunch of other missionary's.. so I gotta go.. Love you all, and thanks so much for all the emails, I love hearing about everyone, and yeah.. Doei! Tot Ziens, tot de volgende week! Ik verwach uitstekend emailen van jullie voor de volgende week!
Ik hou van jullie!
Elder Mohrman
Monday, June 13, 2011
Monday June 13
Don't have much time so I'm skimming the emails from this week.. we are at a member's house because all the stores and shops are closed for second pentecost day? Never heard about it before but it's a holiday here, and the dutch are fanatical when it's a holiday, everything shuts down... kinda like jerusalem on there sabbath.. dutch is different.. there's definitely a difference between the dutch culture and American culture.. one that you just have to experience.. but were doing a dutch week this week.. nothing but dutch, and all 4 of us have really commited to do so.. i'm excited.. already learning a lot.. and praying lot naturally ;) Church was interesting.. it'd be so easy to not like an area, but i've noticed that it doesn't have to be that way, so i've made a personal goal to make this area just as great and memorable or better than my time in Heerlen.. if I'm trying to make it awesome, it should make things better right? ;) My simple reasonings.. okay, Love you all again I really don't have much time.
So yeah.. these emails is really the only thing I need in the box.. and snack food.. i noticed that the other day.. I didn't have any more snack food! and sweeter snack food.. if that makes sense.. so combos.. maybe laffy taffy's.. ;)
Can't wait til next week!
Love, your son, Elder Mohrman
So yeah.. these emails is really the only thing I need in the box.. and snack food.. i noticed that the other day.. I didn't have any more snack food! and sweeter snack food.. if that makes sense.. so combos.. maybe laffy taffy's.. ;)
Can't wait til next week!
Love, your son, Elder Mohrman
Monday, June 6, 2011
Heerlen... Last Week =0
Hoi Familie!
The adventure in Heerlen is coming to a close. And what a fun adventure it has been! I had a lot of mixed feelings going into Sunday, the day we find out about transfers. At the beginning of the week, things were going slow, our most positive investigators were dropping off the face of the earth, and I just really felt like it was my time to go! As the week went on however, we had some amazing appointments and re-contacted most of our investigators, with the peak coming yesterday, hearing that Rick (the american referral, who was anti-ed) had convinced the lady (who had antied him) to listen to us. And we should be having our first appointment with him hopefully tonight. Also made contact and made strides with other families that we were teaching, so going into Sunday, I didn't want to leave this place! It was back on fire.. things were going great with the companion, with investigators.. but while I was on the phone talking with some members about Rick actually last night, My president called and gave the news that I am indeed being transferred. I'm headed to Spijkenisse? No idea how you spell it, but it's a suberb of Rotterdam, which is more known. My companion is going to be Elder Davies, who is going to be going on his 5th transfer, so.. I'm going to be a senior companion for the first time on my mission! Crazy huh? I'm excited I know Elder Davies from the MTC, and I've been on a couple of exchanges with him when I was serving in Den Haag. I'm looking forward to this transfer, it's going to be definitely interesting.. Get out of my american bubble i've been in here in Heerlen and back into the world of Dutch!! I've really enjoyed my time in Heerlen like i've said.. the people here are amazing.. Calling the members back who I was on the phone with at the time Pres. called. They invited us over to have dinner and ice cream tonight to say goodbye.. so that will be fun..
Concerning Lilian, her baptism did not go through sad to say, she called the day before her interview and told us she wasn't ready.. not yet.. she is still going to come to church and investigate, but she said that it was too fast, and she needed more time to prepare.. but to be honest, I feel it's what''s best is for her. She'll be able to now have more time to read the Book of mormon, and to build relationships with the ward.. I was going to be the one to actually baptize her.. so obviously I can't now, but I'm looking forward to hearing when she finally does get baptized. Keep praying for her ;)
Well the next couple of days are going to be a lot of good byes.. to investigators, and too members. But last week for p-day which was kind of fun and interesting, after emailing you all, me and my companion decided to take an adventure and we biked to the three land point of germany, netherlands, and belgium.. I repeat we BIKED there.. about 15 or so miles there.. (hilly country mind you) then as the 3 land point is on a massive hill, we did a lot of mountain biking on trails.. thought of Mitch, he would of been proud =) and then we rode back.. so all in all I would say we did a good 35 to 40 MILES of biking last monday...what an adventure.. I'll have to tell you more about it sometime ;) But because of that and other fun stuff we've been doing on P-days, I've had no time to write letters.. so if you've written me a letter, I would just ask for patience with me! I'll try to get them out as soon as possible!! I haven't forgotten or ignoring you!
But I think that's about it.. my new address is
saffraanstraat 261
3193 XK hoogvliet
netherlands
So.. yeah.. thank you all for the emails.. they were wonderful.. and love you all!
-Elder Mohrman
The adventure in Heerlen is coming to a close. And what a fun adventure it has been! I had a lot of mixed feelings going into Sunday, the day we find out about transfers. At the beginning of the week, things were going slow, our most positive investigators were dropping off the face of the earth, and I just really felt like it was my time to go! As the week went on however, we had some amazing appointments and re-contacted most of our investigators, with the peak coming yesterday, hearing that Rick (the american referral, who was anti-ed) had convinced the lady (who had antied him) to listen to us. And we should be having our first appointment with him hopefully tonight. Also made contact and made strides with other families that we were teaching, so going into Sunday, I didn't want to leave this place! It was back on fire.. things were going great with the companion, with investigators.. but while I was on the phone talking with some members about Rick actually last night, My president called and gave the news that I am indeed being transferred. I'm headed to Spijkenisse? No idea how you spell it, but it's a suberb of Rotterdam, which is more known. My companion is going to be Elder Davies, who is going to be going on his 5th transfer, so.. I'm going to be a senior companion for the first time on my mission! Crazy huh? I'm excited I know Elder Davies from the MTC, and I've been on a couple of exchanges with him when I was serving in Den Haag. I'm looking forward to this transfer, it's going to be definitely interesting.. Get out of my american bubble i've been in here in Heerlen and back into the world of Dutch!! I've really enjoyed my time in Heerlen like i've said.. the people here are amazing.. Calling the members back who I was on the phone with at the time Pres. called. They invited us over to have dinner and ice cream tonight to say goodbye.. so that will be fun..
Concerning Lilian, her baptism did not go through sad to say, she called the day before her interview and told us she wasn't ready.. not yet.. she is still going to come to church and investigate, but she said that it was too fast, and she needed more time to prepare.. but to be honest, I feel it's what''s best is for her. She'll be able to now have more time to read the Book of mormon, and to build relationships with the ward.. I was going to be the one to actually baptize her.. so obviously I can't now, but I'm looking forward to hearing when she finally does get baptized. Keep praying for her ;)
Well the next couple of days are going to be a lot of good byes.. to investigators, and too members. But last week for p-day which was kind of fun and interesting, after emailing you all, me and my companion decided to take an adventure and we biked to the three land point of germany, netherlands, and belgium.. I repeat we BIKED there.. about 15 or so miles there.. (hilly country mind you) then as the 3 land point is on a massive hill, we did a lot of mountain biking on trails.. thought of Mitch, he would of been proud =) and then we rode back.. so all in all I would say we did a good 35 to 40 MILES of biking last monday...what an adventure.. I'll have to tell you more about it sometime ;) But because of that and other fun stuff we've been doing on P-days, I've had no time to write letters.. so if you've written me a letter, I would just ask for patience with me! I'll try to get them out as soon as possible!! I haven't forgotten or ignoring you!
But I think that's about it.. my new address is
saffraanstraat 261
3193 XK hoogvliet
netherlands
So.. yeah.. thank you all for the emails.. they were wonderful.. and love you all!
-Elder Mohrman
Monday, May 30, 2011
May 30th
(Note: the first line is in reference to last week when Elder Mohrman asked teasingly, whose email will we open up first now that his sister is also on a mission and entered the MTC this week. I replied it depends how he looks at it as she will be in the Philippines and so a day ahead so we will get her emails on Sunday and his on Monday. So he was told that he could view it as we read his first and then six days later read hers or we read hers first and then his the next day...)
hoi family!
I think I"m going to look at it that you read my email first, and then after six days of pondering over my experiences and stories then you'll be ready to read stefi's.. =D Ha ha Nah Just kidding.. That's exciting for her, I'm glad she has a big group. She'll really enjoy it.. I don't know how much she would have enjoyed being in a situation like I was in.. but I can see that situation I was in was perfect for me, for my growth and the situation stefi is in is perfect for her and her personal growth.. Interesting how people need different things ;) I hope that my few thoughts were appreciated by her..I just feel sometimes to share stuff with the family, and so I do.. If Icould, I'd go back to the MTC, and so I just really wanted to let Stefi know the amazingness of the MTC, because so many missionary's elders and sisters, they don't appreciate it while there there.. That's awesome your reading the New Testament the way you are.. I just finished the book of mormon.. and now I've committed myself to read all the other standard works.. starting with the New Testament, and then Doctrine and Covenants and then I'll tackle the Old Testament.. but I really want to read all the scriptures on my mission..
It'll be fun to be able to share our thoughts to each other as we read the New Testament at the same time! =)
I am learning more and more about the importance of communication. Missions are a great way to learn about patience and working with people. I can't be like I was back home and let people stew and not talk to them about problems.. problems just don't go away with time..and so they need to be addressed sooner than later.. these are good lessons.. If there's just communication with investigators, members and even companions, then things can always be so much better..
I am hoping to be moving on this next transfer so I can work on Dutch more but I am excited to think that I will end with a baptism! It's been so neat to see the progression of Lilian, from coming only for one hour to church, then to two hours the next sunday, and then to all of church.. to now this past sunday she even wore a skirt! Her prayers are night and day difference, she prays to the father in the name of Jesus now.. and it was neat to see that progression.. she's an interesting lady and definitely a blessing for me.
Also last thing, yesterday for memorial day, we were able to go to margratten or to an american world war 2 cemetary.. the biggest in the netherlands.. and you know it's the classic row upon row of white crosses..but they had a ceremony there, and it was huge thousands of people, it was just neat to be apart of and witness.. made me think how these young americans came over to liberate the dutch from physical oppression, and now here I and the other missionary's, young americans come over to free this people from a spiritual bondage.. kind of a neat thought..
I recieved the packages.. THANK YOU SO MUCH!!
I have a lessen with Lilian actually in five minutes so don't have time to write more.. I appreciate everyone’s thoughts..I do want to hear more about people’s missions though.. mom got out her journals and I've committed her to read through them again and share stories with me.. I'd love for others to do the same.. so.. that would mean a lot!
Ik hou van jullie gezichten! (I love ya'll faces!)
Your coolest missionary... son =)
Elder Mohrman
hoi family!
I think I"m going to look at it that you read my email first, and then after six days of pondering over my experiences and stories then you'll be ready to read stefi's.. =D Ha ha Nah Just kidding.. That's exciting for her, I'm glad she has a big group. She'll really enjoy it.. I don't know how much she would have enjoyed being in a situation like I was in.. but I can see that situation I was in was perfect for me, for my growth and the situation stefi is in is perfect for her and her personal growth.. Interesting how people need different things ;) I hope that my few thoughts were appreciated by her..I just feel sometimes to share stuff with the family, and so I do.. If Icould, I'd go back to the MTC, and so I just really wanted to let Stefi know the amazingness of the MTC, because so many missionary's elders and sisters, they don't appreciate it while there there.. That's awesome your reading the New Testament the way you are.. I just finished the book of mormon.. and now I've committed myself to read all the other standard works.. starting with the New Testament, and then Doctrine and Covenants and then I'll tackle the Old Testament.. but I really want to read all the scriptures on my mission..
It'll be fun to be able to share our thoughts to each other as we read the New Testament at the same time! =)
I am learning more and more about the importance of communication. Missions are a great way to learn about patience and working with people. I can't be like I was back home and let people stew and not talk to them about problems.. problems just don't go away with time..and so they need to be addressed sooner than later.. these are good lessons.. If there's just communication with investigators, members and even companions, then things can always be so much better..
I am hoping to be moving on this next transfer so I can work on Dutch more but I am excited to think that I will end with a baptism! It's been so neat to see the progression of Lilian, from coming only for one hour to church, then to two hours the next sunday, and then to all of church.. to now this past sunday she even wore a skirt! Her prayers are night and day difference, she prays to the father in the name of Jesus now.. and it was neat to see that progression.. she's an interesting lady and definitely a blessing for me.
Also last thing, yesterday for memorial day, we were able to go to margratten or to an american world war 2 cemetary.. the biggest in the netherlands.. and you know it's the classic row upon row of white crosses..but they had a ceremony there, and it was huge thousands of people, it was just neat to be apart of and witness.. made me think how these young americans came over to liberate the dutch from physical oppression, and now here I and the other missionary's, young americans come over to free this people from a spiritual bondage.. kind of a neat thought..
I recieved the packages.. THANK YOU SO MUCH!!
I have a lessen with Lilian actually in five minutes so don't have time to write more.. I appreciate everyone’s thoughts..I do want to hear more about people’s missions though.. mom got out her journals and I've committed her to read through them again and share stories with me.. I'd love for others to do the same.. so.. that would mean a lot!
Ik hou van jullie gezichten! (I love ya'll faces!)
Your coolest missionary... son =)
Elder Mohrman
Monday, May 23, 2011
May 23rd
Hoi Familie!
Another week... I'll get straight to our investigators here, Lilian came to church again, this time stayed for all three hours, and even stayed for the Potluck they call it lunch afterwards.. really sweet, she's made progress every week, and it's awesome to be able to see and witness that. In sunday for Sacrament meeting, there were 4 speakers and they all took a different commandment.. we havenn't talked about commandements yet with LIlian but she got bombarded with Word of Wisdom, Law of Chasity, Tithing, and fasting all on sunday! She didn't say anything about it.. so I suppose all is good with her?! ha ha it was interesting We were expecting a few other investigators in church, but they didn't end up showing.. I wonder now after the fact if it was a good thing they didn't show up! Get everything all at once ha ha.. but no it was kind of dissapointing.. we have a young couple as investigators and I was praying and planning and thinking of ways to get this couple to church.. even went to there house saturday night as a suprise visit to get them to church and we got a soft commitment that "they would probably come".. they didn't obviously so a little dissapointing.. but it's okay, because at ward council the first part of there meeting was all about our investigators and a game plan on how to fellowship them and get them to church.. That was awesome.. We weren't even there.. but it's really nice to have the ward working so hard with us for these investigators. That doesn't happen too much.. As for Rick.. he also didn't come to church, he was on fire and was thinking of people to invite to church with him.. the people that he decided on however anti-ed him.. told him we were a cult and bla bla bla.. and so he didn't come, and he's still in contact with the family from church.. so hope is not lost, but he got bombarded by adversity this past week.. rough.. won't answer our calls, so we have to rely on the member to be able to get another appointment with him and hopefully help him out. Oh and Lilian is from Aruba, and I learned from her that Netherlands is the official language there! That's Surniame and now Aruba and a couple other Islands.. I'm thinking future vacation spots for sure.. =)
Hit another wall with Language.. pretty frustrating, but i've been taking all my free time in the morning and at night in studying the language.. Don't know why learning a language has to be so hard.. can't it just be simple? Come naturally.. something like that.. but alas it doesn't.. just have the comfort that it does eventually come!
Me and my companion it seems like we've run into and talked to many different people who do many different things.. Só i've made a sort of bucket list.. of things I want to do when I get back from things that i"ve observed over here. It seem like every couple of days the list just keeps growing and growing.. one of them was to become a good cook! And i'm been expermenting while i've been over here.. starting to use spices when I cook meat.. and though it may sound simple and is simple for all you natural cooks, that's a huge step for me!! =P
But no.. all is good.. we have a couple other potentials that we found this past week that we will be looking up, and if you all could just keep Lilian and Rick, and our other investigators in your prayers that would be great ;)
Love you all, and thanks for the emails..
Tot de volgende week! I just have to wonder.. who's email will you all read first.. mine.. or the bugs? =P ha ha
Elder Mohrman
Another week... I'll get straight to our investigators here, Lilian came to church again, this time stayed for all three hours, and even stayed for the Potluck they call it lunch afterwards.. really sweet, she's made progress every week, and it's awesome to be able to see and witness that. In sunday for Sacrament meeting, there were 4 speakers and they all took a different commandment.. we havenn't talked about commandements yet with LIlian but she got bombarded with Word of Wisdom, Law of Chasity, Tithing, and fasting all on sunday! She didn't say anything about it.. so I suppose all is good with her?! ha ha it was interesting We were expecting a few other investigators in church, but they didn't end up showing.. I wonder now after the fact if it was a good thing they didn't show up! Get everything all at once ha ha.. but no it was kind of dissapointing.. we have a young couple as investigators and I was praying and planning and thinking of ways to get this couple to church.. even went to there house saturday night as a suprise visit to get them to church and we got a soft commitment that "they would probably come".. they didn't obviously so a little dissapointing.. but it's okay, because at ward council the first part of there meeting was all about our investigators and a game plan on how to fellowship them and get them to church.. That was awesome.. We weren't even there.. but it's really nice to have the ward working so hard with us for these investigators. That doesn't happen too much.. As for Rick.. he also didn't come to church, he was on fire and was thinking of people to invite to church with him.. the people that he decided on however anti-ed him.. told him we were a cult and bla bla bla.. and so he didn't come, and he's still in contact with the family from church.. so hope is not lost, but he got bombarded by adversity this past week.. rough.. won't answer our calls, so we have to rely on the member to be able to get another appointment with him and hopefully help him out. Oh and Lilian is from Aruba, and I learned from her that Netherlands is the official language there! That's Surniame and now Aruba and a couple other Islands.. I'm thinking future vacation spots for sure.. =)
Hit another wall with Language.. pretty frustrating, but i've been taking all my free time in the morning and at night in studying the language.. Don't know why learning a language has to be so hard.. can't it just be simple? Come naturally.. something like that.. but alas it doesn't.. just have the comfort that it does eventually come!
Me and my companion it seems like we've run into and talked to many different people who do many different things.. Só i've made a sort of bucket list.. of things I want to do when I get back from things that i"ve observed over here. It seem like every couple of days the list just keeps growing and growing.. one of them was to become a good cook! And i'm been expermenting while i've been over here.. starting to use spices when I cook meat.. and though it may sound simple and is simple for all you natural cooks, that's a huge step for me!! =P
But no.. all is good.. we have a couple other potentials that we found this past week that we will be looking up, and if you all could just keep Lilian and Rick, and our other investigators in your prayers that would be great ;)
Love you all, and thanks for the emails..
Tot de volgende week! I just have to wonder.. who's email will you all read first.. mine.. or the bugs? =P ha ha
Elder Mohrman
Monday, May 16, 2011
May 16th
Hoi Familie!
Kind of a strange different week this week. Felt long and slow because I was sick at the beginning of it, and then we traveled a lot as well. Had odds and ends things that we needed to do as well, but it was good, saw some pretty neat miracles this past week. Liliana we set a baptismal date with on saturday. It's for the 4th of June.. and she came again to church.. she's a shy lady, and she really only feels comfortable around us, and the first sunday she only came to the first hour, this sunday she stayed for the second as well.. which was good because she got to meet a few people in the ward and talk with them. So next week we hope she'll come firstly but then stay for all three hours.. Relief Society would be great for her.
She's the fourth baptismal date I've set during my time in Heerlen. As you know none of them have gone through, but I'm sure hoping she does.. She needs it more than anyone just with her history and what has recently happened to her... so please continue to pray for her!
We also had a dinner appointment yesterday with an awesome american family, and the mother took a co-worker to church and then to the dinner appointment, we talked to the guy for a few hours and watched prophet of the restoration with him.. It was a neat appointment. And while we were there we got a call from another member saying that he has someone that he's been talking too that is almost ready to meet with us!! It's been crazy how many little miracles me and my companion have seen here. Sometimes I feel we don't really deserve it to be honest! But were being blessed a lot, and so I won't complain! =)
The american's name is rich and when we were at church during sacrament we were sitting with lilian, and I look over and sister woodbury, (woodbury's is the name of the awesome american family from before) she started beckoning me to come over because Rick (the co-worker had shown up) So I went over there and sat by him and started talking a little bit. He didn't feel comfortable staying for sunday school, so he went into the primary room with Sister Woodbury as we went to sunday school with Lilian. After that, Lilian left and we went to the primary room to get Rick to go to preisthood, but he liked it in there so we spent the 3rd hour in primary! Crazy, haven't been in primary in a long long time.. but it was fun, it was a neat expirience. The adults in there were great, and while the kids were doing activities they were just making Rick feel at home. At the dinner appiontment, we were joking around about how he would be a perfect primary teacher.. ha ha hopefully we'll meet with him again soon.. the guy is loaded and he has like a 18 bedroom house here in the area, and he lives alone.. drives a really sweet car, the newest edition of a charger.. so really interesting.. he was also an actor way back when and is really good friends with the person who directed the movie "twilight"and also "jesse" from Full- house.. interesting huh?
well those were the highlights of the week, had some really good food, one dish was from a suriname lady, it was fried bananas with fish =0 and this salad thing.. interesting meal most greasiest thing I've ever eaten I think.. and also I can't beleive how much fish I've eaten while i've been here.. and I have to be honest, it's not too bad.. maybe the fish in Utah just is horrible, and real fish doesn't taste that bad? I dunno.. maybe it's just the people cooking the meals ha ha
But anyways, hope all is well, love you loads,
Tot de volgende week!
Elder Joseph V. Mohrman
Kind of a strange different week this week. Felt long and slow because I was sick at the beginning of it, and then we traveled a lot as well. Had odds and ends things that we needed to do as well, but it was good, saw some pretty neat miracles this past week. Liliana we set a baptismal date with on saturday. It's for the 4th of June.. and she came again to church.. she's a shy lady, and she really only feels comfortable around us, and the first sunday she only came to the first hour, this sunday she stayed for the second as well.. which was good because she got to meet a few people in the ward and talk with them. So next week we hope she'll come firstly but then stay for all three hours.. Relief Society would be great for her.
She's the fourth baptismal date I've set during my time in Heerlen. As you know none of them have gone through, but I'm sure hoping she does.. She needs it more than anyone just with her history and what has recently happened to her... so please continue to pray for her!
We also had a dinner appointment yesterday with an awesome american family, and the mother took a co-worker to church and then to the dinner appointment, we talked to the guy for a few hours and watched prophet of the restoration with him.. It was a neat appointment. And while we were there we got a call from another member saying that he has someone that he's been talking too that is almost ready to meet with us!! It's been crazy how many little miracles me and my companion have seen here. Sometimes I feel we don't really deserve it to be honest! But were being blessed a lot, and so I won't complain! =)
The american's name is rich and when we were at church during sacrament we were sitting with lilian, and I look over and sister woodbury, (woodbury's is the name of the awesome american family from before) she started beckoning me to come over because Rick (the co-worker had shown up) So I went over there and sat by him and started talking a little bit. He didn't feel comfortable staying for sunday school, so he went into the primary room with Sister Woodbury as we went to sunday school with Lilian. After that, Lilian left and we went to the primary room to get Rick to go to preisthood, but he liked it in there so we spent the 3rd hour in primary! Crazy, haven't been in primary in a long long time.. but it was fun, it was a neat expirience. The adults in there were great, and while the kids were doing activities they were just making Rick feel at home. At the dinner appiontment, we were joking around about how he would be a perfect primary teacher.. ha ha hopefully we'll meet with him again soon.. the guy is loaded and he has like a 18 bedroom house here in the area, and he lives alone.. drives a really sweet car, the newest edition of a charger.. so really interesting.. he was also an actor way back when and is really good friends with the person who directed the movie "twilight"and also "jesse" from Full- house.. interesting huh?
well those were the highlights of the week, had some really good food, one dish was from a suriname lady, it was fried bananas with fish =0 and this salad thing.. interesting meal most greasiest thing I've ever eaten I think.. and also I can't beleive how much fish I've eaten while i've been here.. and I have to be honest, it's not too bad.. maybe the fish in Utah just is horrible, and real fish doesn't taste that bad? I dunno.. maybe it's just the people cooking the meals ha ha
But anyways, hope all is well, love you loads,
Tot de volgende week!
Elder Joseph V. Mohrman
Monday, May 9, 2011
May 9th 2011
Hoi Familie!
Just like what you all expressed in your emails, it was really great to be able to talk with you all. Kinda sad that it's over! That hour flew by! You all sounded just how I remembered.. crazy huh? ;)
I was just happy I was able to make it through the call, I've been battleing with this virus for the past two weeks, and it got me last night.. threw up in the middle of the night. . oh man not fun! But hey such is life.. good thing it's P-day, can take it really easy =P
Liliana the lady that we met on saturday, and then who came to church yesterday, called us again today and we were able to meet with her right before this at the church. Really neat. We watched "To this end was I born" and just shared our testimony about how Jesus Christ is how we find peace and rest of soul. That he is the only person that truly understands us, and can help us. Felt like it was a good lessen.. It was great because My companion and I were on the same page, we had planned on watching another movie with her one about the restoration, but we both felt something about Jesus Christ would be better for her.. She's amazing.. still don't know quite what to think about her.. since she came into the scene so fast. I explained breifly her story over the phone, but I'll give you more detail.
We were walking doing a consecrated hour, and we were walking by her, when she asked if we were from the church, and if we could pray for her.. she said she had a lot of pain and sadness in her life, she just seperated with her man after finding out that he had been cheating on her.. and her daughter chose to believe the guy rather than her, so she is going through some real heavy stuff. We were in the middle of a parking lot of a grocery store, so we walked over to some trees away from everyone else, and she's talking a mile a minute about her life and about her situation, and I'm just feeling we should give her a blessing, well then áfter talking with us and spilling her life to us for about 5 minutes, she asked when we have church service, we told her tomorrow at ten.. said she wanted to and will come and also that she wanted to be baptized, and asking how we baptize in our church and how long it takes to be baptized.. wow.. at this point I couldn't decide if she's crazy or not.. but one thing led to another and we said we could walk to our church since it wasn't far, and pray there for her.. so we walk to the church, my comp made some lemonade for her, we gave her a blessing.. and a church tour.. asked us again when she can be baptized.. we said we have to teach her first about our church and doctrine, and she has to come to the church 3 times. So she said she'd come, and she did the next day.. stayed for sacrament meeting, which was powerful because it was mother's day and the primary sung a mother's day song and what not.. she had to go after sacrament, but we set up another appointment, and then our appointment today was a suprise.. so pretty neat.. she literallly came out of nowhere asking to be baptized.. don't know what's going to happen, she's going through a mid-life crisis so don't know if she's all there... pretty neat that we've been given this opportunity to try and help this woman.
Another positive investigator we have is from bejing, china.. we met her on the street, and had a church tour with her and watched the restoration dvd.. our joint teach was a chinese guy around the same age, and it was a really powerful lessen as well.. I love teaching people that ahve no background with god.. and seeing them feel the spirit for the first time.. anyways she said she wants to learn more.. not so sure on baptism because she doesn't know what her family will say..(there in the government =0) but she definitely wants to learn more..
Those are probably the two most positive people that we have so far, but we also have other families that I wish I had more time to share with you all ;)
Love you all.. I pray for you guys always, and thanks so much for being a support for me ;)
--Elder Joseph V. Mohrman
Just like what you all expressed in your emails, it was really great to be able to talk with you all. Kinda sad that it's over! That hour flew by! You all sounded just how I remembered.. crazy huh? ;)
I was just happy I was able to make it through the call, I've been battleing with this virus for the past two weeks, and it got me last night.. threw up in the middle of the night. . oh man not fun! But hey such is life.. good thing it's P-day, can take it really easy =P
Liliana the lady that we met on saturday, and then who came to church yesterday, called us again today and we were able to meet with her right before this at the church. Really neat. We watched "To this end was I born" and just shared our testimony about how Jesus Christ is how we find peace and rest of soul. That he is the only person that truly understands us, and can help us. Felt like it was a good lessen.. It was great because My companion and I were on the same page, we had planned on watching another movie with her one about the restoration, but we both felt something about Jesus Christ would be better for her.. She's amazing.. still don't know quite what to think about her.. since she came into the scene so fast. I explained breifly her story over the phone, but I'll give you more detail.
We were walking doing a consecrated hour, and we were walking by her, when she asked if we were from the church, and if we could pray for her.. she said she had a lot of pain and sadness in her life, she just seperated with her man after finding out that he had been cheating on her.. and her daughter chose to believe the guy rather than her, so she is going through some real heavy stuff. We were in the middle of a parking lot of a grocery store, so we walked over to some trees away from everyone else, and she's talking a mile a minute about her life and about her situation, and I'm just feeling we should give her a blessing, well then áfter talking with us and spilling her life to us for about 5 minutes, she asked when we have church service, we told her tomorrow at ten.. said she wanted to and will come and also that she wanted to be baptized, and asking how we baptize in our church and how long it takes to be baptized.. wow.. at this point I couldn't decide if she's crazy or not.. but one thing led to another and we said we could walk to our church since it wasn't far, and pray there for her.. so we walk to the church, my comp made some lemonade for her, we gave her a blessing.. and a church tour.. asked us again when she can be baptized.. we said we have to teach her first about our church and doctrine, and she has to come to the church 3 times. So she said she'd come, and she did the next day.. stayed for sacrament meeting, which was powerful because it was mother's day and the primary sung a mother's day song and what not.. she had to go after sacrament, but we set up another appointment, and then our appointment today was a suprise.. so pretty neat.. she literallly came out of nowhere asking to be baptized.. don't know what's going to happen, she's going through a mid-life crisis so don't know if she's all there... pretty neat that we've been given this opportunity to try and help this woman.
Another positive investigator we have is from bejing, china.. we met her on the street, and had a church tour with her and watched the restoration dvd.. our joint teach was a chinese guy around the same age, and it was a really powerful lessen as well.. I love teaching people that ahve no background with god.. and seeing them feel the spirit for the first time.. anyways she said she wants to learn more.. not so sure on baptism because she doesn't know what her family will say..(there in the government =0) but she definitely wants to learn more..
Those are probably the two most positive people that we have so far, but we also have other families that I wish I had more time to share with you all ;)
Love you all.. I pray for you guys always, and thanks so much for being a support for me ;)
--Elder Joseph V. Mohrman
Monday, April 25, 2011
I'm stayin! Heerlen for at least one more transfer.. week 12 I believe in Heerlen
Hoi familie!
So you got an email saying the mission office and home have been moved, that is true.. it's crazy we found out about transfers yesterday and the whole mission is changing pretty much.. Where assistants and zone leaders are have all changed.. so it was fun to call around and here the different news.. me.. I'm staying. 3rd transfer it will be in Heerlen, I'm excited about it, I love this place, and it's really beautiful.. the ward is amazing.. I love the ward, every week I'm just becoming closer and closer with people here. Elder Mickelsen however is going away, he as been upgraded from District Leader to a big bad Zone Leader! It was pretty fun to see his face has he got the call.. he was pretty shocked. It was a good transfer with him, we worked hard. We had a lot of ups and downs missionary work wise.. had 2 baptismal dates that we set drop us after a couple days.. Karel at the beginning and then another one this past week.. kind of a bummer.. also a lot of investigators drop us for different reasons.. but we saw miracles in other ways, even though we kept being dropped we kept finding new people.. and so we've constantly stayed busy.. the biggest miracle for us came yesterday at church.. a couple of less-actives showed up to church that we had no idea were coming.. one we had a dinner appointment on saturday with, and I asked her if she would come to church, and she told me she couldn't.. but then she came.. and she said that she wanted to surprise me.. oh man, it was such a good feeling to see her at church.. We also had a less active who we met randomly on the street.. he came up to us and started talking saying he was baptized a couple years ago, but he went inactive because he got back into drugs that sort of thing.. but he wanted to meet with us and we've tried a couple times going over to his house to no avail.. but then he showed up at church too.. True miracles, and a really good way to end the transfer.. although number wise it will never show how good and amazing it really was.. My new companion is named Elder Leash I believe? Don't know much about him.. so it'll be fun.. I hope.. but yeah, this last week was pretty good, like I said last week We got to go to the temple on tuesday.. it was interesting.. did the endowment in dutch.. but it was just good to be back at the house of the lord.. after the temple we went to the famous keukenhof.. where it's world renown for it's flower gardens.. don't think I've ever taken so many photos of flowers in my life.. but hey it was for memories.. maybe the girls will find them pretty or something.. =P
Here is the new address to the mission..
De Kerk van Jezus Christus
van de Heiligen der Laatste Dagen
Schipholweg, 66
2316 XE
Leiden, Netherlands
So yesterday after church we went to a awesome family's house for Easter Dinner.. we had ham, and funeral potatoes.. and just a classic american meal.. the family is graet, they let us make a grocery list of american items we miss the most, and there going to go shoppping and buy them for us.. hmm.. well don't have to much else to share this week.. wish you all the best, excited to be able to talk to you guys on the phone on mother's day!! =)
Love you all, and thanks for all your emails and support, you guys mean the world to me.
Elder Joseph V. Mohrman
So you got an email saying the mission office and home have been moved, that is true.. it's crazy we found out about transfers yesterday and the whole mission is changing pretty much.. Where assistants and zone leaders are have all changed.. so it was fun to call around and here the different news.. me.. I'm staying. 3rd transfer it will be in Heerlen, I'm excited about it, I love this place, and it's really beautiful.. the ward is amazing.. I love the ward, every week I'm just becoming closer and closer with people here. Elder Mickelsen however is going away, he as been upgraded from District Leader to a big bad Zone Leader! It was pretty fun to see his face has he got the call.. he was pretty shocked. It was a good transfer with him, we worked hard. We had a lot of ups and downs missionary work wise.. had 2 baptismal dates that we set drop us after a couple days.. Karel at the beginning and then another one this past week.. kind of a bummer.. also a lot of investigators drop us for different reasons.. but we saw miracles in other ways, even though we kept being dropped we kept finding new people.. and so we've constantly stayed busy.. the biggest miracle for us came yesterday at church.. a couple of less-actives showed up to church that we had no idea were coming.. one we had a dinner appointment on saturday with, and I asked her if she would come to church, and she told me she couldn't.. but then she came.. and she said that she wanted to surprise me.. oh man, it was such a good feeling to see her at church.. We also had a less active who we met randomly on the street.. he came up to us and started talking saying he was baptized a couple years ago, but he went inactive because he got back into drugs that sort of thing.. but he wanted to meet with us and we've tried a couple times going over to his house to no avail.. but then he showed up at church too.. True miracles, and a really good way to end the transfer.. although number wise it will never show how good and amazing it really was.. My new companion is named Elder Leash I believe? Don't know much about him.. so it'll be fun.. I hope.. but yeah, this last week was pretty good, like I said last week We got to go to the temple on tuesday.. it was interesting.. did the endowment in dutch.. but it was just good to be back at the house of the lord.. after the temple we went to the famous keukenhof.. where it's world renown for it's flower gardens.. don't think I've ever taken so many photos of flowers in my life.. but hey it was for memories.. maybe the girls will find them pretty or something.. =P
Here is the new address to the mission..
De Kerk van Jezus Christus
van de Heiligen der Laatste Dagen
Schipholweg, 66
2316 XE
Leiden, Netherlands
So yesterday after church we went to a awesome family's house for Easter Dinner.. we had ham, and funeral potatoes.. and just a classic american meal.. the family is graet, they let us make a grocery list of american items we miss the most, and there going to go shoppping and buy them for us.. hmm.. well don't have to much else to share this week.. wish you all the best, excited to be able to talk to you guys on the phone on mother's day!! =)
Love you all, and thanks for all your emails and support, you guys mean the world to me.
Elder Joseph V. Mohrman
Monday, April 18, 2011
Heelen! Week after last...
Hoi Familie!
So today is monday.. but.. no p-day... Yup, our P-day has been changed due to the fact we will be going to the Temple this Week! Really excited.. I'll be there tomorrow.. so my long temple drought of I don''t want to think of how long will finally be over.. sweet. I knew this has been coming for a few months now and as it's been coming closer and closer the excitement and my thoughts keep going back to temples.. President Monson's talk this last conference on temples, I really really enjoyed.. The temple is an amazing place. I've only been a handful of times and yet.. I dunno.. just hard to explain.. I miss it.. so I'm glad to be going back. My companion and I have been going through the area book, there's three different ones in Heerlen, and some of them are really old dating back to 2003! And we've been having success in finding people.. going through and calling them up, or even going to there houses, and making appointments.. we've met some interesting people these past few weeks doing that. This past week a few days ago I forget what day exactly, We visited this lady who was taught maybe 3-4 years ago? But we talked with this lady on her door, and her background is muslim, but she had a rotten marriage with a muslim man, and so divorced him.. she then fell in love with a person from suriname who was catholic.. her family freaked out! disowned her and what not.. So the idea of "groups" or organized religion doesn't appeal to her at all.. but on the flip side she is respectful and beleives in listening to people and hearing people out, as long as they show the same respect to her.. she had some really good points about life and religion.. she said that if she wanted to talk to her god, she can do it wherever she wants.. in her car, at home, doesn't need to have a set place or way of talking to god.. we agree! She also asked us, some interesting questions, she asked us that if we fell in love with a muslim girl.. who didn't share our belief.. would we marry her? Or could we not look past the muslim in her.. From her background it was a very honest question, and a very good question.. immediately I thought about the temple.. and how I want a temple marriage.. but how do you explain that to someone with a background like she had, with all the pain she's felt due to the fact that her parents disowned her for marrying outside of there religion? I knew the answer I would give.. but didn't know how to explain it in a way that would help her understand.. it was a interesting, fun conversation.. The lady did say she would come to church and check it out.. see how were "unique" from every other christian church.. so hopefully she'll come this next week!
Talking with members here, Been able to hear many different stories about the Netherlands temple.. It seems that every temple has it's "miracle" stories. One of the members here is a temple worker and we stopped by to visit him one night, and we talked about the temple, different things that happened with the construction of the temple and what not.. So many stories that I just don't have time to share!! I guess you all will just have to be content with that there are cool stories that I've heard about it.. =)
We had stake conference this past sunday, it was in Brussels and we got to ride with a member here, he a cournel in the Air Force and actually just got stationed here a couple months ago.. Bro. Kitchen.. really neat guy, just another person on the list of amazing people I've met on my mission ;) Stake conference was fun, because a new stake presidency was organized, the old stake president was called to be an area 70 so you heard his name over general conference.. his name is hans boom.. so that was cool. But It was interesting to see the stake presidency get organized because I guess the last time I saw that happen was with Pres WIlardson.. but I don't really remember too much about it, cool to see how the church is run though.. Well.. as of missionary work here, like I said we've been going through all the old investigators.. we've also still managed to have success finding.. but yeah.. this week ended strong for me.. not going to lie I didn't have the best week this week feelings wise.. just didn't have enthusiasm, and I was sick.. so maybe that contributed to why I was thinking a lot about home and just thinking how great it would be to be able to go home for a day.. see you all.. talk to you all.. but.. I snapped out of it, with some of these neat expirences that I mentioned above.. so no worries here, back on track.. not that I was really off track.. I hope?! But anyways.. Don't know what else to write.. Shared all the neat expiriences.. umm... cool.. well thanks for all the emails.. I'm glad everything is good with everyone..(that wrote me emails at least =P ) Happy Nikki found a job.. and.. hope tiffani had a good b-day?
Love you all.. you guys mean the world to me!
Elder Joseph V. Mohrman
So today is monday.. but.. no p-day... Yup, our P-day has been changed due to the fact we will be going to the Temple this Week! Really excited.. I'll be there tomorrow.. so my long temple drought of I don''t want to think of how long will finally be over.. sweet. I knew this has been coming for a few months now and as it's been coming closer and closer the excitement and my thoughts keep going back to temples.. President Monson's talk this last conference on temples, I really really enjoyed.. The temple is an amazing place. I've only been a handful of times and yet.. I dunno.. just hard to explain.. I miss it.. so I'm glad to be going back. My companion and I have been going through the area book, there's three different ones in Heerlen, and some of them are really old dating back to 2003! And we've been having success in finding people.. going through and calling them up, or even going to there houses, and making appointments.. we've met some interesting people these past few weeks doing that. This past week a few days ago I forget what day exactly, We visited this lady who was taught maybe 3-4 years ago? But we talked with this lady on her door, and her background is muslim, but she had a rotten marriage with a muslim man, and so divorced him.. she then fell in love with a person from suriname who was catholic.. her family freaked out! disowned her and what not.. So the idea of "groups" or organized religion doesn't appeal to her at all.. but on the flip side she is respectful and beleives in listening to people and hearing people out, as long as they show the same respect to her.. she had some really good points about life and religion.. she said that if she wanted to talk to her god, she can do it wherever she wants.. in her car, at home, doesn't need to have a set place or way of talking to god.. we agree! She also asked us, some interesting questions, she asked us that if we fell in love with a muslim girl.. who didn't share our belief.. would we marry her? Or could we not look past the muslim in her.. From her background it was a very honest question, and a very good question.. immediately I thought about the temple.. and how I want a temple marriage.. but how do you explain that to someone with a background like she had, with all the pain she's felt due to the fact that her parents disowned her for marrying outside of there religion? I knew the answer I would give.. but didn't know how to explain it in a way that would help her understand.. it was a interesting, fun conversation.. The lady did say she would come to church and check it out.. see how were "unique" from every other christian church.. so hopefully she'll come this next week!
Talking with members here, Been able to hear many different stories about the Netherlands temple.. It seems that every temple has it's "miracle" stories. One of the members here is a temple worker and we stopped by to visit him one night, and we talked about the temple, different things that happened with the construction of the temple and what not.. So many stories that I just don't have time to share!! I guess you all will just have to be content with that there are cool stories that I've heard about it.. =)
We had stake conference this past sunday, it was in Brussels and we got to ride with a member here, he a cournel in the Air Force and actually just got stationed here a couple months ago.. Bro. Kitchen.. really neat guy, just another person on the list of amazing people I've met on my mission ;) Stake conference was fun, because a new stake presidency was organized, the old stake president was called to be an area 70 so you heard his name over general conference.. his name is hans boom.. so that was cool. But It was interesting to see the stake presidency get organized because I guess the last time I saw that happen was with Pres WIlardson.. but I don't really remember too much about it, cool to see how the church is run though.. Well.. as of missionary work here, like I said we've been going through all the old investigators.. we've also still managed to have success finding.. but yeah.. this week ended strong for me.. not going to lie I didn't have the best week this week feelings wise.. just didn't have enthusiasm, and I was sick.. so maybe that contributed to why I was thinking a lot about home and just thinking how great it would be to be able to go home for a day.. see you all.. talk to you all.. but.. I snapped out of it, with some of these neat expirences that I mentioned above.. so no worries here, back on track.. not that I was really off track.. I hope?! But anyways.. Don't know what else to write.. Shared all the neat expiriences.. umm... cool.. well thanks for all the emails.. I'm glad everything is good with everyone..(that wrote me emails at least =P ) Happy Nikki found a job.. and.. hope tiffani had a good b-day?
Love you all.. you guys mean the world to me!
Elder Joseph V. Mohrman
Monday, April 11, 2011
Still in Heerlen!
Hoi Familie!
What a wonderful week! At least it sure feels like that when the sun is shining every day and my companion and I don't have to wear any jackets all week! Really nice.. For a couple days we just had our white shirts on.. It's interesting because now people gap and gawk and point and laugh ten times more than they did before.. but it's okay, at least they don't think were Jehovah Witnesses anymore!! Well.. at least the smart people.. =P
So for the past few months I've been thinking that I've been getting really fat.. Thinkin' that I'm pushing 180 pds or something.. well.. I just made a really great discovery.. our scale.. is in kilos.. and so what I was seeing was actually in kilo's and I'm only 75-78 kilos.. totally misread it.. and I did the conversion, and I've actually lost weight since the MTC!!! So much stress and guilty feelings as I ate different type of foods.. so.. yeah.. I'm not fat. Maybe that should of been the title of this email =P Thought I'd share that with you so you don't think I'm turning into a whale or somethin' out here!!
We had a really good week this week.. nothing too special with progressing investigators.. but we got a lot of new potential investigators. We went to the city of Maastricht for a couple of days, (just another big city in our area) and we had a lot of good experiences.. We got contacted by a couple ladies on back to back days.. which is not really normal.. the first one is from Peru, and she just came up and started talking to us because she knew we were mormon missionary's from our white shirts and just spilled her soul to us.. talked our ears off.. but we got her number and we have an appointment with her today in fact.. the next day were in maastricht were just chilling on the water front (maastricht has a huge river that goes inbetween it) (huge tourist city also) and this lady comes up and starts talking to us and asking us who we are and what not.. turns out she's from Romania and we also have an appointment with her today.. so pretty cool.. it makes missionary work easier when people come up and talk to you! ;) We also met with a referal we got from my old companion in Den Haag.. his name is Zahng.. from china.. been living here for 10 years.. doesn't speak any english just simple simple dutch.. and we were able to communicate with him with our simple dutch.. it was neat, he bought us McDonalds.. so cool experiences, cool people I got to meet...
With all these people that I got the opportunity to meet this week, made me think about all the different people i've met throughout my mission so far.. for me the people that I've gotten to know, mostly members, but also investigators and other missionary's even, I think is what I appreciate the most and love the most about my mission.. We have a couple members in Heerlen, that are just amazing people.. amazing families.. Example is a sister who was baptized in Suriname last December, her name is Zuster Van de Bos.. So nice.. so kind, and has a fiery testimony.. really reminds me a lot of Nancy back in Den Haag, my first baptism.. but Zuster VD Bos, she knows so many people, and talks to so many people about the gospel.. we have her son as an investigator right now and a couple other daughters as potentials.. Also the Ward Missionary and his family from heerlen.. the Chardon's.. there amazing as well.. and there's so many others in Heerlen and there's so many other's in the different cities I've served in.. easily the best part of my mission..
Well family, enjoy the week.. Happy Birthday to Tiffani.. hope you didn't think I forgot!! Just saving the best for last ;)
Tot Ziens
Liefde,
Elder Joseph V. Mohrman
What a wonderful week! At least it sure feels like that when the sun is shining every day and my companion and I don't have to wear any jackets all week! Really nice.. For a couple days we just had our white shirts on.. It's interesting because now people gap and gawk and point and laugh ten times more than they did before.. but it's okay, at least they don't think were Jehovah Witnesses anymore!! Well.. at least the smart people.. =P
So for the past few months I've been thinking that I've been getting really fat.. Thinkin' that I'm pushing 180 pds or something.. well.. I just made a really great discovery.. our scale.. is in kilos.. and so what I was seeing was actually in kilo's and I'm only 75-78 kilos.. totally misread it.. and I did the conversion, and I've actually lost weight since the MTC!!! So much stress and guilty feelings as I ate different type of foods.. so.. yeah.. I'm not fat. Maybe that should of been the title of this email =P Thought I'd share that with you so you don't think I'm turning into a whale or somethin' out here!!
We had a really good week this week.. nothing too special with progressing investigators.. but we got a lot of new potential investigators. We went to the city of Maastricht for a couple of days, (just another big city in our area) and we had a lot of good experiences.. We got contacted by a couple ladies on back to back days.. which is not really normal.. the first one is from Peru, and she just came up and started talking to us because she knew we were mormon missionary's from our white shirts and just spilled her soul to us.. talked our ears off.. but we got her number and we have an appointment with her today in fact.. the next day were in maastricht were just chilling on the water front (maastricht has a huge river that goes inbetween it) (huge tourist city also) and this lady comes up and starts talking to us and asking us who we are and what not.. turns out she's from Romania and we also have an appointment with her today.. so pretty cool.. it makes missionary work easier when people come up and talk to you! ;) We also met with a referal we got from my old companion in Den Haag.. his name is Zahng.. from china.. been living here for 10 years.. doesn't speak any english just simple simple dutch.. and we were able to communicate with him with our simple dutch.. it was neat, he bought us McDonalds.. so cool experiences, cool people I got to meet...
With all these people that I got the opportunity to meet this week, made me think about all the different people i've met throughout my mission so far.. for me the people that I've gotten to know, mostly members, but also investigators and other missionary's even, I think is what I appreciate the most and love the most about my mission.. We have a couple members in Heerlen, that are just amazing people.. amazing families.. Example is a sister who was baptized in Suriname last December, her name is Zuster Van de Bos.. So nice.. so kind, and has a fiery testimony.. really reminds me a lot of Nancy back in Den Haag, my first baptism.. but Zuster VD Bos, she knows so many people, and talks to so many people about the gospel.. we have her son as an investigator right now and a couple other daughters as potentials.. Also the Ward Missionary and his family from heerlen.. the Chardon's.. there amazing as well.. and there's so many others in Heerlen and there's so many other's in the different cities I've served in.. easily the best part of my mission..
Well family, enjoy the week.. Happy Birthday to Tiffani.. hope you didn't think I forgot!! Just saving the best for last ;)
Tot Ziens
Liefde,
Elder Joseph V. Mohrman
Monday, April 4, 2011
Heerlen...bummer...forgot what week....9
Hoi Familie!
Hoe gaat het met idereen?? Hopelijk alles is goed met jullie. So this past week was not bad.. weather is getting better and better every day.. we had our first day in the 70's.. oh man that was nice.. really hot and warm in a suit coat.. but hey.. no complaints.. I'm tired of the cold!
Last week for P-day we visited 6 different castles in our area.. that was pretty cool, granted.. some of them were just old rich man mansions that they just stuck the label "castle" on them.. but still really neat.. a lot of history.. don't know what were going to do today.. It's a little cold so I think were going to take a rustig day =P Went on a few exchanges this week first one was with Elder Taylor.. he's on his 2nd transfer.. so I got to play senior companion again ;) It was fun, he came to heerlen, and we had a few appointments and did some finding.. had a pretty neat experience, we have this investigator her name is Rosemary, she's from Jamaica.. we only meet with her once a week, because her husband is anti religion.. and because of that we don't have your number because she doesn't want us calling and having the husband answer.. so all we have is her word that she'll be at appointments.. and she's kept all of them for the past 6-7 weeks.. but.. this week.. she missed it.. and we had no way to contact her so it was kinda a bummer.. but as we were finishing up our consecrated hour.. we knock on Rosemary's best friends door, and she's in the house! So we were able to set up another appointment, and even have her friend as a potential now! It was pretty neat.. most would say coincidence.. but.. I don't think so.. it was random how we found her again.. she's a really sweet lady, I hope things work out with her.. bummer anti-god husbands, they just cause problems!!
Went on another exchange in Gent, Belgium, Elder Mickelsen did his little District meeting thing, so I got to go to Belgium for the day, and this time got paired up with a Greenie, who's only been in the land for two weeks.. so got to play senior companion a lot this week! It was fun, Elder Calkins is the Elder's name in Gent, and we actually had a lot of success.. taught like 5 lessens to people on the street.. had another appointment with one of there investigators.. and He got us lost! So.. cool exchange ;) It's interesting Belgium and Netherlands are very different.. the buildings in Belgium (or at least Gent) they look fake almost.. like something you'd see in Disney world or something.. I dunno.. it's just strange.. Feels almost 3rd worldish.. maybe because they don't have a government or something =P One lady we talked too, elder Calkins and I, she thought that Elder Calkins looked 16.. and so I asked how old she thought I was.. she said maybe I was born in like 1987!! ha ha It was funny because Elder Calkins is older than I am.. don't think I look that old do I??
Well I told you about my opportunity to give a member a blessing last week.. well this week I went on splits with her husband and we went to some former investigators that we have never met before.. and I got to give my first blessing in Dutch!! Wow.. pretty intense.. really simple, really basic.. but I remember Elder Oaks talk in the April Priesthood session Conference in 2010, so.. doesn't matter if it's simple or basic.. a blessing is a blessing.. it was a pretty neat experience.. the man started to cry, because he felt "heavy on his head" and his wife started to tear up as well.. I'm being really blessed on my mission concerning blessings.. pretty much every one that I've been apart of something really neat and powerful has happened..
Conference though, that was great. Period. (Kim =P) First session the Saturday morning started at 6 p.m live here.. and we were only allowed to watch it if we watched it with an investigator.. so we were scrambling all week trying to find someone, and we ended up going to an investigator's house, his name is serge he's from Congo.. doesn't speak English, and knows Dutch.. so I got to watch my first conference session in Dutch! check that off my bucket list ha ha it was interesting.. I was just glad to be able to watch it.. Then we went to Antwerpen for Priesthood sunday morning.. and then we stayed at our Bishop's house all day with his family and we watched Saturday afternoon, and Sunday Morning was live at 6 p.m.. so two sessions live.. two recorded sessions and we didn't get to see the last session.. kinda a bummer.. but it is what it is.. really loved Pres. Monsons talk on Temples.. then the choir sings Spirit of God.. powerful.. there was a lot of neat talks during conference.. but I've already spent enough time with this email'=P Thanks for the emails everyone.. Hope you all have a great wonderful week..
Ik houd van jullie!!!
Tot Ziens
--Elder Mohrman
Hoe gaat het met idereen?? Hopelijk alles is goed met jullie. So this past week was not bad.. weather is getting better and better every day.. we had our first day in the 70's.. oh man that was nice.. really hot and warm in a suit coat.. but hey.. no complaints.. I'm tired of the cold!
Last week for P-day we visited 6 different castles in our area.. that was pretty cool, granted.. some of them were just old rich man mansions that they just stuck the label "castle" on them.. but still really neat.. a lot of history.. don't know what were going to do today.. It's a little cold so I think were going to take a rustig day =P Went on a few exchanges this week first one was with Elder Taylor.. he's on his 2nd transfer.. so I got to play senior companion again ;) It was fun, he came to heerlen, and we had a few appointments and did some finding.. had a pretty neat experience, we have this investigator her name is Rosemary, she's from Jamaica.. we only meet with her once a week, because her husband is anti religion.. and because of that we don't have your number because she doesn't want us calling and having the husband answer.. so all we have is her word that she'll be at appointments.. and she's kept all of them for the past 6-7 weeks.. but.. this week.. she missed it.. and we had no way to contact her so it was kinda a bummer.. but as we were finishing up our consecrated hour.. we knock on Rosemary's best friends door, and she's in the house! So we were able to set up another appointment, and even have her friend as a potential now! It was pretty neat.. most would say coincidence.. but.. I don't think so.. it was random how we found her again.. she's a really sweet lady, I hope things work out with her.. bummer anti-god husbands, they just cause problems!!
Went on another exchange in Gent, Belgium, Elder Mickelsen did his little District meeting thing, so I got to go to Belgium for the day, and this time got paired up with a Greenie, who's only been in the land for two weeks.. so got to play senior companion a lot this week! It was fun, Elder Calkins is the Elder's name in Gent, and we actually had a lot of success.. taught like 5 lessens to people on the street.. had another appointment with one of there investigators.. and He got us lost! So.. cool exchange ;) It's interesting Belgium and Netherlands are very different.. the buildings in Belgium (or at least Gent) they look fake almost.. like something you'd see in Disney world or something.. I dunno.. it's just strange.. Feels almost 3rd worldish.. maybe because they don't have a government or something =P One lady we talked too, elder Calkins and I, she thought that Elder Calkins looked 16.. and so I asked how old she thought I was.. she said maybe I was born in like 1987!! ha ha It was funny because Elder Calkins is older than I am.. don't think I look that old do I??
Well I told you about my opportunity to give a member a blessing last week.. well this week I went on splits with her husband and we went to some former investigators that we have never met before.. and I got to give my first blessing in Dutch!! Wow.. pretty intense.. really simple, really basic.. but I remember Elder Oaks talk in the April Priesthood session Conference in 2010, so.. doesn't matter if it's simple or basic.. a blessing is a blessing.. it was a pretty neat experience.. the man started to cry, because he felt "heavy on his head" and his wife started to tear up as well.. I'm being really blessed on my mission concerning blessings.. pretty much every one that I've been apart of something really neat and powerful has happened..
Conference though, that was great. Period. (Kim =P) First session the Saturday morning started at 6 p.m live here.. and we were only allowed to watch it if we watched it with an investigator.. so we were scrambling all week trying to find someone, and we ended up going to an investigator's house, his name is serge he's from Congo.. doesn't speak English, and knows Dutch.. so I got to watch my first conference session in Dutch! check that off my bucket list ha ha it was interesting.. I was just glad to be able to watch it.. Then we went to Antwerpen for Priesthood sunday morning.. and then we stayed at our Bishop's house all day with his family and we watched Saturday afternoon, and Sunday Morning was live at 6 p.m.. so two sessions live.. two recorded sessions and we didn't get to see the last session.. kinda a bummer.. but it is what it is.. really loved Pres. Monsons talk on Temples.. then the choir sings Spirit of God.. powerful.. there was a lot of neat talks during conference.. but I've already spent enough time with this email'=P Thanks for the emails everyone.. Hope you all have a great wonderful week..
Ik houd van jullie!!!
Tot Ziens
--Elder Mohrman
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