Happy 2016, folks!
This week was full of all kinds of exciting things. We will start with New Years.
It was awesome! Man, it is so cool in the Netherlands. We had to be inside at 4, but our mission president was inspired to have us make life goals, so we were busy all afternoon. We made goals for 3, 10, and 25 years into our life, and it was cool to look that far ahead and think about what you really want in life. My goals ended up being centered around family, education, and health. That's Dressa. :) But the fireworks here are awesome!! A lot of stuff is legal here, so it is a lot cooler than America. We had a great view as well. I'll try to send the video. :)
We have an investigator with a baptismal date! She is quickly grasping the principles of the gospel and asked us what she needed to do be baptized, if she needed to make an appointment or something. Haha we were pretty happy about that.
I also got asked out on a train! He wanted to get coffee in Antwerpen. Dang it. I love Antwerpen, just skip the date and the coffee. :)
We have a fair amount of investigators/less actives who are "on the brink," and are getting ready to make some big changes in their lives. They just need to get up the courage to do it, so we are working on that a lot right now.
You want to know a crazy story? So January 1, we were walking to the church for a lesson and we saw something in the distance on the ground, like a bike. A jogger stopped and stood over the bike, and we saw something move. A young Polish guy, a little more than slightly drunk from his new year celebrations, had fallen from his bike and was laying on the ground. A couple people stopped, but realizing he was okay, just drunk, they continued on. (this is nothing against Dutch people- they are usually incredibly serviceable by nature!) Sister Manning and I went up to him, helped the Dutch people speak English to him, then we found ourselves grabbing his bike and walking him back to the station. He said we were like nice elves, and we told him that we were from Jesus. :) Who knows if he will remember anything from that morning, but we left him with a pamphlet and a card, and it was cool to be able to have a moment like that as a missionary. There is always hope for people. :)
Anyway, all kinds of exciting times over here in the Neverlands. I hope you are all enjoying the fabulous new 2016 and are excited for the blessings that this year will bring. You are the best.
Love,
Sista Jo
All my old comps on exchange day! So funny.
New Years and s'mores dip :)
Fireworks! not super good pics, but hey, there they are.
