KONNINGINNEDAY May 6, 2013

Hey Family!

I just want you all to know I love you a lot. Like an overwhelming a lot! You all are incredible.

This week has been soo great! Tuesday was Konninginneday (Queens Day) and we took advantage of the holiday to talk with hundreds of the people on the street out celebrating. We set up a stand where we shared pass-along cards, pamphlets, and copies of the Book of Mormon. We shared about 40 books with everyone and pretty much everyone who received one specifically requested it! We are still working on contacting all the people we met from the booth. Such a great experience. The individuals we met I believe were sent there by the Lord at just the time they needed for the particular pass-along card or pamphlet we shared in that moment. 

An example of this is a young Polish family we handed an English Family Proclamation to, not because we knew they were Polish, but because it was the end of the day and that's all we had left! About 5 minutes later I saw them walking back to us and my first thought was, "Oh no! They realized what they accepted to read and are returning it because they don't want anything to do with Christ," as had happened with others during the day. However, to my surprise the man asked, "Where can we find this church? Is is here in Amsterdam? Where is this church? We had a sister missionary teach us about this in Poland, Zuster (I can't remember who they said). We loved her and the message she shared. Where can we find this church?" A much better reaction than I expected. And just think, if they hadn't come at that time they may have received another pamphlet or card and not realized it was from the same church. 

Another young man who came to our booth shared an extended moment with us, 5-6 hours worth. D. attended Institute with a friend the week before and heard us invite everyone to participate at our booth. None of the young adults came, but he did. He told us how he'd been reading in the Book of Mormon, about 30% of it so far, and had some questions. We answered his questions and he spent his Queens Day reading the pamphlets we were sharing, observing the reactions of others to our efforts, and he even helped give away a copy of the Book of Mormon himself. The next evening he was again at  Institute where we arranged an appointment for the next day. Since then we've met with him twice, he's come to sacrament meeting, and he's accepted a baptismal date! 

I love missionary work.

I got a new companion this week, Zr. Larson. She is a sweetheart who came to share her love for our Savior and every time she bears testimony all present are flooded with the Spirit of love too. Teaching with her has provided some of the most powerful lessons of my mission. She came here to testify and work and her focus helps me be better. 

I really love it out here.

I love you truly and eternally,

Zuster Becky Hinchcliff

Catch-up April 29th, 2013

Hey family! I feel like I haven't really kept you all well updated for the past month or so...sorry about that. To make up for that, here's my month is short since conference:

-Contacted a Jewish family who weren't initially interested in accepting what we said until I mentioned the Book of Mormon begins with a family out of Jerusalem. That caught their attention. They asked for a copy which we gladly delivered. I just spoke with their teenage daughter a few days ago and she said her father thinks it's beautiful :) The title page of the Book of Mormon says it is written to Jew and Gentile. It feels good to be sharing it with everyone.

-I got to go back to Dordrecht for exchanges with my former companion, Zuster Israelsen! It was super strange but cool to be back and to see some of my friends there. Zuster Israelsen and I saw miracles left and right together and one of the people we contacted together that day is now investigating, yeah!

-As a zone we went to the temple and later to Keukenhof. Both were amazing, but the temple was definitely better! I felt so much peace and was able to stay for a few hours. Keukenhof was nice as well, but the flowers weren't as nice as last year because of the long winter we've had here. However, I had way more fun this year than last with the other missionaries. 

-Zuster Davies and I helped a woman with her groceries and were invited to her birthday party the next day. We thought that'd be a fun way to find new investigators, turns out it was just awkward. Haha. She really loved the Book of Mormon we gave to her as a gift though :)

-We had another special zone training this month from the Den Haag Stake President, President Oddens, about how we can help the members better engage in missionary work. I also got to go on exchanges with Zuster Schwab (one of my MTC companions) in Haarlem (my greenie city!) a few weeks ago and have an exchange with her again here in Amsterdam just last week. Of the three exchanges we've had this month I got to arrange one. Talk about pressure. Cool to know feel the inspiration of the spirit though as I felt impressed to have certain sisters go together for a day. After that exchange I had them write down all the miracles they've seen and it was pretty powerful and humbling to read how the Lord worked through them all. 

-Last Thursday I got to attend the baptism of a dear friend, Fabien, in Haarlem. Fabien is a girl Zuster Jeffs, Zuster Moses, and I met last year during my second transfer in Haarlem. She's been investigating the church ever since and through it we've become really great friends. It was a miracle to be able to attend her baptism. Six of the ten(?) missionaries who taught her were there. It was a high-light of my mission and life. The service was small and simple, and the spirit was strong ("through small and simple things are great things brought to pass" Alma 37:6-7). I'm pretty sure everyone in attendance shed a few tears. 

-Most of our most positive investigators right now are all either Portuguese or Spanish speaking. My high school Spanish helps out a bit, but mostly we have a joint-teach to translate. I wish I had studied and kept it up more. To those out there studying a language, work it and keep it up! You never know when the Lord is going to call on you to use it and you want to feel prepared!

-I got transfer calls last night! I am staying here in Amsterdam for at least another six weeks and will be training. I'm so excited to serve with one of the special sisters who Heavenly Father has selected to be part of the first wave here in the Belgium/Netherlands mission! I know she is going to be a powerhouse and can't wait to learn from her!!

Well, that's just a bit of the last few weeks! I'm excited for the next transfer to begin and to share with you more of the miracles we see!!

Love, Zuster Becky Hinchcliff

SPRING April 22, 2013

Well family, Amsterdam is finally showing signs of spring! The trees have buds of leaves, flowers are popping up everwhere, the sun is shining! Life doesn't get much better :) And let me tell you, there is almost nothing so beautiful as seeing the freshness of spring against the backdrop of an old, European city. Also, people are friendlier as a result of the sunshine and new life and that creates perfect dispositions to talk to about the restored gospel. Zuster Davies and I have been having a lot of fun and success together and we have plans to continue that pattern. 

Last week P-day I didn't get a chance to email, so today when I got on there was A LOT to read! I am still sorting out my feelings about the news you shared with me about Scott and moving to Korea, but I have pretty much decided to not think or worry about it and just focus on what's before me now. I know the rest will take care of itself just fine. The Lord knows what He's doing and is in charge. I had a companion a while ago with continual medical problems. She was freaking out because her MTC companion was sent home and she doesn't want that to be the story of her mission too. The thing is, the story of your mission is what you make of it. So, she decided to make every day count, just in case. Ideally, we all are making every day count, but I have to admit, she was one of the most focused and dedicated missionaries I've ever been privileged to serve with. And I just can't help but think to myself, what if she didn't have these difficulties, would she be just as hardworking and influential? I don't know. But, I do know the Lord doesn't ask us to do things just for kicks and giggles, He is purpose driven and anything He hands to us is to help us become even more like Him. In the case of my companion, I'd say so far it's working :) Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths." (Proverbs 3:5-6). Words of wisdom right there :) 

I've really come to understand this better throughout my mission. Funny thing is, I thought I knew it and fully understood it before I came. Guess I still have some learning to do. One thing I'm sure of is that I'm grateful for the opportunities the Lord gives us to continually learn and grow and progress to become more like Him. 

Mom, that scripture you shared with me from John 14:26, "but the comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your rememberane, whatsoever I have said unto you," is the same scripture our ward mission leader shared in our investigator class yesterday as he taught us all about covenants. I know that as we are true to our covenants everything works out the way it's supposed and the Lord rewards us in all aspects of our lives, even through things as simple as a common scripture shared in a class and an email. Small things are inspired too, after all, it's by small and simple things that great things are brought to pass (Alma 37:6-7). Thanks for listening to the Spirit in even the small things so I could experience that little miracle :) It brought just the comfort I needed. 

I'm so grateful you're my eternal family.

Love eternal daughter/sister, 

Zuster Becky Hinchcliff

conference

Rebecca Hinchcliff <rebecca.hinchcliff@myldsmail.net>	Apr 8
to me, julie

Isn't conference so great?! I sure do feel the love of our Heavenly Father and Savior whenever I listen to the words of the prophets and apostles because the Spirit is so strong when they speak. Zr. Davies and I were super excited for conference and wanted to invite everyone we saw to come watch it with us. So we did :) We talked with some great individuals and families, but not a single person we met came! They missed out. However, I did have a Jewish father ask me for a copy of The Book of Mormon because he's curious about the family that leaves Jerusalem and their story, so that's pretty awesome! Also, one of our investigators came and LOVED conference. She said it felt nice and she loved the focus they seemed to have on families. Interesting since when I watched I noticed themes from my mission and personal studies. Isn't it so amazing how the general authorities prepare talks for a world-wide audience and they still seem to have really personal significance? God is so amazing :) I am so grateful for the Restored gospel of Jesus Christ and the blessings that come from it like a surety that God is my loving Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ's Atonement truly does apply to everyone, the Book of Mormon, the priesthood, latter-day prophets, eternal families, the gift of the constant companionship of the Holy Ghost, temples, the sacrament, geneology, the list goes on! Oh, I am so grateful!! It feels good having a knowledge of the truth. Why aren't more people jumping out of their seats to find it? Please, please, if you have an inclinations as to individuals or families who could use or are ready to accept this beautiful restored gospel let the missionaries know! And then let them know what specific message you think those individuals and families need so we can be as personal as possible when we contact them. I can understand that sometimes it's scary to trust us with your friends and family members, but I know that everyone has a back pocket referral. The Lord has called us and trusts us, please sustain us in our callings by putting your trust in us too :)  Then pray a whole lot and I know miracles will happen! I love you all and hope you have a great week!!

Love, Zuster Becky Hinchcliff