Hey Mom:) Sorry you haven't received
the physical yet, that was my bad. I'm pretty sure I was told to email it back
to you, but I had it in my head to mail it. I got the physical Wednesday
evening, but all the post was closed by the time it was done so I planned to do
it first thing Thursday morning. We had exchanges with Gouda on Thursday and
had to switch trains at the airport so I figured that'd be the perfect place to
send the letter from so it could immediately be flown out. However, this
kind man from Orem, Utah, Brother John M. Edmunds, called up the elders last
minute and offered to take us all out to breakfast. He was passing through
Amsterdam and wanted to do what he could to help us out. What a sweet guy. He
treated us to an amazing breakfast buffet at the Amstel Hotel that was
definitely the best I've had my whole mission. After breakfast though we had to
go to a different train station than originally planned so we could be on time.
No biggie, I'd just have to pay a little extra to get it shipped from some
other post office, but as long as I got it out by 6 pm I knew I'd still be good
to go. Once I got to Gouda, we had appointments right away, but a little later
in the afternoon we turned towards the train station to head off to some small
doorpje to do some look-ups and contacting only to find the station blocked off
due to a bomb threat. Well, that changed our plans. So we headed to a post
office to get the physical sent out while we planned what to do only to learn
that they didn't send mail express to the USA. Lame. However, on the way to
look up a positive contact we'd made earlier in the day we stopped to talk to a
man, Lennert, sitting on a bench outside his home. We had a really great
conversation during which he accepted a copy of the Book of Mormon and
committed to come to church on Sunday. I talked with the Gouda sisters yesterday,
and he totally did, and they have an appointment with him this week! So
exciting. Anyway, this email really isn't flowing, but I did get the physical
in the mail Friday morning at the airport and paid it express so you should be
getting it any time now.
As for the rest of my week, it was
pretty great. Monday evening our friend Daniel, who was just baptized taught us
the plan of salvation. He came prepared with scripture references, questions,
the works! We were super impressed as was our ward mission leader who said he'd
never met someone who was so knowledgeable after just being baptized. I'd like
to say it's because we taught him well, but really it's just because he's great
:) Some other cool things about Daniel from this week are that Friday evening
we had a dinner appointment with his mom and her boyfriend. She made us
delicious Indonesian food and he made us a delicious dessert, but the best
treat of the evening was learning that Daniel had given his mom a Book of
Mormon and she'd read through 1 Nephi 17, so cool!! Also, Daniel introduced
himself in sacrament meeting Sunday and bore the most beautiful and confident
testimony ever that totally set the whole tone for a spirit-filled hour. What a
great guy :)
Another beautiful thing that happened
this week was an appointment we had at the De Leeuws (a senior missionary
couple) home with Zuster Schwab and Zuster Rigdon and Fabien. Fabien is a
friend I met over a year ago in Haarlem who was just baptized in April or May.
We had a sweet reunion/farewell since the De Leeuws, Zuster Schwab,and I are
all leaving here soon. It feels so good to be wjith others who you've grown in
the gospel with. It reminds me of Alma 27:1-4:
"And now it came
to pass that as Alma was journeying from the land of Gideon southward, away to
the land of Manti, behold, to his astonishment, he met with the sons of Mosiah journeying towards the
land of Zarahemla.
Now these sons of
Mosiah were with Alma at the time the angel first appeared unto him; therefore Alma
did rejoice exceedingly to see his brethren; and what added more to his joy,
they were still his brethren in the Lord; yea, and they had waxed strong in the
knowledge of the truth; for they were men of a sound understanding and they
had searched the scriptures diligently, that
they might know the word of God.
But this is not all;
they had given themselves to much prayer, and fasting; therefore they had the spirit of
prophecy, and the spirit of revelation, and when they taught, they taught
with power and authority of God.
And they had been
teaching the word of God for the space of fourteen years among the Lamanites,
having had much success in bringing many to the knowledge of the truth; yea, by the power
of their words many were brought before the altar of God, to call on his name
and confess their sins before him."
Now, our experiences have been
nothing like that of Alma, Amulek, and the sons of Mosiah, but they have been
pretty good, and it felt good to be together again.
Zuster Schwab and I also had a chance
to do exchanges together this week and it was so fun! We had some quality
contacting time together and I got to learn from her amazing missionary skills.
When she speaks with people they immediately feel her love for them and her
love for Jesus Christ and are so intrigued and engaged that they talk and allow
the spirit to work in them. It's fantastic to see the change in just a few
moments as she bears testimony and invites them to learn more. Not everyone
accepts, but even those who don't admit to feeling or seeing something
different about her. She's wonderful.
I wish I had more time to write all
the miracles and experiences we've had this week, however, I am a terribly
slow/distracted typer so my time is about up! Just know that the Lord is busy
and at work here in Amsterdam and a marvelous work is going forth. I am so
grateful to be a participant and witness to it.
I love you all a ton! Try not to
stress too much with moving plans :) As far as my stuff goes, I don't know that
I can really provide you with much specific instruction other than what I've
already said in previous emails...but if you ask me specific questions maybe I
can be of more assistance...sorry :/
Anyway I love you all!! I really wish
had more time to write because there are so many more people I want to tell you
all about, but we'll save it for next time!
Liefs,
Zuster Becky Hinchcliff
