More July

This is our first zone meeting with President and Sister Robinson.

One day we were trying to get to Zeist to pick up Quincy for a baptism session at the temple. Traffic was terrible and after 2 hours we gave up. Then we saw that the freeway home was stopped and people were out of thier cars talking. We decided to go cross country. It was a beautiful day.

This is Meerkerk which I thought would mean' more church' but when we arrived we realized it meant 'lake church'.

We were treated to a running windmill while on this country drive.

We had to visit Sister Herring and Nielson while the wall of their apartment was being fixed. The neighbors punched a hole through their wall.

This is Sister Tanner and Gallego putting cherries on sugar cookies for Sister Everton.

We went for a bicycle ride in the country South of Rotterdam with the Andersons. The weather was perfect and the clouds were beautiful.



Part of the bike path went along the river.



We also rode by a small castle in Rhoon.

We surprised Alma at his work on his birthday with homemade Oreo cookies.

Our district visited Den Bosch to take the river boat tour.

We also visited St. John's Cathedral with its beautiful stained glass.

After the missionaries purchased Den Bosch balls which are about the size of a baseball and are chocolate covered with a think whipped cream filling. Hard to describe the taste but it is very rich.

The sisters were game too.

We were leaving Gouda and notice this line of boats with girls riding with camping gear.

There was another line with boys. They must have been going to a camp on a lake somewhere.

We were installing window screens at the Den Haag Elder's apartment. The missionaries often ask what they can do for us. This time Elder Mohrman (pronounced 'Mormon' in the middle) insisted on cooking for us. He made a tasty batch of Surinamese noodles. Elder van Komen is his companion.

Our visit to Kortrijk on Sunday: The Branch President's wife comes up talking 200 KM per hour about her husband's son. She has a think accent from the region which I can hardly keep up with. Her husband was divorced 20 years ago. His son was 6 at the time and he had not spoken to him since. His X-wife had told his son that his father was an alcoholic and other bad things. Finally his son made contact - totally unexpected. He came to church last week and felt the spirit during the meeting. I cannot even attempt to describe his father's happiness. The son was baptized a few weeks after this picture.



We go to investigators class with the Branch President and his son. The class is delayed while Elder McCarlie goes to invite another group of investigators to the class. The group turns out to be the 19 year old daughter Sarah (next to Sister Everton) of a member of 2 years and her 3 friends. One of the friends had investigated two years ago but had problems with smoking. So five investigators in this small branch. None were expected.

Sacrament meeting was last. During the break, I gave Sarah and her friends some of Sister Everton's home made Oreo's in between meetings. They were outside. Some where smoking. Teenage smoking is a national tragedy in Europe. After the meeting Sarah came up to Sister Everton and said they were the best ever and she wanted the recipe. Instant bond - hugs etc. Everyone loves Sister Everton.



We had dinner in Woerden with brother van Spanjerberg and Sister Jones and Schwab. He has the sisters put on aprons and cook the meal so they can learn to cook.

He taught Sister Everton how to make this salad.