Aug 20, 1957 - Elder Van Wagenen and I went down to register at the mission home at 9:00 A.M. We met Elder Fetzer and Elder Walker there. We were all assigned to return early the next morning to help the others register.
Aug 21 - Wed- Arrived at mission home - 7:00 A.M. Helped usher until 10:00. We had meetings and talks the rest of the day.
Aug 22 - We went through the temple from 6:30 to 12:30 in the morning. In the afternoon we got our train & boat tickets and had our group photograph taken. We went to meetings afterward.
Aug 23 - We attended classes all day. Some of the speakers were President. Legrande Richards and Brother T. Edgar Lyon. In the evening we had instructions in leading singing by Spencer W. Cornwall.
Aug 24- We had classes in the morning and took a tour of temple square in the afternoon. Later on we had a banquet and a talent show.
August 25- We went over to the tabernacle and watched the choir broadcast Sunday morning. We had some classes and then I went home for Sunday dinner. My Farewell lasted from 3:30 - 5:00 and we had an open house after at our house. I took Joann to the missionary testimony meeting 7:00 - 10:00. Richard and Sylvia also went and we took the girls home after.
August 26 - We had classes in the morning and in the afternoon went through the temple again 2:00 - 6:00. We had classes afterward.
August 27 - We had classes and took an excursion to welfare square in the morning. We had an open period in the afternoon and in the evening Elder Banks and I went to see Joann and Judy and practiced the lessons on them.
August 28 - We had a meeting in the morning and at 9:30 A.M. I went to get set apart. Mom+Dad+Joann were there and S. Dilworth Young gave the blessing. I went down to the station to see Richard off in the evening.
August 29 - I did some last minute shopping downtown and went to the delta-sigma conjoint in the evening.
August 30 - I painted the house and then picked Joann up from work. We played Tennis and Joann drove my car all over. I went to Joann’s house after dinner. We had a real nice dinner at home.
Sept 1 - I got up at 4:30 A.M. and went down to the train station. The train left at 5:50 A.M., without warning, and I wasn’t able to kiss anyone goodbye. Not only that but Dad and Reed Bills couldn’t get off the train. We arrived in Ogden at 6:30 and Mary Ann Drove up there with Mom, Grandma, Stevie, Diane, Jean, and Joann. I had a chance to kiss them all goodbye there. I got a huge all day sucker and a letter from Joann. We traveled all that day and night,1514 miles, and arrived at Chicago at 7:00 the next morning. We made stops at Green River, Cheyenne, North Platte, and Omaha along the way. We saw and crossed the Missouri and Mississippi rivers. Others at train station: Bishop Egan, Maxwells, Gayle, Davies, Tim, Frank, Jim Morgan, Sylvia, Colette, Marilyn
September 2. - Mon - Labor Day - We arrived in Chicago about 7:00 in the morning and had to change trains and stations. We took a bus to the other station and then took a bus tour of Chicago and Lake Michigan. We loafed around the station most of the day and went to a double feature in the afternoon. We left Chicago about 11:00 P.M.
September 3 - During the night we stopped at FT. Wayne and in the morning we stopped at Cleveland. We traveled along the shore of Lake Erie and arrived in Buffalo at about 1:00 in the afternoon. (three hours ahead of Salt Lake time) We stayed in Buffalo until 11:00 PM. During that time we took a tour to Niagara Falls and went into Canada. We ate lunch at Niagara, returned to Buffalo, and took another train out.
September 4 - We arrived in Hoboken N.J. about 7:30 in the morning. We took a ferry boat across to New York and a cab from there to Hotel Wellington. We all got cleaned up there and set out to see the city. We walked over to Fifth Ave. and then we took busses up and down Fifth Ave. We went from Washington Square to the zoo in central park and then to the top of the empire state building (102 stories). We went 65 stories in the Rockefeller building and then saw a show, The Pajama Game, in Radio City Music Hall. It was Raining when we got out and we returned to our Hotel room to watch the Gene Fullmer, Chico Vejar Fight from Salt Lake on T.V., we watched the Yankees lose a ballgame in extra innings also.
September 5 - We got up about 8:00; cleaned up, checked out, took a taxi to the ferry boat, rode the ferry boat across, and took another taxi to our pier at Hoboken. We got on board about 10:00 AM and the boat sailed at 12:10. We had a good lunch and supper and saw the show for the night.
September 6 - Friday - I got up at 9:00 for breakfast and spent most of the day studying and writing letters. We ate at 1:30 and 7:45. The weather remained good but started to fog up in the evening.
September 7 - The weather is still good and the meals have all been excellent. I spent most of the day studying. I met some of the members of an L.D.S. family on the ship, the Allens, going to Turkey. I skipped the show again that night.
September 8 - Sunday - We had breakfast at 9:00 and afterward attended the church services of the Episcopal and Protestant faiths. We played checkers and chess and studied the rest of the day. I retired early.
September 9 - I got up late for breakfast and studied afterward. It fogged up outside so I studied and took a nap.
September 10 - Tuesday - I studied in the morning and saw a show at 3:00 that afternoon (Johnny Tremain). We had turkey dinner that night.
September 11 - Wednesday - Rose early for breakfast and studied and wrote letters after. The sea started getting rough and they started fastening everything on board ship. They gave the farewell dinner that night and we went to the show, the Devil’s Hairpin.
September 12 - Thursday - I studied and wrote letters most of the day. We sighted land (The Scilly Islands and then the British coast). I went to parts of the show and the talent review and then went to bed after doing my laundry. - 12:00.
September 13 - Friday - When we awoke in the morning, we were docked in Southampton, England (7:30). We left England at 9:00 and headed across the channel to Lehavre, France, arriving at 4:00 and leaving at 5:30. The channel was rough all the way but I didn’t get seasick. It was raining off and on all day so we studied the rest of the day.
September 14 - We awoke and had breakfast at 7:30 and we were inside Holland going toward Rotterdam. We got there about 10:30 and got off the boat at 12:00. We went through customs and went to the Hague in President Sperry’s Car. President Sperry, Elder Russell and Elder Teerlink had met us on the boat previously. We had dinner and slept that night at the mission home. It rained all day our first day in Holland.
September 15 - Sunday - We woke up at 6:30. Ate breakfast, and went to a priesthood meeting at 9:00. We went to Sunday school and returned to the mission home for lunch. Elder Whiting and I took a walk out along the dunes to see the North Sea, and afterward we went alone on the tram to church at 5:00. We returned to the mission home, ate dinner, studied dutch, and then went to bed. It was a good day and the sun shone for a good part of the day. The wind was blowing hard however.
September 16 - In the morning after our breakfast President Sperry took Elder Whiting and I to Rotterdam to have our passports checked. We returned to the Hague for dinner and then I took a train for Amsterdam. Elder Wolthuis met me and we went to the mission home there. Elder Brague and I went to a cottage meeting (3:00-5:00) and Elder Van Stetten and I went to dinner (5:30-7:30), and to a cottage meeting (8:00-9:30).
Amsterdam
September 17 - Tuesday - I got up and Elder Van Stetten and I went shopping for a bicycle after breakfast. I bought a Gazelle model for 238.15 Guilders or about 63 dollars. I studied the language most of the rest of the day.
September 18 - I got up and got ready (7:00-8:30), after which we bicycled over to Elder Springers. We ran some errands and had lunch (9:00-1:00) We held three cottage meetings afterward (3:00-11:00) then we bicycled home to the church. Elder DeBry had missed his train and wasn’t in yet
September 19 - Thursday - (7:30-8:30) - Got ready and went over to Elder Springer’s again. (10:30-12:30) - Elder Springer and I went tracting but didn’t get in any homes. We had lunch and then held three cottage meetings. (3:30-11:30).
September 20 - Elder Springer and I went tracting (9:30 - 12:00). After lunch, Elder Halliday and I went tracting and we got in two homes (1:30-5:30) after supper Elder DeBry and I went to two cottage meeting appointments - one fell through. (7:00-9:30)
September 21 - Saturday - I got up, ate breakfast, and did some washing; after which Elder Halliday and I went tracting (9:30 - 12:00) - We went shopping and in the evening went to Haarlem for a party and dance. (6:00-12:00)
September 22 - Sunday - We went to priesthood meeting and sunday school (9:00-12:00) I studied that day and went to church at 5:00. Afterward Elder Springer and I went to a cottage meeting (7:30-11:00
September 23 - I went over to Elder Springers in the morning and we went shopping and to a show. After supper we went to two cottage meetings and returned home (7:00-11:30)
September 24 - Elder DeBry and I went to Haarlem in the morning. Elder Vriends and I went tracting and held three cottage meetings. (10:00 - 12:45) We went to another family of investigators after lunch (2:15 - 5:30), and two others after dinner (7:00 - 11:00). One was an elderly man and the other was a woman member and her husband
September 25 - Wednesday - I spent the night Tuesday at Haarlem with Elders Vriens and Bradford. In the morning after breakfast, we went over to the church where Elders Giles and Van Slooten were staying. Elder Van Slooten and I went tracting (9:15 - 12:45), and got in twice. After lunch at the church, Elder Bradford and I visited five investigators and members (2:00 - 5:30). Elder De Bry and I then returned to Amsterdam and after dinner, went to the outskirts of town for another cottage meeting (7:30 - 10:00).
September 26 - I studied dutch and wrote some letters in the morning. Elder De Bry and I went out to find an apartment (10:30 - 12:30). We returned for lunch and afterward I studied and we went to Sister Myers for dinner, the four of us. After that, Elder De Bry and I went to two very nice cottage meetings (7:00 - 10:30). I studied some more and then went to bed.
September 27 - Friday - I studied in the morning and Elder Brague, two sisters, and I took the train to Beverwijk for the funeral of an elderly woman member there (10:00 - 3:00) I studied some more and after dinner Elder De Bry and I attended two cottage meetings (7:00 - 11:00). We discussed some problems and then went to bed.
September 28 - I studied in the morning and Elder De Bry and I went to Haarlem to help them paint some rooms in the church. (9:30 - 5:30) There were ten elders there. I studied, did my washing and wrote letters after.
Sunday - September 29 - Got up early, at 6:00, and got down to the train station. We took the train to Den Helder (7:00 - 10:15), and went to church at 10:30. I studied, ate lunch, and went to Sacrament meeting at 5:00. Afterward we went out to dinner at a members house way out on the point by the lighthouse. It was really a beautiful place, mostly surrounded by the North Sea. We had a real dutch dinner, and it was really “lekker.” We went back to the church and Elder McKell and I returned to the lighthouse to sleep there that night.
September 30 - Monday - We got up and went back to the church in the morning. We went tracting, Elder Smith and I, (9:00 - 12:00). We returned to the church for lunch and Elder McKell and I went tracting (1:00 - 3:00). We only got a few unpromising callbacks. Elder De Bry and I left Den Helder for Amsterdam. (3:15 - 6:00). We had dinner and I studied in the evening.
October 1 - Tuesday - We went to Amsterdam North, across The Eye, (the stretch of water dividing Amsterdam), in the morning, Elder Van Leeuwen and I went tracting (9:30 - 11:45), and had one cottage meeting. Elder Van Dyke and I went tracting and had two cottage meetings (12:30 - 2:30). Elder De Bry and I returned to Amsterdam and did some shopping (I bought a hat and a book for my parents). After dinner, Elder De Bry and I went to two cottage meetings.
October 2 - Elder De Bry and I went to Haarlem in the morning and Elder Giles and I went tracting (10:00 - 12:00). We were able to speak with some devout christian scientists. In the afternoon, Elder Vriens and I went to a cottage meeting (2:30 - 5:00). Elder De Bry and I returned home and called at three homes in the evening
October 3 - Thursday - I finally came down with the griep or flu, which had been bothering me for the last 3 or 4 days. I slept in bed, studied a little, and got a haircut in the morning. I went to bed again in the afternoon and did some studying and writing letters the rest of the day.
October 4 - I stayed in bed in the morning and studied dutch. I wrote some letters, studied, and rested most of the day and went to bed early. I was feeling better than the day before.
October 5 - I studied a lot and did my washing during the day. In the evening I started going over the godhead lessons I had and started one in my IP book
October 6 - Sunday - It was fast sunday so we fasted in the morning and attended three meetings (9:00 - 1:00) I studied in the afternoon and went to night meeting at 6:30. After that meeting, Elder De Bry and I went over to the Van Rijswijks for a real Indonesian dinner (rice and delicious meat) It was really a treat. Elder Van Slooten and a friend in the navy were also there.
October 7 - Monday - In the morning I went over to Elder Springers and we went downtown and then to a meeting. I returned for lunch and studied afterward. Elder De Bry went to two cottage meetings in the evening.
October 8 - Elder De Bry and I went to Amsterdam North in the morning and Elder Van Dyke and I went tracting (9:30 - 1:00). We returned to the church and I studied dutch, and after supper Elder De Bry and I went to appointments. (7:00 - 10:30)
October 9 - Wednesday - Elder De Bry and I took the train to Haarlem in the morning. Elder Van Slooten and I went tracting for 4 hours and got in three times. After that, Elder Vriends and I went tracting and held two cottage meetings. (2:30 - 5:00) Elder De Bry and I returned to Amsterdam, ate dinner, and went out to two more cottage meetings. (7:00 - 10:45).
October 10, Thursday - In the morning, the elders cleaned up the floor in the amusement hall after it had been painted. (9:30 - 2:30) My companion had gone to Rotterdam so I studied Dutch during the day.
October 11, Friday - I studied in the morning and Elder De Bry and I went to two cottage meetings (10:00 - 12:00). I studied and helped clean our kitchen and after dinner, Elder Debry and I went to three meetings, one where we administered to an an investigator
October 12 - We worked in the church in the morning and I studied and wrote letters in the afternoon. We had an elders party and dinner (5:30 - 11:00) It was a real good dinner and we had a good musical program and square dance afterward.
October 13 - Sunday - I studied and then went to meetings. (9:00 - 12:00) I studied the lessons all afternoon, went to sacrament meeting, 6:30 and to Brother Matt Hiasons house after. (9:00 - 11:00) We watched a show, Madame Butterfly, on their television.
October 14 - Monday - In the morning we went over to Elder Springers and Elder Halliday and I went tracting (9:30 - 12:30) I returned for lunch and did some studying and washing. After supper, Elder De Bry and I went to a Cottage Meeting
Tuesday - October 15 - We went to Amsterdam North in the morning and Elder Van Leeuwan and I went tracting (9:30 - 3:00). We returned and studied and went to an appointment after dinner.
October 16 - We went to Haarlem in the morning and Elder Giles and I went tracting (9:30 - 12:00). We had two meetings. After lunch Elder Bradford and I went to three appointments. (2:00 - 5:00). We returned home and Elder De Bry and I went to an appointment with five people in one home (7:30 - 11:00)
October 17 - Thursday - Elder De Bry and I biked out to Elder DeHaans and Elder Manwarring and I went tracting (9:30 - 2:00). We got in four times and held two good cottage meetings. Neither of us had ever given lessons before but we got through the lessons pretty good, half in english and half in dutch. We returned home, I studied, did some washing, and went to a cottage meeting with Elder De Bry.
October 18 - Friday - I studied in the morning and Elder DeBry and I went to interview an investigator for baptism. Elder Springer and I went to a show and afterward I went thru the Rijks Museum. Elder DeBry and I went to two cottage meetings in the evening.
October 19 - Saturday - In the morning after breakfast, I boarded a train for the Hague and Elder Schetsellar met me at the station. We went to Loostuinsekade and I studied, unpacked, ate lunch and dinner, and went to a cottage meeting with Elder Shupe.
October 20 - Sunday - We had church here (9:00 - 12:00), and I studied in the afternoon. I went to church at 5:00 and we had a good dinner at a members house, Pannmens (8:00 - 11:30), after church, four of us.
October 21 - Monday - We had a study class (9:00 - 12:00), ate lunch, and I went tracting with Elder Van Vleet. After supper, Elder Van Vleet and I went to appointments. We held a very good cottage meeting with an Indonesian family. I gave most of the Joseph Smith story for the first time.
October 22 - Tuesday - We had a study class (9:00 - 11:00), and we went down to the station after my bicycle. It was not there and we returned, ate lunch, and I went with Elder Winkel tracting, we got in twice. After supper Elder Pugh and I went to two cottage meetings. One was in a houseboat on a canal. I returned and we had ice cream and cake at Loosduinsekade.
October 23 - Wednesday - We had class (9:00 - 12:00), ate a big lunch, and Elder Pugh and I went to appointments and picked up my bicycle at the station. One of our appointments was with three ardent seventh day adventists. We didn't have supper and Elder Van Vleet and I went to an appointment (8:00 - 11:00).
October 25 - Friday - We again had a study class for three hours in the morning after breakfast. After lunch, Elder Van Boerum and I went tracting together. Elder Van Boerum had only been here two weeks. We got in once and gave a cottage meeting. It probably was not too understandable and we didn’t get a call back for another appointment. Elder Pugh, Elder Van Boerum and I went to an appointment after supper.
October 26 - We ate breakfast, and had a district class (9:00 - 11:15). We ate lunch, I studied, and we went downtown shopping. We had 14 elders there for lunch. I studied after supper and all the elders had a get together before going to bed. Two new elders arrived who already knew Dutch.
October 27 - Sunday - We had priesthood and sunday school (9:00 - 12:00). I studied, we went out to an italian restaurant for lunch (spaghetti) and we went to Rotterdam for District conference. (3:00 - 10:00). Elder Stage and I went together and Elder Hall, Elder Wolthuis, Elder Van Kampen and I returned.
October 28 - Monday - We ate breakfast, had a three hour study class, ate lunch, and then Elder Van Vleet and I went shopping and tracting. After having dinner, Elder Pugh and I went out to appointments. Some of them fell through so I studied a little before going to bed.
October 29 - We had a study class and Elder Wolthuis talked to us for awhile. Elder Pugh and I went tracting in the afternoon and Elder Schetselar and I went and administered to a lady and then we went to a cottage meeting afterward.
October 30 - Wednesday - We had class in the morning, and in the afternoon I went tracting with Elder Winkel. In the evening Elder Knudsen and I went to a cottage meeting. We got in early so we studied and pressed some of our suits.
October 31 - Halloween - We had class in the morning and went to some appointments with Elder Schupe. Two of the elders living here had birthdays so we had a real good dinner with ice cream and cake. Elder Winkel and I went out in the evening to a reformed church meeting.
November 1 - Friday - We had a two hour study class in the morning and I studied lessons the rest of the morning and in the afternoon. After dinner, Elder Stage, Elder Lemon, and I went to a cottage meeting with three members.
November 2 - Saturday - We had a class in the morning and after lunch we went shopping. We were fasting for the evening meal (fast sunday) and we wrote letters in the evening.
November 3 - Sunday - It was fast sunday so we went to three meetings in the morning (9:00 - 1:00) and Elders Van Boerum, Denmark, Ostler, Hall and I went to a restaurant for lunch. We wrote letters and studied, went to church, and then wrote letters some more in the evening.
November 4 - We had a study class in the morning and I went tracting in the afternoon with Elder Shupe. We held two cottage meetings and I gave one Godhead lesson to a Mev. Looije. We went to another cottage meeting in the evening to an Indonesian family.
November 5 - Tuesday - We had class in the morning and I went tracting in the afternoon with Elder Winkel, we held one cottage meeting then and we had another cottage meeting in the evening. We had an apostasy lesson.
November 6 - We had class again and in the afternoon I went to a cottage meeting with Elder Van Vleet for two hours. It was at the home of a very learned Indonesian man. I gave the godhead lesson and Joseph Smith story for the first time. It was a Men Van Eeckhoorn and he seemed very interested in the gospel. In the evening; after an indonesian dinner here at Loosduinsekade, prepared by a member in the branch; Elder Van Vleet and I went to two more very nice cottage meetings. They were very enjoyable and the people all seemed genuinely interested in the messages we had for them.
November 7 - Thursday - In the morning I studied dutch and the lessons and I went to two cottage meetings with Elder Pugh in the afternoon. We gave a book of mormon show and lesson. Elder Van Vleet and I went out to callbacks in the evening.
November 8 - I studied in the morning and in the morning and afternoon we checked out and shopped and I got a haircut. President Sperry talked to us and it was our last day in the mission school I went out to a cottage meeting in the evening with Elder Knudsen
November 9 - Saturday - I got up at 6:30 and left on the 7:00 train for Arnhem. I arrived there about 9:00 and was met at the train station by Elders Poelman and Gardenier. We had a district class (10:00 - 1:00), ate lunch, and played basketball and volleyball (2:30 - 6:00). We went to a birthday party of a member, Mev. Bosveld, in the evening (7:30 - 11:00)
November 10 - Sunday - We went to meetings in the morning (9:00 - 12:00), ate lunch, and went to two meetings at Enskede (2:00 - 8:00). We traveled about 4 hours, Elder Butler and I. Elder Butler, Freek Krammer and I went to a meeting at Sister Peter’s house (8:30 - 11:15).
November 11 - I studied in the morning and Elder Butler and I went out to Velp, Pheden, and Steeds, to make some call backs. (10:00 - 5:00). We returned for dinner and then went back out to Velp for some cottage meetings with Bosvelds and Bouwers. (7:00 - 10:30). We had some very nice meetings there and then fietsed home, about 5 kilometers from Velp. It was over 10 kilometers to Rheden. When we returned home, all the lights were out because of a burned out fuse. We visited some more investigators and members, the westerhoffs and then returned home and went to bed without any lights in the building.
November 12 - Tuesday - I checked in with the police and did some shopping in the morning. Elder Butler and I went tracting in the afternoon. We had very little luck and after we went to Westerhoff’s for dinner, Elder Butler, Poelman, Stewart, and I. We went to a call back in the evening, that fell thru. I studied in the evening.
November 13 - Elder Butler and I went tracting in the morning and got nothing but a lot of call backs. We returned for primary and then went tracting afterward. We went to dinner again at Westerhoffs and had mutual in the evening. We went to Peters after and I wrote letters after that.
November 14 - Thursday - We went tracting in the morning, had lunch at Peters, and went to call backs. Eight of them fell through so we tracted some more. We ate supper, had choir practice, and then went to a cottage meeting at Brouwers.
November 15 - Friday - We went tracting (10:00 - 12:00), and had two cottage meetings. We went to Peters for lunch and went tracting (2:00 - 5:00). We had one more more cottage meeting and I gave the lesson. We went to Westerhoffs for dinner and then had a cottage meeting there after dinner. We went out to Oosterbeyk to an appointment, which fell thru (7:30 - 9:00), ant then went to Kramers (9:00 - 11:15)
November 16 - Elder Butler and I did some studying and branch work in the morning and we played basketball (2:30 - 5:30). We went to an appointment after and then had a show evening here at the church. We had a good dinner of chicken and nassi that night about 12:00.
November 17 - Sunday - We had meetings (9:00 - 12:00) and I studied after. We had another meeting, 5:00, and went to Peters for a cottage meeting and for dinner. (7:00 - 11:00). I returned home and wrote some letters.
November 18 - Monday - We did some work at the church and studying in the morning. We visited Inv. and went to Peters for lunch and rode out to Rheden in the afternoon. We had cottage meetings with Bosvelds and Brouwers in the evening.
November 19 - Elder Poelman and I tracted in the morning and had no luck. Elder Stewart and I had two meetings in the afternoon and all four of us elders went to Westerhoffs for dinner. Elder Butler and I went out to Rheden for two meetings after.
November 20 - We tracted, visited members, and went to call backs with very little luck. We went to Brother Theo Westerhoffs again for dinner. We had O.O.F. that evening.
November 21 - We had one cottage meeting and talked with some Jehovah Witnesses. We had choir and went to some call backs that fell through.
November 22 - Friday - We visited members and Inv., had lunch at Peters, and went tracting. (1 cottage meeting) We went to Westerhoffs again for dinner and went Huis - Bezoeking (ward teaching). (7:00 - 11:15) It snowed and rained most of the day.
November 23 - Saturday - We had a district class and testimony meeting (10:00 - 12:00), which I enjoyed very much. There was really a wonderful spirit there. We played basketball and went to the show later.
November 24 - We had meetings (9:00 - 12:00), visited members, more meetings, and then to Peters for a meal and a cottage meeting (6:30 - 10:30).
November 25 - Monday - We visited Inv., ate lunch at Peters, and Visited members and more Inv. My companion had received his transfer to go to Rotterdam and he only had three days notice. We visited Bosvelds and Brouwers in the Evening.
November 26 - Elder Poelman and I went to a cottage meeting and tracting. All four of us elders went to Westerhoffs for dinner. Elder Butler and I went visiting inv. - members in the evening. (8:00 - 12:15)
November 27 - We visited Peters, took care of primary, visited Bosvelds for dinner, went to O.O.V, and then went back to Peters in the evening. My companion was busy in between visits packing and getting ready to move.
November 28 - Thursday - Thanksgiving Day - The four of us elders got ready and went down to the station. We took the train to Den Haag (9:00 - 11:00), and met some other elders in Utrecht. Four of the elders in our district had missed their train.
We took a tram and bus to the new church in the Hague and had and hour meeting before dinner. Then we all sat down to a real American turkey dinner. We had a show put on by the elders and had a beautiful reading “I am America,” by Sister Sperry. There was a real spirit of thankfulness present there. A group of us elders went to a show and then Brother Holbrook, an American member working in Holland, drove six of us out to his home and put us up for the night. We had some real delicious American meals that night and the next morning Elders Butler, V.D. Meijden, V. ry, Thomas, Dartnelle and I were there
November 29 - Friday - Brother Holbrook drove us back to the church in the morning and we had a testimony meeting and many beautiful testimonies were expressed. The spirit of the Lord was truly present and it was really a humbling experience.
After the meeting, we all ate lunch (yogurt and hotdogs), talked with each other, and our district washed the dishes. We had Photographs taken and then we started for Arnhem again. Elder Butler had to take his suitcases to Rotterdam so he, Elder Stewart, Elder Poelman, and I went there and had some dinner at the home of some elders there. Then the four of us took the train for home, and had to transfer three more times to get there.
November 30 - I studied, did some shopping, and then we played basketball (2:30 - 5:30). Elder Butler and I made a visit and I studied more in there. My new companion, Elder Sieverts, arrived here in the evening.
December 1 - Sunday - It was fast sunday and we held meetings (9:00 - 12:30) I bore my testimony for the first time in Dutch. I studied most of the day and then we had another meeting at 5:00. Elder Butler gave his farewell talk here in Arnhem before leaving for rotterdam.
December 2 - Monday - I studied and Elder Reed Sievers, my new companion, and I did branch work all day. We fietzed out to Oosterbeyk to change an appointment and we called on a few call backs, visited Bosvelds and Brouwers in the evening.
December 3 - Elder Stewart and I went tracking and to a cottage meeting (9:30 - 12:30) Elder Poelman and I went tracting and got in once for about two hours. We all went to Westerhoffs for dinner and Elder Sieverts and I rode out to Rheden for a cottage meeting. We were stopped by the police on our trip back for not having lights on our fietzen; but we spoke english to him and he let us go on.
December 4 - Wednesday - Elder Sieverts and I went tracting in the morning and had two cottage meetings (I gave one of them). In the afternoon we had primary and then met with some Jehovah Witnesses. We had a Sintaklaas Day at O.O.V. in the evening where we all gave presents and played some games.
December 5 - Sintaklaas Dag - We tracted and did branch work in the morning. We caught a train for Rotterdam and then went there to get my companion passport renewed. We were busy doing that from (1:30 - 8:00) We went to a meeting at 2R V.D. Vlists afterward.
December 6 - Friday - We visited members, at lunch at Peters, and in the afternoon tracted. (1:30 - 5:00) We had 5 cottage meetings in that time. We went to Westerhoffs for dinner and I studied afterward.
December 7 - Saturday - We had a district class in the morning of all ten elders in the district. Then we all went out to a gym to play basketball. We had planned to play a team here from the Dutch Army but they didn’t show up.
December 8 - Sunday - We had meetings (9:00 - 12:00), ate a few leftovers for lunch, and I studied and wrote letters. At 5:00 we had sacrament meeting and I was one of the speakers. It was my first talk while here in holland and it was, to say the least, very short. Elder Sieverts and I went to Peters afterward for a cottage meeting; and since we had already eaten all the leftovers, we fasted the supper meal.
December 9 - Elder Sieverts and I went to some call backs and had three cottage meetings. We did some branch work in the afternoon after eating lunch at peters. We had appointments in Velp, Bosvelds, and in Rheden, Lustenburgers.
December 10 - In the morning Elder Stewart and I went to appointments; I gave one godhead lesson. In the afternoon, I worked with Elder Poelman in Geitenkamp. We had two cottage meetings. In the first one I gave a mev. Antheuinis a three in one, which was my first apostasy and restoration lessons. I also gave an apostasy lesson to a Men. Bergman, who I had given a godhead lesson to a few days earlier. They both were very interested in the gospel. We ate at Westerhoffs and made a few call back tries in the evening.
December 11 - Wednesday - Elder Sieverts and I went to a cottage meeting in the morning, and after we went back to the church to get my extra fietz key (I had lost my first one near the cottage meeting), we went to Sister Van Der Vusts for dinner. All four of us elders were there and the dinner was relly lekker. We had rabbit, mashed potatoes, etc. Elder Sieverts and I had two more cottage meetings in the afternoon. We had O.O.V. that evening.
December 12 - Elder Van Der Meuden and I went tracting in the morning and had one cottage meeting. Elder Sieverts and I did some personal and branch work. In the afternoon, we had song choir in the evening and had a cottage meeting after that.
December 13 - Friday - Elder Sieverts and I went tracting in the morning but didn’t get in once (We almost froze to death) We did some branch work and tracted again in the afternoon. We had two cottage meetings, then, both with strong catholics. We ate at Westerhoffs and then went way out to Oosterbeyk to an appointment which fell through. We then fietzed back out to Velp, Brouwers. We had a very good cottage meeting with them.
December 14 - Saturday - We did some shopping and then went tracting for awhile. We contracted an old lady who was from America. We had a difficult time trying to speak english to her but she seemed a little bit interested in the gospel. We played basketball and volleyball in the afternoon and showed some slides that evening.
December 15 - Sunday 0 We held meetings (9:00 - 12:00), studied, and then went to Ede to speak. (4:30 - 7:30). We studied and wrote letters and were fasting that evening.
December 16 - Monday - We went tracting (10:00 - 12:00) and had no luck. We ate lunch at Peters and tracted again in the afternoon. We had three cottage meetings, one very good one with a catholic lady. I gave two of them. We ate dinner at Bosvelds and visited with them (6:00 - 10:45). It was a very cold day and we almost froze while tracting and fietzing.
December 17 - Tuesday - Elder Stewart and I went to two cottage meetings in the morning, one plan of salvation lesson to Mev. Grosman and one book of mormon lesson. Mev. Grosman was a very humble person and seemed very interested in the gospel; she offered a very humble and sincere prayer when we kneeled at the end of the lesson. In the afternoon, Elder Poelman and I tracted and had two cottage meetings. We all were invited to sister Pol’s for dinner. We really had a lekker dinner and we had a real good time. Elder Sieverts’ held two cottage meetings that evening; one book of mormon lesson to family Bergman. They seemed very much interested and had read the pamphlets we had left them. Men. Bergman gave a very nice prayer and then invited us out to dinner. They were very humble and told us they had knelt and prayed together last Sunday.
December 18 - We had one cottage meeting in the morning, ate a lekker lunch at Peters, and had two more cottage meetings in the afternoon. We held mutual in the evening and talked with some old investigators afterward.
December 19 - Thursday - We did some branch work and picked up 4 packages at the post-office for me (3 from my parents and 1 from Joann). We visited some investigators, had lunch, and then fietzed out to Veld and Rheden to visit investigators and change appointments. We had song choir and then fietzed out to costerbeyk to another arsprak, which fell through again.
Friday - December 20 - We visited members, ate lunch at Peters, visited some investigators, and then caught a train for Brummen. We went there to visit a Sister there. It was raining and had been most of the day and we had to walk about 3 or 4 miles through the rain and mud to the house. The member was a Sister Bzumkes, who lived there with her 11 children; she needed a bit of help over the Christmas holidays, we returned home and went ward teaching in the evening.
December 21 - Saturday - We held a district class and testimony meeting with the 10 elders of our district present. It was a very enjoyable and inspirational meeting. We all ate lunch and then played basketball. We all had blisters on our blisters after that and we limped to a show in the evening. We had some ice cream and lumpjes for dinner.
December 22 - Sunday - We held meetings in the morning (9:00 - 12:00), studied, ate, and went to sacrament meeting at 5:00. We had a good attendance and a very good meeting. We didn’t have any more food left in the house so we bought bami-balls and french-fries for dinner.
December 23 - Monday - We tracted in the morning and had one cottage meeting. We did branch work and had one meeting in the afternoon. We were invited out to Bosvelds again for dinner. We had some delicious erwten soup (split pea), of which I had four helpings. We then had a dessert of sweetened macaroni with a sauce of fruit salad. It was really different but was still very good. We fietzed out to Rheden for a cottage meeting with Fam Lustenburgers. We then returned again to Velp for a cottage meeting with Bosvelds.
December 24 - We read all our christmas mail in the morning and Elder Stewart and I went tracting and had one cottage meeting. Elder Poelman and I had one cottage meeting, a book of mormon lesson, in the afternoon. Elder Sieverts and I went to another cottage meeting in the evening and then we all went to a midnight catholic mass that eve, but it was too crowded to see anything.
December 25 - Wednesday - Christmas Day - We slept in until 9:30 and then we showered and opened our Christmas presents. I had 8 separate packages from Joann and two boxes from my parents. I got a stocking and candy, nuts, stationery, handkerchiefs, and a beautiful sweater from Joann. I got a pants presser, puzzle, cakes, candy, and a stocking, and a watch band from my parents; aprons from Sharon and Kent, a warmer from Diane, and earmuffs and a ski-cap from Stevie. I also got a book from my companion. We held a meeting for the children (10:30 - 12:00), where we gave out presents and told Christmas stories. All four of us elders went out to eat at a chinese restaurant and had chicken soup and Lioempjes (bean sprouts, meat, sauce, etc.) We had a banana-split after. We had another meeting (2:30 - 4:30) Where the song choir sang and we told more Christmas stories. We talked for awhile and waited for Elder Ashton to arrive, and then ate supper about 9:00. It was a delicious meal of rice, meat, and a mixture of other lekker things. We all talked, rested, and digested our food and finally got to bed about 3:00 in the morning. There were six of us elders staying there that night; Elder Sieverts, Elder Ashton, Elder Pinney, Elder Noorda, Elder O’Neil, and me. Ouderling Tielman from Amsterdam was also there.
December 26 - Tweede Kerstdag - We slept in until 10:30, got up, and ate lunch, 12:00 we visited some other members there in Den Haag and then went to a show, April love. We caught a train for Arnhem, 7:00 - 9:00 and ate some of the goodies we received for christmas. We got 2 salads, 2 room-boter cakes and a delicious apple-tart from members in the Gemeente.
We all received Christmas presents from Tielmans and I got more handkerchiefs. We gave Sister Tielman an oven for her birthday, Christmas day.
December 27 - Friday - Elder Sieverts and I tracted in the morning and afternoon without any luck. We were invited out to Westerhoffs again for dinner, and then we fietzed out to Rheden; but our appointment there fell thru. We had one cottage meeting later up in Geitenkamp with a barber, Men. DeVries.
December 28, Saturday - We studied in the morning and went out to the gym to play basketball and volleyball (2:30 - 5:30), We then went to Fam Bergmans up in Geitenkamp for dinner (Stampot - a mixture of cabbage and potatoes, and spek). We showed the family a book of mormon film and gave them a book of Mormon.
December 29 - Sunday - We held meetings (9:00 - 12:00), ate a good lunch, and studied. Elder Sieverts and I caught a bus for Appeldoorn and spoke there at Sacrament Meeting, 4:30. There were only about nine people present. We returned home where the other elders were showing slides to investigators. I studied, wrote letters, and then retired.
December 30 - Elder Sieverts and I visited members, Fam. De Heus, Theo Westerhoff, and Fam. Kramers. We tracted in the afternoon and had one cottage meeting. We fietzed out to Veld and after dinner and had a good cottage meeting with Bosvelds. Bro Bosveld said he would be baptized next month. We met with Brouwers and went to Sister Van Der Vusts after to see about a rabbit dinner for new years day. We had some lekker snoops and went home about 11:30.
December 31 - Tuesday - New Years Eve - In the morning, Elder Poelman and I went tracting and had one cottage meeting and talked with a lady, and atheist, for over an hour. Elder Stewart and I went tracting in the afternoon in a very elite section of town. We talked with many people who were filthy rich and had one cottage meeting. Elder Sieverts ate dinner at Westerhoffs, ernten soup; and then after studying for awhile, the four of us elders went to Fam. Bussinks for olie-bolen (bread dough and raisins, cooked in oil), Apples cooked in oil, potato salad and other things. It was new years eve and we stayed there until midnight and celebrated the new year by shooting off firecrackers. We stayed there until about 2:00 in the morning and finally got to bed about 2:30.
No comments:
Post a Comment