We met the Speks, the Senior Couple who will complete their mission in about two weeks. They graciously showed us their home, knowing it would become ours when they leave. They then took us to several places in Groningen, including the kerk and the JoVo's Center. A highlight was driving to the monument at the spot where the first baptisms in Holland took place (Pictured above and below).
That evening we ate dinner with the Speks at the home of Bro. & Zr. Gout, the JoVo Directors for Germany and Holland. After dinner we had some much needed JoVo training and Brent & Zanne spent the night with the Gouts.
We awoke to eat a typical bread, cheese and eggs breakfast with the Gouts, then followed them to church at the Leeuwarden Branch, about 60 kilometers from Groningen. The Gouts were wonderfully warm and hospitable! We can see that they will become dear friends and a great support to us during our time in Groningen and Leeuwarden!
Groningen has a fully functioning ward. Pres. Robinson has asked us to attend in Leeuwarden and offer our support and service to build the branch there.
During the Sacrament portion of the meeting, the spirit was incredibly strong and sacred. Following the Sacrament, the Branch President asked us each to introduce ourselves. Brent bore a beautiful testimony and shared a bit of his ancestry roots in Dutch. Suzanne introduced herself and bore her first simple testimony in a meeting in Dutch. We felt, without question, that this was exactly where the Lord wishes for us to serve His children.
We left Leeuwarden and started the drive back to Amsterdam via the dijk. We are very excited to return to Groningen and Leeuwarden and begin our service in this special part of Holland!
This beautiful marker commemorates the first baptisms in the Netherlands on October 1, 1861. It is located just outside Leeuwarden, and the baptisms took place in the turn of the canal.
Since the day we learned of our calling to Holland have waited for an opportunity to meet Zuster Rosenlof from Ridgecrest, CA. Our nephew, Matt Bishop works in the bishopric with Zr. Rosenlof's father. Matt also
served here when he was a young man.
Zusters Rosenlof & Western serve in the Leeuwarden Branch where we will be serving.
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| This picture of the countryside is not an uncommon sight...notice the old and the modern windmills. The Dutch have truly learned the value of harnessing this part of nature. Holland is very open and flat, and the wind often blows anywhere there isn't something to block it. |
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| The beginning of the dijk on the east side. |
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Land is precious in the Netherlands, and the Dutch people reclaim much of their land from the sea. There are cities in Holland that didn't exist when Brent was here as a young Elder, because the land was under water.
Here the dijk, holding the sea back, is even used for grazing sheep.
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| Courage is shown in THIS use of the wind! |
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| From the top of the dijk you can see lake on the left and sea on the right. Incredible Dutch ingenuity! |
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| Sun on the North Sea at Den Helder |
Brent has wonderful memories of serving in Den Helder with Elder Don Smart (who later became our head usher at our wedding reception.) After crossing the dijk, we realized we were only a few miles from Den Helder, so we turned right and followed small country roads to the end of the land and found this beautiful, windy part of Brent's and Holland's history.
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| Brent had remembered that Den Helder had a beautiful lighthouse...we wandered in the car and on foot until we found it. It was worth the effort! |
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| Brent & Zanne with the lighthouse (and wind) |
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| Battle fought between Dutch and English in 1799 |
We plan to return to Den Helder and visit the museum
at this old fort. It looks like it stepped right out of a
historic novel with walls and a mote and all. A beautiful, picturesque place to sight see on a Sunday evening.
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| Brent at the old fort in Den Helder |
What a beautiful place to spend 2 years. We love you. Thanks for sharing. You know just how interested we are in all you're doing. And, by the way, you are glowing.
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