Three weeks worth of intense activity

After our district class on Tuesday, October 27, we visited the Vershuure family so that the two sisters could plan the musical activities for Christmas.  This lovely family has three younger daughters who charmed us with their musical talents.  They are great young ladies!

On Thursday, October 29, the entire district gathered to assist Sister Lindsay Hacke with her move.  This required a fair amount of work, but the weather could not have been more beautiful.  We were also blessed to have access to the street that was under construction.  In addition, Elder Groenvelt was kind enough to have his birthday, so we could share another birthday cake.

The entire district turned out to help with the move.

A very happy and relieved Sister Hacke

On Saturday, October 31, we attended the ward pumpkin carving party sponsored by the primary.  It was great fun for old and young alike, although the young seemed to find more activities to participate in.

Bishop Dixon showing how it's done

The missionary table with Elder Drinkwater and Sister Caldwell

The Bishop ensuring that Sister Caldwell didn't get too wild with her weapon

The primary kids showing how to follow a dance video

On Sunday, November 1, we drove to Antwerpen for the regular Jovo (Young Single Adult) first Sunday fireside.  Because there were so many activities that weekend, we had mostly Jovos from the Antwerpen and Breda area.  They still enjoyed the evening and the couple providing the meal added a late Halloween touch or two including spider rings and eyeball gum.

This week, we also discovered another attraction in Mechelen, the Il Cardinale Burger Bar.  It is right next to St. Rombold cathedral.  Mechelen is the headquarters of the Catholic Church in Belgium and the former Archbishop of Mechelen is a cardinal.  They served a skimpy plate of popcorn, but the burgers were great with interesting names.  We decided that it is definitely worth a repeat experience.

On Saturday, November 7, we drove to the mission home to participate in an activity for the senior couples in the mission.  We visited the Mesdag Panorama in Scheveningen, a former fishing village near The Hague.  This amazing panorama was painted in 1881 by an artist who moved to the region from Groningen.  It captured the village as it was and has been carefully maintained and restored over the years.  It is quite a national treasure.  After the museum, we returned to the home of the mission president for a potluck dinner and to hear from the Kleyns who were departing and the Hills who had just arrived.

President van der Put

Elder and Sister Kleyn who just left to return

Elder and Sister Robison - they are worth three normal senior couples!

Elder and Sister Hill, already looking like they are settled in

Elder Romig, Sister van der Put, Elder Buddy Gout, Sister Beryl Gout

President van der Put and President Bunnell at the door of the new mission office

On Tuesday, November 10, we spent our last District class before the transfer and took our traditional two pictures.  Time in the mission field is measured by transfers and these seem to be coming faster and faster these days.  This time we received a transfer call on Sunday evening from our wonderful zone leaders informing us that we were not being transferred.  We really enjoyed the fact that they thought of us.

Elder Hosea holding the award given to the District for winning the zone football match

On Wednesday, November 11, we drove to The Hague Temple to participate in baptisms for the dead with the youth of the ward.  This day was a holiday in Belgium (but not the Netherlands) celebrating the World War I armistice day so the kids didn't have school.  The temple was full of people from Belgium who were taking this day to focus on this critically important work.  We feel blessed to serve with such faithful saints.

The young men + Stein Strobants in the parking garage of the temple 

Two of our young single adults and the son of the Bishop

The whole gang minus Elder Caldwell who was taking the picture

On Saturday, November 14, we had 10 young adults from the stake at our home for an early American style Thanksgiving dinner.  Several had served in the US on missions or had experiences with the holiday in other mission and had requested a party like this.  Sister Caldwell had to do lots of innovation and modifications of recipes to pull it off, but it was a great success.  She also figured out how to substitute skinless turkey breasts for a whole turkey since they do not seem to be available here and her tiny oven could not hold one anyway.  Gravy was also a challenge.  Her innovations in pumpkin pie baking and homemade cranberry sauce were amazing!

The Young Adults just before digging in.

The meal was enthusiastically received

No one went hungry 

The after dinner present exchange.  Each had to cost less than one Euro 

Sister Caldwell is prepared for Santa

The squeaky toy was a big hit

On Sunday, November 15, we drove to Breda for the area Jovo fireside, dinner and sacrament meeting.  These are always great activities.  We were blessed to have Sanna Brandenberg with us and she met her brother and cousin as we arrived at the beautiful chapel in Breda.

On Tuesday, November 17, Sister Caldwell had to prepare dinner for 40 for the Zone training meeting.  She served lasagna with a nice salad and rolls and we served Brussels waffles for dessert.  It seemed to be well received.

Sister Caldwell putting together lasagnas in the kitchen of the Antwerpen building

The Elders practicing the right way to perform baptisms.  The members perform
the ordinance here, but they wanted to ensure that the missionaries knew
how to do it reverently.

The faithful workers cleaning up after the dinner.  These missionaries stayed to the bitten end.
We can always count on Elder Hosea to be in the middle of any work to be done.  He is a great
district leader.

We also continue to have wonderful experiences working with the members here in the area.  Here are some more of our favorites.

The van Langeneckers plus the new puppy in reindeer attire

The Marien family with their daughter and two grandchildren.
They served us a delightful meal of Belgian Endive (witlof).