A Very Busy November

November started off with the inspections of more missionary apartments.  They are mostly somewhat decent, but occasionally we have to make return visits to ensure that things are corrected.  We have to keep reminding ourselves that most of these young folks have never lived away from home since the mission age has now been lowered.  We do wish that the elders had completed the home repair merit badge in scouting and that the sisters knew a bit more about keeping things uncluttered.  Now that we have been out for 18 months, we gently try to move things along towards a more orderly state.

On Monday, November 7, we drove to Zoetermeer near The Hague to participate in the mission temple conference.  The mission had challenged the missionaries to find a family name to take to the temple and Sister Reeves worked tirelessly and skillfully to ensure that most did.  This also required that the baptisms and confirmations be performed before the missionaries came to the temple since there would not be enough time or workers to do that.  The one exception was Sister Nyakoh who was doing the work for her mother.  She and her companion, Sister Abbot rode from Groningen to Soetermeer with us the night before so that she could arrive at the temple early to do that work.  She is finishing her mission this month and has been a valiant, hard working sister.  There was a special spirit as she performed this important work.

Two zones per day were assigned to visit the temple.  Our Zone was on the first day and we were able to be the witness couple.  We also helped at the vail.  In the afternoon, we had a zone class at the Zoetermeer chapel.  They recognized October and November birthdays and Sister Bunnell (the wife of our mission president) gives the group one minute per person to say things they admire about that person.  Since Bonnie's birthday was on October 18, she was also recognized for her good cooking, warm heart and ability to get everyone singing a part.  I had to add that she was the hottest sister missionary in the history of the mission and an amazing kisser.  The elders asked for a demonstration, so I had to march up and show them.  It seemed to be a big hit.  They told us in the MTC that many missionaries come from broken homes, so it doesn't hurt to demonstrate a little senior couple love from time-to-time.

We stayed overnight on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday so we could help with the vails and laundry.  We only attended the session with our zone on Tuesday, but it is always a joy to work in the temple.  On Tuesday, we ate lunch with the Hills at a great Indonesian restaurant in Zoetermeer and Doris Eizenzeitel met us for dinner at our hotel since Heijo and her two girls were staying with his parents for a couple of days.

On Thursday, we rushed back to Groningen so that Bonnie could prepare dinner for the institute class and attend institute.  Despite the tight schedule, everything turned out well.  We came away impressed with how much the temple presidents and matrons at these smaller temples have to do themselves.  President and Sister Van Dam were on a senior mission when we first arrived and were later called as the temple president, so we really enjoy that association.

Early Saturday morning, November 12 we drove to the Amsterdam airport to pick up Bonnie's brother Robert and his new wife Zelda.  We had been looking forward to their visit for some weeks.  It was great to see them and they were game to start the adventures immediately.  We treated them to a traditional HEMA rookworst (smoked sausage and HEMA is a five and ten cent store famous for the sausage) and then headed off to the Zaanse Schans for some serious windmill photography and a wooden shoe making demonstration.  We also introduced them to warm chocomel (a real Dutch treat, especially with whipped cream).

We then headed to Volendam, the old fishing village on the Ijsselmeer (formerly the Zuider Zee).  We were fortunate to be there on market day and the outdoor market was friendly and fun  Of course, we had to have our pictures taken in native Dutch attire.

We drove two very tired travelers across the enclosure dike (Afsluitdijk) and managed to snap a picture of them on the bridge over the freeway.  The weather was not very friendly that late afternoon.

On Sunday morning, we drove the hour to the Leeuwarden chapel where Robert and Zelda were the sacrament meeting speakers.  They both did a great job and due to the translation work of two local sisters were understood and appreciated by all.  In a small branch, it is great to have outside speakers occasionally.  This was their first time to speak together and we were grateful for their service.

Monday morning we drove to Vesting Bourtagne (a star fort that has been restored).  It is fairly close by on the German border and made for a nice morning trip.  Since it was cold, we had to finish off with a cup of hot chocolate (and whipped cream, of course).  We returned home in time to prepare dinner and host family home evening.  Robert and Zelda were a hit with the missionaries, the investigators and the young single adults.

On Tuesday morning, we held district class at our apartment.  Since this was the last district meeting of the transfer, it is always bitter sweet.  This was the last transfer for Sister Nyakoh since she was being released after serving her 18 months.  We are happy to be able to see her regularly since she will return to the ranks of the Young Single Adults (JOVOs).

 On Tuesday afternoon, we took Zelda and Robert into the center of Groningen.  Our first stop was a famous cheese store with more than 100 varieties of artisanal cheeses.  This is a far cry from the touristy cheese shops in Amsterdam.  Of course, everyone had to bus some of these extraordinary cheeses.

 We tried to get them to eat some pickled herring or smoked eel, but they would only consent to having their picture taken by one of the fish stands.  Tuesday was market day, so the center was particularly busy and fun.

On Wednesday, we headed for Amsterdam early in the morning to meet our 10:30 AM appointment at the Anne Frank house.  This new appointment schedule certainly works better than the long lines we used to encounter.  Now that it is off season, the appointments for this and the Van Gogh museum are easier to get.  Since we got there about 45 minutes early, we had time for a delicious hot chocolate at a restaurant nearby.  We decided we needed to remember this place.

The seven bridges on the Regulator Canal

Of course, for dinner, we had to eat at Het Loetje near the central station.  They serve amazing filet mignons.  (Eat your heart out, Gordon and Jessie).

On Thursday morning we headed to Van Gogh Museum and followed up with a visit to the Rijksmuseum and lunch at the famous Sama Sebo Indonesian restaurant nearby.

Dinner at Het Loetje

There are twice as many bicycles in the Netherlands as in Beijing and more bicycles than people

In the Portuguese Jewish Synagog in Amsterdam

On Friday morning, we left Amsterdam to go to the temple in Zoetermeer (Sweet Lake) near The Hague.  It was lovely to do a session (in Dutch) with Robert and Zelda.  After the temple, we drove back to Groningen.

On Saturday morning, we drove to Giethoorn.  This is always a favorite with our visitors.  It is a charming village without any roads.  We enjoy taking a ride through the canals and then walking along the narrow foot path through the main section of the village.  We also have found several nice restaurants where the food is good and the service is friendly.  On cold days, hot chocolate, Dutch style is certainly called for.

Giethoorn was also made famous by a comedy film made there in the 1950s called "Fanfare".  It is about a town band that splits in two.  At the Fanfare cafe, you can see the instruments and banner from the film.  You can find it on Youtube with English subtitles.  It is ranked as one of the 10 best Dutch comedy films.

On Sunday, November 20, we attended Church in Leeuwarden where Robert and Zelda were greeted like members of the family.  After Church we drove to Gouda for the 3rd Sunday Young Single Adult fireside and sacrament meeting.  Since Robert and Zelda were leaving for home on Tuesday, we decided to stay in a hotel near the airport and do some sightseeing on Monday.

Monday morning we got up early and drove to the Aalsmeer Flower Auction.  This is the largest auction in the world and about 50% of the world's flowers go through this place every day.  These days, much of the auction takes place over the internet, but there are still lots of wholesale buyers who come.   The auction hall is the world's largest building by surface area (128 acres).  About $4 billion worth of flowers trade every day and there are about 20,000 different sorts of plants and flowers.

This was taken in front of a green screen and emailed to us automatically

We were happy to see that the employees are provided with fresh fish on the floor of the action

After the auction, we drove to Kinderdijk.  This is probably the most photographed site in the Netherlands because a large number of historic polder mills (used to pump water) have been preserved in one area.

Saying our final goodbyes to Robert and Zelda

Finally, the time came for us to drop them back off at the IBIS hotel by the airport and to say goodbye.  We were impressed with their sense of adventure and willingness to try new things (except for the pickled herring and smoked eel).  We really enjoyed our time together and are grateful for their visit.

On Wednesday, we attended a zone training class in Zwolle.  The Zone Leaders had planned on a cereal party for lunch, but Sisters Hill and Caldwell volunteered to serve soup and fresh bread.  It was hard to fathom serving cold, hungry missionaries cold cereal.  The soups and breads were very welcome and help the missionaries have the energy to participate in a quality zone training session.

Bonnie making homemade noodles

Our Zone Leaders - Elders Leigh and Stanger

Sisters Hill and Caldwell with their soups

Fashionable missionary hat on Elder Steele

Elder Croft and Bonnie.  His great grandfather delivered her

Zone training had a festive air

Sister Abbot serving Chocomel (the amazingly delicious chocolate milk).

Since Thursday was Thanksgiving day in the US (but not in the Netherlands), Bonnie decided to serve a Thanksgiving dinner at the institute class.  Turkeys here are hard to come by and are imported from France.  Bonnie decided to cook a couple of turkey breasts in roasting bags in the oven (the winner of last year's experiment).

Small, French turkeys just aren't the same

Dinner is served

Time for pie

On Sunday, November 27, Bonnie led the primary children from Leeuwarden with a few others visiting (11 total) in the Primary Sacrament Meeting program.  She has worked long and hard to help the children learn the songs and to ensure that parents helped the children to prepare talks.  The program was a great success and sacrament meeting was well attended.

Two proud grandfathers, Brother Job and President Brandenburg

We concluded the month with a family home evening on Monday, District Class on Tuesday and home teaching in Leeuwarden on Wednesday.  The whole month of November flew by faster than we were ready for and it is sad to realize that the last few months of our mission are likely to fly by even faster.