Holidays and starting the New Year

The holidays gave us lots of work in helping prepare the ward Christmas dinner, the Sunday program and visiting families who were struggling with health and financial issues.  Because of privacy concerns, we hesitate to mention details of these situations, but we have a number of families who are really struggling and we have spent many hours ministering to their needs.  We know we helped alleviate some privation and suffering over the holidays.  While there is a decent safety net in Belgium, some needs and issues just fall through the cracks.  It makes you grateful for the welfare program of the Church and for the generosity of members in ministering to those needs.

The holidays can be a little lonely for senior couples.  We have spent six of the last seven Christmases away from our children and grandchildren, although Lee, McCall and Tait visited us in Kuwait and Beirut five years ago.  We did enjoy a nice FaceTime call with each of the kids on Christmas day.  We also had the Leuven elders with us that day as they made their phone calls home.  We finished off the day with a little impromptu carolling at the bus station as they caught their bus back to Leuven.

On the Sunday after Christmas, we watched the First Presidency Christmas fireside for our sacrament meeting service.  Then a number of members visited a rest home where one of our members is located and carolled.  We did so well that they asked us to carol to three different wards of the home.  I guess we have what it takes to form a decent ward choir.

In the last transfer, about half of the district left, including our beloved district leader, Elder Hosea (who became a zone leader).  Our new district leader is from Surinam, Elder Bishesar.  He is a seasoned veteran and hit the ground running.  We also had the two zone leaders with us for our first class.  Elder Lott returned to Belgium as a zone leader and folks were happy to see him, especially the people in the Leuven ward.

On New Year's eve, we travelled to the extreme north of the mission to Leeuwarden and Groningen to meet the other couples serving in the mission, including President and Sister Bunnell. First, we visited the site of the first baptisms in the Netherlands on October 1, 1861.

We then visited a lovely wooden shoe factory and finally went to a spectacular buffet restaurant for dinner.  We were surprised to find a New Year's special of 19 Euros per person instead of the usual 29.  I guess we could describe the place as a gourmet buffet.  President Bunnell started off with a roll-em-up (rolled pickled herring).  He then dug into kangaroo and crocodile steaks and followed it up with a selection of great desserts.  He set a standard that none of the rest of us could match, although Sister Beryl Gout made a valiant effort.

President and Sister Bunnell showing how to fit two into a pair of shoes. 

We had to follow the good example of our beloved mission president.

Elder Gary Romig showing the favorite missionary shoes.

The Romigs finally got as silly as the rest of us. 

President Bunnell tieing into a roll-em-up.  Sister Bunnell is doing her best to ignore him.

Sister Bunnell got very friendly during the dessert phase of the meal.

After the buffet dinner, we all checked into a hotel in Groningen and then went to the senior missionary apartment to watch the New Year's fireworks, enjoy each other's company and eat even more food.  We definitely stayed up too late for folks our age and returned to the hotel after 1:00 AM.  It is such a blessing to serve with these wonderful couples.

Elder Gary Romig presiding over the festivities (or pondering Lehi's dream).

Buddy Gout and Sister Robison playing quartet with famous philosophers.  The cards were in Dutch.

Elder Hill looking on.

Elder Robison trying to look interested.

The sisters showing how teamwork is done. 

A tough game of five crowns.

The next morning, we met at the home of Buddy and Beryl Gout who are responsible for the Young Single Adult program in the area.  We enjoyed a lovely brunch and then parted to go our separate ways.  We journeyed to Almere to see John van Vliet and his daughter Judith (and family).  We had a wonderful visit with them and Judith served us appleflap and oliebollen, traditional Dutch New Year's treats.

The whole gang at the Gout's before departure.

The van Vliets/Fuenzalidas

Life returned to normal on Sunday as we held fast and testimony meeting, helped the elders teach a lesson and then made a mad dash to go to Antwerpen for the Young Single Adult (Jovo) fireside.  We were blessed to have Michael Dorreman with us since he returned from the Alpine mission this past month.  He is a great young man and it is nice to have the Leuven Ward represented with the rest of the Jovos in the stake.

We tried a traditional Belgian dish (vol au vent) on the missionaries at the district class this week and it seemed to be well received with most asking for seconds.  We like to introduce the young missionaries to some of the local delicacies from time-to-time.  I can't say that the foie gras went over as well, although everyone tried it.  No one asked for seconds.  We started the local tradition last summer by serving mussels.  Many had never tried it before and it inspired the Bishop to try them for the first time (after eight years in Belgium).

We also began the process of inspecting missionary apartments again.  We have about 22 to do and we do it every three months.  We do a lot of instruction on basic cleaning, perform basic home repairs, check for carbon monoxide and fire alarms and leave them with a treat.  The apartments have definitely improved with regular inspections.  We also enjoy getting to know the missionaries a little better.