On Sunday, March 6, we attended our last fast and testimony meeting in the Leuven Ward. It is hard to say goodbye to these members we now know so well. Belgians are a bit reserved in the beginning, but they are warm hearted and we feel great love for and trust in the faithfulness of these wonderful members.
On Monday, March 7, we had all of the sisters in the Antwerpen Zone at our home. Four of these sisters are going home this week and others go home soon. They are great young ladies and we enjoyed their company. They have certainly had a positive impact on the mission. Sister Caldwell made a lovely brunch and the sisters got special permission to watch, "Once I was a Beehive." They seemed to enjoy it and certainly enjoyed each other's company. In true missionary fashion, they ended their preparation day activity right on time and got right to work.
On Tuesday, we had the last district class of this transfer. This time, there were more changes than we have seen since we arrived about 10 months ago. We all enjoyed working together during this transfer.
Immediately after district class, we returned to Mechelen to load up our car for the first trip to the Groningen apartment. We had arranged to meet with Buddy and Beryl Gout on Wednesday and Thursday to get an orientation to the area and to the Young Single Adults (Jovos). The Gouts have responsibility for the Young Single Adults in the entire area and have a long history of service in many capacities. I was blessed to know Buddy's family when I served on my first mission here.
We arrived at about 8:00 PM in Groningen and unloaded the car and began sorting through the things already in the apartment to determine what we needed to tack back to Mechelen. The Groningen apartment had additional items since another senior apartment had been closed previously. The Mechelen apartment was new when we arrived, so we purchased a number of items, but other things were still needed.
On Wednesday, March 9 we began working on apartment repairs and made a trip to the nearby IKEA for repair parts and light bulbs. While at IKEA, we found the Dutch solution to the lack of a driving license. You can rent a special bicycle to cart your stuff home.
That evening we had dinner with the Gouts and met our beloved Elder Walker again. Leuven was his first city in the mission and we enjoyed working together. He is now our district leader in Groningen. It was certainly a joyous reunion.
We headed back to Leuven on Friday and Sister Caldwell taught her piano students on Saturday morning. Two sisters from the Relief Society presidency and the primary president were there cooking chili for the ward conference the next day. There was a big group of kids there playing together and the weather was beautiful. Bishop Dixon had folks plant bulbs last fall and they were also beginning to come up.
On Sunday, March 13, we held our ward conference. We had a lovely talk by sister van Kerckhoven from the Relief Society presidency, followed by Bishop Dixon and President Buyse of the stake presidency. Sister Caldwell and Sister De Coninck (the ward Primary president) sang a lovely duet and I was released as second counselor in the bishopric in anticipation of our move to Groningen. It is hard to leave these members who we have come to know and love so much.
On Monday, we had the day mostly to ourselves, which we needed to prepare for our move. We are anxious to help the new couple - the Olivers - as much as possible. They will certainly be loved here in Belgium. Things continue to improve in the stake and in the area. Mechelen is definitely a city on the move with a historic past and a beautiful center. Today, it is friendly and progressive. We have really enjoyed our stay here.
On Tuesday, we attended our last Zone Class in the Antwerpen Zone. We had great presentations by our two zone leaders, Elders Reese and Lott and by Sister Hanny, the Sister Training Leader. The district leaders also led great workshops. It was the best zone training yet. Sister Caldwell prepared chicken over potatoes and carrots. The missionaries loved it.
On Wednesday March 16, we headed back up to Groningen and attended zone conference in the Apeldoorn zone in Zwolle. Sister Caldwell was delighted to meet Elder Oliphant and find out that Norman was his great uncle. We enjoyed a second Zone Training day and also a wonderful meal prepared by Elder and Sister Hill.
On Thursday Sister Caldwell prepared dinner for the institute class that evening and we once again enjoyed the company of the great young people in the Groningen area. It is certainly an enjoyable part of the missionary service here.
On Friday we left early in the morning to drive to Breda, Tilburg and Eindhoven to inspect missionary apartments. Upon reaching Eindhoven, Sister Caldwell was thrilled to meet Elder Steele who had connections to her niece in Payson and her family in Missouri. She also liked the fact that Elder Steele is 6'8". Of course, we were also very happy to see Elder Drenth who is now serving there.
On Saturday, Sister Caldwell performed a piano solo at the Antwerpen Stake Women's Conference. The high priests served soup for lunch and did the dishes. On the way we drove by our favorite chocolate shop, Sjolaa to pick up a dose of gourmet chocolate. In the afternoon, we drove to Leuven so Sister Caldwell could give her last piano lesson to Monty Dixon, the son of the Bishop. We also took a picture of the daffodils in bloom to show Elder Walker who helped plant them last year.
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| The Turnhout district |
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| We weren't always serious |
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| Our district leader, Elder Bieshesar presented each of us with a departing gift. Sister Caldwell got a beautiful lei |
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| Sister Caldwell collecting her kiss with the presentation of the lei. Elder B returned this week to Surinam. He has been a great leader and also served as a zone leader in Den Haag. |
We arrived at about 8:00 PM in Groningen and unloaded the car and began sorting through the things already in the apartment to determine what we needed to tack back to Mechelen. The Groningen apartment had additional items since another senior apartment had been closed previously. The Mechelen apartment was new when we arrived, so we purchased a number of items, but other things were still needed.
On Wednesday, March 9 we began working on apartment repairs and made a trip to the nearby IKEA for repair parts and light bulbs. While at IKEA, we found the Dutch solution to the lack of a driving license. You can rent a special bicycle to cart your stuff home.
That evening we had dinner with the Gouts and met our beloved Elder Walker again. Leuven was his first city in the mission and we enjoyed working together. He is now our district leader in Groningen. It was certainly a joyous reunion.
We headed back to Leuven on Friday and Sister Caldwell taught her piano students on Saturday morning. Two sisters from the Relief Society presidency and the primary president were there cooking chili for the ward conference the next day. There was a big group of kids there playing together and the weather was beautiful. Bishop Dixon had folks plant bulbs last fall and they were also beginning to come up.
On Sunday, March 13, we held our ward conference. We had a lovely talk by sister van Kerckhoven from the Relief Society presidency, followed by Bishop Dixon and President Buyse of the stake presidency. Sister Caldwell and Sister De Coninck (the ward Primary president) sang a lovely duet and I was released as second counselor in the bishopric in anticipation of our move to Groningen. It is hard to leave these members who we have come to know and love so much.
On Monday, we had the day mostly to ourselves, which we needed to prepare for our move. We are anxious to help the new couple - the Olivers - as much as possible. They will certainly be loved here in Belgium. Things continue to improve in the stake and in the area. Mechelen is definitely a city on the move with a historic past and a beautiful center. Today, it is friendly and progressive. We have really enjoyed our stay here.
On Tuesday, we attended our last Zone Class in the Antwerpen Zone. We had great presentations by our two zone leaders, Elders Reese and Lott and by Sister Hanny, the Sister Training Leader. The district leaders also led great workshops. It was the best zone training yet. Sister Caldwell prepared chicken over potatoes and carrots. The missionaries loved it.
On Wednesday March 16, we headed back up to Groningen and attended zone conference in the Apeldoorn zone in Zwolle. Sister Caldwell was delighted to meet Elder Oliphant and find out that Norman was his great uncle. We enjoyed a second Zone Training day and also a wonderful meal prepared by Elder and Sister Hill.
On Thursday Sister Caldwell prepared dinner for the institute class that evening and we once again enjoyed the company of the great young people in the Groningen area. It is certainly an enjoyable part of the missionary service here.
On Friday we left early in the morning to drive to Breda, Tilburg and Eindhoven to inspect missionary apartments. Upon reaching Eindhoven, Sister Caldwell was thrilled to meet Elder Steele who had connections to her niece in Payson and her family in Missouri. She also liked the fact that Elder Steele is 6'8". Of course, we were also very happy to see Elder Drenth who is now serving there.
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| Sister Caldwell, Elders Steele and Drenth |
Never a dull moment in the Caldwell camp! Keep up the good work.
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