In Rotterdam--Week #8

There was a baptism on Saturday night for one of the eternal investigators. He technically lives in a different ward AND stake but wanted to be baptized in our building because it´s where he attends church with his fiance. So all of us had to sort all that out. Also, it´s been so long since he had lessons that he had no teaching record, so the Den Haag Elders taught him all the lessons in two days. Wow! But it was really cool to see a baptism happen.

We went to go try and visit one of our potentials and found the door had been broken in by a police battering ram. The door had been closed and locked but all the damage still made it really apparent. There was (as you can imagine) no one home.

Don´t really need anything right now, just pushing on through.

Elder Taggart actually did that haircut. He only did the sides. Elder Kemp is actually coming over today to finish it and clean up the top. 

Okay, stuff about the birthday. I got everything on Friday actually. My actual birthday was not my greatest day ever honestly. I ended up feeling pretty crappy nearly all day. Fasting and lack of sleep are not good together. But the other missionaries in the ward made me a little card and gave me a few of the chocolate treats that they had made. Today apparently we´re going to do..... something. Honestly I´m not sure what. I´m sure I´ll have pictures of it next week though!

I have a few pictures today I think.

I call this one "Let´s do work". Elder Taggart grabbing some pass along cards for contacting.

Here is a big "thank you" to everybody for all the birthday wishes and food! You´re the best! 

I love you all, and look forward to talking next week!

Tot volgende keer!

Elder Shaw

Week #7--In Rotterdam

Elder Taggart and I decided to go knock some doors this week. We went and did a few on one street when a lady answered and said she was absolutely uninterested. "You aren´t going to be successful in this neighborhood." She said.

Well, the sun (being as low as it is all the time now) kept reflecting off of houses into our eyes, so we decided to cross the street after that house to where it was shaded. The first door we knocked answered, and a little lady was standing there.

"I know who you are and I know where you are from." She said, "Not from Salt Lake, of course, because your Dutch is too good" (I heard Elder Taggart hold in a laugh.)

It turns out her cousin is a member, and he is coming here in November with his wife to be senior missionaries. We have an appointment with her this week.

Always cook things for missionaries that are a little unorthodox. In every mission there are super standard meals that missionaries get all the time. Just ask the elders what they get fed a lot, and then DON´T MAKE ANY OF THEM! We appreciate a little variety.

No dreams in dutch, but I have a few pictures!

 So, we had an appointment in this area. After getting out, Elder Taggart and I looked at each other and said, "Wow, it´s smells like a lot of weed."

We looked up onto a balcony, HELLO CANNABIS. I had to take a picture. It was way too funny,

This chicken had super funny feet, and it walked really weirdly.

Elder Taggart-- trying to put on socks whilst talking on the phone

Goats

HeeHee-- Elder Shaw has a new haircut.

6 Weeks in R'dam

This..... IS A SELFIE I TOOK FROM THE TOP OF A WINDMILL!

This week was busy.

That is the best way to say it. The Ballard conference was really cool. He came and just kinda gave us a good pep talk and encouraged us to be obedient. It was very personal and he answered some missionaries´ questions. He actually gave straightforward answers, which is super rare for a missionary situation.

We had two investigators in church yesterday! AWH YIIISSSSS! We were very happy about that. Also I´m staying here in R´Dam with Elder Taggart. Though, we are getting Elder Taggart´s trainer Elder Kemp (whom I absolutely love after meeting with him at the conference) in the area right next to us.... we will have dinner appointments with him and he attends the same ward as us. So, Rotterdam is going to have three minor variations on the same person all working together in the area. Good luck, Fair City!

The language is getting easier and the people are not. Honestly, Dutch culture is just so weird in the ways they interact with other people. They judge you for everything.... but silently. and they can come off as incredibly rude! Honestly..... I don´t think we have taught a lesson to someone actually Dutch. Everyone comes from somewhere else that actually gives an R´dam. (Hahaha, city/swear pun!)

Artsy pig fat and curing ham picture. This is from inside the mill.

It´s actually been warm and sunny lately. Super weird. Everyone is confused by it. 

Yeah, the pictures were from a p-day. A family in our ward lives in and runs a bakery supply shop out of a windmill.  The woman is British; her husband is Dutch. She was very sweet to us and we bought some cake mix which we have yet to make. It´s been a pretty good time I guess, and I´m very tired.

Love,

Elder Shaw

This picture is one of the blades

Rotterdam Week #5

I apologize in advance for the many spelling errors, grammatical mistakes, and run-on sentences that will come from this, because I am drop dead tired. Yeah, danggggggg.

I got the package! on.... Wednesday, I think. I can´t really remember. Days tend to blend together here. But I would have gotten it earlier, we just weren´t home. The mail system here is weird. They don´t do mail on Sundays AND Mondays, and if you aren´t there to pick up a package (which is very common for missionaries) they either give it to a neighbor, or just try again the next day. They won´t just leave it at our door. 

I have some really cool stories. Most of which come from yesterday actually.

First, we have this new investigator; the one that contacted the office to get a hold of us. We taught her on Saturday morning (which feels like months ago) and said: (Keep in mind this is our first REAL lesson)

Us: "We´d like to start with a scripture from Moroni. He was one of the prophets from the Book of Mormon."

She: "Moroni..... He´s the son of Mormon right?"

Us: "Uh.... yeah. Very good."

Elder Taggart and I were stunned! We didn´t know what to say for a few seconds. How the crap did she already know that? I am suspicious that since we gave her the BoM last Sunday she´s already read it the entire way through.

Second, I gave my first blessing yesterday! We gave the beginning of school blessings to some boys in the ward. Apparently I told a boy that he should get baptized. I don´t say apparently because I made a language error, but because I didn´t really remember what I said. Elder Taggart said it was super cool! So, that´s nice I guess.

Lastly.

This one is super rad--

Elder Taggart and I spent maybe two and a half hours yesterday riding around searching for people after church on empty stomachs. We found some benches along a busy road and decided to rest for a second. We made some calls and just talked about the day for a little bit. We saw a man sitting on a bench a bit away, and as we were getting ready to leave Elder Taggart said we should talk to him. He introduced himself as an Agnostic, and said he wouldn´t believe, but invited us to sit next to him and talk for awhile. We talked about a lot of things and eventually he admitted to us that he wasn´t truly agnostic, because he wanted to believe really bad. He had tried just last week to go to a church. After we finished talking Elder Taggart said a prayer with him. When he finished we looked up and the man was crying. He mumbled something about it being the pollen and hurried off, sniffling and sobbing. We had all his info though, and we will visit him very soon.

Elder Ballard comes on Thursday. 

I should be here on my birthday, but if not, you´ll know next Monday.

(A few things I would like.

1. Pop-tarts

2. Honeycomb.... there´s like no good cereal here

3. Hair stuff.... so long as it has a good hold and isn´t shiny, it will work.

That´s really it.)

I found myself getting trunky the other day, and I couldn´t really figure out why. Then I realized I had "Chain Lighting" by Rush stuck in my head. I had a really nostalgic moment for a bit with it. Having music stuck in my head has triggered a few instances of trunkiness these past few weeks. Pretty dang weird, because I don´t miss home much at any other time.

Testimony? It feels so strange to type or write one. It always has for me; it´s why I´m not like other missionaries that send one every week.

I guess what I could say best is that I´m living my testimony right now. If I didn´t think this gospel was true, believe in Jesus Christ, have a testimony of the restoration of the true church, and know the happiness, what reason in hell (or heaven) would I have to be here? Exactly! 

I miss and love you all.

Elder Shaw

District Meeting

Elder Taggart and Spider-car

(Almost) One Month In The Netherlands

Yeah, we have little district meetings and things.... My district has I think...... 7 sets of missionaries? I don´t honestly remember. I´ve done exchanges once. That was with my district leader, Elder Pouwer. I actually have a picture of him from earlier this week. We´re mainly on bikes here. But because of the amount of area we end up covering, we use the metro a decent amount as well. It´s fun, and I´m getting in much better shape.

It´s official. My suit-pants are now far too big for me. Luckily there is a lady in our ward that said she could fix them for me. Men´s Warehouse actually did a really crappy job this time. Pretty funny really!

A cool story from this week-- Friday we were informed by the office we had a referral. We called the number and got no answer. Later though, she called back! She said SHE had contacted the office because she had read about our church and wanted to attend. She asked if she could meet us on Saturday to talk a little bit about what we would do at church before we got there. She´s a very nice lady from Azerbaijan and asked for a French BoM. She came to church yesterday and said she had a good time. We have no follow-up appointment as of yet, but I´m confident we´ll receive one.

I do struggle sometimes on my mission. But I know the Lord is watching over me.

Love,

Elder Shaw

Picture time!

Zone conference: Me,  Elder Wiscombe and Elder Cooper!

A nice view Elder Taggart pointed out to me.

Here is an example of the multiculturalism we deal with on any given day. Zoom in; it´s pretty cool.

We got a dart board last Monday for the apartment. We obviously aren´t very good at it.

Ladies and Gentlemen, the lovely Elder Pouwer!

That´s it for this week!