Hé, het spijt u. Mijn billen!

This week was not as good as the last one, but it still had a lot of really good moments. Elder Silva and I:

1. Contacted a girl in a penguin onesie. She was actually fairly interested!

2. Contacted someone with a dog doorbell. Also interested!

3. Contacted a lot of other people that WEREN'T interested.

4. Taught 2, count 'em, 2, lessons.

5. Played soccer with the ward. Actually was wonderful and it's going to start becoming a weekly thing.

6. WENT BACK TO ROTTERDAM FOR A BAPTISM!

That's right. I got to go back to see someone baptized. It was a wonderful experience. It's actually not anyone I've talked about before, I think. But yeah, it was really cool. He asked Elder Taggart to come back as well and wanted us to witness. It was super cool!

Yeah, it was one of those funny weeks, where you put in a lot of work, but your results don't really make that apparent. As hard as it can be, I really don't have any worries. I know it will all get better.

Sadly, most of our investigators right now aren't super steady. We're lucky to have lessons with them. I think most of them aren't truly interested, but just too nice to say it. That's a struggle. We can't really drag people. That's not the goal! People need some initiative.

Funny experience-- With the work of IS in the world right now, some of the ward is scared.... that someone is going to come into the church building and kill us all. I know, it's crazy. But during Priesthood they passed around a little list for people to write their suggestions on how to protect the building during services. People had written a lot of stuff about closing and locking the door, and then only letting in people we trust.................................. I wanted to scream at them. <shaw rant> IT'S A CHURCH DANG IT! WE'RE SUPPOSED TO ACCEPT AND SUPPORT EVERYONE. NO JUDGEMENT! I MEAN, FO' REAL DO'! </shaw rant>

So, I wrote on the list, "Wees niet bang en de Heer vertrouwen." HA!

Transfer calls are on Sunday. This one has felt soooooo fast.

Well, that's my week. I only have one picture! Sorry.

Millions shall know....

Have a good week everyone!

Elder Shaw

Ik gaa 'm slaan!

Hellloooooooooooo!

Well, we had an AWESOME week. We taught a ton of people!

One of them was that English class, and we basically just gave a class of >20 high school Srs. the first lesson. It went really well. And we were invited to do it again sometime, so we'll see if that happens! It was just a really REALLY cool experience. Everyone asked great questions so, yeah!

The other really interesting one was yesterday. Elder Silva contacted some South Americans on the bus earlier this week; they invited us to come over yesterday to talk with them. By the way.... it was all in Spanish......... Anyone that knows me knows that my knowledge of Spanish is rudimentary. And somehow I managed to follow along! Granted.... I couldn't say a thing. Oh, also! 4 of them were pastors, so they just kinda bashed the heck out of us, while Elder Silva stood his ground and testified of the truth, and I sat there smiling and listening to this language I barely understood!

P-day last week we made cookies and milkshakes at the church. It was a real good time! This week we're going ice skating. That's going to be fun as well! I don't know how to pick a favorite meal. They all kinda blend together in my mind. 

Especially when we have one every day.

I have a few pictures!

Cool eh? This was on exchanges in Alkmaar.

Exchange CAT!

Cool graffiti.

"You never know when the dikes could break"

Well, that's it for this week!

Mmwah! Good night everybody!

Elder Shaw

Hoe kan dat nou?

This week has been strange. We have some good things going for us, finally. A new investigator, a bunch of potentials, yeah, lots of stuff. Interestingly, this week was personally kind of stressful. I don't know how to explain really-- I'm just working to keep it chill. Sometimes it just feels like things should go differently than they do. Knowing that you're doing the Lord's work is a blessing, because sometimes based on how it goes it CERTAINLY doesn't look like it.

Honestly, I don't have a lot to talk about really, though. Or pictures, but here are answers to those questions.

The easiest thing about being a missionary..... is....... crud. I dunno! Missions are hard!-- and in a lot of ways you wouldn't expect. Even relaxing is hard! I guess praying and reading the scriptures are easy.
​

In Haarlem, we have us and a pair of Sisters. Our area is quite large. If you can find a very detailed map of the Netherlands, our area stretches from Uitgeest down to Noordwijkerhoud. Then out towards Aalsmeer. Not Zaandam though, that isn't us.

Favorite thing I learned this week? Do all you can, then do a little more; trust me, it's possible. Then, you can recognize how you've been helped through it all. None of the work is actually done yourself. But all the stress-- well, it's all you, sooooooooooooo, "let it go. let it go...."

Yeah, not super interesting today. Sorry everyone, but I hope you all have a wonderful week. May the Lord bless you and keep you.

Elder Shaw

Kom maar, pusje!

What a week! What a week! Yessir, Elder Shaw is very tired. Well, we had another long week of contacting, and once again.... not a ton of success. HOWEVER-- I have funny story about trying to contact the guy from the other week. We went there, planning to try and get in to give a lesson. Unfortunately, I didn't have my planner on me. That was just fine, though! I remembered the guy's name and where he lived! No worries! We got to the door. One of his many roommates answered and I asked if he was around. When I heard a no, that no one by that name lived there, I was very sad. Later that evening, I looked in the planner to make sure the address was right.... And sure enough... It was! But..... I had the name wrong. SO, I have go back, apologize, and ask for the right name. Ugh!

We had dinner with the really awesome, goofy family this week (The parents of Kim!) for Australia day. It was a very good time. I have some funny pictures of me and Silva. I love the people in this ward. I can be absolutely myself and they love it and joke with me about it!

We ride bikes in the ice, and the rain. Not much in the snow because: 1. It doesn't snow too much here by the coast. 2. Because it hurts..... But yeah, I've gotten good at using patches of ice for pedal brake drifting! It's super fun. And I haven't wiped out...... yet!

We have had some really strange door contacts in Haarlem. We had an extremely old guy come to the door in only pajama pants with remnants of shaving cream on his face. We gave him a card, at least. I've also had people answer the door naked-- much to the dismay of very sheltered Elders. Oh, it's also always hairy dudes! YEAHYUH!

I have pictures--many of them. Get excited!

Australia day. Koala and "Black-boy" tree.

Silva wanted me off. I refused.

Snow! Yeah!

This was before the snow actually got good. Oh, by the way, this was Thursday night. The snow was gone by Saturday. 

And lastly, my favorite picture:

CAT!

Elder SHAW!