I don't even.....

Hello, Austin, Texas! I am tired! 1! 2! 3! ZZZzzzzzzz.....

Fo'realz do'. Just let me go through this week!

Monday we were in Zwolle, then we had to travel back to Rotterdam and do stuff in our actual area. Tuesday was a normal day; we taught a nice lesson to some men from Africa and just had a wonderful day! Now, hang on. Here's where it gets intense:

Wednesday we went to Gent. If you look on a map, you'll find that THAT'S IN BELGIUM. You know, just your standard day trip to ANOTHER COUNTRY! The funny thing about it is it only takes about as long as it does to get to San Antonio from Austin. This place is tiny! It fits into Texas more than nine times. Uh huh. Anyway, we were down there practicing with our pianist for the Christmas concert. The concert is four part, so Elder Müller will be singing with his delicious bass voice instead of tickling the ivories. It was a long day, and we still have a lot of work to do before we're ready for next week.

Thursday and Friday we spent our time running between appointments with members in Gouda, Ommoord, Lekkerkerk, Woerden, and Waddinxveen. We also hit a few smaller towns in between all of those. Yeah, it was nuts. We had a ton of appointments, which was nice... but far from relaxing.

Saturday was the concert. It was.... odd. It went well! But it felt odd that it was the last time we would ever do it. I'm still not sure how to feel about it. I can't really complain, though!

Yesterday we were actually in our own ward for church.... That felt odd. Then we practiced afterwards, both for our thing and Elder Conatti and I with the Stake Choir. Apparently I just can't get enough singing!

I have pictures.

Someone put Ferrari stickers on this lunchbox.

This is a warning sticker on one of the new mission cars.... I died

Elder Byers and I celebrating cultural sensitivity. (I'm wearing a scarf and a blanket, not an actual hijab or chador)

Aren't they so cute when they're emailing their families and friends that just so happen to be female!?!

This is why we were in Zwolle-- the Turkey Bowl. I couldn't even play! I had hurt my neck the night before.... Sad.

Well, love you all, etc.

Elder Shaw

"There's no graceful way to pick things up when you're fat."

To the person that supplied this quote: thank you. You know who you are!

We were traveling in Amersfoort this week, and we're still there! I'm emailing from a library in Amersfoort, and it's very fun. It's a tradition that the mission does a Turkey bowl the week of Thanksgiving, so we asked permission to go to the one for this zone, since we were traveling during the one for ours! I probably won't be playing too much football (there was a little too much rough housing last night before bed; I'm in pain) but it's always fun to get to see missionaries that you worked with in the past and all that.

We had a good time traveling this week, and work in Schiedam isn't bad either. This week wasn't as good for our area as the past few have been, but I can't really complain. Elder Conatti and I walked until we were ready to tear our legs off. Don't worry, we were too exhausted to actually have the strength to do it. Missions are fun that way. Being exhausted at the end of a day is such a good feeling. It is a balancing act, though. It's not about running as fast as possible and burning yourself out-- it's about pacing. Working right to the edge. What use is working yourself to death and then not being able to work that hard the next day? It has to be consistent!

I don't know what more I can say. I'm pretty tired from the week, but I don't have many stories. However, this coming week promises to be very interesting. Look forward to next Monday, everyone!

Also, I can't upload pictures here, so you should recieve a lot next week!

Loves,

Elder Shaw

"...And you're trying to manipulate people so you can sell mayonnaise."

Elder Conatti and I had a very interesting conversation about advertising and marketing. He said a quote that was too long to send in its entirety, but this was the funny part of it!

Oh my goodness-- this was one of those crazy weeks! We were quite busy. They made a change in mission standards to try and have 23 hours of active proselyting hours every week. Active proselyting means time actually spent talking to people about the gospel-- either teaching or contacting. It may not sound like much, but it has been a very big struggle for many companionships, and especially for us because of the traveling we do. However, we were practicing this week, so Elder Conatti and I were determined to get it. In total, we exceeded the 23 hour goal and we had around 20 hours of practicing music, too. Yep! Take that people who say it can't be done!

So, I hope all of you understand, based on those numbers, why I'm pooped right now. I wanted so bad to just stay in my bed forever this morning.... but yeah, that's not going to happen. Too much to do.

Well, work for the Christmas concert is progressing, I think it's going to be great. Work in Schiedam is still trucking along. We found people in some pretty cool circumstances this week. 

I have to let you all know something. I'm very scared about the attack that happened in Paris. Don't freak out on me yet; let me explain. I feel perfectly safe here! No worries in my mind about any of that stuff! However, people are going to be even more closed to our message than usual for the next little bit. This happens every time there's a report of terrorist activity. "Look at what religion is doing to this world! How can you profess to believe in... BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH!" That's why I'm scared, because the activity of radicals is interfering in others' ability to accept the gospel. Terrible!

Well, on a positive note-- God loves all of his children! No matter the things we see happen in the world, God knows what is best. Do I know why all of this stuff happens in the world? No. Does it make me sad and ask why at times? Certainly. Do I doubt that God is there and loves us? No. In these times of trouble and pain, I think we need to work to come closer to Him than ever. It's the only thing that will help us.

Well, I love you all. Sorry I don't have pictures!

Elder Shaw

"I know that The Book of Mormon is blue."

Well, first off let me apologize for not emailing yesterday. Our plans went kinda funky and I did not get the chance to email! There will be a few people that may not get responses this week. If that´s the case, I´m very sorry! I only have a tiny bit of time now and I´m trying to go as quickly as I can.

This week we were traveling in Utrecht. Other than the fact that were were late to almost every single appointment, it went quite well. We had some good times with the members and met a lot of wonderful people. Not a ton happened there, but it was a good time.

In other news, we sang at an Apostolic church on Sunday. In Groningen. Yeah, that was interesting. The story is that our church there is being remodeled, so they had to find another building to meet in. The Apostolische Genootschap (Dutch name) was very kind and willing to allow the ward to meet in their buildings on Sundays. On Sunday, they decided to have a sort of joint service where the two congregations could get to know each other and experience some good old Christian fraternity. For that, they invited us to come up and sing a few songs for this special meeting. We had a very good time and enjoyed getting to know the people. It was a really long trip, but quite pleasant.

We also had an investigator come to church on Sunday! I didn´t realize how long it had been until I realized how excited I was about it. Wow, things have been harder than I realized. We couldn´t be there to support her, but the ward took good care of her and we´re very pleased!

Okay, something cool with pictures:

These little green birds.... ARE ALL OVER ROTTERDAM! Right? They aren´t native here, but you´ll see them a lot. I guess some got out of someone´s house and they just thrived in this country. Aren´t they cute?

The Singing Elders stuffed bear needed a bath. This is Matthew, everybody!

I love you all!

Elder Shaw

"Never hide your feelings for your grandma."

There are some odd posters advertising Ray-Bans in the area. It is a picture of some young dude in glasses totally loving up on a MUCH older woman. It says "Never hide" in big letters. The title of the blog is Elder Conatti´s interpretation of the ad campaign.

Well, let´s see. It can be hard to recall the events of a week when you´re sitting in front of the computer. 

We had an interesting experience with an investigator with a SERIOUS drug problem. We went by for an appointment..... We talked to him and..... The lights were on but nobody was home. He didn´t remember the appointment and we haven´t been able to get in contact with him since that night. We´re really worried about him. We´ll see what we can do for him.

What else? I don´t have big stories from the week really; I think I can sum it up in some quick and possibly confusing statements that will at least have some entertainment value.

Things I did:

1. Puzzles with a 2 year old.

2. Figured out I can still varial kickflip.

3. Sat through a bunch of lessons in a language I don´t understand.

4. Taught some lessons I could understand.

5. Learned music for another musical event we were roped into.

6. Rapidly emptied my body of all its contents. (Homeboy got sick!)

7. Went on exchanges and got locked out.

8. Sang in another Sacrament meeting.

9. Improvised an entire college radio station with Elder Johnson.

10. Was awkwardly embraced by an older Nicaraguan woman.

Hahaha, are you kinda getting the gist? It was one of those bizarre weeks. But things are going well, and I´m having a great time!

I do have one picture.

It doesn´t do it justice, but this view was beautiful. That´s the famous Erasmus bridge. I had a few pictures of it when I was first here, but we went to visit a Cape Verdian member in the area and this view was beautiful.

Thank you for tuning into KRAP radio with THE SHAW. Now performing his new hit single: Billy Love... 

Hahaha, anyway, love you all!