Genk Belgium

We were so happy to hear from Taylor!  This is the first email we have received since she arrived in Belgium/Netherlands.  She was navigating her way on a French keyboard, so I left the letter as is, punctuation errors and all. (For those of you who know me, yes, I'm dying to fix it.)  Also, at the request of Taylor's mission president, the names of investigators have been removed to protect their privacy. We love her so much and are so proud of her!

"So, this might be a super short choppy letter. I have NO idea how to use a French keyboard...

IM IN BELGIE (Belgium)!!! my very first area is Genk, basically its in the middle of nowhere (kinda) where everyone speaks flams. No, that is not what they taught me in the MTC...   I have 2 collegas! my trainer is zr. israelsen, and my other collega is zr. brown. My first day here was exhausting, i did get a short nap at the mission home (because i had been up for... 20 or so hours) and they fed me great food and all was dandy. I met my collegas that evening and took a 5 hr train ride to genk. The next day we got up and left for exchanges in Breda, I was there for 2 days, and then we had Zone Conference thursday night-friday back in Leiden. We left too late friday so had to stay again in Breda till saturday, sunday was my first full day in Genk. Im exhausted. I met our investigator, he is from Ghana and is probably one of the coolest people ive ever met. He already has a baptismal date set and is taking the lessons fantastically. His friend hasnt been coming to appointments, so thats kind of sad. we can tell it makes our investigator pretty upset. :( I also met another man, who should probably be an investigator, but he told me yesterday he doesnt feel worthy to go to church with his hair.. (he is from Kenya and has pretty awesome dreadlocks). I told him his hair is great.

I might not come home, Im already in love with the food. Shoarma, waffels, doners, fries SO GOOD! and this place is absolutely beautiful. I didnt have to be taught the words "im not interested" though, we hear that enough. im not letting it discourage me though!

ik houd van jullie!

love, Zuster Packer