Finally got her birthday package!

Once upon a time in the Beautiful city of Dordrecht, we lost P.

The last time we heard from him was Monday night (last week) and he was telling us how the withdrawals from alcohol were too much and he planned to drink that night....

Which he did...

A lot.

And his Phone randomly shut off...

So we were not aware of what was happening

Until Sunday when he showed up to church ON HIS OWN. With stirfry he made for us. So no worries, he was only passed out for a day or so from the alcohol, and we challenged him to not drink any more because it made him so sick. I don't think that will be much of a problem. Especially since we will be shopping with him this week, and we don't allow him near anything against the word of wisdom :) (mom note:  I love her optimism!)

This week has been pretty great! And I don't really know why since not a whole lot happened. We had quite a few appointments that got cancelled (or they just never showed up) But it was ok because we had really super back up plans! We decided we were going to figure out the situation with this woman who has been going to church for who knows how long, but won't get baptized. She got dropped a while ago, so we decided to pick her back up. We asked her last sunday if that was ok, and SHE called us to make an appointment. She's a real sharp lady! Graduated in Anthropology, so she really looks at things logically (which can be difficult to work with...) But I really believe that somewhere in her heart she knows it's true. -The ward loves her- So really she just needs to believe! 

S smoked the same day P drank. I've decided they are somehow connected. He was so worried about P when we told him we couldn't find him. I think it's funny how our investigators form this bond with each other and help each other out! Now if they would do the same with the ward we would be golden! 

B didn't make it to church because he worked till 6 am. .. And that is precisely his reason for being hesitant with Baptism. He told us if he gets baptized he is promising to be an active member of the church, and with his work he can't be sure of that. (simply wanting to be honest.) Otherwise he would be baptized tomorrow... Funny man, We just need to work with him . (also the picture of the cat is his cat -mimi- Literally his whole world. He loves that cat so much.

I almost forgot! We found Mexican food!!!! Though it wasn't even close to American Mexican food... It was ridiculously tiny. But we were grateful nonetheless! The people run this little stand during the market, I think they have just obtained new regulars. 

Thank you so much for the package by the way! I absolutely loved it! We have been sharing our "illegal cake" with a few of the members. It's a hit! haha Thank you guys, and G-ma. I loved it all so much! 

My feet are alright, I can get away with crappy shoes since we are biking all the time, so they aren't sore at all. My tail bone on the other hand is a different story. Sounds like life is getting crazy over there! Good luck to everyone with school and work! I'm praying for you all the time!

Ik houd van jullie!

And this weeks scripture is 2 nephi 26 :)

Liefs, Zr Packer

Nonsense!

That is the only word I can think of to describe this week. Nonsense. Why? Because I truly can't even remember everything that happened! We had a lot of appointments planned, and a whole lot of them fell through, which was a super jammer! But we have been ridiculously busy nonetheless. I'm still trying to figure out what the Lord wants me to learn here. Because honestly I still feel like a chicken running around with my head cut off. 

We had a lesson with F And actually got some time in to talk! She was totally silent when we shared the first vision. It was amazing!!! And then she got up and played the piano and sang for us.. Which was weird. And random. But She is going to read the book of Mormon she says! I just pray that she realizes how much it can help her. She's got a tough life. P is 10 days sober!!! WOOHOO!  It's so exciting, but at the same time I'm super worried, because he says he is only doing this for the sisters. And if we leave he probably can't stay sober... I just wish I knew how to help him realize this is between him and the Lord. He is way too converted to us... Also. He calls us Hexes... (Witches)  Well, he is an artist. So he drew a picture of us as hexes... I'll just let the picture explain itself.... I'm the fat old witch because I'm the mean one.. I don't know why Zr Elting is portrayed as so.... What an interesting guy! 

S is also 10 days no smoking!!! We spent a little time everyday this week just checking in on him. Learned a lot about his family. They could possibly join him here in the Netherlands in about a year if all goes well. That would be SO amazing! And we keep emphasizing the temple so he knows that there is a greater goal than just baptism. AH I have so much faith in him!  B. Oh boy. He is so ready and he doesn't even know it. He wants to cook for us this week, which I am more than fine with. The ward totally loves him. The bishop just adores him. I don't know how he isn't baptized yet. Well, I do. He just wants to make sure he is being honest with himself and God. This week he told us our service was too long. But he loves the investigator class! So he stayed for at least 2 of the 3 hours. Ah.

I discovered a new contacting method. It's basically bartering. We like to contact in the Markt on Fridays (and get lunch on the way..) And when people approach us with samples I ask if I can give a card to them! We did it to a guy giving out cheese. And he seemed super positive! I hope he at least looks at the website... But it was a good experience regardless.

Basically. I'm serving in the most beautiful place in the world. We went to Kinderdijk today, and well. It's just beautiful!!! I seriously am so blessed to be here. Because we were there I didn't find a scripture... But I will write one down in my letter home. Ik houd van jullie!!!

Liefs, Zr Packer

2 Emails!

Sorry everyone! Apparently I don't know how to send emails... But on the bright side...

IK BEN 20!!!!!

That's probably the weirdest thing ever, but it feels good. We had a pretty fantastic week!! We finally got bikes! Oh that is the biggest blessing I've ever had. The last time I got a bike for my birthday I was 12... how weird. But the work goes SO much better when we aren't just walking everywhere and trying to use a bus system that is only half of the time working. It's so great! However, that being said... I am not a pro biker... Therefore I may or may not have crashed into a bush already. It was terrifying, so don't laugh too hard. 

S has been almost a week without smoking! Oh I am so excited for him! He has the strongest faith, I truly admire it! We had a really interesting appt with P... So much better than him being hung over my first time meeting him! Mostly because I told him like 5 Thousand times not to drink before our appt. He doesn't believe that the atonement works for him, because he has done so many bad things in his life... It truly is so sad. We have no idea how to help him, this guy has been investigating for 5 or so years.... We meet with him to keep him out of trouble at this point. But I know he could progress!!! 

We got a man named B on date!!! That was super exciting! Then he didn't come to church.. So we are going to have some words with him. Nice ones of love of course. And also we had our first appt with a woman named F. Oh she is a firey one! hahaha We met her on the street, and it was such a good contact. She wanted to talk to us more about Jesus, so we tried having a first lesson, but really she just told us all the bad experiences she has had with churches. (preachers cheating on their wives, the wives not believing her... that sort of thing.) If we could get her on topic I think she would do so well! She also should probably come to church since she said she would and didn't... Then again, she also wants to set me up with her son... I'm not sure how I feel about that.

Members are starting to cooperate! It is so cool! Prayers are being answered and I love it, I think it is mostly because one of their own is going on a mission.. This mission to be exact, but it is so great. I hope we can continue to progress with them. Sweet Br. D came and told me he had written my birthday down so he wouldn't forget it. Oh my I about cried that made me so happy. The people here can be so amazing.

My birthday was good! We fasted, so yeah Fasting and biking aren't my favorite combo, but it was so worth it when we visited an inactive and her husband had conveniently made homemade strawberry isje with watermelon and grapes... BEST THING I'VE HAD IN MY LIFE!!!! Oh my word. So worth it. And the A's made delicious rice and chicken. So I was quite happy. Jason would be proud to hear I went to McDonalds this afternoon. Tried a Mckroket.. Why these aren't international I don't know. Its like breaded potatoes and gravy in a burger. WHAT?! so good. Zr Elting and I are doing so good, we get along so well, and it's even better because the both of us together have a hard time understanding :) Makes things super exciting. A little shopping will happen today, because I need to fit in better than I do! Thank you all for your love and support!!!!  I would love it if you read 2 Nephi 1 OR 2 Nephi 32, both have come up a lot this week and I would love to hear any thoughts?

Ik houd van jullie so veel!!!!

Liefs, Zr Packer

Last week's letter!!!

Hello everyone from the Beautiful city of DORDRECHT!!!

I am totally loving it here, its beautiful, and this is a little closer to the language I learned in the MTC! Huzzah! So uh yeah, this week has been madness, 3 cheers for transfers. I met up with Zr Elting Wednesday after a good 2 days of traveling all over Belgium and the Netherlands. We had to drop people off and pick people up all over the place. I will be getting rid of my Luggage by next transfer -_- 

Zuster Packer and Zuster Elting

Our first day Zr Elting taught me to achterop! Bwahaha! Basically everyone here just piles on to the same bike, its pretty nice when you can actually get on. Its not so nice when you break the bike. The only bike either of you have access to... So we have been walking everywhere! That has been an adventure, walking is so not efficient here. But we make do. All of the bike people are on vacation so we have a while before we can get one, we cross our fingers for this week though!

The Ward here is huge compared to my little gemeente in Genk! Oh my I was a bit overwhelmed, but it will be good. I think the members here were more sad that the other zuster left and that I was here, than the members in Genk were that we left....  That makes for an awkward introduction. But I am doing my best to work with them, love them, and make friends! So far I have loved every one of our members we have had dinner appointments with! Not just because they are all amazing cooks either! They are so sweet and loving, now if we could turn that love out to the inactives and investigators... Its not JUST our job... 

We have this pretty interesting investigator named P, he has been investigating forever! But he has a few issues. He drinks, smokes, and doesn't believe the atonement works for him. jammer. But he has SUCH strong faith in the gospel and comes to church weekly! I just don't know how to help him have faith in himself and the Lord! S is the other investigator I have met, he has been here forever, and his family is all back in Africa. He also has had all the lessons, and is working to get over smoking so that he can get baptized! He is doing SO good, I hope we can get him to baptism this transfer, he wants it so bad! Br D is the last person I wanted to mention. He is an inactive, and probably the coolest guy I've ever met. He totally has the strongest testimony of the gospel, and has made it a goal to go to the Temple! He too has to quit smoking.. I don't get why smoking is so big over here, it smells so gross... But yeah! He has like 4000 books and he has written a few, and even gave us a Dutch Idiom book! 

So cool! Oh, I had forgotten I titled this fufu, I had fufu for the first time yesterday. It was actually pretty good!! Except... It expands in your stomach, oh my word it fills you up so fast! and they give you so much! AND YOU HAVE TO EAT ALL OF IT!!! It's madness, but they are so sweet, so that makes it ok. 

Hey guess what, I'll be 20 next time you hear from me! How cool is that?! I'm excited, but it will be just like any other day :) Oh, and always send packages to the mission office!

Ik houd van jullie!!! I'm Always praying for you guys and the girls. Thanks for all of your love and support!

Liefs, Zr Packer