The Testimony of Prayer

GUESS WHAT!!!!!

I have a testimony of prayer.

Would anyone like to know why?

Well.

Because it works!!!!

I AM STAYING IN DORDRECHT A 5TH TRANSFER!!!!!

That is right everyone! Zr. Aston and I get a 3rd transfer together here in Dordrecht and we are going to tear it apart! I enlisted the prayers of some of my dear friends here who said they didn't want me to leave. I also prayed very intently for just one more, and here I am! Prayers are answered everyone. Here is your proof!

This week has been pretty interesting. It was New Years, so we spent most of new years eve indoors.. Why? Because their fireworks here are litterally bombs....

Probably the sketchiest thing of my life. I didn't sleep that night because it sounded like world war 3 had broken out. I love this place, but these people are crazy.

I also finally got my legallity for the Netherlands! It only took like 7 months, but I got it! So we spent some time doing that as well..

Our miracle this week is our new investigator M! We contacted him on the street a couple weeks ago and he was very interested in how we managed to learn Dutch in such a short time. (I'm not sure if I've mentioned this but people live here for 10-20 years and still don't know a word in Dutch.) So he was very impressed and wanted to hear what we had to say. We had the first lesson with him and he was VERY interested. Turns out he has beens searching for something to believe in, and wants to hear all of the lessons we have to share. He is a really cool man and we are very excited for him! :D

Other than that, we have just spent a lot of time with the members. One of my favorite people in this ward (C) has us over a lot, because we are all really good friends now! I love it so much, she has the greatest testimony and it's just inspiring to talk to her! What a blessing that I get to stay here just a little longer! OH! We are also getting elders again! I have no idea who they are, but it should be great! Well, that's about it everyone! I hope everything is going well. I am glad to hear the girls are doing well, and that everyone is adjusting! Ik hou van jullie!!!

Liefs, Z Packer

I Have Sisters!

Hey guess what guys!!!!

S GOT BAPTIZED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Pretty much it was the greatest thing of my life. It was SO good to see him so happy and ready to take this step. The ward was there supporting him the whole way. I had to give a talk... That was stressful, because well.. I forgot. And it was in Dutch. But the spirit was totally there guiding me the whole way. And The most important thing was that Sana was feeling the spirit. I am so happy for him!

I'll be totally honest I don't have a whole lot to say today since our whole week was focused on getting every last minute thing together for the baptism. We have spent a TON of time contacting people, just on the street or langs the door... wow uh. along the door? anyway. We have a district goal of 3000 this transfer, and we are truly seeing miracles there! I am getting excited about contacting for the first time in my life, no matter how many "not interested's I have to go through to get a yes. Finally.

We went ice skating today! It was SO fun! They have an outdoor rink set up in the middle of the centrum, and it was pretty cheap so we decided to do that today. Our district bailed on us, so Zr Aston and I had our own date. There was also a Christmas Concert yesterday night, with some crazy famous Russian people... We as missionaries had to sing a song, so that was interesting. But fun none the less. T came and loved it! So that was really great to see.

Sorry it's short, but uh... I'll be talking to you in a few days so.. I don't feel that bad. :) Not a lot happened anyway. I love you all so very much! Have a MERRY CHRISTMAS!!! And remember who it is all about this year.

Liefs, Z Packer

I HAVE SISTERS!!!!!!!!

I have never been so excited in my life! I am so glad to hear everyone traveled safely and that the girls are getting settled in! GOD IS GOOD!

In other news. This week has been super random! It was Christmas and that was pretty amazing! I loved getting to talk you my family! I miss you guys, so it was good to see your smiling faces. For Christmas Eve! We got invited to Family S's house. They invited a few inactives and we just had kind of a party. Ate amazing food, played some cool Dutch games, and just had a really good evening. S came, and we are pretty sure he liked it....

Christmas we went to a service at our church. Just a short one and it was really sweet. Zr Aston and I had to sing something, and hadn't picked the song till that morning. So that was kind of embarrassing, but what can you do? Afterward we got Chinese food. Why? Because we wanted to be like on a Christmas Story. I needed my Chinese. and it was SO good. They even gave us a free calendar with it. And then we spent our afternoon with the women in the uh... zorg... Old folks home? anyway. We were there, and my favorite lady of all time - Zr. A LOVED our visit. We chatted away and she is just the sweetest. We are so glad we decided to go because she actually hadn't had any visitors the whole day! It was so worth it. And then of course we made our American Dinner at the A's. I love them so much! We are just like family and I couldn't ask for anything more.

Here, they have 2 Christmases... So we got to celebrate again! We had lunch at family D's and played some games there with them as well. They are a wonderful family.

Other than that we didn't do a whole lot this week. See, on Christmas people don't want you knocking on their door when they are having family time.. So we avoided that and talked to the loners on the street in our down time. Actually everything this weekend went wrong so we have had to talk to a few people outside. But that is ok. We need investigators pretty bad!

We did have one other dinner with a girl in our ward. I have Always thought of her as the "cool kid" Because well, she is. And she LOVES us! Cool right? we are all getting super tight and she wants to make a trip to Utah when we are back! I think it would be so fun! Anyway. This is a whole lot of random, so I hope everyone had a great Christmas! And is ready to start up the New Year!!!

Ik hou van Jullie!!!!!!

Liefs, Z Packer

Oh, And congrats to Miss Kelli on getting married!

Also, I'd send pictures, but something is going on with my card reader, so I'll get that fixed by next week. Sorry!