Monday, March 7, 2011

I can count on two hands how many days I have left in the Netherlands...WOW!!!

Monday, March 7, 2011
Dear Family,
I don't know why but I had extra excitement today to read your e-mails! You sound so good and your words were so touching! Usually I don't but today I had to quickly scan through each e-mail that I received just to know how you are doing. Thank you so much for all of the time you give to write. It means everything to me!
So, it has been a fabulous week and I don't even know where to begin! I feel like every wish that I have ever had on my mission is coming true! On Monday after we got finished with our normal p-day activities we got a call from Zuster Navarro and she asked us if we could come and help her move a couple of shelves in her home. That was a miracle! We always want to serve people but nobody dares to ask so when she called I couldn't have been happier! We were able to help for a little while before we went to our dinner appointment with Familie Bidjai. We had a wonderful evening there and then finished off the night with Familie Navarro and Felicia doing a FHE. The lesson went so good! We taught about the Holy Ghost and Felicia gave all of her attention. At the end of the lesson she just asked question after question about the church and baptism and what she needs to do to be baptized and why she needs to be baptized. It was so cool! Sadly enough, she is actually moving tomorrow to an actual center for foster children. She and Angelica went to a fireside with the youth in Amsterdam on Friday and church yesterday. I don't know if we will see her again but I hope that she will remember how she felt and especially that she is a child of our Heavenly Father, he loves her, and she can always go to him in prayer. I love her and will continue to pray for her!
On Wednesday we were able to fast with Victoria, Brother Scherf and Silvester in behalf of Silvester. We had an appointment with him that night and he said that he knows now that he needs to be baptized...now he has got to pick a date! We were able to brake our fast together and that was a very spiritual experience. I hope that this week we can firm up a date with him. I have come to recognize that some people just need more time than others but the salvation of a soul is worth the wait and the patience!
On Saturday we had our first appointment with Anita at Familie Scherf's and it was so good! She is the sweetest girl ever and her desire to really have a testimony of her own is so strong. Marije and Rachelle were at the lesson as well. Marije is one of the young women and Rachelle is one of the leaders. I am so thankful for their help with the lesson. They really brought the spirit with their testimonies and personal experiences! Anita is from Rotterdam so the missionaries in Rotterdam are actually going to go and visit her mom within the next week. Her parents gave permission for her to be baptized so we are thinking about April 9. We will continue to teach her every time that she is here in Den Haag, so for sure every Sunday.
She is super active in the ward already. She also went to the fireside on Friday and to church on Sunday. Every first Sunday the young women are with the Relief Society for opening exercises and Anita gave the thought during opening exercises. She told about how she wants to be baptized and why. Her testimony was so amazing! On Saturday after the lesson we baked cookies with Familie Scherf and Anita because they wanted to learn how. It was a lot of fun! I wasn't able to make cookies yesterday because it was fast Sunday but I am thinking about doing it for this next week...the only problem is that it is Stake Conference so that would mean 1000...don't panic! I don't really think I am going to do it!
Yesterday I had one of my first of many farewell dinners. The members and investigators are so nice! I think this week will be full of emotions but I think it will be great as well! I am looking forward to seeing many more miracles!
I love you so much and I too can't wait to give you a great big hug in just a week and a half! The church is true! The Lord loves us!
Love, Zuster Sharp