Two busy weeks

We have had two very busy weeks at the Temple that have kept us running most of the time.  There seems to always be a shortage of ordinance workers so we get to help in all areas quite often.

One of the most interesting discoveries we made was that you need to be able to switch between languages from one patron to the next while doing the ordinances and that really takes being on your toes and being willing to just go forward whether you're fluent in that language or not.  Our most common languages used here are Dutch, German, English and French.  Occasionally we have some Spanish.  When in the midst of switching from one language to the next it is really a relief to get an English speaking patron, it's kind of like a "breather" before we head back into the "storm."

Last Tuesday we had to drive to Zwolle, which is about 1 1/2 hours drive eastward, to get another part of our residency done so that we can get our belongings from Customs that were shipped here and then we'll actually be able to stay here for the next 3 years.  We had gone to The Hague last week to get registered and she said we had to have the paperwork that we got in Zwolle before we could get the next step done.  That took us to the government office here in Zoetermeer for the 2nd time on Wednesday and when the lady officer there  heard that I was missing having my slippers and our warm clothing to wear she promised to do all she could to get the paperwork moving as quickly as possible.  She was amazing because our paperwork was delivered here at our apartment 2 days later.  That is unheard of and truely a miracle!




Sunday we went to church in Haarlem with Gerrit and Elske Muurling, the 2nd counselor in the Temple Presidency and his wife.  Haarlem is about an hour's drive north and west of where we live here in Zoetermeer.  After church they took us to see the ocean which is close to their home just outside of Haarlem.  You can see it just over Henk's shoulder on the horizon. 




Today was the beginning of Missionary Week which means all the Missionaries serving here in the Netherlands and in Belgium are coming to the Temple to do an Endowment session for which they are bringing a name of their own.  Today we had 18 Sisters and 33 Elders along with 7 of their senior missionary couples.  Tomorrow we'll have 16 Sisters and 31 Elders with several more senior couples and Friday the rest of the Missionaries (about 45 along with their seniors) will be here bright and early so that they can be finished before our regular patrons come.  Very few of them have temple clothing so that means we have a good bunch of laundry to get done before the next day.  We have wonderful members who are willing to come help us.  After they finished their session we went with them to the church building near the Temple and had lunch with them and then we spoke to them.  We will be doing that after their next two sessions as well.  We are glad to have this opportunity because it is always so uplifting to spend time with the young missionaries.  They have a lively and wonderful spirit about them.