dearest family and friends: greetings and salutations once again. i will tell you of the happenings of this week. but first i will share with you, yet another poem. this time, in english! this poem was shared to us by our mission president. it is GREAT. i actually thought of Dad when i heard this. its just his style! in fact, he probably already knows it!!!


BILL BROWN
Douglas Mallock

Bill Brown made a million – Bill Brown, think of that!
A boy, you remember, as poor as a rat.
He hoed for the neighbors, did jobs by the day;
But Bill made a million, or near it they say.
You can’t understand it? Well, neither could I.
And then I remembered, and now I know why:
The bell might be ringin’, the dinner horn blow
But Bill always hoed to the end of the row.

Bill worked for my father, you maybe recall;
He wasn’t a wonder, not that, not that at all;
He couldn’t out-hoe me, or cover more ground,
Or hoe any cleaner, or beat me around;
In fact I was better in one way that I know,
One toot from the kitchen and home I would go;
But Bill always hoed to the end of the row.

We used to get hungry out there in the corn.
When you talk about music, what equals a horn,
A horn yellin’ dinner, tomatoes and beans,
And pork and potatoes and gravy and greens?
I ain’t blamin’ no one for quittin’ on time;
To stop with the whistle, that ain’t any crime,
But as for the million – well, this much I know:
That Bill always hoed to the end of the row.

quality. simple quality. i am going to memorize it. i love it. i am currently studying diligence during the month of september and this poem is very apt! its so easy to get caught up in things and forget the WHY. firstly - i love that Heavenly Father is so merciful and loving to his children who are striving do this but dont always cut it. I have experienced the grace of God continually this week. actually - my whole life. truly. i am so grateful. well - this week has been interesting to say the least! i will try and share some of the highlights in an effecient and timely manner. 

monday - we bought a clock for our flat. i got free water from burger king! a creeper followed me on his bike. we biked from bloemendal to schalkwijk in 20 minutes. good times. 

tuesday - had a great lesson with a roma lady who plays the accordian outside the station. we brought fabien to amsterdam and had a birthday party with her at the deleeuw's. she made olivje salad and borsh. 

wednesday - became lost in hillegom. met a really cool russian accordianist and bought his cd. had an awesome lesson with fabien and sister audrey. 

thursday - i contacted a lady on the street who loves mormons. she lived in texas for a while and really admires and respects the way we live. she also is a big fan of sunrider vitamins and says that the brand is so good because of the people who make it. (apparently its a utah company?) she told us to keep working hard because we are doing a great work and gave us a hug. awesome! 

friday - for lunch zr.larsen made a smoothie. i came in to the room and she had the strangest face - like she was drinking the worst thing ever...i asked her what she put in it. milk, honey, carrots, tomatoes, broccoli, kiwi and zucchini. i tasted it. it WAS the worst thing ever. she drank the whole thing because she didnt want to waste it. i was proud of her. and it still makes me laugh when i think about it. 

saturday - i washed the windows of a members house. it was pretty fun. i recalled seeing tyler wash windows and tried to copy his form. turns out im not a professional. but it was still great. also - we visited a sweet inactive lady in our ward who i have become good friends with. she is soooooo sassy and firey! classic older dutch woman. maybe thats why we get along so well. she offered the prayer before we left and said "i am grateful that these sisters visit me regularly and havent forgotten me" - that really touched me. sometimes i wonder if what i do makes a difference - but as long as we keep loving people and showing that we care - it does make a difference. 

sunday - golden sunday. fast sunday. testimony meeting. brilliance! we also came across the most beautiful field of flowers while looking up old investigators. turns out i am serving in the most beautiful city in nederland. woohoo! i love sundays. 

so - to sum it up. it was a great week. i learned a lot. i guess i could sum up everything i learned this week in one scripture. perhaps - " and now i would that ye should be humble, and be submissive and gentle, easy to be entreated, full of patience and long suffering, being temperate in all things, being diligent in keeping the commandments of God at all times, asking for whatsoever things ye stand in need both spiritual and temporal, always returning thanks unto God for whatsoever things ye do recieve and see that ye have faith, hope and charity and then ye will always abound in good works." - alma 7:23-24 

okay. two scriptures. but still. that is solid gold right there. i have a lot of work to do but it sounds pretty great! thank you all for your love and support and prayers. i am extremely grateful. i love you. 

- zr. katelyn marie stout