dearest family:

 

greeeeeetings. what a great thanksgiving week we've had. this has been the longest thanksgiving of my life. one last saturday and then on thursday this week...but on all the days inbetween i dreamed about pouring extra gravy into containers. haha. seriously. so, moving on. i love you all. i know i say that all the time, its because its true and i am not in utah to give you all frequent hugs and hang out with you.

 

monday: after our early morning email session and finding out that bekah is going to GERMANY!!!!! (woohooooo!!!) we made our way to the city of amsterdam. we were dressed in our best football gear, me with a green bandana around my head, and sister rigdon with the classy sweat band that i gave her. (don't worry i washed it. i think) we were looking great. it was freezing cold. we met with our entire zone and had a turkey bowl. perhaps i would've been more comfortable with a badminton racket but i played right along with them and even caught the ball a few times. it was indeed a riotious event. i had a delightful time. truly a great pday.

 

tuesday: woke up extremely sore. sister rigdon too. we went to district meeting. turns out the whole zone was sore. it was hilarious. also - before we left to district meeting we boiled some eggs and put them in our coat pockets to keep our hands warm. it was AWESOME. then you also have a snack later. best thing ever. we had a great full day of good appointments..including a funny dinner appointment. we were with a very classy family and there was a little boy of 3 who brought up something about farting...but i didn't know that word in dutch and they had to explain it which was hilarious, so i mentioned that it makes me feel at home because of the "stout unsavory dinner conversation" good times!

 

wednesday: very cold day. running around the city. talking to people. good times. also - the daughter of one of our investigators gave us a stack of super dieren cards (super animal) that we could use for our collection. later that day we went to our appointment with a member and as we were leaving - she gave us two huge bags full of groceries. seriously such a miracle. i feel like sometimes we have too many miracles and blessings. it amazes me! we are so so so blessed. but what was even cooler than that - her daughter who is not a member, came just because she knew we were coming and likes to talk to us. she even stays for the lesson. it was so awesome. :)

 

thursday: this was a great day. a really really great day. thanksgiving. first appointment was with zuster goudsblom. she is our investigator who struggles with smoking. we have been meeting with her every thursday for months now. she knew it was thanksgiving and she went ALL OUT. she made it so wonderful for us. i was so touched. seriously it was beautiful. she made us a lovely lunch with her fancy dishes and had four courses. it was so sweet! then we had probably the best lesson that we've ever had with her. we had a great member with us on joint teach and pretty much sr. goudsblom opened up and shared with us WHY she even began to smoke (through a series of tragic experiences) and how so many things in her life have been completely the opposite of what she wanted...oh it was heartbreaking. yet - through all that she continues to be such a lovely person who serves everyone, is always willing to lend  a hand or share a funny story- really a wonderful lady - we are just trying to help her RECOGNIZE that and also accept the love of God. its  coming. slowly but surely. she even allowed us to come help do service for HER. hallelujah!!!! :) okay - later that evening we took the train to a'dam once again for a YSA thanksgiving spectacular given by the senior couples. wow. it was legit. they had so many people there. we brought fabien. at first - it was really hard...she had just lost one of her jobs and was so so so down. we tried to hard to help her be happy and meet new people...to no end. near the end she began to open up a bit and by the time we were heading home she was in a good mood and made some friends. it  was a thanksgiving miracle. ALSO - funny crazy story. i ended up sitting by this dutch jovo (ysa) throughout the evening and we talked and such...in english and dutch...his english was unbelievably good...he said his mom was english...he just got back from his mission in hungary a few months before...totally didnt even know his name. cool kid. FLASH FORWARD TO SUNDAY. sitting in stake conference. i look over and see margret van os de man!!! sweet! then...next to her...that kid! AHHH. no clue. hahaha...Geis Van os de Man...seriously. her son. kims brother. how strange? i should probably ask for peoples names more often. it was funny. he even looks like alex. what are the odds.

 

friday: long day. crazy day. including weekly planning. and great things. end of the night we are biking home...we stop by sister goudsblom's house to thank her for such a great day on thursday and one more attempt to get her to stake conference. she was not interested at all when we asked her before. so - we stop by and start talking - i mention that she can drive behind the bishop , and we will be in the car with her, making it sound like the easiest and funnest thing ever and...she agrees!!!! MIRACLE.

 

saturday: day of the baptismal interview for hanneke. the district leader and his companion came to haarlem...and they brought her home made bread!!!!!! how awesome. it was a great great appointment. she was also able to recieve a blessing of peace for her baptism. it was beautiful. later that evening we had an appointment with corrie...the lady we met last week. it was GREATTTTTT. oh it was such a good night. she said that when we left last week, she had such a good feeling and couldn't describe it. we had a great discussion about the plan of savlation, but mostly listened to her - she is wonderful and has had a great life - full of beauty and also sorrow but always kept a good attitude. we invited her to pray this week. she has never been religious in anyway but knows there is more. she accepted our invitation and i am so excited. she did mention that she loves angels and that she knows they are around her to protect her. she is the same age as you, mom! :) its great. it made me love her even more. what a great lady. we set our next appointment and she said that she is already looking forward to it! :) woohoo!

 

sunday: a superb day at stake conference. oh it was just as good at being in my home stake. i knew everyone!!!! all the member that we knew from almere then, have moved but are still in this stake. i saw so many people. and also all the people from amsterday. it was like a family reunion. how lovely!!!!! oh it was great. sister goudsblom even had a great time and saw some sister missionaries who served here before. it was swell.

 

 

what a great week. i am running out of time. ahhh!!!! so much to say. but really, not that much. the basics: this life is great. if we DESIRE, we can learn so much, we can have so much joy and we can experience many great things. our salvation and eternal happiness depends on our consistent efforts of doing what is right. i am so grateful to be on this earth. i am grateful for such an awesome family and so many great friends to enjoy this journey with. hallelujah for truth and light. i am so glad. just glad. woohoo! i pray for you all! thank you for everything. oh - btw. i love the bible. its great. i have been doing a study of the new testament with all the questions that Christ asked. He is good...really good. i want to ask questions like he did. alright. i have to go. LOVESSSSSSSSSsss

 

 

- sister katelyn marie stout