Weekly letter from Emmen...

Hi all. Grandma Newton, thank you so much for getting my baptismal clothes ready for me (she hemmed his pants) because I am doing a baptism this weekend! We are baptizing a Chinese student that is up here for college. We have taught him in English and he has such a great testimony. His name is Chen Zhi but he goes by Jules! He is 19 (we have been putting missionary thoughts into his mind) and he asked me to baptize him on May 30th! We also have a woman being baptized on June 6th ish but we might have to move it because of her finals. I love this city!
My “Hand of the Lord” experience this week: for two of our appointments the investigator calls us before we get there and is like "Is it all right if I bring some friends?" and of course we were like ja. So basically the Lord gave us 4 new investigators and was like, "Teach them" with no work on our side. Blessings of being obedient in the small things I think. We have interviews with the mission president tomorrow-- my "first” and "last" because he is leaving and we are getting a new one. I love you so much. The work is hard but satisfying! Letters take about 1 week to get here. Happy Memorial Day! I can’t wait till this weekend! My first baptism and I know that with the help of the Lord there will be many more :D

Happy Days Will Come To You All Year!!!

Happy Birthday to Grandma Lil! If the candles are too much to blow out... use your garden hose! We love you and wish you the best of today and the whole year! Wish we could all be there with you.

First P-Day in Emmen...

Hey everyone! Its Monday preparation day! It has been the best 6 days ever! My trainer is Elder Bell from Idaho. I got to my city, Emmen on Wednesday and on the train rides up I got to meet him. Also on the train rides up we had both of our appointments cancel on us :D typical right. So we decided to go finding with our bikes (they typically have an extra one at this city if one breaks or if someone like me doesn’t have one...) turns out that the key to the extra bike went to de Hagg with an elder and my companion’s promptly breaks. So we came up with a backup plan for our backup plan and we started talking to people in the bus station. The good part of the story was that we got 3 numbers from people to call them back. One couple that we found later on Saturday found us and told us that they had read the pamphlet and wanted to make an appointment. We are going to be meeting them on this coming Sat. On Friday we had a baptism, Elder bell baptized and I was a witness :D. She was a Chinese student who has good English and her friend, Jules has a baptismal date on the 30th! We also have Elmar, 32 years old who came to the baptismal service for Melody and yesterday came to church for the first time. We have complete confidence that he can kick smoking and we can get him a date soon. Azadeh has a baptismal date on June 6th and we are working closely with him. The work goes on and I am loving it. As for the jet lag! Such a myth!! It hasn’t slowed me down a bit. I’m sure all those long nights "studying" at BYU-I help out there. Tomorrow is district meeting so I am going to Zwolle for the meeting (my companion is the district leader) and then Nijmegen with another elder for exchanges! I got to bear my testimony in church on Sunday, it was leuk. There is a strong branch. I am buying my bike tonight (the key hasn’t come back yet and my companion’s bike is in the shop) so till now we have been using the bus and walking. P.S. I am loving the food here! But all things in moderation as dad would say:D. Sister Ekstrom is in de Hagg right now and i am sure my Danish MTC companions are loving life in Denmark. ps. Ganzenveld 70, 7827 SC Emmen, Netherlands is our address so you know. my love goes out to you all!

Elder DeMeester has arrived safely! He looks excited and enthusiastic about his mission. We are delighted to have him with us. His first assignment will be in the city of Emmen. His address will be:

Ganzenveld 70
7827 SC Emmen
Netherlands

We are continually impressed by the eagerness and strong testimonies of the new missionaries arriving in the mission field. We are happy for his addition to our missionary corps and assure you that we will do everything possible to make this a rewarding, cherished, and spiritual experience.

As you know, missionary work can be quite demanding. To help maintain a positive attitude for your missionary, communication from family and friends is especially important and should be supportive. May we make the following suggestions: write each week; make your letters optimistic and encouraging; avoid references to problems at home unless absolutely necessary; show genuine interest in your missionary’s daily activities and especially in his accomplishments.

Sister Woodland and I wish to thank you for this ambassador of the Lord. We know that you will

be blessed during the service of Elder DeMeester. We have frequent opportunity to review each missionary’s situation and needs. We hold zone conferences one month and personal interviews the next month. We do our best to love, encourage, sustain all of our missionaries, and to take personal interest in each one of them. They keep me informed as to their specific circumstances through a weekly letter. If you know of anything that would help me in assisting your missionary, please don’t hesitate to let me know. Know that your missionary is in the hands of the Lord and under His protection (Matthew 28:19).

We are most appreciative of your constant support for your missionary.

Sincerely yours,
Paul R. Woodland
President