Still alive!

That sure was a long time ago! I am sorry. I'll try to be more consistent. A lot has happened, so let me give you an update.

I had to leave my dear Honoka'a to go to Waianae on Oahu. I will probably die of the heat, but that's ok. I will leave all my possessions to my parents, except my cats, They will go to my younger brother. All joking aside, it's really amazing here, and so is my new Brazilian companion sister Modolon. She is very knowledgeable and enthusiastic and literally talks to everyone. We probably know about everyone in Waianae now. The people are kind, the members are awesome and hardworking, and we have lots of opportunities to share the gospel with people. What else can we wish for?

We saw so many miracles happen this transfer: 

We step on people's doorstep right when they needed us;

we found a guy during our morning run, that we often met in town, and he's interested in learning more about the gospel;

A bedridden member is preparing to go to the temple, and the joy we see in her eyes because of it is priceless;

Someone we never met called us to ask if she could come to church (.. of course you can!);

I had finally the opportunity to serve with sister Topp for a day. Our brothers served together in the Scotland-Ireland mission and the younger sisters serve together in the Hawaii Honolulu mission;

Again we get to see how the gospel changes the live of many people;

And muuuuuuuuuuuch more.

In this transfer I was remembered again on how amazing and important priesthood blessings are. I witnessed both a blessing to administer to the sick and a blessing of comfort. In both cases it brought such a peaceful and calm atmosphere in the room and in the respective person. It really make me grateful for my father, brothers, and friends who are able to do that.

We also had a service project with the zone in Pearl Harbor. It was a great experience. I was part of the cleaning crew and got the see a lot from the ship on the inside.

Picture: Pearl harbor

Some other things to tell:

Lesson #2: Don't go tracting during some fancy UFC game either

I have reached the point where the abbreviation WoW is not World of Warcraft anymore but the Word of Wisdom

We had to defy many ferocious creatures and had some fluffy plufpuffs barking at us

Picture: fluffy dog

Picture: small dog

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Advantage of Hawaii: having the most beautiful areas to study if you don't have time to go back to the apartment

Picture: beautiful Hawaii

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And last weekend we got to hear that sister Modolon and I have another opportunity to serve together for 6 additional weeks. Looking forward to it!

Week 26-29

Hello again! Yep I am still here. My updates are getting less regular. Sorry!

What to add to the things I've already said....?

A lot happened this transfer, so be ready!

First of all, we had a lot of meetings and training!

1) Zonemeeting: the whole zone is coming together and receives training from the zoneleaders. It is always good to be reminded of what we have to do as missionaries in order to help the people around us come closer unto Christ. We ourselves need to experience how to repent first in order to teach it to others for example. We also got to be introduced to the new missionary schedule. exciting!

2) Zoneconference: this time four zones come together. We were lucky because it was in Waimea so we didn't have to drive very far. Faith, your own conversion, and how obeying the commandments will improve us as missionaries and the people around us. Much more happened but I'll give you a brief summary ;) It is so much more awesome if you're present.

3) Stakeconference: where all the wards and branches from one stake (Kona stake for the win) come together. It was really nice on how members can help in the missionary work, how the temple truly blesses your life and how you can stay strong in the gospel.

One of the points to stay strong in the gospel is to be present with your family. I was thinking about that. We had a good testimony meeting last Sunday about families. As a missionary we don't get to be with our own families, so at first it seemed a little bit tough. But then you really realize that we as missionaries get to be part of many families on our mission. We meet members and investigators who share their times of trial but also their times of joy with us. In turn they get to experience ours. They really feel like family and I am grateful to be on my mission and to meet them. And even though Hawaii is pretty much the other side of the world, families are still the same. I am grateful to Heavenly Father to give us families and I am grateful for the gospel to provide us with a way and with guidance to be most successful as a family. I am also grateful for the temple to strengthen us as a family and be sealed for eternity. So much to be grateful for! Speaking about temples...

4) Templeconference: the whole zone goes to the temple together. Again we were lucky enough to do family sealing and also endowments. 

What else happened...? I went on an exchange with sister Blackner. I got to learn a lot from her, even though it was only one day. This is cool because we are kind of sisters. If a missionary trains you, she is called your mother. Technically I have 4 mothers (Nyakoh, Mercer, Stewart-Chester and Barber). They all were my trainers before I finished my 12 weeks of training. Sister Blackner was trained by Barber. So technically we are 1/4 sisters? I can't wait to meet my 1/4th niece. (Blackner also trained a missionary) or my other 1/4th sister (Barber also trained someone else) This is kind of confusing... On to the next point!

P-day experience: Waipio valley! this time we hiked aaaaaaallll the way down. It was superslippery in the morning, but we survived. It kind of looks like Jurassic Park, but luckily no dinosaurs attacked us. All good. And yes, I am wearing my Dutch soccer shirt! But unfortunately people still ask where I am from.. :( That's ok..

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Again I got to meet a lot of new amazing people.

Aaaaaaand... This super sweet young lady got baptized!!! It was such an awesome experience to see her walk in the baptismal fond and her boyfriend baptizing her. She was really prepared by the Lord. All sister Maghanoy and I had to do was to teach her and bring things to her remembrance :) Did I already tell you she is super sweet?

And lastly a missionary lesson: It is not wise to go knocking doors while the Superbowl is on. Suddenly the super kind and friendly Hawaiians become more private. More Dutch.... Do not disturb :O

Hawaii: Week 24-25

Here I am again! transfer calls happened.... tumtumtum.. Both sister Maghanoy and I are staying in Honoka'a. She is my first companion that I will serve longer than 6 weeks with, woow. What to do?I guess we'll keep doing our best! it's going very well here and we are making lots of progress.

It really is a lot of fun to teach families. Each member has its own questions and you can see the blessings the gospel is able to provide for them in this life and the life to come. This reminds me every time how blessed I am with my family as well.

It is also a special experience again and again how quickly people are willing to share very personal stories with us, young strangers. We get to hear a lot of stories where people went through hardships and trials, and they go through it a different ways. Some still mourn for their loved ones who passed away, while we also met an old lady who sees the positive in every situation. She is for example now able to cook and sleep whenever she wants because her husband passed away. That's also a way to look at it xD

This transfer we had zone conference! all the missionaries of the island gathered because we only have 2 zones here anyway. Mission president Bekker and sister Bekker, and Elder Curtis and sister Curtis were present as well to give us inspiring instructions. Now, it took me a long time to realize that "For unto us a child is born" by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir is only one verse in the Bible (Isaiah 9:6).... Learning something new everyday ;)  

This period we also got to enjoy a little of the island again. A lovely member took us for example to Kona (we went to a museum about Hawaiian history and nearby was a city of refuge (where in a certain way the principle of repentance was applied)) and to ancient fishponds. Very beautiful. We also drove past an ancient building where people used to be sacrificed.... :O Sister Maghanoy and I also went halfway to Waipio Valley but had to turn back halfway due to lack of time. Now the way up sure was steep and exhausting. Stolzekleiven in Bergen suddenly is an easy climb (I might exaggerate a little, but you get the point :) ).

City of Refuge in Kona

​Area with ancient fishponds. There were some eels as well and they sure aren't the prettiest fish I've seen

Now lets close this message with the holidays! First, happy birthday to me and my brother of course. second, merry Christmas (mele kalikimaka)! the houses were very beautifully decorated. there was lots of food (I need two airplane seats when I get back home), and the members gave us lots of Christmas presents. That was very sweet and thoughtful. They truly feel like family already. We also had a nice Christmas service in church where we were able to think of the birth of Christ and his atoning sacrifice. there was narration and music done by the members and we were able to listen and enjoy. Lastly, happy new year! With new opportunities coming our way, let's do our best this new year!

blogspot week 21-23

Week 4 of my 2nd transfer in Hawaii already. Time sure flies. It is also my first area so far where I am serving longer than one transfer. There were plenty of opportunities to celebrate it! Thanksgiving with looooooooooooooooooots of food and also a ward Christmas party where I saw members dance the hula!

Speaking about Christmas.... it feels weird everyone here is skipping Sinterklaas! I guess it makes sense. It is such a long way for him to travel to Hawaii, but still... I do appreciate the Sinterklaas letters from friends and family. Mahalo!

This transfer I've got a new companion: sister Maghanoy from the Philippines. Just like me, she had to wait for her visa. It took us a long time to pronounce each others name correctly. I am afraid it will be a lifelong quest... But we're doing good. We have been playing a game of charades with a Mexican lady due to our limited Spanish vocabulary. We have also been conversing with ghosts (Us: *Knock, Knock* "Alohaaa"; inside the house: "No one is home!". If no one else is home, what else can it be but a ghost?). Also, often we walk around in the dark during evening hours and we tend to forget our flashlight. We truly apply 2 Corinthians 5:7 in our lives!

Talking about faith (if you've read the scripture verse ;) ) Some nice reading assignments we read are: Alma 32, Ether 12 (Book of Mormon) and Hebrews 11 (New Testament).

And I never thought I'd say this, but sometimes it can be a little chilly over here... I did not expect that... But I love it :)

Update Hawaii

Here I am again! so many things happened. I'll give you a brief summary :-)

Halloween! The ward organized a trunk or treat. that sure was something I have never seen before. It is a really fun idea. Instead of knocking doors, kids (and adults, such as me) go trick or treating at decorated trunks. They sure do get creative here. Halloween was a fun experience. During grocery shopping, we have had Bambi as a cashier, we crossed paths with Wonderwoman and I was very surprised to see vampires walking around in broad daylight. 

If I were to shortly summarize this transfer, I would say...Music! Sister Barber sure can sing.  You really can see how music is able to touch many people's hearts. It was really nice to see. We even got a Marshallese investigator to sing and strum on the ukulele for us! Too bad my talents lie elsewhere...

Missionary work sure is exhausting, but in a good fulfilling way. Although a lot of people reject the message of the restored gospel, you can see the impact on the lives of the ones who do accept and apply the gospel. Just as in my previous areas, I really enjoy hearing members' conversion stories. even tough Hawaii is on the other side of the world, the gospel still has the same impact on people's life everywhere. 

I was tired at one point and prayed, but my mind was somewhere else already (on what to do the next day). So I prayed something like this: 'This we humbly ask Thee in the name of Jesus Christ .. Tomorrow'. Yep, I ended a prayer with tomorrow. It was a good lesson to keep my mind on the prayer!

​Yes it is busy (which is good), but luckily we are also able to enjoy the beauty of the island every once in a while

We also had our transfer calls! Half of our district leaves. We all get a new companion. I really enjoyed the previous transfer and I am excited for the one to come!

Week 14-16 Hawaii

Whut, whot, what? Where am I? can this be.... Hawaii? I traveled back in time to...Honolulu! Mission president Bekker and sisters Elgueta and Topp (long time no see) where there to welcome me. Two days later I traveled further with other missionaries to the Big Island (Hawaii) because that is where I will begin my mission. It is one of the colder islands. I like that. It also has an active vulcano. I like that less. Missionary work sure is different here. We just drop by peoples houses (often without appointment) and we are welcome to come in. In general we don't need to explain who we are, because they often have family who are a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  Just as in my other areas, the members are great and willing to help. Currently I am in Honoka'a with the lovely sister Barber. She is a great missionary and person and I am learning a lot from her. It is a very laid back culture here, also because we are not in an area with a big city. It is so relaxed that even the clouds are taking a rest ​on the mountains. See picture.

Even though it is relaxed and laid back, the people are extremely hardworking (as they have irregular working hours, setting fixed appointments can be tough for that reason as well).

Anyway, even tough the island has a laid back atmosphere, we do need to work hard. There are always people to visit. There is barely public transportation here (really a change compared to my previous areas) so we are driving around in a car to our various destinations (technically sister Barber is driving, but we are companions so..).

Some funny things I noticed so far: 

I have heard many times that I am from Neverland (I cant blame them, I almost need to use magnifying glasses in order to point the Netherlands on the map). I almost got a young boy at a point where he believed I was Wendy. Perhaps I shouldn't do that...

There are also cure little kokifrog here who don't sound like frogs at all. More like small birds tsjirping 'koki, koki'. Very deceiving.

Also, house numbers are very confusing: Oh, so you're driving past nr. 1612 and you want 1614? I don't think so. nr. 1644 will be next!.. Yep.

Even tough we are currently in the paradise, it comes at a high cost. It is difficult to come by, because, for example, housing and grocery shopping is very expensive. I might have cried a bit inside when we first went grocery shopping. And here I thought Norway was expensive...

There are two main things I got really exciting about again these last few weeks:

1) I was being reminded again of the importance of family history work. Especially from an eternal perspective. Also, it is just very interesting to connect all the puzzle pieces.

2) Keep on studying the scriptures and study the various layers it has. A sister in church had a good lesson and included a talk (Waddell - a pattern for peace)  which went more deeply into Lehi's vision (1 nephi 8). This makes you realize again that the Book of Mormon really is written for our times and can be applied to our lives, if we are willing to really study it.

Week 14 Zoetermeer

Zoetermeer gave me the opportunity to serve in a great city. A temple and a superhuge church building. What else can a missionary wish for?

My new companions were sister Stewart-Chester (she is now serving her last transfer) and sister Vandenberghe (strangely enough from the USA). It was a good time. They are hardworking and funny sisters.

I wasn't there for a long time, yet many things happened. My favorite part is where we were doing service at a farm. We helped feeding the cows and calves. We wanted to pet this sweet little calf that was roaming around in the field. My companions, a 4 year old boy and me went to the calf, but the calf was not as cute as we thought. It was restless and hunting us down! We ran for our lives and sister Vandenberghe grabbed the little kid and saved his life. I was the last one to go to the save place so I was heroically battling the little cow (sister Stewart-Chester was pretty heroic as well). almost Mas Oyama worthy. The cow might have won the battle, but we are all save. 

​As a reference: the scary calf  was slightly bigger than this one

Another awesome experience was the temple. Sister Stewart-Chester wanted to visit the temple before she left and so did I. It is always a good and uplifting experience. I saw many familiar faces as well, so that was fun :)