Elder Andrew

Elder Andrew

Monday, August 25, 2014

Eli Mail 8/25/14 (Genk, Belgium) Letter 8

Hello everybody, don't quite know where to start but Ill start with a few miracles that have been happening here in Genk. Last week, we bussed around Hasselt and Genk all day and all of our appointments had fallen through. I wasn't necessarily discouraged but it just makes the day boring when you're not in appointments. So we knocked on two doors. Nobody answered the first and an older Belgium lady warmly greeted us on the second. We started talking to her and she started telling us she has a Book of Mormon, and uses it to find answers to her questions all the time. We were totally blown away and most definitely confused. We asked her if she was a member and stuff and she couldn't remember. Long story short, she is a member but had a stroke and forgot which is too bad. In terms of other people were teaching, I love teaching Africans. They are super passionate when they pray and its awesome! Most of those lessons are in English because the only other language they speak is some crazy African language. Belgium is a big time melting pot too. And its cool, I like the flavor of other cultures. The Muslims will usually leave you alone, they aren't generally mean, but the times Ive been honked at and flipped off, its a couple of teenage Muslim kids. Most of my lessons are in Dutch though. And I like that, Ive been trying to immerse myself as much as possible. I'm picking up words from billboards, reading the Liahona in Dutch, all sorts of stuff
There isn't too much classic Dutch food to eat, but I finally had some good stroopwafels from Albert Hiejn. Albert Hiejn is a very popular Dutch store that all the people in Belgium love buying from. The equivalent of Target maybe. But anyways, it was 1,80 Euro for 12 wafels, so awesome. Had a doner too, which is this sandwich type thing loaded with veggies and lamb meat, quite good. Had vla too! Its a very Dutch type pudding mixture, expect a much better consistency and much more flavor.
Enough about food. Ive started to realize the enormity of our proselyting area. Its the second biggest in the mission, next to the Leuven Elders just next to us. We had a dinner appointment in Overpelt the other day, and it was about a one and half hour bus ride there. We passed by an air force base too. Occasionally in Genk you will here jets just zoom past. Makes me want to fly so bad. It was a great time though. They have a very nice house. I love the bushes where you cant climb through, even if you wanted to they're so thick. They bought us 6 pizzas too, it was quite a treat. Other than that, Ive just been enjoying going out and working hard. Its far from easy. My Dutch still isn't adiquite enough to fully understand a lesson and there's a lot of opposition to missionary work but I love it. I love studying in the morning and building my testimony, I love the random people that do listen to your message, and I love seeing a change in others from this amazing gospel. For those wondering, yes, my talk did go quite well. I totally google translated it but google does a fine job. Others said they could understand me which is nice, and I think my topic definitely interested a lot of the branch. Keep me updated on whats going on in your lives, I love getting emails and real mail is treat! Dad, I got you're letter in like 6 days, and I remembered your birthday without seeing other emails. Just trust me. Hope everyone has a great week, love you guys!


Hasselt! Classic cobblestone roads, love this place.


BONUS:

(Editor’s note: Here is Eli’s 8-24-14 sacrament meeting talk. Though he used Google to translate, he evidently pronounced it sufficiently for it to be understood. Maybe our Dutch friends in Baraboo can tell us to what degree Google may have butchered Eli’s thoughts. J )

Wat is de genade van God? Ik hou echt van de manier waarop genade wordt gedefinieerd in Trouw aan het geloof. Het is heel duidelijk en makkelijk te begrijpen. Het zegt genade is de goddelijke hulp en kracht die we door de verzoening van de Heer Jezus Christus te ontvangen. Er zijn 2 beloftes in deze verklaring. De eerste is goddelijke hulp. Ik denk graag dat deze hulp verwijst naar gevoelens van comfort. Zoals we op zoek naar vergeving van onze Vader in de hemel kunnen we troost en vrede te voelen en zeker weten dat we vergeven zijn. De tweede belofte is kracht. En dit is mijn favoriete onderdeel. Zolang we bereid zijn en geloof hebben, zal de Heer ons kracht en macht geven om onze uitdagingen in de toekomst te overwinnen. Dus vanuit dit eenvoudige verklaring, leren we dat eerst moeten we de genade van God te zoeken, en dan zullen we hulp krijgen, door middel van een gevoel van comfort, en dan Heer zal ons versterken om te kunnen onze tekortkomingen in de toekomst te overwinnen. 

Nu leren we uit de Schrift dat alle mensen de tijdelijke dood moet ervaren. Maar door de verzoening van Christus, wij allemaal zullen opstaan ​​en onsterfelijkheid ontvangen. Ik geloof dat dit een daad van genade te zijn, want niet alleen kunnen we vergeving ontvangen, maar de verzoening laat ons toe om een perfect lichaam te krijgen en eeuwig leven. Ik denk dat dit een heel bijzondere en krachtige daad van liefde van God. 

In tweede Nephi hoofdstuk 25 het praat en profetieën over de komst van Christus. En in vers 23 staat: "Want WIJ arbeiden ijverig OM te writing, teneinde Onze Kinderen, en also our Broeders, ertoe te Bewegen in Christus te Geloven en ontmoet God te Worden verzoend; gebrek WIJ Weten DAT WIJ, na alles wat WIJ Kunnen DOEN, deur de Genade Worden ma- nier. "Ik hou echt van deze zin "na alles wat we kunnen doen", Dat leert ons dat inspanning nodig is van onze kant om weer wonen met onze hemelse Vader. Maar het betekent ook dat we niet alles voor onszelf kunnen doen. We moeten de Heer, en Hij kan de rest doen voor ons toen we vallen een beetje kort. 

Ik hou van de belofte Moroni geeft van de Heer in Moroni 10 In vers 32 en 33 staat er (KIJK OMHOOG). Dat is zo'n koele belofte. We kunnen volmaakt worden, zolang we ontkennen al onze goddeloosheid, en God liefhebben met heel ons hart, verstand, macht en kracht. Maar wat betekent dat eigenlijk? Hoe kunnen we God liefhebben met heel ons hart, macht, verstand en kracht? Voor mij, als we echt van God houden, dan zullen we al zijn kinderen te vergeven. Christus vergaf hen toen Hij aan het kruis, en dat geeft me hoop dat ik ook anderen vergeven. Ik denk dat dat is wat betekent dat met heel ons hart. Nu, hoe zit onze kracht? Als ik denk aan macht, ik denk van een soldaat in de Vietnam-oorlog naar voren te drukken door de ongemakkelijke terrein. Going in met al onze macht betekent duurzaam, en steekt het uit tot het einde, net als de strijd gedragen soldaat. Als ik denk aan het liefhebben van God met al mijn gedachten, ik denk aan de vaardigheden die ik heb gekregen. Als we vrij onze talenten te geven en te delen met anderen, zijn wij God liefhebben met heel ons verstand. Nu sterkte. Om al onze kracht te geven aan mij betekent een bereidheid. Een bereidheid om arbeid en te geven van alle middelen die we hebben. Het grote ding over elk van deze eigenschappen is dat ze optreden. En deze acties tonen de bereidheid om onze hemelse Vader te dienen. Het andere wat ik wil is dat al deze daden zijn onbaatzuchtig. Deze attributen eisen onbaatzuchtigheid, en dat ze anderen helpen om meer op Christus ook geworden. Dat is de schoonheid van het Boek van Mormon, duidelijke, eenvoudige geboden die ons nodig hebben om te gaan tot actie. 

Het laatste wat ik zou willen delen van Trouw aan het geloof is de laatste paragraaf, en het geeft ons woorden van troost. Het zegt, "onthouden als je ooit het gevoel te zwak om te blijven leven het evangelie, kan je kracht in de genade van onze hemelse Vader te vinden", en ik hou van dat. Ik denk dat ieder gemeentelid heeft of zal ik de tijd van hun leven hebben als ze denken dat dit evangelie is te hard. En het is waar, de Heer vraagt ​​veel van ons. Maar de zegeningen en beloningen in de eeuwigheid te maken al onze ontberingen, verlegenheid, en de strijd de moeite waard. Als we in staat zijn om een eeuwig perspectief te houden bij het doorlopen van iets hards, zullen we de kracht om zwakte te overwinnen en vind het ware geluk in de Heer te vinden. Ik hou van wat er in de ether over genade zegt. In Ether 12:27 het leest, en Indien de Mensen tot Mij komen, ZAL IK their their zwakheidtonen. IK GEEF de Mensen zwakheid, opdat ZIJ ootmoedig zullen are; nl Mijn Genade is Genoeg VOOR Alle Mensen sterven Zich VOOR Mijn aangezicht verootmoedigen; wil Indien ZIJ Zich VOOR Mijn aangezicht verootmoedigen en Geloof Hebben in Mij, ZAL IK zwakkedingen Sterk VOOR duivin laten Worden. We kunnen dat hebben voor onszelf, en kunnen we het voorbeeld van Christus te volgen en geloof hebben en sterk geworden. Ik zou graag nog een geschrift te delen. En het komt uit het boek, 2 Peter in hoofdstuk 3 (2 Peter 3:18) Zoals we kunnen zien van deze tekst, moeten we groeien en kennis vergaren en ook genade. Groeien in de genade is een zeer interessant gebod van de Heer. Ik denk dat het woord genade en liefde zijn heel dicht bij elkaar en we hebben vele leringen ontvangen in de Schriften over groeien in de liefde en liefdadigheid. En mijn hoop is dat we meer bewust en dankbaar voor het goede doel en genade hemelse Vader heeft in ons leven gezet kan worden. Ik heb een heleboel leuke dingen in Genk gezien, en ik ben erg onder de indruk van de liefde die deze tak heeft voor haar leden en onderzoekers.

Wednesday, August 13, 2014

Eli Mail 8/13/14 (Genk, Belgium) Letter 7

Elder Andrew emailed this photo after he and Elder Claflin traveled back to Leiden (where the Mission Home is) to take care of some official stuff involving his residency. Eli said there is no email letter this week, but a paper one is in the mail. What is this, the olden days?



(Editor’s note: This is a hand-written letter received via “snail mail,” which explains the delay.)

There were two moments thus far where I really felt like a missionary. The first was when I put on the name tag on day one in the MTC, and the second was when I arrived at the airport and I could feel people starring at me. It was quite a mind shift for me that Monday morning. I realized that every move I made now not only represented me, but the Lord and his church. That responsibility carries a bit of weight but is easily adjustable as long as you always strive to live that beforehand.

I'll start with the nonstop flight to Amsterdam. We boarded the plane at about 6 p.m. in Detroit, watching just a downpour of rain. Ironic for the last day for two years in America. The ride was all right. I struggled falling asleep and ended up mostly starring at a display of our flight projection. At about 3 a.m. I had a great study session in Preach My Gospel and enjoyed my first real airplane food. It was just how I imagined it from "Planes, Trains and Automobiles." But after a sleepless flight we finally beheld the rising sun and the big, bustling city of Amsterdam. We met the mission president and headed to the mission office in Leuven. At this point my head started throbbing as my internal clock was very confused by sunlight. It's crazy how many people smoke here. It was such an eye opener to be smelling drugs and seeing scantily clad girls after being in the MTC bubble. We did paperwork and walked over to the pancake house. The nanekooke was giant! This large crepe-like thing with powdered sugar. It was great. Man, the amount of foot travel was incredible. I could not believe how many bikes there were. The evening concluded in the amazing house that is the mission home.

We opened our calls and met our trainers the next day. Claflin is a really great guy. I don't have any clashes with him, and he's a big-time clown. A lot of people think he's funny. But that day was transfer day. And with missionaries and luggage and all sorts of trains, it remains a crazy day of lost luggage and sometimes mass confusion. But we eventually got to Genk. We ended up with some other Elder's luggage, but things worked out. Oh, man, and the Antwerpen train station!!! If you look up pictures please do! It is a ginormous with five or six levels and a big classic clock tower. So amazing! We arrived in Genk and headed over to the mission leaders house for a meal. Brueder Paters is renowned for his "Paters Flams!" And, by that, I mean he just speaks Flams, but weirdly, and I could barely catch a word he said.  I finally got to unpack that evening and went to bed. That first week I had lots of dreams. My brain was going crazy. But I've been pretty blessed. I prayed that I wouldn't be over stressed, and I haven't been. It's been great.

Genk is really cool, too! It's not very scenic, but it's been a great city for me as a “greenie.” We haven't done much biking; mostly bus. A company called "The Lihn" runs the buses, and every day we are at the whim of the bus system. I feel asleep a lot on that first week on the bus. We have such a huge area! The entirety of Limburg. That includes, like, five cities. Genk and Hasselt, I know for sure. One evening while door contacting in Hasselt we ended up in a really nice neighborhood. And let me tell you, Belgium people love their yards. The fresh green bushes are always kept trimmed perfectly. They stick wires in the ground and grow a plant in a cool loop sort of thing, it's so cool! I've taken a few pictures, but take my word, it's incredible seeing these perfect yards everywhere. People have a thing for doorbells here too. They just enjoy elaborate doorbells. I've heard the beginning of the Beethoven symphony and all sorts of interesting tunes. Another weird thing is that doors lock from the inside. So, whenever you knock on a door you'll hear someone fumble around with keys for a while and then unlock the door. Basically, if you throw your keys out the window, you can lock yourself inside your house. And door handles are weird too. A door handle sometimes extends the entire length of the door. Super odd. They have old style brick houses but super modern doors.

My first Sunday was pretty good. Church is only two hours, and sacrament meeting is last. Priesthood consists of about seven men, and sacrament meeting has three main families that show up. Super tiny branch, but it feels so homey. I like it. I'm usually good at making little kids laugh, but it's different when you have the language barrier. We had an appointment in the evening with this nice old guy in the branch. We weren't sure what time the last bus was coming, and we decided to check the bus stop once we got off. But it started pouring – just a complete downpour! That happens here a lot. These Dutch people take rain for granted. But we dashed out of the bus and headed for the old folk's home. In that process, we didn't check the bus times. After the visit and my first taste of a weird ginger herbal tea we went back to the bus stop and discovered the buses were done for the evening. It was about an hour and a half walk back home. It was memorable. I've never gotten so many middle fingers and honks as I did that Sunday evening. There's a good amount of Muslims, and they aren't fond of us. I'm over it, though. Just smile and wave at the angry Muslim drivers. At one point during the walk, we saw an ice cream truck, like the one I've always imagined, playing music, and we asked for a ride, but the driver said no. That was a memorable evening.

Another day we knocked on a door and a short old man came from the other side of the house. We started talking to him and his dog was walking around his legs. At one point there was a pause, and I saw the dog's leg go up and begin to pee. The man starting talking again and didn't notice at all the urine pouring onto his leg. Once my companion noticed, he said, "Pas op!" (watch out). It pretty much ruined the conversation, but it was hilarious. I don't know how he didn't feel it, but there was a lot of pee on his leg. On a different day we stopped in the main bus station in Hasselt and started walking to an appointment. We saw a large crowd gathered around and stopped to look, too. There was a man doing some sort of acrobatic dancing. But, he was doing it with a shopping cart. Yes, a shopping cart. He was gracefully dancing with a shopping cart, and people were watching as if it was a normal thing. The first day I felt like I was in Europe was when I walked down a cobblestone road with tons of mashed together buildings on either side. It was great.

On my first P-day we went to Munsdricht in the Netherlands. If you can look up pictures, do it. It is a beautiful Dutch city with busy streets and a big old courtyard with a big, classy building in the middle. I loved walking around, in and out of stores, just taking in all the culture. Speaking of culture, I haven't had too much cultural food. I've had a decent Belgium waffle and lots of Haggelslog. Haggelslog is chocolate sprinkles you put on bread. I'm in love with it. I'm eating a piece of bread with butter and haggelslog almost every day. I haven't had this, but I have seen a lot of "doner” shops. A "doner" is a type of sandwich, but the meat comes off this big slab of meat hanging on a line.

Besides all these cool things, it's a mission. I'm loving learning another culture and continually more about the gospel. Teaching lessons is quite interesting, and we have a good number of people we meet with. I can't wait to break this language barrier and really be able to speak my thoughts. This mission is not easy, but I'm already aware of the great change that is happening within me. The Netherlands/Belgium mission has felt to me like the refiners fire. And I've met a lot of good missionaries here.

Sorry for the terrible handwriting. I'm on train as I write this on my way to Leiden. Hope things are well in the states.

Love you all, Elder Eli Andrew


First time eating Hagelslag! I'm a little addicted..



PHOTO CAPTION: Oldest City in Belgium, Tongeren! This church was built in the year 1100 I believe. It was a bit of a boring, gray city, but this church was incredible! Only about 45 minutes away from the apartment in Genk.





PHOTO CAPTION: Belgium people love their yards. The fresh green bushes are always kept trimmed perfectly.






Monday, August 11, 2014

Eli Mail 8/11/14 (Genk, Belgium) Letter 6

okay Im just going to appoligize now for this letter. Im using a french keyboard and the library here in Genk has a little timer on it so I have exactly 1 hour. Yea, forgive all the mistakes because they are unavoidable. ill start with the mass confusion that was monday/tuesday. After a restless 10 hours on the plane, I looked out and beheld the country that would be my new home. I was practicly boucing out of my seat in excitement. We met the mission president and his wife and departed to the mission office. At this point, my head had started a type of throbbing and ache that was unlike anything Id felt before. As meetings proceeded throughout the day, I kept glancing out the window, and actually beholding The Netherlands, Dutch people, and lots and lots of bikes. It was the coolest thing ever but that day turned into a blur as we drove to the mission home to sleep. Theres so much more detail and storytelling I want to explain, but this cruel time limit and keyboard pains me. I met my new companion the next day, Elder Claflin, who Im fortunate enough to get along with really well. Hes a runner like me and from Colorado, I like him a lot. I didnt know what to think when I got assigned to Belgium, but it is very unique to be here. We take the busses everywhere, and I meant everywhere, and the area we cover is gianourmus! Im walking on brick roads in a typically crowded road daily and I love it. Im not sure if I know very little Dutch, or if flams is just different, but its probably both. Our apartment is great, we have a washer and dryer, dishwasher, and its a 4 man. Its never too quiet which I like a lot. I have a lot of great stories to tell and other things, but it is just too hard right now. I will write a formal letter out which will take like 12 days for you guys to get but its my only choice really. Im adjusting pretty well to missionary life, but my mind has just felt muddled and weak from the time change so I havent been picking up new words as much as I would hope. Ill for sure include pictures next time, I dont have a ton because I absolutely hate looking like a tourist. I dont have a bike yet either, it just isnt a priority here. Ive fallen asleep a lot lately on buses, its the typical toll that missionary work takes on a person, but Im getting better at that. A lot of miracles happened here in Genk this past transfer, there was 7 baptisms which is a lot for our mission. We have plenty of investigators of the time being, but my favorite thing so far has been knocking on doors surprisingly. its really cool because you never whos going to listen a little longer, whos curiousity will be peaked. Were going to Brussels to see some cool stuff today, so Im pumped for that. Thanks for all the emails and keeping me in your prayers, love you guys!
One last thing, I feel like Im in a Jason Bourne movie whenever the police cars dash down the street, I cant get enough of those sirens!
Address:
Elder Eli Andrew
Weg Naar As 39-5
3600 Genk

Belgium

Elder Claflin and Elder Andrew

A whole lot of bikes found across from the mission home

Small meeting area for church, 1st floor of the middle apartments

Tuesday, August 5, 2014

Arrival in The Netherlands


Below is a letter from Sister Robinson informing us of Eli's safe arrival in The Netherlands:

Dear Families of our New Missionaries:

Sister Fredrickson, Elder Shaw, Elder Steenblik, Elder Andrew and Elder Parr arrived safely here in the Netherlands this morning.  They are currently getting some legality work done and will so be to the Mission Home for a well needed nap.  This evening we will have a testimony meeting and fireside.  They will receive their first area assignment and who their trainer/companion will be for the coming transfer.  Please keep up with what is happening in the mission on the mission blog:  belgiumnetherlandsmission.blogspot.com.

President and I are very impressed with this group.  They are solid young people.  They will be great assets to the mission.   We love them already and are so looking forward to working more closely with them.  They will fill you in with more details in their email home to you this coming Monday.

Thank you for your missionary.  

Feel free to contact me if you have any concerns.

Liefde,

Brenda Robinson
Sister Robinson, Sister Fredrickson, Elder Steenblik, Elder Andrew, Elder Shaw, Elder Parr, 
President Robinson

Waiting down in the train station to go to Leiden Centraal and to the Mission Office.


On transfer week, it is always common to see groups of missionaries in 'het station'.

They will learn the train system in the Netherlands and Belgium better than their own neighborhood back home before they return home in 18 months or two years.

In the Mission Office they are busy with the necessary legality paperwork.

They will also get their financial card and instructions on how the money works. Then, off to lunch.

Sister Fredrickson, Elder Andrew, Elder Shaw, Elder Steenblik, Elder Parr

Elder Andrew

Elder Andrew, Elder Parr

The whole group--New missionaries, Office Elders, AP's and President


After a much needed nap and a wonderful dinner at the mission home, we had a short Fireside and Testimony Meeting. Then, the 'first call' letters.
Elder Andrew will be serving in Genk, Belgium…

with Elder Claflin as trainer and companion.

Elder Andrew at the mission home