Hallo!
This week has been pretty packed, but I didn't feel like we got a ton done. With zone conference, General Conference, and all of the biking inbetween, we didn't have a ton of time for a lot of finding.
It was a really good week though! We set a really high goal as a zone, with 60 new investigators during the Easter campaign. We are super excited, and ready to help North Nederland come closer to Christ!
We got a new investigator, and his name is Anas. He is a Syrian! Syrians are my favorite group of people! They are super nice, polite, and willing to learn! Plus all of the ones I have met love God, and He is a legitimate part of their life, not just something that they say they believe in.
Photos:
Groningen Centrum is super pretty!
I made pannenkoeken for Elder Mostoller's Birthday!
And
It rained really hard on Saturday, but we were lucky enough that one of the members who lived nearby was prepared with a couple umbrellas.
I love you all!
Love,
Elder Thornton
(When we ask questions, Lance is pretty good to answer them so we can learn more about what his day to day life is like. Here are some of the answers to our questions)
General Conference was wonderful! And we do get to watch most of it live, when it isn't in the middle of the night, the others we have to catch up on, either on the Sunday or the next week for the Sunday afternoon.
The members here are incredible. They are from all ages, and there are a lot of families! Many of them are a multi-generational members, and so we have A LOT of youth, the most in all of Nederland. They do an incredible job of feeding the missionaries, fellowshiping investigators, and magnifying their callings.
The members do the translation here, which is probably best :). But when I have a hard time concentrating
I mutter or think the translation to keep myself awake. To be perfectly honest, that was a big reason why I loved doing it in Amsterdam. Attention is still something I struggle with in long meetings.
Elder Mostoller is my former district leader in Amsterdam. He has been on his mission for about 20 months, and is still going super strong. He is really smart, and is a man a few words. But when he does have something to say it is always super profound.
We do a ton of biking here. We use the train or bus if we need to got to a "dorpje"or small village in our area.
As for the food, it is all incredible! I love food, and I think my taste buds have gotten a little less picky, if that is possible. The treats here, like vla and their cakes are super good. Also roti, a Surinam dish, is super delicious. I have not really had anything that wasn't good.
(This week we got a photo of Lance from the parents of our former neighbor and Priest Quorum Advisor, Adam Hill. They are serving in the same mission and have been anticipating meeting Lancethere. They finally met this week at a Zone Conference!
When I wrote to thank them for taking time to send us a photo, here is her cute response):
Sister Thornton,
He is so lucky to serve in Groningen with the Caldwells! They spoil those missionaries around them, and are such good people. I am sure he will learn from and enjoy their association til they leave on May 4.
He sure looked good and was happy when I took his picture. He was going through the lunch line, however, which might have been really positive for him! (smile) We love to seen them happy and serving faithfully. With this new Easter campaign, they have commiited to 60 investigators in the 2-3 week time period. We have some faith-filled, hard-working missionaries! They won't know if they can do it if they don't try!
Congratulations on having a great missionary to send out and to help gather Israel!
The Hills
Dierbare Family en Vrienden!
Spring is here, and it feels wonderful! The sun isn't super common during the winter here in Nederland, so it has been great to feel it again. This week we will be going to Keukenhof as a mission. It is a super famous garden, so expect some super amazing photos!
