My dear family and friends,
This week was simultaneously relatively uneventful and also filled was many little strange occurences. I don't know if I can adequately describe them to you. But in general the week was great - here goes!
I guess I could begin with the highlight of the week - transfers! We took the train to Utrecht on Wednesday morning. I had a joyful reunion with Zuster Manning and Zuster Whittington, then said goodbye to them both along with Zuster Dobler as they all headed down south. Then I met Zuster Harris and we got ourselves back to Assen - all by 2:30 pm! Which is kind of amazing, considering that the train ride from here to Utrecht is 2 hours (one way) and transfer day is crazy, what with 150 missionaries riding trains with all their luggage and bikes, meeting new companions in central stations, sometimes needing to travel in groups to other central stations, and then getting all those people and suitcases and bikes back to their various cities. Fun times! :)
Zuster Harris is great, and I look forward to working with her. We're both pretty quiet, and we both have our awkward moments (more often than we'd like to admit), and we're both pretty new. :) She's two transfers behind me, having served 3 months in Gouda. She's very positive and hard-working, so we hope to see good things from this transfer!
On Saturday we participated in a volleyball tournament that the church in the Netherlands does every year here. They had teams from all over, and the women's team to Assen needed a couple more people so they asked if we could play. As missionaries we're supposed to help the ward/branch members however we can, so we said sure! Unfortunately we lost all of our games, but it was super fun! I was glad for the volleyball practice I got in the MTC, haha... even if I still have no idea what I'm doing. :) It was great to get Zuster Harris introduced to several of the members here, and there were also less-actives and even non-member friends of people there that we were able to have some great conversations with! Missionary work can happen anywhere, people. Keep your eyes open! :D
Which brings me to my thought for this week - people need you! As a missionary, we are pulled in so many directions by the needs of investigators, members, less-actives, other missionaries, leaders, people on the street, and even people we've never met. However, our circle of influence is still relatively limited. We try to talk to and teach people all day, but we don't have a job, go to school, participate in clubs or sports teams, or stay in one place long enough to form very strong bonds with neighbors. But you guys can do all that! Take a moment to think about all the people you see in one day. One week. One month. Think about all the people you are friends with, or even just aquantainces. Your circle of influence is huge!! So many people need you for who you are, and especially for your testimony and knowledge of eternity! Pray for and look for opportunities to help, to lift, and to bless. They will be there, because the people who need you are there! In the words of President Hinckley, "don't muff your opportunities!" :)
-Zuster Jensen
This week was simultaneously relatively uneventful and also filled was many little strange occurences. I don't know if I can adequately describe them to you. But in general the week was great - here goes!
I guess I could begin with the highlight of the week - transfers! We took the train to Utrecht on Wednesday morning. I had a joyful reunion with Zuster Manning and Zuster Whittington, then said goodbye to them both along with Zuster Dobler as they all headed down south. Then I met Zuster Harris and we got ourselves back to Assen - all by 2:30 pm! Which is kind of amazing, considering that the train ride from here to Utrecht is 2 hours (one way) and transfer day is crazy, what with 150 missionaries riding trains with all their luggage and bikes, meeting new companions in central stations, sometimes needing to travel in groups to other central stations, and then getting all those people and suitcases and bikes back to their various cities. Fun times! :)
Zuster Harris is great, and I look forward to working with her. We're both pretty quiet, and we both have our awkward moments (more often than we'd like to admit), and we're both pretty new. :) She's two transfers behind me, having served 3 months in Gouda. She's very positive and hard-working, so we hope to see good things from this transfer!
On Saturday we participated in a volleyball tournament that the church in the Netherlands does every year here. They had teams from all over, and the women's team to Assen needed a couple more people so they asked if we could play. As missionaries we're supposed to help the ward/branch members however we can, so we said sure! Unfortunately we lost all of our games, but it was super fun! I was glad for the volleyball practice I got in the MTC, haha... even if I still have no idea what I'm doing. :) It was great to get Zuster Harris introduced to several of the members here, and there were also less-actives and even non-member friends of people there that we were able to have some great conversations with! Missionary work can happen anywhere, people. Keep your eyes open! :D
Which brings me to my thought for this week - people need you! As a missionary, we are pulled in so many directions by the needs of investigators, members, less-actives, other missionaries, leaders, people on the street, and even people we've never met. However, our circle of influence is still relatively limited. We try to talk to and teach people all day, but we don't have a job, go to school, participate in clubs or sports teams, or stay in one place long enough to form very strong bonds with neighbors. But you guys can do all that! Take a moment to think about all the people you see in one day. One week. One month. Think about all the people you are friends with, or even just aquantainces. Your circle of influence is huge!! So many people need you for who you are, and especially for your testimony and knowledge of eternity! Pray for and look for opportunities to help, to lift, and to bless. They will be there, because the people who need you are there! In the words of President Hinckley, "don't muff your opportunities!" :)
-Zuster Jensen
Not the best picture, but Zuster Harris and I :)
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