Oranje!

Happy Koningsdag! 

Well, of course one of the greatest miracles about this week was Koningsdag [which is the King's birthday; he was the Prince of Orange]. We were in market in Dordrecht with the Sliedrecht Elders and the Gouda Sisters having a booth to give stuff away and it was a lot of fun. We were able to give away probably at least 30 Books of Mormon, probably more, and we gave away tons of cards. Also plenty of pamphlets and DVDs. We also had a lot of really good conversations with people and several of them were genuinely interested in learning more. Also, one of our investigators that Sister A and I found who was really positive but then got busy/sort of disappeared showed up too and we got to talk to him! We'd already made an appointment with him on the phone, but it was cool to see him and get to talk to him a little bit. And he had another friend with him that might be interested too, so that was a great miracle. And one of the greatest miracles of all that day: it didn't rain a drop the whole day, even though we were supposed to get at least a bit of a storm.

Best part of Koningsdag? Lots of orange.

Sometimes it's difficult to watch members or investigators really struggling with certain trials--either those they caused for themselves or those that just happened in their lives. But it's important to remember that first of all those trials exist for all of us. It's all part of the plan! We accepted it when we chose to come here. And second, great trials make great people. There has never been a great man or woman without a great effort against a great problem. The one thing ALL successful people have in common is that they endured a difficult situation. We can't wish away our difficulties. They are what refine us.

Also, I love Alma 26:2-3, 11-12. (And now, I ask, what great blessings has he bestowed upon us? Can ye tell? Behold, I answer for you; for our brethren, the Lamanites, were in darkness, yea, even in the darkest abyss, but behold, how many of them are brought to behold the marvelous light of God! And this is the blessing which hath been bestowed upon us, that we have been made instruments in the hands of God to bring about this great work. ... I do not boast in my own strength, nor in my own wisdom; but behold, my joy is full, yea, my heart is brim with joy, and I will rejoice in my God. Yea, I know that I am nothing; as to my strength I am weak; therefore I will not boast of myself, but I will boast of my God, for in his strength I can do all things; yea, behold, many mighty miracles we have wrought in this land, for which we will praise his name forever.) One of the greatest gifts of a mission is the privilege to be an instrument in the hands of God.

Hope you all have a great week!

Love,

Zuster Stevens

Easter!

It´s Easter! And for those of you that think it´s not still Easter, welcome to Nederland. We are enjoying a very quiet second Easter here. There is literally no one on the streets.

We had a super cool lesson this week with a family here. She is a member from Costa Rica and he is very religious but not a member. Before they got married, so 10 years ago, he came to a sacrament meeting here and just didn't really like it that much. Then when he was in Costa Rica he met with the missionaries once and basically had a bad experience with it. Then they got married and moved here and they would only go to church in Costa Rica when they went on vacation. My first week in Dordrecht they came to church, apparently because he felt like they should. They were gone for the rest of that transfer on vacation, but last Sunday they came to church again and we set up an appointment. We had a really good talk with them and were able to answer one of his big questions, about why a restoration was necessary. His wife told us later that that was one of his big concerns. They are a wonderfully nice couple and it was really nice to be there with them and see how the Lord has been working with him in particular to prepare him.

Also, last night we had a stake Easter concert, and it was beautiful. Our investigator came too and seemed to really enjoy it. And one of our members brought a friend and she seemed to have a really good time.

I think that one of my favorite things to remember and try to internalize during the Easter season is hope. No matter how dark the Friday, Sunday will come. We run into difficult trials and frustrating things on nearly a daily basis--not just in missionary work, but also in life. But it doesn´t matter, actually, what happens during these trials--there is always hope, because the tomb was empty. Jesus Christ atoned and died for us. But then he rose again, that we may all live again. I know that this is true.

Life is good! Hope all is well for all of you!

Referral Miracles!

Referral miracle week! So we ended up getting 3 referrals from the Facebook project this week, (our mission has a Facebook page and they´re doing an Easter campaign) which is just super exciting. One of the ladies was super nice and said that we could come back! That was cool. But better yet was our headquarters referral, who we went to see yesterday. He's a young man who saw an "I am a Mormon" video online and wanted to learn more and get a copy of the Book of Mormon. So he's already been reading the Book of Mormon (from an app) and is up through 2 Nephi 9. Say what?! He´s studying history and really likes the Book of Mormon so far. And he said that there are some things that we believe that he also believes but hadn't heard from other people before. And we've got an appointment set up for this week and we're really excited!

Also, our other investigator has been making some amazing progress. A couple days ago he made a major breakthrough in feeling the Spirit in a very rational way testify to him that God exists. He really feels like this is enriching his life and he´s just doing really well. He's also getting excited all on his own to share it with other people. He is giving a Book of Mormon to a friend and has a list of people that he wants to invite to his baptism! So we're finalizing our plans for his baptism!

I really liked this quote from President Eyring from his Conference address last October conference, especially when it comes to difficult or discouraging times in missionary work, "There is joy guaranteed for the faithful. From before the world was, a loving Father in Heaven and His Beloved Son loved and worked with those who They knew would wander. God will love them forever."

As I said in my sacrament meeting talk yesterday, faith precedes the miracle. The miracles will come as we trust in Him. One of my favorite talks, "But If Not" by Elder Dennis E. Simmons, talks about this. We will be obedient no matter what. Even if the blessings that we want don´t come, we will be faithful. And we do this because we can have a perfect hope that no matter what happens in this life, we will receive far greater blessings in the eternal world.

Hope all is well! I love being a missionary!

And When Everyone's Super...

Of course, one of the highlights of this week was conference. I loved ALL the talks and really can´t pick a favorite, so hold your questions on that one. I have to admit, I was a really big fan of Elder Ballard´s talk, mainly because it´s about missionary work! I love it! Conference seriously is the best.

We had a good week. One of our miracles is that our investigator came to all the broadcasted sessions of General Conference and seemed to really like it!  We also had a lesson with a former investigator who seemed  pretty closed off when we first contacted him. But during our lesson he had lots of really good questions. He still has a lot of his own views, but it was a cool lesson.

One of the things I learned this week comes from a false statement made on the Incredibles. The bad guy on the show says, "And when everyone´s super...no one will be." I realized that this is absolutely false in the context of the gospel. I think a lot of people go on their missions or go about their lives secretly hoping to be a hero, to be a legend. Even if it´s a desire they would never vocalize, most people want that at least to some extent. We want to be remembered, and we want to be special. But then we come into the field or make a few mistakes in life or just aren´t what we originally envisioned at this point in our lives. Then we realize that we actually have a really long ways to go, and it seems impossible that we´ll become that hero that we want to be--partly because we´re carrying a false idea with us that if everyone´s super, that makes us less super. The solution to this false doctrine is realizing that just because there are many heroes doesn´t mean that we can´t also be heroes. One of the beautiful things about a mission is that there are enough problems, trials, struggles, and tests to go around. No one has a monopoly on a difficult mission or life or on all of the trials. We all have the opportunity to experience those trials at the same time--and everyone also has the chance to be a leader. It might not always be in a visible position. It might not be to all of the missionaries or to all of our colleagues or friends. We might not end up as a legend to anyone besides one companion, one investigator, one little branch, one friend, or even just our family. But there are enough chances for us to ALL be super. Because we are literally children of God, we are all super. We are divine. And if nothing else, we can be a legend to our Heavenly Father, because He knows what we´ve gone through, even if no one else ever does. And His opinion is the only one that ever really matters.

We are never too old to learn. We are never too old to change. I love General Conference because it is a 6 month reminder of that fact. There is always room for improvement, but there is always time and hope as long as the Master says there is.

Sister Thorley and I are doing fantastic! We will have a very good transfer.

I hope you´re all doing well!

Love,

Zuster Stevens