We just finished a fabulous trip to the Netherlands, full of special treats. We love working with the Self-Reliance committees and specialists in this country. They literally fed us and took care of us throughout our trip and also introduced us to Dutch architecture and food. We also had a special experience performing baptisms for Sister Rueckert's ancestors in The Hague temple and were delighted to attend an all mens choir in one of the old Dutch Churches. We have now visited the Netherlands enough that it is beginning to feel like our second European home. However, we aren't quite ready to move into their "cube houses".
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| In front of the "Cube" Housing development in Rotterdam |
Monday and Tuesday - Training of new Self- missionaries
Our week began with a missionary training opportunity on Monday and Tuesday for Sisters Margit Ezard and Anne Lovell. Sister Ezard is beginning her mission with this training while Sister Lovell has been helping in Self-Reliance in Frankfurt since she began her mission 6 months ago. Sister Lovell will travel to Croatia to help as a companion with Sister Ezard on several occasions in the next six months. Also participating in the training was Thomas King, our Area Self-Reliance Manager and Matthew Matthias, our Self-Reliance Services manager for the Eastern European countries. On Monday we trained in the principles and processes. On Tuesday, Matt Matthias shared the specific steps that are being taken in the Adriatic North Mission. Sister Ezard participated in our Senior Couples monthly video conference meeting at 2:30 pm on Tuesday and after that we took her to the airport for her flight to Croatia.
As we took time to help her get her luggage checked at the airport, we had a wonderful chance to share last feelings and give a hearty good-bye. We love the enthusiasm and positive attitude that Sister Ezard brings to her calling. We feel that she has been sent for a purpose to this location. We certainly have learned to love her in the few days that we had together.
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| Sister Rueckert with Sister Ezard at the airport |
Wednesday - Catching up and getting taught
On Wednesday we felt that we finally had time to catch our breath before heading to the Netherlands on Thursday. We made final preparations and followed up on our previous trip to Portugal and the missionary training. We also had our weekly German lesson, participated in our weekly Book of Mormon lesson (at lunch time) and our Old Testament class that evening.
It turned out to be an amazing day as we were fed spiritually by others. In our Book of Mormon class, Elder Peery spent the entire hour sharing thoughts about the translation of the Book of Mormon. He had done a large amount of research and shared many quotations and comments about the actual translation process. It is good to discuss these topics with other missionary couples. As we reviewed the known facts and pondered the challenges of that day, we were touched to see how the Lord worked with Joseph Smith. We understood better how Joseph Smith learned to translate as the Lord taught him line upon line, precept upon precept.
In our Old Testament class, Sister Stay taught about Genesis chapters 2 through 4, moving Eastward. She shared much symbolism from those chapters and outlined the physical locations from the creation, to Eden and moving eastward. She opened our eyes, giving much more meaning to the Plan of Salvation and relating it to the temple, both ancient and today.
What an incredible opportunity we have to be taught by others and to be constantly learning!
Thursday to Sunday - Visit to the Netherlands
On Thursday we left for the Netherlands. We drove and arrived in time to check into our hotel, have some dinner and participate in the Self-Reliance Committee meeting of the Rotterdam Stake. This was the third time that we have met with this stake committee. They continue to progress and have shared the principles and processes with all bishops and relief society presidents. Additional specialists and facilitators are being called.
We had an additional meeting on Friday morning with Martha, the Stake Specialist, and Elder and Sister Goebel, senior young single adult missionaries. We discussed how this initiative can help the young adults and planned for a meeting the next day with some returned missionaries from the stake. We made plans for the presentation of the new My Plan for Returned Missionaries booklet to those returned missionaries. Afterwards we sat and enjoyed a brunch together that had been prepared by Martha. Sometimes in these more informal settings even more good is accomplished. We left feeling that we were not only prepared for the next day, but also had greatly improved our relationship with these great people.
We took time to visit a nearby windmill, which is the home and business of one of the ward relief society presidents. We took photos for our daughter Gina, for her Valentine surprise for her husband. We also found the store to be delightful.
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| Sister Rueckert in front of the windmill. The base of the windmill is a store. |
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| Store inside of the windmill |
On our way to the temple, we stopped in Delft to visit the home of Delft Ceramics. We didn't have time to take the tour, but at least took a few pictures from the car.
We then went to The Hague temple. Coincidentally three other senior missionary couples had arrived from Frankfurt and were on the same temple session with us.
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| The Hague Temple before our session |
We needed to get some of the male family names baptized so that the other temple work could be done. We were able to stay after the endowment session and participate in a baptism session that evening. I was allowed to do the baptizing for a youth group from a ward in The Hague. The bishop's son was able to be proxy for the names that we did.
Those names included six direct ancestors of Sister Rueckert, including 3 of her 6th generation grandfathers, 2 of her 7th generation grandfathers and one 8th generation grandfather. These are all names that we identified during our visits to Erfurt last August. We both felt strong impressions of the spirit as the first baptism was done for Gabriel Moeller, her 7th generation grandfather.
I also performed the baptisms for some of the young women of the ward and then I was able to be the proxy for these same ancestors as they were confirmed members of the Church. What a joy it has been for us to not only be able to identify our ancestors, but to be able to perform or be proxy for the temple work for these same ancestors. Words cannot describe the joy that we felt.
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| Sister Rueckert with cards of baptisms and confirmations completed of her ancestors in front of The Hague temple |
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| Names of ancestors, including Gabrial Moeller, Sister Rueckert's 7th great grandfather |
Coincidentally, we were able to meet with the bishop of the ward who helped perform the confirmations. He was aware of the Self-Reliance initiative and of the upcoming My Path Devotional that would be held.
Saturday morning we met with two returned missionaries form the Rotterdam stake with Elder and Sister Goebel and Martha and her husband Andre. One of the sisters had returned from her mission about 6 weeks ago. The other had returned two years ago. We love hearing the testimony and the strength of these great returned missionaries. This new booklet is a wonderful way for them to remember the lessons learned on their missions and to use that same faith to help prepare for their own self-reliant path. The meeting went very well. We believe that the missionaries and stake specialist were able to understand the process and feel the spirit of this great work.
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| My Plan for Returned Missionaries with two sister missionaries |
After spending time together for three days in a row, I believe that our relationship has been significantly strengthened with these great leaders. Perhaps unplanned, but a very positive consequence of this trip. We are more than missionaries, we are now friends.
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| Martha, our Rotterdam stake specialist and her husband, Andre, also on the stake high council |
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| Elder and Sister Goebel, YSA missionary couple |
Poffertjes
After the training on Saturday, Martha and Andre took us to the market in Rotterdam, where we ate Poffertjes together, their treat. This is a traditional Dutch delight. They tasted so good! We stayed after and watched them prepare them from the beginning. Photos follow.
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| Sister Rueckert with Martha and Andre and Poffertjes |
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| Absolutely delicious Poffertjes with butter and powdered sugar |
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| In front of the Poffertjes restaurant |
These are made with a flavor of crepes, but cooked in a recess and then turned over while still moist on the top. This allows them to puff out and become a Poffertjes. The photos below show some of the process that we watched and photographed.
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| Turning them over at just the right time. |
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| Finished products being removed from the forms |
After this delicious treat, we took time to explore this unique center of Rotterdam. We first heard some bell music and went to find the source. It appeared to be coming from the nearby Luarenskerk Church. As I went to see if we could go inside of the Church, I found the doors locked but a few people waiting at the front door. They told us that a concert would be held that same day at 15:00. Entry for the concert was 15 euros a person. We thought that would be a fun experience. Since it was a little after 1:00 pm, we saw a few of the sights first.
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| Laurenskerk in Rotterdam |
Our first stop was the "round mall". This is a very unique mall.
Round Mall
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| The mall is made of a few stories of shops and then another 8 stories or so of residences. Inside the mall is open with many unique shops. |
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| In front of the mall, seeing through to the other side. |
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| Ceiling from the inside of the mall, seeing the building on the other side |
Inside the mall are many separate shops, most are food related. Each is high quality. We had the best macaroon cookies that we have ever had. The following are a few photos of the shops.
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| Cheese Shop, large rounds of cheese |
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| Spices and seasoning, each in their own pile |
As we left the "round mall" we saw an amazing landscape of architecture. The following panorama photo gives a high level summary of the sights.
Cube Houses
We focused our efforts on exploring the "Cube Houses". This is a development of houses built inside a cube that is resting on the point of the cube. One of the owners decided to turn his house into a museum and charges 3 euros a person to see it. Seems to be a profitable enterprise. We went in and took a look through this fascinating living accommodation. The floors are level but the cube approach creates very interesting walls and corners.
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| Outside the Cube housing complex |
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| More cube houses in the rear |
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| View of the Cube Houses and another interesting building behind |
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| Stairs leading up into the "Cube House" |
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| In the living room |
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| In the kitchen |
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| Stairways in between levels |
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| In the upper room corner |
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| View out of the upper windows |
Het Urker MannenKoor "Hallujah"
As it was approaching 3:00, we went back to the Church. We found someone at the entrance trying to sell a few tickets for their friends who had been too ill to attend the concert. Thankfully we were able to buy the tickets from them. We're not sure where we would have bought the tickets otherwise. When we went in we found that this was a big deal concert. It was an all man choir of about 70 men. They also had guest artists, a female soprano, a few special organists and a guest piano player.
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| Choir in this magnificent Church |
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| Conductor leading the audience in one of the congregational songs |
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| Beautiful Organ |
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| Soprano guest artist - beautiful voice |
We proceeded to enjoy a three hour concert of incredible talents. Most of it was in Dutch, but some of the songs were sung in English. I especially enjoyed singing "How Great Thou Art" in Dutch with the entire congregation, probably over 300 individuals.
The concert ended with the Battle Hymn of the Republic, a tremendous finish to a wonderful Dutch experience.
For Sister Rueckert, this was a highlight of our trip and one of her favorite experiences in Europe, participating in the music in these old Churches. Let me just quote from her journal:
"The choir was amazing. As I began listening to this music, I felt strong stirrings of the spirit. My soul soared and I felt an amazing uplift. This is what I love to do in Europe. This experience brought back memories of the concert we attended in Frankfurt at Christmas time. There are so many people throughout the world with amazing talents they have been given by God that they are willing to share with the world. I am so very blessed to be able to experience such amazing music. The spirit has always spoken to me most strongly through music and it continues to be the same."
This Church was originally built in the 1500s and has been rebuilt after the bombing of Rotterdam in 1940. The Nazi army invaded the Netherlands and met resistance. They then bombed the center of Rotterdam with threats to continue if the Dutch did not surrender. The war finished and the center of the city of Rotterdam was rebuilt, including this wonderful church and the incredible architecture that we experienced.
Self-Reliance in the Apeldoorn and Hague stakes:
On Sunday morning we left early to drive an hour and a half to the Apeldoorn ward where a Self-Reliance devotional was held during the last two hours of the Sunday block There was a missionary homecoming at sacrament meeting. We were able to share the My Plan for Returned Missionaries with the returned missionary and observed the My Path Devotional. It was shared by the Stake Self-Reliance Specialists, Carlo and Amanda Boos. The photos below show some of the members who had signed up to join some of the Self-Reliance groups.
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| Groups assembling after the devotional. The second man from the left is our stake specialist, Carlo Boos. |
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| Those who signed up for the Finance group, including the wive of the stake presidency member who chairs the self-reliance committee. |
After this meeting, Carlo and Amanda hosted us for lunch in their home. We had a wonderful time getting to know them better and enjoyed a wonderful lunch.
After that meeting we traveled another hour plus to meet with the Stake Presidency counselor in the Hague stake. We had a good update with him and also received some edible nourishment. We finished a little after 7:00 pm and then began our drive back to Frankfurt, arriving home a little before midnight.
