AND THEN THERE WAS ONE

Well it's happened.  Mitch was worried that he would receive the call Sunday night and be transferred, but actually the phone call was for his companion, Elder Van De Graaff.  Elder VDG was made a zone leader in a place called Neeman.  It's in the northern part of The Netherlands, close to the Austrian border.  Mitch was sad to say goodbye but he knew that it would come.

Mitch's new companion is Elder Mathis.  I don't know anything about him yet, and I won't know until the Van  Eijzeren's write to us to give us the details.  Mitch is always in a "hurry" when he emails. 

They did have another baptism.  Sister,  Ijeoma Francisca Ibechukwu. she is from Nigeria and is learning to speak Dutch, so the service was in English.  She is 32 years old and she came to The Netherlands because of the war in her country, her dad and brother were killed and she does not know where her mom is.  Pretty sad story, it reminds me that I should be more grateful for what I have.

Back to Mitch.  It snowed in Vlissingen.  Birgitta Van Eijeren sent pictures to me, thank heavens.

As you can see by the picture Mitch loves the food in the Netherlands.  In one of his emails he made the comment, "Holy Good Food Batman", over an awesome dinner someone fixed for them.  A totally new expression for Mitch. However, it does give a pretty awesome picture of the food he had. 

This Sunday is transfer Sunday so he's worried he will get moved.  It would be nice if he could finish out the time that his companion, Elder Van De Graaff has left.  I think he only has about a month before he comes home. 

The baptism that they had was an ederly woman, 75 years.  Her 80 year-old husband performed the baptism.  He had been a member for about 40 years.  Someone asked if she was doing a  "death bed repentence thing".  Mitch said some of the questions in the baptism interview were hard to ask her.

 

 

 

UPDATE FOR MITCH 1/07/13

Mitch is loving his mission.  Right now he is serving in a small town on the North Sea called, Vlissigen.  They build ships there.  They have the North Sea on one side and a large River on one side.  they are not surrounded by water but there is a ferry if they need to use it. 

His companion is Elder Van De Graaff.  He is from Chicago, but has Dutch roots.  His mother is originally from the Netherlands.  While growing up Elder VDG was able to visit his grandmother there.  His father served a mission to the Netherlands.  His mom told me she is more Dutch than his dad.

They have been assigned to an area that has been closed for about five years.  They have become very close to the Branch President and his family.  There are 25 members in the branch.  The branch is small but the members are very close.  They had one baptism in December and have another scheduled for this Saturday.  Alot of their baptisms fall through but Mitch is still staying positive.