Gelukkig Nieuwjaar!

January 5, 2015

Hey Familie!!!

Gelukkig Nieuwjaar!!!!!!!! Wow, this has been such an amazing year with so many opportunities and blessings. I'm so grateful for you guys and for my mission, and all of the opportunities I was able to have. This year is my full year dedicated to serving God. I'm so grateful that I was called here and for all of the experiences I've had, and all of the things that I've learned. Something I've learned while I’ve been out on my mission is the blessings of trials. Trials can be tough times that get our spirits low and we can feel alone or just beat. What I’ve learned, is that Heavenly Father gives us trials to strengthen us. Trials are times that God gives to us to make us stronger and more mature. Trials are such a blessing and when we are faced with a trial, remember Heavenly Father, and that He is always with us. He wants us to learn something and become more like Him. The next time you recognize a trial, pray for help and look for the things that you can learn through dealing with the trial in a good way. Chapter 6 in Preach My Gospel is about developing Christlike attributes. For family home evening, you guys should read the Christlike attributes and look up some of the scriptures that are given.

It's so good to hear from you all and I’m so excited to hear about Cierra and Kaylee and how they are doing! Elder Steenblik and I were able to go up on the roof of our apartment during Ouders Jaars Avond (old years night) and see the vuurwerken (fireworks). It was something I’ll never forget. As New Year’s came around, the sky was lit up with fireworks everywhere. It literally looked like a movie. Everywhere we looked, 360 degrees, there were fireworks. It was amazing. Everyone was outside throwing fireworks around and it was an experience I’ll never forget. It was so cool. We had a good week but we didn’t get to proselyte on Wednesday because we all had interviews with the mission president and had to go straight home. We talked to a lot of people this week and knocked a lot of doors. We have to record our finding time now and we are striving for 2 new potentials every day. We've had faith and we have almost met our goal this week.

I've eaten all the food you listed and it's all delicious. The poffertjes are only in Belgium but they're pretty much just small oliebollen, I think. We had veel oliebollen on New Year’s Eve and appelflap. It's tradition here for everyone to eat oliebollen during New Year’s feestdagen and it's awesome They're doughnut balls that they fry and put poeder suiker (powdered sugar) on. It's deliciousness. Love you guys so much!!!!! Have a great year and a great week!

Groetjes, Jeremy