What Do We Hear?

We enjoyed a fairly busy week this week. Visited with a lot of the good members of the Gouda ward. Elder L. will be with Elder Lo. now. He'll do a great job. He can navigate this place better than I can (never was my strong point). And he has a good understanding of what needs to happen next.

We had Stake conference this weekend and the theme was Alma 37: 6-7. It was a good conference...

It's good to see the work will continue on with good missionaries and members who are putting their time and talents into what they do. I have met so many amazing people in these two years.  You know, it's the general opinion from many people that the world is getting worse and worse. And yes, certain things are getting worse. But when you get the chance to really get to know and understand about the people around you, you find that there is so much good. So much you can appreciate from the people around you. Of course you won’t always like what they do. But when it really comes down to it, there just so many good-hearted people...

I repeat myself.
That's ok. I had one last thing; I wanted to share with you all. 
After 2 years of missionary work, I have seen that this church that we follow, this gospel, offers (when properly lived and applied) happiness. And gladness, and peace. It teaches us balance in our lives. It teaches us how to live with and love others around us. 
I am reminded of a letter that Joseph Smith wrote to the saints. In Doctrine and covenants 128. Among other things, he tells about what we 'hear' or learn from the gospel:

Now, what do we hear in the gospel which we have received?
 A voice of gladness!
 A voice of mercy from heaven; and a voice of truth out of the earth; glad tidings for the 
dead;
 a voice of gladness for the living and the dead; glad tidings of great joy.

This gospel, which we have received, gives us so much. Yes, it is true that there are many unanswered questions. And there are things that don't make sense. But the core of how one should lead one's life does make sense. And is that not what we all really want? That peace of mind, knowing that we have a purpose in this life. That the endings we experience here that bring so much sadness, are not final endings, but pauses. (Pres. Uchtdorf talked about this)... 
        
 I admit to everyone that this does not make one's life perfect. From my own experience I know this is not the case. But I have seen this gospel fix people’s lives. It has healed hearts that are broken. I've seen it. It has given purpose to those that are lost. I've seen that too. 
And for myself it has shown me how I can be happy, and what really can make happiness last, and become joy.
Further in his letter Joseph says:

Brethren, shall we not go on in so great a cause?
 Go forward and not backward. Courage, brethren; and on, on to the victory! Let your hearts rejoice...


People can spend years to become physically developed, and people spend years of their life studying for secular knowledge, and to develop intellectually. I have given two years to learn spiritually, and to help others do the same. I will never regret this choice. Because of it, I have changed forever. 

I pray that we will all be able to take the time, and concentration to hear from our Father. Who loves us. And wants us to feel that.

Tot Zients Nederland en Belgie. Thank you for being what you are :). I will really miss you. I love you all. You have taught me so much.
You have a special place in my heart. Always.

Elder Chantry

This Week

So this is what happened this week:

Tuesday we went to the temple. IT was SO great. Last time going here. (at least for a little while) I was really grateful for it...

We also visited less active families and some former investigators. Trying to find more people that want to meet with us. It should be coming along. 

The weather has been great. Kinda windy and partly cloudy but little rain, and still warm enough to be pleasant. Great fall weather. Leaves all over the ground (You know Rachel it's so addictive to crush them as you walk:)

I got to bear my departing testimony on Tuesday as well. .. It was a strange thing. I went up there with what I would say but I went blank for a bit. heh. There’s so much a mission does. What do you say about it in 4 minutes?

But what it came down to… What was most prominent for me was recognizing the importance of my relationship with God, and others. What we do in life really would make no difference if we didn't believe that there is more than this life. That there is a God, who cares about us and communicates with us. 

Because we believe this we have so much more direction. I have learned that relationships with people are the next most valuable thing you can have. "The worth of every soul is great, in the eyes of God". I firmly believe that. We are designed with the need to be loved, and to love. This makes us complete.

I love this work. Because just like they say, by giving up yourself for a time, you find who you really want to be. So valuable.

Ik hou van Jullie!!

Elder Chantry

So That Happened...

Well. We had another interesting week.

Elder J. heard that he will be working in the office, and was transferred this Wednesday. We're missing him already, but he's done good work here.
So we're figuring out how to properly get around without him, then another Elder who was here on exchanges got appendicitis. I was with him, so we had to rush him that night to the hospital. Crazy few days, where me and Elder L. were with his companion as he recovered and everything..

But they did a good job and he's all clear, just taking it easy. So that happened.
Me and L. are still doing great. Tomorrow we have temple conference. I'm looking forward to that.

I'm gonna send some pics, so I’ll move on to that point:

An awesome church in Woerden

One more Windmill :)

Love you all!
Elder Chantry

Wettest on the Mission

This week has been good. I know, sounds very general, but we've been able to teach more than the week before and had some really good meetings with people. It is fascinating to see the different reasons why people choose to meet with us. 

Maybe they want to learn about who we are, they're just kind of curious. Often they want to learn more about the Book of Mormon, or about Christ. Often they're interest is fairly vague, and meet because we really want to and they're not against it so why not?

But those that really are interested in learning something are great to talk with. I love hearing why people think the way they do, and what their own experiences are.

We went to the zoo today, and that was great. We were biking home Saturday night, after watching conference at a member’s house (btw, conference was great. I've watched all but the last session. I'm sure you all enjoyed it as well. Man, I’m looking forward to the printed version cause there are several that I really want to review. How about Elder Christofferson for example? great eh?) 

Anyways, we were biking home and it was dark, and the wind picked up and lo and behold the heavens broke and it started pouring. 

Now, I’ll mention that  it was warm and sunny on the way there. We all had shirt sleeves on. And then, man, an ocean dumped on our heads. Literally within two minutes I was soaked. And the next half hour got me soakeder. We were laughing, then the rain was like stinging, and so we started yelling, then we started singing, cause you know, that’s what you do when your sanity breaks... We made it home good though. 

I think that might be record for wettest on mission. A couple other times come close, but this was worse... It was hilarious. My shoes are still wet from it. 

I love you all. So glad to hear Sister Texas got home safe :)
Enjoy the week!
Elder Chantry