This week was great. We had 2 investigators at church and are hoping to baptize them in a few weeks. They really liked church and have a great bond with some of the members. Member/Missionary work is so important and the work is so much better with the support of the members. There is a family that helps us a lot. It is the Kromopawiro family. They are solid members and help us so much. They take care of us very well, too. I think they found Whitney and Amy on face book. I am not sure how, but they did.
Elder Lake and I are working well together and are enjoying the work. There are some elders that will be leaving soon which includes Elder Swart and some others. Soon after that I will be leaving and I cannot believe it. Time has flown so fast.
We will have a very busy week. We need to go to Nickerie and do a lot of other exchanges and to support the missionaries out.
Love, Jeff
11 May 2010
27 April 2010
The Lord blesses me with so much...
Dear family,
Wow!!! Thank you for the good news. I was so happy to hear that I was accepted at the University of Kent and also the University of Leiden. I will fast and pray and let you know how I feel. I just think it is great that the Lord blesses me with so much.
Elder Lake and I had a good week. We are seeing so much success with the returning members and the less actives. We taught so many good lessons. The spirit was just so strong during a lot of these lessons and you could just see the faces of the people lit up when we were teaching. I feel that the Lord is using us as His tools to bring light back into the lives of these people.
There is a family that was less active last year and they are making changes in their lives accept callings to serve in the church. Every time we go there we just have a great spiritual experience. They are so amazing and I enjoy teaching them because they are just so willing to learn. As they are making the needed changes in their lives, they have been able to bring three people into the church with them. These three new members are strong and one of them is preparing to go on a mission. He is such a good kid. You can tell that he loves the Gospel and that he will be a great missionary. He shares the things he learns with those around him and they too are making changes in their lives.
I just feel like the Lord is speaking to them through my companion and me. I love that feeling and I am thankful for it. I try to thank the Lord for every time that feeling comes. I always want to have that feeling in my life and I know it will be there as I keep on reading my scriptures and praying and thanking the Lord for everything I have.
I love the Lord and he has made such an impact in my life. Every time I teach I want to give others that feeling. I want to make them feel that God loves them. I was able to teach Elder's Quorum yesterday and I explained that each member had a calling to bring the Gospel into the lives of others. I told them that the people could feel the love of God through them. I am completely convinced that that is true. This church is a missionary church and The Lord uses us (the members, not the missionaries) to reach out to people. "The members are full time finders and the missionaries are full time teachers", said Elder Bednar.
I love this work and the people here in Suriname. I am so grateful that I am a part of this gret work. Thank you for sustaining me in it through your faith and testimonies and prayers.
Love, Jeff
Wow!!! Thank you for the good news. I was so happy to hear that I was accepted at the University of Kent and also the University of Leiden. I will fast and pray and let you know how I feel. I just think it is great that the Lord blesses me with so much.
Elder Lake and I had a good week. We are seeing so much success with the returning members and the less actives. We taught so many good lessons. The spirit was just so strong during a lot of these lessons and you could just see the faces of the people lit up when we were teaching. I feel that the Lord is using us as His tools to bring light back into the lives of these people.
There is a family that was less active last year and they are making changes in their lives accept callings to serve in the church. Every time we go there we just have a great spiritual experience. They are so amazing and I enjoy teaching them because they are just so willing to learn. As they are making the needed changes in their lives, they have been able to bring three people into the church with them. These three new members are strong and one of them is preparing to go on a mission. He is such a good kid. You can tell that he loves the Gospel and that he will be a great missionary. He shares the things he learns with those around him and they too are making changes in their lives.
I just feel like the Lord is speaking to them through my companion and me. I love that feeling and I am thankful for it. I try to thank the Lord for every time that feeling comes. I always want to have that feeling in my life and I know it will be there as I keep on reading my scriptures and praying and thanking the Lord for everything I have.
I love the Lord and he has made such an impact in my life. Every time I teach I want to give others that feeling. I want to make them feel that God loves them. I was able to teach Elder's Quorum yesterday and I explained that each member had a calling to bring the Gospel into the lives of others. I told them that the people could feel the love of God through them. I am completely convinced that that is true. This church is a missionary church and The Lord uses us (the members, not the missionaries) to reach out to people. "The members are full time finders and the missionaries are full time teachers", said Elder Bednar.
I love this work and the people here in Suriname. I am so grateful that I am a part of this gret work. Thank you for sustaining me in it through your faith and testimonies and prayers.
Love, Jeff
19 April 2010
Not even the Volcano in Iceland can stop the work...
Trust me, we know all about the volcano. Elder Koenen should have been home a few days ago, but cannot leave because of the ash in the air. We do not know when he will leave and we do not know how, but right now he is here with us. He is in good spirit and doing well, however he does want to go home soon.
I know that God answers payers. Elder Koenen, Elder Lake (my new companion), Elder Manwill (a new elder), and I had a great moment together. We were able to come to help a recent convert when he was sick. I will not be able to tell the entire story, but I will tell you that we gave a blessing and we saw how God answered our prayers instantly. I have seen the hand of God so often and so clearly during my mission. I know that my Savior lives. I know that he suffered and died for me and that I can be forgiven of my sins. I love him and cherish the miracles I see.
We have had a rough week. We needed to go out to Nickerie which is about 250 km from where we are. We had to drop off some new missionaries and bring them to their companions. We also had to figure out how to get Elder Koenen out of here. We have had to go to the airport a few times. The last time we went we saw an empty airport. There was not a soul to be found. The airport is about 1 hour away, so we wasted some time going out there. The funny thing is that we still do not know anything about when he is leaving. I guess we will just need to wait. I just hope that my home coming will be a little easier. :D
Anyway, thank you for your emails. I love you all and pray for you.
Love, Jeff
I know that God answers payers. Elder Koenen, Elder Lake (my new companion), Elder Manwill (a new elder), and I had a great moment together. We were able to come to help a recent convert when he was sick. I will not be able to tell the entire story, but I will tell you that we gave a blessing and we saw how God answered our prayers instantly. I have seen the hand of God so often and so clearly during my mission. I know that my Savior lives. I know that he suffered and died for me and that I can be forgiven of my sins. I love him and cherish the miracles I see.
We have had a rough week. We needed to go out to Nickerie which is about 250 km from where we are. We had to drop off some new missionaries and bring them to their companions. We also had to figure out how to get Elder Koenen out of here. We have had to go to the airport a few times. The last time we went we saw an empty airport. There was not a soul to be found. The airport is about 1 hour away, so we wasted some time going out there. The funny thing is that we still do not know anything about when he is leaving. I guess we will just need to wait. I just hope that my home coming will be a little easier. :D
Anyway, thank you for your emails. I love you all and pray for you.
Love, Jeff
05 April 2010
What a great Conference
What a great conference it was. I noticed that they talked a lot about families and establishing the church. I was able to learn that families are key to the growth of the church. I hope we will be able to implement that into the work here in suriname.
During conference I was able to learn so much about the priesthood and the importance of missionary work. I am thankful for the success that the Lord is giving us.
Elder Koenen will be leaving in the coming week. He is sad and excited to go home at the same time. I cannot imagine that my turn will come soon as well. We are going to have a great week. We will be baptizing a sister this week that is really looking forward to baptism. She is so excited. She read all the way up to the middle of Alma in jst about 3 weeks. She is ready to get baptized and willing to learn. At the same time we are helping a less active family because we are asking them to fellowship her. The work is amazing.
No, I did not get any package. It may be in the mail, but I did not get it yet. The system here is a little slow.
The picture here shows us after a good game of soccer with some members. It had just rained and we were basically playing in the mud, so we were no very clean when we finished.
Thank you for all of your prayers and thoughts.
Love, Jeff
During conference I was able to learn so much about the priesthood and the importance of missionary work. I am thankful for the success that the Lord is giving us.
Elder Koenen will be leaving in the coming week. He is sad and excited to go home at the same time. I cannot imagine that my turn will come soon as well. We are going to have a great week. We will be baptizing a sister this week that is really looking forward to baptism. She is so excited. She read all the way up to the middle of Alma in jst about 3 weeks. She is ready to get baptized and willing to learn. At the same time we are helping a less active family because we are asking them to fellowship her. The work is amazing.
No, I did not get any package. It may be in the mail, but I did not get it yet. The system here is a little slow.
The picture here shows us after a good game of soccer with some members. It had just rained and we were basically playing in the mud, so we were no very clean when we finished.
Thank you for all of your prayers and thoughts.
Love, Jeff
04 March 2010
The promptings of the spirit
I have had a great spiritually uplifting experience this last week and the week before. When Elder Koenen recovered and got out of the hospital we got a call that very same day. A Member asked us to go to the hospital and visit a man that had just gotten hit by a car and was in the ICU. Elder Koenen and I dropped everything and drove to the Hospital. We asked the nurse to show us the man in question and we gave him a blessing. He is still in a coma, but his health improved a little.
As we were walking out of the ICU Elder Koenen and I were standing by the door and Elder Koenen was talking to one of the nurses about that man. I was looking around and saw a girl of about 18 years old looking at me. I saw her and waved at her. She looked really bad, but she slowly lifted her arm and gave me a little wave and slowly put it back down. We then left the ICU and went to another part of the hospital to visit one of Elder Koenen's old "roommates" who expressed that he wanted to learn more about the Book of Mormon. As we were teaching this man I was continually thinking about this girl. I had the feeling to go back, but I did not know what to do. When we walked out of the lesson and down the stairs of one of the hospital buildings, I told Elder Koenen that I felt that we needed to go back. He said that we could and we did.
I asked the nurse if I could give her a little book. She said that it was ok and I walked over to give her a little leaflet about the plan of salvation. She was sort of sleeping and not looking very good at all. She seemed completely drugged. I put the book by her bedside and left thinking I had done everything.
Throughout the day, I caught myself thinking about her. I did not know what to do. I felt that I needed to do something, but I did not know what. I decided that I was going to fast and pray about it and for her. I fasted to know what to do and for her health to improve and decided that we were going back to the hospital the next day.
We did. I knew exactly what to do. I was to give her a Book of Mormon. We went to the ICU and to my surprise, she was not there. Her health improved overnight whether it was because of my prayer and fasting or something else, I do not know. The nurse told us her name, I did not even know that, and told us where we could find her.
We went to the ward and found her sleeping. I put the Book of Mormon next to her bed on the table and left. This happened last week. A few days ago we went back to check up on one of Elder Koenen's "Hospital Friends" and walked across the hall to check up on her as well.
She was sitting in a chair. She looked a lot better and was not connected to ant pipes and IVs or anything like that. I asked if she had received the Book and she said that she had. I promised her that the Book would help her. We said a little prayer and left. We will not be able to visit her because she does not live in Paramaribo. She lives in an area where we do not work as missionaries yet.
I may never know the effect the Book of Mormon will have on her and if she will ever read it, but I do know that that is what I was prompted to do. I know that prayer is real. I am so thankful for it. I have been able to see the effects of it so quickly. Our heavenly Father really does hear and answer prayers and he does love his children. Sometimes he will use us to help others. I do not know what would have happened if I had not fasted, but I do know what happened because I did. I think heavenly Father gave me this to learn of the importance of prayer and I am so thankful for it. I do not think I will ever see that girl again, but I sometimes wonder about how far that Book of Mormon will make it and how many people it may help. I am so thankful for all of this.
Elder Koenen is doing well. He ate something that was not good and he got sick. The funny thing is that I ate the same thing and I did not have any problems. Doing things alone as a Zone Leader was not easy and I am glad that he is back, so we can handle these things together. The transfer is almost up and Elder Koenen and I will work together zntil he returns home in 6 weeks.
I love you all.
Jeff
As we were walking out of the ICU Elder Koenen and I were standing by the door and Elder Koenen was talking to one of the nurses about that man. I was looking around and saw a girl of about 18 years old looking at me. I saw her and waved at her. She looked really bad, but she slowly lifted her arm and gave me a little wave and slowly put it back down. We then left the ICU and went to another part of the hospital to visit one of Elder Koenen's old "roommates" who expressed that he wanted to learn more about the Book of Mormon. As we were teaching this man I was continually thinking about this girl. I had the feeling to go back, but I did not know what to do. When we walked out of the lesson and down the stairs of one of the hospital buildings, I told Elder Koenen that I felt that we needed to go back. He said that we could and we did.
I asked the nurse if I could give her a little book. She said that it was ok and I walked over to give her a little leaflet about the plan of salvation. She was sort of sleeping and not looking very good at all. She seemed completely drugged. I put the book by her bedside and left thinking I had done everything.
Throughout the day, I caught myself thinking about her. I did not know what to do. I felt that I needed to do something, but I did not know what. I decided that I was going to fast and pray about it and for her. I fasted to know what to do and for her health to improve and decided that we were going back to the hospital the next day.
We did. I knew exactly what to do. I was to give her a Book of Mormon. We went to the ICU and to my surprise, she was not there. Her health improved overnight whether it was because of my prayer and fasting or something else, I do not know. The nurse told us her name, I did not even know that, and told us where we could find her.
We went to the ward and found her sleeping. I put the Book of Mormon next to her bed on the table and left. This happened last week. A few days ago we went back to check up on one of Elder Koenen's "Hospital Friends" and walked across the hall to check up on her as well.
She was sitting in a chair. She looked a lot better and was not connected to ant pipes and IVs or anything like that. I asked if she had received the Book and she said that she had. I promised her that the Book would help her. We said a little prayer and left. We will not be able to visit her because she does not live in Paramaribo. She lives in an area where we do not work as missionaries yet.
I may never know the effect the Book of Mormon will have on her and if she will ever read it, but I do know that that is what I was prompted to do. I know that prayer is real. I am so thankful for it. I have been able to see the effects of it so quickly. Our heavenly Father really does hear and answer prayers and he does love his children. Sometimes he will use us to help others. I do not know what would have happened if I had not fasted, but I do know what happened because I did. I think heavenly Father gave me this to learn of the importance of prayer and I am so thankful for it. I do not think I will ever see that girl again, but I sometimes wonder about how far that Book of Mormon will make it and how many people it may help. I am so thankful for all of this.
Elder Koenen is doing well. He ate something that was not good and he got sick. The funny thing is that I ate the same thing and I did not have any problems. Doing things alone as a Zone Leader was not easy and I am glad that he is back, so we can handle these things together. The transfer is almost up and Elder Koenen and I will work together zntil he returns home in 6 weeks.
I love you all.
Jeff
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