Things are really exciting for us in Suriname. We have set a goal to have a baptismal service on 2 January for our zone and baptize many people. Elder Koenen and I are working with some great people ourselves and hope that they will be baptized that day.
I got a letter from Vocalis. In the letter they put the CD we made before my mission. It is great. It sounds really nice and it brings back good memories. It would be great to sing with them again.
Anyway, we are working hard with new investigators and less active members. We are trying to find a new balance between finding and reactivation. The focus of the mission is reactivation. We are seeing a lot of success in that area. There are so many good people that have been baptized in the last few years that have gone less active and we want them back. We have started a big joint effort with members and missionaries to get these people back. The goal is to invite them back and to teach their families and friends, so we will still be able to increase membership and church attendance. President Gamiette was inspired to make these changes and they are working.
Sacrament Meeting was good. We had very good speakers and they all did very well. I have started a habit that I want to continue. I have started taking notes in every meeting that I attend and I was amazed at how much I can get out of meetings and other gatherings. The Spirit just teaches you more because you are showing God that you are willing to remember and write it down. You should try it. It really works. I have learned so much.
I love you all,
Jeff
30 December 2009
24 December 2009
Mr. Krueger's Christmas
When I (Pieter Vernes) was a missionary in Ireland I first watched this video. I think it is a nice Christmas Story.
21 December 2009
The choir sounded amazing
This week was quite a busy week for us. We drove out to Nickerie through the jungle to visit Elders Croese and Roepers. They are doing really well out there and are working hard. We had a short exchange and drove back on Wednesday.
Elder Koenen and I held a Zone Meeting with the entire zone about the new vision that President Gamiette has for the mission. When we were in Trinidad, we were able to hear firsthand what this new vision encompasses. We tried to make it as clear to the zone as possible, so that there would not be any confusion and we would be able to work together in unity and see success. It ended up being a very uplifting meeting.
After that Zone Meeting we worked for the rest of the day and at 8.00 pm drove around moving around some Elders, so we would be able to put the new Elder in the right place. There were some last minute transfers that we had to take care of. Around 10 pm we left to the airport to pick up Elder Bytendorp. Elder Koenen and I decided to take Elder Holz who is training Elder Bytendorp. We also decided to play a little trick on the new elder. I ended up being Elder Koenen and Elder Koenen was Elder Holz and Elder Holz was me. It was very funny and Elder Bytendorp had to laugh after we finally switched nametags again after half a day of playing the other person.
Then there was the Christmas party at which the Choir sang really really well. They sounded amazing. We are now working on keeping this alive so that they will be able to have a District Choir. We got a lot of compliments from the people that were there. There were about 350 people at the party.
President Gamiette will be coming in for Zone Conference today. We will have Zone Conference tomorrow. I am excited because it is always such a spiritual and uplifting time.
Thank you for that great package. I left to gifts wrapped and will open them on Christmas Day. We have received instructions on what to do for Christmas. We want to do a lot of service that day and have a good time as a zone. The phone calls will be around 5 pm Suriname time. I look forward to talk to you all.
Thank you for everything. Love,
Jeff
Elder Vernes and Elder Koenen
Elder Koenen and I held a Zone Meeting with the entire zone about the new vision that President Gamiette has for the mission. When we were in Trinidad, we were able to hear firsthand what this new vision encompasses. We tried to make it as clear to the zone as possible, so that there would not be any confusion and we would be able to work together in unity and see success. It ended up being a very uplifting meeting.
After that Zone Meeting we worked for the rest of the day and at 8.00 pm drove around moving around some Elders, so we would be able to put the new Elder in the right place. There were some last minute transfers that we had to take care of. Around 10 pm we left to the airport to pick up Elder Bytendorp. Elder Koenen and I decided to take Elder Holz who is training Elder Bytendorp. We also decided to play a little trick on the new elder. I ended up being Elder Koenen and Elder Koenen was Elder Holz and Elder Holz was me. It was very funny and Elder Bytendorp had to laugh after we finally switched nametags again after half a day of playing the other person.
Then there was the Christmas party at which the Choir sang really really well. They sounded amazing. We are now working on keeping this alive so that they will be able to have a District Choir. We got a lot of compliments from the people that were there. There were about 350 people at the party.
President Gamiette will be coming in for Zone Conference today. We will have Zone Conference tomorrow. I am excited because it is always such a spiritual and uplifting time.
Thank you for that great package. I left to gifts wrapped and will open them on Christmas Day. We have received instructions on what to do for Christmas. We want to do a lot of service that day and have a good time as a zone. The phone calls will be around 5 pm Suriname time. I look forward to talk to you all.
Thank you for everything. Love,
Jeff
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