So, this Wednesday will the be the official end of my first transfer in the land! It's crazy to think how fast time has gone by. It only feels like I've been here a week or so and now I have to take over the city because my trainer/companion is getting transferred to Amsterdam.
We got our transfer calls last night to find out who was staying or leaving and who our new companions were going to be. My wonderful companion, who was stressing out about the call the entire night lol, was so excited to here that she was going to Amsterdam (she's been in Lelystad for 6 months - one of the smallest places you can serve in in the Netherlands) that she completely forgot the name of my new companion, so I have no idea who she is, so sorry I can't tell you her name yet.
It was quite an interesting last week, most of our time was spent knocking doors in the freezing rain, mainly in the rich neighborhoods (which are notoriously known for not having any interest in religion whatsoever). Most of the time before we get even a chance to talk they assume we're Jehovah's Witnesses and immediately send us away or get mad at us because apparently "we" always come by and that we must take their name out of "our book". The first several times I heard that, I asked my companion what they meant and she explained to me that apparently the Jehovah's Witnesses have a book that they write down the addresses of people and continually knock at their doors. A few days ago, that happened and we said to a man that we weren't and he said, "oh, okay. Well, then you can talk to me. I guess I shouldn't group people together like that."
We're also told a lot, "It's raining guys, go inside and take a nap." We reply with a painfully but happy, freezing smile, "We know, but we can't. We work despite the weather." With that reply, we often are told that we're courageous, which really makes our day. I've definitely learned to appreciate the nice little things people do because it makes a difference when you feel like you're not making any difference.
To describe this week, personally, in a general sense, I would say it was pretty stressful. Mainly because I've been terrified at the thought of taking over this city, having to know where to go for appointments, and having to SPEAK DUTCH! My companion is 10 months ahead of me so her Dutch is pretty good, so I can rely on her when I don't understand what people are saying to me. But I think this transfer is what I really needed to step up and speak the language on my own, no matter terrifying that thought is. I was reading in my personal study, the other day, in Alma 26:37 which says, "...we see that God is mindful of every people, whatsoever land they may be in; yea, he numbereth his people, and his bowels of mercy are over all the earth..."
So last night, at dinner, I was sitting at the table, after receiving the transfer call and coming to terms with staying in this city, I decided to accept it and just get to work. My prayers have been refined since I've been here and I pray to God to completely take away my fears and doubts so that I may be able to do this. Dutch is my language, it's mine now, and I was called to teach in this language so I believe that I will be able to speak it (even though I have to set French aside, no matter how much I love it). I have learned that we get too comfortable in our doubts to where we naturally and sub-conscious/unconsciously create self-limiting beliefs. So, by the time I get home I WILL speak fluent Dutch (nederlands). But I know that I also have to have patience with this language because it has words like "priesterschapsverordeningen" - Yes, that's one word.
Anyways, my companion is singing about everything I'm doing right now because she's freezing and bored, so I'll close here.
I love you all!
Zuster Begazo
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