Power of Blessing and Modern Medicine

Been a long week over here in Antwerpen. Started out with a beautiful and last Hooray P-day in Antwerpen with Zr. Jones but I got sick with a cold and fever. Had District Meeting on Tuesday in Sint Niklaas, still sick but functioning. Transfers the next day and I felt awful so I got a blessing from Elder Childs and Elder Reynolds. It was very special and exactly what I needed to hear. Was very nervous for transfers, taking over the city and a new companion. I'm no longer a greenie! Woohoo!! Trasnfer day was crazy business. I didn't have to do anything but it was still crazy. Got to the station at 10am and put Zr. Jones on a train and watched it go. Like a cheesy movie, but seriously it was rough. Anywho, sat at the station with the other missionaries in out zone until 2:15pm unyil the new companions arrived. Zr. Thomas is here! She is awesome, from Minnesota, also plays soccer and is musically talented. I am very excited to be working with her and feel like I am going to learn a lot from her. Already getting work done! Have had some incredible experiences. We received 4 referrals in the last 3 days. Went to Groenplaats to teach Hamode (the journalist) and he brought a friend with him. We sat on a bench nad it was funny, Zr. Thomas taught his friend and dropped a RAD. (RAD's are a restoration and doopdatum, an invite to be baptized on the first lesson) Then I taught Hamode the Plan of Salvation. Two lessons in one sitting and both very very positive! Taught a Muslim family and learned a lot. I love that as a missionary I can talk to so many different people, learn and share. Some people are firm in their faith, others are searching for something and others simply reject us. What I love is that, yes new investigators and baptisms are a goal, that is not our purpose. We invite others to come to know for themselves, open the door for them, and its interesting to see them start to think and for that time being we have brought them closer to Christ. The feeling I have after these kind of appointments is incredible...feel like to some degree I've fulfilled my purpose. We looked up a referral and holy cow... PREPARED! We dropped a RAD and she is so positive. She has studied and read LDS.org and she pretty much gave the lesson. Her friend was there, and every question she had Nathlie answered it and taught her the Law of Chastity right there. Just an incredible experience. Then on Sunday, this tiny little asain walked into the church and sat by me. She told me that she is an investigator, been taught by other missionaries but just moved to Antwerpen last Monday. She looked up the church and showed up herself. Now have an appointment with her this week! Wow. What a week. So thankful to still be here in Antwerpen and still nervous about it, but ready to get to work. I'm feeling myself change and that's all thanks to the Lord. Depending on Him has helped me to do all this. I love missionary work and being able to do this. I know God has a plan, just turn to Him and he will show the way. I love you all and hope you have a great week! Zuster Young

Once a Marine, Always a Marine

Hoi iederen! I hope everyone had a great week. This last week just flew by so quickly, its like it didn't even happen. But it was still a very great week. We got transfer calls last night... the verdict is: I'm staying in Antwerp another transfer! My new companion is Zr. Thomas (Zr. Faa's trainer!) I can not wait to meet her on Wednesday and start a new transfer. I have a good feeling about it. Surely going to miss Zr. Jones, but it's time, it is funny how the Lord kind of prepares you for these changes and lets you know in a way that you will be taken care of. So with that said, I'm excited! We had Zone Conference and it was phenomenal! We had a Sisters break out session and oh my goodness, I just love Zr. Robinson. She is so in tune with the spirit and just knew what I, what we all needed. It was a beautiful experience, and a confidence booster. These last couple weeks I've been brought to humility and to my knees on prayer to depend on the Lord. Know that I NEED him to do this, I have to KNOW him. So I've been trying to become the person and missionary the Lord has in store for me, he knows I can become. Its been hard, but I am making my way and already seeing some little changes. I think with this new start next transfer I will really grow. SO here in Belgium there have been a few t.v. programs about us missionaries here in Belgium. You should try and look them up! 1st: Iedereen Beroemd 2nd: Ja Jan 3rd: Fans of Flanders Try on YouTube... not sure if you can find them. But they are amazing and have been an awesome tool in our missionary work. We knock doors and they know us because they saw missionaries on t.v. But so we watched those, and then we watched Meet the Mormons. It was incredible, the spirit was so strong. I am a member of de Kerk van Jezuz Christus van de Heilige der Laaste Dagen. I am a missionary, apart of this missionary effort, trying to share the gospel with everyone. The Lord is finding ways to bring about His work and salvation that it is reached to all his children. I encourage you all to find little ways you can share what you believe with others, be an example. Be ARE watching and they notice the Light of Christ. Next, we went to Flanders Field Museum this last week. What an incredible and chilling experience. Unfortunately, we could not go to the trenches or cemeteries, we don't a car to get us there. Missionary problems and just on foot. The museum however, was the best museum i have ever been to. Thank you mom for the poem you send, took on such a whole new meaning. It was incredible to see pictures and videos of the First World War, here in Belgium. Places that I have walked the streets. To see what it was like. To hear music and poems and things written about the life of a solider. The rivalry between Tom and Jerry. The War came to live. Seeing maps, uniforms, bomb shells, bullets, grenades, tools, just to see it all was incredible. They have preserved it all so very well. The Christmas Truce, brought me to tears, as the videos and reenactments showed that cold night when all sides came together in singing and sharing their most precious things, oranges and tobacco. My favorite part was at the end, you typed in your last name and it had a list of all those who died and where they were from and their burial site. It was a somber and humbling experience. Just made me think of the many men and women in my own family who have been members of the military for generations. I have always been proud of my military heritage. I am the Daughter of a United States Marine. Once a Marine, Always a Marine. I am seeing the wars from a completely different perspective, and i cant imagine what it was really like. But I am thankful for the men and women who sacrificed their lives, stepping up to the call of duty and defending their nation, their family and freedom. I will never forget what I felt. Never forget where you come from. OOH RAH! I love you all. And I miss you all dearly. The Lord is working with us and he has a plan. His plan is perfect and his plan for me, and for you is perfect. Trust Him and work with Him. I pray you are happy and healthy. Have a beautiful week! Liefde, Zuster Young Flanders Field Museum, Ypres, Belgium

Eating African Food... And Cute old Zr. Nuijens who we visit every friday!

Zone Conference with Elder Lovin..... And then Zr. Jones and I eating dinner and this is what our lives have come to. We are people wathcing and commentating their situation and what they are doing. lets be honest I've always done that!

Of course, at my favorite place, The Schiltz home for Sunday dinner. and Me just doodling away like usual. Photo creds to Elder Childs.

**Here are links to some of the videos she referenced and a link to the Flanders Field Museum https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=1567734370123253&fref=nf Ja Jan https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QNvZfWFb7hA&sns=fb Flanders Field Museum http://www.inflandersfields.be/en

Coming to the end of Transfer 2

Goede Morgen iedren! (: I hope everyone had a wonderful week! Over here in the great big world of Belgium it's been pretty crazy. I am learning a lot and trying really hard to give this my all and just simply do the work. So Agnes was confirmed on Sunday! We went to visit her on Saturday and oh my lanta... the gospel changes and blesses lives. Ever since her baptism last week she has just glowed and is always smiling. Agnes told us all about her week and how she feels like a new person, work is much better and the people there have noticed something different about her. She is already a missionary and talking to everyone. We gave her a nice leather triple scripture set and she LOVES it! She has been reading in the scriptures more than ever and she also read some of the BvM to us in her native language Twi. It was beautiful. That is just an amazing testament that the gospel blesses people and works them as they strive to be diligent and follow Christ. Douglas- He was another investigator and has been really finicky.. Saturday we had a lesson with him and the Zone Leaders came with us. We did the Restoration lesson again and I noticed he was just sitting there, not really into it. At the end I shared a scripture, (President has asked us to come up with a list of 10 scriptures, our personal artillery, that has helped us and be able to us in a situation and bear personal strong testimony). I shared my scripture and bore testimony. It was pretty intense, I just told him that he has to open the book and actually read it. And then asked if he believes God will answer him if he prayed. He said yes, and then I said "Douglas, I know that if your are sincere and truly want to know, and sincerely ask God he will answer you RIGHT NOW. So we are going to get on our knees right now and YOU are going to ask God." And all us missionaries got on our knees and he was taken back but he followed. I kept thinking oh my lanta where did that come from? He said a prayer, and we knelt in silence then Elder Lyman said a prayer. We knelt in silence. I can not describe how strong the spirit was. There was no denying that the Spirit testifies of truth and he was there with us. When we asked Douglas how he felt, he said nothing special. My heart broke... he didn't feel anything. So we invited him to read and try again. Not sure what will happen but I hope he comes to find it. This last week was really hard in the sense that I was hit with a brick of I don't know what I'm doing. Being the Sister Training Leader's company is hard work. Sister Jones said, "Even though I was called and set apart as a the STL, you too are one, you're my companion. You do the dirty work just as much as I do and I wouldn't not be able to do this without you." This is hard. We are dealing with investigators and missionaries who are struggling, have serious problems and concerns. I have no idea why of all the missionaries and people I'm the one here and being the one in the middle of it. I want so badly to help these people, I feel Heavenly Fathers love for them. But I just have no idea what to say or how to help. So I've been learning to become dependent on the Lord 100%. No one knows better than he does. He is our Heavenly Father, he loves us. He knows how to help us. And that alone brings me great comfort. Thank you everyone for your love and support. I pray for you and know the Lord is watching over you. Stay close to the Savior. I know he lives. Have a beautiful Week! -- Zuster Young P.S. Sorry for the P-day switch this week..... and transfer calls are this Sunday. Gotta feeling something is gonna happen!

Working with the Zone Leaders led to Bus stop selfies.

Ward Correlation and Sister Jones' Birthday (I made the cake!)

Zone P-day. We did an indoor soccer tournament and our district was the Black Parade! We just killed! Oh it was great to be goalie and yelling and diving all over the place!

Depending on Christ

I wish I had a video camera so y'all could see all that has happened this week. And mostly because I cant get to everything. This week was full of long hard knows, laughs and smiles, tears and utter joy. We saw a lot of miracles from contacting and just knocking doors. A few new investigators and potentials. But there are 2 things I really want to focus on... First: Wednesday was our lesson with Lynn and it was big. Last time we found the concern and Wednesday was the day to address it. We had a joint teach, Steffi who has become great friends with Lynn. So with the lesson we simply stated the commandment and what it entails. The Spirit just hit with the spirit and Lynn just cried. Steffi jumped to comfort her. 85% of the lesson was silent/ Steffi talked most of the lesson, which was helpful. (And to be honest I didn't say anything the first half of the lesson, just trying to follow their Dutch) It was a lot of sitting in the silence because you could see Lynn sitting there thinking and the Spirit working on her. I wanted to share a scripture, 1 Corinthians 10:13 and before I started reading I just started crying and then finally got to read it and bear my testimony. Then went back to my silence. The 3 of them talked more and more moments of silence. After a long pause Lynn was talking and I wasn't understanding anything! But she turned to me and asked me what I thought. I started to panic because I was lost but I trusted the Spirit and opened my mouth. It was quite awesome, dont know if she understood me or if what I said really helped. But she still wants to be baptized but knows this is going to be a long hard process. She is coming to know for herself and it is quite amazing. She thanked us for helping her find and walk on the right path. It's amazing what silence can do when you let the Spirit guide. I have no doubt Lynn will get baptized...just need to take it slow. Second: Agnes was baptized yesterday!!!!! Was incredible to see her glowing and be so happy. To stand on the other side at the top of the stairs of the font and watch her get baptized. I cant describe the feeling. To have been working so hard with her, to see a daughter of God who was lost, hurt, struggling and alone, to have seen the change in her life and the Christ encircle her and now baptized. It was beautiful. I now want that for everyone, more than anything! Funny thing was they forgot to start filling the font till after church so they started filling it with buckets. Was adorable to see her son Noah helping fill it. Also had 2 exchanges this week. Went to Brussels again. A goal this transfer I have was to give everything to the Lord and depend on him. As I have strived to do that and have made this His mission and His work. That is when I see the miracles and know our success is because we are working with Christ. Sorry this is short but wanted to share that with you all, we are having Zone P-day District vs District Indoor Soccer Tournament so time to go KILL! haha I hope y'all had a wonderful week and a good Valentines Day. I love you all! -- Zuster Young

Agnes' Baptism

Valentine's Day

Trip to Brussels

100 Days a Missionary

As of February 5th I've been a missionary for 100 days! I didn't know that until my family sent a poster of "100 things we love about you!" Thanks you guys! It was awesome! I was laughing so hard. There was like 4 things written about Oreos..I miss Oreos. haha Well I celebrated this monumental moment with a spectacular week of missionary week! No surprise there, but this was a very good week. 1st: Veronica- Last Sunday we went to the hospital with a member to visit her friend. #memberreferral Veronica is in her late 40's and is incredibly sweet. She has been in the hospital for 2 weeks now and was getting ready for an operation on Thursday. We talked and shared a spiritual message with her, and she lost it. She just unloaded and the spirit was so strong as we tried to comfort her. Left a BvM and our card. Two days later she called and asked me if we could go to the hospital on Thursday after her operation. All of her family lives in Netherlands and her husband or fiance or someone is missing (she hasn't been able to get in contact with him) and she asked us to be there so she wasn't alone. US! We just met her and she asked us to be there. So of course we went. And then back again on Friday, we were there for hours helping her and just talking. Its crazy that in a week we have developed this relationship with her and have so much love for her. I love that we as missionaries can do anything. We can drop what we are doing and go and serve. 2nd: AGNES!! This woman.. ha oh my she is getting baptized this Sunday!! WE have been over at her house a lot these last couple of days and each has been an incredible spiritual experience. Saturday was her baptismal interview and she passed. It was so funny because she was acting like she didn't telling us next time and then she jumped up and yelled just kidding! (She is African so pretty crazy!) She was so happy! Best part was she cursed the devil...."F-word Satan. GO JESUS!" Oh my lanta is was the funniest thing. I am just so excited for her. She also said "You two are my guardian angels. You are children of God and when I see you I am so happy, I want to follow you. I am now not a lone and I am a child of God." Oh I was crying, I was so happy and touched and to hear her say herself that she is a Child of God. Just so happy! 3rd: Hamode- He is the journalist I contacted last week. We had an appointment with him on Saturday. We sat on a park bench in the middle of Groenplaats, the center of Antwerpen. He has no knowledge of Christianity so it was a bit of a challenge to be careful with our words (luckily it was in English) We taught the Restoration and answered his questions. You could see the lightbulbs turning on and it making sense to him. I extended the baptismal commitment/invitation to him...I was hit by the spirit. He said, "Yes, that is the point but I need to take this step by step." YES! It was such an awesome experience. While contacting down in Groenplaats I was leading the way and accidentally led us down a Red Light District! Oh my goodness it was awful and I felt so bad that I led us there. I had no idea... yuck! So random... I love peanut butter. I don't know what it is or what happened but I love peanut butter! We go through a jar every week (granted the jars aren't as big as the ones back home, but still). And I am choosing to eat bananas...Yes that's right mom I am choosing to eat with, with peanut butter and liking it! ha! This was a very good week, we worked hard! My dutch is getting better, still working on it but its better! Alma 5:45-46 "I know these things of myself." We must continually learning and reaffirming our testimony. Our testimonies are our greatest weapon in the fight against the adversary and ther world. I like Alma, know these things of myself. I will do everything in my power to share it with others. I love you all and hope you have a great week! Love, Zuster Young

There is a HERO within all of us

Not a whole lot to share this week, the first half of the week we spent at the church planning and preparing for Zone Training. The theme was superheros and it went really good! I drew a superhero to represent all the points we wanted to talk about and that turned into a handout we printed and got laminated for everyone in the zone. Since I'm the companion of the Sister Training Leader I don't have to speak or really do anything for Zone Training, so I just did all the behind the scenes creative thinking and artsy fartsy things. haha It was so much fun and we just had so much fun planning it. It was a success! So biggest thing to happen this week was our lesson with Lynn. We had exchanges so Sister Jones was in Turnhout. So I took on Antwerpen once again with Sister Riley. The lesson was Lynn was incredible. Got to her house and we talked about soccer for a little bit and then got right into the lesson. I asked her about her reading in the Book of Mormon and also she has been going to Institute. She is so far in the Book of Mormon and her studies are just remarkable. The lesson on the Gospel of Jesus Christ: Faith, Repentance, Baptism, The Gift of the Holy Ghost and Enduring to the End. We had a good discussion going and when I got to repentance it was the basics, right from PMG and mid sentence I froze and stopped talking. A thought came to mind to share a personal experience, but I didn't want to. I sat and played with my CTR ring and thought for a second debating what to do and say. But I followed the prompting and opened up to her and just shared my experience. I talked about repentance, the atonement and baptism. A power that I have never felt before came and I just spoke. I literally felt power as I spoke to her. I told her that we don't know what her "big question or struggle" is but we pray for her, and think about her all the time, and are here for her to do everything we can to help her. By this point she was crying. We sat in silence for a a bit while, I knew I just needed to let her sit for bit. Finally she got to a point where she opened up to us. B/c I trusted her, she trusted me and was very open. We now know the issue and we will work with her. There was a power that I can't describe and I just bore testimony and said all the the spirit told me to say. She was crying and I was so surprised that I wasn't crying... cause if you know me I'm a crier. Oh man the spirit was so strong. I felt Heavenly Father's love for her, and there is something big planned for her, he is working hard on her and I just know she has the power to overcome this. I love Lynn and I will do everything I can in my power to help her. Another thing, walking home from Agnes (which by the way is super prepared and ready for her baptism in 2 weeks) there was a man standing by a bus stop and I stopped to contact him. He is a journalist originally from Iraq. We have an appointment with him this week. He was very positive and said that he is confused and lost and wants to find the right path. He is a 45 year old and feels like he should know. Gave him a card and later that day he texted us and said he looked up the website and has so many questions! Exciting stuff being a missionary. I love being here the work is moving forward. The Lord with working with us and helping us. "Missionary work is not easy, because Salvation was never easy." -Jeffery R Holland I am paying a small price, walking a little of the path that the Savior walked to help move this work forward. I love you all and miss you. Hope you have a great week! Tot Maandag, Zuster Young