Hallo,

D&C 58:3-4
"Ye cannot behold with your natural eyes, for the present time, the design of your God concerning those things which shall come hereafter, and the glory which shall follow after much tribulation.
For after much tribulation come the blessings."

It was a pretty eventful week. Full of Sinterklaas and Zwarte Piet, pepernoten and happy kids, and a bike that just continues to get more ghetto. We had the opportunity to celebrate the Sinterklaas holiday on Friday with Familie Hofstee, and Saturday with Familie Spijkerman. With Familie Hofstee we experienced the younger version of Sinterklaas. It involves Sinterklaas knocking at your door and leaving presents and Zwarte Pieten coming to your home with more presents and throwing pepernoten at you. Pepernoten are sort of like graham crackers except shaped like a nut...? Yeah I don't know how to describe them. Anyway, I learned a lot of cool stuff about the Dutch culture and even some sayings that Dutch kids use when they're excited. Like "holy moley" or "holy cool". Yeah. Wonder how long it will take for that to be a thing in America. It was a lot of fun though. Familie Hofstee is great.

With Familie Spijkerman we experienced a more grown up version of Sinterklaas. Everybody gets someone to get gifts for and they make the gifts in the form of some sort of object. Super cool. They made Elder Knaupp and I a fiets (bike). They had lots of good food and of course, more pepernoten. Earlier in the week our Bishop and his wife each bought us a kilo of pepernoten, so we're set for the next 100 years. It's a super cool and unique holiday though. I love the Dutch.

On Wednesday my back tire went completely flat. Elder Knaupp and I had to take time to get a new tire and fix it and I couldn't help getting a little frustrated and annoyed with the whole situation. In the end though the bike was fixed and things worked out. God showed me that despite what my plan was for that time, it wasn't His plan. Nothing really amazing happened when we were without bikes, but it was a humbling experience that helped me to realize that I don't need to let small things like a flat tire bother me. God has a plan for us.

We had a really cool lesson with our investigator Jorn. We talked about his reading in the Book of Mormon, and about prayer. We won't be able to meet with him again until January, but he asked us if he should read more than usual since it would be so long. He also said that he would try his best to pray each time before he reads. His faith and desire to learn more gives me hope.

It was a cool week though. This next week will be busy and the last week of the transfer. Time goes so fast! I love serving as a missionary for Jesus Christ and His church. I know that He lives and that He died for us. Joseph Smith was a prophet. He suffered and gave his life for God. The Book of Mormon is the word of God. It works with the Bible as a testimony of Jesus Christ. I love this gospel and the eternal perpective that it gives us.


You're all great and everybody have a good week! Also read the Book of Mormon. It will change your life.


Elder Wright






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