Yes, we are finally here

Coming back here has been fantastic.  The members we learned to love while we were here before are mostly all still there.  There are a few who are now on the other side of the veil so they are actually better off than we are.

We live in a beautiful almost new apartment in Groningen on the 8th floor overlooking a canal and we can watch boats go by all day long. (When we are home and not doing our jobs) Some of them dock right in front of our apartment during the night if the bridge is closed for the evening and then they leave again early the next morning.  We can see people in their living quarters settling in and going on with their routine of living on board a ship.  They most always have a car and of course bikes on board to take them on jaunts around what ever they need supplies.  Ben's grandfather ran a boat himself and one uncle lived on a boat most of his life with his family.  When the children were old enough to go to school they usually lived with relatives and joined the family on days off and during vacation time.   Not a life I would want to live but it worked well for them. I think the cargo boats beats 18 wheelers because they are much quieter.

We work with the young adults  (they are called JoVos here)  and we love it.  They have family home evening (FHE) on Mondays.  Groningen is a college town and many students live away from home so meeting together with friends is very important for them.  On Thursdays we have Institute and they all get involved with the lessons.   We cook for both events and sometimes it is pretty difficult to know how many will be there so we just cook a ton and it always gets eaten.  What ever might be left over is sent home with the Elders who love any kind of food.    So far we have only had about 14 or 15 people show up but hopefully we will be able to find the "lost ones" and get them coming back.

On Tuesdays we have District meetings with the Elders (usually eight of them) and I always cook lunch for them.  We also cook for the Oppermanns once a week, one of our favorite couples here who we used to visit regularly on our last mission.  Bro. Oppermann is in the last stages of cancer and being taken care of at home and he loves for us to come.  He and Sis. Oppermann love anything I cook.

We go to church in Leeuwarden where we served last time and the branch is now a little larger because they have been combined with another Branch. We actually had about 20 people in church Sunday. We drive for about an hour to get there but the drive is beautiful.  We of course have to speak Sunday which does not surprise us at all. 

We actually had a Thanksgiving dinner Tuesday with all the other Senior Couples as well as Pres. and Sis. Robinson in the Mission home.  The drive there took almost three hours but that hopefully will not have to be a routine because with the price of Diesel here it cost us around $100 to drive there and back.  Pretty expensive dinner if you ask me.

We will try to keep you updated on what is going on and I will try to add some pictures once in a while.