Week 7: Opening a New Area

Hello family!!
I am soo excited to tell you all of the things that happened in detail but I don't have much time.

Dinner in Amsterdam

My group at Schiphol Airport in Amsterdam

So yes, I am in Antwerp and I love it. Zuster Rigdon is the bomb. She is from Kaysville and I think we are almost identical. Haha We are opening this city so it has been kind of difficult ..I don't know the language..and it is hard but I do my best. Flemish is a lot harder to understand because they slur the words together without articulating so it's harder to identify words. Uhh what else? We do a lot of door to door contacting and street contacting. It was hard at first but I feel more comfortable..I kinda have a set script for now..I know I shouldn't do that but I have to or else I get nervous and screw up.

And......here's where I'll be serving!

We walk everywhere or take the tram. We hope to get a bike fore me soon. We were walking down the street one day and this guy was trying to light his cigarette while riding his bike..haha and he totally face planted it. Haha Lauren, I just thought of that show Ridiculousness because it would have been perfect for that show. We tried not to laugh too much.

We knocked on a door and a girl name Kasey answered. She seemed soo interested in the church so we left her with our number and she gave us her address (because she was at a friends house..I think..I couldn't understand very much). Wow it's hard to add details in emails. Anyways. We were super excited to talk to her later..but haven't been able to get a hold of her..it was sad because I was sooo excited. I needed a little buster and wanted to help someone out but I don't know..we went by many times but no answer. Haha I am so sorry my emails are just jumbled...it's hard to get my thoughts together so don't judge me.

Haha Another time a younger guy without a shirt on answered a door..haha Both sister Rigdon and I are just making sure we only look at his eyes the whole time we were talking. He said that he was trying to find God in his "own" way and that he believed in karma and stuff..to make the long story short. I just pretty much said if you believe in karma and that things are not a coincidence then wouldn't you think it was not a coincidence for us to knock on his door. He had nothing to say back to that so he gave us his number and hopefully we will meet with him this week.

This cute lady was sitting on a bench by us and we just got started on talking about life...She tried sooo many religions out. She was saying that Muslim wasn't for her because she tried to do their long fast thing and after one day she was like "I NEED FOOD" so she moved on. Haha she was just soo funny and cute. We are meeting with her next week. Our ward is totally awesome!!!!!! AHHH I just love them to death and it has only been 1 sunday. During sacrament, we introduced ourselves..Haha that was great. I pretty much just got up and said, "I am sister Kohlert. I have been on my mission (in the field) for 4 days. I am excited...I am scared but I love this gospel. I am from Utah and I play lacrosse." and sat down..it was kinda bad dutch because I was sooo nervous. It was kinda funny. Our ward mission leader is HILARIOUS!!!! Ahhh His name is Broeder Nuyons (I hope I am spelling his name right) but he just gets right down to business and it is great. He told us at the beginning of our meeting that he is a hugger and no matter what you say, he will give you a hug. haha so at the end of our meeting he gave us hugs haha that was different...haha love him though.

Our apt. is soo hot so we sleep in the living room and open the windows..so now I have bug bites everyyyyyywwhhhherreess it's hard but worth it!!!

Can't wait to tell you more! Sorry I'm out of time!! I love you guys soo much and miss you!

My address is:
Alfons Schneiderlaan
172 b.2.
2300 Deurne
Antwerpen
Belgium

Zuster Kohlert!!

Week 6: Cleaning The Temple and off to Amsterdam

AHHHH SOOO COOOLLL!L!!!

So we just finished cleaning the temple and boy was that awesome!! I loved it sooo much! First we got dressed into our white clothes and then waited for further instructions. The guy who was giving us the instructions was WAY cool. He knew sooo much and he knew how to teach the Elders to be the best that they can be and treat the Sisters with respect (which I personally think is very important). This man probably treats his wife soo well. Anyways. I was only our district (10 of us) who had the opportunity to clean the temple. The sisters and I cleaned the chandelier in the Sealing Room 9. First we wiped down the crystals and then we put the chandelier back together. So much work goes into individual items in the temple. That took us about 2 and a half hours. When we were finished, the worker turned the light on and that chandelier just sparkled like none other. We even got to go into the next room over and look at a "dirty" one. When we compared them it was a huge difference. Totally insane. I love the spirit in the temple.
Ps the Celestial Room chandelier has more than 4000 crystals on it!! Takes them 5 days to clean it:)

Then we got to go into the Brides room and look at the BEAUTIFUL chandelier. They told us the story of when they chandelier was first sent to them. They had to connect the crystals into long ropes...Kinda hard to explain. It is beautiful though. 3 of the pieces were broken in shipment and the opening of the temple was about to begin. The workers had looked everywhere for a replacement. While doing last minute cleaning one of the workers picked up the instructions(which they had been using the whole time) and out dropped a little bag with the exact 3 crystals that they were missing. Insane huh? Just goes to show that they Lord cares about the minuet things in our lives. He is aware of our "missing crystals" and the things that we hold close. I know He loves all of us!

BUT WAIT THERE IS MORE!! We got to sign our names on the back of a marble tile that is going in the 3 floor woman's bathroom. I put Zuster Nicole Michele Kohlert Belgium/Netherlands 2013-2014. I am sooo glad I got to do this. It was awesome!! (:

IK HOU VAN JULLIE!!! Miss you! Hope you found this as cool as I find it!!

Zuster Kohlert

Week 5: Final Week Woooottt!!

Hey family!!
 Well this week FLEW BY. It was crazy. I don't know why but I am blanking on a lot of the stuff we have done. Buuutttt I will try my hardest to recall everything.
For those of you who don't know, I got my travel plans on Friday!! WOOT. That was exciting. It says we have a direct flight to Amsterdam leaving SLC at 11:00 am and getting there around 8:00 am. I hope it is a direct flight because it would be nice not having to worry about changing planes...but we will see about that. I will have time to talk on the phone when I am in the airport and I could not be more excited!! It is going to be the best ever!! (: I can't wait to talk to you! Mom, I got your letter about maybe sending a phone. Just let me know so I can buy a phone card if I need to. If we do end up having a layover, we can talk during that time. I will be able to email on Saturday..I think so I can give you more details then.
Uhh about packages, I love them and if you have them send it before Friday night otherwise I don't think I will get it because the mail place closes at 2 on Saturdays and of course is not open on Sundays. Thank you for all that you guys do, you seriously are the best. (:

Thank You Toby and Denise for the Cute Greenie Package!

I love the MTC but I am starting to die. My motivation to sit in a class room and study ALL day is not very great, but I will keep trying. I feel a lot better about the language than I did before. I am glad that the lady from the TRC contacted you and told you I was doing good at speaking...which I think she was lying...Haha My companion is really good at speaking so sometimes I use that as a crutch...which I shouldn't.
Did I ever tell you about our hard investigator Ben? And him being a poop? Haha well guesssss wwhhhhattt we broke through with him! We were focusing too much on him not having faith and how he could gain it instead of teaching the gospel while helping him gain faith...does that make sense? Well we just decided to teach the Plan of Salvation and when we got to the Atonement he was really interested. So the next time we were preparing for our lesson by reading some scriptures and both my companion and I had the thought of asking him to be baptized..(which was kinda weird because he hasn't said he had faith yet). I just remember reading a verse outloud and all I was could think about was baptism. And way cool that my companion was thinking the same thing. So that lesson went soooo WELL. I started crying and we invited him to be baptized. He said he would do it. We are excited. I don't think we stopped smiling that day. That was one cool story from this week.. sorry if it doesn't make sense. My english is lacking haha.
So one of my teachers, Bro Mohrman, taught people while he was in the Netherlands who got baptized but then moved to Belgium and became a little less active. For TRC this week we did Skyping and the Elders in our district got to Skype with those same people!!!! And the Elders bore hardcore testimony on how important going to church was and it was awesome. Sooo later that day my teacher got a text saying that Saas and Nieko emailed and said that they wanted to do TRC all the time.. I don't know if you see how cool this is because I am typing fast and not giving much detail but the Lord works in each persons lives individually. He knew the Elders would do say what they needed and yeah..Kinda hard to explain but it was a way cool experience. Almost cried. Ps I have become such a cry baby since being here...I know I cried before but not like this. Haha Oh well. I love the spirit that is here.

My MTC District with Teachers Brothers Mohrman and Robinson

The Surinamers (Nate church + others) had their travel plans to leave yesterday but then on Friday they got news that their visas hadn't gone through and now have to be here an extra week to be reassigned...they are sooo bummedddd..I feel bad for them because they might have to wait another week after us to leave...That would mean that they are going to be here for 9 weeks which is as long as an Asian language...Sucks but they are awesome.
Thank you for doing awesome at being member missionaries!! I hope that you make friends with Naomi's family and yeah. haha Have fun at your BBQ! Tell them I say hi! (: Sounds like Mom is becoming a bigger cry baby since I have left. I now know that she loves me the most! (totally messing but kinda not haha!) I love you Mom and Dad! Thank you for all that you do. You guys are seriously the best EVER!!!
I am going to get a hair cut today...I know you told me not to but I am going to do it...My hair maintenance has kinda gone down:(
Welll... Yeah. Haha our other teacher, Bro Robinson, is sooo funny. Love him to death. haha He has this longing for a expandable pointer stick thing and sooooo for our going away gift, we are giving him a pointer with one of his favorite sayings on it..which is "Nee, nee, nee, nee, nee, nee, PUNT!" (Said in a funny voice and really fast). Nee=no. Haha and one of the sisters accidentally said "tot nooit" (until never) to him once and now that is an inside joke with him. We also shoot each other before class starts and say "U bent gestorven" haha which just means you are dead. Yeah...Those are just a few things he does that make our days much more exciting. Sorry if you don't want to hear about that but I am really excited about telling you guys. haha I am in a weird mood.

Brother Robinson with New Expandable Pointer

But we get to clean the temple fore 3 hours today!!! SOOOO excited!!! IT is going to be bomb! And then just our regular routine for the rest of the day!!
 Love you sooo much!! I will try to write as soonnnn as I can! Love you Love you! Sorry That I don't address everything in your letters, I still love hearing about them! Miss you!! Love you!!!! (: Tot eeuwig! (Until forever..if that makes sense) haha talk to you Saturday!

Zuster Kohlert!!!

Week 4: Goodbye Swedes, Hello Hot Nights

Hello Family and Friends!!!!!

How is everyone doing???

Well...We said goodbye to the missionaries going to Sweden this week..Kinda said. Does anyone remember Ammon Packer? Well he is one of them and we were pretty tight so I was sad to say bye. Sweden has no idea what is coming! Haha And our AC doesn't work in our room so it is soo HOT. The hall way is like ten times colder than our room so nights are rough. One of my roommates is sick..so we took her to the health clinic and they took a couple tests..NOTHING. They don't know what she has...so we are just praying that she will get better. We take turns looking after her. She is really awesome.

The Swedes

Hello Mark and Amy and kids! (: I hope you are having a fun time in Utah! I miss you guys! Tell the kids not to grow up k? Haha

Thank you for the packages that I got this week! Tas, you are awesome!! I will write you a handwritten letter today! You better tell me how your interview went!! The candy is awesome!!! Mom, I love the hairband that you made. Thanks! And all they party stuff will be fun to use.Thank you for getting Kami's email for me! (Kami, I will send you an email in a sec!) Joseph Hatch sent me a package of food. He is the best!

Okay so the same as other weeks, we just had our investigators to teach and Dutch to learn. But I am feeling a little more comfortable with the language which is good. (: I can't believe that I leave in 2 weeks! I think that means I get to call home sometime..I will give you details when I get my travel plans on Friday! AHHH sooo excited! (:

I don't know if you guys know this but the Book of Mormon is awesome. The end. Haha (jk I know you know) But I think you should go through the chronological order of the book for FHE sometime because it is actually really cool. I am still learning about the history of the BOM. Embarrassing, I know... 

The 4th of July was really cool! We had a devotional and then watched 17 Miracles..I cried like a baby.. and then watched the stadium of fire fireworks. They were actually really good and LONG! We didn't go to bed until 11:30 that night..I was sooo tired the next day. But it was worth it. Hah!

Pleasant Grove Missionaries

 

Happy Birthday Olivia! Looks like you guys had fun(: And I want to see Despicable Me 2 when I get back. I love that movie!! Haha Can you send be a picture of Dad wearing the "Redneck of the Year" shirt?? Hahaha I busted up laughing when I saw that!!! haha Dad, what is your new calling?

It pretty much sounds like you guys party every week..kinda jealous. You guys should be jealous that I eat different food that tastes the same everyday. it is soo good! Haha okay well That is all I can remember..Oh yeah, Fast Sunday was great! I wanted to get up but since the Swedes were leaving the next day, there were sooo many people getting up. I had a break down when I was in a CMS (Coaching Missionary Study..I think) with my teacher..I am frustrated with the language but I think I was just super tired and knew that I could do better. He helped me a lot. I love my teachers.

Hope I didn't forget anything..

Yep..That's it! I haven't received a Dearelder from TY, Steph or Lauren this week. You guys are poops... haha

I will send pictures in a sec..I forgot my camera. Love you all and miss you!!! (:

Zuster Kohlert

Week 3: Bang and "F" Words

Well Helloooo again family!! How are you guys doing??? I am doing really good! Still loving it here at the MTC, nothing really new is going on so I will try to make this interesting!

So yet again, I should explain the title of my email. haha For FHE last night, some Elder got a package that had the game BANG in it so we decided to play! It was just my companion and me, a couple of Swed missionaries and a couple of missionaries going to the West Indies. We had a lot of fun! So we decided to play it again today! The temple is closed for cleaning so we have that extra time to do whatever we want. It is way nice!! As for the "F" words...haha One of my teachers, Broeder Robinson comes in and says, (in dutch) I'm going to teach you the "f" words of dutch...And we are like WHAT? Why would you do that? haha I think I understood him wrong haha what he really said is that we was going to teach us words that sound like the "f" word that are going to be used all the time. haha So we learned Vak which means profession and then Vaak which means often and the Fokker which means to raise or breed. Haha He told us to get all of our giggles out. It was pretty funny. They do sound A LOT like the actual word. Sorry if it was bad for me to tell you guys about that but it was pretty much the only exciting thing.. haha

Singin' in the Rain

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Well what else?? The language is getting easier which is such a blessing!! I pray that I can learn it faster because I only have 3 more weeks in the MTC..Which is weird. I have been here for 3 weeks..It doesn't feel like that long. How do you guys feel about the time? Has it flown for you?

 

So I guess you all gained 20 pounds at girls camp from eating all that food. And you guys thought I was going to get fat...PSH. Haha Thank you for the packages!! I can't remember if I told you thanks for the family pictures and what not but if not, THANK YOU!!! I love showing you guys off to all the people haha! I laughed out loud when I heard that Lindon had ecoli in the water..Are you guys okay? Haha Well lets hope that bad water doesn't get to Provo...that would SUCK.


Mom, I can't believe you paid 100 dollars just to find out that Salem doesn't have a UTI...Haha I am telling you again, JUST KILL THE CATS ALREADY! I love them but are they really worth the hassle?? Honestly? Oh and also GREAT JOB in being a good missionary!!! You are definitely taking what the broadcast said to heart! Way to go! (: Thank you for doing all of the stuff I asked for..If you want, you can get jeans from somewhere else? I just don't know if they will fit right...haha And thank you to everyone who helped out with the geneology stuff. haha Just let me know what you get the emails that I asked for.

Steph and Ty, I will write you handwritten letters sometime today and get those sent off. Is that okay?

Haha Well HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY!!! What are you guys planning on doing?? I think we get to watch the stadium of fire firewords form the field by the temple. We will see if that actually happens! Haha Kasja goes into the Mexico MTC this week so maybe ask how her mom is doing if you see her. Did I forget anything??

Oh I had a really cool experience last week. You guys should ask me about it when I get back. It's something that would be hard to explain over letters or email! So ya, hopefully I remember to tell it to you guys..haha
I love you sooo much!! Hope everything is going well!!!!!!!! Miss you like crazy!!!!

Love, Zuster Kohlert