Week 20: I Love to See the Temple

Hello family!!! How are things going with you guys!! I cant believe that mom and dad will be in the same time zone as me pretty soon. CRAZY. I am really excited that you guys get to travel together though. It should be pretty fun! haha 

Well this week was a great week because we got to go to the temple. Oh man. I miss going to the temple. It seriously is one of the best places on earth. I cant wait to go more when I get back. 

If you look on our missions blog thing there are some good pictures! If I have time I will send some but it doesn't look like I will. We have some really awesome missionaries in our mission. Man I wish that I could be as cool as they are. So fired up about the work and just sooo selfless. I have lots to work on. Haha

It was weird going to the Netherlands for the temple. It really is a totally different country. haha So clean. haha and the people even look different. I can't explain it but it just weird how people can live so close to each other but yet be so different. I do have to say that I really love Belgium. haha 

Haha....funny story. There is an Elder in Kortrijk named elder Stoddard. Anyways, he pretty much has like the same life story as I do. Weird. He grew up in California, then moved to Oregon (Clackamas area), and then moved to Utah for high school. But we got talking about Orgeon and how awesome it was. He told me that he actually took violin lessons in West Linn... And I was like, "NO Way", that is funny because I took violin there too. I asked him who his teacher was and he is like "Oh her name was Lori and she had two dogs and one of them would sing along while we practiced" My mouth just dropped. We had the same violin teacher!!! So we got talking about how we probably have met and all of these things. It's a small world. What are the chances that we would meet in Belgium? Crazy huh?

Haha sooooo Blessing (the guy we had a baptismal date with) hasn't answered his phone this week..Jammer. But we just got to keep going. We will see if we can get a hold of him this week. 

MIRACLE/CUTEST THING EVER. So we had a lesson with our 91 year old investigator named Eugeen. So cute. Anyway, we taught him the plan of salvation and he loved it and really took it well. His wife and son are dead so he is excited that he can meet them again. At the end of our lesson he goes "You guys asked if you can do anything for me last time you were here and I have been thinking about it. I don't know if it is supposed to be something physical or spiritual but I did think of something. Will you pray for me that I can live longer. Will you pray that I live longer so I can learn more about this gospel and be prepared to meet my wife again." I almost cried. He is so cute. I wish we could get him baptized asap..We never know when he will pass away  He is super sincere. So if you can, pray for him. 

Ann was sick this week so she canceled her lesson but what was really cool is that she let us help her out. We went to the store for her and just helped her out while she was sick. I love when people let us help them out. It makes me feel like they trust me! Its good stuff. 

Haha funny story. Z Rigdon and I were on the tram the other day, haha and it was soo crowded that I was holding onto her as a support while she was holding onto a pole. Haha Then the tram stopped very suddenly and both of us just fell and squished two men. My head landed on this guys chest haha, and it was soooo awkward. Haha We were trying really hard not to bust up laughing. 

We met this awesome family from India this week. The parents don't speak English, but the daughter does and she is so cute. We went and visited them and she told us how crazy it is in India and how bad it is. But I felt so much love for her. You could tell that she really trusted us even though she barely knew us. She asked for our contact information so that we could be friends after my mission. She even told us that we were her first friends here in Belgium. I am so blessed to meet such awesome people. We are all so blessed to have the safety we have and the freedom. I love you guys. 

On Saturday we went to a baptism! Isaac got baptized! He is an investigator of sister clement (the one from our stake)! Because we go on exchanges often, Zuster Rigdon and I have both been able to teach lessons to him so he feels like one of our investigators. What a great service. I love the spirit at baptisms. So fresh and strong. It was a good reminder that things can happen here. 

Dad, thank you for the email this week. I almost started crying my eyes out. You know that I have learned to be the person I am because you and mom have taught me so well. You and mom make so many sacrifices for me, its insane. So THANK YOU for everything that you guys do. 

I can't wait to hear about your trip to Europe! It is going to be a blast!!!! Haha I love you all so much! Hope everything goes good with life and school. Lauren, I sent you an email..I think it should help.

Zuster Kohlert

Week 19: Modern Day Prophets

Well....This week kinda felt like a long week..with nothing too exciting but we still did some good work! (:

 

Remember An? Well we had a lesson with her this week that went really well. It was cool because we taught her the restoration and before we had even gotten to Joseph Smith and modern day prophets she asked Who is the prophet on the earth today then? So cool because she is pretty open and everything. She really wants to know what happens after this life. It is sooo cool...hard to explain over an email...It is sooo awesome that we have the knowledge we do. We know where we came from, why we are here and where we are going after this life. We are sooo blessed(: haha

 

The rest of this week we met with a lot of less actives and had a lot of food. Z. Rigdon and I decided we are going on a diet and actually working out in the morning! Today we bought a lot of vegetables and are actually planning on eating them. I was sick this week so it was hard for me to get through this week without being super tired but I am feeling a little bit better now.

 

Hahaha side note. Z. Rigdon was having a hard time sleeping so she listens to me while I sleep. I snore loud. Real loud especially because I am sick but anyways. I was talking a lot in my sleep and at one point I snapped in my sleep. Like a lot of snaps..hahah she told me and we just started busting up. It was really funny. How do you even snap in your sleep? haha Who knows. haha

 

Thank you for everything. You guys are seriously the best. I don't know what else to say but I love you! This gospel is true. Be the best you and remember to be example to those around you..just simple things like helping someone with their cart or something. haha I am just preaching to the choir now...Happy Halloween soon!!

 

We get to go to the temple next week!! SOOO EXCITED! I love the temple and miss it sooo much. We need to go more often together when we are all back together.

 

Dad, How is the mouth feeling now? (:

 

LOVE YOU!!!!

 

Z Kohlert

Week 18: OOOPPPSSS She did it again....

Well folks...I did it again. Let me explain what went on first. So...Zuster Rigdon and I were returning to our apartment after a good day. Neither of us had gone to the bathroom for the whole day...and you know what happens when I don't go to the bathroom right? You guessed it, I peed my pants! We were only a 5 minute walk from our apartment...soo embarrassing. haha.

First off y'all, I am staying in Antwerpen for another transfer with Zuster Rigdon!! Woot woot. I am so excited because the work is going good here and I would hate to leave. haha I love it here so much.

Zuster Rigdon and me with our Ward Mission Leader

Second...I got my hair cut. Tas you would be proud because it is shorter than my shoulders....AHHHH. I don't know how I feel about it but hey, it will grow back! I will try to sen a picture of that for you guys. And then you will have to let me know what you think. Don't Judge because I already have confidence issues. Haha I just did it because I wanted a  change...haha (: I am happy though! (:

Short Hair!

This week was sooooooo goooddddd!! Okay so we got some new investigators! I told you about Blessing, the guy who came to conference right? Well we set a baptismal date with him for the 30th of November so pray for him please! We also finally got another lesson with Sena. We told her to keep the 30th of Nov in mind and she said she would. She is not quite sure how her family will take the news of her getting baptized again. But hey, that is awesome huh guys??? Oh and We are teaching this guy named Dirk and we set a baptismal date for him on the 7th of december! So excited for him! Keep them all in your prayers.

Hmm what else happened? Oh so Julie Van Wauwe is in the states still and she got to see the Prophet! Cool huh? That was her biggest dream..we kinda laughed at her for it..now we feel bad because it happened. we are sooo excited for her.

I feel like sooo much happened this week but I can't remember it because I left my planner at home on accident...stupid move huh? But the last two days we had full schedules and guess what? Pretty much every appointment fell through..so that wasn't fun. but we still had a good time. I am sooo glad that we are both staying in Antwerpen. It is not very common for trainers and trainees to stay together for more than 2 transfers.

So if I am staying until the 23rd is of Nov does that mean you guys are going to be in Antwerpen the same time as I? I need details about your work trip! Send me letters now(: Haha Thanks! I don't know if I forgot anything but It is going great here! I love you guys sooo much!!! Hope you are each thinking of someone to reach out to before Christmas because Elder Ballard challenged you to do that! Haha you guys are great.

LOVE YOU SOOO MUCH! Zuster Kohlert

Week 17: Pullin' a Bwatu on a Bwatu

Hello Family!!! How is everyone doing?? I am doing soooo great here. I love it. The work is really starting to pick up! 

So Tuesday was a good day! We had district meeting and interviews with President and Sister Robinson. They are really great and enjoy being around them. I first talked to Sister Robinson and within the first couple of minutes I was in tears. I don't know why but she just gets the tears out of me sooo quickly. Haha I feel like I have not been the best missionary that I can be. I find it sooo hard to talk to people on the streets and I am just so nervous because my dutch is not very good. NO WONDER MY DUTCH IS ROTTEN, I DON'T EVER SPEAK IT. So I am changing my ways.

Conference was the best thing ever and totally needed. I wrote down questions and concerns that I had before hand and I am pretty positive that all of them were addressed. Now I just need to do some thing about them. I really needed that conference and I hope you all learned something as well. I know Heavenly Father answers prays and wants to help us through our whole lives.

Conference at the church

Wednesday was a great day! We had exchanges with Gent so I was with Zuster Brophy who is the cutest person ever. We have some really awesome sisters here in Vlaanderen. We had this lesson with a new member and her husband who is not a member. They talk soooooo fast it was really hard to understand but by the end we got an appt to start teaching her husband the lessons. He wants to get baptized but is having a hard time quiting smoking. But ya that was cool so now we have a new investigator. We then had a great dinner with Bishop and his wife. I wish I had a picture of them because they are really cool. haha Then we had spanish lessons with the Rivera family, who are members. They are the coolest people and just wanting to get to know them better. I learned how to set up an appointment in spanish. Boo Ya. haha

Thursday was sooo good also. We exchanged again so I was with Zuster Israelsen. We looked up two referrals that we got and they were both home!! So cool!! One of them is wanting to have dinner with us, his name is Wouter and the other lady, Anis, is super cute and from Poland. She has health problems and works a lot so hopefully we can meet with her again because we had a really good spirit with us when we first met with her. 

We were sooo blessed this week with meeting potentials and being able to talk with new people. On friday we were doing some concentrated contacting and werent getting much success but the last door that we knocked was this cute old man who lost his wife. We set up a time to meet with him this week. SO excited! AND THENNNNN We did one of the most exciting things ever....We ate foo foo. I wish I could send pictures..(well ill try but we will see) Foo foo is this african meal that is like dough stuff made from startchy plantains and with a meaty soup on the side. SOO LEKKER. You use your hands to dish out the soup and eat it. Its hard to explain but I will explain better when I get home if you want to know haha.

Dinner with Bwatu

The rest of the week was conference and it was beautiful!! We also met up with this newer inactive member and we hope that we can bring that happiness back into her life. Other than that. Life has been soo good. We pulled a bwatu on bwatu because we had an appt with him and accidentally was late..He usually does that to us. 

I pray for you guys daily. Listen to the words of the prophet and the apostels, they really know the way. I am going to try to be a better missionary. Pray that I will have the confidence to talk to those around me. It shouldnt be a problem because Im so loud huh? but it is. Oh well. Transfer calls are next week...I might get moved so I would recommend not sending a letter this week until I let you know next week. I love it here though. 

Love you alll so much and hope that all is going well. Keep working hard dad, You are really the best ever. And mom, You should send me some of your jam. Steph, i hope your birthday was great!! LOVE YOU!!!

Z. Kohlert