Monday, January 19, 2015

Week 17: The Book of Mormon is true because starfish are weird.....

De Elzepoort


Here is a link to the description of the Elzepoort. Click on the translate button to read it in English!

http://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ezelpoort



De Ezelpoort

Christmas Night with Familie C. (Elder Muller Skyped from their home..and I promise that is not alcohol!!)

Monday, January 29, 2015


So I guess I should explain my subject lines from my last two emails... 


Week 15: 30 lbs of Bread. There was a lady who gave us 30 lbs of bread. Yup. I guess I forgot to mention that.

Week 16: 3 for 3. 3rd transfer, 3rd companion. :)

Week 17: The Book of Mormon is true, because starfish are weird

Elder Hunt and I were talking about starfish (don't ask me why... we just were) and we were thinking about just how weird it is that you can cut them in half, but they will just grow another starfish (and more things about just how starfish are weird in general) Elder Hunt just couldn't understand how that was possible, so he just turned to me and said. "The Book of Mormon is true, because starfish are weird." (I will now refer you to Alma 30:44 in the Book or Mormon)

But Alma said unto him: Thou hast had signs enough; will ye tempt your God? Will ye say, Show unto me sign, when ye have the testimony of all these thy brethren, and also all the holy prophets? The scriptures are laid before thee, yea, and all things denote there is 
God; yea, even the earthand all things that are upon the face of it, yea, and its motion
yea, and also all the planets which move in their regular form do witness that there is 
Supreme Creator.

Here is a link to the entire Book of Mormon



SOOOOOOOOOOOO, it's been a weird week. But first the good stuff. 

On Monday night, we had an AWESOME time at Familie P. He is a less active member with four non member daughters that we've been working with. This was only the second time that I've been there when all four girls were home, and the first time it was actually a set appointment. It was sooooo cool. We've been working with Brother P. since before I got here, but it's been harder with the girls (He's a single dad, and they have school... ya busy schedule). 
It was just so awesome. They are probably the coolest people I've worked with. They had us over for dinner, and we just got to know them and taught a small lesson. IT WAS SOOO COOL! They just talked with us for like an hour and a half! The best part, we went back yesterday and all four of them were home AGAIN! Aw man, the Lord blesses you hardcore after 12 weeks of nix. They have so much potential, and are just an awesome family. I hope I get to see them again. 

Elder Muller with Familie P.

Elder Hunt was sick from Woensdag tot en met Vrijdag, dues wij hebben niet zo veel gedaan. Spijtig, maar wat is er te doen? (Elder Hunt was sick from Wednesday through and including Friday, so we didn't get very much done. Too bad, but there wasn't much we could do about it.)  (From Amy: I am just still so thrilled that I can continue to translate what Elder Muller is saying!!)

So I studied most of this week. I studied a lot. The Ghent Elders came down a couple times and did a split so we could teach some appointments we had, but other then that, I studied. (Because our missionaries are always in a companionship, when one is sick, the other companion must stay with them in the apartment. Now let me explain why this is hard....missionary apartments are not equipped with any electronics...no TV, no radio, no smart phones, no computer/internet, access. So that leaves them with only all of their study materials to read, so those days can become long.  They were able to have the Elders from Ghent come to Brugge and trade out with Elder Muller. One of the Ghent Elders would stay in the apartment with Elder Hunt, and the other companion would go with Elder Muller to teaching appointments and to go out and proselyte.) 

So a bit about what I learned. In 1 Nephi 7:16-18 we can learn some cool stuff.  


16 And it came to pass that when I, Nephi, had spoken these words unto my brethren, they were angry with me. And it came to pass that they did lay their hands upon me, for behold, they were exceedingly wroth, and they did bind me with cords, for they sought to take away my life, that they might leave me in the wilderness to be devoured by wild beasts.
17 But it came to pass that I prayed unto the Lord, saying: O Lord, according to my faith which is in thee, wilt thou deliver me from the hands of my brethren; yea, even give me strength that I may burst these bands with which I am bound.
18 And it came to pass that when I had said these words, behold, the bands were loosed from off my hands and feet, and I stood before my brethren, and I spake unto them again. 
So this is an example of how to use the Enabling Power of the Atonement in your life. We find all the steps necessary to active it in our own lives in these three verses. 
First, activate the redeeming power of the Atonement in your life. (that's another thing... pretty similar, but a little different)
Second, notice that Nephi says 'according to my faith'. We need to have faith, and exercise it, but we also need to realize that our faith isn't enough. We need to turn ourselves completely over to the Lord. Do everything we can do, and then acknowledge we need his help. 
Third, ask for specific help. If you notice, Nephi doesn't ask for the bands to suddenly fly away or something, he asks for strength to burst the bands. He's not asking the Lord to make his problem go away, he's asking for help to overcome the challenge. Too often we think that God will make our problems just disappear, that's not the case. He will help us overcome them though. 
Fourth, recognizing His help. Nephi did not 'burst the bands' but the Lord loosened them. We need to look out for the help we are given. It might not be what we ask for, but help will come. 
Ok reallllly quick about transfers. Guess where I'm going.....
ANTWERPEN!!!!!!!! AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
As of Wednesday I'm serving in Antwerpen!!!!!! Elder Shelton will be my new companion. 
And that's not all.... Guess who got voted in to Antwerpen Zone Leader? Elder Childs!!!! We're serving in the same city again!!!!! AHHHHHHHH!!!! I'm sooooo excited. This is going to be a great transfer. I don't have my address yet, but I'll send it next week. 
Okay, so let me just say that this is amazing!! We didn't expect Elder Muller to stay in Belgium, and never in a million years did we think he would be transferred to Antwerpen!!  Heavenly Father has a purpose for Elder Muller. He is blessing him beyond measure. Most missionaries in the Belgium/Netherlands mission never get to serve one transfer in Belgium let alone two transfers in two of the most beautiful cities in the country! And two of the cities closest to Boma and Tante Ingrid!!!  This means Elder Muller will continue to be able to see them!!  And he is excited about who the new Zone Leader is because Elder Childs was his first companion and trainer when he got to the mission 12 weeks ago!!!
ik hou van jullie!
Elder Müller
So as most of you probably know, there has been a lot of terror activity recently in Paris, and the Belgian authorities thwarted some massive terrorist plans in Belgium. The Belgium Army has been mobilized to help support all of the police efforts around high target areas. This includes the Diamond Sector in Antwerpen which is down by the Centraal Train Station. It is an overwhelming thought to think of Bryan walking streets with police and soldiers patrolling with automatic machine weapons. So please keep Elder Muller and all of the Belgian people in your prayers during this very stressful time.  Elder Muller sent us a picture of a free speech protest march they saw. He was unaware at the time what it was for, and unaware of the heightened alert status in Belgium. 
Je suis Charlie

My favorite artistic treasures from Belgium are my wall tapestries of my two favorite Belgian cities...Antwerpen and Brugge!! These beautiful tapestries hang in my living room. For the first 12 weeks of Elder Muller's mission, I had his picture taped to the Brugge tapestry....and now I can move it to my Antwerpen tapestry for at least the next six weeks!!  I love knowing exactly where he is....I won't always have this blessing as the transfers keep moving him around, but as of now, I am feeling blessed! Antwerpen is like a second home to us! He will walk the streets where he walked as a child, and he knows all of our favorite cafe's, bakeries and frituur (fry) shops!!
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Elder Muller Called to Serve the Lord in Antwerpen, Belgium

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Elder Muller Called to Serve the Lord In Brugge, Belgium









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