Waters of Baptism

Greetings from Bonaire!

Last week on Saturday we had another baptism. Demi Holkenborg was finally able to be baptized. She has been coming to church and investigating for about 2 years. Her best friend Genesis Saragoza told her about repentance one day on the swings in the playground at school. From then on she began to come to church and her testimony gradually started to grow. 

She turned 18 on the 20th of November and was baptized on the 21st. Her parents would not give consent for her to be baptized, so she had to wait till she was of age.

She was so excited and ready. She asked the Sister Missionaries and me to sing at the service. We chose "Come Follow Me" and she wept as we sang. It was so sweet.

After the service at the church building we all drove to "Pink" Beach. It was sunset and as the sun sank into the blue waters of the Caribbean Sea, Demi entered the waters of baptism and her sins were washed away and she was clean and ready to start her new life as a member of His church.

It was so beautiful. An occasion for rejoicing as one of God's children accepted the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ.

The next day Elder VV was asked to confirm her a member of the Church of Jesus of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and to give her the gift of the Holy Ghost. 

  

How blessed we feel to be part of these incredible events.

International Day of Service "Hearts and Hands 2015"

Advertising Our November 7th Event at the Church

Greetings from Bonaire!

November 7th, 2015 was the church sponsored International Day of Service "Hearts and Hands 2015" in the Caribbean Area.

Several months ago, instruction from the Area leaders of the Church, encouraged the Branches and other church units to find a project as soon as possible and invite members, family friends, and others to join with us in a worthwhile Community Project. It was also suggested to involve others by teaming up with other groups or churches.  As the deadline approached and was only several weeks away and there was still no decision on what to do, we, Elder Vander Veur and I, realized that we needed to become very involved and get things going for our Branch's project!

First we asked a Congregation of Protestants whose historical church is situated in the town's main square, Wilhelmina Plaza. The building's paint was peeling, the yard was full of weeds and the whole place looked unkempt and messy. It was in serious need of help . We offered to join with their congregation and spruce things up.

After a visit with the government representative of the church, we learned that the church had lost it's government funding and that a committee would have to be asked about our offer.  After several email communications that received no response, we realized we needed to start looking for another opportunity to serve!

Finally it was suggested the Amas Ball Field, where the Branch has played soft ball a few times, was really in rough shape and could use a cleanup. It was a mess! Garbage everywhere, broken bottles, the fence was broken down, the backstop was falling apart, and a big pile of limbs, dirt and debris. 

 

Homemade emergency backstop!

At some time a bulldozer created a pile of dirt and trash.  The wind added more debris!

Play Ball? Note fence and trash.

Where is the garbage can?!

It was decided, we'll go with the old ballpark.

First we went to the head of Parks and Recreation at the government because the fence was down so we asked for wire to stretch and repair the fence. We explained that we didn't have money but we were willing and hard working. After several emails and talking in person, with no help...they talked nice but no action... we decided to take the matter into our own hands.

We went to the biggest hardware store on the island Kooyman - kind of like Home Depot - and asked for wire, gloves, and pliers. They were very kind, helpful and generous.

We talked to the local garbage company Selibon and asked for garbage bags. They gave us a dumpster, garbage bags and hand sanitizer for all!

Angel Mejia, whose wife and children are members of the branch, is in construction and agreed to come and help stretch the fence.

Then we needed to get the word out so more people would come and help so we went to the most popular radio station and Aimed Ayubi offered to interview Elder VV on the radio. "Live 99.9 FM" gave him a 3 minute interview in Dutch to tell his story and ask for help.

Even though nobody from the community came to help, we had 3 little boys who also play on the ball field and 22 members and missionaries from the Branch. 

After our effort...fence up again...and clean as a whistle!

Now that is better!

We filled the donated Dumpster to the top!

WOW! That looks Great...no trash against the fence!

Now...Let's Play Ball!

A man from the EXTRA newspaper, one of the most read newspapers on the island, had heard Elder VV on the radio spot and decided to come over for some photos of our project and a brief interview.  On November 9th, Djaluna (Tuesday) we were in the paper (on page 38)! A big headline, a brief article and 6 photos of some of our workers.  Cool!

We fed everybody with watermelon, apples, sandwiches, cookies and punch. All in all it was a successful experience and a worthwhile service project for the members to participate in.

Angel Mejia and President Brian Albus

The whole group

Thanks to one and all

All set for the next ball game!

Elder VV and I had a good experience talking to people in the community and making more people aware of the church's presence here on Bonaire.

We learned valuable lessons - it can't hurt to ask, people are nicer than they look, when nothing happens or they say "no" ...oh well, and we are braver than we thought!

We made the news!

Baptism in the Sea

Greetings from Bonaire!

Last Saturday on November 7th, we had our service project in the morning and we had a baptism planned for that afternoon at 4:00pm. As we worked cleaning up the ball field, the Branch Mission leader came up and asked me to speak at the baptism for Mimi Creer in a few hours! 

In the MTC they told us that Senior Missionaries should be flexible...so, "sure!" was my reply. It was a busy day because before that, a couple of the young women wanted to interview me for a "Faith" Personal Progress Value goal on mothers. 

The baptism was wonderful. After the talks we all drove to "Pink Beach". It was the perfect setting for a baptism. A lovely breeze, not too hot, just right!, the gentle waves kissing the shore, the sky was full of clouds touched by pink as the setting sun created a back drop of unbelievable beauty.  Sweet Mimi was quietly pleased and happy as she became a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The group sang "This is the Christ" and heaven rejoiced as a daughter joined the fellowship of Saints in Bonaire.

Now the rest of the story! ...

Mimi was a student at the St. James School that has left the island to go to St. Vincent. She came from Dallas Texas and went back there for Christmas before starting school again on the new island.

After she became a new member of the church she attended the Dutch/English "group" with us. She operated the electric piano, she gave her first talk in church the week after she was baptized, she prayed in church, and then a few weeks later she gave the Sunday School - Gospel Principles - lesson on keeping the Sabbath Day Holy. 'She did a great job and shared some new thoughts she had never had before. As she was learning about the church and preparing for a lesson.

It was wonderful to watch as little by little and ...line upon line she was learning and discovering the truths of the gospel. 

We have so much to be grateful for!

Dyra

Greetings from sunny Bonaire!

One Sunday afternoon Elder Vander Veur and I were taking a nap in our bedroom with the door closed, and the air conditioner on. I heard a noise and when I turned around  there were Dyra and Yally in our bedroom and there we were in our underwear!  They had come to visit. and we had left the door unlocked.

Yally - 3yrs., and Myra - 5yrs.are Ellie's (the landlord's) children.  And Dyra -6-yrs. is their friend from the branch...all my little Primary children. 
   

Today - Sunday- We had visitors again. In Primary Dyra told me she was coming to play with Myra and they were going to visit me - so I had warning. 

I heard the clickkity clakking of plastic high heeled slippers as two little princesses -Anna, from Frozen and Cinderella came to my door.


I unlocked the door and invited them to come in and take a seat. I offered them some refreshment, they requested marshmallows, and we chatted. They told me they were going to the ball. Then Dyra talked about Hans,the prince from Frozen, who really wasn't nice and was just pretending to be nice and how he didn't say his prayers!

In Primary that day we had been talking about faith and the Jaradites and how they prayed for help.. Maybe if  Hans had said his prayers he wouldn't have been such a stinker!

Finally...New Car!

Greetings from Sunny Bonaire!

When we arrived on the Island in January the couple we replaced, the Bawdens, said that we would be getting  a replacement car for the 2008 Toyota. It had bad tires, the doors were broken, there was a squeaking sound when we braked, there was body damage, it leaked oil, and one of the tires had a slow leak, the air conditioning worked some of the time but it only started to cool by the time  we arrived at our destination.

Luckily we were able to drive both Mission Presidents around in the old car, which may have stepped up the process which, at that, still took 6 months.

The first week here we had a flat tire and only by a miracle and prayer did we get the corroded wheel off by the help of a big strong stranger who happened by and stopped to help us.... and who we never saw again after the morning we gave him some cookies. 

From then on the car was an adventure each week. We had 6 flat tires over the next 5 months, one of the tires had a slow leak,so we had to fill the tire up every other day - because they said don't buy new tires or spend any more money on the car since we were getting a new one. 

Elder Vander Veur became very proficient at changing tires in his missionary clothes, jacking the car up, emptying the trunk to get the spare, laying under the car, taking the flat to Tio Looy's then back again for the repaired tire, he got so good at it he could do it in the dark!...which he did one night. 

Then the battery failed when we were on an outing to the Salt Pans with the Elders.  After we had stopped several passersby and I walked down the road knocking on doors looking for a good Samaritan along the beach with no luck. Then we all prayed one by one and when we opened our eyes, Ramon, a member drove up to help us!  a miracle because we hadn't talked to him, just left a message.  

Next, one of the tires got a big bubble so that tire and the slow leak tire had to be replaced for safety.

We did research and visited the 3 car dealerships on the island to find a car the church would like. They actually only wanted to consider Toyota or Honda (no Honda dealerships on the island)

On July 30th, 2015 the day we had been looking forward to for so long finally came! We went down to the Toyota Dealership and picked up our brand new Toyota Corolla. It is a lovely bronze shiny color, has automatic locks, automatic windows, a key-less ignition and the air conditioner works almost instantly! It is better than our car at home!

We share our pretty new car with the 5 other missionaries here on the island. 2 Elders and 3 Sisters and I give them all the same talk as they drive off in our lovely new chariot. "I want you to treat this car with all the love and respect you would give your mother, girlfriend, or sweet heart. BE CAREFUL! and no eating and only water in the new car."

Elder VV's 70th

Greetings from Sunny Bonaire!

Happy Birthday to Elder Vander Veur. 

A few days before August 13th Sister Albus called and asked what we were going to do for Elder VV's BD. I said we didn't have anything specific planned so she suggested a Bar-B-Que party on the beach! 

We invited just the families with little children who are mainly less active so they could have fun with the church members in a less formal way and just visit and let the kids play on the beach, talk, eat, and get to know each other.

I made a carrot cake and a salad and Barbel and the Sister missionaries came to our house earlier that day and made chicken skewers and veggie skewers and mini hamburgers,The president cooked the food and an enjoyable time was had by all.  

Elder VV turned 70 years old in style.

He reports it this way in an email to our granddaughter:

Hi Callie!  Thanks for the Birthday greeting AND asking about What my birthday was like.
I really don't feel like I'm 70 years old.... kind of crazy....... 70 years is a pretty long time.  We had a very busy day because we have new missionaries here and we're helping them with their apartment, telephone, bikes and grocery shopping. Taking care of things so that they can do their missionary work. 


Oma and a member, Sister Albus, planned a special birthday party at the beach! we really had a wonderful time there! A bunch of people from church were invited, and our 4 missionaries and an American couple that's been on the island for a couple of months and comes to church every week. There were little kids playing in the water, there was lots of barbecued stuff, like hot dogs, hamburgers, chicken kabobs and veggie kabobs. Oma and Sister Albus made yummy salads! We had a giant jug of punch and good ice.......It was great!

They invited some of the members that have small kids (like babies and Primary age). WE wanted them to visit and know each other better and wanted their kids to play together and have fun.     The delicious BBQ was good....and there was plenty to eat!!  I really enjoyed it! We didn't really play any games, but it was fun for the people to visit with each other and meet our new missionaries!  3 of the four are new! Now we have 2 Elders and 2 Sister Missionaries on our island. The 2 new Elders speak Dutch! We hope some more Dutch people will listen to the Gospel.


President Albus cooking

After it got dark (like around 7:00!), and after an amazing sunset (that I got some wonderful pictures of), we cleaned up our spot,  packed all our chairs, table and the BBQ grill in the pickups and our car...... everybody left......except Oma and I!

We stayed after.  Oma said "let's take off our shoes and socks and walk along the beach". I said OK! Sometimes the waves came up real fast and when the water goes out, the sand under your feet gets sucked away.....it feels really funny!

My birthday had a happy ending (even if the daytime was so busy).
And now I've been on the planet Earth for 70 big ones! I had a great 70th birthday!

Love, Elder Vander Veur (Opa)

Thanks to all who sent Birthday greetings to the 70 year old BD boy!

We love you all and thank you for your love and support. 

Elder VV with his birthday gifts

Everything you can squeeze into the bag for 10 Bucks!

Living on the the ABC Islands is very expensive but once in awhile a good deal comes along!

We shop for groceries several times a week. We usually start at the Warehouse Supermarket, where prices are lower for produce and meat and some other items. Then we drive a short distance on the same street to VAN DEN TWEELS!

Van Den Tweel, is the islands finest supermarket! It's fancy, near-new, clean, larger and more products....and a Deli....and a Bakery! They carry more Dutch products (rather than Latino) and it's frequented by more Dutchmen and tourists. Identical products that you might find at both stores cost more here!

Anyway....when Sister Albus, a local member called a couple of days ago and told us about a special produce sale.....everything you can squeeze into the bag for 10 Bucks....we immediately hopped in the car, called and picked up the Sister Missionaries and filled our bags!

The Sisters chose some different fruits and veggies than we did, but I think I may have set a volume record as I skillfully packed my bag! It was a bit tricky to carry to the car, but I made it.

As soon as we arrived back at our apartment, I spread the goods out on the counter and took the picture (that I hope to attach to this email!).

It was a challenge to get it all in the fridge....but I did (using many of the same skills and techniques used to get it all in the bag).

NOW....we'll need to be on top of our game to eat it all before it spoils!!!!..

Elder Vander Veur