Papiamento 101

Last month (in July!) on a Sunday afternoon, we were in the Curacao chapel waiting for a flight to return home to Bonaire. We had spent 3 days participating as chaperons at the 1st ever ABC Islands Youth Conference. After the event ended, we attended Church at the Curacao Branch. 

 After church, We visited a bit with the Branch President of Aruba, President Gonzolas, who was also waiting for his flight (the other direction) going back to Aruba and President Angelica of Curacao, who was "entertaining" us while we waited.

Language came up and President Angelica mentioned how simple Papiamento is.  He got out his chalk and started teaching Sister Vander Veur and I!
It's a phonetic language, so everything is spelled like it sounds!  And...something about it's a language with limited words so the same words keep popping up in every sentence!

I'm attaching a photo of the blackboard he used to instruct us!

NOW that I'm finishing this 'draft' that I started in early August and has been unfinished in my email for over 4 months!!!!!!!   I'll explain that we decided several months ago to forget learning Spanish and Papiamento and work on the Dutch we were called to speak. We've met many Dutch people in the stores, offices and on our morning walks so it's not like we haven't been able to talk to anyone.  Many islanders speak all 4 languages.  But in our Branch we have some wonderful members that speak no Dutch or English and these are the ones we'd like to communicate more with.

As some recent emails mentioned, our Mission President, President Egbert, sent us here on Bonaire, a pair of Dutch-Speaking Elders about 2 months ago. Recently he received permission to start a Dutch/English 'group'.  The Papiamentu/Spanish Branch members still meet at 9:00 am and we start our Dutch block at 1:00pm. It's been going on for 4 weeks already.  The first Sunday there were only 8 of us.  Guess who gets to speak in Sacrament meeting that we try to do all in Dutch.....and bless the Sacrament in Dutch.

Two blocks, but we're all still the same Branch.  I'm still the Branch Secretary (like a Ward Clerk) and we've come to love all the members that we've now spent 10 months with, so I've decided to exercise my faith and put forth the required effort to really learn Papiamento....... because I want to communicate more with these sweet people.

Wrapping this email up now......going to hit the 'send'!  More things to do including some language study and....... it's Wednesday, so my Basketball activity with the Youth is tonight at 7pm.

I grateful for the Restored Gospel and the opportunity to serve as a full-time representative of Jesus Christ here on Bonaire with my wonderful wife.

The blessings and joy and peace that is the result of keeping the commandments and acknowledging the Restoration is available to all.  Please share it.

Elder Vander Veur

Primary Sacrament Meeting Presentation

Greetings from Bonaire!

Today we had our Primary  Sacrament Meeting Presentation. The theme this year is "I Know My Savior Lives". We have practiced for a few Saturdays and as usual we wondered if everything would go ok. Though our numbers are few they all put their best foot forward and it was a great success .

We have a small Primary but they have a lot of heart! Sister Albus has done a great job teaching them, the Primary songs in Papiamentu and  Dutch, and all 6 of them sing with gusto and volume. Melody, 12 said a scripture even though she is out of primary. Jayfi is 10 got kind of shy as he read his scripture and covered his face as we sang and the other 3, Gisley - 8yrs., Dayra - 7yrs., and Mayra - 5yrs, said their testimonies beautifully. Very sweet. The 5 nursery children were surprisingly still as they stood up  and held a banner with the words in Papiamentu "I Know My Savior Lives"

Think of the incredible gift it is for our little children to know that their Savior Lives. The primary organization is critical in teaching the children precious truths of the gospel that can help prepare them to face and withstand the temptations in the world today. 
Just through the songs this year they have learned: 1. "The Family is of God"  2. We need to "Love One Another" 3.  the "Holy Ghost" will testify and comfort them  4. If we "Follow the Prophet" we will guide us back to our Heavenly Father 5. that Heavenly Father " He Sent His Son" to help us. 

What a gift the gospel is in our lives.I feel so blessed. I am thankful for Primaria and to be here to have these experiences.

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."