Memorial Day

Memorial Day was not yesterday here on Bonaire. I think it was a few weeks ago cause we have seen wreaths around and fake flowers in the cemetery.

I have very fond memories of Memorial Day when I was a young girl. We all gathered at the Wasatch Lawn Cemetery. The aunts and uncles came. All brought flowers - purple iris and white pom poms were from our house, 

We remembered Grandma and Grandpa Romney, The cousins Rosy and Cindy and David and Karen, Corey, Marv, Lynne and Laurie and the little kids  all played around on the grass. I wish I would have listened to the grown-up talk... that would have been so interesting.

After the cemetery we all went up Mill Creek Canyon for breakfast. I can see Aunt Bea standing cooking bacon. Then she cracked the eggs into the simmering hot bacon grease.  Those eggs were delicious! A heart attack waiting to happen ..but people didn't worry about  things like that in the olden days.

I am so thankful for the heritage I come from and for the examples of faithful people I observed as a young girl and throughout my life.
I am so glad that we are celebrating the 100th birthday year of our father Alvin Charles Soderborg on the 27th of November 2016.

I, Kathleen Soderborg Vander Veur having been born of goodly parents was taught in the learning of my father and mother in the ways of God. As we remember dad this year and the things he taught us I will  also remember all those  who have gone before, for  lives well lived, testimonies borne in word and by example and I will remember and be thankful. 

We love you all so much. Thank for your prayers and love and support.

 A war memorial by the Wilhelmina Plein and the pier

"I am the Resurrection and the Life" - in Papiamentu

The cemetery in Bonaire. They do not bury people in the ground here since we are living on an island of coral rock - it is hard to dig a hole - so they put the dead in above ground crypts or tombs

What a difference a week makes!

Greetings from Bonaire! 

Elder VV's fall on the Playa, just one week ago, was an adventure. 
Some people were wondering how things are. Well he is as good as new! All healed and though it looked terrible he now looks great. A 7 day make over...Here are the 4 faces of Elder VV

Zone Conference

Greetings from Bonaire!

May 6th was our final Zone Conference . We arrived at the airport a few hours early per instruction for our flight at 8:40 am. We were told that there was really not a flight at that time. We waited to see if there would be space in the 10:40 flight...No such luck. Finally we flew out on the 1 pm flight so we waited about 5 hours to take a 20 minute flight to get to Curacao for our 11 am meeting and then returned to Bonaire at 9 pm! Insel Air should have some competition!

We had plenty of time to study and ponder and doze off and read and talk and play the BofM scripture game with the Elders and pose for pictures.

It was a great Conference and since it was supposed to start at 11am. We arrived just in time for lunch!

President Egbert taught about the Temple and we read from the scriptures about the Temple ordinances. It was a very important afternoon then it was back to Bonaire. 

The missionaries who would not be a the next Zone Conference were asked to bear testimonies. It made me think about all the things we have learned from the President and the missionaries and how thankful I am for this opportunity to serve a mission.

We have come to love so many of the missionaries and the Egbert's. It was a sad time saying goodbye

I know these pictures won't mean as much to you all. They are for me.

These young men and young women are representatives of Jesus Christ. They take their job seriously. They teach about our loving Heavenly Father, The Apostasy and the Restoration, the Book of Mormon and the Atonement.

While these young men and young women are still only kids and sometimes they act their age... we have learned so much from them and we have come to love them very much. The Lord is using them to do his work.

"Rain drops keep falling on my head!"

Greetings from Bonaire!

The long awaited rain finally fell last night! It hasn't really rained since Christmas day. It has been very dry so the rain was much needed. We wanted to see how much rain and what was going on so we were on our way to go walking.

We got in the car and drove down to the playa. We got out our umbrellas even though it really wasn't raining very hard. As we walked Elder VV did not see a post sticking up because of his umbrella, and tripped over it!

He fell right flat on his face... "it was like a sledge hammer on my nose" he looked horrible. Passers-by came and wanted to call an ambulance but he was really ok he just looked bad and it kind of knocked the breath out of him. He got a cut on the bridge of his nose and a cut on his forehead. As he lay in the street bleeding his eye socked filled up with blood and so when he got up the blood dripped all over his face .

We just happened to have a doctors appointment that morning at 8:30 so we went home,cleaned up all the blood, and when we saw the doctor she said that he needed stitches.

It looks like he was in a big fight.  

Being a missionary is dangerous business. Let op! (be aware!)

Oops! I fell

All fixed up

Outside the doctor's office

Return to the crime scene

Our Morning Walks

The past few weeks we're back to daily walks to start our day.
I really enjoy greeting and occasionally visiting with the other regulars, gazing at the moon, watching the sun rise, looking at the colorful little fishing boats, many sailboats and occasional yachts, looking into our "aquarium" (the sea!) and enjoying the amazing shapes and colors of the fish.....and planning, reminiscing and learning with my wonderful companion, Sister VV!

Flat Tire

Greetings from Bonaire!

It has probably been about 6 months since we have had a flat tire! We drove down to Playa today and parked on the boulevard ready to  go for our walk and noticed the car tire was flat! -  flat as a pannenkoek! 

Elder VV got busy changing the tire. Several people walked by said "Bon dia" but one sweet American woman from Alabama stopped. She said, "Oh, no! can I help you? Is everything alright?" I said that we were fine, Elder VV looked up and smiled as he worked. She said if it was her husband he would be swearing then interjected, "But y'all don't swear do you." We chuckled and she went on. 

I recognized her and had waved and said hi in passing but we actually had never talked to her before. 

We met her on the way back from our walk and chatted briefly and she was telling us about some of the fish swimming by.

We found out she has been here for 13 years and had been coming to the island for the past 30 years. They saved up their money, bought a few rentals units, had just sold them and built a house. They love Bonaire. 

As she parted she said, "Well, thanks for coming to Bonaire to help save our souls!"

It was a humbling experience to realize that we are watched and noticed. People recognize us and take note of what we do.

I am so glad we weren't swearing! 

"God Loved Us So He Sent His Son"

Easter on the Island of Bonaire - 

A few days before Easter some of the members of the Branch decided to "resurrect" a tradition from 3 or 4 years ago. An early morning hike up the mountain Seru Largu (which is the 2nd tallest peak on the island), breakfast and an Easter egg hunt on the top for the Primary children. Elder VV and I got on board with the fun and we decorated eggs Thursday with the missionaries and some of the Primary children. 

Sister Petersen and Sister Ramirez letting their creative juces flow -
M&M and the Divers decorated eggs

We decorated eggs back by the pool. snorkeling anyone?

On Friday morning at 6:30 am Elder VV and took about 100 hard boiled and plastics eggs to the top of Seru Largu and hid them. The rest of the group came a little later.

Seru Largu right this way

To see the sunrise

View from the top

There has been a drought on the island for a number of years so some of the members were surprised that the top of the mount was not as it was then. 

Stairs to the monument and the view!

Getting ready for the Easter message

Water!

Richard and Hermano Solarin

Monument at the top of Seru Largu

Our darling Primary children

Enter the Lone and Dreary World (the red flag marks the spot)

Where can I hide I'm pink!

"Into the Woods"

The golden egg!

Can  you find the hidden egg?

I couldn't help but think of the Lone and Dreary world as we hid the eggs under rocks, in the crooks of trees and some times in plain view. We are living here in the lone and dreary world - our desert island.
The Elders are searching for the Dutch people who are ready to hear their message. It is a challenge for the missionaries. 

It is kind of like looking for the Easter eggs on the top of Seru Largu.  It is an exciting discovery when you see a brightly colored egg... or the golden egg! The investigator!, who is ready to listen to the message of the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ - and sometimes they are hidden in plain view.

Let the hunt begin!

Do you need a clue?

Where's Waldo?/Elder VV

President and Sister dePalm

As we celebrate the resurrection of our Savior Jesus Christ at Easter time we are eternally gratefully for our older brother's suffering and Atonement for us - He is Risen!