where do i begin? it was a crazy busy week full of lots of travel between zone conference and exchanges! we also had a ward party that we threw and were busy getting ready for that! we were so nervous that no one was going to show up to the valentines party we threw but it turned out to be a huge success and was so fun! we did karaoke and had lots of yummy food, cookie decorating, etc.
we had an appt with flavio and maria (mom and son, flavio is 14) and flavio shared this story:  Flavio was asking a lot of questions and we talked to him about prayer and the feelings we receive from the spirit.  He responded with ya but praying is kind of scary.. of course we needed more explanation.  he then says, "i havent told my mom this but after we talked i went in my room to pray and asked god if he really does exists to give me some kind of sign, like a knock. then i heard a knock and i got a really warm burning feeling in my chest, i dont know what that was but it shocked me." what?! we responded to him by telling him that was soo cool and that that was his answer and that he needs to keep praying to continue to feel those feeling and to develop a testimony.
what a great kid.  im excited to continue watching him grow.  such a cool feeling to have in a lesson.  
ok i dont have much more time, were off to amsterdam today for a photo scavenger hunt pday with our zone!
love you all, have a great week!
<3<3 zuster j

soo this week... hmm.. it was rainy.. then there was hail.. then rain
then big hail that felt like needles in your skin.. then sun.. then
snow.. then lots of snow.. now its just frozen.  haha i wonder if ill
ever write a letter without talking about the weather.
ok the real excitment of the week.. like a told you, we spent all of
wednesday with president and sister robinson (sorry we didnt take any
pictures..it was a busy day and we forgot until the last 10 mins of
the evening..) but it was a great day! we have 2 baptismal dates that
are doing great and that we got to teach with president. he is a great
teacher and i really enjoyed getting to teach with him!  by the way,
next week is the end of the transfer again.. crazy! but because of all
the changes this transfer is only 5 weeks and next transfer is only 4
weeks (normally 6). but i should be staying in haarlem for at least
the next transfer.
this week i learned what it feels like to be old.  my back went out
this week. or just got really tight and i couldnt move very well.  i
looked like a penguin trying to walk the snowy streets contacting
people haha but eventually i decided it was a good idea to talk to
sister robinson about it and they immediately brought me a new
mattress (i was sleeping on foam) and then when i went to a meeting
later our ward mission leader saw me (hes a docter) and gave me lots
of pain meds and ordered me to rest.  so im doing just fine now! still
a little stiff but not feeling much haha.
well this week i have officially been in the land 1 year! i officially
feel like a european after living through all the seasons haha but the
language.. im definitely not a skilled language learner. i did give a
10 min talk in church yesterday that ended up being 20 mins because i
guess i couldnt shut up haha so at least i know i can do that with no
problems.  the bishop ended up kicking me and throwing a note on the
podium to get me to shut up haha they are very strict on time here.
highlight of the week was our 14 year old investigator stopping me
when i began to pray and asking if he could say it instead.  we were
getting worried about him because he wasnt showed as much interest but
that prayer helped us to realize that he still wants this.  it was a
cool moment.

love you all!
<3 zuster j

i really dont have too much to report this week.. hopefully soon ill be able to upload photos more often and then you can just enjoy that instead of so many words.. heres a short piece from my letter for this week!

the snow has completely stopped and now its around 5degrees so that means its warm enough for lots of rain and lots of wind since im on the coast now.  there was one day where the wind was so strong that we had to stop biking and put our feet on the ground to stop us from flying away haha i was so spoiled with california weather.  if we had weather like this at home people would freak.  and here there are still people out riding bikes likes its nothing.  i love it.  

then of course there are always miracles to go along with the funny stuff. we got another headquarters refferral this week and had just gone by to make the appt but it was a bell up (dont know how to explain that..we just bell him up at his apartment builiding?) so we hadnt seen him or really talked to him.  after the week we had had we just wanted someone positive to talk to.  and we sure found it :) this man is dating a girl who just recently got baptized in the states.  he saw how happy the church has made her and wanted to see what it is all about.  he is rustig.. uh restful? hmm i dont know how to describe him in english. hes just willing to sit and listen and feel the spirit. i love him already.  dont know where this will go but he is excited to learn more and i am oh so greatful for that! 

love you all! tot volgende week!

zuster j