Wij waren in oorlog (We were at war)

So, many of the Dutch are basically pyromaniacs and are obsessed with fireworks, combined with the fact that all the ruffian teenagers still had Christmas break provided the perfect atmosphere - a war zone.  Seriously, the whole last week there were bangs/explosions/fireworks going off at 9 in the morning until late into the night. So, for the whole week we were basically at war...or at least that's what it felt like.

So Monday and Tuesday we did our normal stuff: visiting, teaching, serving. And then came the fire.  No, seriously, our apartment building was on fire on Tuesday night. We were coming home for dinner and (thank goodness) Zuster Voss suggested that we stop off at Albert Heijn before going home; we also met a confident and flirtatious whippersnapper, Martin, who's also 19 and thought it was crazy that we were the same age as him and yet we were doing such different things in our lives - anyway, he thought the church was sort of cool (in that youth are going out on missions rather than doing drugs and all that jazz) and said he'd call us, but did he?  No. Typical boy. Still fun though.

FIRE in Assen!

Anyway, we were rounding the corner of our building when we noticed that a fire truck was heading somewhere and then we realized it was coming straight towards us; our entire building was taped off and we walked around to see that one of the apartments (clear on the other side of the building from us Mom) was taking the whole "fire and brimstone" thing a little too literally...Anyway, we didn't know if we'd be allowed to get back into our apartment because the fire was on the same floor as us, so we called the fabulous Marjon, an RM (returned missionary), and a sister in our branch that is just wonderful, and she took us to her house and fed us and by the time we were done we were able to get back into the building; everything was completely untouched/unaffected by the fire...the firemen were able to keep it contained to the one apartment, which is just amazing because with all the firetrucks and that command center and ambulances, it seemed like they really thought the entire building might have gone down.
 

A surprise to come home to....

Firetrucks, Police Cars, Ambulances, Oh my!

Gelukkig, no one was hurt, except the apartment - the firemen said there is literally nothing left, "not even a pair of boxer shorts".  So, Zuster Voss and I came home, made some chocomel, did our plannning, and promptly went to bed being quite tuckered out from the days occurences.  Needless to say we had a "cleansing" end to our year.  So that was the 30th.

Then on New Year's Eve, we had to be inside by 4pm because of all the fireworks - so everyone and their mother can buy fireworks, like the regular big firework show fireworks...So we visited one of our investigators, whose sister is also an investigator in Amsterdam, and was also there.  We spent the rest of the afternoon with them, clearing up polygamy and sharing different spiritual experiences.

We got home and settled in for the rest of the afternoon/evening. We watched some old 80's Seminary and missionary movies (which are always a hoot) and then we watched Joseph Smith: The Restoration movie  So good!  It was a pretty gezellig evening and then we went to bed at 10:30.  Marjon called us at 11:55 so we could watch the fireworks.  She told us that she was in Utah once for the 4th of July and watched the entire firework show and wondered when it was going to start, so we really needed to see these fireworks. It was pretty great, especially with our view from the apartment, we could see everything and because everyone can buy fireworks, there were literally 7 different "shows" going on all around us.  We opened a bottle of Sprite and drank to the New Year:)  And then we went to bed because I am an old lady now and am exhausted at 9pm. So needless to say, there was a lot of fire during our jaarwisseling (year changing).

On Saturday I went on my first exchange to Apeldoorn and that was great, but so surreal to see the same things happening in other places.  Isn't Assen the center of the universe?  I don't know, but it was awesome to meet new people and a good experience to work with a different companion, but I was definitely happy when I got to see Z. Voss and my beloved Assen again:)

Beloved Assen

Yesterday was a great Sunday.  Our almost baptized investigator was sick but her daughter and niece (who will both be baptized with her) still wanted to go to church so they asked us if we could walk them to church!  Yay for righteous desires!  Then we had dinner with the Loorbachs, who I don't think I have to tell you again, are amazing. So, all in all, a good week:)  I can't remember most of it, but a good week.

One of my favorite chapters that I love to read over and over again in the Bible is Romans 5, which talks about the Atonement and it's necessity in God's plan for us.  Through the act of one man, Adam, sin came into the world, and through the act of another, Christ, sin can be taken from the world. What a wonderful promise and a true gift that our Father in Heaven and Jesus Christ have given to us. 

Especially at the beginning of this new 2015 year, a complete year of missionary service for me, I am so grateful for the opportunity I have each day to reflect and try to be a little better.  I'm excited for this year and am so impatient to see how different I will be at the end of 2015 (that's definitely weird). Well, enjoy the beginning of the year!  And the rest of it:)
Tschüssy,

Zuster Dobler

Zuster Dobler in all her bike riding glory

Belgium/Netherlands Spirit 2.0