LAND OF MIRACLES

Today we get a special treat.  Brother Lister had Trevan's music group perform at their home.  They took video of them singing so they can advertise for their upcoming tour (firesides, etc) which begins March 7th.  These boys have been hard at work creating this special program.  Brother Lister was kind enough to send this to the parents of these elders so we could enjoy it and share it with everyone.  This is just one of the songs they will perform.  Thank you Brother Lister for thinking of us.

Growing up in Utah and Idaho has really taught me a lot on how not to take the temple for granted. Seriously anywhere you turn in Utah or Salt Lake Valley you see them. But for the members throughout Holland and Belgium, getting to the temple is quite a sacrifice of time and money. This last week we spent a lot of time in Zoetermeer which is where the Den Haag Temple is located and the city truly resonates the Spirit of the temple.

We were there for our music project and visited 15 different families in the Zoetermeer Ward and Wassenaar American Branch. Each and every family we visited was so incredibly supportive and we sung for each of them after showing them the I'll Go Where You Want Me To Go video on lds.org and crying our eyes out like I do every time. We sing a TTBB arrangement of Where Can I Turn for Peace or play Savior Redeemer of My soul or our First Vision arrangement if they have a piano. The members have loved it and have been so willing to feed and help up of roar fireside on the 7th of March.

Most of the families told us of 2-6 people they have already invited and are bringing along before we mention anything about it. It is so cool to see how the members in Zoetermeer and Wassenaar get it. The people there have questions pretty frequently about what the temple is and many went inside for the open house so there is such a special Spirit and respect in that blessed area. I am so grateful for the chance I have to meet these units and get to know them and help them do member missionary work that blesses them and those they speak with. We are still truckin with the fireside program and it is still crazy hard to learn everything so quick and perfect it but I am praying and working hard at it and I know as long as I do all I can, the Lord will make up the rest. And I have already seen that time and time again. He has led me and taught me so much it is absolutely unreal. I cannot imagine life without His Hand in it. Truly unfathomable. I cannot express my love and gratitude for that.

I am so grateful for the trust and love he has for me to chasten me. I just read in Mosiah about the righteous people that came from King Limhi, Alma, and King Mosiah and how they had prospered and waxed strong in the land. But the Lord still saw fit to chasten them. The Lamanites came into the land and led many people away and stirred up the church and led to contentions and pride. But those who waxed faithful in the church continued to thrive and abide with the Lord. Ah I love it. The Lord chastens His people because we need to be reminded that this life is a test. We need to be reminded that without Him we are nothing. I love the phrase used in the Book of Mormon "brought down to the depths of humility''. We are no more than the dust of the Earth and still we have great worth in His eyes. So much worth that the Savior suffered and died for us and is by us every step of the way. I am so grateful for the perspective the Gospel brings me. Without my knowledge of my existence and Gods plan for me, I would be so discouraged and depressed when all these hardships come. My outlook on life is still getting more positive because I feel of His love and know He can lead guide and walk beside every step of the way. Ah I could write a book about it.

 Where’s Waldo? I’m in this mosh of bikes

The people in Zoetermeer with the temple are GEMS. We visited a lady Zuster Uljee from South Africa who came to church for the first time in 5 years when we performed and we went by again and sang for her in her home. She told us in our appointment Saturday that the members in Zoetermeer will be seeing a lot more of her in the future and she committed to church again this next Sunday and is more than excited to see our fireside. Miracles are already happening. This project, no matter how stressful and hard and actually kind of annoying that it is, is bringing souls to Christ and is 100% inspired. We meet with Den Haag this next week which is sweet because it is our HOME TURF.

We also have plans for appointments with a ton of investigators this week which is sooooo great because that has been the most discouraging thing for me. Knowing that our investigators were out there waiting to know more and come closer to Christ but we had this assignment to work on. The Lord is helping us in every aspect when we dedicate all energy to His children. Why are missions so great? Because no matter the bleak and dismal the circumstances are, the Lord is with us. He works alongside in His Vineyard and we are His trusted servants. ''Shall we not go on in so great a cause?''

5 TULIPS ARE COMING

Here are some better pictures. Also we took a slight break in rehearsals one day and sang Miranda Lamberts The House That Built Me with the piano and it made my life. One of my all-time favorite songs.

Love

Elder Reese