Letter#14

There's this big bridge I have to cross over almost every day. Its really long, and really tiring. Its a feat I have to cross over everyday. And I was thinking about how its like other feats we have to cross over in life. Sometimes they're harder than others. And sometimes you don't think you can do it, but if you persevere and keep going, you receive the blessings and the joy of going down the hill. Also, The Lord only gives your obstacles he knows you can complete. You can pray for them to go away, but the Lord won't always take them away, but more often will he give you the strength to overcome it. I've noticed, that going over that bridge everyday isn't as hard as it used to be. My muscles are getting stronger. With the strength of the Lord, we can do all things. I testify of this, because I definitely know its true! The Lord works miracles, even if its just miracles within ourselves. Prayer is beautiful and I've never learned to appreciate it more than at this time in my life. I know He listens to us and hears us and understands all that we are going through. In the hard times, he will give us the strength to over come it, just like I'm getting stronger from going over the bridge everyday, We can become more like our Savior and closer to him when we go to him for help.

Ik houdt van Jullie! Zuster Alisa Hill

Letter #13

The new area is good. More land, less city. I mean there's more of what they would call suburbs. And a lot of it is gorgeous! Kinderdijk, a place with all the windmills, and all the Canals and there's bits of farmland with sheep. But I'm more in the real dutch territory. And I'm learning more what and who "dutch" people are. Very different. And they can't seem to let go of their ways. I mean they're good people, just very set in their ways. I'm glad that our dutch ancestry is as far as it is, I mean, they like were some of the 1st settlers in America, the true pioneers, the ones from the Netherlands. I went to Amsterdam today, for P-day, and the buildings are super old, but pretty cool looking. Many of them are from the 1600's or 1700's and they're all super close to each other and are crooked and leaning on each other. Haha. yeah, but Dordrecht is really cool. I like the less city feel a lot, but I miss Den Haag, with all it's diversity of people. There aren't as many people from different countries here in Dordrecht. Love you, Alisa :D

Letter #12

Halo!!

I'm being transferred to a city called Dordrecht. My collega will be staying here and training the new Zuster that is coming in on Wednesday. I know my new collega (col-ley-ha) Her name is Zuster Reber. She's been in Haarlem and is in my District. I went on splits with her the other week. She's way cool. I know Dordrecht is a smaller city. I'll be serving in a branch. I won't have any elders in the city, which I'm sad about, not because I'm boy crazy, its because I get along with them so much better than girls.(Kathy's first thought was, "well she has 6 brothers.") Not flirtatiously either. But I dunno, maybe I'm just more immature than most girls here on their missions. Lol. Along with keeping the rules, I still like to have fun. And the elders here in Den Haag are Great. We will be living in the Attic of the Branch Presidents home. He has a few kids, but I believe they're all grown up except one daughter who's maybe 20 who goes to school. I think she want to go on a mission too. so that's cool. It will definitely be smaller, but I won't have to spend as much money because they provide most the food. Which is Great! Because the reason I didn't send the letter yet is because I don't have any money. Haha! They say most missionaries are super poor their first few transfers because we get reimbursed for travel etc, and We travel a lot. Trains are kinda pricey. So most other missionaries live off the reimbursements they've received too. Yay for Wednesday P-day! lol. So yeah, I have the letter all ready, I will see if I get reimbursements today and try and get it sent off. ulgh. Thanks so much for the info.

I got to go down and do splits in Antwerpe this week. Where they speak Flams. It actually sounds really cool. Its like a soothing Dutch, if dutch can be soothing. Although its much harder to understand. Haha. But I stood there and held my ground having my 1st all me dutch conversation in a tram station with Flams even! haha. yep, pretty exciting! The language is getting better all the time, as long as I'm patient I know it will come. It really takes a while though. The members in the ward tell me I'm improving all the time, most the time I think they're just being nice. Its gonna be sad leaving here, this awesome ward, and going to a branch of like 40 members. But it'll be great! I know it! I'm stoked!. Oh, and zus. Reber and I will be whitewashing the city. That means that neither of us know the city and that we will both be clueless together! haha.

Are you still all having scripture study every night? I'm falling Re-in-Love with them. Everyday actually. This morning I studied what it means to be a disciple of Christ, the coolest thing is that a disciple is a learner. A pupil of their Lord, always striving to learn more. I'm definitely learning lots on my mission! A lot! I also studied the parable of the Great Supper in Luke 14 i think. Its really quite interesting, In Jesus the Christ it helps explain it a lot, and I think it just goes to show how merciful the Lord is. Because he does do all that he can. I dunno, I'd explain more if i had time, but my companion and I had a good conversation about it, relating it to 3 Nephi 9, 10, and 11 where so many times the Lord gathers us like a hen gathered her chicks. and Jacob 5 where The Lord of the Vineyard does all that he can. Yeah, Interesting. you should read it. Well, I need to go. Thank you again so much! I love you all! Miss you!

Ik Houdt van Jullie!

Zuster Alisa :D