11th letter from Geel, Belgium -- Week 100 -- Last letter

Mark your calendars... Elder Steenblik is coming home!!!!

Doin some last minute mission pondering on the banks of the river

Our investigator, Rene.  Haha... this guy is stinkin hilarious

Stefaan and Elder Steenblik.  He is going to America this week to marry his honey

One last shout out to my "Come up to the Mountain" Draper Temple Celebration wristband.  I have had this thing on since I was in the 8th grade.  Who woulda thought that it would make it this far? I still have no idea how it hasn't broken!

Holy Schnikes! This is it.  Last letter ever.  Here she goes.

We have had a fantastic week here in Geel.  We had a couple of first lessons this week and some good lessons with other investigators.

This week we started teaching a new college student named Melissa.  She had met the missionaries before so knew a little bit about us.  We had a super good lesson with her and she is really excited to learn more.  We are going to set a baptismal date with her this week which will be sick!

Also, we had a sick mansion miracle this week.  We were knocking doors on a super hot day and ended up getting lost in a forest.  We came upon a gate with a bell, so we figured what the heck, why not bell it.  Some woman eventually came to the gate and was super nice to us! She said that she wasn’t interested in changing but thought that it was amazing what we do, so she briefly invited us in to get a drink.  All I can say is, Wow! This house was incredible!!! Just to walk from the gate to the house alone was a minute walk.  It was literally the biggest house that I have seen my whole mission and there was also 2 guest houses on their property that were as big as a normal Belgian house! We passed their Porsche, Mercedes and Range Rover on the way.  We got inside and had a super good conversation with her about what we do and what we share.

Well, I honestly cannot believe that it has come to an end! It seriously feels that I have only been here a couple of months.  I have loved every single second of my mission and it truly has been the most remarkable thing that I have ever done.  It has been a wonderful experience to be able to wake up every day and put on that name tag and go out and work for a cause that I know to be true.  I have learned so many lessons, met so many amazing people, been to tons of cities, worked with countless missionaries, seen amazing sights, taken countless rejections.  I have experienced the highest of highs, as well as the lowest of lows.  The warmest sunny days to the coldest rainy days, literally! I am grateful for all of the good days as well as all of the bad days.  I am grateful for every trial that I had these past 2 years and for what I was able to learn from them.  I am grateful for all of the members, less actives, and investigators that I have had the opportunity to work with these past 2 years and for the impact that they have had on my life.  I am grateful for all of you guys and your support through this crazy journey.  I can honestly say that this was the best 2 years of my life.  There will always be a special place in my heart for the memories and people in Belgium and The Netherlands.  I am grateful for my Savior Jesus Christ who was with me every single step of the way.  I know that he lives.  I know that through His atonement we can have the power to change, to receive forgiveness, comfort in our times of trial, and to receive strength beyond our own.  I will be eternally grateful for the privilege I had be a servant of the Lord in these 2 beautiful countries for these 2 short years.

Well, it has been a heck of a ride.  With tear filled eyes I say goodbye to the greatest 2 years of my life.  I look forward to what the future has in store.  I look forward to seeing all of you guys and being back in the good ol US of A.  Thanks for everything.  I love you guys! See you soon!

                          -Elder Benjamin John Steenblik

10th letter from Geel, Belgium -- Week 99

Elder Waters and Elder Steenblik

Elder Steenblik  --  This is how I partay when I'm sick

Bustin a move with maracas

Look what I found

Goedemorgen,

Well, this week has been a bit of a long one! I was sick all week which was a real bummer.  My throat was on fire and it felt like I had strep.  Then on Friday, I happened to get an eye infection! Both of my eyes were red and there was lots of nasty goo leakin’ out of them haha.  When I woke up my eyes were completely crusted shut! I looked at the calendar and it all made sense.  It was Friday the 13th! Coincidence? I think not!

We were able to meet with Vanessa twice this week and she is doing great.  She has started praying on her own and committed to read the scriptures this week.  Next week she is coming with us to eat at a members house and have a lesson.

As I said last week, we had to drop a lot of investigators who weren’t making progress and that basically left us with nothing.  This last week we were able to make 4 appointments with new people that we will be meeting with this week.

On Saturday our branch had a South American Fiesta! There are a toooon of South American member’s in our branch.  We had a party with lots of South American food, music, and dancing.  It was super fun and there were a ton of less active and nonmembers there.

We are excited for our appointments this week with our new investigators.  We will be getting a car this week until I leave to look up some far away referrals which will help us out a ton! That is about it.  Have a lovely week.

       

                                      -Elder Steenblik

9th letter from Geel, Belgium -- Week 98

Elder Steenblik wishing all the women out there a Happy Mother's Day!!

Elder Steenblik excited for some wings

With the district in Brussels at Hard Rock Cafe

It's BBQ season

Elder Steenblik soaking up some sun

Elder Steenblik at the all you can eat Belgian chocolate factory

Hey Everybody,

Happy Mother's Day to all of the mothers out there! I hope that you all had a spectacular Mother's Day. Shout out to my mama for being the best mom ever! It was nice to Skype home and say “What Up?”

This has been a little bit of a slower week.  We continue to find new people to teach and have great lessons with them but getting a return appointment seems to almost be impossible.  Every time we go back for an appointment they are not home.  We had quite a few appointments fall through this week and one of the only investigators that we did have, we had to drop because she was not keeping commitments.  This gives us a good opportunity this week to go find some people who will!

There was another baptism in the ward this week of a kid that we had been working with named Joshua.  His dad was actually called as our new ward mission leader last week which we are super excited about.

The weather this week has been outstanding! Sunny and warm every single day.  We haven’t had that kind of weather since, I don’t even remember when.  Probably before my mission! Haha.

That’s basically it this week.  We are going to go enjoy the weather now and you all do the same.  Have a baller week!

                                       -Elder Steenblik