June 10, 2013 - Almere, Nederland

Guys this all is going too fast! Its been another 6 weeks and its so hard to think that Elder Mower and I have been together three transfers! Anyway, more of that in a minute...

 

How are you all doing? Some crazy changes are going on I hear, Erik moving with Dad, Kristi and John in the middle of no where. Its so weird thinking that thaings keep changing when I am not there. But they do and it will be exciting to see what happens.

 

I've had a crazy week and honestly can't remember half of it! I got a little sick in the beginning of the week and now I am stuffed up with allergies! It's not too bad just a little annoying. We did a lot of work with Kiany and Dimaar this week and that was really cool! We had a lesson on wednesday and thursday! Whoo! And then Saturday we had a ward picknick and that was awesome! our relationship with the members is finally growing!

 

And for transfers Elder Mower was told last night that he is going to be the new district leader in Amsterdam! But they didn't tell me what was happening to me! I had to wait till this morning! Anyway they have been preparing a new appartment for us in lelystad so we could actually live there but they are going to put sisters in that appartment to work in Lelystad! But I'm going to stay in almere and still work in lelystad! So we have 4 missionaries in Lelystad and also a senior couple! That's crazy! My new companion will be Elder Stoddard, I've never met him before but Elder Mower says he is great! I'm excited! So letters can still come to the same address!

 

I don't have a lot of time today but I want you guys to know that this gospel is true! I feel it everyday! We have a father in heaven that loves us and is always watching over us, if we trust him He will guide us on the path that will strengthen us the most. We have a Savior that has atoned for our sins and has made it possible to once again become clean and pure enough to live with our Father! I know that Joseph Smith is a prophet of God, he fulfilled his mission here and is now serving the Lord. We have a prophet on the earth today that guides us and uses the keys given to him to bring about the work of God. This is not the work of men! I love this gospel so much! I love you all and am so proud of what you do!

 

Stay strong and trust the spirit! Doubt not, Fear not!

 

Love,

Kevin

June 3, 2013 - Almere, Nederland

I'm doing something different this time. from now on I will be writing personal emails to those who write me and a little shorter of a family Email, therefore forcing you slackers to write me more often! Mwahahahah!!! Lol No mostly because I keep forgetting thigs to comment on so its better to do it right then.

 

So how is everyone doing? School it out? Life is fun now? Any plans for the summer?

 

I had a good week, a little frustrating but good. Everything was good up till sunday and then we were going to have an investigator come to church but she didn't come! Its becoming a joke! We commit someone and they say they will come and then we tell the memebers that someone is coming and than they don't come! We haven''t had an investigator in church the whole time I have been here! Its so frustrating to get our hopes up and even the memebers and then they don't come! AHHH!!

 

Whatever its all ok, transfer calls are next week so we are going to work hard this week and it will be good.

 

I want to bare my testimony on the scriptures today, I have been studying about the second coming and what will happen there and it is so comforting to be able to learn and receave revelation from the scriptures. It is something you can trust to bring peace and understanding. We can turn to the scriptures at any time and God will use them to tell us what we need. They are his word to us and can help in any situation. They are so powerful and I am so greatful or the spirit that comes from reading them! God gives us his word so that we can know his will, He has given us the road map to life and all we need to do is read it!

 

I love this gospel so much! It brings peace to a restless world. I challenge all of you to let the gospel "speak peace to your soul"! I am so greatful for the chance to tell everyone that I am part of the greatest family on earth!I love you all! Pray, Read and Pray again, Peace will come.

 

Love,

Kevin

 

PS My shoes are falling apart. They will still work for now but if you can get me the replacement sometime that would be great!

May 27, 2013 - Almere, Nederland

Hey guys!

 

How is everyone doing!? Alles Goed? Everyone being good? Erik is moving off to life with Dad and he didn't even tell me, what else is happening that I don't know about!? I feel so out of the loop!

 

Anyway, things have been good here. The weather is warm for today, but its been raining for the past week so this is a change. We have had a good week with lots of work, we met up again with Kiany and set another baptismal date with her! And we also got a senior couple! They're from Ogden and are going to be working with us in Lelystad. Not doing the exact same work but still with missionary stuff. Its all the same work in the end. Our appartment is almost finished, but now we don't know whether the Senior Couple will be moving in there or us. We'll see what happens.

 

So today is going to be short but today I want to talk about prayer. The other day I was getting ready for bed and I came in the room and saw the other elders praying so I knelt down to pray also. I stared by going through my day and gave a simple, but in my opinion, good prayer. Then I closed, got up on my bed and layed there. After a few moments I looked down and noticed that the other elders were still praying. Normally I just think, "oh well, some people pray longer than others" and "its not good to compare yourself to others, just do your best and that is ok". But then I thought to myself "am I really doing my best when I just give a short simple prayer? Or can I improve?" And I decided that I was going to train myself to be able to pray better, stronger and honestly. Not just trying to get it done so I could go to bed. So the next morning I got up and knelt down and began to pray and I just let myself go, basically praying for anything I could think of. It was stange and a little difficult at first, but i noticed a difference. I felt stronger and had a better morning. That was a few days ago and it is getting easier every time! My testimony of prayer is growing every day, and that is the way it should be with all of us I think. Pray with faith, pray with love. God will hear and He will most surely answer!

 

I love this gospel, I love the peace that it brings the love and the joy. I love that we can have a personal relationship with our Father in heaven and our Savior! And even better is that they want to have a relationship with us! They are there and waiting for us to take their hand, so that they can rais us up to our potential!

 

I love you all, with all my heart!

 

Love,

Kev

May 22, 2013 - Almere, Nederland

Dear Family,

 

This week has been so crazy that crazy doesn't even cover it! 1st off its now wednesday because monday was a holiday and the library was closed so we need to email today.

 

Life has been pretty interesting, Micco came back from Finland for the weekend, he didnt come to church because Stephanie hurt her knee and was in the hospital but we went by afterwards and had a nice talk with him, he is so going to be baptized! He read the book of mormon all the way through and didnt just stop at the end but even read the index, he said that he couldn't put it down till he was finished! Then we went by the next day and talked with him again because he is going back to finland for a few more weeks and talked with him. Mike will love this, he got an impression that he needed to listen to the 8th track on a CD laying next to him and to listen to the words. The CD was Metalica and the track was "Nothing Else Matters"! Crazy huh? He listened and he felt like he needed to follow his heart and his heart was telling him to be baptized! We set a date for him in August so he has time to get back from Finland and take all the lessons! So he's doing awesome! Stephanie is a little hesitant but we will keep working with her.

    And we also got ahold of Kiany yesterday so we can start teaching them again! As far as investigators are going things are looking up!

 

Personally I'm feeling more tired than ever, I feel drained of energy, however I am also working harder and feeling more confident than ever! My dutch is coming along and I feel like I'm playing a greater role as a missionary than before! I love it! I actually feel like I am helping! Its hard to get up in the morning but I just force myself and go. So as far as I am doing, Things are looking up too!

 

By the way, Jess, your letters are way too long, I don't have enough time to read them. And remember that there is more than one missionary in this family so unless you want to start a real fight on who's mission is better then lay off a little. America was first settled by the pilgrims and they were Dutch! If it weren't for The Netherlands there wouldn't be a Philidelphia Pensylvania. This is not the time for "heated discutions" Doctor. That comes later.

 

We dont have much time so I wan't you all to know that I love you and I love this gospel it is and always will be true! The world will change but our Heavenly Father will stay the same. He is there for us and He will stay by our side! I love you all! Love each other please. Erik and Dan, I know the three of us faught a lot, but learn from that and be better than me, I know I wasn't a very good example but I also know you are both better, you are both better than the fighting, try to love. I have learned something on my mission, A man who fights others appears strong in the eyes of the world, But the man who loves others is strong in the eyes of God.

 

We are better than the world!

 

Love,

Kevin

 

PS Em, Remember that talk from I think Brother Feldman a while back, about the man and the bridge and train and he lets his son die to save the other people? I am asking you to go on a mission for me and see if you can find out where it came from and get it to me. If you can do that I would be very greatful!

May 13, 2013 - Almere, Nederland

Guys I'm really tired, we didn't get back until late last night. So I'm glad today is Pday so I can take a nap.

So I just talked to you all last night (except for Jess, don't worry your time will come) so this one is going to be short.

But I want you guys to know how much I love this gospel. The peace that comes from it is almost too much at times! We can know that even when life becomes hard and we may stumble a little bit, it is all to test us and see if we will stay strong, and even if we fall, to see if we get back up. We got to watch the Priesthood session of confference again with the priesthood of our branch and I got so much out of it the second time! We are the children of a glorified and perfect being! And as such we are destined to become as him! IF we do our part. We are meant for so much, we are learning how to be gods! But we need to lean the basics and we need to be tested to see if we are ready for that power and responsibility. The standard is set high, but with Christ as our strenght, we can do anything!  "Sanctify yourselves: for to morrow the Lord will do wonders among you."

I love you all! I loved being able to talk to you! There is a time for everything, and I look forward to the time when I can speak with you again, but until then, stand strong, stand proud! Stand for who you are!

Love,

Kevin

May 6, 2013 - Almere, Nederland

Hey guys!

So I have heard a lot of complaining, that I don't do a good enough job at responing to your letters. Well I am here to put those complaints to rest.... they are true. I don't mean to be mean its just that we don't have a lot of time to write letters or read letters so my time is limited, Its hard to reply to everything that people say or ask. It doesn't help that I am a slow typer. I always have to go back and reread the letters and rememeber what I have to respond to, so if I don't respond to something you say, please don't be offended, I really do try. I'm just not so good at the long distance letter writing thing.

So how is everyone doing? Anything fun going on? Danny you told me about the musical but is that really everything that has happened? When are the babies due? one in July and one in august right? I am super excited! Have you thought of any names?

The language is coming well and I am gaining more confidence as I practice. Elder Mower and I speak a lot of dutch to each other and that helps a lot. We are going to practice working in unity more and so I will practice doing my part to help. The work of God is moving forward and we are really excited for this transfer!

This week was Koningine Dag (Queens Day) and that means two days of people partying in orange. We needed to change our Pday to be on Koningine Dag because it would be really hard to work on that day. And for Pday we went to Haarlem (the city that they use for the best two years!) It was cool to walk around. they don't have yards here so thay can't have yard sales, so there are a few days a year that they have whats called a frijmarkt (free market) you can sell things in a market without a permit so everyone comes out and tries to sell their junk and its like a city wide yardsale!! It was fun to look around and see that crazy things people were selling. Elder Pitts is in my district and was there with us, and he bought a sword! We dont know what he is going to do with it but whatever its his money. I bought a cheap holland tie and a cool jacket (also cheap). Elder Mower found a super cheap soccer jursey that is usually like 40 euros. It was a fun day. And I also tried harring! (sorry kris) It was super lekker! oh yeah sorry lekker means tasty in dutch. Its very slimey but if you like sea food then you will enjoy it. I'll send the picture next week.

So for next week I know it will be mothers day and they will probably give flowers and stuff but I need you guys to get home as quick as possible. Elder Mower will skype his family at about 11 your time and so it will be my turn at about 12 your time and because that will allready be 8 here and I don't want to be too rushed then we need to start as quickly as possible. We will already be late getting home but that will be fine. If it is better i can skype Dad right at 8 and then you guys when you get home. I'll let you guys figure that out, Just know that my time will be at 12 your time. the account we will use is jurgen.hoole (he is our branch president.) So just send me an email telling me what's going on and account info and stuff.

So last week I taked about humility and having a true understanding about our identity, and I have studied a lot about that this week. But I don't have a whole lot of time so I am going to share my testimony of some thing that was strenghtened through a talk with an inactive memeber. And that is that we are here at this time for a reason! We are growing up in a time when that gospel of Jesus Christ is here in its fullness! The knowledge and understanding that has been given to us is greater than ever before! And what makes it even better is that we have been blessed to grow up in a family where the gospel of Jesus Christ is tought. We have been blessed since our birth! We have grown up with the knowledge that we are truely the sons and doughters of God! And we have inspired leaders to guide us and help us. The blessing of this time our endless! however the responsibility is also greater. There is a talk that I love called "Why 1820" and it talkes about why the church was restored now, and then the speaker talkes about why we were born now. We were born now because we are to be part of the army of God at the time of the second coming of our savior Jesus Christ. We are the warriors against Satan. And he makes a comment, we do not have the right to do all of the imorral and "normal" things of the world. We are better than that. We have been given too much to just be normal! We are here for a reason! We are here to move the work forward. Be examples in all that you do. I love this gospel so much!

I love you all! You are such a support for me and I love being able to tell everyone about how great my family is! You are all amazing!

Love,

Kevin

April 29, 2013 - Almere, Nederland

Time is going so fast! Transfers are this week and I will be starting transfer 6!! That is crazy! And its also Mothers day in two weeks!! Whoa, what's going on here!?

 

Well anyway just so you know Elder Mower and I will be staying the same for one more transfer! that's 3 together! whoohoo! He's really cool! And we are both working together on helping each other become better, its a lot of fun to work with him!

 

How is everything going with you people? Jessie is saying goodbye, is anything else fun happening? The weather is starting to warm up here, is it the same back home? Do you guys have any fun plans for summer? anyone going camping or anything?

 

This week has been a crazy week! Part was really hard and super difficult to get through, but then it ended up being the best week of my mission! We went to Den Haag for a Zone tranining and that was really cool, but on the tram a jerk was sitting there telling us that all we were doing was telling people a bunch of crap and that we don't really help people. It was a little hard, thankfully after he got off the other people started saying that he was stupid and he was fighting the wrong thing. And there were just other things that made it kinda hard, but then thurdsday and friday came around. On thursday we were on exchanges with the zone leaders and I was with Elder Mckee, one of my favorite people in the world, he is really funny and always seems to have energy. But as we were working we were making goals to try and improve and grow and that was a really fun talk, I learned a lot. But the cool thing was as we were on our way back to our companions Elder Mckee decided to stop and talk to a family even though we didn't have the time. It was a short contact but they said we could come back the next day, So Elder Mower and I did that and it was the best lesson I have ever had, normally I let Elder Mower talk the most because I don't want to mess up with my dutch, I do my part then let him take over. But this time I really participated! I talked! I helped Elder Mower with the teaching! Maybe not 50-50 yet but getting closer! And now They have a baptisimal date! Their names are Kiany and Dimar and they have two little kids but I can't rememeber their names. Crazy week!

 

I love my district! Sadly we are about to change a little and there will be some people that I will miss. Today we had district meeting because tomorrow is a holiday, and we talked a lot about humility. And I had my mind blown. I sat there as we talked and I leaned that there is a lot that I need to work on. This is paraphrasing but we said something like, Humility is the full understanding of your true Identity! We are children of God! That is our Identity. Many people (including myself at times) thinks that having high self esteem is pride and that low self-esteem is humility. But that is wrong! As children of God we need to have a high self-esteem, or we do not have a true understanding of our Identity. But we can't let pride in our lives, because that is not having a true understanding also. So what can we do? How can we get a true understanding? Well, who is the source of all truth? God! He knows us, he has a full understanding of our identity. And if we follow the counsel we are given at the eld of Heleman 3:35 we can also have that understanding. Give yourself to Him. Let his love flow through you and from you into others. Strive for his spirit, and when blessings come, thank Him for them. If we do this then we will obtain a true understanding of our identity.

 

I love this gospel, I love that I have this chance to serve the people here and that I have the chance to serve the Lord. I love him so much, My life would be nothing without him in so many ways. He has saved me in more ways than one. I love this gospel so much! It changes lives. It is in thruth the gospel of God! "Shall we not go on in so great a cause?" I love you all!

 

Love,

Elder Suckow

 

PS we will need to figure out skype and stuff so let me knoe the scheduel for next Mothers Day ok!