Church

We had our last Sunday in the Brussels 1st Ward.  Church here has definitely had it's challenges.  Because of all the expats that come and go it has also changed a lot over the past 4 years.  Classes are first followed by Sacrament meeting.  Classes are translated as needed.  Currently there are 5 different languages in primary (French, English, German, Italian, Swedish) with the bulk of the kids speaking English whereas when we first got here it was a French/English split.  During Sacrament meeting, headphones are used to translate French/English depending on the language spoken.  In addition each Sunday we alternate the language songs are sung in.

With all the expats coming and going, the leadership in the ward has changed over the years.  Pretty much each summer there are big changes. We've been able to meet a lot of different families over the years.  Below are a few of them: Rasmussen's (moved from Kentucky), Vivian Grandfils (from Congo, but has lived here a long time) and the Fernandez's (French and Belg).

Ryan has been 1st Counselor in the Bishopric for the last year and a half and apparently they asked if he thought I would want to speak and he kindly offered himself instead (what a great husband).  Church really has not been very easy but definitely a good growing experience.  Ryan would leave for meeting before church and often stay after (taking the tram both ways) plus wasn't able to help with kids during Sacrament meeting.  I was in Primary almost our entire time here (when I wasn't I was the Gospel Doctrine teacher and Kevin was little).  Most Sunday's between full-filling callings and trying to keep the kids quiet while wearing headphones, I really didn't feel like I personally got much out of going to church.  However, I do know my kids were learning so were the people I taught.  It made me that much more grateful to all the teachers I had growing up.  A couple things about service that I learned from this ward include (1) If everyone is pitching in it really does make a difference, (2) Nothing happens unless someone is making it happen and (3) Just because someone else may be better at a task does not mean they should do it.

The Primary was very sweet and gave Kherington and Kevin an early Christmas present that was made by one of the previous Primary Counselors.