Safe in Belgium...but no pictures to prove it

Belgium keyboards are weird so sorry if the typing is bad. I am safe here in Belgium. We go to church in Turnhout and most of the members live there so we are in Turnhout a lot. 

Geel is pretty small but it much busier than Emmen. Belgium is very different. The language is smoother with less guttural. Everything is crappier but better at the same time. It is more industrious and people are not as afraid to spend money so there are cranes and half built buildings everywhere. The problem is that they do not have the money to finish projects so in the same way it kind of feels like a nicer mexico sometimes. But they are apparently willing to start the projects anyways because it make s them feel more industrious.

This is right by the mission office and there are so many bikes that you can't imagine. They are filling both sides. Netherlands has the most bikes per capita in the world.

Fun facts: NETHERLANDS Vs. BLEGIUM

1. Country of cyclists – Netherlands

• People: 16,652,800
• Bicycles: 16,500,000

In the Netherlands 27% of all trips and 25% of trips to work are made by bike. The average distance cycled per person per day is 2.5 km. Holland and bicycles go together like bread and jam. Despite the recession the cycle-happy Dutch are still spending a lot of money on their bicycles – nearly 1 billion euros’ worth a year. About 1.3 million bicycles were sold in the Netherlands in 2009, at an average price of 713 euros ($1,008) each. Amsterdam (the capital and largest city of the Netherlands) is one of the most bicycle-friendly large cities in the world. It has 400 km of bike lanes and nearly 40% of all commutes in Amsterdam are done on bike. Strangely, most cyclists don’t wear helmets. And bike theft is a big problem, with about one of five (20%) bicycles being stolen each year.

BELGIUM  #9 Country of Cyclists: 

• People: 10,827,519
• Bicycles: 5,200,000

In Belgium 8% of all trips are made by bike. The average distance cycled per person per day is 0.9 km. Cycling is a national sport for the Belgians. Belgians are very serious about their bike. A real Belgian keeps an expensive, quality bike well maintained with functioning breaks and inflated tires and usually wears a helmet and a bright yellow vest to make him or herself visible to car.

People also drive nicer cars here. I have seen some sweet cars. We had dinner at a less actives this week and they are loaded. We almost convinced him to drive us home in his Bentley, but it wouldn't make it so special to drive if driven everywhere. So we took his Jaguar instead.

It was pretty nice. Most comfortable car I have every sat in.

Belgians buy their bread from vending machines on the street and it is really good.

The chocolate here is the best in the world. And the frites are also the best. Buses come too early and too late. There are a lot of refugees. The branch here is super cool. There are a lot of Africans. The statues here are always naked.


There is a lot of less active work to do. There is a good pool of potential investigators. I forgot my camera cord but didn't take any pictures anyways. I wonder if this stuff sounds familiar to Sam and Uncle Johnny. My comp is super cool and from Hurricane Utah. We are going to Milenes baptism in Breda on Saturday. I replaced him in Breda so we are excited to go back and look up a less active while there.