A few months later Eric and I visited the city of Oudenaarde where AMI--later changed to ON--Semiconductor was located. We met with the HR personnel who explained our insurance and benefits package while we tried to keep our jet-lagged eyes open. Rain fell heavy on the metal rooftop we could see outside the window. It helped that I liked rain. We both had physicals to ensure we were not bringing any diseases into the country or abusing their healthcare system. The language barrier is to blame for the embarrassing experience during my exam when I found out we did not have to remove our pants, just our shirt.
Eric left me at the hotel one afternoon while he attended more meetings. I was far from home and filled with anxiety over our new surroundings. If it had only been a little European vacation for the two of us, it would have felt different. Thinking that we were bringing our children here to live was another story. I was reading my scriptures, trying to renew the feelings of peace I had felt earlier, when a thought came into my mind, "What are you doing to your children?" It was not a thought that brought peace and I wondered why that would happen while reading my scriptures and trying to receive help. This was a concern of mine for several days during the time we were there, but as you will see later, it proved to be another way Heavenly Father showed through an inspired friend that He was looking out for us.
We were told that we would be able to pick out a company car and were given a list of several dealerships we could choose from. They were not sure how we would find a car to hold 8 people and warned us that we would need a special license to have that large of a vehicle. We visited a VW shop first and was told they didn't have vehicles who would hold 8 and reaffirmed that we would need a special license for that many people. We were a little concerned as we drove through the windy cobblestone streets looking for the next store. We followed street signs which were attached to the walls of buildings and, finally, pulled up alongside a Citroen shop. We walked into the showroom and approached the larger of several cars on display. A man approached and Eric asked if he spoke English, to which he said, "Ya". Immediately he pointed to the car we were standing by and said, "We can get this in an 8 passenger model." Eric and I looked at each other stunned. We had not said a word about needing 8 seats. We asked if we needed a special license to drive it and in the most beautiful Dutch accent said, "Nee", which we knew meant "no". It was confirmation I needed at that moment to reassure me that Heavenly Father was helping us.
My main goals for this visit were to find a place to live, find schools, and attend the church where we would go when we moved there. AMI sent us out with a realtor one afternoon and she showed us 3 places. One was still being built, one didn't have a shower--only a bathtub (which wouldn't work for us), and the other was too small. We expected to see schools in the area, but never saw one--at least that we recognized. There were two branches in equal distance from Oudenaarde--one was in Kortrijk and the other was in Gent. We chose to visit the branch in Gent on Sunday. It took us a while to find the church. We were looking for a familiar looking building, but as you can see below, it was not normal. Our church met in the office building connected to this mannequin store.
We walked up the stairs that Sunday morning and met two missionaries standing outside welcoming the members. We told them we were moving here with 6 of our children. About a month later, we were living in a hotel that was being renovated on Vijfwindgatenstraat. Elder Gish and his companion came to visit us one evening. They talked about the Gent Branch and how it had been struggling lately. They had been fasting and praying to know how to strengthen the branch. One Saturday morning they had a feeling that they would find a family who could help the branch. They assumed they would find someone to teach and baptize. Instead they met Eric and I the next day when we came to visit the branch. They felt that we were the answer to their prayers. In the midst of homesickness, culture shock, and uncertainty, it was a blessing to understand maybe a part of the reason we felt inspired to move to Belgium.
There were tender mercies that carried me through the time Eric got laid off from Zilog through our experience living in Belgium. Upon returning from that first trip to Belgium, without housing or schools figured out, my good friend, Lydia Hansen, came up to me at church and handed me the speech, "Cast Not Away Therefore Your Confidence" by Elder Holland. She was inspired! It shed light on the feelings I had back in that little hotel room when I was alone and afraid. She also gave me an index card where she had handwritten, "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me". It continues to be a treasure to me.
Having faith in the Savior helped me overcome the hardships and obstacles we faced and cemented my testimony that He never leaves us comfortless or alone.
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