U.S. Foreign Service Officer headed to Wuhan, China

The mission of a U.S. diplomat in the Foreign Service is to promote peace, support prosperity, and protect American citizens while advancing the interests of the U.S. abroad. The work that diplomats do has an impact on the world as they serve at one of any of the more than 270 embassies, consulates and other diplomatic missions in The Americas, Africa, Europe and Eurasia, East Asia and Pacific, Middle East and North Africa, and South Asia.

The duties of a Consular Officer include to provide emergency and non-emergency services to American citizens and protect our borders through the proper adjudication of visas to foreign nationals and passports to American citizens. We adjudicate immigrant and non-immigrant visas, facilitate adoptions, help evacuate Americans, combat fraud, and fight human trafficking. Consular Officers touch people’s lives in important ways, often reassuring families in crisis. They face many situations which require quick thinking under stress and develop and use a wide range of skills, from managing resources and conducting public outreach to assisting Americans in distress.

Grandma steps into Glory

Grandma reading poetry to the whole family at her 90th birthday party

The entire Hendriksma clan

My birth grandma, Hilda Hendriksma, passed away last Monday morning and I was very sad not to have been able to celebrate her life at the funeral with the whole family. Grandma Hilda was particularly special to me for many reasons. She was the only grandparent that I really got to know because my other grandparents passed away before I was old enough to really know them. She was also special because she was my birth grandma and became my main link to my birth family and their history. She lived to be 91 and the last time I spent with her was during the previous weekend when we sat outside soaking up the sun in the garden at the nursing home. That day she was sharper and happier than I had seen her in months and it never occurred to me that that would be the last time I'd get to spend with her.

Grandma's children - my birth mom, Ellie is the third from the left

Grandma Hilda was not the kind of woman you meet every day. She raised eight children plus a few foster kids, helped manage a large dairy farm even though she confessed to being really afraid of the big cows and was part of a prison ministry program for some time by corresponding with those who were incarcerated and wanted to study the Bible. She had an incredible memory for poetry and hymns and was an avid reader. She kept a journal for most of her life and the parts she's read to me always has funny comments about the weather and the food.

Ade and Hilda

She was a strong and amazing woman with a big heart to serve such a large family. I'm grateful that I was able to know her for as long as I did. Grandma, I'll miss you and I hope you'll be proud of all that I have left to do in my time here on earth while you're in heaven watching over us all.

This is my favorite picture of Grandpa and Grandma

Read More 2 comments | Posted by Sarah Sanderson

2 comments

Catherine on June 20, 2015 at 1:18 PM

So sorry to hear that, Sarah. I lost my grandmother last week as well. Hilda sounds like a wonderful woman.
Linde on July 6, 2015 at 12:47 PM

That favorite picture is not so different than many of you and Sean! I hope your memories of her will always be special.

Wanderlust

In Mandarin: 旅遊癮 (lǚyóu yǐn)

According to my Mandarin teacher, the term 'wanderlust' can best be translated as 'a travel addiction or craving'. In the above translation, 'yǐn' has several meanings such as 'a strong impulse', 'a longing', or 'a desire'.

U.S. Foreign Service Officer headed to Wuhan, China

Grandma steps into Glory

2 comments