The Best Two Years

Elder Rogers learns that his new companion will be a greenie and, with Elders Johnson and Van Pelt, goes to the train station to meet him. They discover the newly assigned Elder Calhoun is exactly what Rogers predicted. The moment marks the start of a challenging training period in the Haarlem apartment.

Calhoun embraces missionary work with unbounded energy even though his Dutch is limited. The other missionaries watch with mixed skepticism and some concern as he stumbles through conversations. His optimism, though, remains infectious for the group.

Calhoun meets a United States man in the park and later encounters him again in a market. He gives the man a Dutch Book of Mormon with his contact number, and the man reaches out to arrange a meeting. The initial connection sets the stage for a potential baptismal investigation.

To accommodate Kyle’s concerns about meeting at the apartment, the missionaries arrange the first discussion at home. They give him the Book of Mormon in English and explain Joseph Smith’s First Vision. The exchange marks the start of Kyle’s serious interest in learning more.

Kyle reveals sincere desire to learn more about the Church, prompting the missionaries to arrange additional discussions. He responds with thoughtful questions and a developing curiosity. The ongoing lessons deepen his engagement with the mission group.

Worn by personal tensions and a simmering rivalry, Johnson and Van Pelt clash. Johnson’s use of the word flip and Van Pelt’s reaction lead to a tense scene as Kyle leaves after his first discussion. The moment foreshadows a larger conflict brewing within the group.

President Sandburg confronts the two elders, delivering a mild but firm rebuke for their misbehavior. He advises Calhoun to improve his Dutch and gently admonishes Rogers to write weekly letters home. The reprimand aims to restore order in the companionship.

Johnson listens to a tape from his girlfriend, which holds a troubling revelation about an upcoming marriage to a returned missionary. The news compounds his personal strain and tests his resolve. The dynamic among the missionaries remains unsettled.

Following another round of discussions, Kyle decides to become a member of the Church. The group continues to teach, answer questions, and prepare him for the baptism that lies ahead. The decision marks a significant milestone in his journey.

The baptism is scheduled for the Saturday just over a week away. Kyle selects Rogers to perform his baptism, a choice that surprises the elder and underscores Rogers's unexpected leadership. Preparations begin for this important ordinance.

The baptism takes place in a river as planned, occurring on the same day Rogers leaves to return home. The ceremony is a culmination of Kyle’s conversion and Rogers’s mission work. The scene underscores the bittersweet farewell of the missionaries.

There are long goodbyes at the train station as Rogers departs. In that moment, Calhoun demonstrates a clear breakthrough by understanding and speaking Dutch more fluently. The moment signals the growth of each missionary by the program’s end.