Week #26

Brdska Željeznica-Roller Coaster

I'm going to say the bad news like ripping off a band-aid. Just doing it fast. So our first investigator with a baptismal date is slowly going down hill and losing faith, and it seems like the more we meet, the worse it's getting. Please pray for her. The second investigator with a baptismal date seems to be opposite and growing in faith every time we meet. But the only problem is that she can't seem to make it to church :( Every week she comes up with a new excuse... People keep thinking we're Jehovah Witnesses or they don't want to listen to us because they watched an hour long BBC broadcast about "the truth of Mormons"...to sum it up, it's not true. Then we're having hard time keeping faith among our members...nothing that really needs details, but so you know that these are the downs. But it's ok, now the pain's over :)

We have two new investigators who are totally searching for truth!!! One was a college-aged student who is Atheist and when we asked if he ever wondered if God existed and if he wanted to find out how to know, he said sure. We taught him a lesson a few days later, and he said he would read but he's not sure if he's willing to really search right now. But he asked many great questions and is willing to come over to the church for activities and things. He's not sure if he's searching, but he definitely is looking for something. The other investigator is a man we talked to last night. He said he was sick of asking for truth and not finding answers. So we told him that the truth was in the Book of Mormon. We weren't able to go in since his wife wasn't home, but we gave a lesson to him right there on the steps. He seemed very accepting and was willing to meet up again tomorrow with his wife. AH! He said he was willing to do anything to find truth. I'll let you know what happens next week :)

So after a district meeting, we talked about the authority we have as missionaries. We focused especially on when we get let in doors, give a lesson, then have a prayer. Many of these people usually just let us in because they pity us for trying and just let us in to give us some juice or water maybe some cookies if they feel really charitable. But our duty as missionaries is to teach the gospel to everyone even if they're not ready to except right now. Another thing we can do is have them write something down in their "Book of Evidences" where they will remember the missionaries, so the next time they hear the word Mormon, they'll think about to that experience. And typically that experience happens during the closing prayer. If we pray for them and their families and whatever trials they are going through, we can bless them. So after this great district meeting, Sestra L and I went tracting. We talked to this woman and at first she was very closed but asked us how we came to choose Croatia for a mission. I told her we didn't choose because we have a prophet who knows where we need to be and I testified to her right there that that is why I was there. So I could tell her that we have a living prophet and we have a message to tell everyone. You could just see the change in her face. After talking a little bit, we asked her if we could pray with her. She invited us in, it was my turn to give the prayer and I simply asked for her to be blessed, in her work and family. She loved the prayer and offered us water and just told us all of her problems. I didn't realize everything that was going on at work, it was going down hill and she didn't know what to do because she would have to move and a lot of other stresses. She didn't want to set up a return appointment, but she said we could call. So we called the next week to see how work was going and she was soo happy!!! Everything went right for her at work the previous week and she said it was because of us. So when we asked if we could meet with her, what do you think she said? :) DA!!! Never underestimate the power of prayer and what the Lord wants to happen.

Another fun follow-up is with a man that we saw about a month ago. We thought he was drunk, but gave him a pamphlet anyways. We saw him again and then asked if he read the pamphlet we gave him. He said yes and liked it and that his wife had read it too. We asked if we could meet with them. He said yes, and we went right then and taught a lesson with him and his wife. It was about 5 minutes because the wife is sick (they're an older couple) and was really tired, but they said we can come back and talk more later. Another reason why I shouldn't underestimate every person I talk to. We thought this guy was mocking us and asking for a pamphlet just to prove us wrong about something in it. But no, he's just another child of God looking for hope and guidance.

I received a letter from one of my best friends today and she told me that she met a total stranger last week, and he was going to the Adriatic North mission (my mission) and has been reading my blog updates. It was a hit to reality for me that these updates aren't just for my family and friends. So here's a shout out for all those entering the MTC in the near future. Be ready! Be excited! I cannot think of a better place for me right now or for those people I talk to every day. They need you! Yes it's going to be tough, but PA DA (OH YES), IT'S WORTH IT! Now a shout out for those who are about to go to the Adriatic North mission, you are blessed!!! This is the time to be a missionary in Croatia, Slovenia, Serbia, and Bosnia. This last month we had 19 baptisms making 38 baptisms for this year (more than what this mission had all last year!) And the baptisms just keep coming in. Be ready. It's going to be tough, but it's going to be worth it. You can just feel the change and the growth that is happening and how the Lord is watching over these people. Words can't express it. You'll see for yourself in just a few short months.

So that is plenty for an update of this last week. We talked to a Jehovah Witness and it was sad to me that he said that they don't believe in miracles like in Bible times. That's so sad for God is the same yesterday, today, and forever. In Mormon 9:19 it talks more about miracles and that God "is a God of miracles." I see miracles all the time from the physical miracles to the healing of the heart. I know this to be true because I feel the healing all the time in my own heart. For those grieving or need a healing of some sort, look to Christ and be healed. Don't doubt. He's there. Love you all and for all your prayers for me and the other missionaries of the world! We need it, but we need you to stay strong too. So keep it up! Keep being awesome! Volim vas puno puno puno!!!