Week #42

Pad!-Fall!

It has finally gotten cold!!! It all started yesterday. It just started to rain and it's been quite chilly. We'll see if it actually stays, but we hear from our weather source that it will rain tomorrow and this weekend and stay chilly. So I'll let you know next week if it stays that way.

Not a lot happened this week. We have just been putting up a lot of English flyers and then we had about 20 people come to English sign-ups including a few kids, so we'll have a little class for kids too. I'm super excited!!! :) But we did have a great testimony builder on Monday about always opening your mouth. We were contacting on the way to our night of tracting and one woman just completely shut us down (not unusual), but then the woman just a meter or two behind her was like, "Hey, you're Mormons right? THAT I'm interested in." She looked at my Book of Mormon and saw a Restoration pamphlet and said, "Restoration, interesting. Can I have that? Thanks!" And started to walk away. Both Sestra CC and I were just in a state of shock for a few seconds like did that just happen? Then we turned around and ran after her asking for her number and where she lives. She's been in the hospital the last few days but said she would like to meet with us this week. So we'll see what happens :) But it's crazy that we talk to hundreds of people a week and then every once in a while we talk to someone who is just ready to jump right in and try the gospel. But we wouldn't be prepared to talk to the ones who are prepared if we didn't talk to those hundreds of people. It's all about faith and not seeing it my way, but the Lord's way. He's not just preparing people for me to meet, but He's preparing me to meet those people. I wouldn't be showing my faith if I just talked to members and sat in the church just waiting for someone to walk in. Yes, every once in a while that happens, but that's not where the growth comes. The growth comes when the faith is turned into action. I know that I've talked about faith pretty much my entire mission, but without faith what would we have? So I'm super grateful that I have this opportunity to learn and challenge my faith because life is just going to get harder, but it's also going to get better. In Ether 12:6, it talks about the trial of your faith and there's still a trial going on, but we're pushing right on! At the beginning of this transfer we had a district meeting and setting a goal of how many baptisms do we see Zadar having by the end of the year. We went to our own little areas and prayed to receive revelation. I did some reflection a few days ago about that experience and realized I'm not acting like a missionary who received revelation for the baptisms in Zadar. Now when I'm bummed and I don't want to go out in the rain because I'm sick or maybe I can call someone and stay inside a little longer, I remember that number and think: Is this what it takes to get these baptisms by the end of December? Then I go out anyways. Not a lot happened this week but that's ok because it's just preparing us for next week. And if this week isn't it that's ok because it's supposed to happen. As long as I'm doing what I need to do, then it's ok. It will happen. I don't know how especially because our numbers have been super low the past few weeks, but I know it will happen. To je to. That's that. Now will you go out and be the missionary you need to be for your area every day? I know if you do, you'll find joy and happiness that I wish I had before my mission. I was happy before, but I can't express the joy I feel now. Volim vas puno! Ugodan tjedan!

Sa vjećnom ljubavlju,
Vaša kćer,

Sestra Kristine Jolley
Uvijek Sljedići Braće

Week #41

Pad ili Ljeto?-Fall or Summer?

So today we went out to an island (Uglijan-where they had the 40th celebration) for a hike, and it felt like summer. I can't believe that it's the end of October. I'm still waiting for the cold to come in. Ok so I'm ready for another Rijeka jolt. Again, it was a rough week, but I know the blessings are going to just come in. The middle of my second transfer, I remember how rough it was. Our members weren't helping us, we had a few investigators, and those with baptismal dates weren't going through, it was just rough. Now everyone in our branch is sick or a different problem and we only had four lessons with investigators total. Joj (Oh boy), it was rough. But the last two weeks before I left Rijeka, we had 8 new investigators! And things were looking so up. Yes, I left before we could see where that could go, but I know the blessings are going to come. I've seen them come before and I know they can come again. I feel it! I have no idea how this upcoming week is going to go, but I do know that what I do today will impact my tomorrow and hopefully impact others along the way. For that's the reason why I'm here on a mission. A scripture that fits what I'm feeling perfectly is in Mosiah 4:6. I have come to a knowledge of the goodness of God and everything that comes with that. So I'll put my trust in him and be diligent and continue in faith until the end. This is short, but it's to the point of what I want to say. No matter how many times we go through trials. No matter how much pain we go through in life. There's always a way out. There's an end to the means. But there's no end to God's love. I know this because I feel it right now, even as I write, through the power of the Holy Ghost. Because it's only through the power of the Holy Ghost can we know the truth of spiritual things that we cannot see. Even through this rough time, I am so grateful to be here. Because it's living through these small trials now that I'll be able to live through the big trials throughout my life when I get home. But even those big trials are a small moment in the eternal perspective. I love you all so much and I'm grateful for the impact you have been to me throughout my life! Volim vas! Papa! (little kid's good-bye)

Sa vjećnom ljubavlju,
Vaša kćer,

Sestra Kristine Jolley
Uvijek Sljedići Braće

Week #40

Dalje-Onward

This week we had a rough couple of days. Our first investigator that we found together, dropped us. She read on-line that we don't smoke or drink coffee and told us that she can't do that. We tried to explain over the phone, but she was just scared to change. We asked if we could come over and explain why we believe that way and she said no. But she did say we can call in a few months and see how it's going. I'm bummed that she's scared and doesn't want to change, but I'm grateful that she found truth on the Internet instead of other junk that people find. So when she's ready to change, she knows what to expect and knows the truth of our message. She's just not ready...yet :) Then after that day another investigator dropped us because (I think) influence from people in her church and she can't go to two churches. That day we also found out one of our investigators isn't committed to reading and praying, and just wants company to talk about her problems but isn't willing to fix her problems. So we had those rough couple of days, but then we had zone conference. I just love zone conference. It just rejuvenates me and gets me excited to keep moving forward! We've had these rough couple of days, but I KNOW that we can have 100 baptisms by the end of the year. After these few days, I was thinking about it at night and wondered, "How are we going to achieve our goal if these experiences keep happening?" I was quickly comforted that this will still happen. It may not happen on my time, (which I wanted it to happen for instance yesterday) but it will happen in the due time of the Lord. This morning, Sestra CC and I were talking about faith in Alma 32 and in verses 35 and 36, it talks about tasting the light and knowing it's good then "after ye have tasted this light is your knowledge perfect? Behold I say unto you, Nay; neither must ye lay aside your faith" I have tasted a few times that the miracle of having 100 baptisms in this mission is going to happen, but is my knowledge perfect? No, I don't know exactly how or when it's going to happen, I just have to keep moving forward that it will happen. Then through my faith and the faith of others, this miracle will happen. We just have to exercise that faith. Show we are ready to receive that knowledge. I already have the assurance it's going to happen. Now I need to show my faith and willingness to make it happen. I have past my 1/2 way point this week. It was really weird to think I am now on the downhill side of my mission, but then I thought, no, this is the uphill part. It's going to be even harder to push even more, but I want to become what the Lord wants me to become at the top of the hill, I just have to learn and progress along the way. We're moving onward to find those who are ready to be baptized and show that first fruit of repentance so they can continually return to their Heavenly Father, and I know we are teaching some who are ready, we just have to help them realize that. Pray that we might be able to teach in unity with the Spirit, so we can help them understand what the teacher is trying to tell them. And my invitation to you all is to find that faith within you and when (not if) the trial to test your faith comes, be grateful for it, because Heavenly Father trusts you to have this experience to grow. He knows you'll overcome and become a better person if you just let Him. Trust Him. He knows us better. Ugodan tjedan! (Have a good week!) Volim vas bolje nego jućer a manje nego sutra! (I love you better than yesterday, and less than tomorrow! On a wall we found in Zadar. Cute right?) Volim vas puno!

Sa vjećnom ljubavlju,
Vaša kćer,

Sestra Kristine Jolley
Uvijek Sljedići Braće

Week #39

Ne Još-Not yet

I know I said there was going to be exciting news, but nothing really super great...yet. Don't get me wrong, there were many miracles of the week. We have 3 new investigators. Many potentials saying this week or next week will be better to meet. I had a cold but was able to keep going and then it stopped by last night so I wouldn't have to use all of P-day getting better. And even though we asked for people to be baptized and none of them accepted, I still feel the Holy Ghost comforting me that there will be not just one but many baptisms here in Zadar soon. I can't wait! So I won't. We'll get back out there. Ask for more people to be baptized because we know this is the path for them on their way back to God. Yes, we all live this path of life seeing different details and stumbling over different rocks, but we all need to go through the gate of baptism with the right key and continue on the path towards God's house. That's the only way. There's one investigator in particular we've been working with and she knows this is truth. She sees it in our eyes :) But it's just having her realize and see that she needs the gospel right now and it can help with her life right now. She's the most focused Croat that I've ever seen. She really looks into our souls and listens with her heart, now it's just getting her head to listen too.

General Conference this weekend. What a great time! We were able to listen to the first 2 sessions in English and the Sunday morning in Croatian, but what a weekend! Especially the announcement from Pres. Monson. What?!?!? We were going quite crazy about the whole thing. We talked about it later and I just thought how different my life would have been if I had left at 19. I would have been home by now! But yet I know that if I could change the past 3 years, I wouldn't have. Me going on a mission when I was 21, was the best time for me. So far in my life, I couldn't have asked for a better one. Now I know many friends and cousins who are considering to go. All my advice is to pray and know when is the best time for you. I know 21 was the best for me. 19 might be the best for you. 28 might be the best time. But something that we should be doing all the time is in D&C 50:13-14. "Wherefore, I the Lord ask you this question--unto what were ye ordained? To preach my gospel by the Spirit, even the Comforter which was sent forth to teach the truth." A mission has made me realize what is really important. Yes, consider a mission and I would love to hear that you are going, but what I would love even more to hear are missionary experiences you are having right at home. It's rough. It's tough knowing what friends or family members would say. You might feel awkward or feel like it's not your place. I understand, but what I understand even more now is that it's possible. Keep being great! Keep reading and praying! Heavenly Father is there right along with you helping you become better and pushing you along the way. Volim vas puno!!!

Sa vjećnom ljubavlju,
Vaša kćer,

Sestra Kristine Jolley
Uvijek Sljedići Braće

Week #38

Jeste li spremni?-Are you ready?

So this week was full of sooo closes (I don't know how else to call it shortly). The woman we found the week before at first was going to shut us down because she read something she didn't like, but after some explaining and the Spirit working on her, she accepted to read the Book of Mormon and meet again. Then after that it just felt like we went from person to person that would accept to meet sometime but not at the moment or not this week. This last week on Friday, as a mission, we had 30 new investigators. They told us that if every companionship gets one new investigator then we'll overcome our latest record which was 44. We were working so hard to find a new investigator and there was one woman who said she would love to meet with us right then, but her son should be there any minute so we set up a time for today. So we went to person to person and found 3 people last night that we set up lessons with for later this week, but not this last weekend. It was a bummer to us, but we are excited for this upcoming week! Despite that we didn't find a new investigator, our mission found 60 new investigators last week!!! It was so great to see that and hear the success! But this week it's our turn, the success is going to come out this week and explode. Sestra CC and I are ready. Are you ready? I'm not sure if I have told this to you all or not, but the mission has a goal by the end of the year to have 100 baptisms. This is the most in the history of this mission. That means every city, not companionship, in the mission to have 4 baptisms by December 31. It is so possible. Especially seeing the miracles that are happening and the doors that are opening up, it's totally possible, and not only that but God wants it to happen. So all we have to do is align our will with his and to je to (that's that). We'll have more than 100 baptisms by the end of the year and the branches will grow into wards before we even know it. In Luke 1:37, it reminded me of this mission right now. With God, nothing is impossible. He wants so much for this area and He's prepared the people to accept the gospel right now, I know it! I can't wait to share more of those miracles later. Have a great week! Volim vas!!!

Sa vjećnom ljubavlju,
Vaša kćer,

Sestra Kristine Jolley
Uvijek Sljedići Braće