Week #46

Zahvalna sam-I am grateful

This week was a great week. Since we split a senior couple with Rijeka (they come to Zadar about every other week), we had Thanksgiving on Wednesday. It was great to spend some time cooking and playing a few games before going back out to work. The food was so good and for those who are wondering, we didn't have an official turkey, but we did have a turkey breast and a chicken breast so there would be enough meat for everyone. It was just a great day. Then I had my birthday on Saturday, Sestra CC made actual pancakes for me and I opened presents that was sent from my family. I was sooo excited for all the bags of Skittles!!! We went out to eat lunch and had ice cream by the Sea Organ. It was a little chilly but not too cold not to have ice cream. We had some Mac and Cheese (thanks Mom for sending the packets :) for dinner with the branch president and his family, then went out finding people. But what I loved and most thankful for this week was one of our investigators with a baptismal date came to church this week. She lives about 25 minute walking distance from the church, and also she is the fourth investigator I've had that has come to church. She came to church loved it and really wants to go to Zagreb next week for District Conference. And a lot of other members from Zadar want to go this District Conference. This means a lot. Usually when we talk about events in Zagreb, the people of Zadar don't want to do anything about it. Mostly because Zagreb is 3 1/2 hour bus ride away and for a one day trip when you don't have any money? What's the point? But hearing them being all excited and wanting to go just made me super grateful. It's hard being here during the pioneer stages of this country to see these slow and hard, but fulfilling changes in these people's lives. I've thought about how it would be to be in a different mission and seeing many baptisms every week, but then I think of all the growing and life-changing experiences for me and they wouldn't have happened if I had seen baptisms all the time. This mission is exactly where I need to be. It would be nice to have new investigators every day or even having a lesson with someone every day. But I wouldn't be who I am today if it did. Mosiah 4:27, it isn't required that I run faster than I have strength just to give all that I have. Shoot, it's hard, but shoot, it's worth it. Every little lipa (smallest coin in Croatia), it's worth it. I hope you all had an extraordinary grateful week and be excited for the upcoming Christmas season! It's going to be great! Volim vas!

Sa vjećnom ljubavlju,
Vaša kćer,

Sestra Kristine Jolley
Uvijek Sljedići Braće

Week #45

Ne Promijenje-No Change

So this week is transfers! I thought I was going to be leaving, but I'm blessed with another 9 weeks here in Zadar :) Which I'm so grateful for because it means that I'll be able to see all three baptisms we have planned. Yes, you heard that...3! This last week, one of our member's friends came to church, we had a lesson, and she said she would be baptized! It's crazy that all these people are accepting to be baptized! Now the difficult part is having them realize what that means. It's great for everyone to be baptized, but if they don't know what it means then it's better for them to wait to commit to that covenant.

We had a wonderful zone conference this last week and the message I received out of it was that I need to teach person to person instead of missionary to investigator. I realized that I have gotten into this mode (especially with Croatian) that I say the same things in a very formal, generalized way. For instance, this message will make you happy. Yes, that is a true sentence, but it doesn't have any meaning. When I explain why this message makes me happy, then it brings so much more power to what I'm saying and I become this person speaking to them instead of an American girl speaking Croatian in a skirt with a name tag. There's so much depth that can come in the lessons, I just have to work for it and figure out how to share that with them. In 2 Nephi 33:1, it talks about the power of the Holy Ghost carrying the message unto the hearts of men. The way the Holy Ghost to carry this message to their hearts is for me to speak from the heart. This week wasn't much, but it's in preparation for an another wonderful next week! Have a great week! Volim vas!

Sa vjećnom ljubavlju,
Vaša kćer,

Sestra Kristine Jolley
Uvijek Sljedići Braće

Week #44

Što je bilo?-What just happened? (Phrase-literally means "What was it?")

So this week, we had a great time. We went to help a woman and her daughter pick their olive trees. It reminded me so much of last year when I was picking at Jerusalem. My memories kept flashing back to that wonderful time. It was fun to get to know them and we didn't know this before but they had talked to missionaries before and told us that when they got back to Zagreb (we were helping them at their summer home), they would go to church and see it, and they both have some time to read the Book of Mormon. Our investigator who accepted baptism the week before text us that day and summarized what she read that day. She said, "The gospel of Jesus Christ can help us with our temporal and spiritual needs now AND in the future." Her mind was blown that what we were promising her was not just for the moment, quick fix, but that she is guaranteed happiness through the gospel of Jesus Christ. We told her if she did follow Jesus Christ and did the things we told her then the blessings are there for her. It was so cool to have an investigator so excited to learn! Then two days later, we went with a senior couple sister (who has a car) to the places that are far away to get on foot, so we can use our time to the max. One of these places was a former investigator, the place reminded me of Vernal with all of the farm animals running around and the smell of money (cows, that's what my dad always said). So we knocked and there was no answer. We were about to leave when we heard this, "Hello." A woman holding onto a bloody knife in her bare, red hands comes around the corner. I instantly felt a love for her. Sestra C and Sestra T had different expressions on their face, but I loved this woman. haha (She had been dealing with some chickens before coming up to the house.) She set the knife down and welcomed us inside and washed her hands. We had some small talk and asked her about her experience with the missionaries. She said it was wonderful and she has read the Book of Mormon at least 2 times! I looked over to the couch next to me and there was a worn Book of Mormon! I was so excited. She grabbed it and we talked a little bit about her views and she spoke about how the Book of Mormon has been a friend to her and has brought peace and comfort. We talked about coming to church and she said it was difficult because she lived so far away, but she said she would try. We set up a time to meet again and prayed. After the prayer, a thought came to my mind to ask her to be baptized. My first reaction was no because she's a Croat and will talk for another 20 minutes if I bring baptism up and we needed to see other people. The impression came again and so I spoke. I wanted her to realize what she was agreeing to and asked her to come to church first, to Christ's church and the importance of that. Then I asked her to follow Christ and be baptized in His church through the proper authority. She simply stated yes. We set up a date and left. Što je bilo?!? When we left I asked my companion, "Did she just accept to be baptized?" We were just both kind of in shock and again, a miracle happened. I'm so grateful to be here right now to help these people right now. I can't believe just a few weeks ago we had maybe 3 lessons a week. Now we have two people with baptismal dates. Later that day we went with a potential investigator to a seminar about finding faith in Jesus Christ. We went because we thought she would accept us more if we went to some of her things and I was interested in this "apostle" and hear what he has to say about finding faith. I listened to him and he was saying truth, but I didn't feel the power in his words like I do from the Quorum of the 12 or Pres. Monson. When I asked the potential investigator what made him an apostle she said that he has studied the Bible for 13 years and speaks to people around the country. It was interesting to me the difference between authority in our religions. I studied more about the subject of apostle and what it means to be an apostle and then I remembered what someone said in the MTC (I think it was Elder Holland), the difference between me (Apostle) and you (apostle) is the size of the "a". I read in Romans 1:1 about Paul and he was called to be an apostle, a servant of Christ, and set apart. It hit me that all those things are me. I was set apart to be an apostle which means a special witness of Christ. Paul wasn't a member of the quorum of the 12 at that time, but he was a witness and that was the important thing. We are called to help people come closer to Christ, and it is our duty to endure to the end and help people along the way. I know life is hard in the real world, but I also know what I need to do when I get back. Do you know what you need to do? If not, I encourage you to find it. What do you need to do every day to influence that person or to become prepared to influence many people? The past two weeks have been crazy. The first 6 weeks were hard. But I know it was a test and a preparation for now and the future as I continue my mission. Keep smiling! Until next time! Volim vas.

Sa vjećnom ljubavlju,
Vaša kćer,

Sestra Kristine Jolley
Uvijek Sljedići Braće

Week #43

Grad Splita-The City of Split

The reason why I'm writing on Tuesday instead of Monday is because we were in Split yesterday! There is a woman who has been asking for us to come and visit her for about 2 months. She was a member 10 years ago, but then her parents forced her to remove her name from the records. When she first contacted us, she said her parents were better and she wanted to feel again what she felt 10 years ago. But the last few weeks when we've been telling her that we're planning to come visit, her parents wouldn't allow us to come in the house. So we ended up talking in a park in town. Her faith has become very low from all the hardships she's experienced and she kept asking what is the point of reading and praying if all she can do is go to a Catholic church and listen to a priest that tells her it's a sin to read anything but the Bible? What's the point if she can't speak freely about her beliefs to her family? What's the point if she can't be with other members and feel that same Spirit we bring? We told her the point is that Christ knows. The point is that he knows how we can not feel so lonely. The point is that as we do the things he's given us, the best we can, then we will receive that peace and comfort only he can give. The point is to follow him because he knows. It took her some time to believe us, but at the end she said she'll try reading and praying. After she prayed, you could tell she felt the comfort she's been looking for for 10 years. It was so good to see that change. We stopped by some other homes of members we haven't been able to get a hold of, but they weren't home. We left a note and when we got home yesterday, a man called saying he's the husband of one of the members. He said she lived in Dubrovnik (about 7 hours from Zadar because of the windy roads) and that she might be in Split in the future and we can come over then. He was super nice and gave us her number so we can call her. Success in Split!

On November 1 was the Catholic holiday, All Saint's Day. It was cool to see all the flowers and candles of those respecting and remembering their dead. It was interesting to watch different people put candles on the graves of their loved ones. I watched as little kids enjoyed lighting the candles and the elderly sit and ponder of the memories. I love traditions especially family traditions. There are so many different things we can do together as a family, but what's most important is that they are done together as a family.

It was so crazy this week. We were walking to the church and we stopped and talked to this woman on the street. We talked a little about Jesus Christ and asked if she believed in him. She said yes. We asked if we could meet and talk more about him and his word. She said yes. We asked if she had time right then. She said yes. We walked over to the church together, sat down and had the first lesson. She didn't speak a lot at first, but as we talked about Joseph Smith and the Book of Mormon. She asked some questions, we replied, and she would say, "This is alright." When we talked about the Holy Ghost and if she had ever felt the Holy Ghost before, she replied, "I feel it right now." It was crazy how natural it felt to invite her to be baptized. And it seemed so easy for her to accept baptism. This was one of the craziest lessons I have taught. After she left, I said, "What just happened? Did this really just happen?" And it did. She has been reading from the Book of Mormon and we'll be meeting with her to continue on her path to return to God. It was such a testimony builder to me to talk to everyone because anyone can be prepared, we just can't see it with our natural eyes. "The worth of souls is great in the sight of God." D&C 18:10 Everyone we come in contact with needs a little love. Everyone can use a boost of upliftment. We all need each other to return to our Heavenly Father. But most importantly, we need our Savior, Jesus Christ. If you don't know that, I challenge you to figure out what that means. What would it mean to you to have a savior? Why would it be important for you to know that? How can that knowledge change you right now? My answers to these questions change all the time, and I hope I become a better person each time I think about it. I hope this week is an awesome week for you, and I hope you can find the joy in the little things and the potential in each person! Volim vas!!!