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!!!