Wednesday, April 3, 2013

Week #64

Sretan Uskrs!-Happy Easter!

Also Happy April Fool's Day! They do celebrate that tradition here in Croatia and the weather wanted to play a prank on us by snowing :( not funny. I have loved having snow, but when my mind has already switched to spring, then I'm not too thrilled when it snows. But oh we'll, I'll get over it. Pres. Rowe did the best April Fool's joke so far today. He starts off as a great week then goes in to some new policies. He talked about to save privacy of members and investigators, we couldn't e-mail anymore except to the mission president, including family. We could only handwrite letters. Then he said to increase proselyting hours, for those learning foreign languages, we needed to wake up at 5:30 am and still go to bed at 10:30 pm. We were not happy about this. Then the next paragraph said April Fool's. I'm grateful our mission president has a sense of humor.

So I have a fresh new companion, Sestra M. She's right from America and already speaking the language and understanding missionary work like a champ. She is so great and this transfer, Osijek is going to grow a ton! So many people are ready! 

Speaking of ready people, V was baptized!!! Finally! It was a great week and a wonderful baptism. There were 16 members there and 6 nonmembers. One nonmember was a new investigator we found at one of the member's house. He walked in and said, I would like to know about your religion. There was something in your eyes that is different. We taught him about the Book of Mormon, and then invited him to the baptism. He came, and he liked how he could feel the love for her the whole time. It was super great! 

A sad/funny story that happened on Wednesday, Sestra M and my first day together. We were at the bus station in Zagreb Pletikosa early. Had our tickets and waited for our bus. This little van pulls up, and I'm thinking no way is that going to Osijek, we need something bigger. So we're waiting, then 5 minutes until the bus leaves, I finally get the bright idea to ask someone. We asked the van driver, then he said just a minute. We waited, we waited, 2 minutes til. We go over to this big bus, it said to Osijek. I was happy we made it! But then no, the bus is full. Because people can buy tickets on the bus if there is room. But we were too late and as the van was pulling away, I realized the van was going to Osijek too. I didn't mine too much because I thought another bus would leave half an hour or an hour. Nope two more hours. And I didn't have enough money because I just put a reimbursement in for traveling and I only had enough for those first tickets and some food. Called the assistants, got some more money, waited, and almost didn't have enough room for Sestra M's bags on the bus. So since we were on the later bus, we didn't get home until about 11 and didn't get to sleep til about midnight. Exciting first day with Sestra M right?

For Easter, V received the Holy Ghost and she was so cute! I peeked at her during the prayer, and her eyes were wide open and she looked like she was wondering what was going on. I think we should have prepped her a little more about what was going to happen. Then after church gave the branch Easter message to the members who weren't at church, had Easter dinner with our threesome elders and our senior couple. It was great fun! Then we ended the night going to mass with B who has been an investigator for about 7 years. He's quite old, like 87 or something and loves the church, but he can't let go of the Catholic Church because he doesn't want to hurt his family who have passed away. But he was touched that we wanted to go to mass with him on Easter. 

Well, how's that for a letter? Miracles are happening all the time and I'm so blessed to be a part of it. We keep finding, keep teaching, and keep moving forward. No scripture today, just read and find something that is impactful to you. The scriptures bring revelation and answers in ways we can't understand. Volim vas!

No comments:

Post a Comment