A Tribute to the Sisterhood

3 days ago, I said good-bye to my last apartment of girls-my sisters. 8 months ago, I started my journey as a resident assistant, a big sister to 59 young ladies. It was overwhelming at first but mostly because I was transitioning while they were transitioning. They were finding the balance of going from dependence to independence, and I was going from a complete focus of others to balancing myself and others. But as I described in my first letter to them, "I’m ready to make this a year full of NO REGRETS. No regrets making life-long friends, working hard, living with integrity, strengthening faith, and finding fun!" And that's what happened. I made life-long friends who will always have my back, worked hard in school and at home, lived honestly, boosted my faith, and found a ton of fun with these wonderful ladies! I lived the past 8 months with no regrets. Not that I didn't make mistakes. I will always make mistakes, but what I learned while and after I made those mistakes, I will always remember with no regrets. Between both semesters, I gained 66 little sisters. As I was taking decorations down on my bulletin board, the words NO REGRETS were still imprinted. I thought of the imprints these women have made in my life. This is a list, one from each girl, something I learned/relearned from them. (No it's not in any order, so don't try to guess. Plus many of these girls share many of these qualities, but I thought of one specifically for each beautiful lady.)

1. Dance your troubles away.

2. Always call someone's name when you see them and give them the best hugs, you never know when that person needs it.

3. "Cast not away therefore your confidence." (Hebrews 10:35)

4. Trust that people don't really mean to do you wrong.

5. Seeing everyone with kindness will always show the beauty within them and yourself.

6. Always have a laugh ready.

7. Work hard even when life is going against you.

8. Never endure the first breakup alone. It's easier to cry while crying on someone's shoulder.

9. Life could always be worse, but we just have to brush off the bad and embrace the good.

10. Have faith that people can be healed through the Atonement.

11. Life really stinks sometimes, but you have to keep your chin up and push through.

12. One person can make a difference in an apartment.

13. Every person is needed. 14. Don't just say that you love someone, show it. 15. Say what you mean. 16. Have faith that a new start will outweigh the past. 17. Be a friend to all. 18. Delegation is a good thing. 19. Everyone has a deep perspective in the gospel somehow. 20. Talking in accents can brighten anyone's day. 21. Helping someone even a little may make a huge difference to them. 22. Life's easier when you are on top of everything. 23. Even when God gives you something you don't like, learn to love it. 24. Love everyone and everything with all your heart. 25. Have the best of friends, because they will always have your back.  26. Always look your best. You never know when you'll meet a cute boy. ;)

27. Take risks because you never know what success you'll gain.

28. Just because someone doesn't show emotion doesn't mean that they don't care.

29. Have an open door-figuratively and literally-you never know who will walk in your life.

30. Anyone can be a missionary at anytime.

31. If you want something, do everything you can to get it.

32. Laugh at your mistakes, but then figure out how to not do it again.

33. The smallest bodies can have some of the biggest hearts.

34. The smallest compliment can make someone's day/week/semester.

35. Even when someone has an opposite view, you don't have to take a defense. Embrace the differences.

36. If you're going to dance, dance like there's no tomorrow! 37. Smile-always. 38. Make time for fun. 39. Keep life exciting. 40. If someone is in need, find a way to help. 41. Don't let anyone make a decision for you. Make all your decisions between yourself and God. No one else should interfere. 42. If at first you don't succeed, try try again. 43. When the bad comes, just chillax, it will pass over. 44. It's easier to tell the truth first than deal with the lie later. 45. Always say what needs to be said even when it will be hard and you don't know the outcome. 46. See everyone with an eye of faith. 47. A cool head is better than being a hot head. 48. Even if you don't get along at first, there's always something in common. 49. Say yes when it's possible, then figure out how to make it work. 50. Keep showing love even if someone doesn't show that love in return. It makes a difference. 51. Never lose a moment with people because you never know when you won't have moments with them again. 52. Sometimes in an argument, someone is not wrong but both are just misunderstood. 53. Sing with all your heart and with no shame.

54. A big smile can go a long way for yourself and others.

55. Life is meant to enjoy, so enjoy every moment!

56. Find out how you get energy because you never know when you need it.

57. Stress is sometimes good because it keeps you moving.

58. Be excited for life.

59. Be yourself. People will love you for who you are.

60. Love life and show it to the world!

61. Music can have a powerful effect on the soul.

62. It's okay to cry.

63. Always have a positive attitude even if those around you don't.

64. Whatever trials you have to go through, fight through it. Don't let it succumb you.

65. Dream big because you never know when the opportunity will come to fulfill them.

66. Once a big sister, always a big sister.


These ladies helped me become the best I could be and helped me live this past school year with no regrets. "No Regrets" has been my life motto since I made the biggest regret of my life in high school. I chose this as the theme for my floor as an RA because I wanted my girls to live their freshman year with no regrets. I hope they did or at least learned from the mistakes they made. Because as shown above, I have learned soo much from them. I love these amazing young women. After they had all gone and checked-out of their rooms, I walked through the rooms, and I could still see them sitting on their beds or couches or standing in the kitchen or laughing on the floor. :) I still saw their beautiful faces. I will never forget them. I hope they at least invite me to their mission farewells/homecomings and/or wedding receptions. I want to be there if I can! After all, they are my sisters. :) 

Ladies, if you're reading this, remember you are beautiful (believe me, I've seen you at all different times and you ALWAYS amaze me with your beauty) and remember that I love you, but more importantly remember you have a loving Heavenly Father and brother, Jesus Christ who are always there for you even if us mere mortals can't be there for you. Keep going! Keep dreaming! Keep believing! Keep smiling! I'll miss you. I already do. I love you.

What a Girl Wants, What a Girl Needs

I don't ever announce this through social media, but it brought out some interesting thoughts which I think needs to be said. Last night, I got asked out on a date. Now before your thoughts go and run wild, I want to put down some background. I hope my date doesn't mind me saying, but I'm sure he would agree that this date is definitely a friend date. There are no romantic desires involved. We're just friends (1. He's about 4 years younger than me, 2. He's a good 6 inches shorter than me). But even with all those things in mind, I'm really excited to go. Last night, I told many friends I saw and just couldn't stop thinking about it. At one point, I thought, "Why am I so excited? What makes this different than if he just asked to hang out?" As I thought more about it, the answer came that girls like to be asked on dates. It brings all these flurries of emotions. Girls like to get all 'purtied up', tell their friends and family the before and after details, and simply to know someone pays attention to them. A date is a huge compliment to a girl. Now this is not a plea for all men to get on the ball to ask girls on dates because I know you get enough pressure from others (if not from yourself). This post is not about the "d" word in that sentence (date), but the "c" word: compliment.

A compliment goes a long way. As stated in this last conference from our beloved prophet, Thomas S. Monson, "You may forget words you express today, but the recipient will remember them for a lifetime." I am one of those recipients who many have given thoughtful, kind compliments. I'm so grateful for those people who have told me those wonderful nice words. One experience I will definitely not forget in this lifetime or the next. I think this will come as a shock to some of you (which it shouldn't many girls go through this), but as a young girl, I didn't think myself as pretty. I was 5 foot in 3rd grade, so I always felt like the giant. I had crooked teeth which I was so ashamed of I didn't want to smile in pictures. I didn't even want to be in them. I always volunteered to be the one to take the picture. This is sad now because there are many group pictures that I have found where I remember the event, but I'm not in them. Yes, adults, especially my dad, told me that I was pretty. But, of course, my dad told me I was pretty. My dad's a great dad! But I didn't believe my dad or any other person because I felt like they had to, and at the time it felt easier to accept that I wasn't pretty. Not necessarily ugly, but there were features I definitely didn't want to have. Now don't think I was this depressed little girl. I loved my childhood. I found ways to be "Jolley" ;) But it's just when it came to myself and my looks, I didn't want to think about it. In 9th grade, a group of friends and I got ready for "the prom". We weren't 16 yet, so we took the day to get ready for the stake dance. Yep, poofy prom dresses and all ;) It was so much fun! We went to the dance, and some time during the night, this boy asked me to dance. Then he told me something which I will never forget, "You look pretty tonight." I could just feel the warmth go all through me, and for the first time that I can remember, I truly felt pretty. I believed I was pretty. This memory will stick with me probably forever. I even still remember the song we danced to! "You Raise Me Up" by Josh Groban. The boy that night truly did raise me up.  This is the power of a compliment especially from guys to a girl. This boy doesn't know what he did for me. He probably doesn't even remember it, but I do. He gave me a sincere, caring compliment which helped me change my attitude about how I viewed myself from that day on.

This doesn't just show the power of a compliment but the importance. Why else would God command us to love our neighbor? (Mark 12:31) We need to feel, see, and hear that love and support from each other. I am sure I am not the only one who has been changed from hearing truth and goodness from another. We ALL need it. It doesn't need to be as big of a compliment as asking someone on a date, but it could be just as simple as saying "I like your bracelet" or "You are so funny!" or "You make me happy when I see you". These are truths which could influence a life. The bracelet could be a hidden talent which inspires an entrepreneur. Confidence could be boosted to a shy, yet funny kid. Or someone who believes he or she has no friends sees that at least one person is happy when he or she is around. Yes, it might not be this dramatic, but isn't it worth the try? I double-dog dare you to try it. ;) Who knows? Maybe you'll become happier by complimenting someone else. I know I sure do. So thank you to my future date who asked me last night for that compliment of wanting to use your precious time with me. And thank you all for being in my life at least at some point. You have the power and the important blessing of helping someone become better than where he or she was. I am proof of that. Thank you. Volim vas.

God's Time

For more than two years now, almost every day I have worn a ring which has written on it "השם זמן" or Lord's Time (well literally Lord and Time, but that's a different story). I absolutely love this ring. I play with it often thinking about the events in my life which have been carefully constructed by my Heavenly Father and done in His time. The past few weeks, I have had many conversations with people discussing this very topic. A lot of those conversations beginning with, "Why?" "Why can't I just know the future?" "Why do I have to deal with this?" "Why can't I just move on with my life?" "Why is this happening to me?" "Why?" Then the answer we come up with always comes to "I don't know. It's God's timing." Sometimes healing takes longer depending on the cause of the fracture or the person who is healing. Some people experience trials which they definitely don't deserve. Some weaknesses we have are there, so we can learn to overcome. It stinks. It doesn't seem fair. But there's a reason. I don't ever remember hearing this story before this past Sunday, but it really effected me during church. My sister was in a car accident over 7 years ago. When my parents heard that she was in critical condition, my dad turned to my mom and said along the lines, "Well, let's see what the Lord has to bless us today." The faith my family had helped me get through one of my most difficult trials of my life. Trials are super hard, but as we have the faith, we will get through. It's unfair what my sister and family had to go through, but the blessings came in a hundredfold throughout those 10 days she was in the hospital. The blessings continued to follow the days, months, and even years after. I still see blessings today from that experience. Often when I think of this trial or any other trial I face, a song from Young Women days comes to mind. (Read to the tune "Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing")

“My life is but a weaving
Between my God and me.
I cannot choose the colors
He weaveth steadily.

Chorus
Oft’ times He weaveth sorrow;
And I in foolish pride
Forget He sees the upper
And I the underside.

Not ’til the loom is silent
And the shuttles cease to fly
Will God unroll the canvas
And reveal the reason why.

Chorus

The dark threads are as needful
In the weaver’s skillful hand
As the threads of gold and silver
In the pattern He has planned

Chorus

(Not part of the song, but still insightful words)
He knows, He loves, He cares;
Nothing this truth can dim.
He gives the very best to those
Who leave the choice to Him.”

― Corrie ten Boom

These words have been a comfort to me. God truly sees it all, and we just see a little bit at a time. Sometimes I feel like I compare my life to books, movies, and plays. I see there's a conflict, then after some character growth, the characters reach the end of the conflict. I then wonder why my life can't be solved like this. I forget though that it is like that...just a bit more time. I need to remember that books and movies I can read or watch in a matter of hours. The setting takes place typically in a much longer time than a few hours, sometimes years. I then look at my ring and remember the conflicts which have been resolved and the growth which was involved. It was hard. But "it's supposed to be hard...The hard is what makes it great" (A League of Their Own). Those trials in my life were so worth it for the blessings which came in return. So as I face trials now, I just need to have patience, faith, and God. It will all work out. It will all be revealed in His time.

Those with whom I have had these conversations, I don't know why exactly they are going through these times of facing the daunting why, but one thing I know for sure of why they are dealing with this time is to influence me. If anything, they are going through these times for me-to be a shining light for me to follow. Sorry to add that burden on them for me :-/. But  I am grateful for them for trusting me with their troubles, so I can grow and learn from their wisdom and strength.

Now to those who are reading this, you are a light to someone. You are their strength. You are living right now to influence. If there's anything I learned from my mission and from life, it's that you never know who is watching. You never know who is watching your example and learning from the actions you take. Thank you for showing me your light. Thank you for your courage to reveal your light. Keep going. Keep smiling. Show your light to the world. Volim vas.

Love

Last night, Elizabeth Smart came to BYU and spoke about her experience. I was going to write about my thoughts last night about it, but I was a bit busy. Still working on my goal from the last post ;) So here I am now, writing down my thoughts from last night. Hope this isn't too much all over the place, but that's how my thoughts go I guess. :D

Elizabeth Smart is an amazing woman. She is full of grace and strength within her quiet demeanor. She gave a synopsis of the tragedy she lived through when she was 14 years old. Elizabeth Smart was kidnapped then taken away from her life for 9 months. Every day she was raped, humiliated, emotionally abused, and many more horrid things. She spoke of being scared but then the moments of courage. Her being torn down by her captors,but then being lifted by the strength from Heavenly Father. There were all these times of being low but then blessings coming into her life somehow. There is opposition in all things so we can taste the sweetest moments (2 Nephi 2:11, 15). One of those sweet moments is when Elizabeth came to the realization which will never leave her and hit me the hardest of the whole night. During these horrible, crazy, low times, she remembered and gained the testimony that "no one will ever take away the love Heavenly Father has for me and my mother's love." AMEN!  There are so many stories, including me own, where there are daily evidences of His love. No one can take away that love Heavenly Father has for each and everyone of us. His love is so strong, we cannot understand. We just need to trust that He does (Mosiah 4:9). Also she heard her mother say, "I love you" often. Yet Elizabeth's mother didn't just say it but showed it through actions. She gave Elizabeth's reasons why her mother loved Elizabeth. With these two amazingly strong and powerful loves, Elizabeth had the strength to keep going to keep some sort of sanity.

I love the new film Frozen which has a song called "Fixer-Upper". It describes how "love's a force that's powerful and strange." The song was referring to how true love can help people bring out the best in others. The love that Elizabeth Smart's mother and Heavenly Father had for Elizabeth helped her have the strength to get through that monsterly time. It wasn't a fake love. They don't love Elizabeth because that's the Christ-like thing to do, but they love her because it's something inside them. Love is a difficult feeling to describe. There could be many reasons why someone loves someone else, but it comes down to that they just do. They feel this connection with them that they can't help but love the person. Now the question is if you're the receiving recipient, what do you do with this love? Elizabeth had the strength from this love to give the gift of surviving. She was able to give her mother back the love and returning home. I'm sure this is an amazing gift to a mother. I've seen it on my mother's face many a times. But not every evidence of love is going to be that dramatic. Some of the most special acts of love I receive from others is just simply seeing or hearing from them. Whether it's seeing them on campus or receiving a text. To me, those tender mercies brighten my day. So to return that love is 1) accepting their time and 2) giving my time. I've learned from many companions and other influential people in my life that living in the moment is an important and crucial aspect of life. Giving the precious gift of time by just talking with that person for 5 minutes is worth it. No matter what I might have scheduled in my planner or what may be stressing me out right then, I can give 5 minutes in my day for that person. President Uchtdorf gave a fantastic talk, "Of Things That Matter Most" which described love is spelled t-i-m-e. The more I live life, the more I agree. The things that matter most in my life are the people I spend it with, and how can I do that if I don't give my time for them? I'm so grateful for the people in my life who have given me their time, and I pray that I'll sort out my priorities enough so I can give them my time and how ever much time they need. For I learned on my mission that true love doesn't expect anything in return. It's all about giving. That's how amazing Christ's love is for us. He sacrificed everything for us just so we could return back to heaven. Just so we could have a chance to make ourselves better. Just so we could have a 2nd, 3rd, nth number of chances to make up for our mistakes. He did that eternal sacrifice because of his eternal love for us. It will never fail, and it will never be taken away. It's hard to understand why Christ would do that for someone like me who messes up all the time, but he still loves me. I know it. I feel it and see the happiness he shares with me every day. If you can't see this love, don't give up. It's there. We're just a 'little bit of a fixer-upper'. We'll see His love for us if we are willing to see it. For those I know, I hope you feel my love for you often. For those I don't know, I know you are loved by at least your Heavenly Father and Elder Brother, Jesus Christ. Don't deny it. Volim vas.

BUSY

When I talked to my dad a few weeks ago, we discussed about being busy. If you know either of us, you know that we are very busy people. We have been pretty much our entire lives. But is that really how life should be? On the mission, every night I filled my next day down to the minute, so I don't waste a second. But my dad's stake president told him that 'busy' was an acronym for 'Being Under Satan's Yoke". So as I plan each day down to the minute, am I planning it and being under Satan's yoke? Or am I planning under God's plan? Am I too busy to allow God to put people in my life who can influence me and who I can help? My dad and I talked about how there have been times in our lives where we wanted to be there for people, but there were things on the schedule and things we committed to going place to place. Therefore, we missed the opportunity being with those people. It's hard. I have noticed this especially the past month for myself. I do this every Winter semester. I see the 'available' time I have from Fall semester then add desires and wants...then overload myself. And it stinks because I want to be 150% committed to everything I do. There was a quote I once heard which has stuck with me, "The difference between involvement and commitment is like ham and eggs. The chicken is involved; the pig is committed" (Martina Navratilova). Whenever I get myself into something, I am the pig. I'm all in. But even the pig runs out of parts to give. As I was thinking about that this morning, I realized that I can't live life with nothing left to give. There will be people who come into my life who need me to give-who Heavenly Father places in my path where I need to give. I need to figure out my priorities. I need to find out what's absolutely most important in my life and not fill it with just wants. Yes, I want to play basketball all the time. I want to help with every play and musical I can. I want to continue old hobbies and start new ones. But is that really what I need to do? Maybe. Maybe not. I need to sort out my priorities (think of Ron Weasley). Figuring out priorities has always been difficulty for me because I want to just do everything. But God doesn't need me to do everything, He needs me to do the essentials: scriptures, church (including my callings), temple, strengthen relationships with family, friends, and of course Him and His Son. Now how to go about these things and fulfill other duties He wants me to do in my life? Pa neznam (well, I don't know). But I'll figure it out. It will just take some thinking, pondering, and praying. All I know for now is that I can't live life 'busy'. I can't waste a minute, but I can't be too caught up with other things in my life where I'm not available when God needs me.  President Uchtdorf gives a perfect example of someone who fits my goal.

"I think of our Lord and Exemplar, Jesus Christ, and His short life among the people of Galilee and Jerusalem. I have tried to imagine Him bustling between meetings or multitasking to get a list of urgent things accomplished.

"I can't see it.

"Instead I see the compassionate and caring Son of God purposefully living each day. When He interacted with those around Him, they felt important and loved. He knew the infinite value of the people He met. He blessed them, ministered to them. He lifted them up, healed them. He gave them the precious gift of His time" (Dieter F. Uchtdorf, "Of Regrets and Resolutions," Ensign, October 2012).

I can't compare myself with our Savior, but I'm just trying to be like him. (I hope you're singing the Primary song right now ;) ). So here's to a new resolution! We'll see how this goal pans out. This is just a thought which has been on my mind the past few weeks, and I thought to share it. Hope it gets you thinking, and hopefully you're better at prioritizing than myself. Volim vas.

Questions, Questions, Questions

I was reading an inspiring blog and realized that I need to start my blog again. I won't be as consistent as I was on my mission or in Jerusalem (thanks Mom for making me be consistent). But I do realize now that I need to continue. It was so therapeutic and not to be prideful, I had many people tell me that I helped them while I was on my mission because of the letters I sent. So I hope to continue on as I share my journey of life.

4 months and 8 days ago, I came home from one of the most amazing experiences of my life. As I have been home, I have been asked some interesting questions. How was your mission? How are you doing? What are you doing with your life now? First off, 'How was your mission?' is probably one of the silliest questions that could be asked, but we all ask it anyways. How am I supposed to answer? It was the worst time of my life? NOO!!! I will be eternally grateful to Heavenly Father for allowing me to be blessed to go on a mission. It was in His plan because I needed it. Yes, I'm sure others were influenced as well by me going on a mission, but I had to go on a mission to return to the celestial kingdom. I wasn't a bad kid before my mission, but I just went with the flow. I did what was expected of me and never really questioned why. I never knew why I was supposed to be doing the right thing. I did feel the Holy Ghost and had a testimony of the happiness from the gospel, but what a mission gave me was knowledge and skills to return to Him. I learned the whys of life. I learned how to live life, not just walk through life. Again, I am eternally grateful to my Father for pushing, supporting, and blessing me with going on a mission to Croatia.

The second question: How are you doing? Especially my first month, I was thrown off with this question. I would look at people and say, "What do you think? Am I being the typical awkward missionary?" When I was talking with a guy, I would jokingly say, "Well, I'm talking to you right now, so that's a good sign, right?" But seriously, how was I supposed to react to that? I miss being in Croatia every day. I  miss speaking in a language that only a very small percentage of the world knows. I miss my brothers and sisters on the other side of the world with whom I can barely contact and who knows if I will ever see them again. I miss that missionary schedule. I miss having someone right beside me who sees everything I see, who listens to my desires, hope and dreams, who pushes me to become the best I can be, who is my constant friend. I miss serving the Lord 24/7. How do you think I'm doing? The only comfort I find is in the revelation I received right before coming home after talking to my mission president: the Lord has a new plan for me and He needs me in Utah. That was the only comfort I had at first. I knew the Lord needed me at home. I didn't like it because I wanted to be needed in Croatia, but I accepted it. So how was I needed? Well that will be answered from the next question I was/am asked all the time. With all this missing, don't worry. I am fine. I'm living life the best I can with the Lord's help. What more do I need? Life is good.

What are you doing with your life now? Before I answer that question, I want to explain about my purpose now that I have returned from a mission. That was one of my fears coming home-not figuring out my purpose because as a missionary I knew my purpose. My purpose was to invite others to come unto Christ by helping them receive the restored gospel through faith in Jesus Christ and His Atonement, repentance, baptism, receive the gift of the Holy Ghost, and endure to the end. But I knew what I needed to do as a missionary. When I came home, I started on this search for what my purpose was. It took me almost a month of searching before one day in my personal study, the thought came "My purpose is to invite others to come unto Christ." My purpose as a missionary is the same as a returned missionary. So in my life right now, I'm trying to do just that. The best transition I could have asked was to be a resident's assistant. That means I'm a big sister to the freshmen girls on my floor. I help them get through their first year of school. I couldn't have asked for a better job for me right now. This job has helped me so much to focus on my girls, so I don't have to be selfish and focus on myself. I tried getting over that the last year and a half, I would prefer that the progress I made not go backwards. I am also the ward missionary! I dreamed of having this calling while I was on my mission, so I'm glad it came true. Between my job and my calling, I have grown to love these girls. I hurt when they hurt, I'm super happy when they're happy. They are my sisters. I'm so grateful for them. Me being a part of their lives has made me grown in so many ways.

Well I think I had enough of therapy for tonight. Thanks for those who read all the way to the end, I hope you were able to gain something out of this other than Kristine is a rambler. But seriously, I hope that you're living in a way that the Lord is able to bless you. Keep going and being strong! I love this one song I listened on my mission called "Mountains to Climb" sung by Erin Thomas (which I am listening to right now coincidently). I would always rock out to this on P-days (through lds.org, don't worry I was obeying the white handbook). But it would just pump me up for another week which I knew would be filled with trials, but I also knew that these trials were pushing me towards something better (Ether 6:5). Ok I really am a rambler. Laku noc! (good-night) Volim vas. (I love you)

Week #79

To je to-That's that

This is it. I'm sitting here in the mission office writing my last e-mail. I have been very bipolar yesterday and today. I get really excited about home and then the next second I start crying when I think about leaving these people because of the miracles that have happened. For instance, we were walking on Korzo (the main strip) and I saw a woman who looked familiar. I called out a name to her then she turned around. She was a former English student who I have been praying to find. I hadn't been able to find her number and she wasn't answering her e-mails. So I just assumed she was gone. But then God blessed us to be at the right place at the right time. Miracle number 2, two women who we have been working with, Z and S, who have both said for some reason why they wouldn't get baptized yet, said yes this last week. October 5 is a long ways away, but it's in the Lord's time. It's the time they need. Miracle number 3, a woman who we have been doing service for, met up with us this last week to say good-bye. She was there at the open house and has watched us as missionaries and the members in our branch. A, this woman, lit up as we talked about the open house. She said that she had been thinking about our religion and has been talking to her husband, her family, and her neighbors about us. And I asked her what she thought. "You have something different," she said. I then asked her if she knew anything about the Book of Mormon. A replied, "I know nothing, I'm like in the 1st grade." I explained a bit about it, then asked her if she would like one because I had one especially for her. She got so excited. When I handed her the Book of Mormon, she cradled it in her hands then pressed it to her heart. I've never seen someone care for the Book of Mormon so much. As she opened it and started reading, the Spirit came in so strongly and quickly, it almost knocked me over. We talked a little more and she said that once she got back from holiday (which starts on Wednesday), she is going to come to church and focus on learning about our church. Just now thinking about it, if we had asked her to be baptized she probably would have accepted!! I don't know why we didn't but anyways. She will. Miracle number 4, the member who we found who lives near Pula came to Rijeka and partook of the sacrament for the first time in almost 5 years. Being there with all the missionaries partaking the sacrament with him. It just felt so good. I talked to him last night and he found his old missionary tag and had a new excitement in him when he was talking about his mission. He's back. Miracle number 5 needs a background story. The first couple I met in Rijeka became my brother and sister my first two transfers. We kept a little bit of connection, the little that I could do. Then I returned back, and things had gotten really bad at their place. The husband is Bosnian and has had visa troubles and the wife is working full-time but the pay is not enough to pay for everything. And so many missionaries have come and gone, he didn't want to see me because he would get happy then just get sad when I left again. We went over to their places many times, I wrote many notes, but nothing. Then this last Friday, we were sitting down on Korzo making calls, and I look up, and there he is walking with his wife. I ran up to them. We talked for a few minutes and made plans to play basketball the next day. I couldn't believe it. I thought I would go my whole time in Rijeka and not see him again. The next day, basketball was awesome and fun. Then last night, we went to their place to have brownies and ice cream. It was so good. It still is a dream to me that it actually happened. I don't know how many prayers I have prayed for this couple, my brother and sister. And it finally came true. As we left, Sestra Palmer turned to me and said, "Now that's a way to end a night." And it was. They were the first people I met and the last I visited with. All of this has been happening because of Jesus Christ. The man who believes in 2nd chances, 3rd, 4th,...chances. The man who did everything so we could have this chance. The man who understands us so well and believes in us so he gave us this second chance so we can return to our Heavenly Father and live in happiness forever (Alma 7:11-13). This is it. This is the end. But now the beginning of the rest of my life. And as President told me in my final interview, I'm in no better position right now to begin the rest of my life. Through the habits I have learned and the strength I have gained, there's no way that I can keep Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ out of my life. It's not possible. Their love for me and my love for them will not change or go anywhere. And that love I have for you all will stay forever also. Volim vas. To je to.