Week 47

Hey Fam,

So this week was pretty good. We had some fun over here too! It was a good week for missionary work too. I can say that I have felt a connection and a reason for my assignment in every area and that has begun to set in here for Rijeka as well. I know that the Lord is mindful of every single one of his missionaries. He knows each one of his children, is mindful of them, and is always willing to help. The Lord sent me to Rijeka for a reason and I love finding out why more and more everyday. I know that I make it sound like I found some amazing investigator and I kinda did but I just love helping the Lord in His work even if I don't get to see the results.

So English class is underway here and I still love it. It is a little stressful because we are teaching beginners who know absolutely nothing. But it has already proved worth it already. We have a little survey when they sign up for the class in which they can indicate if they want to learn more about the Church, most of our students said yes. That in and of its self is a cool thing. So we started calling a couple of people after the first few days. We looked through our list and thought about who might be the most prepared.

There was this one lady in class that had been kinda crusty the first day so she was not on that list. She was talking the whole time and complaining a little about how easy it is. So after we had called the others who we thought would do good, we called her... Turns out she is great! She asked if she could bring her husband with her as well and I said of course. So they both came to English class then we met for a lesson after. It seemed like we were telling her everything she wanted to hear by explaining the message of the Restoration. So we invited them to come to church and it didn't sound to solid. However, they both showed up and the husband started crying. They really felt the Spirit and said they would definitely be back next week. They are just really unhappy with the catholic church... can't imagine why.... I know that we can help them and I am excited to see how it all goes.

We have also been calling previous investigators and seeing how they are doing and things. We have met with a couple of them and see some potential there.

I am no longer a district leader but am training. We are still doing well. We are just loving the working and.... working the love... sounded better in my head. He is really great. We are starting this area up and it's fun to see it change.

My birthday was good. Nothing to special. It had a lot of potential when the day started because we had 3 lessons planned but none of them worked out. We called one of them after and she asked why we didn't come by and that she was waiting for us. Guess her husband isn't too supportive because he told us she wasn't home when he answered the door. I was a little bummed about that. The other companion took me out to lunch then we went to McD's for dinner. But not on purpose we just needed something quick.

This Sunday we had a Thanksgiving dinner with the branch. It was lots of fun.

I didn't get any packages so hopefully I have something waiting for me in Zagreb. Mom and everyone else yes I would be completely ok with money for Christmas. I will buy myself something and put it under our little trees. It will be great, no worries.

Sounds like the Reunion was fun too. What did you guys do?

I think that is about it. Sounds like you all had a good Holiday.

I cant wait to talk to you all in 31 days

Love you all!

World War II cave

Birthday Lunch

Birthday Dinner

Thanksgiving

Week 46

Hey Fam,


So it sounds like everyone is doing good and getting ready for the holiday's. 

I feel real old and in fact I have been having nightmares that I get home and people ask me how old I am and I accidental say like 25 then they ask where I served a mission and they ask me to speak Croatian and I don't know anything.  Maybe it is the Lord telling me to work harder, whatever it is, it is working.  It is freakin me out man.

Training is going great and I am loving it.  He is just as sassy as I am so we understand each other pretty well.  We have been contacting some past investigators from a list of people that our branch mission leader gave us so that is fun.  It is so nice to have one of those.  He is so helpful. 

We found some new investigators that live in the same building as the church.  That is convenient. 

We are out to visit some WWII caves today so sorry I dont have much time.  It was good to hear Hurricane finally won. 

I love you and hope you all have a great Holiday.  I didnt realize what a Mama's boy I was, or to such an extent till I was away for so long.  I LOVE AND MISS YOU ALL.

Love you all!!

Week 45

Hey Fam,

So I apologize that I was so short last week. The important thing is that you know what I am doing, where I am, and that I am safe. And that I am so be happy!

I am here in Rijeka and it is pretty but not as pretty as Zadar. The sunsets just don't compare. They have a couple young members here though so that is fun and they are all willing to help with the work anyway they can.

Sounds like everyone is having fun. I'll go ahead and start on my week then.

So Monday evening I was in Zagreb and staying with Westie, who by the way is the new Zone Leader AND training. We were both talking all night long about how scared we were. It was so good to be able to talk to him and see how much we have both grown since the MTC. He is going to be a great ZL. So that was Monday evening. We also got a hold of a less active that Lifferth and I used to visit all the time so that was good to go see him. He is now thinking about going on a mission.

Tuesday we had a meeting with President just for us trainers. All the people from my MTC group except one are training this transfer and for two of them it is the second time in a row. So that is fun to see us all doing good. The meeting was good and it was just a couple of us so we all got to ask all the questions we wanted and so that was good. Pres told us about a talk that Elder Holland gave to the new mission presidents in the MTC about how the trainers in the mission will have a more lasting effective on the mission that another other person of position. That really meant two things for me, both of which motivated me. First is that this is a great trust from the Lord. Second is that I better be a good example. It was just a really good meeting.

Wednesday we has a meeting in the morning where we got to meet our new companions. We didn't know previous to that who we would be with. Pres Rowe waits till the missionaries are here then interviews them. Then, based on what he feels after the interview he assigns the trainers. That isn't what President Hill did but I think it is a good way. So we had a short little meeting with the trainee's and trainers and then were on our way.

We got here to Rijeka at about 6 and went to dinner then went home and unpacked a bit before it was time to go to bed.

Thursday we had to get all registered and start working on Visa stuff. That was a little stressful, luckily I understood everything, to which I was very surprised. So that was all good. Then we went grocery shopping so we had some food.

Friday was our first full real day and it was good. We have been looking through the area book and seeing if we can find some people to start working with. We also put on our Relief Society hats (only because I know how good I look in it because of my last experience), and baked cookies for the people in our apartment building. So basically went tracting with cookies and introduced ourselves as the missionaries as well as neighbors. We totally got 2 new investigators out of it, a mom and her daughter. So it has already paid off and that is only the first 3 floors, we have 7. It amazes me how many people do not want free cookies. We just wanted to give them cookies and some people just start questioning us like they have poison or something. On more than one occasion they would bring up the fact that they were catholic. Ummmm ok... I just have cookies for you and wanted to say hi..... One lady told us that people don't do that here and just shut the door.... whatever. I don't let the haters get to me.

That is the adventures of the week. I stopped going through the week because nothing else really happened.

Ok so now I know you all want to know.... how is training. It is going very well. It is just another GREAT experience to learn and grow. His name is Elder Compton. He is from Mesa, AZ but went to BYU before he left. I have looked past that in an effort to focus on the work....

I do not exaggerate when I say he knows the language better than I do. He really is so good! I like to attribute it to the fact that they have since changed how they teach in the MTC, just to make me feel better. But we are learning from each other. He is working on his understanding and I am working on my vocab so we are a good combo. He is a great Elder and we are getting along great. This is going to be a great transfer! We were white washed into this area and they really didn't leave us anything to work with but we are already up and running.

I always feel really pressured to know everything thought. He already knows that I am not to good at the language so we are learning together. But I am trying my best to be the best example I can be. I want him to know that in this mission we are 100% obedient. I dont want to do something wrong and let him thing that it is ok. So we are definitely working hard together to be the best we can.



I love you all and hope you have a great week.

Love Elder Massey

Some pics of us setting up or apartment for Christmas. Amazing the things you find when you clean.

Week 44

Hey Fam,

So just really quick because I have to get on a bus to Zagreb because this... is... TRANSFERS!!!

So I got a call from Pres. Rowe about some things earlier this week and since he was down last Sunday for branch conference.  So I was giving him crap about calling me with transfers and he and I were just joking around.  So when he called in the middle of the week I asked him and he said well I wanted to talk to you.  Oh snap... what have I done...

I will be going to Rijeka and training.  Ya let me repeat that TRAINING.  I am so scared and can't teach a language I don't know but good thing the Holy Ghost can speak a lot better than me. 

I really have to go so sorry.  I love you all!  I will have a great email for you next week!

Love Elder Massey

Last birthday request,  really dont worry about the packages  money is soo much easier.  but if you must you all know just what I like so no specific.  Just throw some letters in there and pics

LOVE YOU ALL

Week 43

Hey Fam,

Sounds like everyone is doing good and that you all have good weather.  The weather here is great as well!  I love wearing long sleeve shirts now, but mostly because I think it looks better.  So it's nice and really quiet here in Zadar with the summer and all the tourists gone.  It was windy and raining one other day this week but now it's all good. 

So this week was pretty good.  Nothing really too exciting.  I have a couple cool stories so I will continue with those. 

So one member in the branch is really doing great.  He has been a member for about 4 months and will be receiving the Melchizedek priesthood this next Sunday.  He has read anything he can get his hands on and is really doing good.  So Elder Truman, as the branch president, had a interview with him this week.  Him and his wife have had some problems with having children and she is now pregnant but seems to being having some problems.  So I asked him how she was doing before he went in for his interview and he said not to good.  So I slipped in the office and told Truman about that before the interview started.  So that is just some back ground info.  So the interview started and I busied myself with playing piano and doing dishes.  So while I was doing the dishes I felt that I should pray for both of them.  This was a tough time for this member and his family and Truman's first interview.  So I thought ok I'll be sure to pray for them tonight.  Then the thought came again, no now while they are in the interview.  So again I thought ok when I'm done with the dishes.  No sooner than the Lord had to tell me one more time that I needed to pray now was I literally running to the couch, soapy hands and all, to kneel down and pray.  I just prayed that both of them would be comforted and that everything would be ok.  I thought that this would be one of those times that you do what you know is right to possible never know why.  Well that wasnt quite the case here.  I later found out that in that very frame of time, and not just the interview as a whole, but in those few minutes, that this member has begun to cry as he told Elder Truman that something had gone wrong in the pregnancy and that the baby was not developing correctly.  I then learned that this was not one of those experiences, but that I was able to see the need for my prayers. 

I was reminded once again to follow impressions as they come and not to delay them.  Also, I now have an increased testimony of the mindfulness of our Heavenly Father.  I know that he knows each of us by name and knows exactly what we are going through.  This is in times of bad as well as times of good.  This knowledge is so comforting to me.

I came across a talk by Elder Uchdorf this week and he put it very well.  It said something to the effect of, God, the most powerful and supreme being in the whole universe, knows your name and loves you!  That is just a little of the thought but nonetheless, how wonderful a thought that is to have.  I am so thankful for the love that I feel from my Eternal Heavenly Father and the opportunity that I have to share that love and knowledge of him with others. 

Also we have a new investigator this week.  He isn't a new face to any members or missionaries but he is a new investigator.  He is the husband of a very strong and active member.  He is down here is Zadar working at a resort as a chef.  Some one that we went to for that buffet and all. So this is how it went down. 

So his wife is living in Zagreb with her parents.  She was down here but has since gone back up to Zagreb while he finishes working the rest of the summer/tourist season.  So he has notoriously avoided missionaries in the past.  Well we had a bag for him that had some stuff from his wife in Zagreb and so we were going to visit him.  So I told Truman that we are not living, or giving that bag to him, until we talk to him about the church and things.  So we went to his house, helped him with some things, and we about to leave.  So I told him that before we left I wanted to make a deal with him.  Mind you that all of this is in English because he doesn't speak Croatian.  So he said ok.  I told him that I wanted him to do two things for me and if he did those two things and didn't want to talk about religion anymore I wouldn't bother him.  You return missionaries can probably guess that those two things are read and pray.  To that he said ok but he doesn't like to read.  I quickly responded that we have the Book of Mormon on CD and he can listen to it.  So that curve ball handled no problem.  Like I said this was in English so I was being as bold as possible.  I talked about his family and how I wanted them to enjoy the blessings of the gospel TOGETHER.  So he was very open with us and told us that he was free every Tuesday.  I was happy to hear that seeing as I hadn't asked him when we could come back.  I hope that it all works out, even if he does want to play hard ball and say he doesn't like to read. 

We had branch conference on Sunday so Pres was down and Truman and I had interviews.  It was good.  Rumor has it I might be a Zone Leader but I told him that wasn't necessary that I am find down here for the winter.  I think I will stay down here for at least another transfer.  Transfers are on the 8th so that is fun. 

So just to prove that I am indeed my mothers child I put on my ˝Relief Society Hat˝ and got us a new family to teach.  I made some banana bread and took it over to introduce ourselves as the missionaries who live next door.  It may have looked a little gay but they understand.  They are the nicest little family with one little boy.  They let us right in and we talked for about an hour.  They asked some great questions about the Church.  One obstacle is that the wife is a vjera nauk teacher.  That means Faith Doctrines.  It is a requirement for all kids here.  So she teaches that.  Good for us that means we have a lot of knowledge to work with!  She said that she hear we have apostles.  So we explained that this is the same church that Christ organized when he was on the Earth, only to have her husband comment, ¨The Catholic church doesn't have apostles.¨  It was great.  I followed it with a, ˝ya and we have a couples quorums of 70 too!˝  It was the bomb.  So look at what a little banana bread can do to people. 

For the Packages just go ahead and send them to the adress that I sent last week.  It is a Coratian address and is in Zagreb.  If anything goes to the other Slovenian address it runs the risk of getting lost and taking forever to get to me.  So that is it and the finally birthday list is as follows.  I forgot my real list at home so these are just the things I remember

Ties
Sour Patch Kids
Beef Jerky
Velvita Cheese
Recipes (be mindful that we can not get cheddar cheese hence the want for velvita)
Reese's peanut butter cups  NOT REESE'S PIECES, enough for two (they are Truman's fav)

And really the exchange rate is great over here like 5:1 so if you don't want to bother putting together a package or buying things you can just put money in my account and I will buy myself a tie and go to dinner.  Same applies to Christmas.  I know the packages are a bit of a hassle and one was already lost (mom never got your package) so money is great and easy.

I think that is about it for this week.  I love you all and hope you have a great week.

 The Sister Missionaries carved this pumpkin for them...

Week 42

Hey Fam,

Well I'm back in country now.  Slovenia was great! (see pictures)  I actually understood the language fine and was able to participate in lessons.  It was a really good experience and lots of fun.  It was really cold up there but it was all good.  My companion was Elder Niemenin.  He is from Finland and so awesome.  Poor guy has to translate everything, sometimes through 2 languages.  It was just a really good breathe of fresh air.  It looks about the same.  The people are a little different.  I don't like to make excuses for myself but I think that it is easier up there.  The people seem to be a lot nicer.  Doesn't really effect what I do down here but just an observation.  Again, great experience and lots of fun. 

I got to see a Zone Conference in Slovenia and Croatia, same meeting different place.  That was a little boring at time but highly beneficial at others. 

When I got to Slovenia one of the first things I did was tiddy up the apartment later.  Elder Niemenin was thankful as well as his returning companion seeing as after the conference we had apartment checks. 

We have senior sisters now.  One is a nurse for the mission and her companion is Sister Rowe, President's mom.  They are so fun!  We call them Grandma Rowe and Turner.  I love them.  They make me miss my grandma's. 

So nothing really happened while I was away from my area so nothing much to talk about.  Sorry fam. 

So about the packages your all wondering about.  I still haven't got that one from you Mom but you didn't say where you sent it.  Go ahead and and send whatever you want about 3 weeks before my birthday and send it to Zagreb.  The address is:

Adriatic Mission
Crkva Isusa Krista Svetaca Posljednik Dana
Svačićev Trg 3/1
Zagreb 10000
Croatia

Put that in the address of where you want it to go and in the return address put my name with your address.  This is so that they don't have any problem accepting the package but still know who it is for and who to return it to if it doesn't quite make it.  Make sense??

So that is about it.  The pictures of Slovenia are not to great because it was raining the last day when i started taking most of the pictures. 

Love you all!!

Week 41

Hey Fam,

Well this email is coming to you all from Slovenia.  Due to a short notice invitation to come up I will be serving up here for a week.  I am in Celje and will serve with an an elder who's companion is still waiting in the states for his visa.  So basically I am being used as a pawn.  No worries I like it.  Always an adventure.  Previous to my coming up here I was on an exchange in Zagreb.  I got to see all my old friends at church and here West give the gift of the Holy Ghost.  That was cool.  So I was asked on Saturday to come up here till Friday and so I had to call Truman and have him send my passport and more clothes.  So the Slovenes are getting a little taste of Massey as I will be attending a meeting up here on Wednesday.  I feel like a Greenie again. 

I will have you all know that I am still one of the fav missionaries in Zagreb.  Now my opinion is a little bias so I will share with you an example.  I want to remind you this is in spite of the fact that I was in Zagreb for my first six months and my Croatian was terrible.  A language barrier is no match for my personality.  So I get there and we started planning the next day.  We had a couple lessons and I suggest we try and get a member to come on a few.  So I called one of my fav and I told her it was Massey.  She reassured me that she would know my voice anywhere.  That part I'm not sure is good.  I had called a member in Zagreb previous to going to ask a question and she found out i was coming to town.  She invited me to lunch.  Loved that.  Also ever member that I saw after that asked if I was going to lunch at the Sambunjak's.  I asked how they knew and they all said, ˝Oh Lydia has been bragging about it for a couple of days now.  You're her favorite.˝  Needless to say I felt very loved upon my return to my ˝birth city˝.

So other than the fact that I came up here and to Zagreb last week nothing much really happened. 

A member in Zadar needed some financial assistance so I can now add that to my resume.  I can't decide if I like it so much when I hear that a mission prepares you for your life and other service in the church than I see all that I am doing now.  What does that mean for the future?

Well turns out that the rotating wheels on my suitcase don't particularly like the cobblestone here.  I will be needing to buy a new suitcase when I move next.  Those wheels I thought I would like so much don't exactly work out as nicely when the bag is 50 lbs on bumpy roads.

Sounds like everyone is doing good.  Sorry for the short email.  I'm in Slovenia for perhaps the only P-day I will send here so I'm going to be a tourist for a bit.

Love you all and hope you have a great week.

Week 40

Hey Fam,

So this week was a little bit ˝slow˝ for lack of a better term.  We just didn't have much going for us this week.  I guess you could say that the work was the slow part and the time was fast.   In fact, so fast that we didn't get a chance to catch our breath and set up some appointments.  I was looking at our weekly goals come Saturday night and wanted to do more before I had to report numbers.  Another thing that I have learned as a District Leader is that I get to take the fall when our companionship doesn't put up some good numbers at the end of the week.  This doesn't go to say that it's all about numbers, because well we all know it isn't, but it does easily show your work ethic.  So I have taken a greater responsibility in meeting my goals.  If you set a goal with the help of the Lord it can and should be treated as revelation; revelation for your area and the progress therein.  So when I don't meet a goal knowing that it is the will of the Lord I have reason to look inward at what I can do better.  So just lessons learned as a District Leader.

We did however take a road trip to Split, Croatia.  B-E-A-utiful!  It was a little last minute but it was good.  The sisters had a referral to contact down there and so when they call Pres. Rowe to get the phone number turns out Sis. Rowe had already set up for the following day at 12.  So I started to call people and see if we would be able to meet with some members down there.  There is no branch down there so they don't see much from the church.  So we called people and two members were very open.  They told us to just call when we got there and we could work something out.  So we set out at 6 in the morning.  It was a gorgeous ride down, right on the coast nearly the whole time.  But the ride itself was terrible.  It is the only bus that goes down the coast so it stops at every little t

own turning a two hour ride into 3.5 hours.  But it was worth the sites and I don't think I will be doing it again soon.  The sisters however are going to be teaching this lady probably once a week and making that trip accordingly.  So it was great to be able to go down there and meet some members.  We met with one couple that found the church through business.  They travel a lot so I considered myself lucky to have met with them.  They were so nice!  They came and picked us up, took us to their office, and talked with us for about an hour.  The other person who said he would met with us ended up not having time but maybe another time.  We tracked down one member at his house and he was kinda crazy.  He confirmed that he was indeed the person we were looking for but that he had forgotten everything about the church and had a problem that only he could fix.  Well alrighty then... After further investigation I found out that we were quite lucky because he actually admitted to being the person he was and that in the past he had denied his identity to missionaries.  Always an adventure. 

Other than that not much.  We will have a meeting on Thursday in Zagreb after which I will stay there for an exchange.  It seems that Pres. Rowe really loves his training meetings. 

The weather is about the same here.  Rained the whole bus ride home from Split and fall is in full swing.  I have a closet full of white shirts (yes more than normal) because I dont know if it will warm back up so I have my short sleeve and long sleeve.  So it is a little chilly but Truman is very excited for ˝sweater weather˝. 

That really is about it for this week.  I love you all and it sounds like your all doing good!

Love, Elder Massey

A few pictures from when he was in Split...  An old building and a dog walking himself! Ü

Week 39

Hey Fam,

Looks like you were all comfy for conference.  I missed all the goodies and made some banana bread and brought popcorn for the members.  Yes I made banana bread.  It was so legit.  It was awesome!  This week was fun filled so I'll get right down to it!

First we had a sister from Slovenia down here in Zadar this week.  That was fun and I got some good ideas from what her district leader does for her.  I was sure to take advantage of that opportunity because I have been having a hard time knowing how to help the sisters in my district when we cant go on exchanges like Elders.  So she was helpful.  It was good to have a guest.  President has started mixing up the borders a little bit.  Missionaries from here have gone to Slovenia and switched places and stuff just to get us a little more blended.  Maybe I will get to go to Slovenia!

So we had a couple lessons this week with our 2 investigators Elvino and Valter.  Elvino is the quiet one that I talked about before and Valter is a guy that was taught by missionaries before.  He is a little out there and the last mission pres. said that he needed to get his life in order before he could be baptized.  So he has worked on some things and will have an interview with Pres Rowe and hopefully we can have another baptism here.  Like I said he is a little weird.  He has read the Book of Mormon two times and has a great desire to be baptized.  I hope that we can help him out.  However other missionaries are really not to big of fans.  He does have some problems but when I see his desire and love for the scriptures I cant have those feelings.  It is my job to give that opportunity to follow Christ and I feel that if I allowed myself to think anything bad about him it would be unfair to him.  So I love him and his desires and just want to help him. 

So I am glad to say that I did have the opportunity to listen and watch some conference.  We watched the first session live at 6 PM in Croatian with the members.  We just streamed it on the Internet.  So I didn't get to much out of it.  I did understand more than I thought I would but I can't connect the thoughts so it is hard to follow lol.  But after church we watched Saturday afternoon and priesthood sessions.  The priesthood session was awesome!!  Holland told 'em whats up like always and I loved it!  Dad, I did hear that story that you talked about and it was great.  I absolutely loved that.  Now, I don't feel that way but I know people in our mission that do.  We can just never tell what we are doing.  That is why I try my best to just fulfill my purpose with a smile and the Lord with take care of the rest.  So then we watched Sunday morning live last night and so we are watching Sunday afternoon today at the church.  I will have to re listen to the other ones so that I can hear them in my native language.  Everything that I did hear and watch was great. 

So I just have to mention that we went to a members house to help her move some things and this ladies apartment was NASTY!  She has stuff every where and we could hardly walk.  I got physically ill just being in there.  I am going to ask her if we can go over and help her.  I would like to just burn the place down but whatev.  It was interesting that she showed us a picture of one of her kids.  She happen to be in the apartment and so we saw what it looked like when it was clean.  The place is big but so cluttered.  She also said, ˝Look what happened when I stopped going to church˝.  aahhha see that!  Your life falls apart without the gospel!

Also we have a member who's husband works at a resort here.  So we went to a buffet for the resort and it was absolutely divine! I had shark, pork sirloin in a plum sauce, veal steak, mussel, and other great things!  It was just what I needed.  And best part it was all free because we knew the guy that worked there! 

Well that is about it.  I love you all and hope you all were able to get something from this great conference.  And to all the men reading this, if you have not watched the Relief Society meeting it is HIGHLY recommend.  If you dont have much time just watch Pres. Utchforf's talk for it.  It is great!

Bday list for anyone that wants it
1. Beef Jerky
2. Life savers
3. Ties
4. Just put money in my account
5. no worries I will add to it later. 

I will give you the address to the church so that it can come to Zadar and I wont have to wait for it from Zagreb.  But my bday is about 3 weeks after transfer.  So just hold on a bit and I will tell you where I will be and you can send it to that church. 

Everything is going good.  The language is going good.  I have learned to express myself using all the words I know partly because I cant stand to not say all the great thoughts that run through my little head.  Being a district leader is still teaching me lots and I love it.  Glad to know Timmeri didn't/doesn't hate me.  They looked couzy on the couch.....  Who did Josh Zitting marry?  I got the pictures that Lance sent from his iPod, are you selling it to pay off credit cards.  You could get a couple hundred I'm sure.  And I'm sure you know I was sad to hear that Utah lost....

Love, Elder Massey

Week 38

Hey Fam,

So this week has been crazy.  But full of great stuff. I will try not to expand so much.  I know it gets a little boring and dry.  So Mom no worries your not getting old.  I have a list every week of what I am going to write home about.  I don't want to forget anything.  So I will get started....

Well Monday we had that big storm which I sent pictures of.  It was fun to go down to the sea organ and hear it during a storm.  I have a video but it was to big to attach so the pictures will have to do for now.  I know I have been saying this for a while but I really am getting close to sending a camera card. 

Tuesday we had district meeting.  Because I am the district leader I get the ¨privilege¨ of planning and organizing that every week.  It can be tough sometimes especially being so busy.  But I am trying harder everyday to seek the Lords will for my small little district.  I just want to be sure that I can be of the best help to the Lord in the work here in Zadar.  So they are getting better. Just another opportunity to learn and grow.  The better I get at this the better I will be able to lead board meetings when I am a CEO HAHA. 

So Elvino that I talked about a little before, our investigator, is doing better.  He is still so quiet and I keep trying to talk to him but he just is that way.  I know this is such a different personality type to deal with lol.  But we are working slowly and hope to be able to help him.  His mom is really sick so I just want to let him know that he can find peace and hope in the Gospel.  So cool experience this week.  We were over teaching them and just talking with them both.  His mom likes to talk to us a lot and just lays on her bed, because she is so sick, and says whatever see pleases her, which is not such a different personality type lol.  Elvino had asked us to come and give her another blessing and so that was good that he requested it his time and it wasn't solicited to him by a member.  So we went over and before we left Truman stood up and we walked over to her but then Truman just offered a pray at her bedside.  I was so confused.  Why wouldn't he give her a blessing.  We sat down and talked a little more but I was just thinking that we should really give her a blessing.  We have the priesthood.  Anyone can offer a pray, but we have the priesthood and use it!  I thought of the talk by Pres. Uchtdorf titled, ˝Your Potential, Your privilege˝ that he gave in priesthood session.  I was convinced that we were living below our potential and not using the privilege that we had, at that moment.  I thought well maybe I should give the blessing??  I quickly backed down to the fact that my companion had felt that a prayer was better and we should stick together on this.  I left that apartment that night not pleased with myself at all.  I knew that I should have said something and I didn't.  As we walked home in silence I honestly felt that I had failed the Lord.  He had sent me a prompting and an opportunity and I didn't take it.  My night was ruined.  As we got home I knew I had to say something to Truman.  So I asked him, ˝why didn't you want to use your priesthood?˝  He of course felt attacked and I expressed to him what I was filling and why.  He said maybe I wasn't supposed to use my priesthood.  I knew then more clearly that a blessing was supposed to be given and by me.  Dang it, I thought, I don't know Croatian but this lady is supposed to be given a blessing and I am the one who needs to give it.  I took this as my second chance and without calling we walked back over and had explained that I was sorry but I forgot to do something before I left and asked if it would be ok that I give her a blessing.  So I proceeded.  It was hard to translate the voice of the Lord into Croatian.  I knew that the language that I said it in was important only so that they could know what I was saying.  As I finished Elvino told me I could have done it in English, I told him that she needed to be able to understand.  I said thank you for the opportunity and we left. 

That night I didn't just learn how to give an blessing in Croatian.  I learned a great lesson that will bless me for the rest of my life.  I have the priesthood.  I can bless people's lives.  The Lord is will to give me personal revelation only if I am willing to listen and follow.  I was fortunate enough to have a second chance.  I hope that I wont need 2 in the future that I can be bold enough and in tune enough to follow it the first time.

In other news we had a baptism this week.  It was the daughter of a couple here.  They are both members making this the FIRST EVER full family in Zadar!  This is just another of those experience that I talked about last week about being able to see church history form here. It was great and now we just wait for them to be able to go to the temple together!

Last night we were at Elvino's again and they insist on feeding us every time we are over there.  So they made us grilled pork chops.  Don't be jealous they aren't that great.  Then in the grease of that they fried eggs.  I like fried eggs but even for me they had a bit to much grease.  So on Trumans he was scrapping every last bit of grease.  So just to tease Truman I told them that he loves eggs especially like this.  He glared at me then said I will give you 100 Kuna ($20) if you eat these.  I couldn't resist so I did it.  I'm sure it was worth it though.  I made 20 bucks on eating 2 eggs that just had a little extra grease.  SWEET DEAL!

That is about all the fun for this week.  President is working on breaking down the barrier between the countries.  We already have a huge barrier called language, but he wants us to get to know and interact with each other more.  So one of the sisters from here is in Slovenia this week.  He told me he would be doing this with elders to so I may be going on a little trip to be a greenie again. 

Ok Ryan this is for you but I want everyone to hear it.  Timmeri Blair!!  That is so weird to me!  How did that even happen!?  I'm pretty sure she hated me in high school.  Have you kissed her yet.  You cant possibly let Tommy beat you right now!  When I heard that I squirmed a little like I imagine Dani does about her brother dating her friend.  Well have fun!

Well I love you all and hope you have a great week!

Week 37

Hey Fam,

So the best thing out of all the Emails I got was the Utah BYU game.  Oh how great was my joy!  After hearing that there in sunshine in my soul today even though it is rainy here in Zadar.  We got hammered on the way home from grocery shopping this morning.  Ok enough about that.  So everyone keep your heads straight with this next story, it's just a thought that quickly went away. 

So my companion and I were listening to some takes by Elder Holland and we happen to come across one that was a devotional at BYU for the beginning of the school year.  He was just basically bragging up BYU and there standards and school history and stuff.  So you all know what an amazing speaker Elder Holland is.  Well just to show how amazing he is, as he was talking I began to think wow this school doesn't sound all that bad, maybe I could handle it... WOW then I went and put on my Utes shirt and shorts and the thought ended, hopefully never to return again.  Oh Holland, you have such a way with words.  Then I also listened to a talk where he absolutely tore into the student body for booing their own quarter back.  I wont say that Utah has never done that before because I'm not sure but I do know that they didn't win the award for most regrettable sports move of the year.  The talk was about loyalty and I learned to also be loyal to my Utes.  Ok now onto the real convincing of men, missionary work. 

So everything has been going really good here.  It is still hot but what can you do.  We continue to go outside and work on our tans while staying as far away from the beach as possible, we don't want to get distracted.  We have been working on trying to get the Book of Mormon out to more people, knowing that if they will just read it with an open heart and mind they will see the happiness it brings.  So we headed out Thursday morning with each of us carry a backpack full of ˝Mormonava Knijga˝ Books of Mormon and went to work.  Well after about an hour and a half we passed out one.  He was so kind as to give us his number, that didn't work.  So I will speak for myself when I say I got a little down about the whole thing.  But no worries we smoothed it all over with some gelato!

This was the day after we headed up to Zagreb for a specialized training meeting, so special that everyone was invited.  The way the mission is running now everyone is either a leader now or will soon be one.  So going back to Zagreb felt like going home.  I love it and maybe miss it a little but Zadar is the change I begged for and got and now love.  It didn't help my Zagreb ˝homesickness˝ when a member from there came to church in Zadar on his way out to one of the close by islands.  The meeting was great and based off a meeting that Pres Rowe just went to in Denmark for Mission Presidents all over.  Elder Bednar lead the meeting. 

I know that I said that everyone wants to be my companion because of my ˝tidiness˝ but I have begin to discover that this may be more of a blessing than a curse.  This is in correlation to the deep frying which seems to be turning out the same day.  So as my mothers child I clean when I get a little stressed out.  Well our apartment is currently spotless including baseboards, blinds, and windowsills.  The deep fryer however is a different story.  It totally stuck it to me when I made the decision to clean it because it was so nasty.  I tried everything we had and it did not meet my expectations.  So I finished what I could and placed it on the top shelf, not to come down for another week and a half.  I need to find a different, more productive, less time consuming stress reliever.  I don't want this small idiosyncrasy to impose on my job to be a missionary.   If no one can relate I still know that you can mom. 

So we now have a progressing investigator, Elvino.  He is the previous investigator that came to church upon our invitation the other week.  He is really quiet which is proving to be somewhat of a challenge.  But he is doing good.  Keeping his commitments and coming to church without a problem.  Operation baptism is fully underway. 

I also had a cool experience this week.  Well it was interesting to me at least.  We met with one of our member to teach her how to teach a lesson for Relief Society.  It was easy and fun but the great part game in the latter of the day when Elder Truman and I were walking home and I was thinking of what a unique and amazing mission I had heard.  With my companion as the branch president, which yes happens often here, only two branches have native branch presidents, and only about 6 active members our job is to build this branch from nothing.  Many of these members have no idea of what a fully functional ward or stake even runs like, so as we teach them the simple things that I was taught as a child, we get to have great experience.  I told Truman that I don't care if we only have 5 members at church we get the opportunity to meet each of them one-on-one and teach them things that will help them for the rest of their lives.

Just a bit more on my comp as the Branch Pres.  Bless his soul it is so hard im sure.  The kid is a stress case! lol.   He tells me that I keep him sane and is thankful for me always cracking a joke to keep the mood light.  

Well I think that is about it from me this week.  I love you all and hope everything is going well. 

Love Elder Massey

Elder Massey and his comp, soaked from the rain Ü

This lady and I, this is the place where we do service.  We deliver lunches to older people who cant leave their apartments.

Week 36

Hey Fam,

So I have to admit this week has been very emotionally and physically draining.  I had to help organize my first funeral in Croatia.  There was a member here in Zadar that had been sick for awhile and in the hospital.  She passed away on Tuesday and the rest of the week was consumed with trying to contact people and organize a service.  Because the branches are so small here missionaries serve as branch presidents in some of the cities.  Well my companion is the Branch President here and so we had a lot to do.  From what we had known she didn't have any family.  However, after having searched through her wallet we found a number and got in contact with some family members in Zagreb.  So they came down here on Wednesday to be caught up to speed on what we had already done and organize some other things.  I thought that maybe they would be mad that they weren't contacted sooner but they were really nice and very appreciative.  So it was an interesting experience.  The family was very considerate of her obligations to the church in the way that although she will be cremated she will be dressed in her temple clothes.  My companion and I worked through the whole thing together and all is well now.  It all ended, for us at least, with a small service here in Zadar before she is moved up to Zagreb where the family lives and the main service will be. 

Throughout the whole thing I had a great opportunity!  So I don't really know why but when missionaries serve as branch presidents they aren't really sustained or set apart.  So when the week was getting really stressful and Elder Truman and I were thinking of what else we can do to help the branch and family he asked me if I could give him a blessing to help him.  He spends a lot of time in the spare bedroom which has now been named ˝the revelation room˝ as that is where it is quieter and he studies in there.  So as he came out from saying his personal prayers and we were talking he asked me to give him a blessing.  As I begun, I took a deep breathe and my head began to spin and little.  I was a bit nervous, I had never done this before.  As I stood there with my hands on his head in silence for a moment I tried to clear my head as to be sure that what I said was from the Lord and not my own thought.  This turned out to be a great experience.  As I searched for the Lord's will to be dictated through me to my companion I could feel the spirit working through me and it was truly a great experience.

So that was one blessing for me this week, that I gave.  But my companion managed to one up me this week.  We went over to an investigators house and gave his mom a blessing.  She is sick but we decided that it would be better to not bring our oil until they understood a little more about it.  Well the member that accompanied us was so nice as to explain to her that next time we might bring the ˝holy oil˝.  Wasn't that so nice of her!

The other blessing was to a member who had found out that she was pregnant this week and has had some problems with that so they asked Truman to give her a blessing.  Her husband has been a member for about 3 months and told us that he anxiously awaits the day when he wont have to call on the missionaries to offer a blessing to a member of his family.  It was great to hear that a recent convert already has such great goals for him and his family. 

We played tourist last week after emails and I got lots of cool pics.  Just for Lance I visited the 5 wells, Lion's gate, and the sea organ.  This is along with all the b-e-a-utiful sunsets that I see off our balcony.  I have attached a few. 

So that is pretty much my week.  Hopefully we can hit the ground running this week with the funeral over.  I have specialized training on Wednesday in Zagreb and I am excited to ˝go home˝ for a day. 

Well I love you all and hope you enjoy the pictures!

This is Elder Massey and Elder West (his companion from the MTC) holding signs for their car wash/service project they had a couple weeks ago while still in Zagreb

This is from a couple weeks ago as well, at Dajana's baptism Ü

Week 35

 Hey Fam,

So the info you have all been dying to know.  Either that or I've been dying to tell... I absolutely love my new area!  It is so beautiful.  I get to see the sea and the boats everyday.  It is a little hotter here but it will get better and then it will just be great.  I am so happy to be down here.  It is exactly the change I needed.  It really is so pretty here.  I almost fell in the water the other day cause the sidewalk just drops off into the water and I was just staring into the water.  Partly because it is so beautiful and partly because it is so hot and I want to go swimming.  But it has been really fun being here and getting adjusted to a new area. 

Elder Truman is my new companion.  I am the district leader and he is the branch president, so we are just telling people what to do all day, just kidding.  He told me the other day that it felt like he had been dragging me around the week.  Well we came to the conclusion that this is because he walks so dang fast that he is always a couple feet in front of me.  No worries we walk side by side now and no dragging, physical or mental, is taking place.  I think that we will compliment each other well in our teaching styles and such, I am excited to get teaching some people.

So I got to meet the branch on Sunday.  This is one of the biggest changes.  We had 10 people at church on Sunday, that is including the 4 missionaries.  So that is a lot different but it is what it is.  Everyone here is really nice and I got to teach a recent convert the day after I got here.  That was good and he is a great member.  He is the only male in the branch.

So when I first arrived here I had to do some cleaning which resulting in me taking out 6 trash bags and the landlord getting mad that we filled the trash can lol.  I'm not sure if this is a good thing but I am now known in the mission as the ˝clean freak˝ and that if for nothing else people want to be my comp so that they have a clean apartment.  I take pride in the fact that I am clean and like living in a tiddy apartment where everything has it's place. 

So with a transfer over that means that we lost some elders.  This time 8 people went home and my trainer was in that group.  I know that I complained about it but I really liked him, mostly after the transfer was over, but none the less.  I knew all of these elders pretty good and was sad to see them leave.  I feel like I ˝grew up˝ in the mission with them and it was a little tough to see them leave.  But at the same time they needed to leave.  They were making everyone pretty trunky lol. 

So in cleaning the apartment I made an amazing discovery with has been used everyday since.... A DEEP FRYER!!!  I went shopping today and sometime in the near future will be trying homemade mozzarella sticks and onion rings.  As of now the sisters just gave us a bunch of potatoes that they got from their land lord and we have made french fries and hash browns.  I also deep fried my chicken nuggets and it made them so much better.  It is really a great an uplifting tool here in the mission. 

So some other things on a more missionary note happened this week.  We were going through our area book to see if we could find anyone worth contacting and Elder Truman called on guy just invite him to church and he totally came!  It was awesome!  One of the members at church was talking to him and even went over to his house after church to talk with him and see if she could help with his mother, whom he had mentioned was sick.  So that was great.  Also we contacted a man on the street and he told us he had been to church before and mention some missionaries names.  We asked him for his number and he told us we already had it lol.  So we looked in our phone and we surely did.  It was kind of funny.  He told us that he had read the whole Book of Mormon so we are going to meet with him sometime this week and see what is up with him.  Sounds like some pretty dang exciting prospects for the first week of the transfer. 

Well I think that is about it.  I am so happy to be here on the coast.  I am taking lost of pictures and cant help but think how much you all would just love it here.  I saw a cruise ship at a dock the other day and thought how much you (Mom and Lance) would just love to cruise here.  No worries lots of pictures are being taken. 

I love you all and hope you have a great week.  And just so you all know the gelato is sooo much better down here.  Lance that is for you!

Love, Elder Massey


These are just a few pictures.  We use an internet cafe here instead of the library so I can plug my camera in now.  I will send this every once in awhile but dont expect something every week lol.  Love yall!!

Week 34

Hey Fam,

So I know that I usually start an email with, ˝So this week hasn't been to bad˝.  However, this week has been great!!  It was filled with lots of work, service, transfer calls, and a baptism!! So I will start from the beginning, a very good place to start.

So Tuesday was a normal work day but just lots of errands trying to get things organized for the baptism and a big service project that we have been planning.  So we got lots of things done, no worries I will be sending lots of pictures home! So we did that ran errands, had an emergency transfer for a kid who went home.  So blah blah nothing to special.

After trying to bribe our AP's to tell us where we would be transferred we got our transfer calls on Wednesday.  We tried to give them homemade hamburgers with chips and root beer even, you know a good American meal.  So I got my call that night with what I thought was a pretty good idea of where I was going.  Us as missionaries always try to figure out where everyone will be just for a little fun.  I had been joking with Pres. Rowe about it all week.  So I was completely wrong on almost all of them.  I will be going to ZADAR!!  I will be serving with Elder Truman.  I lived with him when we had the four of us in that one apartment at the beginning of my mission.  So I am so excited!!  It is rumored to be the most B-E-A-utiful city that us as missionaries can serve in.  I am so pumped.  Going to the coast baby!

So the fun starts on Friday when we made cards to pass out at our service project.  So I know that I haven't mentioned this before but we planned a free car wash for a service project.  So we went and made some business type cards to pass out that just let them know that it was the church doing this and just to say thanks for coming.  So when we were in the process of designing those and printing and what not we basically ˝contacted˝ the graphic designer helping us.  He started asking us questions and we had a great experience with him and got to talk a lot about the church.  It is always so much nicer when other people ask you.  I feel like that way it is non threatening and they are actually interested.  I have a hard time with the whole stop someone on the street thing.  So he was super nice made us some super sweet cards to pass out and it was fun to meet him.

So then comes Saturday the day of the car wash service project and the baptism.  This was a crazy day but oh so fun!  So how this whole car wash thing works is that we have a free car wash at the church and while the car is being washed the people go and tour the church.  The members do a great job at that!  So honestly it was kind of a flop haha.  We were there for about 4 hours and probably washed like 5 cars.  But it was so fun!  We had a water fight, waved some people down with car wash signs, and had the news paper come do an article.  Since Westie is in this city we had a great time together.  Like I said I will be sending a camera card home soon!

So then after the car wash we had to hurry and get everything ready for the baptism.  That was fun too.  I love being busy with things that are worth while not just walking around in the heat all day.  Ok ok I know that can be a worth while activity but I like to be doing things like this more.  It makes me feel more accomplished.  So we had to make some food, make the church look good (inside and out), and fill up the font.  So we got everything in order but the water was a little cold.  I guess the water heater was broken or something.  It was all good, not to cold.  So Dajana showed up we took lots of pictures and put on our white clothes.  Then we took more pictures.  She was a little nervous and the water was a little to cold for her but she did good.  I memorized what to say in Croatian in one week and didn't even mess up.  It was such a great experience for both of us.  I was so happy for the opportunity to be able to help her on this journey back to her Father in Heaven.  She was so happy and said thank you over and over again.  It made me so happy to see her so happy.  I know that she will be a great member! However, some may be thinking this is kinda serious business for such a young kid as myself.

So yes this week was awesome! I can't wait to get to Zadar.  I will have so many good opportunities there and lots of cool pictures too!!

Well I have to go get my hairs cut!  I hope this week's email was a little happier for you all.  Sorry about last week just wasn't feeling it.  I hate when that happens on P-day then you all worry.  No worries it's all good in the hood.

I love you all and hope you have a great week!!

Week 33

Hey Fam,

So this week wasn't too bad. 

So guess who is going to baptize someone this Saturday??  Oh that's right me.  She ˝officially˝ asked me on Saturday and I was so happy.  Other than that honestly we didn't do much this week. 

I wasn't feeling well this Wednesday and it was so hot so we worked a little then i went home and threw up but then i was ok.  I am having a hard time eating just because i don't actually know.  I just got bored with the breakfast food, which consists of the nasty milk and corn flakes.  So i just kinda don't eat and it makes me real hungry so i am looking for other things to eat.  for now it is just a peach and yogurt for most of the time.  But i will get over it. 

Other than that we are just waiting for transfer calls..... I just need to get a real good change going on! I want to go to a diff city with a diff comp in a diff mission in a diff country..... ok just kidding but the comp and city thing is legit. 

Honestly it has just been hot and i had a hard time getting out the apartment.  But it will be a good change/motivator this next transfer. 

I love you all and hope your all doing well. 

Week 32

Hey Fam,

So this week has been pretty good.  I have emailing on Tuesday this week because yesterday was a Holiday here so everything, like the library, was shut down.  They have a bunch of holidays that are kinda stupid, at least I feel like that.  But when it is a holiday here everything is closed and no one is home or on the streets.  I don't know how that is possible but it is and it really just fowls things us.  But luckily it was Pday so we didn't have to try and find some people to talk to.  But we did go play basketball and that was super fun and some sand volleyball.  That was super fun too!  We invited some friends over that we met here and then also some of our investigators.  It was so fun but I got a little sun burnt because we were outside all day long. 

So I'm sorry but i don't really have any good stories for you.  My life really is kinda boring.  We do in fact do the same thing everyday, and we wear the same thing everyday.  We are going to have transfers in a couple of weeks like 2 i think.  I am excited for that.  

So Marijana and Dajana are progressing pretty good.  We have decided move Dajana's date from this Saturday to next Saturday.  We just feel that there are a few more things that she needs to be taught and some principles of the gospel that she needs to grasp before she can become a good member.  It is really hard for me to push it back because i want to see it happen.  I will see it happen even if it on the 27 but i am just so excited.  I feel that it is pretty rare in this mission for someone to be able to see their investigator come full circle.  However, because i have been here for so long i have been able to see Dajana, as well as Marijana, progress to where they are now.  I have come to realize that I need to not think of Dajana being baptized as my blessing.  This, in the end, will do nothing for me except give me some moral boost.  For Dajana, she is one step closer to our Heavenly Father, she is one step closer to salvation.  I have to put all this excitement aside and realize that i need to do what is best for her and that is wait a little.  I also asked her to start thinking about who she wants to baptize her.  She at first said that she doesn't care and that she doesn't want one for thing to worry about.  She asked who could do it and I started listing people in the branch that can.  Then she asked if I could.  I told her that I can but does she want me to.  She said yes.  So as happy as I am that she asked me too I want to make sure she really means it. 

Marijana on the other hand.  I dont know how long she will take.  She said she wants to finish the Book of Mormon first.  Which is fine, but she didnt hardly read any last week.  So I don't know what she is doing....

So we finally got a hold of Marko.  He said that he has been working a lot.  I dont know how true that is but we are supposed to meet on Thursday.  So i hope that works out.  He kinda went of the radar for awhile.  I hope everything is ok. 

As for me, well im doing alright.  This language is just really hard.  I'm just saying.  I still can talk to people I just dont like not being able to saying exactly what I want to.  Some of the things i want to say just dont mean the same thing.  It is really killing my wit and sarcasm.  Making a serious man out of me, i dont know how i feel about that!  Some have asked how I am feeling lately also... tired.  All the time I feel so tired.  I just want to sit down all the time, sometimes it just makes me really ornery.  I feel like i eat the same thing every day too.  I just need to get some mix up going on.  I am feeling a little to routine for my liking.  I did buy some peaches and nectarines at the store that were so good but they had fruit flies on them in the store.  I know that you can just put them in the fridge and all of them will die, but having worked at Lins I know that is not acceptable geez. 

I also noticed something interesting this week.  A lot of people that live here dont like it here.  I thought people were just being nice when one of the first questions they asked was how do you like it here.  Well I asked a Croat why they do that and they told me that it usually means that they dont like it here so they want to know if foreigners do.  oh how sad!

If Ryan is not reading this tell him to read it and reply to it! I know i wasnt the best but i would love to hear from him.  So with all his work and such he moved up north right? So adam is the lone ranger at home? Sounds fun.  Did i understand right that he is going on a business trip back to africa???  Sounds like everything is going alright for him. 

Well i think that is about it.  Hope you all have a great week and know that I love you all!!

Week 31

Hey Fam,


Well it sounds like the week has just been so fun with Ry coming home and all.  I cant say I am to surprised to hear he is a little weird lol.  Just compare to before, worse or better..... But it sounds like you all had a good time and that he is just figuring it all out.  Did you get the talk recorded?  I mostly just want to hear him talk lol.

So this week was not to bad.  We taught the twins once and went and visited an inactive and also went out to 2 members houses and had lunch both times. 

So we taught Marijana and Dajana this week and that was good.  They decided they wanted to see what the Internet thought of us so they went on and found the typical crazy stuff say about us.  But the next lesson we had a member who is really great and knows his stuff so he pretty much did the smack down for us and they took it and well idk but they know what it true now and can believe it if they want.  They also went to Osijek to see Elder Warren before he left.  I don't know how illegal that is for missionaries but they still went to church there.  He got to talk to they and see how they were doing.  I am glad he got to because they are his friends and he has really helped them a lot.  Marijana still doesn't know if she wants to be baptized but Dajana is still good.  I hope that for any reason she doesn't change her mind.  I know that it has been really hard for them.  They are getting a lot of guff for leaving the Catholic church.  They really are amazing seekers of truth. 

Marko... oh Marko.... He has never canceled on us previous to last week now he has canceled 4 times in a row.  I don't know what to do.  i thought he was doing so good.  I really like him, even if I cant understand him and he cant understand me.  So I don't know what we are going to do.  I am kind of at a loss if I cant even get him to meet with us. 

So the first member we went and saw we just moved a piano for him and mowed his lawn.  Not that he cant mow it but he wanted us to come out.  Then we cooked corn together.  It is kind of a summer thing they do.  basically you just shuck it they put it on some coals for a while.  It isn't to bad.  a little weird but not to bad. 

the other member we went to his house and he taught us how to make punina paprika (stuffed peppers).  They aren't like stuffed peppers back home but they are still way good.  He is so funny he calls us his little angels.  he loves the missionaries and feeds us whenever we want.  and we love going to his house cause he is funny and just fun to be with. 

Well that is about it but i hope you all have a great week and i hope Ryan can spare a min to write me!

Love you all!  Elder Massey