Hey Fam,
Well this week has been really good. I think I am coming up on really adjusting to the mission life. I feel like some of that is learning to just suck it up and some it learning how much our Heavenly Father loves us and really is mindful of all of us. So learning new things and applying them has really made the mission so much better. When I realize that many of the things we do are for others the drive to do them increases and all the while I learn things that bless my life as well. I am really learning just so much!
This week it was so great to hear from all of you and your adventures but unlike Jeffy my response isn't, ˝Well I'm in Croatia!˝, it's more like, ˝AWE I miss my family and I want a pizza party with them.˝ No worries this is just a thought not a mindset. Hearing of Ryan coming home does make me a little trunky but most of all I just miss Ryan. I want to hear all about my mission and see him when he is still in the spirit of it all. On second thought maybe it will be good so I can see him when he is a little more ˝normal˝. I hope that he adjusts well. It sounds like he really has it all planned out. I was a little shocked when I read his request for no big groups. Alrighty then.... whatev. Just because you all know I will want who ever wants to come, there so I can just talk for hours on end haha.
This week was busy, which is maybe the reason it was so good. I have always kind of liked being ˝busy˝, but most of all busy with worth while things. And when I am busy as a missionary I love it. We had people cancel and things and that was a little sad but we found other things that needed to be done.
We were able to teach the brother and sister who just got baptized. I really love teaching them. It is so interesting to see how when they know the church is true and how much happiness it can bring, they just hunger to learn more, they absorb everything that you tell them with such willingness and joy. I love to see their faces light up as we talk about the gospel. I just cant express how much I love teaching them. And they are young so it is easier for me to talk to them. It is also a great chance to practice my Croatian. Maja likes to correct me and last lesson I only made 3 mistakes. That could be a high percentage according to how much I talked but I won't bore you with the details..... Just know that I only had 3 mistakes. We taught them at their house and they made us homemade pizza which was so good! The mom, who is now the only member of the family who is not a member, came in quietly and listened. I think that now that her children, as well as her husband are members she is interested in what this is all about. We had a branch activity on Friday and she came only with the rest of the family and the dad was so happy to tell everyone that his whole family was there. It is so great to see the happiness the gospel brings to families.
We didn't get a chance to meet with Marko this week. I am kind of worried about him. Maybe because I haven't seen him in awhile. Last time he was taught we were on an exchange, so I haven't seen him for like 2 weeks. We had a lesson planned and we had a member come and then he canceled. So we rescheduled for a couple days later and I think he just forgot. He hasn't come to church the past two weeks either. I think the lesson with a member there would have really helped him. I don't know what to tell him anymore really. He says he reads and prays everyday but still hasn't received an answer about the Book of Mormon. We taught him about faith, what an answer might feel like, actions he needs to do, and I don't know what the hold up is. So hopefully member on a lesson take 2 will work out this week.
We were also able to teach the twins this week. When I say ˝the twins˝ I refer to Marijana and Daijana. They are so awesome. I love teaching them. They are the honest seekers of truth. They are willing to do whatever we ask them in an effort to find the real truth. Their deep family roots in the catholic church as well as personal beliefs may have them a little confused about some thing but as I see their true intent and honest desire to do what is right I know they will one day be great members who know and actively use the pattern the Lord has set forth to know what is right. Daijana still is going to be baptized on the 20th and we are still working with Marijana. They came to the activity on Friday night and talked to Pres. Rowe for quite some time. They are doing well. I am excited to see Marijana also progress to a level where she can be baptized.
Other than that we have had lots of rain here. It usually just pours in the morning but usually clears us by the time studying are done and doesn't hinder our work, just makes for a very humid day.
Tell Ryan how much I love him! I hope you all have a great week and have fun with Ryan. Maybe papa Lance needs to sit him down and break him back into the real world and make sure he can still get a date.
I love you all and hope your doing good. Love you all very much!!
Monday, August 1, 2011
Tuesday, July 26, 2011
Week 29
Hey Fam,
This week has been so interesting.... but it has been good.
I dont know if I ever mentioned them before but I was teaching these girls, Marjana and Dajana, but then the sisters started teaching them because then we dont have to try and find a member to come on every lesson which is pretty hard. well since we had that mix up and the sisters are no longer here i am teaching the again. So i invited them to the baptism that we had last week and they really liked it. Dajana told me the next day that she wanted to talk to me about what she needs to do to be baptized. I was so excited. Marjana her twin sister isnt quite ready but Dajana is going to be baptised in less than a month. Baptismal date for us!!!! we are hoping to get Marjana on for the same date and I think that it will happen. This is a huge shock for everyone because they used to be so closed off to so much and now this. Marjana used to say she wanted to be a nun but now when we go to her house for lessons she tells her mom all about the Book of Mormon and how great it is. So I was happen to be able to teach them again. They are great and will do great things for this branch!
We met with the same inactive that we went to the exhibit with last week. His name is Josip and he took us to the museum that he works at. It was really cool. He took us to the new wing that is being added, which we weren't really supposed to go too. but he works there and there was lots of cool stuff there. Then on the way home we took the same tram and we got closer to the church and he started asking about some of the members and everything. Then he said well maybe i will just come on Sunday. Well he had to work this Sunday but said that he wants to come. the greatest thing is that he brought it up not us and he knows that is what he needs to do. So that was cool. WE will probably go to more museums with him seeing as he gets us in free and its a good environment for us to be able to talk to him because he is an art grad and loves to talk about art with us.
So i dont know who asked but no i did not get any credit for the baptism this last week. we are still teaching them but we didnt really have any contact with them till the sister left. So we just got them ready for baptism and now we are teaching the new member lessons. They are so fun and easy to teach and they just are good kids who know this is true. I was a witness at the baptism and their dad baptized them. But when Dajana and Marjana get baptized I might do that. I personally think that it would be a better idea to get them comfortable with a member and he does it so that when i leave they arent just coming to church for me but for the right reasons. ok lets be real they will probably ask me to do and i would love too lol.
it has been rainy here and i hate it. that means no one is outside and no one to talk too. Lots of people go down to the coast during the summer because they get tourist related jobs so that makes it hard to keep in contact and things. ˝I'm going to the sea˝ is a legit excuse for not seeing someone for like 2-3 weeks. So whatev.
it has been really hard getting used to this new president. he came with a lot of new expectations and ways of doing things and I dont really like all the abrupt changes. he is just so different to the president that we all knew and loved. As anticipated his teaching style is also very different. just some other things to get used to, whatev.
that is about it for this week. I love you all and hope you have a great week. I only have one request. When Ryan gets home can you record his homecoming talk for me and work something out so I can listen to him. PLEASE i just want to hear it!! thanks give Ryan a big hug for me and tell him to write me.
love, elder massey
This week has been so interesting.... but it has been good.
I dont know if I ever mentioned them before but I was teaching these girls, Marjana and Dajana, but then the sisters started teaching them because then we dont have to try and find a member to come on every lesson which is pretty hard. well since we had that mix up and the sisters are no longer here i am teaching the again. So i invited them to the baptism that we had last week and they really liked it. Dajana told me the next day that she wanted to talk to me about what she needs to do to be baptized. I was so excited. Marjana her twin sister isnt quite ready but Dajana is going to be baptised in less than a month. Baptismal date for us!!!! we are hoping to get Marjana on for the same date and I think that it will happen. This is a huge shock for everyone because they used to be so closed off to so much and now this. Marjana used to say she wanted to be a nun but now when we go to her house for lessons she tells her mom all about the Book of Mormon and how great it is. So I was happen to be able to teach them again. They are great and will do great things for this branch!
We met with the same inactive that we went to the exhibit with last week. His name is Josip and he took us to the museum that he works at. It was really cool. He took us to the new wing that is being added, which we weren't really supposed to go too. but he works there and there was lots of cool stuff there. Then on the way home we took the same tram and we got closer to the church and he started asking about some of the members and everything. Then he said well maybe i will just come on Sunday. Well he had to work this Sunday but said that he wants to come. the greatest thing is that he brought it up not us and he knows that is what he needs to do. So that was cool. WE will probably go to more museums with him seeing as he gets us in free and its a good environment for us to be able to talk to him because he is an art grad and loves to talk about art with us.
So i dont know who asked but no i did not get any credit for the baptism this last week. we are still teaching them but we didnt really have any contact with them till the sister left. So we just got them ready for baptism and now we are teaching the new member lessons. They are so fun and easy to teach and they just are good kids who know this is true. I was a witness at the baptism and their dad baptized them. But when Dajana and Marjana get baptized I might do that. I personally think that it would be a better idea to get them comfortable with a member and he does it so that when i leave they arent just coming to church for me but for the right reasons. ok lets be real they will probably ask me to do and i would love too lol.
it has been rainy here and i hate it. that means no one is outside and no one to talk too. Lots of people go down to the coast during the summer because they get tourist related jobs so that makes it hard to keep in contact and things. ˝I'm going to the sea˝ is a legit excuse for not seeing someone for like 2-3 weeks. So whatev.
it has been really hard getting used to this new president. he came with a lot of new expectations and ways of doing things and I dont really like all the abrupt changes. he is just so different to the president that we all knew and loved. As anticipated his teaching style is also very different. just some other things to get used to, whatev.
that is about it for this week. I love you all and hope you have a great week. I only have one request. When Ryan gets home can you record his homecoming talk for me and work something out so I can listen to him. PLEASE i just want to hear it!! thanks give Ryan a big hug for me and tell him to write me.
love, elder massey
Thursday, July 21, 2011
Week 28~
Hey Fam,
So this week has been really good and went by really fast which is a plus. So I will just start from the beginning. Those 2 new investigators that I talk about last week had already been given baptismal dates for this last Saturday. So they were right on track for that when we started teaching them. They just needed to be taught some things and solidify some other things. So we got to teach them everyday this week which was awesome. Mostly because it meant that we weren't out in the hot trying to talk to people. But they really are great. They are brother and sister and their Dad has been a member for a couple years. So he had the opportunity to baptism his daughter, which was great, and the boy was baptized by a family friend who is a member. The boy is Tomislav (Tommyslauv) who is 18 and the girl is Maja (Maya) who is 22. It really is so easy to teach those you have already been prepared by the Lord and those who already have a testimony as well. They are going to be good additions to the branch and I am glad that we were able to help them and be apart of this journey to baptism. I will have pictures on this next camera card which is not quite full yet so everyone please be patient. I hope you are enjoying the ones you have now.
We also got to teach Marko this week and he is just going to be awhile before he is baptized. So we just kinda talked to him about what his answer might be like and that it probably wont be some big grand vision or something. We have taught this before but felt like we needed to recap with him and find out what he is thinking. So we asked if he though that the Book of Mormon was true and he said he completely believes it. So I asked him if he believed that Joseph Smith was a prophet and he said no. So we have got our work cut out for us there. I also asked him if he still wanted to be baptized and he said he wasn't sure anymore. Then I felt so bad because I feel like sometimes we push him to much or we are maybe to hard on him. At the end of the lesson he asked us if we were satisfied with his progress. I said as long as you are sincerely trying. So I felt kinda bad that he said that. But we are just going to keep working with him and have faith.
Well I had to give a talk on Sunday about missionary work, yes in Croatian. You didn't know last week because I didn't know till Wednesday. Ya I wasn't to happy about this. So I wrote it all in English then Lifferth help me translate it then I took it to a native and had them read over it to make sure it all made sense. So it was on Missionary Work and it was basically a throw down telling them that they need to be better members. All I can say is that I will be so happy to go home to a ˝normal˝ ward.
So i think that is about it. It was really great to hear from you all this week. Sounds like Adam had some fun in Texas. Sounds like you all are keeping pretty busy. Thank you so much for all your thought and prayers. Love you all!!
So this week has been really good and went by really fast which is a plus. So I will just start from the beginning. Those 2 new investigators that I talk about last week had already been given baptismal dates for this last Saturday. So they were right on track for that when we started teaching them. They just needed to be taught some things and solidify some other things. So we got to teach them everyday this week which was awesome. Mostly because it meant that we weren't out in the hot trying to talk to people. But they really are great. They are brother and sister and their Dad has been a member for a couple years. So he had the opportunity to baptism his daughter, which was great, and the boy was baptized by a family friend who is a member. The boy is Tomislav (Tommyslauv) who is 18 and the girl is Maja (Maya) who is 22. It really is so easy to teach those you have already been prepared by the Lord and those who already have a testimony as well. They are going to be good additions to the branch and I am glad that we were able to help them and be apart of this journey to baptism. I will have pictures on this next camera card which is not quite full yet so everyone please be patient. I hope you are enjoying the ones you have now.
We also got to teach Marko this week and he is just going to be awhile before he is baptized. So we just kinda talked to him about what his answer might be like and that it probably wont be some big grand vision or something. We have taught this before but felt like we needed to recap with him and find out what he is thinking. So we asked if he though that the Book of Mormon was true and he said he completely believes it. So I asked him if he believed that Joseph Smith was a prophet and he said no. So we have got our work cut out for us there. I also asked him if he still wanted to be baptized and he said he wasn't sure anymore. Then I felt so bad because I feel like sometimes we push him to much or we are maybe to hard on him. At the end of the lesson he asked us if we were satisfied with his progress. I said as long as you are sincerely trying. So I felt kinda bad that he said that. But we are just going to keep working with him and have faith.
Well I had to give a talk on Sunday about missionary work, yes in Croatian. You didn't know last week because I didn't know till Wednesday. Ya I wasn't to happy about this. So I wrote it all in English then Lifferth help me translate it then I took it to a native and had them read over it to make sure it all made sense. So it was on Missionary Work and it was basically a throw down telling them that they need to be better members. All I can say is that I will be so happy to go home to a ˝normal˝ ward.
So i think that is about it. It was really great to hear from you all this week. Sounds like Adam had some fun in Texas. Sounds like you all are keeping pretty busy. Thank you so much for all your thought and prayers. Love you all!!
Sunday, July 17, 2011
Week 27
Hey Fam,
So it sounds like everyone is doing good. Glad to hear that. I loved looking at that picture of Braxton. He is getting so big. I was actually thinking just last night that when I get home he will probably be walking and talking and wont even know me.
This week has been interesting with a little shake up of our own over here in Croatia.
So the new mission president got here and he is very nice. He is only 44. I say only because President Hill was so much older and didn't have his family with him and now President Rowe is right in the middle of his life and has all 5 of his kids with him. So for the 4th we went to the mission mansion, I mean mission home and Sister Rowe made us lunch and we played on their tennis court and got to know each other a little better. Just like with all changes this one will taking a little warming up. I feel like I knew Pres. Hill so well after just the short time I did actually know him. All the missionaries would talk about him and had such respect for him and now everyone has to start new.
On Tuesday I did get to see his teaching style though. While it is very different and he already has many new ideas and opinions it was a good conference. It was actually a mission conference. So we had everyone in the mission meet together here in Zagreb and it was fun. I mean it was a conference so we got to see everyone. There were a few people who had moved away this last transfer who I was anxious to see. And Westie of course.
Well we had a lesson with Marko on Wednesday and I feel like every time we meet him he gets further away from baptism. Either i am understanding more or we are discovering more. Maybe a little bit of both. So for the lesson we went over some of the baptismal questions to see where he is in coordination to baptism. Well it was a good thing we did that. We found out that he doesn't believe that God has a body. While that is a very typical thing for the catholic Croat we talked about it a little. I felt like I talked a lot more this lesson. I feel like Elder Lifferth is just so used to just giving a normal lesson that the investigator suffers sometimes. I don't want to just teach Marko, I want Marko to know me. I want him to really understand this stuff and I want to let him know that I know these things are true, not just simply give him the information and let him do with it what he will. So I decided like anything in life, if you want it done you have to do it yourself. So I talked a lot more. I asked easy question, mostly so I could understand the response, but also so that he would understand the simple things are important too. So as we were talking about a dream he had I wanted to ask him a question. His dream was that he was arguing with God because he had not yet received an answer about the Book of Mormon or the church. So I wanted to ask him what he thought his answer might me like. After we watched that talk from Elder Bednar about the Spirit of Revelation from this last conference I thought he had a better understanding. So I never got to ask that question because Lifferth nudged me when I started talking. I heeded to that nudge and stopped talking. I thought I may have interrupted something and that I would later have my chance. Well I never got my chance and I was a little mad. It is important to know that I did not understand that dream about the argument with God but just felt like I should ask him that question. So you can imagine my frustration when I found out that he question may have resolved concerned. Not only that but I don't speak much Croatian and when a subject lingers long enough for me to come up with something to say I get a little frustrated when my comp shuts me down.... just saying! So I don't know when he will be baptized but I believe he will sometime.
So as for the Croatian shake up and how I made out like a bandit. Well I was excited to have the Zone leaders go on exchanges after mission conference because that meant that Westie would be staying here and we could go to lunch or something. So I called to arrange lunch only to figure out that he had gone back to his city. However, he would be return, and this time to stay.... So at this news I was very excited. Not to mention my companion as District Leader would have to go on exchanges with his companion and Westie and I would work together for a day. Not only that but I would see him everyday and we could do things together on Pday. So they have moved up to Zagreb switching places with the Sisters. Well to make a long story short. Westie is not in my district which means that no exchange with happen. His coming formed a new district of which he is the district leader. I am not allowed to call out of my district to arrange Pdays and he is an office elder. However, I do see him on Sundays and as a result of the Sisters leaving, Lifferth and I inherited two investigators, brother and sister, who will be baptized this Saturday! Office elders does mean that Westie gets to sit in an air conditioned office while I walk around in this dang heat though. I'm a little jealous.
On Saturday we had a good day. We had been working with a member here trying to meet with an inactive member who is still a friend of his. So when he called we anticipated that he would have an appointment to meet with this guy. However, it was an invite to meet with another inactive member who we had not heard of before. Better yet this encounter would take place at the Pompeii exhibit which would be leaving the next day. So we got the chance to meet a new person who we can work with and see this super cool Exhibit.
The exhibit was so amazing. It was thing that has been uncovered from the city of Pompeii. They even had bodies that had been petrified by the ash. It was very cool. Oh and we got to meet another inactive.
So other than those couple things that I have bored you with all the details about we walked around in the heat and practically died. It is so bloody hot! When we got home for lunch we usually just strip down to our garments and sit in from of the fan. Then we fill our bellies with water. Then we get cold because we are sitting in damp (from sweat) clothes and it's all just a mess. I must say it is very hard to stay diligent when it is so hot and you can either sit at home and not find anyone or got out in the heat and have the same results. None of the people we have now to teach were found by Elder Lifferth and I. Marko is from an exchange, which I was not apart of, and we just inherited the brother and sister. So hopefully we can see the fruits of our labor one day.
Well I love you all and thanks for everything! Have a great week!
Love, Elder Massey
So it sounds like everyone is doing good. Glad to hear that. I loved looking at that picture of Braxton. He is getting so big. I was actually thinking just last night that when I get home he will probably be walking and talking and wont even know me.
This week has been interesting with a little shake up of our own over here in Croatia.
So the new mission president got here and he is very nice. He is only 44. I say only because President Hill was so much older and didn't have his family with him and now President Rowe is right in the middle of his life and has all 5 of his kids with him. So for the 4th we went to the mission mansion, I mean mission home and Sister Rowe made us lunch and we played on their tennis court and got to know each other a little better. Just like with all changes this one will taking a little warming up. I feel like I knew Pres. Hill so well after just the short time I did actually know him. All the missionaries would talk about him and had such respect for him and now everyone has to start new.
On Tuesday I did get to see his teaching style though. While it is very different and he already has many new ideas and opinions it was a good conference. It was actually a mission conference. So we had everyone in the mission meet together here in Zagreb and it was fun. I mean it was a conference so we got to see everyone. There were a few people who had moved away this last transfer who I was anxious to see. And Westie of course.
Well we had a lesson with Marko on Wednesday and I feel like every time we meet him he gets further away from baptism. Either i am understanding more or we are discovering more. Maybe a little bit of both. So for the lesson we went over some of the baptismal questions to see where he is in coordination to baptism. Well it was a good thing we did that. We found out that he doesn't believe that God has a body. While that is a very typical thing for the catholic Croat we talked about it a little. I felt like I talked a lot more this lesson. I feel like Elder Lifferth is just so used to just giving a normal lesson that the investigator suffers sometimes. I don't want to just teach Marko, I want Marko to know me. I want him to really understand this stuff and I want to let him know that I know these things are true, not just simply give him the information and let him do with it what he will. So I decided like anything in life, if you want it done you have to do it yourself. So I talked a lot more. I asked easy question, mostly so I could understand the response, but also so that he would understand the simple things are important too. So as we were talking about a dream he had I wanted to ask him a question. His dream was that he was arguing with God because he had not yet received an answer about the Book of Mormon or the church. So I wanted to ask him what he thought his answer might me like. After we watched that talk from Elder Bednar about the Spirit of Revelation from this last conference I thought he had a better understanding. So I never got to ask that question because Lifferth nudged me when I started talking. I heeded to that nudge and stopped talking. I thought I may have interrupted something and that I would later have my chance. Well I never got my chance and I was a little mad. It is important to know that I did not understand that dream about the argument with God but just felt like I should ask him that question. So you can imagine my frustration when I found out that he question may have resolved concerned. Not only that but I don't speak much Croatian and when a subject lingers long enough for me to come up with something to say I get a little frustrated when my comp shuts me down.... just saying! So I don't know when he will be baptized but I believe he will sometime.
So as for the Croatian shake up and how I made out like a bandit. Well I was excited to have the Zone leaders go on exchanges after mission conference because that meant that Westie would be staying here and we could go to lunch or something. So I called to arrange lunch only to figure out that he had gone back to his city. However, he would be return, and this time to stay.... So at this news I was very excited. Not to mention my companion as District Leader would have to go on exchanges with his companion and Westie and I would work together for a day. Not only that but I would see him everyday and we could do things together on Pday. So they have moved up to Zagreb switching places with the Sisters. Well to make a long story short. Westie is not in my district which means that no exchange with happen. His coming formed a new district of which he is the district leader. I am not allowed to call out of my district to arrange Pdays and he is an office elder. However, I do see him on Sundays and as a result of the Sisters leaving, Lifferth and I inherited two investigators, brother and sister, who will be baptized this Saturday! Office elders does mean that Westie gets to sit in an air conditioned office while I walk around in this dang heat though. I'm a little jealous.
On Saturday we had a good day. We had been working with a member here trying to meet with an inactive member who is still a friend of his. So when he called we anticipated that he would have an appointment to meet with this guy. However, it was an invite to meet with another inactive member who we had not heard of before. Better yet this encounter would take place at the Pompeii exhibit which would be leaving the next day. So we got the chance to meet a new person who we can work with and see this super cool Exhibit.
The exhibit was so amazing. It was thing that has been uncovered from the city of Pompeii. They even had bodies that had been petrified by the ash. It was very cool. Oh and we got to meet another inactive.
So other than those couple things that I have bored you with all the details about we walked around in the heat and practically died. It is so bloody hot! When we got home for lunch we usually just strip down to our garments and sit in from of the fan. Then we fill our bellies with water. Then we get cold because we are sitting in damp (from sweat) clothes and it's all just a mess. I must say it is very hard to stay diligent when it is so hot and you can either sit at home and not find anyone or got out in the heat and have the same results. None of the people we have now to teach were found by Elder Lifferth and I. Marko is from an exchange, which I was not apart of, and we just inherited the brother and sister. So hopefully we can see the fruits of our labor one day.
Well I love you all and thanks for everything! Have a great week!
Love, Elder Massey
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
Week 26
Hey Fam,
Well I wont lie this week has been kinda boring. We haven't really done anything except find. Well we had finding time but we didn't find anyone. So we did a whole lot a walking around....
However, the new mission pres is finally here and we got to go up to his house, because they live here in Zagreb, and have interviews with him. He is or was an international lawyer and has lived in China, Africa, Bosnia, Russia, and Holland. So ya...
We were up at his house earlier today for a little 4th of July celebration. He has an indoor swimming pool and tennis court.... so I'm sure he is thankful for your contributions to the Missionary Fund... jk He has 5 kids but only the 6 yr old twin girls are here right now. The others are boy and the oldest 2 are still in the states going to efy and being with friends for a bit and the other is visiting family in Germany. So maybe one day they will all settle in.
Marko came to church this Sunday and that was good. We were able to meet with him but he still came to church. We are going to give him another baptismal date I'm just not sure yet.
A sister went home at the end of this last transfer and her parents came and picked her up. They were so nice! It was so fun to see them even know I didn't know them. They took us missionaries out to dinner and gelato. The Dad reminded me of Papa Lance. Just told the girls to go shopping got a Diet Coke and sat in a park near by. He was lots of fun.
Tomorrow we are having a mission meeting and so the whole mission will be here in Zagreb. That means Westie will be here!! So that will be fun.
It has been a boring week so hopefully some things will come about next week.
I hope you are all having fun and doing well!!
Well I wont lie this week has been kinda boring. We haven't really done anything except find. Well we had finding time but we didn't find anyone. So we did a whole lot a walking around....
However, the new mission pres is finally here and we got to go up to his house, because they live here in Zagreb, and have interviews with him. He is or was an international lawyer and has lived in China, Africa, Bosnia, Russia, and Holland. So ya...
We were up at his house earlier today for a little 4th of July celebration. He has an indoor swimming pool and tennis court.... so I'm sure he is thankful for your contributions to the Missionary Fund... jk He has 5 kids but only the 6 yr old twin girls are here right now. The others are boy and the oldest 2 are still in the states going to efy and being with friends for a bit and the other is visiting family in Germany. So maybe one day they will all settle in.
Marko came to church this Sunday and that was good. We were able to meet with him but he still came to church. We are going to give him another baptismal date I'm just not sure yet.
A sister went home at the end of this last transfer and her parents came and picked her up. They were so nice! It was so fun to see them even know I didn't know them. They took us missionaries out to dinner and gelato. The Dad reminded me of Papa Lance. Just told the girls to go shopping got a Diet Coke and sat in a park near by. He was lots of fun.
Tomorrow we are having a mission meeting and so the whole mission will be here in Zagreb. That means Westie will be here!! So that will be fun.
It has been a boring week so hopefully some things will come about next week.
I hope you are all having fun and doing well!!
Monday, June 27, 2011
Week 25
Hey Fam,
Well this week has been pretty good. Nothing really to exciting.
Well transfers were this Sunday and I already told you that I would be staying here in Zagreb with Elder Lifferth. I am indifferent with the whole thing. It would have been nice for a change but I will be just fine here in a place I have learned and I know the branch. Elder Lifferth is the district leader in a district of 10 people and i hope he doesn't have a heart attack. He over thinks way to much and just ya is interesting. I mean it in the best of ways but I have come to realize that he reminds me ALOT of Jeffery. That is all I will say about that.... So we had to shuffle some people around, make sure no one was left alone and not one missed buses and trains. So that was fun. I am actually the the second oldest missionary in Zagreb right now. Let me clarify, age determined by living in Zagreb. So everyone else besides one moved here after me. So I know the city better than most missionaries, I kinda like that.
Also the BYU international folk dancers ensemble was here this weekend and that was fun. Lots of young Americans! Church was translated into English from the pulpit, that was nice. So that was fun to see lots of people that are well, normal. It was actually really nice to talk to all the guys most of which were return missionaries. They were just really interesting in how things were going and really saw the missionary prospective on them coming and preforming here. They did a performance that was just on one of the main squares of town and as people would come and watch we would talk to them. It was pretty cool.
We got to teach Marko once and we taught him about the Word of Wisdom. Well he is a true Croat, he loves wine and coffee. It was kind of interesting. Toward the end of the discussion, for clarification, I asked him if he liked wine. He said, ˝Yes, I USED to˝ I thought that was so good. He already was talking about drinking wine in the past tense. We will definitely follow up with him and see how it goes. I feel like Elder Lifferth is not so optimistic, maybe that is because he actually understands all of what Marko is saying haha. I really like Marko and I am excited to see his success. We had a member on the lesson with us and that was good. We try to find new members to fellowship him and met him so he will actually know people when he comes to church.
There were 3 holidays this week.... ya don't ask me why all in the same week. So the town was dead. People either stay inside and watch soccer or go down to the coast on days off. So we walked around and talked to all of the 5 people we saw. it was miserable really. we did talk to this one girl from Seattle Washington who is an artist that lives in Paris. She asked if she could draw me, just a face sketch. So I said sure, you know i get that all the time. So she is going on like a little tour drawing people for a project she is doing. So we sat and she drew me and we talked. It was fun and was a break from walking through the abandon town.
So that really is about all. I hope you are all doing good and having fun in that summer heat. LOVE Y'ALL.
Well this week has been pretty good. Nothing really to exciting.
Well transfers were this Sunday and I already told you that I would be staying here in Zagreb with Elder Lifferth. I am indifferent with the whole thing. It would have been nice for a change but I will be just fine here in a place I have learned and I know the branch. Elder Lifferth is the district leader in a district of 10 people and i hope he doesn't have a heart attack. He over thinks way to much and just ya is interesting. I mean it in the best of ways but I have come to realize that he reminds me ALOT of Jeffery. That is all I will say about that.... So we had to shuffle some people around, make sure no one was left alone and not one missed buses and trains. So that was fun. I am actually the the second oldest missionary in Zagreb right now. Let me clarify, age determined by living in Zagreb. So everyone else besides one moved here after me. So I know the city better than most missionaries, I kinda like that.
Also the BYU international folk dancers ensemble was here this weekend and that was fun. Lots of young Americans! Church was translated into English from the pulpit, that was nice. So that was fun to see lots of people that are well, normal. It was actually really nice to talk to all the guys most of which were return missionaries. They were just really interesting in how things were going and really saw the missionary prospective on them coming and preforming here. They did a performance that was just on one of the main squares of town and as people would come and watch we would talk to them. It was pretty cool.
We got to teach Marko once and we taught him about the Word of Wisdom. Well he is a true Croat, he loves wine and coffee. It was kind of interesting. Toward the end of the discussion, for clarification, I asked him if he liked wine. He said, ˝Yes, I USED to˝ I thought that was so good. He already was talking about drinking wine in the past tense. We will definitely follow up with him and see how it goes. I feel like Elder Lifferth is not so optimistic, maybe that is because he actually understands all of what Marko is saying haha. I really like Marko and I am excited to see his success. We had a member on the lesson with us and that was good. We try to find new members to fellowship him and met him so he will actually know people when he comes to church.
There were 3 holidays this week.... ya don't ask me why all in the same week. So the town was dead. People either stay inside and watch soccer or go down to the coast on days off. So we walked around and talked to all of the 5 people we saw. it was miserable really. we did talk to this one girl from Seattle Washington who is an artist that lives in Paris. She asked if she could draw me, just a face sketch. So I said sure, you know i get that all the time. So she is going on like a little tour drawing people for a project she is doing. So we sat and she drew me and we talked. It was fun and was a break from walking through the abandon town.
So that really is about all. I hope you are all doing good and having fun in that summer heat. LOVE Y'ALL.
Monday, June 20, 2011
Week 24
Hey Fam!!
So this week has been pretty good. We had zone conference, a convert baptism, and more rain.....
So zone conference was fun. I got to see Westie and that is always fun. It was President Hills last zone conference. He will be going home at the end of the month. We still haven't met our new mission President. But I have seen a picture and read a little bit about him. He has a deal in the church news so that has a little info about him. Also at zone conference we did what we like to call ˝Box B˝. This is when Pres. just tells us all the transfers while we are all together. So this way it is live action with no delay on knowing where everyone else is going and such. The bad thing is that if you don't like where you are going you cant hide your emotions. Well I found out that I will be staying here in Zagreb for another transfer and I will be with Lifferth still. So that isn't too bad I guess. I kinda wanted a change but whatev. And I found out that with so many people going home at the end of next transfer that means we will be having 8 more come in. So inevitably I will be training.... NOOOO. I really don't want to. Partly because I don't want the responsibility and partly because I still don't know everything and my greenie will think I am stupid lol. So that means that I really have to kick it into gear this transfer so that I can be just a little more prepared for this whole training deal. So that is that i suppose.
Marko is doing good, at least from what i can understand. He came and saw a baptism and then came to church the next day so that he could see her get the Holy Ghost. He only stayed for the first meeting but that is better than nothing. So we haven't rescheduled his date but we will do that hopefully this week. So we are just teachin him and all is well.
So nothing to great has really happened this week.... I just feel like I have had a pretty blah week. This rain one day and then blazing hot and humid day that follows is really not working for me.
Oh i do have one thing to tell you all. Elder Lifferth and I, which basically means just me because he isn't to spontaneous, have adopted the neighbors dog. We live in the basement basically of a lady but we have a door on ground level and she walks upstairs to her front door. so really she lives upstairs and we live on ground level. anywho... she has a dog that kinda just chills outside and we open the doors and windows in the morning just to get a breeze going. so for awhile I would try to get him to come in but he wouldn't. he would be like half in and half out. So... i started bribing him just for the sake of him coming in and he would come in for food but then just leave. well i was on an exchange the other day and i called him in and he just came right in. then he left but then he would come in lay on the cold tile in the entry and just chill. so he was just wondering in and out and he pleases and it is fun. well when elder lifferth came back home zak, the dog, continued to let himself in. So he came in while elder lifferth was in the other room and i called him and told him someone was at the door for him. when he saw it was zak he yelled at him to get out but i just pet him and told him it was ok and he stayed. yes, he loves me more. so now we have a dog, but not really. so that is fun and entertaining. his name is zak, pronounced like bach with a z.
well sorry nothing really else has happened just been walking around talking to people. oh that reminds me of another story.
I was tracting the other day and i knocked on the door and an older lady asked who it was so i told her. and she was like, boys boys enough already. so i kinda chuckled but she heard me. she asked me what was funny and i didn't know what to say. so i told her. it is funny that you say that before you even listen. she said, why is that funny and i told her, oh no reason I just get that all the time. well she didn't reply to that and we moved on. it was just funny that she caught me laughing at her.
ok that is really all now. so i hope you all have a great week and everyone is happy and healthy.
THEN WE GOT THIS EMAIL LATER IN THE MORNING: Titled "Best P Day Ever"
So for this p day we just did a picture exchange at the church on the church computer. So while we were loading pictures and people were taking their turn on the computer the rest of us were playing ping pong and card games and stuff. So then I started the Martha story...... oh it was the best thing ever. We all laughed our heads off!!!!! it was so amazing and now about a half hour later, which is now, we are still talking like that. So every person in my district now knows Martha and we all love talkin like her. It is amazing. We are still laughing when people still say certain things. Well i just wanted you to know. Love you all!!
So this week has been pretty good. We had zone conference, a convert baptism, and more rain.....
So zone conference was fun. I got to see Westie and that is always fun. It was President Hills last zone conference. He will be going home at the end of the month. We still haven't met our new mission President. But I have seen a picture and read a little bit about him. He has a deal in the church news so that has a little info about him. Also at zone conference we did what we like to call ˝Box B˝. This is when Pres. just tells us all the transfers while we are all together. So this way it is live action with no delay on knowing where everyone else is going and such. The bad thing is that if you don't like where you are going you cant hide your emotions. Well I found out that I will be staying here in Zagreb for another transfer and I will be with Lifferth still. So that isn't too bad I guess. I kinda wanted a change but whatev. And I found out that with so many people going home at the end of next transfer that means we will be having 8 more come in. So inevitably I will be training.... NOOOO. I really don't want to. Partly because I don't want the responsibility and partly because I still don't know everything and my greenie will think I am stupid lol. So that means that I really have to kick it into gear this transfer so that I can be just a little more prepared for this whole training deal. So that is that i suppose.
Marko is doing good, at least from what i can understand. He came and saw a baptism and then came to church the next day so that he could see her get the Holy Ghost. He only stayed for the first meeting but that is better than nothing. So we haven't rescheduled his date but we will do that hopefully this week. So we are just teachin him and all is well.
So nothing to great has really happened this week.... I just feel like I have had a pretty blah week. This rain one day and then blazing hot and humid day that follows is really not working for me.
Oh i do have one thing to tell you all. Elder Lifferth and I, which basically means just me because he isn't to spontaneous, have adopted the neighbors dog. We live in the basement basically of a lady but we have a door on ground level and she walks upstairs to her front door. so really she lives upstairs and we live on ground level. anywho... she has a dog that kinda just chills outside and we open the doors and windows in the morning just to get a breeze going. so for awhile I would try to get him to come in but he wouldn't. he would be like half in and half out. So... i started bribing him just for the sake of him coming in and he would come in for food but then just leave. well i was on an exchange the other day and i called him in and he just came right in. then he left but then he would come in lay on the cold tile in the entry and just chill. so he was just wondering in and out and he pleases and it is fun. well when elder lifferth came back home zak, the dog, continued to let himself in. So he came in while elder lifferth was in the other room and i called him and told him someone was at the door for him. when he saw it was zak he yelled at him to get out but i just pet him and told him it was ok and he stayed. yes, he loves me more. so now we have a dog, but not really. so that is fun and entertaining. his name is zak, pronounced like bach with a z.
well sorry nothing really else has happened just been walking around talking to people. oh that reminds me of another story.
I was tracting the other day and i knocked on the door and an older lady asked who it was so i told her. and she was like, boys boys enough already. so i kinda chuckled but she heard me. she asked me what was funny and i didn't know what to say. so i told her. it is funny that you say that before you even listen. she said, why is that funny and i told her, oh no reason I just get that all the time. well she didn't reply to that and we moved on. it was just funny that she caught me laughing at her.
ok that is really all now. so i hope you all have a great week and everyone is happy and healthy.
THEN WE GOT THIS EMAIL LATER IN THE MORNING: Titled "Best P Day Ever"
So for this p day we just did a picture exchange at the church on the church computer. So while we were loading pictures and people were taking their turn on the computer the rest of us were playing ping pong and card games and stuff. So then I started the Martha story...... oh it was the best thing ever. We all laughed our heads off!!!!! it was so amazing and now about a half hour later, which is now, we are still talking like that. So every person in my district now knows Martha and we all love talkin like her. It is amazing. We are still laughing when people still say certain things. Well i just wanted you to know. Love you all!!
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