To: Chris Chauncey, Judy Chauncey, Caroline Chauncey, Candace Abplanalp, Taybor Abplanalp
This past week/weekend was the mooooost crazy of my mission. It was so busy and so many things were going on. We had Zone Conference this past weekend, in our city for the first since I have been in Banja Luka, and we had to prepare our own presentation, as well as find and fund the food. And, we had an exchange going on at the same time. And apparently there was only bus from Tuzla to Banja Luka, so then we had the four of us in the city/apartment, and then the Sarajevo sisters came at 8:00 in the evening. So... it was just crazy. We had 6 sisters in our apartment on Friday night. But it was great.
Sister Mahabier was here with me in Banja Luka. We had a lesson with Nevin, the guy she met last time. He is the one who speaks Dutch. It was so crazy, because we literally havent seen him since the last time she was here. He has been so busy recently that he hasnt been able to come to English class or anything... and the FIRST night Sister Mahabier is here for English class? He is there. We had a cool lesson with him. Sister Mahabier is such a powerful missionary. She was teaching and testifying in 3 languages! Even though I don'st peak dutch, when she started talking about her conversion experience, I could see a light just shining through her eyes, and I felt the spirit testify to me that what she was saying was true. We have a couple of members here in the Balkans who have gotten bapitzed in other countries, and they move back here and we find out that they didnt speak any English, or Italian, or whatever language it was they didnt learn, and we think HOW did they get baptized??? But... seeing Sister M testify like that. I would have gotten baptized too.
Sister M also taught me how to knit. I am knitting like a madman when I have a spare moment. It is really addicting.
We had a lesson with Milica when Sister M was here. We havent met with her for a while, but she has been reading and studying in the meantime. It was an unorthodox lesson (haha, no pun intended...) but we did Law of Chastity, Word of Wisdom, Tithing, Fast Offerings, and Prophets. Instead of trying to teach them all to her, we just had her explain to us what she understood about the subjects. She really gets it, and she loves it all. We also had a church tour after English class for our English students, and one student asked if we come to church and partake of the sacrament with a fast? And Milica turned around and said, "Thats an excellent question, and can be difficult to understand for those who come from Pravoslav roots, because we go to church fasting, right? But here, we take the sacrament as a renewal of the baptismal covenant, so that we can testify to God that we will remember him and do as he commands us."
I love her.
We will be preparing for her baptism this weekend. We were so excited when we could go through the weekly planning session in Preach My Gospel, and set plans and make goals for an investigator to be baptized in the coming week. So exciting!!!!!!!!! I will let you know how it goes :)
We had Branch Conference yesterday. Because of senior couples going home, and new ones coming in, and the fact that it was Branch Conference, we had 4 senior couples in the church, and President Grant, and even President Rowe is in town this weekend!! But it was so packed. We had what seemed to be 3 times amount of missionaries to members. But it was great. We had less actives come and some investigators as well. Milica had to be out of town because she had to go visit her mother, and it was either this weekend or next weekend... which is fine, we would much rather that she be here next weekend :)
Also, because the senior couple has left Sarajevo this weekend, President has decided to immediately pull sisters our of Sarajevo. I am so sad! I will miss Sarajevo, and I didnt even serve there... it is known to be the best city in the mission. I wish things could be different, but I trust President and know that we really have no other option. But my heart broke :( Sister Kropushek will be going back to Zadar to open it up for sisters, and Sister Washburn will go with her from Tuzla. Its pretty crazy. Lots of action going on over here.
Tomorrow is my year in the field mark. Wow. Happy St Patricks Day, and everything. Time certainly flies, doesnt it? I think about going home... and I realize I dont have much more time being a missionary. It kind of makes me panic and start working really hard. Haha. So I guess thats a plus. Some missionaries get tired and trunky and im like WAIT NOOO IM NOT DONE YET. Although, I am getting pretty exhausted. It takes all my energy to stay up and write in my journal at night. Sister Berrett has helped me so much this transfer, and I have felt more like a missionary from being with her. She is so fun and we laugh and talk all the time. And she is the most motivating person I have ever been with. I just love her. I have really enjoyed this transfer. And Im excited to see what the final months of my mission will bring :)
Love you all.
This past week/weekend was the mooooost crazy of my mission. It was so busy and so many things were going on. We had Zone Conference this past weekend, in our city for the first since I have been in Banja Luka, and we had to prepare our own presentation, as well as find and fund the food. And, we had an exchange going on at the same time. And apparently there was only bus from Tuzla to Banja Luka, so then we had the four of us in the city/apartment, and then the Sarajevo sisters came at 8:00 in the evening. So... it was just crazy. We had 6 sisters in our apartment on Friday night. But it was great.
Sister Mahabier was here with me in Banja Luka. We had a lesson with Nevin, the guy she met last time. He is the one who speaks Dutch. It was so crazy, because we literally havent seen him since the last time she was here. He has been so busy recently that he hasnt been able to come to English class or anything... and the FIRST night Sister Mahabier is here for English class? He is there. We had a cool lesson with him. Sister Mahabier is such a powerful missionary. She was teaching and testifying in 3 languages! Even though I don'st peak dutch, when she started talking about her conversion experience, I could see a light just shining through her eyes, and I felt the spirit testify to me that what she was saying was true. We have a couple of members here in the Balkans who have gotten bapitzed in other countries, and they move back here and we find out that they didnt speak any English, or Italian, or whatever language it was they didnt learn, and we think HOW did they get baptized??? But... seeing Sister M testify like that. I would have gotten baptized too.
Sister M also taught me how to knit. I am knitting like a madman when I have a spare moment. It is really addicting.
We had a lesson with Milica when Sister M was here. We havent met with her for a while, but she has been reading and studying in the meantime. It was an unorthodox lesson (haha, no pun intended...) but we did Law of Chastity, Word of Wisdom, Tithing, Fast Offerings, and Prophets. Instead of trying to teach them all to her, we just had her explain to us what she understood about the subjects. She really gets it, and she loves it all. We also had a church tour after English class for our English students, and one student asked if we come to church and partake of the sacrament with a fast? And Milica turned around and said, "Thats an excellent question, and can be difficult to understand for those who come from Pravoslav roots, because we go to church fasting, right? But here, we take the sacrament as a renewal of the baptismal covenant, so that we can testify to God that we will remember him and do as he commands us."
I love her.
We will be preparing for her baptism this weekend. We were so excited when we could go through the weekly planning session in Preach My Gospel, and set plans and make goals for an investigator to be baptized in the coming week. So exciting!!!!!!!!! I will let you know how it goes :)
We had Branch Conference yesterday. Because of senior couples going home, and new ones coming in, and the fact that it was Branch Conference, we had 4 senior couples in the church, and President Grant, and even President Rowe is in town this weekend!! But it was so packed. We had what seemed to be 3 times amount of missionaries to members. But it was great. We had less actives come and some investigators as well. Milica had to be out of town because she had to go visit her mother, and it was either this weekend or next weekend... which is fine, we would much rather that she be here next weekend :)
Also, because the senior couple has left Sarajevo this weekend, President has decided to immediately pull sisters our of Sarajevo. I am so sad! I will miss Sarajevo, and I didnt even serve there... it is known to be the best city in the mission. I wish things could be different, but I trust President and know that we really have no other option. But my heart broke :( Sister Kropushek will be going back to Zadar to open it up for sisters, and Sister Washburn will go with her from Tuzla. Its pretty crazy. Lots of action going on over here.
Tomorrow is my year in the field mark. Wow. Happy St Patricks Day, and everything. Time certainly flies, doesnt it? I think about going home... and I realize I dont have much more time being a missionary. It kind of makes me panic and start working really hard. Haha. So I guess thats a plus. Some missionaries get tired and trunky and im like WAIT NOOO IM NOT DONE YET. Although, I am getting pretty exhausted. It takes all my energy to stay up and write in my journal at night. Sister Berrett has helped me so much this transfer, and I have felt more like a missionary from being with her. She is so fun and we laugh and talk all the time. And she is the most motivating person I have ever been with. I just love her. I have really enjoyed this transfer. And Im excited to see what the final months of my mission will bring :)
Love you all.