˝Say You're alright˝
Family,
This week has been wonderful....ly hard. Good hard though.
We started off by heading to Rijeka. Due to the baptism, we didn't really get a chance to do exchanges with the Elders so we thought it would be good to get down there again and help them out. Turns out it was a great idea. We had sort of worried that Elder Walker had lost some faith in contacting, but we went bowling on the Korzo (it's like a... marketplace? a huge line of stores? I don't know...) and just trashed it. I also got a picture with a classic Rijeka character, the elastic guy, awesome. Long story short, we don't worry about Walker anymore. He was just getting frustrated. It's different here than I think in any other mission. I found out a bit ago, that last year this mission baptized the least amount of people.... in the world. We're definatly not last this year, we're doing a lot better, but still... the work here is hard, and Walker tends to blame himself for a lack of success even when he is doing everything that he can. It's not something that we can really fix, he has to realize that its not his fault too. He works soooo dang hard though. He's a great missionary.
We got back and were a little worried because the weather went sour as soon as we got home. Our week was looking like it may end up with some pretty cruddy numbers, but we ended up teaching 20 lessons on Saturday. Honestly... I think thats a record for me. We went tracting in that same little selo called Drežnik and are just having tons of success there. The people there are more humble than within the actual city. They have more room to, and I think that makes a huge difference, it's 10x less busy there. Anyway, here's another cool thing, we tracted a house where a falconer lives. How'd we know... his falcon was in his front yard... with his dog... way weird. cool as heck, powerful birds. Anyway, yeah.
Monika is going to be baptized next weekend on the ninth, in Zagreb. Awesome. We moved the date because she wanted to move it, but we put it there because then A. We kept control of the situation B. She wanted a bunch of her friends from Zagreb to be there. So when we told her that date she was really excited. That also means that President Weight, if she wants, can give her the Holy Ghost. That's way rad. He's a very powerful man. He's honestly everything I was hoping my mission president would be. He's the best. I am excited because this week is Mission council (where we will find out transfers. And it looks right now like I might actually leave... we'll see what happens, I will leave or Elder Moore and I will pull 10 together... that would be funny). I know I have said somethings about mission council, but its the best meeting in the world. Basking in the marvelousness of President Weight. I hope someday ya'll get to meet him. He'll probably be made an apostle when he gets home. He's great.
Danijel's date has also been moved to the 16th of next month, which is better, because then, he doesn't feel so rushed but it does give him more time. There isn't really a possible to do it the ninth anyway because thats district conference. And so everyone will be in Zagreb. We did Ivo last time, and it worked, but it wouldn't work trying to pull two baptisms. This one will already be rushed because we're going to confirm her that night too because there isn't time the next mornig during meetings. I hope everything works with him. Please please pray for him. He needs to get his answer. We'll see what happens. I hope I have enough faith. It's hard though. Everytime. It'll happen if the Lord wants it to, and that is what it comes down to.
Yesterday the District Presidency was in Karlovac, and in the Presidency a man from Paraguay is there and doesn't speak english or croatian, so he speaks president Čabrajec translates to English, then someone translates into Croatian. It was so fun hearing Spanish. It was hilaroious to try to pick stuff out in it and then be completely wrong, but know there were a few in my family that would have understood every word. Then the croatian, and knowing that only Matt and I would understand it. Thats going to be funny. Tons of people in the family speak Spanish, but only Matt and I, in the entire extended family speak anything Slovic. Funny stuff. Spanish sounded way neat though, wicked fast. But when I listen to what croatian sounds like, just the sounds in it, it sounds way harsh and different than anything else. I love it though.
Glad to hear that Britt's enjoying being home. Speaking in English. Funyn stuff. I think that I have had dreams in Croatian but I don't remember. I feel like I am understanding better and better and speaking better and better. I translated for Elder Blatter on Sunday and I only had to look up one word. Not bad. And it was something rediculous, I don't remember what it was. Anyway. THe language is coming, quicker and quicker. It's neet. Anyway, I get my Borovak on Wednesday and then I AM DONE! WOO HOO! The legal system here is so dumb, anyway, I think thats all for now. I love you all! Be good! Work hard!
Starješina Stanfill
This week has been wonderful....ly hard. Good hard though.
We started off by heading to Rijeka. Due to the baptism, we didn't really get a chance to do exchanges with the Elders so we thought it would be good to get down there again and help them out. Turns out it was a great idea. We had sort of worried that Elder Walker had lost some faith in contacting, but we went bowling on the Korzo (it's like a... marketplace? a huge line of stores? I don't know...) and just trashed it. I also got a picture with a classic Rijeka character, the elastic guy, awesome. Long story short, we don't worry about Walker anymore. He was just getting frustrated. It's different here than I think in any other mission. I found out a bit ago, that last year this mission baptized the least amount of people.... in the world. We're definatly not last this year, we're doing a lot better, but still... the work here is hard, and Walker tends to blame himself for a lack of success even when he is doing everything that he can. It's not something that we can really fix, he has to realize that its not his fault too. He works soooo dang hard though. He's a great missionary.
We got back and were a little worried because the weather went sour as soon as we got home. Our week was looking like it may end up with some pretty cruddy numbers, but we ended up teaching 20 lessons on Saturday. Honestly... I think thats a record for me. We went tracting in that same little selo called Drežnik and are just having tons of success there. The people there are more humble than within the actual city. They have more room to, and I think that makes a huge difference, it's 10x less busy there. Anyway, here's another cool thing, we tracted a house where a falconer lives. How'd we know... his falcon was in his front yard... with his dog... way weird. cool as heck, powerful birds. Anyway, yeah.
Monika is going to be baptized next weekend on the ninth, in Zagreb. Awesome. We moved the date because she wanted to move it, but we put it there because then A. We kept control of the situation B. She wanted a bunch of her friends from Zagreb to be there. So when we told her that date she was really excited. That also means that President Weight, if she wants, can give her the Holy Ghost. That's way rad. He's a very powerful man. He's honestly everything I was hoping my mission president would be. He's the best. I am excited because this week is Mission council (where we will find out transfers. And it looks right now like I might actually leave... we'll see what happens, I will leave or Elder Moore and I will pull 10 together... that would be funny). I know I have said somethings about mission council, but its the best meeting in the world. Basking in the marvelousness of President Weight. I hope someday ya'll get to meet him. He'll probably be made an apostle when he gets home. He's great.
Danijel's date has also been moved to the 16th of next month, which is better, because then, he doesn't feel so rushed but it does give him more time. There isn't really a possible to do it the ninth anyway because thats district conference. And so everyone will be in Zagreb. We did Ivo last time, and it worked, but it wouldn't work trying to pull two baptisms. This one will already be rushed because we're going to confirm her that night too because there isn't time the next mornig during meetings. I hope everything works with him. Please please pray for him. He needs to get his answer. We'll see what happens. I hope I have enough faith. It's hard though. Everytime. It'll happen if the Lord wants it to, and that is what it comes down to.
Yesterday the District Presidency was in Karlovac, and in the Presidency a man from Paraguay is there and doesn't speak english or croatian, so he speaks president Čabrajec translates to English, then someone translates into Croatian. It was so fun hearing Spanish. It was hilaroious to try to pick stuff out in it and then be completely wrong, but know there were a few in my family that would have understood every word. Then the croatian, and knowing that only Matt and I would understand it. Thats going to be funny. Tons of people in the family speak Spanish, but only Matt and I, in the entire extended family speak anything Slovic. Funny stuff. Spanish sounded way neat though, wicked fast. But when I listen to what croatian sounds like, just the sounds in it, it sounds way harsh and different than anything else. I love it though.
Glad to hear that Britt's enjoying being home. Speaking in English. Funyn stuff. I think that I have had dreams in Croatian but I don't remember. I feel like I am understanding better and better and speaking better and better. I translated for Elder Blatter on Sunday and I only had to look up one word. Not bad. And it was something rediculous, I don't remember what it was. Anyway. THe language is coming, quicker and quicker. It's neet. Anyway, I get my Borovak on Wednesday and then I AM DONE! WOO HOO! The legal system here is so dumb, anyway, I think thats all for now. I love you all! Be good! Work hard!
Starješina Stanfill