June 28, 2010

Hi family!
So - I had my last days in Varaždin and then on Wednesday we took a train down to Zagreb (and played Phase 10 on the way, which was really fun) and I met up with my new companion, Sister Nelson, and we caught a bus and arrived in Zadar! It took all day, so when we got to Zadar I just unpacked and stuff.

The drive down was so beautiful, a lot more green and mountainous than I was expecting, like real mountains, and Zadar is also more green than I thought. For some reason when I was thinking that it would be so hot here and everything, I was picturing a desert the whole time, but it's by the ocean so it's green and yesterday we walked a trail along the ocean contacting people and it was really pretty. Smelly though, lol. Silly of me to be picky about that, but it's really smelly when we walk by the water.

And every day since then has been pretty regular. There are four Elders here that serve with us - Elders Babcock, Allsop, Rhodes, and Lifferth. And the branch is bigger! I spoke in church yesterday and we had 27 people! Including missionaries, investigators, members, and visitors. It felt so loud. The most we ever had in Varaždin was 10-12, I think. So it was loud and a little hectic for me, but very cool. And when I was speaking, I was telling a story about how when I read the Book of Mormon through for the first time I was 16, but I said kad sam imala šestdeset godina, which means when I had 60 years! I didn't even notice until Sister Nelson told me after that I said that! It was really funny. Numbers are not my thing when it comes to foreign languages, I had a hard time with them in my French class, too.

And I had an interview with President Hill on Friday, we have them about once a transfer, which means that he brought the mail down from Slovenia with him and I got my package! Thank you SO much, Mom! It was so fun to get and I love the shirts you picked out for me! They are so cute! It's just what I needed to spruce up my wardrobe. And I definitely needed some things to wear in the warmer weather, too, because it's definitely hotter here than in Varaždin. It's so fun here in Zadar! I'm really loving it! And thanks for the sandals, they fit well and I figured out the straps, I think. And it means that i don't have to wear nylons in the heat! And for the conference Ensign and all of that.

Sister Nelson and me do young women's here, on Saturdays, which is going to be fun, and also on Sunday we had a family from Zagreb visiting us - they come for the summer - so we got to do Primary with them! They have two little girls and they are so cute, it's like having nieces here, kinda. Not really, but kinda. It's good to see little kids because I haven't really so far. I really like having Sister Nelson as a companion, she's from Provo, big family, and like I said she's only been out two months longer than I have so neither of us - she's definitely better at the language, but neither of us know a ton so we're learning from each other and a lot and I think this transfer is going to be so good.

Today, we're catching a ferry to an island called Uglijan, which will be fun and so I'll probably send you some pictures next week. Oh Dad asked what "itd." meant: it stands for "i tako dalje" which means etc. Literally it means "and so forth." So it's like etc.

Oh, I'm sorry to hear that Roger Federer is dead. The car, not the guy playing in Wimbledon right now, lol. I guess no one could take care of him like I could. So sad. And Dad told me a little bit about how Wimbledon is going, thank you! I love hearing about tennis, I wish I heard more. Mostly here we hear about the World Cup. Croatia didn't qualify for it or anything, but Slovenia did and then didn't move on, or something, I'm not sure, but I heard that Slovenia and Serbia were both out. But everyone here is still watching. O

h and Mom mentioned something about Justin and someone trying to start a business, but no one told me anything about the business, what is happening with all of that?? Today was the first time any of you have mentioned it. I'm glad to hear that everyone is seeing everyone a lot and that Kelsey's birthday went well, I can't wait for next Monday to hear about Baby Sophie, what's her middle name going to be? I can't remember if someone told me. And I'm happy that Amelia gets to come out and visit with everyone.

I hope the week is good for everyone!

Čujemo se! (We'll hear from each other :D)

Love you!
Sister Laws