Dear family,
HAPPY EASTER!
I forgot to say so last week, I think, because I wasn't thinking so far ahead to Sunday.
And HAPPY ANNIVERSARY MOM AND DAD and JESSE AND JUSTIN! I also wasn't thinking all the way to Thursday, haha.
Well, my week was good. As you can see, I'm writing on Tuesday. That would be because everything was closed yesterday for the Easter weekend/holiday. So our president was nice enough to let us write today. And really, I don't know if he would be able to stop us. lol.
So yesterday, Monday, was a little bit like my last pday in Zadar. Well, we get transfer calls this week, so I don't know for sure, but it seems highly likely that I will be leaving Zadar for Zagreb, since I've been here 10 months. What a long time! I'm not sick of Zadar yet, but one more transfer would probably do me in. I'm looking forward to getting to know a new place. That means that next pday will be my real last pday in Zadar, since we'll probably go to Zagreb the following Wednesday (the first week of May). I hope that makes sense. But, yesterday felt like my last pday. We ate lunch on the balcony (turkey burgers and hot dogs), meandered to the old city (in hopes that the internet place would actually be open, it wasn't) and went to the archeological museum. It is usually closed on Mondays, so on the one holiday it's open. I don't get it, but it was fun. Cheap, and the first floor had the best stuff, so it was fun. I would say I'll send pictures, but I can't make any promises. Then we got ice-cream, of course, and I took a million pictures.
Sunday, Easter, we had a really great Easter program at church. Elder Wood, our branch president, asked one of the members to give a talk on "everything between the crucifixion and the resurrection" and unfortunately, with the language barrier and everything, she took that to mean give a talk on the spirit world! LOL. But the musical numbers and testimonies coupled with it made a really nice sacrament meeting. Both the elders serving here right now are very musical, and they did a good job. After church we had a barbecue in the elders' landlord's backyard for our Easter dinner :( Would have been better with family, but it was still good/fun. With not a lot to do (people would rather be with their families than with missionaries on Easter, why would that be?) We went a Catholic mass! My first time going. It was HIGHLY fascinating. My favorite part was towards the beginning, a man was at the pulpit, he read some verses, and then he started singing. He had a nice voice. And then at certain parts the audience would join in. Actually, they just repeated the same line over and over again. "Zahvaljujte Gospodina, jer je dobar" - this morning I woke up with the tune stuck in my head. That means "thank God, because he's good" Not a bad message. And I wasn't as creeped out by the chanting and recited prayers as I thought I would be. Overall, good experience.
on Saturday we colored eggs for young womens, with the kit mom sent me. It didn't turn out exactly the same, since all the eggs here are orange. But it was fun. We left the eggs at the church and used them as a center piece on Sunday, and the members loved them. They all took a few home, and with the leftovers we made deviled eggs for our barbecue! YUMMY! Anyway, that was the highlight of Saturday.
Oh yeah, and Sister Dillender and I hid cadbury eggs for each other - three a piece. And we searched for them Easter, in the evening, we didn't have time in the morning. So all the Easter traditions were taken care of!
Last Friday nothing exciting happened, on Thursday Sister Dillender got a package from home with a ton of candy, so we've been pigging out on butterfingers and reese's. Really good.
On Wednesday, nothing really exciting. One of Sister Dillender's Spanish students gave us Easter bags, just a little bit of chocolate, matching hair bows, and a duck candle. It was sweet.
On Tuesday one of the Elders was sick, and we named off every single symptom that he had, I guess we passed on the bug! We felt bad.
And last pday, we went to a mall and looked for some shoes for Sister Dillender. So nothing very exciting.
And that was our week!
Easter traditions of Croatia? basically the same as us. Add in go to mass, and add in lent, but they color eggs and they spend time with family.
Questions you all asked: mission presidents stay in a mission for THREE YEARS. I cannot imagine being in Croatia that long. That would be crazy. My easter was good... No other questions. OK.
I'm so glad to hear that all of you had good Easters, too, and that you are well!
LOVE YOU ALL
Sister laws
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
Monday, April 18, 2011
18 travnja 2011
Dear Family,
HOW IS EVERYONE DOING! I love you all so much. It's so funny how every week I can read your emails and I think, wow, I really love my family. Except for Michael, he never writes so I can't read his email and think that. Haha, just kidding. He wrote last week. Just so everyone knows. And the REST of you wrote THIS week! Wooohooo! It's so great hearing from you, this really is the best time of any week, no matter how much you love missionary work or how many great teaching experiences you have, Monday, Pday, internet cafe. 100% the best.
First to answer questions: MASH, for Mom, is a teeny-bopper game, which stands for Mansion, Apartment, Shack, and House. That starts you off on your future, followed by who you're going to marry, where you'll live, how many kids you'll have, etc. You pick at least four options of each category, then the person figuring out your future, in my case Sister Dillender, starts making dashes, you tell her when to stop, so lets say she drew three dashes. And then she counts out starting at "M" and for every third thing she crosses off something, until all you have left is one thing in each category, and that becomes your DESTINY. :) So that is MASH. Not the TV show, not a card game, nothing like that. Just a couple of really bored games giggling over old crushes and which profession their husband is going to be. If my future followed the MASH game that we played that day, I would end up marrying one of the member's sons here. Yikes! That's the fun part, because the person doing it for you can throw in whoever and whatever they want! Dash you fate! I won't marry a Croat!
Ballet? AMAZING! It was in the local basketball arena, which we call "the Krešo dom" because there's a giant statue of Krešimir Čosić outside of it, he's the famous basketball player that I told you all about who brought the gospel to Croatia! Anyway, it was a kinda cheap set-up, the stage looked like it was covered with camouflage, but it fulfilled its purpose! And that is the point! We enjoyed it! The seats, impossibly uncomfortable! They were so small. It was weird. But we got there maybe an hour early, and got good seats, and watched as everyone filed in and took less-than-great seats. And we chatted. And there were a couple of Russian ballerinas walking around selling DVDs, one of the Elders bought one, and Sister Dillender was sitting on the end, so she ended up talking to the ballerina, and the ballerina only spoke Russian! And Sister Dillender could totally understand her! So that was really cool. It wasn't even a ten-minute conversation or anything, but still very cool. And THEN the ballet started. Man, they were amazing. Two of the best were these two "court jester"-ish characters, the characters weren't important to the plot but they came on for comic relief etc. And there was one point where they were both jumping, like one first and then the other etc. And they were getting SO high and they did it for SO long it was unbelievable! And the ladies were all so graceful and they seemed like birds. Oh, and I had no idea that the cartoon, Swan Princess, follows the plot of Swan Lake! It was so helpful to know what the plot was! That made it much more enjoyable. My favorite part was towards the end, Odette dies, and the wicked magician (he was a really good performer, too) is like, triumphing over the prince. And then she comes back and the magician is defeated and it was so intense and exciting! I had no idea that it would be exciting. It was really cool. The princess, Odette, was good, like it totally seemed like she was a swan, but she also was a little too energetic and frenzied. It was a little weird. But other than that, everything was really really great and exciting. And the costumes? Good, classic ballet outfits. Halfway through the ballerinas all changed into white, and the tutu was big and, I really don't know how to describe it. So good. Everything was good.
Jude's bday sounded AMAZING. I can't believe my sister has been a mommy for a whole year! And I've never witnessed it! THANK YOU for all the pictures and descriptions. It sounded like a really hopping party. That would have been fun to be there.
As for our week? well, I'm feeling better. Not sick anymore, eating normal foods, enjoying cereal again, (we cut down on dairy) and everything is all good with that. The bug has been processed and has made its exit. Or whatever.
OH last week I totally meant to mention that on our route home from church there's a house that has a bajillion lilacs! And we were walking by one night and it was so fragrant that we could smell it and it was so good smelling. It is the season, I guess. It makes me want to have a garden.
Other stuff, there's a newer bakery opened up, also on the route from church to home, and we stopped by a couple times this last week. That has been really fine. They're nice people and always give us something free, and every night on our way home we wave to the girl who works there, so this time we asked if she's in school, etc. And that was fun. Too bad there won't be pekarnas in America. And by "pekarna" I mean bakeries. That's what that word means.
Yesterday President and Sister Hill visited us in Zadar, and came to church. It was nice to see them and the members always love when they come. They only have one more transfer left of their mission, I don't know if I ever mentioned that, so my last transfer will be with a new mission president. Kinda crazy!
And that concludes anything exciting about my week. Not much that was interesting.
Mom, good luck with your talk this Sunday! I have no input. There's a little article in this months Ensign (well, it's in our Croatian liahona, so I'm guessing it's in your ensign) about the Savior's last week. That might be helpful. I haven't read it, but my companion liked it and we're using it tonight in a family home evening lesson. President Hill said yesterday at church "I'm really glad to be in a church that celebrates Easter every Sunday" and I am too! We really do spend a lot of focus on the Savior and on the Atonement. Which is the only way to go.
Amelia, I can't believe that your new baby is already a month old! What?? That's crazy!
LOVE YOU ALL BUNCHES AND BUNCHES
Sister Laws
HOW IS EVERYONE DOING! I love you all so much. It's so funny how every week I can read your emails and I think, wow, I really love my family. Except for Michael, he never writes so I can't read his email and think that. Haha, just kidding. He wrote last week. Just so everyone knows. And the REST of you wrote THIS week! Wooohooo! It's so great hearing from you, this really is the best time of any week, no matter how much you love missionary work or how many great teaching experiences you have, Monday, Pday, internet cafe. 100% the best.
First to answer questions: MASH, for Mom, is a teeny-bopper game, which stands for Mansion, Apartment, Shack, and House. That starts you off on your future, followed by who you're going to marry, where you'll live, how many kids you'll have, etc. You pick at least four options of each category, then the person figuring out your future, in my case Sister Dillender, starts making dashes, you tell her when to stop, so lets say she drew three dashes. And then she counts out starting at "M" and for every third thing she crosses off something, until all you have left is one thing in each category, and that becomes your DESTINY. :) So that is MASH. Not the TV show, not a card game, nothing like that. Just a couple of really bored games giggling over old crushes and which profession their husband is going to be. If my future followed the MASH game that we played that day, I would end up marrying one of the member's sons here. Yikes! That's the fun part, because the person doing it for you can throw in whoever and whatever they want! Dash you fate! I won't marry a Croat!
Ballet? AMAZING! It was in the local basketball arena, which we call "the Krešo dom" because there's a giant statue of Krešimir Čosić outside of it, he's the famous basketball player that I told you all about who brought the gospel to Croatia! Anyway, it was a kinda cheap set-up, the stage looked like it was covered with camouflage, but it fulfilled its purpose! And that is the point! We enjoyed it! The seats, impossibly uncomfortable! They were so small. It was weird. But we got there maybe an hour early, and got good seats, and watched as everyone filed in and took less-than-great seats. And we chatted. And there were a couple of Russian ballerinas walking around selling DVDs, one of the Elders bought one, and Sister Dillender was sitting on the end, so she ended up talking to the ballerina, and the ballerina only spoke Russian! And Sister Dillender could totally understand her! So that was really cool. It wasn't even a ten-minute conversation or anything, but still very cool. And THEN the ballet started. Man, they were amazing. Two of the best were these two "court jester"-ish characters, the characters weren't important to the plot but they came on for comic relief etc. And there was one point where they were both jumping, like one first and then the other etc. And they were getting SO high and they did it for SO long it was unbelievable! And the ladies were all so graceful and they seemed like birds. Oh, and I had no idea that the cartoon, Swan Princess, follows the plot of Swan Lake! It was so helpful to know what the plot was! That made it much more enjoyable. My favorite part was towards the end, Odette dies, and the wicked magician (he was a really good performer, too) is like, triumphing over the prince. And then she comes back and the magician is defeated and it was so intense and exciting! I had no idea that it would be exciting. It was really cool. The princess, Odette, was good, like it totally seemed like she was a swan, but she also was a little too energetic and frenzied. It was a little weird. But other than that, everything was really really great and exciting. And the costumes? Good, classic ballet outfits. Halfway through the ballerinas all changed into white, and the tutu was big and, I really don't know how to describe it. So good. Everything was good.
Jude's bday sounded AMAZING. I can't believe my sister has been a mommy for a whole year! And I've never witnessed it! THANK YOU for all the pictures and descriptions. It sounded like a really hopping party. That would have been fun to be there.
As for our week? well, I'm feeling better. Not sick anymore, eating normal foods, enjoying cereal again, (we cut down on dairy) and everything is all good with that. The bug has been processed and has made its exit. Or whatever.
OH last week I totally meant to mention that on our route home from church there's a house that has a bajillion lilacs! And we were walking by one night and it was so fragrant that we could smell it and it was so good smelling. It is the season, I guess. It makes me want to have a garden.
Other stuff, there's a newer bakery opened up, also on the route from church to home, and we stopped by a couple times this last week. That has been really fine. They're nice people and always give us something free, and every night on our way home we wave to the girl who works there, so this time we asked if she's in school, etc. And that was fun. Too bad there won't be pekarnas in America. And by "pekarna" I mean bakeries. That's what that word means.
Yesterday President and Sister Hill visited us in Zadar, and came to church. It was nice to see them and the members always love when they come. They only have one more transfer left of their mission, I don't know if I ever mentioned that, so my last transfer will be with a new mission president. Kinda crazy!
And that concludes anything exciting about my week. Not much that was interesting.
Mom, good luck with your talk this Sunday! I have no input. There's a little article in this months Ensign (well, it's in our Croatian liahona, so I'm guessing it's in your ensign) about the Savior's last week. That might be helpful. I haven't read it, but my companion liked it and we're using it tonight in a family home evening lesson. President Hill said yesterday at church "I'm really glad to be in a church that celebrates Easter every Sunday" and I am too! We really do spend a lot of focus on the Savior and on the Atonement. Which is the only way to go.
Amelia, I can't believe that your new baby is already a month old! What?? That's crazy!
LOVE YOU ALL BUNCHES AND BUNCHES
Sister Laws
Monday, April 11, 2011
11 travnja 2011
DEAREST FAMILY
How is everyone doing?
This week (and today) I've been sick, so I miss my mommy :( That's the thing consuming my mind, because my neck is KILLING me right now, and I just want this bug to be OVER.
I'll try to focus by starting on last Monday.
Monday: We had a meeting with our mission president and wife, it was really nice, and I bought a new book. It's called "Priče iz davnine" and my first transfer here we asked our English students who were the good Croatian authors, and they recommended this book. Well, the elders found it at the "mall" here, and so I went and bought it. It's a compilation of traditional Croatian stories for kids! It's going to be so great! Though, not that I've read it, but I'm going to guess that I'll be sitting by my dictionary a lot when I do go to read it. I'm excited.
Tuesday: Some young boys yelled from across the street at us "ovce! ovce!" which means sheep, and we're guessing that it means they were calling us sheep in the same way that you use it in english, meaning that we're mindless followers of something, and it was so funny because it was like... we're in the minority here! you're the ones who live in majority Catholicism and were baptized when you were babies and got dragged through the receiving the Holy ghost thing and will get married in the church for no reason. It was actually kinda funny. It seems like I've been telling a lot of persecution stories, don't worry, we don't get persecuted that much. It actually seems like the last couple of weeks we've gotten a little more, that's why I have these stories. I thought it was funny.
Wednesday: had english classes, learned a little bit of spanish, went to service. Normal day.
Thursday: We had some errands to run for Sister Dillender's visa, she's renewing it. And so we started the day off early, went to the police station, and the lady at the counter is one of our english students! It was so cool and REALLY good because I guess we were a little late coming in (well, actually a lot late, our bad, we were waiting for the apartment contract and they told us that we should have just come in without it) and she waived the fine for us! Phew! That was a BLESSING!
Friday: same as Wednesday. basically exactly the same.
Saturday: The weather has been doing so well that we wore sandals! For the first time this year. Woohoo! We haven't had a day quite as good as Saturday since, so it's back to regular shoes, but I'm exciting to start wearing my sandals all the time. This is also the day that Sister Dillender started feeling sick. So we were out and about until about 5, and then came home and took naps, I wrote my talk, and we chatted etc. But by the time I was going to bed, I was getting cold chills, body aches, and my stomach was churning. It's not throw-up, just so you know. Use your imagination. Anyway, slept horrible that night.
Woke up Sunday morning and for some strange feeling FELT like throwing up, but it passed really fast. I took medicine, and I was feeling just fine. And I had a talk, so we had to go. And the medicine lasted all through the talk and I sat down and started feeling sick again. Another really BIG BLESSING. Woohoo!
My talk was on "the power to act" -- it went well. My favorite scriptures that I read from it was Alma 24:18 (when I started reading it I thought, what does this have to do with being industrious? That's the topic I had found it under in the topical guide) and so it's the LAST part that I liked. Something about not spending days in idleness. And then I liked D&C 42:42. Something about the lazy person shall not eat the food of the laborer.
I know that all the answers are in the scriptures, and I knew that before this talk, too, but seriously, ALL answers are in the scriptures. It is amazing.
So at the end of sacrament meeting we said goodbye to everyone and hit the road. Went back home, stopped at a little corner shop and bought coke, powerade, fruit tea, and couped up inside the rest of the day. I caught up on my scripture reading (I have plans to read the whole standard works on my mission. And I got behind because my personal studies were spent on my talk) kinda, we wrote in our journals, sat out on the porch in the beautiful weather playing MASH and talking, and just "enjoyed" being sick. Which is not enjoyable at all.
I slept better last night, but... we called the mission president's wife this morning (she's in charge of our physical welfare and GREAT at it) and we made sure that Sister Dillender's unlabeled medicine was what we wanted to take, and I think that it's working, but right now my neck is sore. It was yesterday, too. So I need to buy some water and take some ibuprofen. That's the worst part I think, because I feel like I can't move my head and it just really sucks. I don't mean to complain, but it sucks.
I was glad to read your emails and hear from you!
Sounds like Jude's bday is going to be a bash. You all know what I'm going to be doing to celebrate it! Russian ballet! Woohoo! It was 80 kuna, which is like literally 16 dollars!!!! That's dirt cheap. It will be "Labuđe jezero" which means Swan Lake. It is SO exciting! And yes, Mom, we went together to Nutcracker once. I remember being bored, but that was probably because I was 10. Third grade sometime.
I'm sorry to hear that Olivia has another glioma. Poppy! I'll pray for her as often as I remember.
I'm glad Grandma wants to live again. That's cool that she's doing well enough to stay at home and drive herself to cards, or whatever it was. That's definite improvement!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY JUDE! I almost forgot to even say it.
Love you all tons and tons and tons!
Have fun!
Give all the little kiddies hugs and kisses from their Auntie Keeshie!
Sister Laws
How is everyone doing?
This week (and today) I've been sick, so I miss my mommy :( That's the thing consuming my mind, because my neck is KILLING me right now, and I just want this bug to be OVER.
I'll try to focus by starting on last Monday.
Monday: We had a meeting with our mission president and wife, it was really nice, and I bought a new book. It's called "Priče iz davnine" and my first transfer here we asked our English students who were the good Croatian authors, and they recommended this book. Well, the elders found it at the "mall" here, and so I went and bought it. It's a compilation of traditional Croatian stories for kids! It's going to be so great! Though, not that I've read it, but I'm going to guess that I'll be sitting by my dictionary a lot when I do go to read it. I'm excited.
Tuesday: Some young boys yelled from across the street at us "ovce! ovce!" which means sheep, and we're guessing that it means they were calling us sheep in the same way that you use it in english, meaning that we're mindless followers of something, and it was so funny because it was like... we're in the minority here! you're the ones who live in majority Catholicism and were baptized when you were babies and got dragged through the receiving the Holy ghost thing and will get married in the church for no reason. It was actually kinda funny. It seems like I've been telling a lot of persecution stories, don't worry, we don't get persecuted that much. It actually seems like the last couple of weeks we've gotten a little more, that's why I have these stories. I thought it was funny.
Wednesday: had english classes, learned a little bit of spanish, went to service. Normal day.
Thursday: We had some errands to run for Sister Dillender's visa, she's renewing it. And so we started the day off early, went to the police station, and the lady at the counter is one of our english students! It was so cool and REALLY good because I guess we were a little late coming in (well, actually a lot late, our bad, we were waiting for the apartment contract and they told us that we should have just come in without it) and she waived the fine for us! Phew! That was a BLESSING!
Friday: same as Wednesday. basically exactly the same.
Saturday: The weather has been doing so well that we wore sandals! For the first time this year. Woohoo! We haven't had a day quite as good as Saturday since, so it's back to regular shoes, but I'm exciting to start wearing my sandals all the time. This is also the day that Sister Dillender started feeling sick. So we were out and about until about 5, and then came home and took naps, I wrote my talk, and we chatted etc. But by the time I was going to bed, I was getting cold chills, body aches, and my stomach was churning. It's not throw-up, just so you know. Use your imagination. Anyway, slept horrible that night.
Woke up Sunday morning and for some strange feeling FELT like throwing up, but it passed really fast. I took medicine, and I was feeling just fine. And I had a talk, so we had to go. And the medicine lasted all through the talk and I sat down and started feeling sick again. Another really BIG BLESSING. Woohoo!
My talk was on "the power to act" -- it went well. My favorite scriptures that I read from it was Alma 24:18 (when I started reading it I thought, what does this have to do with being industrious? That's the topic I had found it under in the topical guide) and so it's the LAST part that I liked. Something about not spending days in idleness. And then I liked D&C 42:42. Something about the lazy person shall not eat the food of the laborer.
I know that all the answers are in the scriptures, and I knew that before this talk, too, but seriously, ALL answers are in the scriptures. It is amazing.
So at the end of sacrament meeting we said goodbye to everyone and hit the road. Went back home, stopped at a little corner shop and bought coke, powerade, fruit tea, and couped up inside the rest of the day. I caught up on my scripture reading (I have plans to read the whole standard works on my mission. And I got behind because my personal studies were spent on my talk) kinda, we wrote in our journals, sat out on the porch in the beautiful weather playing MASH and talking, and just "enjoyed" being sick. Which is not enjoyable at all.
I slept better last night, but... we called the mission president's wife this morning (she's in charge of our physical welfare and GREAT at it) and we made sure that Sister Dillender's unlabeled medicine was what we wanted to take, and I think that it's working, but right now my neck is sore. It was yesterday, too. So I need to buy some water and take some ibuprofen. That's the worst part I think, because I feel like I can't move my head and it just really sucks. I don't mean to complain, but it sucks.
I was glad to read your emails and hear from you!
Sounds like Jude's bday is going to be a bash. You all know what I'm going to be doing to celebrate it! Russian ballet! Woohoo! It was 80 kuna, which is like literally 16 dollars!!!! That's dirt cheap. It will be "Labuđe jezero" which means Swan Lake. It is SO exciting! And yes, Mom, we went together to Nutcracker once. I remember being bored, but that was probably because I was 10. Third grade sometime.
I'm sorry to hear that Olivia has another glioma. Poppy! I'll pray for her as often as I remember.
I'm glad Grandma wants to live again. That's cool that she's doing well enough to stay at home and drive herself to cards, or whatever it was. That's definite improvement!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY JUDE! I almost forgot to even say it.
Love you all tons and tons and tons!
Have fun!
Give all the little kiddies hugs and kisses from their Auntie Keeshie!
Sister Laws
Monday, April 4, 2011
4 travnja 2011
Hi family!
I heard from every single one of you this week! Yeah! That means that Michael wrote me! Michael, that's cool that you went to that festival thingy, my trainer, Sister Whitaker, went to it, too, and she sent some pics for it, too! That's crazy that you were both there! Were there a ton of people? You probably didn't even see her.
Oh, and my bellybutton... well, I have an outie, BUT it's inside. It doesn't stick out. So I guess it's an innie... I have absolutely no idea.
I'm glad to hear that Mom travelled safely home. I'm guessing Grandma decided to stick it out in Sioux Falls? Wasn't she planning on moving to Idaho as Mom came back from South Carolina? Maybe I can't remember right. And Amelia, do you know where you're moving to yet? No one has told me if there's been a decision, and I know it's been crazy with new baby, etc.
Thanks for sending pictures! And ones with Mom and Dad, that was so fun!
This week has been pretty pretty good. I'll go backwards. This morning we found out that Sister Stratton (she was serving in Zagreb) went home due to health problems, we thought if she went home we would end up serving in a trio in Zagreb, but they got a young adult member from Rijeka to go to Zagreb to serve a mini mission with Sister Nelson. So it doesn't really affect us. Sister Dillender and I are still in Zadar! Yay! I am really enjoying Zadar and not looking forward to leaving, so I'm glad that my stay here isn't cut short. BUT I was expecting to be Sister Stratton's companion next transfer, so that really sucks. I was looking forward to it. Next transfer two sisters are coming, so most likely I will be in a trio either here or in Zagreb. There is no telling. I'm crossing my fingers for Zadar, but the likelihood of that is kind of slim.
Also this morning we bought tickets to see Swan Lake performed by the Russian ballet! We didn't know if we would be able to go, because it isn't on pday, it's April 15th, a Friday, but we got permission from President, and THEN we didn't know if we would be able to go because the showing was sold out! But they scheduled another showing and started selling tickets for it this morning at 9am, so where were we this morning at 9 am? That's right. We were buying tickets. I am SO EXCITED. It's a TON cheaper here than it would be in America, so this is like, a once in a lifetime opportunity! I am so stoked! The Russian ballet! And the elders that we're serving with right now are really into music and performances etc. so they are going to appreciate it, too, and it will be really fun. I am so stoked!!!
So yesterday, was Sunday. Last night we watched the Sunday morning session of general conference, in the branch president's office, in Croatian. It was nice. It's really nice to be able to watch general conference, it's like having a piece of home here! On Saturday night we watched the Saturday morning session and before it we had a dinner with the members. Which was really yummy. Sister Dillender and I took mashed potatoes, which the members liked, so I guess we didn't botch it too much. My favorite talk? I don't have my notes with me. I know I liked President Monson's because before conference on Saturday Sister Dillender and me wrote down like, questions we had and what things we wanted to hear or feel while we were watching conference. And one thing I wrote down was it would be nice to hear about temples, and he delivered! But everyone did good. It's cool to see themes from speakers, like Elder Bednar seems to talk about receiving revelation a lot, and Elder Perry talks about youth and young mens and priesthood. Now, if he didn't this time, then I guess I didn't understand the Croatian as much as I thought I did. lol. And then on Saturday, I turned to Sister Dillender and said, "Who do you think the last speaker will be?" and she said, "If it's Eyring the church is true" and it was Eyring! The church is true! Woohoo!
So we've had four elders serving here in Zadar, but as of Thursday two of them left. We knew they were going to, because they were told as much when we got transfer calls, but they were expecting to leave next week. And they got a call from President on Wednesday telling them to pack up. So one was a Serbian elder and he actually went to Rijeka, and the other was our branch president, and he went to Karlovac. So we have a new branch president, another one of the elders, and we're back down to two elders and two sisters here in Zadar. It kinda worried Sister Dillender and me because we were thinking, at any minute we could get a call to tell us to pack up for Zagreb! Ah!! But like I said, we'll be staying here. At least I'm crossing my fingers. This transfer has been pretty crazy with people moving around and stuff. But it's not the end of the world so it's all ok! haha.
So our week was great! We got honked at a couple times, but people were only waving at us. I guess the elders get flipped off fairly regularly. But that doesn't happen to us! And we're looking forward to a good week, and the Russian ballet :D
Have a great week, too!
Love you tons!
Sister Laws
I heard from every single one of you this week! Yeah! That means that Michael wrote me! Michael, that's cool that you went to that festival thingy, my trainer, Sister Whitaker, went to it, too, and she sent some pics for it, too! That's crazy that you were both there! Were there a ton of people? You probably didn't even see her.
Oh, and my bellybutton... well, I have an outie, BUT it's inside. It doesn't stick out. So I guess it's an innie... I have absolutely no idea.
I'm glad to hear that Mom travelled safely home. I'm guessing Grandma decided to stick it out in Sioux Falls? Wasn't she planning on moving to Idaho as Mom came back from South Carolina? Maybe I can't remember right. And Amelia, do you know where you're moving to yet? No one has told me if there's been a decision, and I know it's been crazy with new baby, etc.
Thanks for sending pictures! And ones with Mom and Dad, that was so fun!
This week has been pretty pretty good. I'll go backwards. This morning we found out that Sister Stratton (she was serving in Zagreb) went home due to health problems, we thought if she went home we would end up serving in a trio in Zagreb, but they got a young adult member from Rijeka to go to Zagreb to serve a mini mission with Sister Nelson. So it doesn't really affect us. Sister Dillender and I are still in Zadar! Yay! I am really enjoying Zadar and not looking forward to leaving, so I'm glad that my stay here isn't cut short. BUT I was expecting to be Sister Stratton's companion next transfer, so that really sucks. I was looking forward to it. Next transfer two sisters are coming, so most likely I will be in a trio either here or in Zagreb. There is no telling. I'm crossing my fingers for Zadar, but the likelihood of that is kind of slim.
Also this morning we bought tickets to see Swan Lake performed by the Russian ballet! We didn't know if we would be able to go, because it isn't on pday, it's April 15th, a Friday, but we got permission from President, and THEN we didn't know if we would be able to go because the showing was sold out! But they scheduled another showing and started selling tickets for it this morning at 9am, so where were we this morning at 9 am? That's right. We were buying tickets. I am SO EXCITED. It's a TON cheaper here than it would be in America, so this is like, a once in a lifetime opportunity! I am so stoked! The Russian ballet! And the elders that we're serving with right now are really into music and performances etc. so they are going to appreciate it, too, and it will be really fun. I am so stoked!!!
So yesterday, was Sunday. Last night we watched the Sunday morning session of general conference, in the branch president's office, in Croatian. It was nice. It's really nice to be able to watch general conference, it's like having a piece of home here! On Saturday night we watched the Saturday morning session and before it we had a dinner with the members. Which was really yummy. Sister Dillender and I took mashed potatoes, which the members liked, so I guess we didn't botch it too much. My favorite talk? I don't have my notes with me. I know I liked President Monson's because before conference on Saturday Sister Dillender and me wrote down like, questions we had and what things we wanted to hear or feel while we were watching conference. And one thing I wrote down was it would be nice to hear about temples, and he delivered! But everyone did good. It's cool to see themes from speakers, like Elder Bednar seems to talk about receiving revelation a lot, and Elder Perry talks about youth and young mens and priesthood. Now, if he didn't this time, then I guess I didn't understand the Croatian as much as I thought I did. lol. And then on Saturday, I turned to Sister Dillender and said, "Who do you think the last speaker will be?" and she said, "If it's Eyring the church is true" and it was Eyring! The church is true! Woohoo!
So we've had four elders serving here in Zadar, but as of Thursday two of them left. We knew they were going to, because they were told as much when we got transfer calls, but they were expecting to leave next week. And they got a call from President on Wednesday telling them to pack up. So one was a Serbian elder and he actually went to Rijeka, and the other was our branch president, and he went to Karlovac. So we have a new branch president, another one of the elders, and we're back down to two elders and two sisters here in Zadar. It kinda worried Sister Dillender and me because we were thinking, at any minute we could get a call to tell us to pack up for Zagreb! Ah!! But like I said, we'll be staying here. At least I'm crossing my fingers. This transfer has been pretty crazy with people moving around and stuff. But it's not the end of the world so it's all ok! haha.
So our week was great! We got honked at a couple times, but people were only waving at us. I guess the elders get flipped off fairly regularly. But that doesn't happen to us! And we're looking forward to a good week, and the Russian ballet :D
Have a great week, too!
Love you tons!
Sister Laws
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