Hello family!
I am really tired all of a sudden. I woke up a little earlier this morning to study Croatian, maybe that's why. ...
I shall start at last pday!!
Monday: We went on a hike. I think I mentioned that maybe. It was really fun. 8 missionaries and one member. He was our tour-guide. It was a pretty intense hike, pretty steep and when we got to the top? There was NOTHING. No view, no spectacular feeling of success, just trees. And a restaurant. We bought food and ate and enjoyed each other's company and then me and some of the others RAN DOWN the mountain! It was unbelievably fun. And I was thinking, How could I have gone this far in life, hiking as much as I have, and never have I run down a mountain? And then I realized that I've always been hiking with mom and can you imagine her letting me run head-first down a mountain? It was so much fun. I understand the dangers, though. There's a good chance I won't ever do it again, but this once was really really fun. And we had sore legs for the next three days. So serves us right.
Tuesday: We had mini exchanges because the other sisters had two appointments at the same time. I went with Sister Nelson and we taught a lady who has been translating for the church for a really long time, she speaks a bunch of languages, and she knows a lot of the doctrine, she just has never been taught by missionaries. And Sister Nelson extended a baptismal commitment! So this lady, her name is Marija, is getting baptized this next month. It's really cool. Actually, I don't know if I mentioned this, but last year as a mission we got 28 baptisms, and our goal for this year is to double it. Which means we need 28 baptisms before the 1st of July. So far we have 10 and do you know what? We have seen a true MIRACLE occur in this mission. Right now we have 18 investigators with baptismal dates. So we are going to REACH our GOAL. It is the most amazing miraculous thing I have ever seen. It's SO awesome. One of those people is a guy down in Zadar, and his wife is a member and I taught her a lot of new-member lessons etc. Met with her a lot and they have one daughter. And I found out this morning that he is getting baptized and I couldn't be more happy for him and her and their family. It's SOOO awesome! I can't describe how happy and surprised I felt when I heard that. AMAZING!
That was a long side-note.
Wednesday: we had a couple of appointments with members, one for lunch and another to help her move. She isn't moving yet though, so we just stayed and chatted and had ice-cream. A good missionary day.
Thursday: Nothing exciting.
Friday: Nothing much. we went to the church to pick something up and I saw a member from zadar, she was there for a meeting, so that was fun. I asked her how everyone was and caught up really fast. And then saw her again on Sunday for church. And then Friday night we had "date night" with the other sisters and sat around eating junk food and talking about stuff. It's pretty fun having four of us in one apartment.
Saturday: I got my package! Yay! Thank you so much, Mom, you really delivered on the crackers. I ate some better cheddars last night and it was so great. It really hit the spot. The cookies are good, but they didn't travel as well as some of the other ones you've sent. So a little stale, but still tastes like home! And I've been reading the conference edition ever since. The pictures in that are AMAZING! Wow. Ooh, and somewhere towards the back there's a picture of some girls reading the Book of Mormon, or should I say "Mormonova Knjiga" because they were from SLOVENIA! That's my mission! Cool cool. And I also got a letter from Jesse! Good to hear from you!
Sunday: an inactive member came that we had visited. Well, we went over on her birthday and gave her a card. And she came to church, that was cool. She didn't stay for sunday school or relief society, but it was good to see her. Then we had choir afterwards, that is so much fun. I'm doing alto and it's hard! But I'm getting a little better at it. We will be performing for district conference in a couple weeks. That means all the members in all of Croatia are coming to Zagreb and we will be singing for them! Yikes! That will be good..?
And finally today. We are planning on going to a park and playing some volleyball and having a picnic with everyone. That will be fun. So overall? I had a GREAT week.
Wow, it's pretty amazing being a missionary.
To answer some questions: yes, I was once in a mission newsletter as a greenie. I have a copy of that Harvest, so you can see it when I come home. We also get the newsletter, it's pretty fun.
My hand is fine, it healed very quickly. The wound was quite small, no worries!
I don't know of any good cello music, Mom, but I feel like I should... Maybe on one of the CDs I have or have heard recently it had cello. I'll think about it. Right now, actually, in the library someone is giving a performance. The piano and I'm guessing a violin. So we have some very good mood music, it's really pretty, too. I wouldn't mind a CD of this kind of stuff. I think this is something they do every Monday, let someone come and perform. It's awesome.
Elder Fowler is going home pretty soon. One month. Kinda weird, because he's been assistant to the president almost my entire mission. There was an elder who went home at the very beginning of May and he's already engaged! That's crazy. Sister Hill said she thought that was the record for missionaries that they've sent home. He was engaged after two weeks, I think. Anyway, I heard some elders joking about Elder Fowler beating that record.
But I don't know anything more about that.
It's so great to hear that you're all doing good! Love you tons and thank you for all the love and support!
You are my heroes!
Sister Laws
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Monday, May 23, 2011
23 svibnja 2011
Hi family!
I'm guessing you've all been busy because I only heard from mom, dad and Kelsey this week. And Kelsey didn't have time to send pictures. Or you forgot :( I just realized that I didn't get any pictures this week. Oh well.
HOW ARE YOU??
I'm great. I had a great week so I'll start at last Monday. I already told you (I think) that we helped out at the old church in the morning, so that was the first time I got to see it. It's pretty cool. We had english class sign-ups that night and it wasn't very busy so I spent a lot of the time watching general conference and putting introductions into book of mormons (we have to glue them in). That was good. I love conference and I can't WAIT to get the conference edition. I haven't gotten my package yet, but I'm sure it's coming. We do get mail a little more often here in Zagreb, because people are passing through etc. So that's good. I'll get it soon.
On Tuesday we got a new investigator. His name is Darko. So mine and Sister Creager's first investigator together. We didn't inherit anyone. But we'll actually be handing him over to the elders, because it's recommended that women teach women, men teach men. That sort of thing. And I think it will be good for him.
Wednesday we went contacting in this big park that we've never been to. The sisters told us about it. And it is a really cool cool park. It has a couple of really awesome playgrounds and a little lake and it's big, so there's lots of picnic tables and benches and a long looped pathway. I highly recommend this park if any of you are planning on visiting Croatia with your kids. It's awesome. We're planning on going one pday and playing on the playground. Because it's pretty stinking cool.
Thursday we had a lesson with Darko. That was the only really exciting thing. And Sister Dillender called to ask me something, so we caught up a little bit. Like, on whats happened the last two weeks, haha. But it was nice to hear from her.
Friday we had a meeting with President Hill and Sister Hill and the other greenies (except for Sister Dillender and Sister Milius didn't come up for it) there were two new elders and their trainers there. And it was just basically for the greenies, so we talked about rules and health and simple stuff like that. Not very exciting. But because president and Sister Hill were in town they went to a concert Friday night, one of the members here is from China and he plays in an orchestra and gives us missionaries tickets sometimes. So Sister Creager and I were invited too! and two elders, so! That was super fun. So that was Friday night. It was a pretty good concert. A big orchestra. And one song, by Franz Liszt (or something like that) they put a big piano out. Sister Creager said it's the best piano you could get. The highest quality etc. And a special piano man came out and played with the orchestra and he was SOOOO good. He killed that piano, like, he was a whizz. It was so good and so awesome. we weren't at the very best angle, but we could kinda see his hands, and they were flying. cool.
Saturday we were out working and a storm moved in. So on our way home for dinner it started to rain and we didn't have umbrellas or anything, so we got completely one hundred percent soaked. I love rain. So I didn't care, it was fun for me. But we were really soaked. We paused under an underpass while it was hailing. It was raining so hard. And thunder and a really good storm.
And lastly, yesterday, Sunday, I gave a talk in church. It only needed to be 5 minutes so it was easy. So the talk was on recognizing personal revelation. And I used the story of Nephi killing Laban. But I figured I'd just be talking to a bunch of members, so they'd know the story and I didn't need to worry about explaining it that much. Well right when we got there we found out that one of the members was bringing her neighbor. And then two of the sisters' investigators showed up and one of them just barely started investigating. So I had to do a little bit of impromptu to clarify the story and explain it better. I hope I didn't scare anyone away. "And the Spirit told him to, so Nephi killed Laban" and they never come back.haha. just kidding.
Also yesterday, we were all at home making lunch together and we have a dishwasher, but we just use it as a drying rack, because by the time we fill the dishwasher we don't have any dishes and it takes too long. Anyway, so I was reaching into the dishwasher and I stabbed my hand with a knife that was facing upward, it hurt pretty bad. It's not terribly deep, definitely not big or a big deal but it bled pretty good for a second until I got some pressure on it and now it's a little sore. It was sad :(
Yeah, that was my entire week! It was good. Today we're going on a hike with some members and all the missionaries. Should be pretty fun.
Oh, this is random. But we got a package from two sisters who served here and went home last year, so they sent a package to all the sisters here with some reese's and oreos and letters. Pretty fun. And they wrote us letters. And one of them told me she met Angela Walter at school and she said Angela went on a mission! Cool huh? I had no idea, I never heard that. She couldn't exactly remember where to, but she said east coast somewhere. Cool, huh? It makes me wonder how many other people have left on missions and I haven't heard about it. I think Michael should make that a project - go on facebook and see how many people we know are on missions. Or how many people I know, haha. Ok, you don't have to.
HAVE A GREAT WEEK!
Keep me up-to-date on tennis, I can't believe the French open started. That means it's almost June! That means we're almost halfway through this year!! I can't believe that! When I think about it that way it seems like everything has gone by so fast. WEIRD.
Love you all!
Sister Laws
I'm guessing you've all been busy because I only heard from mom, dad and Kelsey this week. And Kelsey didn't have time to send pictures. Or you forgot :( I just realized that I didn't get any pictures this week. Oh well.
HOW ARE YOU??
I'm great. I had a great week so I'll start at last Monday. I already told you (I think) that we helped out at the old church in the morning, so that was the first time I got to see it. It's pretty cool. We had english class sign-ups that night and it wasn't very busy so I spent a lot of the time watching general conference and putting introductions into book of mormons (we have to glue them in). That was good. I love conference and I can't WAIT to get the conference edition. I haven't gotten my package yet, but I'm sure it's coming. We do get mail a little more often here in Zagreb, because people are passing through etc. So that's good. I'll get it soon.
On Tuesday we got a new investigator. His name is Darko. So mine and Sister Creager's first investigator together. We didn't inherit anyone. But we'll actually be handing him over to the elders, because it's recommended that women teach women, men teach men. That sort of thing. And I think it will be good for him.
Wednesday we went contacting in this big park that we've never been to. The sisters told us about it. And it is a really cool cool park. It has a couple of really awesome playgrounds and a little lake and it's big, so there's lots of picnic tables and benches and a long looped pathway. I highly recommend this park if any of you are planning on visiting Croatia with your kids. It's awesome. We're planning on going one pday and playing on the playground. Because it's pretty stinking cool.
Thursday we had a lesson with Darko. That was the only really exciting thing. And Sister Dillender called to ask me something, so we caught up a little bit. Like, on whats happened the last two weeks, haha. But it was nice to hear from her.
Friday we had a meeting with President Hill and Sister Hill and the other greenies (except for Sister Dillender and Sister Milius didn't come up for it) there were two new elders and their trainers there. And it was just basically for the greenies, so we talked about rules and health and simple stuff like that. Not very exciting. But because president and Sister Hill were in town they went to a concert Friday night, one of the members here is from China and he plays in an orchestra and gives us missionaries tickets sometimes. So Sister Creager and I were invited too! and two elders, so! That was super fun. So that was Friday night. It was a pretty good concert. A big orchestra. And one song, by Franz Liszt (or something like that) they put a big piano out. Sister Creager said it's the best piano you could get. The highest quality etc. And a special piano man came out and played with the orchestra and he was SOOOO good. He killed that piano, like, he was a whizz. It was so good and so awesome. we weren't at the very best angle, but we could kinda see his hands, and they were flying. cool.
Saturday we were out working and a storm moved in. So on our way home for dinner it started to rain and we didn't have umbrellas or anything, so we got completely one hundred percent soaked. I love rain. So I didn't care, it was fun for me. But we were really soaked. We paused under an underpass while it was hailing. It was raining so hard. And thunder and a really good storm.
And lastly, yesterday, Sunday, I gave a talk in church. It only needed to be 5 minutes so it was easy. So the talk was on recognizing personal revelation. And I used the story of Nephi killing Laban. But I figured I'd just be talking to a bunch of members, so they'd know the story and I didn't need to worry about explaining it that much. Well right when we got there we found out that one of the members was bringing her neighbor. And then two of the sisters' investigators showed up and one of them just barely started investigating. So I had to do a little bit of impromptu to clarify the story and explain it better. I hope I didn't scare anyone away. "And the Spirit told him to, so Nephi killed Laban" and they never come back.haha. just kidding.
Also yesterday, we were all at home making lunch together and we have a dishwasher, but we just use it as a drying rack, because by the time we fill the dishwasher we don't have any dishes and it takes too long. Anyway, so I was reaching into the dishwasher and I stabbed my hand with a knife that was facing upward, it hurt pretty bad. It's not terribly deep, definitely not big or a big deal but it bled pretty good for a second until I got some pressure on it and now it's a little sore. It was sad :(
Yeah, that was my entire week! It was good. Today we're going on a hike with some members and all the missionaries. Should be pretty fun.
Oh, this is random. But we got a package from two sisters who served here and went home last year, so they sent a package to all the sisters here with some reese's and oreos and letters. Pretty fun. And they wrote us letters. And one of them told me she met Angela Walter at school and she said Angela went on a mission! Cool huh? I had no idea, I never heard that. She couldn't exactly remember where to, but she said east coast somewhere. Cool, huh? It makes me wonder how many other people have left on missions and I haven't heard about it. I think Michael should make that a project - go on facebook and see how many people we know are on missions. Or how many people I know, haha. Ok, you don't have to.
HAVE A GREAT WEEK!
Keep me up-to-date on tennis, I can't believe the French open started. That means it's almost June! That means we're almost halfway through this year!! I can't believe that! When I think about it that way it seems like everything has gone by so fast. WEIRD.
Love you all!
Sister Laws
Monday, May 16, 2011
16 May 2011
Dear family,
HOW ARE YOU!?
Guess what?
My COMPANION FAINTED THIS WEEK! while we were on a tram. It was... Ok, I was laughing because this would be my SECOND companion to faint. So it was funny to me. Otherwise, maybe not so much.
This is the story:
We woke up early to go to the police station for some visa stuff. Sister Creager wasn't feeling so well (which she told me after she fainted), hadn't slept well the night before and felt hot already, we left the house late so we walked fast. We got on the tram. It was a rainy-ish day, so the tram heaters were on, or it was just stuffy, and as we go along people are getting onboard. So in a short time the tram is full. Sister Creager is hot, she doesn't feel well, and all of a sudden a little claustrophobic. Closes her eyes for a second (oh, we're standing ok, hard to explain. but there's a part of the tram that has flexible "walls" so that it can turn, and that part is kinda cushiony, so we're standing next to and leaning up against that) I turn and look at her because she starts leaning against me, which is fine, but surprises me, and I see that her eyes are closed and that her head is lolling and she starts to slide down the wall, by this time it has hit me that my companion has fainted, so I'm saying "sister creager?? Sister creager??" and kinda holding her up/sliding down the wall with her. Croats start swarming, sister creager wakes up, they're all talking to her, trying to help her stand up, telling her to sit down (someone gave up his seat for her, that was nice) and then realizing that she doesn't understand them. She says, Oh thanks. (in english) And sits down. I'm standing right behind her chair and am like, I can't believe that just happened.... So we go to a cafe and buy juice and then go buy some food from a bakery ( we didn't have time to eat that morning) and then head all the way back home and she spends the rest of the day sleeping.
It was an experience.
Is there like, what am I doing to make all these people around me faint?? I dunno. I think it's pretty funny. Now, but not when it's happening. So that was the most exciting thing.
Another good story: we were tracting and we found a very large building. We went in, and up to the top floor, floor 16 or something. But it was the end of the day so we only tracted a couple of floors and no one but old people were answering, so we call it quits. We go to the elevator and call it, it comes up, we go to open the door and it won't open. So we're like, that's kinda weird. The elevator came but the door didn't unlock. (I hope this story makes sense, because I just realized that elevators are different here. There's just, a door that you open, instead of the doors sliding open.) So we go around a corner to the second elevator (it's quite a large building, so it has 3 elevators) and call it, and it comes, and AGAIN we can't open the door - and that's when we realize that you need a KEY to use the elevator. A KEY! We didn't need one to come up, but you have to have one to go down. It was extremely strange. So we walked down however many flights of elevators -- we actually kinda fled down them, because the building was a little scary and I got scared. It was very weird, that's the first time I've seen that.
Good things that happened this week: On Thursday we got the bright idea (the Spirit told us) to call members whose birthday were in the month of May, we look through the member list and there are THREE people with birthdays THAT day. So that was cool. We got ahold of two of them and they were both pleasantly surprised and happy to receive birthday wishes from us. That was really awesome.
And last story: Sister Nelson and Sister Hači had a lesson with two guys and it went kinda bad, but after that they went to the bus stop and saw the two guys, and they were pretending to be missionaries! They had the Book of Mormon that the sisters had given them and they were trying to talk to people on the street, so they saw the sisters and came over and said "I can't believe you do this everyday, this is so hard, no one is stopping --" so they were, so funny, trying to be missionaries. I guess to see how it was, I dunno. It was funny to hear about.
Today, so far, is a good day. I'm sorry if Amelia woke up early to read this, because we're here at the library a little later than usual. So you've probably been awake for a while :/ We got up early and went to the police station (since we didn't make it on Friday) and then helped out at the old church building, to clean it up. We have an old building, where church used to be, it's an apartment, and they're cleaning it up because that is going to be the new mission office. The mission home will be separate somewhere. I don't know details. Oh, and we heard that the mission president's name has been announced, but we won't hear about it until Friday. For some reason that I don't know. So you could all find out who he is before any of us. Again, I don't really know details. So anyway. Now we're here.
Happy Birthday Jolie! yesterday. I didn't even think about it last week, and then yesterday I was looking at my calendar and was like, it's her birthday tomorrow! because the whole day I thought it was a Saturday. I dunno know why. And then realized that her bday was that day, as in yesterday, and I forgot.
Happy know-whats-happening-with-the-future to Amelia and Brent! Wow, moving to Texas. That's a strange state... people are weird there. I actually think that one of the girls from my ULM volelyball team was from Arlington. Or two fo them. Hard to remember. YAY! It's nice to know.
And lastly, congratulations to Jesse's husband's brother on his wedding. That's cool beans. It's cool that you (Jesse) got to go and dance up a storm.
Thanks mom, for sending a package my way! Something wonderful and magnificent to look forward to. Sister Creager got a letter from her brother SIX DAYS after he sent it. He's in the MTC right now. SIX DAYS! I can't believe that. So maybe this will be fast, too.
How's my new area? Good. We've got the most important trams down, and have ventured a little more out into our wider area. People are nice. We've moved all into our apartment. Mostly all settled in. Enter apartment: to the left is the other sisters' bedroom and a "getting ready room" without beds and with all the closet space. straight ahead is the bathroom. To the right is the living room, around the corner is the dining/kitchen. And then there's a rickety spiral staircase, small, that goes to the upstairs. Where we live, it's kinda like a loft. We have mattresses on the ground and slanting ceilings. We don't have any furniture so we furnished some bedside tables from some cinderblocks in the sisters' clsoet (which is a little scary. hasn't been touched in a while. full of old clothes and shoes and random stuff) and we bought some fancy boxes for our study materials. So it's a little home now. Pretty nice up there, really. I like it. New companion? well the two sick days we had this week gave us the opportunity to get to know each other a little more. Sister Creager is great. It's been good with her. AND that is that. I'm pretty sure. So. cool.
LOVE YOU ALL!
Have a gerat week. Give the kiddies and babies hugs and kisses from Auntie Keshie --
LOVE, SISTER LAWS
HOW ARE YOU!?
Guess what?
My COMPANION FAINTED THIS WEEK! while we were on a tram. It was... Ok, I was laughing because this would be my SECOND companion to faint. So it was funny to me. Otherwise, maybe not so much.
This is the story:
We woke up early to go to the police station for some visa stuff. Sister Creager wasn't feeling so well (which she told me after she fainted), hadn't slept well the night before and felt hot already, we left the house late so we walked fast. We got on the tram. It was a rainy-ish day, so the tram heaters were on, or it was just stuffy, and as we go along people are getting onboard. So in a short time the tram is full. Sister Creager is hot, she doesn't feel well, and all of a sudden a little claustrophobic. Closes her eyes for a second (oh, we're standing ok, hard to explain. but there's a part of the tram that has flexible "walls" so that it can turn, and that part is kinda cushiony, so we're standing next to and leaning up against that) I turn and look at her because she starts leaning against me, which is fine, but surprises me, and I see that her eyes are closed and that her head is lolling and she starts to slide down the wall, by this time it has hit me that my companion has fainted, so I'm saying "sister creager?? Sister creager??" and kinda holding her up/sliding down the wall with her. Croats start swarming, sister creager wakes up, they're all talking to her, trying to help her stand up, telling her to sit down (someone gave up his seat for her, that was nice) and then realizing that she doesn't understand them. She says, Oh thanks. (in english) And sits down. I'm standing right behind her chair and am like, I can't believe that just happened.... So we go to a cafe and buy juice and then go buy some food from a bakery ( we didn't have time to eat that morning) and then head all the way back home and she spends the rest of the day sleeping.
It was an experience.
Is there like, what am I doing to make all these people around me faint?? I dunno. I think it's pretty funny. Now, but not when it's happening. So that was the most exciting thing.
Another good story: we were tracting and we found a very large building. We went in, and up to the top floor, floor 16 or something. But it was the end of the day so we only tracted a couple of floors and no one but old people were answering, so we call it quits. We go to the elevator and call it, it comes up, we go to open the door and it won't open. So we're like, that's kinda weird. The elevator came but the door didn't unlock. (I hope this story makes sense, because I just realized that elevators are different here. There's just, a door that you open, instead of the doors sliding open.) So we go around a corner to the second elevator (it's quite a large building, so it has 3 elevators) and call it, and it comes, and AGAIN we can't open the door - and that's when we realize that you need a KEY to use the elevator. A KEY! We didn't need one to come up, but you have to have one to go down. It was extremely strange. So we walked down however many flights of elevators -- we actually kinda fled down them, because the building was a little scary and I got scared. It was very weird, that's the first time I've seen that.
Good things that happened this week: On Thursday we got the bright idea (the Spirit told us) to call members whose birthday were in the month of May, we look through the member list and there are THREE people with birthdays THAT day. So that was cool. We got ahold of two of them and they were both pleasantly surprised and happy to receive birthday wishes from us. That was really awesome.
And last story: Sister Nelson and Sister Hači had a lesson with two guys and it went kinda bad, but after that they went to the bus stop and saw the two guys, and they were pretending to be missionaries! They had the Book of Mormon that the sisters had given them and they were trying to talk to people on the street, so they saw the sisters and came over and said "I can't believe you do this everyday, this is so hard, no one is stopping --" so they were, so funny, trying to be missionaries. I guess to see how it was, I dunno. It was funny to hear about.
Today, so far, is a good day. I'm sorry if Amelia woke up early to read this, because we're here at the library a little later than usual. So you've probably been awake for a while :/ We got up early and went to the police station (since we didn't make it on Friday) and then helped out at the old church building, to clean it up. We have an old building, where church used to be, it's an apartment, and they're cleaning it up because that is going to be the new mission office. The mission home will be separate somewhere. I don't know details. Oh, and we heard that the mission president's name has been announced, but we won't hear about it until Friday. For some reason that I don't know. So you could all find out who he is before any of us. Again, I don't really know details. So anyway. Now we're here.
Happy Birthday Jolie! yesterday. I didn't even think about it last week, and then yesterday I was looking at my calendar and was like, it's her birthday tomorrow! because the whole day I thought it was a Saturday. I dunno know why. And then realized that her bday was that day, as in yesterday, and I forgot.
Happy know-whats-happening-with-the-future to Amelia and Brent! Wow, moving to Texas. That's a strange state... people are weird there. I actually think that one of the girls from my ULM volelyball team was from Arlington. Or two fo them. Hard to remember. YAY! It's nice to know.
And lastly, congratulations to Jesse's husband's brother on his wedding. That's cool beans. It's cool that you (Jesse) got to go and dance up a storm.
Thanks mom, for sending a package my way! Something wonderful and magnificent to look forward to. Sister Creager got a letter from her brother SIX DAYS after he sent it. He's in the MTC right now. SIX DAYS! I can't believe that. So maybe this will be fast, too.
How's my new area? Good. We've got the most important trams down, and have ventured a little more out into our wider area. People are nice. We've moved all into our apartment. Mostly all settled in. Enter apartment: to the left is the other sisters' bedroom and a "getting ready room" without beds and with all the closet space. straight ahead is the bathroom. To the right is the living room, around the corner is the dining/kitchen. And then there's a rickety spiral staircase, small, that goes to the upstairs. Where we live, it's kinda like a loft. We have mattresses on the ground and slanting ceilings. We don't have any furniture so we furnished some bedside tables from some cinderblocks in the sisters' clsoet (which is a little scary. hasn't been touched in a while. full of old clothes and shoes and random stuff) and we bought some fancy boxes for our study materials. So it's a little home now. Pretty nice up there, really. I like it. New companion? well the two sick days we had this week gave us the opportunity to get to know each other a little more. Sister Creager is great. It's been good with her. AND that is that. I'm pretty sure. So. cool.
LOVE YOU ALL!
Have a gerat week. Give the kiddies and babies hugs and kisses from Auntie Keshie --
LOVE, SISTER LAWS
Monday, May 9, 2011
9 svibnja 2011
Family,
I don't have a lot of time to email, luckily yesterday was mother's day so you're all caught up on how I'm doing!! It was really nice to hear your voices (except for Jesse :( next time you travel don't forget your phone!)
We finished out yesterday with a big missionary dinner, everyone was at the church with phones and taking turns etc. It was a fun day.
Just a little bit more about my companion: she's from Arizona, little town outside of Mesa, but she's lived in California, Maryland (?or somewhere on the east coast, I can't remember) and one or two other places. Her brother is going to a mission in Argentina and just reported to the MTC last week, and she has one younger sister who is 8. She's doing really good, she wasn't sure she knew Croatian all that well, but she's done well the last few days and has a bit more confidence. She'll be a great missionary.
I'm sitting in the Zagreb library right now, it kinda makes me want to read books, haha. But it's really nice and not a bar like mom was worried about, so that's good.
Have a great week!
Sister Laws
I don't have a lot of time to email, luckily yesterday was mother's day so you're all caught up on how I'm doing!! It was really nice to hear your voices (except for Jesse :( next time you travel don't forget your phone!)
We finished out yesterday with a big missionary dinner, everyone was at the church with phones and taking turns etc. It was a fun day.
Just a little bit more about my companion: she's from Arizona, little town outside of Mesa, but she's lived in California, Maryland (?or somewhere on the east coast, I can't remember) and one or two other places. Her brother is going to a mission in Argentina and just reported to the MTC last week, and she has one younger sister who is 8. She's doing really good, she wasn't sure she knew Croatian all that well, but she's done well the last few days and has a bit more confidence. She'll be a great missionary.
I'm sitting in the Zagreb library right now, it kinda makes me want to read books, haha. But it's really nice and not a bar like mom was worried about, so that's good.
Have a great week!
Sister Laws
Monday, May 2, 2011
2 May 2011
It's MAY! FINALLY!
I don't know why, but April was really dragging along for me. Maybe because we were waiting for transfers and mother's day.
So TRANSFERS- I'M TRAINING!!!!!!! AHHHHHHHH!!!
I have to tell you all, that I was not expecting to train this transfer. Next transfer, yes, because I'll be the oldest missionary and there's one sister coming, but this transfer? Was not expecting it.
There will be two new sisters, Sister Dillender is training the other one here in Zadar, and I'll be training in Zagreb.
Yikes! I am going to be in a new city, in the biggest city in Croatia, with trams and buses and confusion, with a greenie! It's going to be really fun.
That leaves Sister Nelson with Sister Hači (the sister on a mini mission, she's native) and they'll be in Zagreb, too, and because we temporarily have 6 sisters we will all four of us be living in one apartment this transfer. FUN!
It's going to be crazy crazy crazy!!!
I am nervous. I had no idea that I'd be this stressed out about it. But, a good stressed I think. The kind that makes you work harder.
And packing?? I have so much stuff. I know I have four months left, but I'm not entirely sure how I'll get everything home that I'll want to bring home. Well, it will all work out in its own due time.
Because I'm leaving Zadar I am being showered by affection from people. For example, yesterday a member gave me a Croatian license plate! For some reason all the missionaries here want license plates. I never really understood it, and I promised Sister Dillender that if I found one I'd give it to her, because she really wants one. Anyway, so this member knew that and she gave me one and then she said she had one for Sister Dillender, too! So she gave her the second one from the same car and we have matching license plates and I'm so excited! I didn't want one, but now that I have one I'm excited about it.
And tonight is family home evening, we have that every week for everyone in the branch, and the members are planning a party for me. It's going to be fun, they're all so nice and sweet.
I maybe feel a little bad, because I'm not sure how sad I am to leave, just because I knew the day would come and I'm excited for a new phase of the mission, but I'm getting pictures with all of them and made cute cards out of pictures from ensigns, so they'll feel loved, too, and I'll miss them later. It's nice to know such great people.
Last Tuesday I found out that the Pope is coming to Zagreb the 4th and 5th of June! I'm excited to be in the city for that, it's a big deal for this Catholic country. The lady who told us knows and remembers every time and place that the last Pope came to Croatia. And this is Pope Benedict's first visit. So it's a big deal. I'm hoping to get a picture of him or something. It will be cool.
We got transfer calls on Wednesday, Elder Fowler (from Idaho, he's the assistant to the president and President Hill lets them call sometimes) and he said "Sister Laws, you'll be going to Zagreb" and I was like, OK so I'll serve with Sister Hači, because that's totally what I was expecting. "and you'll be serving with a great sister," I'm still thinking Sister Hači. "Sister Creager-" and I thought, wait a second, that isn't Sister Hači! What??? and I asked "wait, did you just say Sister Creager??" And he said, yeah, you'll be training and then he told Sister Dillender that she's training. Anyway, that was really fun.
On Friday we were at a restaurant and saw Prince William's wedding on tv. That was quite something. We obviously didn't watch the whole thing (we weren't there that long, oh and we're missionaries so that would be inappropriate :)) but we saw enough. So I will always remember that I was in Croatia when he got married.
Saturday we had zone conference, so we went up to Zagreb. And we saw everybody, and most of the missionaries just switched then, so everyone's in their new cities with their new companions except for those of us training. So I'm still in Zadar right now with Sister Dillender. The newbies come in on Wednesday, so I'll have a lot to tell you next week!
And I met Sis Hači, she told me I look like I'm from England or Australia. I thought that was cool.
And President told us that because the new mission president is coming in (he couldn't tell us his name, so I still don't know that) this next transfer is only 8 weeks long and Sister Dillender's entire group is going home a week early! Crazy!
So they'll be home for the fourth of July. So they're all really excited about that. It's really crazy how many crazy things like that can happen. All of a sudden their mission is a week shorter. Weird.
Also at zone conference my district performed a musical number. The two elders here, I may have mentioned before, are both very musical, so they had the bright idea that we'd sing accapella. Nerve-racking! I would tell you I'll send the video, but I doubt the computer will be able to. Lame. Anyway, so me and Sister Dillender survived that. We sang Redeemer of Isreal, and I got the easy part, soprano, so it wasn't too hard for me. A new experience.
AND lastly, mother's day. I have a new phone number, it's 091-444-8086. And you'll have to call again, so do everything the same as last time, same country code etc. I'm not 100% sure when to have you call, but I'll stop and drop everything that I'm doing whenever it is. So maybe, if you want to call in the morning then call at 8, otherwise call at... noon. Or earlier than 8 is good, too. I dunno. In the morning is probably best. I don't know when Sister Creager's family will call, so if they call at the same time I will probably give her the first shot, since it's her first call in the country. She's from Arizona, but that's the only thing I know about her. OK. I'm sure we'll get that all worked out no problem. So call until you get me, I guess :)
AND I'm thinking that's everything.
So yeah, good week and a good week ahead of me!
It was so good to hear from you all, love you tons and to pieces!
Looking forward to hearing from mom and whoever else!
LOVE YOU
Sister Laws
I don't know why, but April was really dragging along for me. Maybe because we were waiting for transfers and mother's day.
So TRANSFERS- I'M TRAINING!!!!!!! AHHHHHHHH!!!
I have to tell you all, that I was not expecting to train this transfer. Next transfer, yes, because I'll be the oldest missionary and there's one sister coming, but this transfer? Was not expecting it.
There will be two new sisters, Sister Dillender is training the other one here in Zadar, and I'll be training in Zagreb.
Yikes! I am going to be in a new city, in the biggest city in Croatia, with trams and buses and confusion, with a greenie! It's going to be really fun.
That leaves Sister Nelson with Sister Hači (the sister on a mini mission, she's native) and they'll be in Zagreb, too, and because we temporarily have 6 sisters we will all four of us be living in one apartment this transfer. FUN!
It's going to be crazy crazy crazy!!!
I am nervous. I had no idea that I'd be this stressed out about it. But, a good stressed I think. The kind that makes you work harder.
And packing?? I have so much stuff. I know I have four months left, but I'm not entirely sure how I'll get everything home that I'll want to bring home. Well, it will all work out in its own due time.
Because I'm leaving Zadar I am being showered by affection from people. For example, yesterday a member gave me a Croatian license plate! For some reason all the missionaries here want license plates. I never really understood it, and I promised Sister Dillender that if I found one I'd give it to her, because she really wants one. Anyway, so this member knew that and she gave me one and then she said she had one for Sister Dillender, too! So she gave her the second one from the same car and we have matching license plates and I'm so excited! I didn't want one, but now that I have one I'm excited about it.
And tonight is family home evening, we have that every week for everyone in the branch, and the members are planning a party for me. It's going to be fun, they're all so nice and sweet.
I maybe feel a little bad, because I'm not sure how sad I am to leave, just because I knew the day would come and I'm excited for a new phase of the mission, but I'm getting pictures with all of them and made cute cards out of pictures from ensigns, so they'll feel loved, too, and I'll miss them later. It's nice to know such great people.
Last Tuesday I found out that the Pope is coming to Zagreb the 4th and 5th of June! I'm excited to be in the city for that, it's a big deal for this Catholic country. The lady who told us knows and remembers every time and place that the last Pope came to Croatia. And this is Pope Benedict's first visit. So it's a big deal. I'm hoping to get a picture of him or something. It will be cool.
We got transfer calls on Wednesday, Elder Fowler (from Idaho, he's the assistant to the president and President Hill lets them call sometimes) and he said "Sister Laws, you'll be going to Zagreb" and I was like, OK so I'll serve with Sister Hači, because that's totally what I was expecting. "and you'll be serving with a great sister," I'm still thinking Sister Hači. "Sister Creager-" and I thought, wait a second, that isn't Sister Hači! What??? and I asked "wait, did you just say Sister Creager??" And he said, yeah, you'll be training and then he told Sister Dillender that she's training. Anyway, that was really fun.
On Friday we were at a restaurant and saw Prince William's wedding on tv. That was quite something. We obviously didn't watch the whole thing (we weren't there that long, oh and we're missionaries so that would be inappropriate :)) but we saw enough. So I will always remember that I was in Croatia when he got married.
Saturday we had zone conference, so we went up to Zagreb. And we saw everybody, and most of the missionaries just switched then, so everyone's in their new cities with their new companions except for those of us training. So I'm still in Zadar right now with Sister Dillender. The newbies come in on Wednesday, so I'll have a lot to tell you next week!
And I met Sis Hači, she told me I look like I'm from England or Australia. I thought that was cool.
And President told us that because the new mission president is coming in (he couldn't tell us his name, so I still don't know that) this next transfer is only 8 weeks long and Sister Dillender's entire group is going home a week early! Crazy!
So they'll be home for the fourth of July. So they're all really excited about that. It's really crazy how many crazy things like that can happen. All of a sudden their mission is a week shorter. Weird.
Also at zone conference my district performed a musical number. The two elders here, I may have mentioned before, are both very musical, so they had the bright idea that we'd sing accapella. Nerve-racking! I would tell you I'll send the video, but I doubt the computer will be able to. Lame. Anyway, so me and Sister Dillender survived that. We sang Redeemer of Isreal, and I got the easy part, soprano, so it wasn't too hard for me. A new experience.
AND lastly, mother's day. I have a new phone number, it's 091-444-8086. And you'll have to call again, so do everything the same as last time, same country code etc. I'm not 100% sure when to have you call, but I'll stop and drop everything that I'm doing whenever it is. So maybe, if you want to call in the morning then call at 8, otherwise call at... noon. Or earlier than 8 is good, too. I dunno. In the morning is probably best. I don't know when Sister Creager's family will call, so if they call at the same time I will probably give her the first shot, since it's her first call in the country. She's from Arizona, but that's the only thing I know about her. OK. I'm sure we'll get that all worked out no problem. So call until you get me, I guess :)
AND I'm thinking that's everything.
So yeah, good week and a good week ahead of me!
It was so good to hear from you all, love you tons and to pieces!
Looking forward to hearing from mom and whoever else!
LOVE YOU
Sister Laws
Dear Brother and Sister Laws
THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS
THE SLOVENIA/CROATIA MISSION
MOLEKOVA ULICA 3
1211 LJUBLJANA-ŠMARTNO
SLOVENIA
OFFICE TEL: 386 1 511 0593
FAX: 386 1 511 0122
E-MAIL: 2010550@LDSCHURCH.ORG
MISSION PRESIDENT: TEL: 386 1 511 0594
FAX: 386 1 511 0123
E-MAIL: D76HILL@GMAIL.COM
Dear Brother and Sister Laws,
It is with great pleasure that I inform you of the call of your daughter, Sister Keshia Laws, to serve as a new missionary trainer. This is the most important assignment a missionary can be asked to fulfill.
She has served well and proven herself to be a successful missionary and one worthy to guide the progress of another.
As a new missionary trainer, she will now have the opportunity to widen and expand leadership skills by teaching a new missionary how to share the gospel.
We truly appreciate Sister Laws and are grateful for her contribution to the Lord's work in our mission. Thank you for sharing her with us.
Sincerely,
David H. Hill
Mission President
Slovenia/Croatia Mission
THE SLOVENIA/CROATIA MISSION
MOLEKOVA ULICA 3
1211 LJUBLJANA-ŠMARTNO
SLOVENIA
OFFICE TEL: 386 1 511 0593
FAX: 386 1 511 0122
E-MAIL: 2010550@LDSCHURCH.ORG
MISSION PRESIDENT: TEL: 386 1 511 0594
FAX: 386 1 511 0123
E-MAIL: D76HILL@GMAIL.COM
Dear Brother and Sister Laws,
It is with great pleasure that I inform you of the call of your daughter, Sister Keshia Laws, to serve as a new missionary trainer. This is the most important assignment a missionary can be asked to fulfill.
She has served well and proven herself to be a successful missionary and one worthy to guide the progress of another.
As a new missionary trainer, she will now have the opportunity to widen and expand leadership skills by teaching a new missionary how to share the gospel.
We truly appreciate Sister Laws and are grateful for her contribution to the Lord's work in our mission. Thank you for sharing her with us.
Sincerely,
David H. Hill
Mission President
Slovenia/Croatia Mission
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