Hello from Bosnia‏

Well...I finally made it to Bosnia this week! I will give more info on that later. I will first start with my last few days in Zadar.

 

Monday...we had a fun Pday hanging out with all of the members. We made pizza and just hung out at the church. Monday night we went to L's to have a lesson with her and to say goodbye. It was sad to say goodbye to her. We talked to her more about the Book of Mormon and how she feels when she reads it. She still struggles to understand exactly what it means to apply what she learns. After L we didnt have much time so we went back to our apartment so that I could start packing because we knew we had a crazy couple of days.

 

Tuesday we started off the morning going back and forth from the MUP and the health center so that I could get deregistered. It took a lot more time than we wanted to but it is finished. We then had District Meeting. We had a good district meeting except for the fact that Elder Peterson went off on an hour lecture about the Plan of Salvation. It was really interesting just not the time or the place for it...but he wouldnt stop. So that was pretty much our District Meeting. After District Meeting we had the last piano lesson with B...unfortunately neither of the Sisters that are in Zadar now play the piano so they wont be able to keep teaching her piano. We had English after. We taught about adjective word order which was something that they actually had a hard time with so we could actually teach them something.  Then Tuesday night we went to have a Family night lesson with Z and her kids. We ended up doing it outside and the kids brought some of their friends. We talked about families with them and had them draw pictures of their families and then talked about the importance of families.

 

Wednesday morning I got as much packing as I could in advance done and then we had some time to go out contacting. We then went and met with A. We talked to her about her baptism and the feelings that she had then and how she can experience those feelings again...through coming to church, etc. We then went to the church and took a lunch break. Sister Rowe had told us that there was a video of Krešimir Ćosić that she wanted us to watch. It is on byutv.org and is titled an off court story (or something like that...if you type in Yugoslavia in the search box it comes up). Anyway...it was really cool to watch and hear about the early startings of the church and just to learn more about Krešimir.

 

Wednesday night we had German class and then we had FHE. It was a good FHE and we had a really good turnout which I was really happy about since it was my last time seeing everyone. The Elders taught the lesson and talked about the Commandments and how they help us. We then made cookies. We had two teams. One team had commandments (a recipe) and the other team did not. Obviously the team with the recipe actually made cookies...the other team ended up with something else. They talked about how sometimes we may feel like the commandments get in the way but without them things wont turn out how they need to be... they really help us. The Elders had also made a cake for my birthday so we had a mini birthday party at the end of FHE.

 

Thursday...we woke up in the morning and got ready and then the Petersons came and picked us up and gave us the car and we drove to Zagreb. We met the Sisters from Tuzla there and we did a switch. Sister Konietz and Sister Menjivar headed right back to Zadar but we didnt have a bus to Tuzla until the next morning so we spent the day Thursday helping out in the office. They were having leadership meeting so there were a lot of missionaries there so it was fun to see the other missionaries and say hi to them. Thursday night Sister Peel and I grabbed some dinner and then we spent the night at Sister Sares (she is the mission nurse).

 

Friday morning we got up to go catch our bus to Tuzla that we were told left at 7 AM. So we hauled all my luggage to the bus station only to find out that there actually wasnt a bus until noon. So we took all the luggage back to Sister Sares and then went in and helped with things in the office for a few hours which actually ended up being good because both President and Sister Rowe came to the office so I got to say bye to them. After helping in the office for a little bit we went back to the bus station to catch our bus to Tuzla. The bus ride ended up being about 6 hours. It was long and by the end of it I was going really stir crazy and couldnt sit still. But I survived. When we got back to the apartment we ate dinner because we were both starving and I got all of my stuff unpacked and got settled.

 

Saturday morning we started out the morning with District Meeting. For some reason in Tuzla they do District Meeting on Friday instead instead of Tuesday but since we were gone they did it on Saturday instead. We set District Goals for the month of July and how we can accomplish them. We then had a lesson with a member named S. She is 19 and was baptized last August. When she was first baptized she was really excited about going on a mission but apparently the past few months went inactive due to some family issues and has just recently started meeting with the missionaries and coming back to church. When we talked to her she mentioned to us that she wants to start preparing for a mission again.

 

We went back home after meeting with S and did weekly planning and then we went to visit a member named J and her daughter B. They are actually both members but are more or less less active. We talked to them about what it means to be an example and imparticularly to J about the example that mothers have on their children. We read some of the verses in Alma about the Stripling Warriors and talked to her about how the best way to teach her children is through example.

 

Sunday...church. Wow. The church here is very small. There isnt actually a branch here due to the fact that there arent enough Melchezidek Priesthood holders. So it is just a group here. There are actually only 12 members on record here in Tuzla (thats what Sister Peel just told me) and most of them are inactive or less active. There are only 2 members that they actually consider active at this point. At church yesterday there were only 4 members. One of them did speak in Sacrament Meeting so that was good. Another thing I learned from being in Croatia is that the people here cant sing. Well in Croatia they just wouldnt sing...here they actually sing. And they sing really loud. When we started singing the opening hymn it was one of the worst things I have ever heard. Seriously, everyone is so loud and off tune. But they are trying! We have Sacrament meeting here and then we have Sunday School so it is only 2 hours. The missionaries alternate every other week teaching Sunday School. This week the Elders taught and they taught about the life of Christ. A woman came to church this week named A. Apparently she came last week because she was walking by the church and the senior couple invited her in and she was given a Book of Mormon. This week she came back on her own. She told us that she has read about half of the Book of Mormon and that she had some questions about it. We told her we would love to answer her questions and asked her when we could meet with her. She quickly gave us her address and we have an appointment with her tonight! She stayed for both hours of church and loved it!

 

After church we did some contacting and then we went to the Senior couples house because we needed to make a poster for an Activity. The Senior couple here is the Shepherds. Bless their souls. They are super nice but a little bit crazy. I cant tell you how many times us and the Elders were all basically rolling on the floor laughing because of the things they said. And the best part was they have no idea. I would tell you some of the things that they said but they would make no sense so you wouldnt find them funny.

 

Anyway...I am safe and sound in Tuzla. Tuzla is definitely different than Zadar. It seems to be a lot less developed here in Bosnia than it is in Croatia. It is beautiful here though...just a different beautiful. Zadar was more of the sea/coast beautiful. Here there are more trees and hills. I have only actually been here for 2 days so hopefully I will have more information for you next week on the area because I am still trying to get adjusted. The biggest difference here is that the people are Muslim instead of Catholic. And Ramazan just started which is some big Muslim thing where they fast for a full month from sun up to sun down.

 

Anyway...hopefully next week I will have more information for you on the area and when I have met more people. But I am doing well and I am happy to be here and be with Sister Peel! Thanks for everything! I love you all and hope you have a great week!

 

Volim vas!

Sestra Clark

Emails...Dad, Mom, Jordan, Carrie, Grandpa, Ryan, Chris

Sretan Rođendan...Trisha!

Happy birthday to me...‏

Well...I guess the exciting news for me is that President decided that he wanted to wish me Happy Birthday by shipping me off to another country. Yep, got a surprise phone call from President yesterday morning and there are a few Sisters that are sick and a few other Sisters that need to be changed areas due to other reasons. So, I am having a mid transfer-transfer and leaving Zadar. Im not sure how I feel about it. I have been in Zadar for so long and it is like home to me now. I am going to miss the members and other people here so much. But I also feel like a change right now might be good because things have been going so slow here lately. Anyway...so I get to spend my birthday traveling all day! I am going to Tuzla which is in Bosnia and will be serving with Sister Peel. I was in the MTC with her so I am really excited to go serve with her. Anyway...It will be sad to leave Zadar but I have been here for so long and it is time for a change and for new experiences. I have heard that serving in Bosnia is a lot different than Croatia because the church is even smaller there. So it will be good to see another area and meet more people. I completely trust President and when he called me it just felt right. I know that its what I need to be doing and where I need to go.

 

So, on to my week. Monday...the Rowes were here so Sister Rowe took us to lunch for Pday. It was fun to go with her and her girls and just talk to them and spend time with them before they leave. I havent had a lot of time with her other than zone conferences so it was good.

 

Monday night all of our appointments cancelled...and it was pouring rain outside. So we found some big apartment buildings and tracted them.

 

Tuesday morning we started out the morning meeting with A. We talked to her about how she first came in contact with the missionaries and when she realized it was true. She was actually found through tracting.  She said the biggest thing that helped her to realize she needed to be baptized was hearing the members bear their testimonies. That is why we need members! A is the greatest. I seriously dont know how to describe her...she is so loving, and so sincere and thinks of others before herself. She is one of the strongest members here in Zadar. She is great!

 

We had District Meeting which was good. Elder Peterson was a seminary teacher so he knows a lot. He kept going off about deep doctrine. It was really cool and I learned a lot but he also kind of took up the entire meeting.

 

We then went and met with V because she is back in Zadar...well she was. Anyway...she had told us before she came that she was ready to start making changes in her life to get back on the right path. Well, apparently she changed her mind because she was right back to where she always has been. She lacks faith and because of that she lacks desire.

Sister Clark with V

 

We had English class and it was a really good English class. We only had one of our English students come and then L and V were there.  It ended up being really great. L and this student, I, are actually becoming really good friends and I think the fact that we have members in class helps the students to see that we are really normal people and there are people just like them who are members. Our spiritual thought at the end of class was really powerful and I am hoping that the influence of the members will help the students to want to learn more about the church.

 

After English we worked on some family history with V. She is doing that for one of her personal progress projects so we helped her get started on it.

 

Wednesday we went around trying to find some former investigators and then we went and met with V again. This lesson went better than the one the day before and we helped her to make a plan to start getting back on the right path and helped her to see that she doesnt have to do everything all at once and can start a little at a time and she will see that she feels the Spirit more and more in her life. I just hope that she can actually do it especially now that she is back in Varaždin.

 

We went out contacting and then we had German class and then the Petersons invited us over for dinner because they wanted to get to know us and they also wanted to take us so that they could go meet their neighbors since they dont speak Croatian. None of their neighbors were home...but we will try another time.

 

Thursday morning we did weekly planning and then we had branch council. We then went with the Petersons to try and visit H because they wanted to meet her. It was really interesting and she acted really weird and wouldnt even let us in the door. She just talked to us on her doorstep. We dont really know what was going on.

 

We went back to the church and had English class. V and L were the only ones that came along with the Petersons so we just played a game and practiced spelling words.  Then we went out contacting for the night.

 

Friday we had an exchange. I was supposed to be staying in Zadar but due to a few reasons I ended up going to Zagreb with Sister Erbe. We had a good exchange together. We started out with a Croatian class. All the missionaries in Zagreb have it once a week and a girl comes to the church and teaches them Croatian for an hour. It was review of things I have already learned but was good to review. We then went and visited one of their investigators named M...I have actually met with him before. He wants to get baptized really bad but is struggling to quit smoking. So we talked to him about how that is going and we read with him in 3 Nephi when Christ comes and he calls the people to him one by one...especially those who were sick or weak.

 

We had English class which was a good class and then we went and visited a less active member named J. She is actually from Venezuela and her Croatian is not very good. We taught her about the Restoration but Im not really sure how much of it she actually understood or took in. Unfortunately, all the Spanish I learned in high school is gone out of my brain.

 

We were then able to go break into the office...well we didnt really break in it is just closed right now due to renovations before the new mission president gets here. We got the mail and I was able to get my package so I have it for my birthday...I havent even opened it yet and am waiting...arent you proud of me?

 

Saturday...we woke up and were getting ready to go exchange back and one of the less active members in Zagreb called and was in a panic because her husband had left and forgot to leave a key and she needed to go do something so she asked us if we could come sit in her apartment for half an hour so that we could let her back in. Sister Erbe said that she never calls them and felt like we should go do it. So we told her we would. Well it turned into being a lot longer than she said but she was very grateful for it. So...it put us on the road late to exchange back.

 

We got back to Zadar and I taught piano to L. It was a really good lesson and she is finally getting to the point where she actually likes it and likes practicing.  Then we had an activity at the church. It was a fun activity...we made baggie ice cream (thanks for the recipe mom...you may not know you sent it to me but you did a few months ago :)!). None of the members had faith in it and kept saying that we were just making them look like fools and then we were going to pull store bought ice cream out of the freezer. They were really surprised when it actually worked and tasted good. We played a few games which was fun and then we tried to get everyone to help us clean. It was like pulling teeth to get them to do anything. But we managed to get the church cleaned.

 

Sunday...was a good day at church. We got to teach Primary. I am going to miss Z's kids. I want to bring all of them home with me...but I wont. We went out and tried to do some contacting but soon realized that there were only a few people on the streets and they were all tourists. So we went back to the apartment and I went through the area book with Sister Konietz...I organized it and made sure she knew all the information she needs to before I leave. I made sure that all the information that I had just written random places or had in my brain was written down where it would actually be seen and beneficial to people. I hope missionaries that come in after me appreciate the area books...because as you know I love to organize. We then went and met with V. We picked out her last personal progress project so that she can start working on that and then she is finished! Yay! We also talked to her about preparing for a mission. I think she is going to start working on her mission papers and I am so excited for that. It will be a great experience for her and she will influence so many people because of the experiences she has had and her experience with the church. (Im not sure how far it has been spread that she is going to do that so I know you dont know anyone here but dont spread that around too far.)

 

 Last Sunday in Zadar

 

Anyway...It has been a good and surprising week. Oh...the biggest miracle of the week...A CAME TO CHURCH!!!!!!!!!!!! I cant even tell you how happy everyone was to see him walk through the door on Sunday! And throughout the entire mission we reached our goal of having 500 people at church by having 502!

 

We are still doing a lot of finding here in Zadar to try and get investigators but even though that is going slow we are seeing other miracles happen every day as we keep working hard. I hope that you have a great week! Thanks for everything! Love you lots and lots and lots!

 

Volim vas!
Sestra Mac

 

Shoutouts...

 

Emails...Lex, Jordan, Dad, Mom, Grandpa, Chris, Tyson
Letters...Tyson

 

Thanks for the package!!

 

Sretan Rođendan...to me and to Renee!

Pictures

Scenery around Zadar

 

Sunday

Happy Father's Day

Well...its been another week. This week was definitely crazier than the past couple of weeks but we still had plenty of time to be out and about finding...again with not much luck but we will keep trying!

 

Monday. We actually got a call from L on Monday and asked us if we were free. We were really surprised because we hadnt heard from her in awhile but as soon as Pday was over we headed over to her apartment. We had a really good discussion with her. She has been reading the Book of Mormon and praying to know if it is true. We talked to her about what the Book of Mormon means and reviewed the chapters that she has read recently and showed her how she can apply it to her. We showed her how when we really study it we get so much more out of it than we do when we just simply read it. We also talked to her about what it means once we know that the Book of Mormon is true. She was very excited to keep reading the Book of Mormon and apply it to her and said she hasnt recieved a for sure answer that it is true but will keep searching for one.

 

We also went and saw A. The Matosiches were nice enough to let us borrow the car so we didnt have to walk clear out there. A had mentioned that she wants to go to to the temple so we decided to talk to her about the temple and what she needs to do to prepare for the temple hoping that would give her reason to come to church. It didnt work out as well as we thought because she kept saying that she will get to the temple when she gets there even if it is not for a long time. So there is still something missing as to why she doesnt have the desire to come to church right now so we are going to keep working with her to figure that out.

 

Tuesday we had an interview at the police station for Sister Konietz to get her Visa and then we had to go to the other police station so that I could do the final things to get my renewed Visa because mine expired. Gotta love the MUP. We then had district meeting. The Matosiches could only be there for part of it so we started in the church with them and then because we cant be in the church alone with the Elders we sat in the church and they sat in the area just outside the front door for the rest of it. It actually really worked out great because we were role playing tracting approaches as well as making phone calls from the area books. So it was like a real life role play because we actually had a door to knock on and could close the door and call each other on the phone.

 

We had English class and we are still struggling to know what to teach our students due to the fact that they know more than we do. We did talk to Z though who is a convert through English classes and asked her what got her from English student to Gospel student so we started applying some of the things that the missionaries did when she was in English. Like reading Ensign articles in English and watching Mormon messages and then having them explain what it means. After English we went out trying to find former investigators.

 

Wednesday morning we had piano lessons with B.  The new senior couple, the Petersons, were here so we got to take them to the MUP to do all of their registering for Visas. After we went and tried to find more former investigators and then had German class and family home evening. We taught the lesson and we had a picture (it was actually the CTR shield) that we cut up and gave every one a piece and had them draw it on a bigger piece of paper. We then tried to put the puzzle together but obviously because everyone just did their own thing you couldnt tell what it was supposed to be. We tied that into how we as a branch all need to work together in order to accomplish the goal we want because if we work as individuals we only see a small part and things wont turn out. It actually turned out really good.

 

Thursday we went and visited more former investigators, well tried to find them. We then had our cleaning check and then went to the church for Branch Council. It was kind of all over the place because both the Matosiches and the Petersons were there so it was a lot of getting things done before the Matosiches leave but also getting the Petersons caught up. We had English class which went good. We did a spelling bee with the students which they thought was a lot of fun.

 

Friday we had piano with B and then we had to go to the MUP with the Petersons again. But everything they need to do is done for now. We went home and did weekly planning and then we had German class. We went out contacting for the night and then realized when we were heading home that we had left our keys at the church because we rushed out after German. Well, one set of our keys was locked in the church and the other set was locked in our apartment.  We couldnt get ahold of anyone to let us in the church and it was almost time to be in anyway. So we just decided to break into our apartment.  We managed to do it. So that was a fun experience. :) We are very careful to make sure we have our keys now.

 

Saturday morning we went to the church and cleaned it and then we went tracting until we had piano with L and then spent the rest of the night contacting. Gotta love contacting and tracting. :)

 

Sunday...Sunday morning was chaos. So first off, the Rowes were in Zadar. Well...we had a less active member that the Petersons told they would give her a ride to church. Well, 15 minutes before church was supposed to start they realized they needed to go get her. They also realized they had forgot the Sacrament bread. So, Elder Peterson went with President Rowe to get the member.  We got to go with Sister Peterson to get the bread because Sister Peterson is afraid to drive here.

Anyway...we got the bread and everything but when they went to get the member she wasnt there. They finally just gave up and came back to the church but church started 20 minutes late. After that church was great though! We got to teach Primary and it was just the Rowes 2 girls and one of their friends who isnt a member. So we talked about the Holy Ghost and helped their friend to know what the Holy Ghost is and we were even able to help her recognize a time when she felt the Holy Ghost in her life. The Rowes girls (they are twins who are 9) helped us teach her and I loved seeing them be missionaries with their friend and help her to learn about what they know even at such a young age.

After church we had our final interview with President Rowe before they leave. It will be sad to have them gone but Im sure our new mission president will be just as great. President just knows exactly what to say to you. Its as if he has known you forever and you just leave interviews feeling like you can conquer anything. He gave me some good advice to help us actually find investigators instead of just tracting and contacting for hours on end without anything. After our interviews we went out and did contacting and then we went to V's and did personal progress. We finished her last value experience and she just has 3 more projects which she has already started 2 of them and then she is finished!

 

So, no...we still didnt find any new investigators this week but we are still trying. This week I studied a lot about finding in Preach My Gospel and the thing that stuck out to me the most was how the Savior went about doing good. He didnt just teach the people, he served them and Preach My Gospel said to start with the members. So our goal is to try and do more service to help people gain our trust. President Rowe also gave us the idea to sit down with each of the members and have them tell us their conversion story from start to finish, how they first came in contact with missionaries and how they learned that what the missionaries were teaching was true. He said it will help us get more ideas and see how we can really be the most effective. So I am excited to try out some of these ideas within the next couple weeks and hopefully we will start to see some things start to pick up.

 

I hope that you all have a great week! Thanks for everything! Love you lots!

 

Sestra Clark


 

Shoutouts!
 

Emails...Dad, Mom, Lex, Carrie, Grandpa, Ryan, Tys
 

Happy Fathers Day!...yesterday!

Pictures

In Split on Pday - If you rub the big toe you get your wish!



 

 Scenery around Split

 

By a member's house and restored car in Split

Title of Liberty

Happy Monday‏

Well...Another week has come and gone. Im not really sure where this past week went because I feel like I was just emailing. But here we go again...

Monday for Pday we went to Split with the Matosiches. It was cool to see and fun to get out of Zadar for the day. When we got home we changed and went to Z's to do family home evening with her and her kids. We talked to them about the Word of Wisdom and drew pictures. We had one list of things that are good for our bodies and one list of things that arent and we would say something and they drew it on the side it went on. They actually loved it. We also helped K practice singing because she was trying out for a music school. For the rest of the night we took a long way home and contacted along the way.

 

Tuesday...This Sunday was supposed to be a big church attendance day throughout the mission. So they had us make invitations that we took to members, less actives, investigators, friends of the church, everyone and when we took it to them we were supposed to knock ten doors on the left and ten doors on the right and invite them. So we spent a lot of our week doing that...inviting anyone and everyone we could think of. So Tuesday morning we went out and visited/invited several people and knocked doors around them. We then had Branch Council and then we met with Z and K at the church to help K practice with the piano so that she could kind of hear it and sing. We had English class. So funny story with English class. We teach advanced class now. Ya, I am quickly finding out that I dont know English very well. I mean I speak English...but the grammar I dont know. Anyway so we were teaching them about something I dont even remember what. And one of the students raised her hand and asked a question. She said is that a (something I dont even remember) or a past participle. I probably looked like a deer in headlights because I didnt even know what a past participle was. Dont worry...I looked it up and now I know. I knew what it was I just didnt know thats what it was called. Tuesday night we went out and saw A. She was outside watching over her neighbors sheep. So we talked to her outside as she did that.

 

Wednesday morning we had piano with B and then we went around taking more invites to people and knocking doors. We had German class and then FHE. The Elders were in charge and we talked about member missionary work.  Then guess what game we found at the church.....SET! I am being dead serious. So I taught everyone how to play it. They wouldnt let me play with them (which I would have gotten every match) but it was still really fun to watch them and be the judge. Everyone was super into it.

 

Thursday was zone conference. We were up at 4 to take a bus to zone conference and then we had zone conference and took a bus home. Zone conference was really good. It was sad because it was President and Sister Rowes last zone conference so they pretty much just talked to us the whole time. We did do some role plays of inviting people to church. President and Sister Rowe did a question answer thing where we just got to ask questions about anything and everything and they answered them.

 

Friday we had piano with B and then we had a meeting with Elder Matosich. They are leaving this week so we talked to him about the members. We got everything organized and kind of got on the same page of the information they have and got up to date so that we can know how to go find some more of these members. We then took more invites around and then had German class and then we went with the Matosiches to see S and M. It is so hard with them. They get it. They really do. And we have such great lessons with them. They just dont come to church. They tell us how much they miss it but then they just dont come.

 

Saturday morning we had to clean our apartment to get ready for cleaning check. We then practiced with K one more time before her tryout and then we went about tracting. We then had to clean the church and practice a musical number for Sunday with some of the members. We had this great idea to sing the EFY medley song...we did it but it did not sound very good. :)

 

Sunday...church was great. Our goal as a branch was to have 30 people at church. We had 31! That is the most I have seen at church here which was so exciting! We had a great Sacrament Meeting. The Matosiches spoke since it was their last Sunday. We had Sunday School and we taught the youth class. We talked to them about standing up for truth and read the scripture story in Alma 46 where Moroni raises the title of liberty...and we made our own title of liberty to hang up in the church. They loved it! We had a luncheon at the church after. We then had this great idea to try and find A...we havent had contact with him for awhile because he wont answer his phone.  We are worried about him. Well, we know what time he comes home from work and we know where he walks. So we went and walked up that street contacting for almost an hour...and unfortunately he never came....but we will find him soon!  Sunday night we went to V's and did Personal Progress with her.

 

It has been a good week. But another long week of finding. We are trying to come up with new ideas to find people but we are still struggling. But we will keep going and we are going to find them...hopefully sooner than later!

 

Funny story... So anyway, Saturday night we had the brilliant idea that we were going to practice the musical number and we told the members to come earlier than we wanted to start practicing to help us clean the church. Well...R played the piano, V came late but she actually helped clean and L told us he couldnt help us clean...do you want to know why? Because his dog was sick. Yes, he couldnt help clean because his dog was sick. Elder Lamb and him had about a 5 minute conversation/argument about it. Basically what it came down to is that L's dog was sick and because he looked at his dog he was sick too. Therefore, he couldnt clean. Their conversation was so funny and I was laughing so hard that I was crying. Anyways..I asked L to unstack some chairs...he did maybe 5 and then started breathing really heavy and complained about how exhausted he was.  I gave him the dustpan to sweep something up and he told me that if he fell over it was my fault. Anyway...Sunday L comes to church and he comes up to me and says Sister Clark my dog is better. So I respond oh thats great and how are you. He said oh Im better too since my dog is better.  Then he said do you want to know why he is better. I said why. He said that it was because last night when he started talking about his dog I started crying (I was crying from laughter which apparently he didnt know) and it was my crying that healed the dog. So I can basically heal things by crying now.

 

This week as we visited A and she was watching over her neighbors sheep I was thinking a lot about how Christ is our shepherd but that right now we as missionaries are his representatives. I was talking to A about the sheep and asked her if they all had names. She responded yes but that she only knew a couple but that their owner knew all of their names. I also noticed that a few times as we were talking one of the sheep would start to wander out of the area that they were supposed to be in and A would have to guide it back in but after not too long it would start wandering again. But as soon as the actual shepherd of the sheep came all of the sheep immediately did exactly what the shepherd wanted and followed her back into their home. It was just a good reminder for me that He is the Shepherd, not me. He is the one that can lead the sheep back to where they need to be. I can help, and I can do everything I can but He is the one that they will listen to. And more importantly, I dont know everyone, but he knows the names of all of them. And he knows where all of them are. None of them are lost to him.

 

Anyway...I hope that you all have a great week! Love you lots! 

 

Volim vas!

Sestra Clark

 

 

Shoutouts...

 

Emails...Tys, Jordan, Lex, Carrie, Dad, Grandpa, Mom

Letters...got letters at zone conference from Amanda and Dad

Pictures

Pictures of Zadar

Ironing for a member

Nutella pizza - it was delicious!

The Elders told them a light bulb in a potato worked, it didn't

Posing in an open billboard

Happy June!

I cant believe that it is June already! Crazy! This week was a week that not much really happened. So I really hope that I can think of some things to write about. We are still at a point that we are struggling to find people to teach. This week we honestly had 3 lessons and they were all with members. So we have been doing a lot of tracting and contacting and trying to find investigators. It is just taking time and a lot of patience.

Monday night we had a return appointment with S who is the woman that we met last week. But when we went there she wasnt home. So we spent the night tracting the area around hers. We found some potential investigators. But nobody that let us in. Oh...there was a girl that wanted to let us in but she was 15 and was home alone...so we decided that wasnt the best idea.

 

Tuesday morning we spent the morning out contacting and then we went to the church for District Meeting. The Matosiches were actually gone for the week so we had L come to our district meeting since we cant be alone in the church with just the Elders and I think it was really good for him especially since he is wanting to serve a mission and since he is a branch missionary right now. We had our first English class after the signups and we actually had the people come. So we have a whole new English class with young people in it which will be good!  Then after English we had an appointment to meet with A. So we walked out to her house which takes an hour. We got there, her door was open and there was music playing but she was no where to be found. So we turned around and walked back. Apparently she had gone across the street to a neighbors house.

 

Wednesday morning we had piano with B in the morning and then we went tracting for the day until German class. German class was good then we had FHE with the branch. We had the best turnout that I have seen at a Family Home Evening. We talked about gratitude and how we have 86.400 seconds each day that God has given us. How much of that time are we using to show gratitude? And then we played some games.

 

Thursday morning the Matosiches were finally back so we had a branch council meeting because we had a lot of things that we needed to plan and talk about with them. After the meeting we went out and saw A and she was home this time! We talked to her about faith and what faith is and the things that she needs to be doing to increase her faith. After we asked her if she needed help with anything and she told us we could iron for her. So we did her ironing and just talked to her. I think she loves us coming because she gets lonely so it was good. After A we came back to the church for English and then we went and saw D Thursday night. D is great but our lessons with her are usually fairly interesting and all over the place. We talked about Christ and what He means for us.

 

Friday we started off the morning with piano with B and then we went home and did weekly planning. After planning we went out tracting again and then we had German class and a lesson with S. We talked to her about the month of invitations and who she can invite to come to church with her.

 

Saturday morning we did contacting and then we went to the church with the Elders, some members and investigators and ordered pizza for lunch and all started our fast together. We had District Conference this weekend in Zagreb that they wanted us to fast for so we thought it would be a good idea to start our fasts together. The Elders and everyone else then headed to Zagreb to get there for the Saturday night session. We were going to go too but for some reason didnt feel like we should as early as they were going. So we stayed in Zadar and had a piano lesson with L and then we caught a bus for the 3 1/2 hour drive to Zagreb. We got there and went straight to the Zagreb sisters apartment to stay for the night.

 

Sunday morning we got up and went to the church for District Conference. It was fun to see people from Osijek. The District Conference was really good. Elder Donaldson who is an area seventy (I think) came and spoke as well as some of the members and President and Sister Rowe. It was kind of sad because the Rowes are leaving soon so it was kind of their goodbye. After District Conference we took a bus back to Zadar. We spent the night contacting. We talked to some really nice people but no new investigators.

 

We are having a hard time finding people to teach but I think it is just a test of our faith to see if we will keep going. Last night during planning we sat down and discussed things that we can be doing different and came up with some different finding ideas and such. Sometimes tracting and contacting so much is really exhausting but its ok. We will keep doing it if its what we have to do.  I am really hoping that this week we will either find some new investigators or our other investigators will start answering our phone calls. :)

 

This week I finished reading the Book of Mormon from cover to cover in Croatian. I kept putting off starting it because I was afraid that it would be too hard. But I did it and actually could understand it.  I felt like it helped my Croatian to improve so much. I love the Book of Mormon and love studying from it every day. Each day my testimony of it grows stronger and it is a constant reminder that it is true, that the church is true.

 

Anyway...I love you all and hope that you have a great week!

 

Volim vas!

Sestra Mac

 

 

Shoutouts...

 

actually havent gotten any emails yet so no one gets a shoutout today. Ok...I finally got some...Mom, Dad, Lex, Tys and one from Carrie from last week, oh and now one from Grandpa.

 

And its no ones birthday either. :)