ZDRAVO!!!!!
This is the first time I have sat down to write and felt like it had been 7 days. Last Monday feels like forever ago haha. SO many fun things happened this week! I learned a lot! Every day was filled with finding and activities and events. It was really a great week!
Last Wednesday night we held a branch activity for the members here in Celje. The activity was a "Meet the Missionaries Night" where all 4 missionaries here in Celje got up and showed photos of our families and told a little about our past and what our plans are for the future. We also shared things like why we came on missions, what are our fears of being missionaries, and how we see members. I had carefully prepared a slideshow of photos of all my siblings, my parents, and nieces and nephews. I was so so so excited to share my favorite people with the members here in Celje. I also carefully prepared what I would say about each of them in Slovene. I happened to go last out of the 4 missionaries. They are all new to Celje and I am the only remaining one. All the other missionareis gave wonderful presentations about their lives and families and the members listened intently. I was excited to see what would happen when I got up since all of them know me. When they pulled up my photos, it was no longer silent. Everyone was oooing over the cute babies. Apparently I look a lot like my sisters haha. "SHE LOOKS JUST LIKE YOU!!!!" and " YOUR MOM IS STUNNING!!!!" I was overwhelmed. I was so excited to hear them all fall in love with my family at first sight. They couldn't get over how beautiful my mom is. It made me so happy. After seeing them react fo my family like that, I began to tell about my family and introduce my siblings. Speaking about my family in Slovene to the Celje branch was something I will never forget. I got rather emotional as I expressed how it felt to be in Europe and having never met some members of my family. They all cried/laughed with me as I could not remember the names of the newer members of my family (so sorry... I am trying). I felt so much love and support as I was asked questions after introducing each sibling, and once I got to my photo they all just loved it haha. I LOVED "Meet the Missionaries Night." I love showing people my family. I miss you all. But I love the photos!
We had the opportunity to go to Ljubliana this week for zone conference. I don't know how I ever lived without zone conferences in the past. If you are thinking about not serving a mission, zone conferences are enough of a reason to serve! I LOVE zone conference and being taught by our leaders.
We also had district conference this week (stake conference) so we were in Ljubliana on Sunday. The missionaries prepared to sing a really beautiful arrangement of "How Great Thou Art" in Slovene. I felt the Spirit so strongly as I stood with the other Slovene missionaries in front of the Slovene members and sang about our Savior. It will be a moment I will treasure for the rest of my life. We also stood and sang.... I don't remember what it is called in English but it is about God's spirit? (*edit: my guess is she meant "The Spirit of God") Anyways, we stood and sang that with all the members and it was really powerful. It was the most voices singing along with me since the MTC. I LOVE SINGING HYMNS! They invite the Spirit in a way nothing else can.
One question I have pondered a lot this week is "Kam greš?" or "where are you going?" I think it is important for us to take a second to discover where we are and where we are going, and then ask "What is something I can do today to get there?" This is something we do all the time as missionaries when setting goals for ourselves and others. Thomas S. Monson gave a talk called "Ponder the Path of Thy Feet." Go read it and make a plan to improve. As Saints of the Latter-days we have the ability to improve each day. Take advantage of it! Make a plan, and seek the Lord's help as we strive to "be perfect."
I love you all! I discovered my real emotions about each of you as I expressed my love for each of you this week. You all really do mean the world to me! I wish you the best week ever!
z ljubeznijo
Sestra Higgins
This is the first time I have sat down to write and felt like it had been 7 days. Last Monday feels like forever ago haha. SO many fun things happened this week! I learned a lot! Every day was filled with finding and activities and events. It was really a great week!
Last Wednesday night we held a branch activity for the members here in Celje. The activity was a "Meet the Missionaries Night" where all 4 missionaries here in Celje got up and showed photos of our families and told a little about our past and what our plans are for the future. We also shared things like why we came on missions, what are our fears of being missionaries, and how we see members. I had carefully prepared a slideshow of photos of all my siblings, my parents, and nieces and nephews. I was so so so excited to share my favorite people with the members here in Celje. I also carefully prepared what I would say about each of them in Slovene. I happened to go last out of the 4 missionaries. They are all new to Celje and I am the only remaining one. All the other missionareis gave wonderful presentations about their lives and families and the members listened intently. I was excited to see what would happen when I got up since all of them know me. When they pulled up my photos, it was no longer silent. Everyone was oooing over the cute babies. Apparently I look a lot like my sisters haha. "SHE LOOKS JUST LIKE YOU!!!!" and " YOUR MOM IS STUNNING!!!!" I was overwhelmed. I was so excited to hear them all fall in love with my family at first sight. They couldn't get over how beautiful my mom is. It made me so happy. After seeing them react fo my family like that, I began to tell about my family and introduce my siblings. Speaking about my family in Slovene to the Celje branch was something I will never forget. I got rather emotional as I expressed how it felt to be in Europe and having never met some members of my family. They all cried/laughed with me as I could not remember the names of the newer members of my family (so sorry... I am trying). I felt so much love and support as I was asked questions after introducing each sibling, and once I got to my photo they all just loved it haha. I LOVED "Meet the Missionaries Night." I love showing people my family. I miss you all. But I love the photos!
We had the opportunity to go to Ljubliana this week for zone conference. I don't know how I ever lived without zone conferences in the past. If you are thinking about not serving a mission, zone conferences are enough of a reason to serve! I LOVE zone conference and being taught by our leaders.
We also had district conference this week (stake conference) so we were in Ljubliana on Sunday. The missionaries prepared to sing a really beautiful arrangement of "How Great Thou Art" in Slovene. I felt the Spirit so strongly as I stood with the other Slovene missionaries in front of the Slovene members and sang about our Savior. It will be a moment I will treasure for the rest of my life. We also stood and sang.... I don't remember what it is called in English but it is about God's spirit? (*edit: my guess is she meant "The Spirit of God") Anyways, we stood and sang that with all the members and it was really powerful. It was the most voices singing along with me since the MTC. I LOVE SINGING HYMNS! They invite the Spirit in a way nothing else can.
One question I have pondered a lot this week is "Kam greš?" or "where are you going?" I think it is important for us to take a second to discover where we are and where we are going, and then ask "What is something I can do today to get there?" This is something we do all the time as missionaries when setting goals for ourselves and others. Thomas S. Monson gave a talk called "Ponder the Path of Thy Feet." Go read it and make a plan to improve. As Saints of the Latter-days we have the ability to improve each day. Take advantage of it! Make a plan, and seek the Lord's help as we strive to "be perfect."
I love you all! I discovered my real emotions about each of you as I expressed my love for each of you this week. You all really do mean the world to me! I wish you the best week ever!
z ljubeznijo
Sestra Higgins