Hi hi family!!!! I am back in Celje after my weekend away and I couldn't be happier! Coming home after the weekend in Croatia literally felt like coming home! The second we turned the corner in the road and the Celje castle came into view, I felt peaceful and relaxed and happy to be back in my Celje.
Zagreb Croatia was AMAZING!!!! I have been there before... 3 months ago when I was so jet-lagged and too excited to let my eyes focus on anything. The buildings there are INCREDIBLE!!! There are SO many people and the sound of cars gave me a headache haha. I was in awe the entire time. When we got there, we spent a little time at the mission office. It was my first time there and I was very impressed! While there, I got a package from Shanda and her family! It was so perfect and had pictures of the kids and from the kids! It made my entire day! I also got about 5 more letters from friends and family. Again, the support I am receiving is unreal and I never realized how truly selfless my family and friends were. I love you all.
Then we went to the mission home to enjoy our P-day with our zone. Everyone got in their p-day clothing and went out to play volleyball on the court. I wanted to play SO badly but instead I pulled up a chair and spoke to the people on the sideline who were out. It ended up being so much fun! I got to know all the missionaries really well! I had conversations about my family, my foot, my favorite food in Europe, discussions on gospel topics.... it was great! Then we started zone conference by being taught by our leaders. I always enjoy hearing their ideas on how we can improve as a zone. (This is my new seceret plesaure. I LOVE people telling me how I can improve. Once a week we do it as companions and my companion thinks its so weird but I LOVE hearing how I can improve! It gives me something to focus my efforts on!) Then we had a BBQ!!!!!! It was real American BBQ!!! You have no idea how different summer is in a land with no lemon aid, very expensive watermelons, nearly impossible to find otter pops, and no burgers or potato casserole to save your life. We had everything except lemon aid (literally doesn't exist here) and I ate all the watermelon I could handle. It was SOOO much fun! That night we ended with some music from the zone. I played the ukulele to show everyone what I have been doing with a broken foot. All the music brought a really cool spirit to the weekend.
The next morning, we woke up and I finally got to taste Sister Grant's amazing cooking!!!! She made us real American french toast! Seriously, so good. I have heard she was amazing from every single missionary ever, but this was my first time actually getting to find out for myself. I sure love Sister Grant. Then we studied the scriptures together. We studied the Sermon on the Mount (my favorite thing ever) so I was completely captured and learned so much. then we started zone conference again. I felt the Spirit so strongly the entire time! I was touched in so many ways. I wrote down 3 pages of promptings haha. I learned so much and really enjoyed every single second of it. We talked a lot about prayer and I could write a 10 page email on it... but one thing I got from it is that God will answer our prayers in a way that strengthens our faith. Prayer is one of my favorite things on the mission. It is the first time in my life I have literally FELT prayers of people. Ugh... I could go on for hours. Over all, zone conference in Zagreb was probably the biggest highlight of my mission!
Like I said before, there was nothing better than coming back to Slovenia haha. As we drove back home, we passed 7 castles and I felt like I was driving through Utah and pointing out all the temples hahahaha. As we got farther and farther away from Croatia, the cute church buildings started popping up and the amazing farmland took over. We passed SOOO many amazing green-houses I knew my dad would have stopped at... I just love the land where I am serving guys. thats all.
Yesterday, I had the opportunity to speak in Sacrament Meeting. I spoke on Fasting. In the middle, I was getting a little lost in my Slovene skills and I looked down and one member was just giggling along with me, another giving me the biggest smile and one in the back of the room was giving me two thumbs up. I felt SOO much love! It made it much easier to deliver my thoughts knowing that they all love and support me. I giggled sitting down thinking how one day, I will be giving a talk in church again in front of more than 23 people and how I am going to die haha. I love my branch.
Well, It was a short 4 days but it was another dream 4 days because I am on a mission and everything here is awesome. I felt the Spirit and grew. I am still praying for each of you every single day! HAVE THE BEST 4TH OF JULY!!!! I am seriously going to struggle this week knowing all the fun going back at home! Enjoy cobbler... and lemon aid... and fireworks... and each other! I will be thinking about you so much! I already drew fire works in my planner for that day haha. Have all the fun in the world for me! I love you all so much!
Sestra HIggins
Zagreb Croatia was AMAZING!!!! I have been there before... 3 months ago when I was so jet-lagged and too excited to let my eyes focus on anything. The buildings there are INCREDIBLE!!! There are SO many people and the sound of cars gave me a headache haha. I was in awe the entire time. When we got there, we spent a little time at the mission office. It was my first time there and I was very impressed! While there, I got a package from Shanda and her family! It was so perfect and had pictures of the kids and from the kids! It made my entire day! I also got about 5 more letters from friends and family. Again, the support I am receiving is unreal and I never realized how truly selfless my family and friends were. I love you all.
Then we went to the mission home to enjoy our P-day with our zone. Everyone got in their p-day clothing and went out to play volleyball on the court. I wanted to play SO badly but instead I pulled up a chair and spoke to the people on the sideline who were out. It ended up being so much fun! I got to know all the missionaries really well! I had conversations about my family, my foot, my favorite food in Europe, discussions on gospel topics.... it was great! Then we started zone conference by being taught by our leaders. I always enjoy hearing their ideas on how we can improve as a zone. (This is my new seceret plesaure. I LOVE people telling me how I can improve. Once a week we do it as companions and my companion thinks its so weird but I LOVE hearing how I can improve! It gives me something to focus my efforts on!) Then we had a BBQ!!!!!! It was real American BBQ!!! You have no idea how different summer is in a land with no lemon aid, very expensive watermelons, nearly impossible to find otter pops, and no burgers or potato casserole to save your life. We had everything except lemon aid (literally doesn't exist here) and I ate all the watermelon I could handle. It was SOOO much fun! That night we ended with some music from the zone. I played the ukulele to show everyone what I have been doing with a broken foot. All the music brought a really cool spirit to the weekend.
The next morning, we woke up and I finally got to taste Sister Grant's amazing cooking!!!! She made us real American french toast! Seriously, so good. I have heard she was amazing from every single missionary ever, but this was my first time actually getting to find out for myself. I sure love Sister Grant. Then we studied the scriptures together. We studied the Sermon on the Mount (my favorite thing ever) so I was completely captured and learned so much. then we started zone conference again. I felt the Spirit so strongly the entire time! I was touched in so many ways. I wrote down 3 pages of promptings haha. I learned so much and really enjoyed every single second of it. We talked a lot about prayer and I could write a 10 page email on it... but one thing I got from it is that God will answer our prayers in a way that strengthens our faith. Prayer is one of my favorite things on the mission. It is the first time in my life I have literally FELT prayers of people. Ugh... I could go on for hours. Over all, zone conference in Zagreb was probably the biggest highlight of my mission!
Like I said before, there was nothing better than coming back to Slovenia haha. As we drove back home, we passed 7 castles and I felt like I was driving through Utah and pointing out all the temples hahahaha. As we got farther and farther away from Croatia, the cute church buildings started popping up and the amazing farmland took over. We passed SOOO many amazing green-houses I knew my dad would have stopped at... I just love the land where I am serving guys. thats all.
Yesterday, I had the opportunity to speak in Sacrament Meeting. I spoke on Fasting. In the middle, I was getting a little lost in my Slovene skills and I looked down and one member was just giggling along with me, another giving me the biggest smile and one in the back of the room was giving me two thumbs up. I felt SOO much love! It made it much easier to deliver my thoughts knowing that they all love and support me. I giggled sitting down thinking how one day, I will be giving a talk in church again in front of more than 23 people and how I am going to die haha. I love my branch.
Well, It was a short 4 days but it was another dream 4 days because I am on a mission and everything here is awesome. I felt the Spirit and grew. I am still praying for each of you every single day! HAVE THE BEST 4TH OF JULY!!!! I am seriously going to struggle this week knowing all the fun going back at home! Enjoy cobbler... and lemon aid... and fireworks... and each other! I will be thinking about you so much! I already drew fire works in my planner for that day haha. Have all the fun in the world for me! I love you all so much!
Sestra HIggins