Hi hi family!!
Oh my... what a privilege it was to spend another week here on the Balkans. I love it here!!
The 4th of July was properly celebrated by this companionship! We had pancakes to start off the morning, and then emailed all of you for a bit. THEN we went home and made a massive feast... We had watermelon, salad, fried chicken, lemonade from mom, and cobbler! Best. Day. EVER!!!! We shared it with the elders and no one died from it! My cooking skills are improving! It was such a fun way to remember our freedoms and how thankful I am for that and that I can worship how God wants me to. That night, while preparing our presentation for zone conference, we enjoyed a make-shift root beer float... aka ice cream and blue Fanta. it was magical. Before we started prepping, we were out near center and there was a bunch of music and people dancing. I saw the Slovenia flag and took my companion to see what was going on. I think it was some sort of a dance festival thing from multiple countries... I am not sure. But it sure looked and felt like a proper parade as they all danced. I was really happy.
Tuesday and Wednesday were spent in Zagreb for zone conference. SUCH A GOOD ZONE CONFERENCE! I was on cloud nine. President Grant gave a talk on becoming consecrated missionaries and about giving up the natural self and the Spirit was so strong the entire time. We had a proper barbecue with REAL Root beer floats. It was great. I gave my last testimony... Yes, I cried. I tried to keep it in, but I failed haha. On the 4th, our mission (all the members) went to the temple in Switzerland for their yearly temple trip. As I spoke about the priesthood power, and how I knew it had been restored, my mind wandered off to the members there, some of whom were enjoying those blessings found in the temple for the first time... that is when the tears came.
We had a tender blessing the other day. We had lunch at this beautiful place Sister Bushong has been dying to try for a while now. At the end, we needed to get going (we only get an hour for lunch) so we did a very not Balkan thing and went up to the cash register person and asked if we could pay. As we did that, a man asked us if we belonged to the Mormon church and asked about one of our members. We told him we were not just members but missionaries. HE THEN PAYED FOR OUR MEAL!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Sister Bushong and I thanked him and walked away silently. I said a prayer of gratitude for the kind man. That does NOT happen here. When we were far enough away, Sister Bushong looked at me and said "What just happened?!?!" my eyes teared up as I just felt that God really is aware of me and He helped make my day a little better. It was such a tender mercy.
One thing I LOVE about Bosnia is the Call to Prayer. It really is a beautiful sound, and humbling as you hear people be called to converse with our Father in Heaven. It is amazing when I hear it... A few times these past few weeks it has come just as I am getting frustrated or losing some faith... then I hear the Call to Prayer and realize I have been relying on MY finding skills instead of my Heavenly Father's. I always turn immediately to prayer and miracles follow shortly. Tender reminders that it is His work humble me every time. I am thankful for them!
Banja Luka is full of miracles and hard working sisters seeking them. Its a joy to be here.
I love you all!
Sestra Higgins
Oh my... what a privilege it was to spend another week here on the Balkans. I love it here!!
The 4th of July was properly celebrated by this companionship! We had pancakes to start off the morning, and then emailed all of you for a bit. THEN we went home and made a massive feast... We had watermelon, salad, fried chicken, lemonade from mom, and cobbler! Best. Day. EVER!!!! We shared it with the elders and no one died from it! My cooking skills are improving! It was such a fun way to remember our freedoms and how thankful I am for that and that I can worship how God wants me to. That night, while preparing our presentation for zone conference, we enjoyed a make-shift root beer float... aka ice cream and blue Fanta. it was magical. Before we started prepping, we were out near center and there was a bunch of music and people dancing. I saw the Slovenia flag and took my companion to see what was going on. I think it was some sort of a dance festival thing from multiple countries... I am not sure. But it sure looked and felt like a proper parade as they all danced. I was really happy.
Tuesday and Wednesday were spent in Zagreb for zone conference. SUCH A GOOD ZONE CONFERENCE! I was on cloud nine. President Grant gave a talk on becoming consecrated missionaries and about giving up the natural self and the Spirit was so strong the entire time. We had a proper barbecue with REAL Root beer floats. It was great. I gave my last testimony... Yes, I cried. I tried to keep it in, but I failed haha. On the 4th, our mission (all the members) went to the temple in Switzerland for their yearly temple trip. As I spoke about the priesthood power, and how I knew it had been restored, my mind wandered off to the members there, some of whom were enjoying those blessings found in the temple for the first time... that is when the tears came.
We had a tender blessing the other day. We had lunch at this beautiful place Sister Bushong has been dying to try for a while now. At the end, we needed to get going (we only get an hour for lunch) so we did a very not Balkan thing and went up to the cash register person and asked if we could pay. As we did that, a man asked us if we belonged to the Mormon church and asked about one of our members. We told him we were not just members but missionaries. HE THEN PAYED FOR OUR MEAL!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Sister Bushong and I thanked him and walked away silently. I said a prayer of gratitude for the kind man. That does NOT happen here. When we were far enough away, Sister Bushong looked at me and said "What just happened?!?!" my eyes teared up as I just felt that God really is aware of me and He helped make my day a little better. It was such a tender mercy.
One thing I LOVE about Bosnia is the Call to Prayer. It really is a beautiful sound, and humbling as you hear people be called to converse with our Father in Heaven. It is amazing when I hear it... A few times these past few weeks it has come just as I am getting frustrated or losing some faith... then I hear the Call to Prayer and realize I have been relying on MY finding skills instead of my Heavenly Father's. I always turn immediately to prayer and miracles follow shortly. Tender reminders that it is His work humble me every time. I am thankful for them!
Banja Luka is full of miracles and hard working sisters seeking them. Its a joy to be here.
I love you all!
Sestra Higgins