Thursday, June 10, 2010

Pula, Rovijn, Zadar, Ljubljana

The blossoms from the Elderberry tree. We learned from Dora how to make a syrup which is delicious. I made up a batch and we'll try it at our Faculty meeting in two weeks.

The mountain range driving from Zadar to Zagreb.
Allan, me, Sister Justus in Celje
Sister Justus, Sister Shorten & Sister DeMill after Sacrament meeting in Celje. We just put on a new seat for Sister DeMill.
Sister Justus with Kreshimr Kosic statue in Zadar.

We found some beautiful poppies to have our pictures with.

In Maribor after institute we went with President Fidler to the arena for a pre World soccer match between Slovenia & New Zealand. Soccer is the 2nd religion here in Europe people tell us. We didn't stay for the match, just wanted to see what it looked like. Slovenia won 3-1.
Dora and Yelka and members of the Ljubljana Branch. Wonderful women who are very faithful. We had them to dinner one evening. This is the entry to our apartment bldg.

The Saba River in Ljubljana runs close to the mission home.
Sunday we were in Zadar for Church and these are the Branch members.

A gate to the old city in Zadar.
A view of the Adriatic Sea from Pula.
Elder Champion and Elder Warren showed us around the city.
Here we are at the Forum in old center.
A view of Ravijn along the Adriatic coast. It was a whirlwind of a weekend. We left Friday morning and went to Rijeka, stayed with the Manleys and attended institute. Saturday we drove to Pula and visited with the Elders and went on up the coast to Rovijn and then back down the coast to Zadar and spent the night there. Attended Church and then drove back home thru Zagreb stopping to have dinner with the Thompsons and back home that night.

YSA Lunch, Zoo, Pula, Hum, Rijeka

The Roman coliseum in Pula, Croatia. Built in 50 A.D. and overlooks the Adriatic Sea. Quite well preserved.

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Another view. This was Sister Justus's first visit.
On our way we stopped in Hum. The smallest town in the world with 15 people but a mayor and all the other positions to make it a town.

Elder & Sister Manley serve in Rijeka and we have the privilege of staying with them when we visit at least until June 22 when they return home after serving 23 months. He has served as the Branch President in Rijeka and Osijek. They come from Eden, Utah and have wonderful conversion stories, in fact lots of stories.

We visited the last institute of the year in Rijeka. They had a good turnout and Dragana Haci, our teacher did a great job. She had the class teach. Each person was invited to share a favorite verse or section from the Book of Mormon.
Sister Justus, Sister Kelly, Sister Astle, Sister Lewis in Rijeka. Sister Kelly needed some dental work done so we brought them down.
We were in Ljubljana center one day and Paul was waiting for me while I went to find some crochet thread. He found this bench and decided to join the gentleman who was sitting there.
One P-Day we took Elder Duke and Elder Ayche to Novi Mesto. Elder Duke wanted to see it before he goes home. It's a beautiful city. We use to have missionaries here but they were pulled out this year. You might remember this corner, it is where we sang with the Elders on the street corner one Sunday afternoon
We have been remodeling our YSA room and think it looks pretty sharp. Peter, our institute teacher, is visiting with Barbi waiting for the others to arrive.
We were at the BTC (huge and I mean huge shopping complex) in Ljubljana and this is part of the open market. These are all over every city has many of them.
Oksana and Samuel played for us after our YSA lunch at our home. She's our new convert.
One afternoon before the weather got too hot we decided to hit the zoo. It was a great zoo, not too big but had lots of animals. We particularly liked the camel who was shedding his winter coat.

Elder Ayche and Duke in beautiful Novi Mesto
YSA lunch group
A beautiful Slovenian sunset

Sunday, May 16, 2010

Driving to Varazdin we saw this stork nest on top of pole. Can you see the stork's head?

Saturday, May 15 we had two baptisms in Ljubljana. Ano and Oksana. Simona and Moyce are in the picture with us.
These are some of our YSA in Maribor who came to the baptism. Simona, Vesna, Samir and Tilen
Mitja, Elder Duke, President Juhart, Ano, Oksana, her friend from Italy, Tilen Fidler and Bishop from Italy
Elder Duke and Ano. Elder Duke is our District Leader and is an awesome missionary.
I found Ano and her friend up in the kitchen before the baptism. She had made a wonderful cake and brought some food for afterward. She is going to be such a great member. Very strong testimony.
We visited Varazdin's institute this week. Sister Lukacek still comes in every week 1 hr. on the train. Her husband is working in Germany. She is so faithful. Tereza has been a member for many years and is an architect.
The Elders had a surprise waiting for Elder Fawler when we arrived at District meeting. He is celebrating a birthday this week.

We took Elder Johnson and Fawler out for lunch at a Serbian restaurant.
Sister Justust was taking her monthly trip to Maribor so we took her to the train. This is the slow train and she says he is not riding it again.

President & Sister Hill at Zone Conference
Elder & Sister Lindorf, our office couple
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Our Sister Missionaries in Slovenia Sisters DeMill, Shorten,Astle, & Kelly
Elder Lewis and I in the elevator
We took a P-day and walked around Ljubljana Center again. It is so beautiful. This is a bridge built in 1848 as you can see.
This is a view from center
A YSA group meeting after Institute. Rebeka, Allan, Barbi, Tomislav, Mitja and Elvi.
Yelka invited Sister Justus, Elders Duke and Ayache and us to lunch.
She made a delicious Sloven meal. She has beena member for about 14 years. Wonderful woman.
Emillie's final volleyball game. They won the championship 5 games with the final score 20-18. It was pretty exciting.
Her Mom and Dad and sister came over a week before she finished up and spent some time with her and got to watch the final games.
Emillie serving
Sister Justus, Allan and us went up to Pjtu. It has the oldest castle in Slovenia.
This is a view overlook the city.

It is really a grand place and well presereved.

View of the castle
This month we did apartment checks in Ljubljana. Elder Sherman and Schneider.
Elders Gonzales and Corob
Elders Ayche and Duke. They all passed.
Spring is beautiful. It is such a beautiful country with the most amazing people.