The time flies by . . . Where did November go?

The schedule for the middle of November was FULL of travel. Sister Lamb and I traveled to Zagreb for the District Relief Society Conference. Our traveling and borders were uneventful (which is just the was we like them - lol). We had a wonderful time at the conference - learning, socializing and making new friends with other women from other parts of Croatia, Bosnia and Serbia.

After the activity on Saturday, we (Sister Lamb, Suzana and I) took a bus to downtown Zagreb and enjoyed the sites. It was fun to see the city at night. 

We walked and visited and felt very safe. The night air was a little chilly and we were happy to get home to our warm hotel - and tired from our walk, we slept very well. 

Sister Lamb and I drove home on Sunday afternoon and on Monday morning, we headed to Belgrade for the first of 2 Missionary Zone Conferences. Belgrade ZC on Tuesday and Wednesday and Zagreb ZC on Thursday and Friday. One of the activities of ZC was for the young missionaries to create a video testifying of Jesus Christ. In Belgrade they filmed in Serbian and in Zagreb they filmed in Croatian. They did the filming for the English version in Zagreb and the Slovenian one several weeks prior. 

This is one of the amazing challenges and miracles of our mission - 3 local languages (4, if you count English). Translation and communication is a component that must be considered - it can be challenging, laborious, beautiful and sometimes, comical :-)

This time at ZC, Lot and I both had the oppoortunity to help in teaching activities. Lot lead a scripture Jeopardy activity and I lead scripture block activity, where we looked for Christ-like characteristics. It was great!

The last week of November is of course Thanksgiving (in the United States). That week was also "transfers" and 24 incoming new missionaries - so it was a crazy week mission-wide.

These 7 sisters and 2 elders returned home, after faithfully finishing their missionary service. Our hearts were tender as we served the the same cities with all but one of these amazing young adults 💕

Thursday (Thanksgiving) was the day all the new missionaries and their trainers returned to their assigned cities - so the Thanksgiving dinner was postponed for a day or two. Our Thanksgiving dinner was hosted by Elder and Sister Lamb, with two brand-new missionaries, a missionary new to our city and our friends Maddy, Jonny and Michael. We had chicken (a whole turkey is hard to find), mashed potatoes w/ gravy and pies. It was delicious and felt like home. 

There are so many things for which we are grateful - our family, our friends, our mission and our Savior, Jesus Christ. 

November is a time for gratitude

When November rolls around each year, it gives us a time to reflect on things we are grateful for. We have so many things that we are thankful for we don't know where to start. We have been so blessed this year living here in Sarajevo. 

The natural beauty here is breathtaking. The mountains are equal to the majesty of the Swiss Alps or the Rocky Mountains

The Adriatic Sea and the Dalmatian Coast are spectacular. 

Helen has been loving the Fall colors as the leaves change before they drop.

For me, I loved watching the fields - planting, harvesting and the farmers work the soil for next year. As we drive we see the changes. 

We are thankful for our family, even though we miss them, especially our grandchildren as they are growing up so fast. We have been blessed to have two of our daughters and their husbands come to visit us this fall. That was such a delight for us to have them come. We are so grateful for technology that allows us to stay connected and to be part of our family and friends lives even when we are half a world away. 

One special event was we were able to be present (via technology) at our granddaughter's wedding this summer. That was a delight for Helen, who so badly wanted to be there for that. She realized if we went home for it that I might not get her back on the plane to come back to Europe to complete our mission. Here is a picture someone took that day - this is us, expressing our love and best wishes to the bride and groom

One unexpected blessing that we didn't realize when we went on our first mission was the friendships we would build with other senior couples. 

That has continued on this mission also. We have the chance to work with all the senior missionaries in our Mission which consist of around 54 other seniors. People from all walks of life and from many different lands, but all with the same desire to serve God and the wonderful people in the five countries ini which we labor. 

Young and "more experienced", we love all the missionaries. 

Our Mission is blessed be have a couple to be our Mission Leaders. President Brian and Sister Angelika Cordray, they are amazing. I don't know how he does it, but he runs on 3-4 hours of sleep per night. It's a good thing that she is the driver whenever they are traveling, which is most of the time. They love the young missionaries and take such good care of us all. They will be finishing their assignment here next June and then unlike us retired folks they have to go back to find a job, since he is only 50 years old.

The greatest thing we have to be grateful for is our Savior Jesus Christ. 

His resurrection has made it possible for us all to live again and through His atoning sacrifice He has taken upon Him our sins. Whereby we can be forgiven and stand before our God with Christ as our Mediator. For Him I will be eternally grateful.