Neil, Nathan

Bok! Another week down, and about halfway through the at-home MTC (until we leave for Croatia!). We transitioned this week from our english teaching lessons to teaching in Croatian. This was a big jump since we are still only two and a half weeks into learning the language, but the Spirit is making all the difference!   My surandik and I taught a guy named Matthew today in Croatian, and were able to teach about God's love for him and invited him to pray about the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon! It was amazing to see him go from not really knowing God to having the faith to act on our words and the promptings of the Spirit! And all in Croatian!   A big miracle this week: On Wednesday, I had the opportunity to go into the temple and do baptisms for the dead! (proxy baptisms for those who died not having been able to be baptized in their lives). I had previously thought that when I went through the temple in April, that would be my last time in the Lord's House for two years!...

Bok bok!! (not like a chicken) Compared to those first few days of the MTC, this week has flown by! And while I am used to the schedule now, the learning has definitely ramped up. I love understanding the more intricate parts of the hrvatski (Croatian) language, even though it is such a shift from English. And my studies within the scriptures are more meaningful than they ever have been. My mind and body might be exhausted but I can feel the Spirit so strong! This week Starješina Garlick and I were able to teach our friend Amanda in a few TRC's (we say "friend" instead of "investigator"). TRC stands for Teaching Resource Center, and it gives us an opportunity to meet with someone, usually just acting as a non-member, and teach them the gospel virtually. While understanding and teaching her was very difficult and took time, we enjoyed success in the end. We were able to invite her to read the First Vision, and pray to know of its truthfulness! It was really amazi...

dravo moja obitelj i prijatelji!! (Hello family and friends!) Where to start... It has definitely not been an easy first week of the MTC, but I have learned so much! For those of you who aren't familiar with a missionary schedule (or MTC) we wake up at 6:30 each morning and spend the day doing two 3 hour classes in the morning and afternoon, one hour of personal study, one hour of companionship study, one hour of language training, and thirty minutes of specifically Book of Mormon study. Lots to do, but it's all for the greatest work on Earth today and I love everything I learn! The Croatian language is coming slowly haha, but I wouldn't have it any other way. It is jako dobro! I love working hard and studying to grasp the grammar and memorize the vocabulary. Our teachers, Sestra Luthy i Sestra Shaw are AMAZING!! They are some of the most selfless people I have ever met, and dedicate so much of their time and energy into helping us prepare. I cannot thank them enough. My ...

  I went to a workshop today and studied Alma 5 as well and we were learning about conversion so I'll share some of what I took away. We discussed a lot about the Book of Mormon, and its importance in the conversion process. It's true that without the Spirit, no one can become converted to the gospel. But without the Book of Mormon, which brings the Spirit and teaches us to repent (mighty change in heart), we cannot become converted either. I loved in Alma 5 when it talks about seeing with an eye of faith and having the image of God ENGRAVEN upon your countenance. We are not just changing how we are, we are making God a literal part of ourselves and becoming celestial beings. I've been studying a lot about the concept of "seeing the end from the beginning", and I think seeing with an eye of faith is along those same lines. I am going to Croatia seeing everyone dressed in white, ready to be baptized, as they will be una dia. And every rejection, every closed door, ...

These are the notes from my blessing/setting apart by President Vance: -gift of tongues, speak fluently as I put in the work. Will learn through speaking, dreams, and thinking in Croatian -gift of healing, will have opportunity to bless the sick and afflicted. Have Courage and faith to (exercise it) lay your hands. -gift of loving people and culture (music, food, traditions and customs, what they love) they will love me and I will love them *garren and Paul (study Paul and pray for garren to be there w me and teach me) -called to the work just as Paul was -ability to love difficult companions (kindness and service, becoming lifelong true friends) -God is placing a lot of trust in me to send me to the ANM, as I am obedient God will bless me to see right from wrong -come to understand myself better and learn things to help me after the mission -understand my identity* -be able to articulate the gospel in simple and powerful ways like Paul, carry the name of Paul -using my unique gifts an...