Rijekaaaa

First things first, I'm headed to Rijeka, Croatia!! We got our transfer assignments last night and I'll be at the coast next week being trained by Elder Hazel and my comp Elder Garlick will be off to Novi Sad. It's a pretty sad goodbye but were both stoked. Elder Garlick has honestly been the best comp I could have asked for, I have learned so much from him. I will be "killing" elder Hazel, meaning he will be heading home after this transfer. (Way too excited to see the ocean again haha)



Drugi, we have been getting some very intense training this week from a university professor named Kristjan (one of the coolest people I've ever met). This guy is crazy. He's been just about everywhere, speaks who knows how many languages, and is a scientist/politician/researcher/professor/doctor and so on. He is crucial to the success of the mission here because of all his international connections and knowledge. (Some people here think he's John the Beloved, and honestly I could believe it) We've learned a lot from him about speaking and acting as a true native and it has paid off big time.



This week a few elders and I experienced a big miracle: we met a woman while we are at dubrovica (our favorite bakery) and she started telling us about how she had been born again and spoken to God and was searching for a true church. Then she said goodbye and walked away, leaving us all in a state of shock haha. After about 30 seconds we all realized God had just shown us His hand and we ran after her, trying to find her in the streets of Zagreb. I ended up getting her number, and long story short, we called her and she told us about how her Catholic religion growing up allowed infant baptism and such and didn't follow the Bible, and after we explained the truths in the Book of Mormon she was super interested! We're going to meet up with her and give her a Book of Mormon this week, and then it will be up to the Zagreb missionaries to help her. She told us we were full of light and our eyes were clear when she met us, and that was what got her interested. I am so grateful for this special experience, she is an angel and we all felt the Spirit so much throughout our time with her. 



Ok, apologies for the long email, but her is my klatko i slatko (short and sweet) spiritual thought: 



During a testimony meeting we had this week, I felt the spirit very strong and realized the importance of our testimony. When we share what we know by the Spirit, we open ourselves to show what is purely written on our hearts. I love the power of testimony, and I know that as we share them, the Spirit will bless us and those we share it with. Please don't hesitate to share what you know to be true. Be open and honest, and the Spirit will be with you. 



Vidimo se! (You can email me directly if you want to respond)



Starješina Neil



P.s. We went to church this Sunday and guess who was there! For the first time in seven years, Edita and Davor decided to travel from Utah to Croatia and happened to be there on the last Sunday I will be here in Zagreb! (Back story: they are from croatia, I met them while I was at BYU and became friends with their family) It was a very special miracle for me to be able to see them again:)



P.P.S. We went to the Mirogoj cemetery yesterday, and it is now one of my favorite places on earth. We went to the grave where on of my heros, Kresimir Čosić, is buried (look him up!!!) and also got to see the memorials for those who died in the war. I can't explain how special this place is, but I attached some pictures.



Pictures:

1.) Our humble living conditions for the past week

2-6) Mirogoj (the big one is pres Tuđman grave (another one to look up))

7.) Krešimir Ćosić  grave (buried in the highest prestige location)

8.) Our district 

9.) The boys!! (Workout buddies/fellow missionaries in the miracle I wrote about/best friends)









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