Neil, Nathan

This week was a lot of goodbyes to a place where I learned so much. In Rijeka, I began to learn a language, I learned to love people better, and I learned more about myself and my faith. I left Rijeka today headed to Montenegro, and I will have the opportunity to train a new missionary again!  Training elder Childs this transfer has been an absolute blast, and I have learned a lot from his example. He's staying in Rijeka and I know that they are in good hands with him there. Very grateful for the blessing I had to serve with him. I want to share something I have been having to learn this week and will continue to learn this transfer. And that is that there is no growth in the comfort zone! Especially in terms of faith. This new assignment to Montenegro means I need to learn some Serbian, figure out a new area, and help a new missionary learn what it means to be a missionary. I've grown comfortable in Rijeka, and while Montenegro will be hard, I know that it is necessary for me ...

Pozdrav! This week we did lots of service at DIP (non-profit special needs organization) which is always an amazing experience spending time with them. We also did a lot of "contacting" to advertise for the Christmas concert. This was hilarious because we still arent allowed to street contact here so we would have to try to start up normal conversations with random people and then wrap it up inviting them to the concert. So many funny moments attempting that haha  Highlight of the week was yesterday, I still get so stoked every time I think about that Christmas sacrament meeting. We had 20 people! This is pretty much unheard of except for baptisms and the Spirit was very strong all meeting. They all read parts and I got to organize all the music for the program! The father and mother of Viktor (blind kid from barber shop) also came for the first time and had a good experience which was an answer to much fasting in prayer. And I saw the members step up and do so much service a...

This week has brought me so much joy, and I have seen God's hand in all of it. Between finding members on islands, teaching new families, exchanges, service, christmas Zone Conference, and tender mercies all along the way. Not lots of time, but my spiritual thought for the week is about joy. This week was a time I felt real happiness and satisfaction. And what did we do this week? We served, we helped, and we focused on other people! This is an eternal principle, that happiness comes as you "are in the service of your fellow man". And seek to do so because you love God "with all your might, mind, and strength". I promise that when you sacrifice for another because you love your Heavenly Father, you will receive an increase of lasting joy.  Elder Neil Lots of fun pictures this week!