Neil, Nathan

Well we started off this week with 20+ referalls via our city Facebook pages, but most of them ended up being friends who put their information down for us to contact them (bit of a let down). BUT some of those random people we contacted ended up being interested so we will be teaching them this week!  After a lot of social media finding, we ended this week with a discussion with one of our progressing people, a new convert, the converts Muslim friend, and his professor of religion. It was crazy! We all read from the Book of Mormon and Bible and had a spirit-filled conversation about faith and God's plan for us. I can testify that the Spirit truly unites people of all faiths when we can sit down with love and respect for one another. It was a beautiful experience. For this spiritual thought, I wanted to share a quick story about following first-promptings. A few weeks ago we were walking across a bridge in Podgorica when we heard a young couple speaking English walking other direct...

Great week!! Some of my favorite parts were a service project we did at the coast with Red Cross, planting trees with some amazing volunteers here. They are wonderful examples to me of selfless service and love. Damir also received the Aaronic priesthood this week and the ordination was powerful, I know that the priesthood will bless his family and him as he lives worthy of it. We taught some great lessons and Elder Jones did awesome taking the lead in teaching, I'm very grateful and blessed to serve with him. Always a good time haha. We also had the privilege of hearing from President Nelson as he addressed the Europe area in a devotional. I wanted to share something I learned not from what he said, but from what the Spirit taught me. And that is that the Lord is keenly aware of you. He knows your situation, your thoughts and desires, and your potential to become like Him. I also know that the prophet speaks His words. This means that he speaks TRUTH, in a world that is becoming m...

Damir got baptized!!! We had a sweet program and he was just full of the the spirit the whole time. All the missionaries who had previously taught him participated via zoom and the joy on everyone's face was amazing. (SO to my mom and dad who watched at 3 am Washington time). His mom also came and wants to be baptized as well! The highlight was his beautiful testimony that he shared at the end, the Spirit confirming everything he said. He is a chosen soul to get the work moving forward here.  As we were preparing for his baptism, Damir always said, "that's when the real work begins." And he has held true to his word, inviting anyone and everyone and giving out referalls left and right to missionaries all over the Balkans. He teaches with us in lessons, powerfully testifying of the Book of Mormon and the restored gospel. This is true conversion, and I can testify of the power of the Atonment in changing his life. I have felt the Holy Ghost more often this week than eve...

Great news! We have been teaching one of our progressing people who converted from Muslim to Christianity years ago, and today he got his answer that the church is true and wants to be baptized!!! This is HUGE for the branch and an answer to much fasting and prayer. He will make a big impact here in Montenegro. Thank you all for your faith! We also had the opportunity to find new people on Facebook during the orthdox Christmas (January 6th). It was a big opportunity to use this time of Christmas twice to further the work! Elder Jones and I also had fun exploring the city and getting lost in the backroads trying to track down members.  I love this area and this people! God has a plan in store for each of His children here and across the world, I know that. Spiritual thought:  This week I have been praying not just that we will find people who will accept the gospel, but more specifically for people who will "let God prevail in their lives." I love this phrase and that it impli...

This has been a pretty humbling week, if I'm being honest. Getting thrown in the fire a bit has been hard, but I feel myself growing every day.  Montenegro is gorgeous, and the people are really friendly but have lots of cultural diversity that makes things really interesting. The branch here is awesome, with committed members and amazing friends who come and lead discussions during Sunday school?! So many inspiring stories between all of them. We're whitewashing the area (all new missionaries) which is an adventure getting to meet all the people and brainstorm ideas on finding others. Its super fun though, and my companion elder Jones is a stud and we get along well. He's from Utah, plays sports, and knows how to work hard in learning the language and missionary work in general. Stoked to see all we can do this transfer! (with the Lord's help of course) Spiritual thought: On Sunday, Elder Jones and I taught Sunday school and posed this question: "How does knowing ...