Monday, December 12, 2016

I haven't done much today except email chat
with my daughter. It's been great!!

Hello everyone!

This was a very exciting week!

We have transfers this week and I am staying in Sarajevo, Bosnia for another transfer! I am excited! My new companion is Sister Rougeau. She has been my STL for the past two transfers. She is from Arkansas. She has the voice of an angel. She has two more transfers left in the mission.

The elders: E Rasmussen is going to Zadar (and will be serving with E James, who was in the MTC with me) and E Isom will be staying with me in Sarajevo and I am stoked. E Perry will be coming to Sarajevo.

Today is our day for traveling. We left Sarajevo early this morning and drove to Banja Luka. I am here now and S Higley is on her way to Croatia. She is serving in Rijeka. AND. S Yergensen, my comp from the MTC, is serving in Banja Luka so we will have a big ol' party when we do exchanges and I am stoked.

Earlier this week we made cookies with the Newtons and the elders. It was a lot of fun. Then next day we took them around to members and people we know. We got lost (I think this is becoming a normal thing every time we get in the car). But it was a great adventure, and it was wonderful to go out and visit people in their homes.

We went out to dinner with the Newtons because E Rasmussen and S Higley were leaving, and there was a couple who was sitting next to us who were speaking French. While I love Bosnian, I have decided that I will always be attached to French as well. I love it. It just brings back such fond memories.

We also visited this little Christmas Village thing they have in Sarajevo. It's way cute and adds a nice bit of Christmas Spirit.

THEN. Guess what we had on Saturday!! THE ELDERS HAD A BAPTISM. AND IT WAS THE COOLEST EXPERIENCE OF MY LIFE. It was beautiful. And I could not stop grinning. It was amazing!! The set up took ages and filling the font was a mess but it went smoothly and all was well. Elder Rasmussen baptized him. And the service was so good and his testimony after was magnificent and it was so fun and I am so happy for the elders and for the branch!! He was going to get the Holy Ghost in church yesterday, but he wasn't feeling well and wasn't able to come to church. So he will get it next week. Seriously so so so cool. It was absolutely amazing.

Yesterday our water turned off for a while. We got a text Saturday night from our branch president and our lawyer saying the water in parts of the city is being shut off from 9 to 3. We left for dinner at 5 and it still wasn't on. That gave me a little taste of what would happen if a disaster were to occur and we didn't have water. It is a good thing we have water stored up for when something like that happens. I am also very grateful for running water. VERY grateful.

Speaking of being grateful, I am grateful for blessings. They are the best things ever. And I love that I have two elders who are always near by if I ever need one. Through prayer you can receive answers from God but sometimes it's hard to tell what is from God and what is an idea that you had. And sometimes it is an idea from God. Anyway. I love blessings because you know they are straight from Him. And because He knows you perfectly, you know that He is telling you what you need. He is taking care of you because He is a LOVING Heavenly Father. Which means He loves us and wants the best for us and will take care of us. And I love that. And Him.

I love you all lots and lots. I hope all is well!

S ljubavlju,
Sestra Locey