Hello all family and friends and everyone under the face of the earth!!!!
I am so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so sorry I did not write an email last week.
So the reason..... we went to the Slovene coast last week, and so, to be smart, decided to leave early early in the morning so to avoid the traffic and the heat of the day. However, it meant we didn't get back into Celje until later. And so, after a great trip, we get back with just enough time to email.... to discover the library in Celje closes at 3 pm... in the summer. Hooray Slovene business hours!!! and so I profusely apologize.
But none the less, this week has been... one of the strangest weeks at least of my mission. The high points which are important are of course that on Thursday, I had my one year mark being on my mission!!! It's all down hill from here, in a great and scary sort of way. We had a lesson with two members about studying the scriptures, and then they made us lunch!! It was wonderful. We chatted a bit before heading to the church to plan a bit for the week and do English class. After English class we all went out and had desserts with friends and members. It was a great great day.
Also, last Sunday, we found an Albanian family. So here in Slovenia from time to time you meet Albanians. They are the third ones I have taught in my year here. They are always incredibly friendly and open to talk. The only problem is however ... they don't always know Slovene. This family we found however, the dad could speak great Slovene, and so we gave him a Book of Mormon in Albanian and set a time to return to talk about it. Then, however, things started to get weird. Me, thinking it would be a good idea, and show respect and care for them (and probably because I'm starting to get a little bored of Slovene since I know it quite well enough now) if I learned a little Albanian, began learning a little bit (grammar, words, etc). For those interested, Albanian is incredibly different from Slovene. Next to no similarities. So, taking an English and Albanian Book of Mormon, I began working through it. I did learn a few things, like cases, word order, and a few words. For example, 'unë jam' means 'I am', 'Perëndia' means 'God', and 'A je mir?' means 'How are you?'. And so we went by their place at our appointment to find out the dad wasn't there, and the mom who could speak pretty much no Slovene. And so for the last week, I kept learning a little more and more Albanian, and the family kept being stranger and stranger with not ever being home, or running into them outside their apartment leaving when we arrived, and so forth. Eventually they said they aren't interested, but it was a fun little jaunt into a very strange language (I'm half convinced written Albanian looks like Elvish would look like).
As for Catholics, it would happen eventually being in a country that pretty much says that if you're Slovene, you're Catholic, but it finally happened. Three weeks ago, a man came to our church service, saying he heard about it in Ljubljana, but lived in Celje. We were super excited that he came and said he had a good time, and so the sisters met with him last Tuesday and taught him a bit. A little into the meeting however, the sisters began realizing that he wasn't so interested in sincerely listening to their message, as in arguing about catholic doctrine with them. At the end, (and with us in English class we taught them an hour later) they invited us to their Catholic mass just across the street saying that since he came that week before, we needed to come with him. Not wanting to be rude (but I don't think church invitations work that way), and a bit curious ourselves, we set a time to come on Sunday morning. There, we came, sat, stood, sat, stood, listened to hymns and creeds in Slovene, an old testament and new testament reading, a nice message about Mary and Martha and how we should listen to and apply the words of Christ, and watch them all bless and take the Eucharist. Not too different actually from the traditional Methodist service I grew up with. Not a bad experience, but my opinions of it all weren't changed. One amazing thing however, is that we had our church service some 15 minutes after we left mass, and wow is the contrast striking. What we offered vs mass is something completely different in approach and application. So now I guess I can say I've had a catholic try to convert me.
Gypsies you say? A little side story. In Celje, we know where the Gypsy camp is, and simply walk by with without looking into it. I never really believed what Europeans said about the rundown state of gypsies, until I actually saw it. Their camp literally looks like.... yeah.
But yesterday, we found out about a women who had met with missionaries years ago, and approximately where she lives, and so, we go to the outskirts of Celje, to the best guess as to where she is, and begin asking around. We soon find ourselves outside another gypsy camp however, asking the gypsy neighbors where this woman is (of course all her neighbors on the street knew her). Quite awkward being in a shirt and tie and walking into the gypsy camp, but nothing bad happened. Eventually we found out which shack the woman lives in, to find out she wasn't home. She had cool turkeys and chickens.
But the best part of the week are seeing the miracles happening. We met with one of the members, finally, who hasn't been to church in a handful of months. We've been trying to set up with her for a very long time, but something typically happens, or she forgets. And so finally, we met with her with another active member and WOW was it amazing. God was in charge of everything said and shared in that night, just the right scriptures used, and the right questions and invitations offered. The Spirit was strong and in charge. By the end, she promised us she would come back to church that Sunday, and she came!!! Everyone was incredibly happy to see her back. All of it would not have been possible without her member friends in the church. She said that she talked to and promised 3 other people besides us that week that she would come, and she walked from her apartment to church with a close member friend. Goes to show that the Spirit can touch the hearts of everyone, and how crucial the fellowship of those around us is in supporting us to do what is right for ourselves.
Lastly, the greatest miracle of the week, is that Elder Simon and I have been starting a tradition of going out in the morning after studies and talking to people on the street. One morning, we went out, and not knowing where to go, began going south. Not passing very many people to talk to, we ended up outside of two blocs (apartment buildings) where two less active members live. I stop and think about it and ask, ˝Should we visit them?˝ Elder Simon asks who, and I stop and think and watch for the feelings of the Spirit tell me who we should visit. I then get a really good feeling about one of them in particular in the left bloc, and so we go to that bloc. We get into the doors (typically a minute if not more process to ring someone and ask them to open the door) and then as we approach the elevator out comes two people and a little girl, the dad being the less active member I felt we should go talk to!!! We talk and share that we were prompted to go talk to him and, after a chat, set up with him for this week. It truly is true that miracles have not stopped in our day, but rather that miracles stop not because of God, but because of us. If our faith is strong enough, we go out and do, believing it is possible, and especially if we listen to the promptings and feelings God places into our hearts by His Holy Spirit, miracles WILL happen. Without a doubt.
I pray each of us can live in a way where we can see miracles happening every day of our lives. It is true, that I know.
I hope you all have a nice and warm week. This week is looking to be hot, some highs of 32° - 38° C, which is what, 90° - 100° F? You know, so horrible.....
LP in se slišamo naslednji teden. To vam obljubim!
-Starešina Benson
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| Me at the coast with Sister Legro |
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| Most of Slovenia at the coast. Only Maribor is missing |
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| Walking down the town of Piran with a member and her friend who came, on the coast. Ancient roman city on the coast, you know, the usual |
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| A good portion of the Celje branch. Sister Porter, Elder Simon, and the Hansons (senior couple who are going home today) are the missionaries. Everyone else is a member in Celje. |
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