Summer Zone Conference

It's been another busy week for us and we're exhausted!  John is asleep in the big chair and I'm trying to stay focused long enough to get the blog written for the week.

We did apartment inspections at the Elder's apartments early in the week.  They do pretty good, for the most part.  I'm sure it doesn't always look as good as when we inspect...  We have been gone so much lately that our apartment could use a good cleaning as well.  I'm glad no one comes to inspect us!

Most of Wednesday afternoon was spent baking cookies for summer zone conference in Zagreb.  We left early Thursday morning for Zagreb.  Zone conference didn't start until Friday but we wanted to finish our project with the Red Cross family center on the same trip.  We took Elders Shaw and Hanks in the car with us.  Elders Evans and Roberts had taken the train to Banja Luka for some training with the zone leaders earlier in the week.  We had Elder Roberts with us from Banja Luka to Zagreb.  The Tuzla Elders also came through Banja Luka and brought the other three Elders to Zagreb with them.

We stopped in Banja Luka long enough to hear transfer announcements.  President decided to do announcements via Zoom video rather than email this time.  It was pretty chaotic with all the missionaries screaming and laughing and high-fiving throughout the announcements.  Maybe it wouldn't be so bad at home with only our four missionaries but in a room full of 11 Elders and Sisters, it was deafening.  Oh, to be young again.

President Melonakos on Zoom - with an electrical box under his nose

Elders Snell, Hanks and Shaw

We had lunch after announcements and headed for Zagreb.  We stopped at the refugee family shelter to drop paper work.  As soon as we got out of the car, the little children ran to us and hugged our legs.  They followed us into the building, chattering in a language we didn't understand, all smiles.  It is amazing how resilient they are, despite their tough circumstances.

After dropping the Elders at the mission office, we checked into our nearby hotel.  We had hoped to see a little more of Zagreb but it was the evening before a major Croatian holiday and the city squares were full of people.  Lots of bands performing and other festivities going on.  Croatia was also playing Argentina in the World Cup that night and football fans were out celebrating. Croatia won, by the way.

It was 99 degrees when we pulled into Zagreb.  A storm came in during the night and Friday the temp dropped into the 50's and it rained all day.  Zone conference was at the mission home, where all the young missionaries stayed.  The four seniors stayed at a nearby hotel and prepared the meals for the conference.  We were combined with the Slovenia zone for this conference.

The APs teaching us - Elder Crapo and Elder Sharp

The theme for conference was motivation - how to we get motivated (through faith and hope) and stay there.

The Bosnia senior Elders Brewer and Cooper

A room full of awesome young missionaries

One of the senior couples serving in Serbia is friends with the gentleman who did the stained glass for the Rome Temple.  The theme for the windows and décor throughout the temple is the olive tree/branch.  They had pieces of stained glass left and he asked if the mission would like some.  He did a short video explaining the glass, then we were all presented with an olive leaf made from the leftover window glass.

I can't wait to see the Rome Temple in person!

The scripture on the card is the mission scripture that we recite at every zone conference.  The conference ended around 3:00 pm and we started for home close to 3:30.  We had to go through Banja Luka again to drop Elder Snell off.  One our way into Banja Luka, we saw something I never thought I'd see in Bosnia, but we were in the orthodox Republic of Srpska where there are fewer Muslims than where we live.

This little pig went to market...

We dropped the Elders at their apartment at 11:30 pm; we dropped into bed around midnight.  Elder Roberts was sick during the night and all day today with chills and fever and feeling overall lousy.  He stayed home from church with Elder Hanks, who was bitten by some bug or spider at the park in Zagreb while they were playing kickball.  He's okay but a little concerned as the bite mark seems to be changing a little and he says his leg is starting to feel tight.  We tried to find somewhere for him to get it checked but nothing is available on Sunday except the ER, which does not have a great reputation here.  We gave him a supply of ibuprofen with instructions to call if it gets worse.  He will get it checked out in Zagreb on Tuesday morning during transfers.

Yes, we are losing two great Elders after only one transfer.  We were sad to loose the Sisters but we adore these two guys and are sad to see them go.  We are getting a set of Sisters back this transfer.

Elder Hanks and Elder Shaw have walked the soles off their shoes

The Elders took the car home with them tonight after dinner.  The Sisters will return with it on Wednesday, so we are kind of stranded until then.  We do have an appointment tomorrow morning and will have to take the tram or a taxi downtown.

I think that's it and it's way past bedtime so I'll finish.  Have a great week!