On Monday we picked up our brand new car at the dealership. It's really nice buying a vehicle when you don't have to pay for it yourself! The Tuzla Elders met us at the dealer to leave their old car for an appraisal. They took the car we have been driving and we drove the new car home. It had only 16 kilometers on it. Our previous car was only four months old when we arrived in Bosnia but no one thought two 19-year-olds should get the new car so we traded them. It is the same make and model, just a 2018 rather than 2017.
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| Our new 2018 Hyundai Elantra |
The new car service isn't quite what we are used to at home. They washed the car but the inside of the windows were covered with grimy dust and the gas tank was empty - literally. We had to stop on the way home to fill up.
We drove to Belgrade Serbia on Tuesday morning. Elder Sabin was doing a mission tour so the Bosnia and Serbia zones combined in Belgrade for zone conference. The other senior couple from Bosnia and the couple from Montenegro were staying at the same hotel so we had a late dinner together after getting all our missionaries delivered. We brought three Elders with us - what a joy! We thought for awhile we had three 6-year olds in the back seat. They all had to take bathroom breaks, but none at the same time. Then they started the "he's touching me" and "he's breathing my air" routine but they were just doing that to give us a bad time. In their defense, six hours is a long time for three big boys to be cooped up in a back seat.
Zone conference started at 9:00 am Wednesday morning. Elder and Sister Sabin had a little reception line to shake all the missionaries hands.
We drove to Belgrade Serbia on Tuesday morning. Elder Sabin was doing a mission tour so the Bosnia and Serbia zones combined in Belgrade for zone conference. The other senior couple from Bosnia and the couple from Montenegro were staying at the same hotel so we had a late dinner together after getting all our missionaries delivered. We brought three Elders with us - what a joy! We thought for awhile we had three 6-year olds in the back seat. They all had to take bathroom breaks, but none at the same time. Then they started the "he's touching me" and "he's breathing my air" routine but they were just doing that to give us a bad time. In their defense, six hours is a long time for three big boys to be cooped up in a back seat.
Zone conference started at 9:00 am Wednesday morning. Elder and Sister Sabin had a little reception line to shake all the missionaries hands.
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| Elder Gary B Sabin of the Quorum of Seventy |
Elder Sabin is a counselor in the Europe Area Presidency. He and his wife Valerie were both good speakers and gave us good counsel. He used Elder Ballard's topic from the 2018 Mission Leadership Seminar for new mission presidents in June "Faith to find the Elect." The counsel was to keep it simple - if you want to teach and baptize, you need to talk to more people. He challenged the missionaries to talk to at least 10 new people every day. As they do this, he promised they will stay mentally, emotionally and spiritually engaged in the work.
Sister Sabin made a comment that I really like, "if you want to be among the chosen, you must choose." To me, that meant we aren't going to get where we want to be eternally by luck - we must take that leap of faith and make the decision to do what we know is right and keep on the covenant path. We are not entitled to anything except the blessings of God when we do our part.
Elder Sabin brought the 2019 Europe Area Goals with him to zone conference:
Sister Sabin made a comment that I really like, "if you want to be among the chosen, you must choose." To me, that meant we aren't going to get where we want to be eternally by luck - we must take that leap of faith and make the decision to do what we know is right and keep on the covenant path. We are not entitled to anything except the blessings of God when we do our part.
Elder Sabin brought the 2019 Europe Area Goals with him to zone conference:
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| 2019 Europe Area Goals |
The top area (in white) says "I will strengthen my faith in Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ whenever I", (in blue) "Follow the prophet," (in pink) "Invite a friend to Sacrament meeting," (in green) "Prepare a family name for the temple."
At the conclusion of zone conference a local clinic came to the church and gave us all a flu shot. We were the first in line, as we had the longest drive home. It was almost 11:00 pm when we arrived back in the Sarajevo.
John lost a crown while we were in Paris so we went to the dentist Thursday. He has needed some quality dental work done for some time but refuses to pay the high prices at home (even with dental insurance). So he has decided to have four old crowns replaced and have 3 implants done, all for less than one implant would be at home. We don't trust the medical care in Bosnia but are very impressed with the good quality dental care (at private clinics).
We finally got a picture of the father and son where we buy our fresh fruits and vegetables. We have no idea what their names are. The son speaks a little English. They are so friendly and helpful each time we visit.
At the conclusion of zone conference a local clinic came to the church and gave us all a flu shot. We were the first in line, as we had the longest drive home. It was almost 11:00 pm when we arrived back in the Sarajevo.
John lost a crown while we were in Paris so we went to the dentist Thursday. He has needed some quality dental work done for some time but refuses to pay the high prices at home (even with dental insurance). So he has decided to have four old crowns replaced and have 3 implants done, all for less than one implant would be at home. We don't trust the medical care in Bosnia but are very impressed with the good quality dental care (at private clinics).
We finally got a picture of the father and son where we buy our fresh fruits and vegetables. We have no idea what their names are. The son speaks a little English. They are so friendly and helpful each time we visit.
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| Owners of the vegetable market, holding our purchases of the day |
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| Beautiful fruits and vegetables all year round |
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| There are many stands at the market place but this one is our favorite |
Our invitation this week is to see others as Christ would see them. It is amazing what you can do when you are doing it for someone else. Elder Neal Maxwell said "Don't fear, just live right."
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