Week 31 First week in Serbia

Hey hey hey. Hello my people! For one- I'm sorry I've become an emotional mess on the mission. I never cry- but when I see any of your faces or talk to you the tears flow and i realize how much I really miss you!

This week I moved into a run down apartment! Everything is broken or just plain nasty. The klima doesn't work & we cant drink the tap water.. the floor is broken and the sinks leak. I could go on.. but it's ok! We have a place to live! But the branch is cute! There are families and kids! It's so great to see people with strong testimonies! 

I like my comp. 

We have talked to some really cool people this week! We have one women the BOM and tears streamed down her face as we explained that we can live together forever with our families. I hope we can teach her even more about the amazing truths of the gospel! This gospel is plain and precious. We have to walk by faith rather than sight. 

Serbia us just like Croatia! Tons of "Pekaras (bakery) everywhere! Lots of people, cars, and busy streets! It's been so hot lately. But it's been good. Lots of trees line our area and so we walk in the shade (: I love smiling at people or saying hello. So many times if you say hello to older people they stop and ask- have we met? And then you have to explain that you were only saying a hello! Haha(: they get so confused when you smile at them too heheh. Spread the smiles! 

Being a missionary is great! It's been hard this week but I just need to remember- this is Gods work NOT mine. My job is to love people and help them feel Gods love. Awwww sorry this email was short.

Thanks for the love and support(: I need the prayers.  Through Christ- that is how we find that energy to keep going on. He is the best I'll try to focus even more on Him. 

Love you all!! 

Ćao! Doviđenja (: vidimo se i vas volim! 

 The Danube

Week 30 Goodbye Croatia- Hello Serbia!!

Hello everyone! I think the subject says it all! I am moving to Beograd, Serbia! Time to learn Serbian  (I don't know Cyrillics so awwww!)  I am so sad to leave beautiful Rijeka,  Croatia and all the friends I have made here!  (and especially my amazing companion Sister Gunnell and THE Christensens)  This transfer has been full of growth and laughter!  I have found so much joy in the work and have loved being here surrounded by amazing people! RANDOM FUN STUFF -Last week we went to a bunch of old cemeteries and looked for Elder Christensen's family!  Nikola Tesla was born in the same city as some of his family members!  It was so cool to gather Israel on both sides of the veil! -We had a great branch activity in the park! We played volleyball, spike ball, and lots of fun things! I was reading the Come Follow Me from this week and stumbled upon this scripture in Romans 8 39: Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to aseparate  us from the blove of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. God's love for us is SO great. He loves us more than we can know. And NOTHING can take away God's love.  We are His children! He has a perfect plan for each of us to return home and that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.  So whatever you are going through right now REMEMBER- God loves YOU. And remember His Son Jesus Christ. Thanks for all the prayers and support! Hurrah for Israel! Sister Gittins (: ReplyReply allForward

Week 29 2nd Transfer! New Alphabet New Language!

Perry Christensen sent this on Google Photos
Transfers were announced today. We are so sad that our little "family" will be broken up. We have had so much fun with them and have loved seeing them share the gospel. They are such good young men and women!!! We love them.  But three (yes, 3) of them will be moving on to more challenges. I put the pictures up of the moment they saw the announcement. All are going to challenging positions and responsibilities. Elder Beck--Wow--love the assignment. What fun he will have and challenging assignment in another country. Elder Christensen was a little more serene and calm about his assignment, even though it will be unique and challenging. He will be with one of our other favorite missionaries. Again, in another country. Both Sister Gittins and Elder Christensen will be thrown into a new language and alphabet, but they are SO up for the challenge. We are SO SO happy that Sister Gunnell will stay with us another transfer (Our Last). Many of the pictures are of her when she heard the announcement. She will be getting Sister Scofield from Australia who is in Sister Gittins/Elder Christensens group. I don't mean to be so secretive about their new location, but agreed I would show the pictures and they would tell you. We are all so proud of them--they all have their new assignments because of their hard work at the language and their faithful hard work as missionaries. We love them so much!! But we will miss them!

Week 28 Tender Mercies from Fasting and Prayer!

Dearest Family!

I hope you all are doing well! And enjoying summer! Painting fire hydrants looked like lots of hard work and fun! Great Job Landon for doing your eagle! I hope you realize how many amazing people helped you get to that point! Plus lots of your hard work! You're awesome dude! haha. I loved seeing the pictures of everyone and also the beautiful mountains in the background! My heart skips a beat when I think of driving into CV again. haha does that sound funny? 1 year to go! woah! This transfer has flown by! Sister Gunnell and I have had lots of fun together and we love talking about CV and all our good silly stories. we have lots of laughs and have really enjoyed this transfer! We have transfer announcements in 2 weeks! And next week we are going to Senj to visit a member and walk through some cemeteries and find family history! So next monday I won't email lots. Then the next Monday is traveling! Or who knows- maybe I'll stay in Rijeka! Lots of people guess I'm going to Podgo! Montenegro. If you go to Podgo you catch a flight down there either from Ljubljana or Zagreb. But who knows what will happen! the rest of the areas you take buses or drive! Our mission is pretty spread out! with having 5 countries and we only have 64 missionaries! It's crazy! I was writing Sophie and she say they have a goal of 30 baptisms a month. She said they've reached 20 lots. I gasped! I was like what?!?! So all you RM's reading this email- what was normal for your missions? I'll tell you what.. We've had a goal of 64 people for 3 years.. And we are finally getting closer! haha. It's just a little slower here! But it's good! Malo po malo.

BUT we are seeing growth here in Rijeka!! 

Tender Mercy #1- Since I got to Rijeka in March, I have been praying for Kostana and Dormina. Kostana is Ivan Hachi's sister. Her husband is a member, and all of her siblings. She use to take the lessons a long time ago but never was ready. She comes to church pretty often and is so very sweet. She acts like a member just hasn't been baptized. Every week we have tried calling her or asking her when she can meet up with us. She always says- next friday, then next friday comes and it's next Thrusday and etc.... Since I've been here we try to set up with her and she never has. So Sunday we did a special fast for Kostana and Dormina to start talking lessons and get baptized. As I was playing prelude music and trying to bring the spirit before we partook of the sacrament- Kostana walks in and walks straight over to the piano. She gives me a hug and then says"We are meeting Tuesday at 4 and Friday at 12." I couldn't believe it! I just hugged her and told her I love! WE have been trying to meet with her for months and then she just comes and tells us that! My eyes were full of tears of joy! After church I told the Christensen's what happened and we all cried together. I gave Sister Christensen a hug and President Christensen a real strong hand shake. They have been in our prayers so much! I hope that they will come to the lessons and that they will prepare for baptism. So keep them in your prayers! Fasting really does work and God is a God of Miracles! I went home after church and starting reading where I left off in the BOM. It was Mormon 9. Surprise? I think not! God is aware of us and the people we are serving!! awww

Tender Mercy #2- Dajana Hachi (Ivan's wife) started reading the Book of Mormon! She is so sweet and her family doesn't love the church. Her brother is really against it.. So we hope she can find out for herself and find that strong foundation. But it's huge she started reading!!!

We did service this week and painted and Zivana's new apartment! Zivana is a spunky Slav who speaks amazing english. She has a daughter named Kira who is very sweet. Zivana is really so hilarious and spunky. We love being around her! She's a member but hasn't been to church since 2002.. So we are trying to help her paint and grow her faith! 2 for 1 deal (:

We ate with a member on Saturday night. Jadranka! her daughter lives in Spanish Fork (she married a missionary) And she loves to talk about Utah! She is super sweet and always feeds us so much food! I couldn't walk after we left her house I felt sick! hhaha but she made us yummy homemade burek and turkey stakes with bread. Then lots of chocolate dessert with icecream! She goes all out for the missionaries! 

Sorry this email is scatter brained I am really just typing all my thoughts! We start a new English class this week! We always do english groups and teach, but this week we start a new program. Hopefully it will help us find more people to teach! 

Life is a crazy ride! But hang on and enjoy the view!

I love you all so much! Thank you for all your thoughts, prayers, kind words, everything!! Best of luck! AND enjoy snake river! I'll admit, that makes me really homesick! I want to raft!! But next year I'll be back at it again with you all! 

I know that God lives and knows you! He is in charge. Trust Him(: Just keep swimming! 

Love you all!! 

Sister Gittins