Week 53 Fortress

We had branch conference yesterday! I translated for Sister Melonakos on prayer. 

She gave a great talk about having earnest prayers! 

We went to a fortress!!! And an old monestary! Super fun times. We also ate at a fancy restaurant (: 

We saw so many miracles this week. We ran into people "randomly" and had many times to bear and share testimony!! 

We are in Belgrade until Tuesday night! Fun stuff at zone conference. I love being with all the sisters and talking and having fun! We ran all around to find king bars and we finally found them!! Yeahhhh. 

I love this talk- The Second Great Commandment by President Nelson

"Thus, our greatest joy comes as we help our brothers and sisters, no matter where we live in this wonderful world.

Giving help to others—making a conscientious effort to care about others as much as or more than we care about ourselves—is our joy. Especially, I might add, when it is not convenient and when it takes us out of our comfort zone. Living that second great commandment is the key to becoming a true disciple of Jesus Christ."

I know that giving of ourselves and loving others is the most important. We need to live that 2nd great commandment. I saw a quote that says: just love everyone! God will sort it out in the end. 

Also about faith:

Faith isn't where you go on Sundays or what version of the Bible you read. Faith is what you believe and how you act on that. Faith is how you live. We need to live our faith at all times.

Sorry short email. 

Love you all(: 

Sister G

Week 52 365 (Year Mark Week)

Yesterday we went to Subotica! Fun fact: Subotica translated=little Saturday. It is right on the border of Hungary and I begged to cross just for a few minutes... But the zone leaders said no.. President Fitches said no.. District leaders said no.. And Presidnet Melonakos would have sent me home ;) jokes- But hey, I was all for it!

We went to visit a member named Slavica. She is super cute and has a very beautiful voice! She comes from a very musical family. Her sons tours around on cruise ships and plays the guitar! So they sang and played for us(:

We have spent a lot of our week telling people about our English class. We hung up posters, passed out cards, set up a table and talked to people, etc. We need to get a group together(:

Yesterday in Primary we taught a lesson on the tree of life. We cut out pictures of Jesus into hearts and stuck them on fruit to help the children understand the love of God. We got them all little trees and helped them understand the story more. The Mihilović family was in Sacrament and doubled our numbers! So we got to teach all those cute kids! 

We were in Zagreb on Monday and Tuesday for a new missionary training! Sister Dimas did super well! We drove back in the worst fog ever!

We had some lessons fall through.. But we had a lesson with Jovan! He is our friend who we meet with lots but will not keep commitments. So we brought in Frank, a recent convert. He was super open and blunt and told Jovan how he could find out for himself and he needed to do the work. It was great! I love the straight fire that one balkan man can throw at another while being completely friendly at the same time.

This week I will hit my year mark! 365 days out here as a missionary! I'm so grateful for this experience. I walked into the Provo MTC a different person from who I am today. This last year has not been easy. I've cried, laughed, felt overwhelmed with joy, fear, exhaustion, and so many more emotions rolled into this experience. But more than anything I've realized how real my Savior is. How real is power can be in our lives. He is always there, but we need to let Him in. We have to ask for that help. There have been times when I am physically not able to keep being a missionary. When I am too exhausted and can't go on. But every time the Lord provides with little miracles and my soul is strengthened to the point to keep my phyical body going. There is so much strength in spirituality and humbly asking for help. This scripture brings tears to my eyes because I have lived this:

Alma 31:38

And the Lord provided for them that they should hunger not, neither should they thirst; yea, and he also gave them strength, that they should suffer no manner of afflictions, save it were swallowed up in the joy of Christ. Now this was according to the prayer of Alma; and this because he prayed in faith. 

I know that there is so much joy in Christ. HE LIVES. He could walk into the room at any instance. He covers all of our pains and weaknesses when we ask for His help! He has swallowed my pains and I am beyond grateful for that. And I love sharing that message with others!! 

Thanks for all the support!

Lots of love from Novi Sad️

Sister Gittins

Week 51 Mommas 43rd Birthday!

Tacy drove from Novi Sad to Zagreb this week for Return and Report. She called me on my Birthday and I enjoyed visiting with her. No email this week! She is a busy gal!

Week 50 Awwww you just made me inkkkkk

Sister Dimas turned 20 this week! We ate some yummy food and enjoyed hunting for members to visit. 

Sister D and I have plenty of laughs and try to celebrate the little things!

2020 is here that's crazy! 

Sister Dimas got kissed on her birthday by a Balkan man. I'm the worst mother ever... 

We had exchanges with the cute Belgrade sisters(:

Elder Springer told me I sound like the squid off of Finding Nemo. I'm taking a poll, yes or no. Please I need opinions.

Tradition they have here- burn Oaks leaves to celebrate christmas. I don't fully understand it, but there are tons of people selling leaves. I've never boughten leaves before, normally I just pick them up from the ground.. Next year I'll pick and burn my own leaves (: 

Today we went bowling with the elders! I broke 100 for the first time in my life. Woot woot. 

Thought: 

DONT be so hard on yourself! Take a step back and realize you are doing the best you can. And if you're not doing your best, then take a breath and realize what you can do. You are enough, you are precious. Your soul is so deep and eternal that a loving brother sacraficed for YOU. So please be gentle with yourself and realize you are doing great things. 

Happy New Year!! We should all ask ourselves how can I become closer to Christ this year? (:

Thank you for all the prayers! 

Sister Gittins