Week 61-Earthquakes & Viruses & Life oh my!

Hello everyone! 

We have been on lock down for about 1 week. We've got plenty of food, humor, and supplies to last us 2 years ;)

Serbia is on lockdown. Airports are closed and boarders are shut down. There is a curfew of 5-17.
The lines to get medicine and food are long. Especially because you have to be 2 meters apart.
But we are super safe and happy. Ride the wave️

We started the week in Novi Sad. Masks, gloves, sunshine.
Sister Toleafoa and I went out and played basketball for exercise time and even got a little sun burnt! THEN

We got a call from President on Saturday that we needed to move to Belgrade in 2 hours.
We packed all our supplies, clothes, and everything--then scrambled to Belgrade.
There are 4 sisters total in Serbia and now we all live together in the old seniors apartment.
We have wifi now and do all our work from inside! 

We have slowly lost senior couples in our mission, but there are still many holding on!
 All young missionaries are still here! 

MANY BLESSINGS have come from being inside. 

-We started a Novi Sad branch group chat that has been unifying the members. 

-We taught come follow me via Facebook Messenger. 

-We've been in contact with our friends we are teaching using different sources of technology.

-We taught English through the phone! We did a group call and had lots of fun(:

Life is just different now. As it is for everyone around the entire world. I never saw something like this coming.
 But now it's here. So let's surf this wave. Turn to God. Read your scriptures. Repent. Pray.
And most of all BE GRATEFUL (: God is good. 

Random Things(:

Every night at 20:00, the people of Serbia hang out windows or go on balconies- and they clap!
So us four sisters go out on our balcony and we clap too! We clap for all those fighting the virus and also for unity.
It's such a simple thing, but when the sky fills with applause and joy - it really makes our spirits sour!
It is so cool to hear the clapping above and around...... We look forward to 20:00 every night.

The Book of Mormon videos are SO good! Go and watch them(no excuses youre trapped because of the virus) 

I've seen lots of adorable pictures of missionaries returning home!
I'm grateful for my amazing friends and family and their example of selfless service in and out of the mission field.
I'm truly blessed to have all of you as examples.

There was an earthquake in our mission this week. (end of the world?) We are all safe and happy!
We know in Whom we trust. 

I am grateful for the ultimate healer Jesus Christ. He heals us from physical, mental, and emotional pain.
Please get to know Him. Study His words, read about His life- because it will change yours. I love Him.
I am grateful for Him. I know everything will be okay because He lives.
The One who controls the seas still controls this world. I know in Whom I trust. 

BIG prayers. BIG faith. BIG hugs. 

️🇷🇸

I love you all! You are in my prayers! 

SISTER GITTINS

Week 60 Test-imony

I will quote a few Serbs:

"Serbs have ice in their vains.. We don't freak out about viruses."

OR yet another one

"I fear God, not this stinkin virus"

I love my fellow Serbs. The virus is slowly coming to Novi Sad.
 Day after day we see more and more masks. But all is well (: 

Our amazing Senior couple the Fitches are leaving tomorrow.
Sad to see them go, but they have blessed the people here in Novi Sad
 for a year and a half and have served the Lord with full spirit. Novi Sad is changed because of them. 

This whole week we were out and about talking to people and knocking doors!
The sun was shining, and the trees smell amazing!
This following week we will be staying inside more and being cautious. I
t's hard to know what will happen day to day- but we roll with the punches and the Lord's work goes onward. 

We taught a lesson today with our friend Filip.
 He loves reading the Book of Mormon with us and studying deeply what it means.
 He has a BOM at home, but every time we read he gets out his phone and takes pictures of the pages.
He sometimes brings his friends along to study with us and it is makes us smile lots!

We had the Sacrament with the Elders and our Senior couple.
It was a tender moment for sure. I am grateful for the Savior. 

As the Fitches bore their departing Testimonies to us in their living room-i thought of what strengthens Testimonies.
They talked about the tests and hard things they'd gone through.
 But how grateful they were for those tests that now have turned into trust in the Lord.
Our tests today really build our 'test'imonies tomorrow.
So work hard through the test of life today, and you'll look back and be grateful for the testimony you hold.
TEST TIME. Growth time 

Бог је са нама (God's with us) 

Сестра гитинс

Week 59 Fear Not...Go Forward

Quotes of the Week: Me: I use to have a really good Australian Accent (said in an "Australian Accent") Sister Toleafoa: Who told you that? Me: I was Self- Diagnosed. Sister Toleafoa: Yeahhhhh you sound more British or Scottish... Sister T: "That's a bloody little dog!" Sister T: "look at those heaps of pigeons!" Good 'da Mates! As you can tell, I'm really working on my Australian accent. My australian companion is hilarious! Sometimes I try to copy what she says in her accent, then we just die laughing because she gives me the look of "really? " haha. Cool Things: - We were in Zagreb on Monday and Tuesday for MLC! We had a really great council about finding and improving the work her in the Balkans. It was also so good to see old friends and companions. -In Novi Sad we just had a book fair! We had a stand for the Book of Mormon(: - Spring is springing more and more. It's been raining lots and blossoms are blossoming. My bones ache for the SUN!! Fear Not: I think something very common in life and in the world today is FEAR. Fear comes in many forms. Fear of talking to people, fear of failure, fear of a virus, fear of death, etc. But fear is not of God. I've been studying this recently and found some amazing scriptures. I love this scripture about the Children of Israel. They had MANY reasons to fear. And I love what Moses and the Lord say to them! Exodus 14 10 ¶ And when Pharaoh drew nigh, the children of Israel lifted up their eyes, and, behold, the Egyptians marched after them; and they were sore afraid: and the children of Israel cried out unto the Lord. 13 ¶ And Moses said unto the people, Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord, which he will ashew to you to day: for the Egyptians whom ye have seen to day, ye shall see them again no more for ever. 14 The Lord shall afight for you, and ye shall hold your bpeace. 15 ¶ And the Lord said unto Moses, Wherefore criest thou unto me? speak unto the children of Israel, that they go forward: So "hold your peace" and "go forward". Fear is not of God. Follow the Prophet, keep the commandments, and all will be well. HURRAH FOR ISRAEL Fear Not Find the Joy Sister Gittins P.S. More Fear Not scriptures (: Izvoli! 2 Timonthy 1:6-7 2 Kings 6:15-17 D&C 123:17 D&C 121:7-9 D&C 122: 7-9

 TWO WEEKS SUPPLY IN CASE CORONA VIRUS SCARES SERBIA!

 Stamps that the post office gave her to send ward members letters!

Week 58 New Comp Same City

Zdravo!

Well, I'm staying in Novi Sad Serbia!! And I'm training Sister Toleafoa!! She's from Australia--half Samoan. She's SO cool! We are also the STL's! So today we are in Zagreb for meetings(:

There is lots to do this transfer!

Conference is coming up! Everyone prepare(: Read last conference, pray, and come up with questions!

God is with us(:

Hurrah for Israel!

Sis G

Pics- me in my mom's coat! (s/o Sister Roberts!)

And my cute comp!