See what I did there?
Okay! Still getting back into the groove of this email thing.
I don't think I mentioned a lot on the Skype call about the 2 new investigators we found, so let me share so now real quick. One's name is Luka. He works at this restaurant in center called Rocket Burger. I guess some Croats from Canada set it up, and all the employees speak English well. We went there to eat one night (it was so good. American burgers with a good amount of pulled pork and bacon bits on it) and Luka was on break so he was sitting at the bar drinking a beer. We sat on either side of him, go ahead and picture that scene, and we just talked a bit about nothing. He is familiar with us because missionaries eat there often. Next thing I know, we are talking about the Gospel with him. He told us that he was somewhere in the middle of Catholicism and Atheism, and was very confused. He said his heart tells him to believe in God and miracles he has seen and what he has been raised learning, but logic that he has learned has put holes in his understanding of God and he just doesn't know. We shared with him the first lesson in essence, including the elements of the Great Apostasy and the Restoration. We switched into Croatian when sharing the experience Joseph had in the Sacred Grove, and he got a little emotional and was moved by the Spirit. He asked if he could borrow a Book of Mormon to read, and we obviously surprised him by giving him one of his own to keep. He was so excited. We have talked with him once more, and his words were, "this book feels as though it is a missing piece from the Bible." Elder Bennett and Stuart will meet with him again this week, and I am so excited for him. And all we did was follow our stomachs and the Spirit!
Speaking of Elder Stuart, his name is Elder Jordan Stuart, from Logan, Utah. Any bells ringing? He's a stud.
Back to investigator number 2. His name is Amadu, and yep you guessed it, he is from somewhere in West Africa, near Ghana, and speaks some English, and is fluent in his African language and French. So we winged it in English and French with him (and no surprise, I didn't do the French). He has a French Book of Mormon and is very interested in learning more. We will either meet with him tonight or these chums I am leaving behind will get him tomorrow. He is awesome.
After Christmas, things took a turn for the worst. I got a call that I would need to plan on staying in Zagreb past the designated Saturday, through Monday and possibly longer. The Elder who I am filling in for was still working through his new medication and it wasn't getting a lot better. He has only 3 months left, so he's a trooper for keeping on. I guess it wasn't the worst news, I actually have grown fond of Zagreb. It's way cool here, having the Rowe's around and the branch is very strong. I love the members that I have already met! And I have learned to love my companion more than I did on day one. Our differences are stark, but after making adjustments on my part, and finding good in his heart, I actually have enjoyed my time with him. But the days were long and a struggle. Lessons fell through, plans didn't work out, and we found ourselves walking around town all day, every day, just looking for people who would listen. And, as one can imagine, nobody wanted to.
And it's cold. Not cold enough to snow, but cold rain isn't fun either. It's been "strangely warm" they say, without snow, but apparently January is due for a heavy storm season. Woo.
Then I hit Saturday. Saturday was the worst. I woke up not feeling well, and my nerves were on edge. And everything went wrong. We walked clear out to the limits of Zagreb looking for a referral, who didn't end up existing. By the end of the night, I had had plenty of walking time and more thinking time. My bad attitude led me to thoughts of home, and pretty much everything to do with home. I thought of my friends and family, individually. I ran scenes of fun and joy through my head with each of my siblings, and my closest friends. I then looked around me at the dark city that Zagreb seemed to be, and thought on all the failure we had experienced the past few days. I was angry with my companion, so I was very maturely not speaking to him as we walked. It was still cold and raining, and windy too. I thought about the last 5 months, and instead of gratitude and a sense of accomplishment, I felt frustration and anger and sadness. I was upset with myself, and with others who I felt had wronged me, and at the world for my misfortunes.
Soon, I felt hot tears freezing to my face. I couldn't find one good reason to be here. I just wanted to give up and go back.
We returned to our apartment, I composed myself somewhat, we winded down the night with some planning, and I retired to bed early. I soaked my pillow on one side and had to flip it over. I offered a short prayer where I just asked for help, and explained that I just didn't know what to do.
I slept soundly that night, all the way through the night without waking once. The next morning I felt peace and all the reasons I know I am here returned to my mind. Too many to write here. I went to church with my companion, jovially, and when we arrived, The AP's told me I would be returning to Beograd on Tuesday, that the other Elder who I was filling in for was going to be honorably sent home, and that Elder Stuart would stay with Elder Bennett, leaving no Elders in Varazdin. Sister Marks (not related to my trainer) is being sent down to Sarajevo, and so there is our crazy transfer wrapping itself up nicely!
The members greeted me so warmly that all the cold from the night before melted away. They asked me to bear my testimony in the meeting, and a sweet Spirit entered and calmed my heart. By the end of church, I knew why I was here and I was excited to be. The hurt was replaced with excitement for this adventure. That night we found an awesome man and the Elders will teach him and his wife sometime this week. All just went well.
The members greeted me so warmly that all the cold from the night before melted away. They asked me to bear my testimony in the meeting, and a sweet Spirit entered and calmed my heart. By the end of church, I knew why I was here and I was excited to be. The hurt was replaced with excitement for this adventure. That night we found an awesome man and the Elders will teach him and his wife sometime this week. All just went well.
And so we go. Who knows what challenges and adventures await this week back in Serbia, but all I can know for sure is that I am never alone. I've learned more about my Savior this week than I have in a long time. I testify that He lives, and that He knows us perfectly, because He is always with us. I know that there is always a ram in the thicket provided when we have sacrificed and given what we think to be our all. And each time, we become a bit more, and then we are able to give a bit more the next time around.
I love you all! Until next week!
Elder Hixon
P.S. I also ate Chicken soup with chicken stomachs in it this week!
