Elder Hixon: montenegro week 10

Whoa is it December?! That's weird. December is a good month.

Christmas! My mom is the best.

So I've missed a few letters. It's getting hard to write general emails. I guess a confession about general emails is that they're loads easier to write when you have something to write about. Baptisms are a good thing to tell a story about. And in the beginning, even the mundane day to day things were cool to tell stories about because everything was all so new and exciting. But as I've grown accustomed to and adapted here, I've found that I don't blink an eye at things that blow my companion (2nd transfer Elder Pantelakis) away. "Sightseeing" and any of the unique aspects of this place are just a part of life; an extension of myself written in paint on the cement blocks that stretch all around. So a word of advice to any of ye who embark in the service of God in the next little while, write down everything that is new, exciting and different. That way you can retain the excitement in writing for when it becomes numb.

That being said, I don't have a lot to write about. I have pictures from the last week or so to send, but other than that it's been slow. I'm going to physical therapy for my hand for 2 weeks before any decisions about surgery are made. The verdict is that we should've done surgery on week one, but now its been almost 8 and if we can get around surgery, we will. So I have 2 weeks of a lot of pain to try and get my mobility and function back, and then we'll have more news on where we go from there. As for everything else, I'm healing and adjusting to things. It's slow, but it's going.

But we did have a wonderful Thanksgiving dinner at the senior couple's apartment. It almost tasted like home. Sister Taylor even managed to make stuffing from scratch. They're too good to us. I have so much to be thankful for this year. Oh! I do have one cool story. So we were teaching English on Tuesday after we flew in to Podgorica from all the travel, and Srdjan came early to what would've been our appointment with him after English.

So he stuck around and participated with the class. Then, after the class was over, he says "Wait, can I say something?" Then he gets in front of the class and bears one of the most powerful and inviting (nonthreatening and natural) testimonies with the class. He told them, "no matter what religion you are, come here and you will find literal peace and joy. I have felt it, and you all can too." Questions were asked, and Srdjan ran the discussion. After everyone left, our good friend Bozina stayed and talked with Srdjan for a little while in a very personal and seeking way about the things Srdjan had said.

Then, on Sunday Srdjan came to church (paid his tithing again.) and asked us if he could go out finding with us some nights. "When I help people I feel good, and when I share my testimony I feel the Spirit. And I'm in a real hard time right now guys, and I need the Spirit and happiness more than anything." So he's in for the long haul. This week will be sweet. He's the most prepared and willing person I've ever met.

So, even though my missionary effectiveness was pretty shot this week, Srdjan's was great!

Love you all, and I am very grateful for each of you. I mean that.

Elder Hixon