Week 36 - bdayyyyy

 Monday 9/12:

Today was my BIRTHDAYYYYYY. I am 20 what. so weird but honestly this day was the best birthday I have ever had. So many small blessings and miracles happened. Okay so to start off we decided to go to Celje because I want to visit one of my favorite members, Mirko. I've talked a lot about him so if you don't know him by now go do some research in my other emails haha. So sestra Hancock and I go with the other elders on the train to Celje and it was a HARRY POTTER TRAIN. It was one of those trains that has the separate compartments like in Harry Potter and it was so cool because I have ALWAYS wanted to go on one but never did. 

The Harry Potter Train WOOOOOO

Once we got into Celje it took a bit to figure out how to get to Mirkos house because it would have been over an hour of walking. Finally we figured out a bus that would get us there and then walked for 15 minutes up to his house. And wow once we got there he was just so happy and excited to see us!!

@ Mirko's for my bday

Sestra Chandler and the new sister, Sestra Smith joined us later but it was such a blast. He gave me a whole chocolate bar as a gift. Him and Elder Hughes played a game of chess. Afterwards we walked back towards town to meet up with the other missionaries at the church and play games. As we were walking we saw MILKA!!! One of my other favorite members!! I never got to say goodbye to her so this was just so amazing. 

The Gang :)

We played games in the church for a while and then went back home and it was so fun. I also got to open up a package from my family and they sent me RANCH DRESSING MIX!!!!!! WOOOOOOOO! I am so blessed. 

Tuesday 9/13:

In the morning Sestra Hancock and I spent forever trying to figure out how to get her fingerprints. We walked all over from place to place as they kept saying no don't go here go here. So fun. We met up with a cute girl named Mayte later on. She is a cute girl from Peru. We went out for ice cream (yes!!!) and that was so fun. 

Meetup with Mayte :)

Afterwards Sestra Hancock and I were walking around center when we saw a vender selling corn on the cob. Of course we bought it. It was heavenly. 10/10 would reccommend. 

Corn on the cob :)

Oh also I can't remember if I mentioned this in my last email but last Sunday sestra hancock and I were at the bus stop and this guy started talking to us. He was asking where he could buy a card but he was speaking straight serbian. I couldn't understand much but I was able to understand enough to walk with him to the area where you could buy one and exchange contact information. one of the elders here actually served in serbia so I got them in contact. Well fast forward to today and we got a message from the elders saying hey he is getting a tour of the church in an hour and wants you to come too. what. the. heck. SO FREAKING COOL WHAT.  We showed up and it was super awesome. We all prayed together and him and Elder Strauss were talking in Serbian. I didn't understand jack squat but I can understand the language of the Holy Ghost and man it was strong. Sadly he was just visiting Slovenia but we did get him into contact with the missionaries in Serbia and hopefully things will keep rolling there. 

This was found in H&M haha

Wednesday 9/14:

Today was so fun. Ever missionary in slovenia gathered together at the Ašler's house in Celje to harvest potatoes!! We spent almost all day digging around in the dirt and it was amazing. 

Sestra Voigt and I picking potatoes

Potato group photo

They prepared a HEAVENLY lunch for us and it was just so fun to be able to physically serve and be back in Celje. When we got back to Ljubljana, we had choir practice for a bit and then went home and did our studies. 

Thursday 9/15: 

In the morning we had district council. The rest of the day was filled with meetings and online calls. Pretty good though.

Pretty sunset :)

Friday 9/16:

Remember that guy darko who would come to Celje so Sestra Chandler could teach him piano and I could teach him cotton eyed joe? Yeah well since I now live in Ljubljana we still do that haha. He has mastered the cotton eyed joe and is now learning footloose haha. Later for lunch Sestra Hancock and I were craving soup because it had been downpouring all day. We found this really really yummy soup place right by the river and man that was good. 

Next to Teja and Nalu's house to teach Nalu english. Nalu is about 11 years old and one of the funniest kids I have ever met. His mom, Teja is just absolutely amazing. She makes a treat every time we come over. Later that evening we taught our very first Book of Mormon class! Every Friday the missionaries hold a class where anyone can come and we can read from the Book of Mormon and discuss it with each other. It was super fun.

Saturday 9/17:

Today there were lots of cancelations. It was a big catch up day. We did eat dinner at mexican place though and it was really yummy.

Mexican place with yummy nachos

Yummy soup

Sunday 9/18:

Really good! We had a meeting with the branch president and he brought us rootbeeeeerrr wooooooo!!

ROOOTTTBBEEERRR

ice cream count: 1

Highlights:

- my bday

- mirko gave me a chocolate bar as a bday present

- we saw milka 

- we picked potatoes at the ašler's house all day and they made some FIRE food for us

- I ate corn on the cob  

- I got rootbeer 

- ate lots of yummy food this week