Week 46 - Thanksgiving/Sleepovers/Goodbyes

Hi. This week was absolutely insane!! Literally SO MUCH happened. Alright let's get into it wooooooooooo!!!!

A kid drew me - I think it's pretty accurate 

November 21st-27th:

- Pday was moved to Thursday for Thanksgiving so on Monday we went to Kranj to visit two of our members. and wow this day was so good. The first member we met up with took us out to lunch and she was so funny. She is the funniest grandma ever because she is the sassy type that is always making funny remarks. She got on Sestra Hancock and I's case about ordering water instead of ordering juice hahaha. So funny. She is just so fun and then when we went to go pay up at the counter she asked us if we wanted to have any of the pastries. We didn't really give a yes or no answer but she bought us two slices of Bled Cake anyways hahahaa. Let's gooooooo!!!! So fun.

This says death to pigeons (I hope it doesn't have an alternative meaning )

And then we went to the other member who is staying in a retirement home and that was so fun. She is the sweetest grandma ever. She kept getting stressed out about the fact that she didn't have anything to give us (said after giving us an entire box of chocolates). We also brought some Christmas songs to sing to her and when we started singing Holy Night, she just joined right in and it was so precious. 

The prettiest sunset I have ever seen 

On the way back to Ljubljana we were waiting for the bus and saw one of our friends get on the same bus! That was so cool! We were able to talk to her for a bit. And then when we were back in Ljubljana and went to another one of our friends' houses. We were able to teach her a lesson and it was so good! She wrote a cute note for both me and Sestra Hancock. Then when we were waiting for a different bus back home, one of our other friends was there too! We ended up getting dinner together and it was so fun! What a wonderful day!!

Visit with the sweetest member eveeerr in McDonalds ofc 

- The next day was also awesome! We were able to have dinner with our branch president and their family. It was so fun because we talked about our missions and what we learned and then were able to share a fun spiritual thought about Christmas to prepare for the upcoming season. 

- Thanksgiving in Celje!! We spent most of the morning and afternoon in Celje at the Barrus' house for thanksgiving and it was so awesome to see the other missionaries and eat some good food! 

Thanksgiving dinner wooooo!!

Then we helped decorate the apartment for Christmas while listening to Christmas music. So awesome and the best of vibes. At the end of the night we had a call with the rest of our mission for transfer announcements!!!!! AHHHHHHH!! 

Thanksgiving dinner part 2 

Sestra Hancock will be leaving me to go back to Croatia :( and I will be serving with Sestra Smith here in Ljubljana!!!! Wooooooo!!! (Transfers were on Monday so I still had three more days with her.)

- Also from Thursday to Saturday night the other sisters had to stay in our apartment because their apartment was getting painted so that was a fun adventure to have them stay with us. 

Another really pretty sunset

- We had breakfast at a member's house and wow it was so amazing. She made us waffles, bacon, eggs, hot choco, and so much more. It was sooooo gooooddd!!! 

Also on this day, they turned on all of the Christmas lights. Sestra Hancock and I went to center and got to watch the countdown and see the lights turn on. There were SO many people in the center. The other sisters joined us later and we all got to walk around and take a bunch of pictures of the lights. Christmas is coming wooooooo!!!!!

Crowd for the Christmas lights 

Cute lightsss

Christmas tree in centeerrr 

More lights

Cute Christmas market booth 

- We also went over to another friend's house where she made some delicious food for us. Man I am being fed GOOD over here!! And then we had a lesson with a member and then had an activity for all of the women in the branch and it was just so sweet. I loved it. 

Bobbaaaa

- And then on Sestra Hancock's last day here, we went and visited a couple members and said goodbye. 

Overall this week really was so wonderful. We had so many tiny and gigantic miracles happening every day. I am going to miss Sestra Hancock so much. The past three months with her has been an adventure filled with so many memories and miracles. I love this girl!!!!! 

Times mentioning food in this email: at least 7 times

Our ghetto Christmas tree 

Week 45 - my comp got pooped on lol

Hello hello hellooooo!! We are getting closer and closer to getting caught up!! Woooooo!! This one will probably be a short one because this week was a lot of media work, messaging, and practicing musical numbers. 

Here are some highlights though!

November 14th-20th: 

On Tuesday, Sesta Hancock and I went to Koper (the coast !!!!) because we had a bunch of people we could visit there! It was about a 2 and a half hour bus ride there and then another 2 and a half ride back. We were super excited because 1. it's literally the coast 2. We had so many people we could visit that even if most of them cancelled, it would be okay because we could see someone else!! Well, we didn't think about the possibility that everyone would cancel so here we were just chilling at the coast not knowing what to do at all. But hey when you don't know what to do, you just go talk to people. So we went up to a bunch of people and asked them why they were thankful today and it was pretty wholesome! We also met the sweetest old grandma. She said she was thankful that she was still alive. I am pretty sure she said she was in her 90's. She just kept expressing how thankful she was that we stopped and talked to her. A couple other highlights from this trip was we found a FIRE restaurant and got food for super cheap (fret not I got a picture) and it was so good! 

Fun slide in the mall - yes we did go down it and it was insanely fast

We bought a fun light

Amazing burger in Koper - zooweemama it was fire

Cute little snowman decoration right by the sea

Koper streets

:)

AND!!! A seagull pooped on Sesta Hancock hahaha fun times. 

Washing the bird poo off hahahahaha

Okay now we get to the worst part of the day so we have to get back to Ljubljana for dinner with one of our friends and so we start heading back. We get to the train and bus station and it looks like there is going to be a train that leaves sooner than a bus so we get a ticket for the train, barely make it on with no minutes to spare and we sit down for the two and a half hour ride. Well. Literally like 30 minutes to Ljubljana to train just stops and chills there for forever. And when I say forever I mean for over an hour. The train was experiencing a bunch of technical difficulties so the normally 21/2 trip took about 4 hours instead. 

Sitting in our favorite place on the bus 

Which meant that we were over an hour late to our dinner appointment but they still wanted us to come and it was so sweet. They roasted chestnuts for us and gave us their homemade grape juice (tears it was so good). Overall it was kind of a trainwreck day but that visit at the end was worth it. 

Eating Falafel for the first time with one of our members

On Wednesday we went over to one of our member's house for service. They are trying to build a new house and so they needed our help clearing out the land from tree stumps, weeds, blackberry bushes, rocks, etc. We have helped them a couple times in the past but it was just so fun to do some physical service to help out. He also made us a fire stew which tasted so good after digging and chopping for hours. 

More food ft other sisters (s voigt did not want to take a picture hahahaha)

We also had a couple really good lessons this week. For one of them, we were talking about forgiveness. It can be really hard to forgive people. Especially those who have hurt you or your loved ones. It can also be equally hard to forgive yourself. It is so easy so see your mistakes but please remember that Jesus came to this earth to suffer for the sins of all mankind, yours included. He came so that you can be forgiven, so forgive yourself and forgive others. Here is an amazing talk about it. Please read it!!!

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2022/10/23yee?lang=eng 

More yummy food 

Week 44 pt. 2 - earthquake?

Alright part two now. I'm not gonna write too much now bc last email was crazy long so this one will only be picture descriptions again. 

November 7th-13th

1. Sestra Hancock and I have taken up crocheting again. She successfully crocheted one mitten and is now onto the other. #queen We decided to try to crochet one the bus to see if people might find that interesting and talk to us, but it just made us motion sick. But still fun and people looked at us funny so WOO

2. Classic mirror pic in the middle of center thanks to a barber shop

3. So on Tuesday (the 8th) Sestra Hancock and I were just chillin when all of the sudden our beds started shaking. Nothing too too crazy but enough to where it was like. What the heck is going on? We both looked at each other and were like you feel that? Yeah so that was an earthquake haha. Woooo!! My first earthquake experience! Apparently there was an earthquake in Italy but it was felt in Slovenia and Croatia. I took this picture of the news talking about the earthquake because none of the other missionaries believed us. 

4. We have been trying to go on walks more during the evening to talk to random people and on our walk we found this "sestre" (sisters) graffitti. Hopefully it doesn't mean anything bad but hey it was fun to see it. 

5. After a bad lesson with this one guy, Sestra Hancock and I decided to get ice cream at our favorite place in Ljubljana to cheer up. It was yummy

6. Every week we teach english to a boy at his house and his mother is literally the best woman ever. She always makes us something absolutely delicious. Literally so good. This time she made us pumpkin soup with a smiley face. I added pumpkin seeds and she said they were the soup's freckles haha. It was amazing. 

Ice cream count: 1

Don't forget to comment what other things I can have a count for since it is winter!!!

Week 44 pt. 1 - wait, I know those people?!

Hey guys this was probably the best week of my entire mission. And this email will literally only talk about one day from the week. The part two will talk about the rest haha. Okay so on Monday, November 7th guess who I got to see... MY FAMILY!!!!!!!!!

Reunited :,D

My grandma and grandpa were having their 50th wedding anniversary celebration in Germany with 3 of my uncles, my aunt, my cousin, and my parents. And well I mean Germany is only four hours away from Slovenia and it is a pday... soooooo... COME ON OVER! I got permission from my mission president to meet with them and boom the trip was sealed. 

We all met up in Bled in the morning and I was a bundle of nerves all morning. I was sooo scared that we were going to miss our bus because of traffic and I wouldn't get enough time with my family and aahhhh. Well we actually did miss our original bus but it was fine because another one came a little bit later. And Sestra Hancock and I still arrived before them. It has been a little over 9 months since I saw my parents and so I definitely got a little emotional when I saw them pull in. I was so nice to hug them. And it was so nice seeing my aunt, uncles, cousin, and grandparents. I missed them all too!!! 

Almost all of us in the cute boat (not featured - my dad, uncle dan, and aunt staci)

The rest of the day we explored around Lake Bled. We went across the lake to the island in the center on a beautiful boat that was hand rowed (is that a word? I have no clue) by a guy so we all had to sit on both sides to the boat didn't tip. The island with the church on it was soooo cute - it was really adorable and it was fun to go through the church and bell tower. 

 

The view from the boat ft. another boat

Parents and I in front of the church on the island

Me translating for my dad 

Then we went and explored the castle on the top of the mountain which was also really cool and beautiful. It had a beautiful view of the lake and island. Such a beautiful place and the weather was perfect. I think I had a parent attached to my hip at all times. Hahaha. I loved it. 

Part of the castle 

Also part of the castle

View of Lake Bled from the Castle

After exploring, we split up and my parents, Sestra Hancock, and I made our way back to Ljubljana on the bus. On the bus ride back, we saw one of the most beautiful sunsets I have ever seen. Seriously. 

Gorgeous sunset pt. 1

Gorgeous sunset pt. 2

We arrived in Ljubljana and I got to show them around center and get a couple of my favorite Balkan foods like čevapčiči, kebab, and my favorite drinks (union grapefruit, pomegranate schweppes, and my fav vitamin drink) for them to try. Them we traveled back to the apartment to rest and catch up before sadly they had to go. They brought me a bunch of stuff from home like HOT COCO PACKETS!!! Rootbeer barrels :,) and so much more. 

We had to leave to get them back on their bus. And man when that bus came I was not ready to say goodbye. That sucked ngl. I am so grateful that I had any time with them at all. That was just such a special moment for me. I love my family so much and am blessed to know that I will be able to be with them forever. 

All of the sisters in front on Lake Bled (peep the island in the background)

Week 43 - still alive

 Hey guys I know it's literally been over a month since I last sent an email and literally the day that I finally got caught up, I stopped sending them again lol. My b. I'll get better someday. Since I don't have much time and I need to write 6 more emails x( This week is just gonna be pictures cuz I don't really remember what happened all too well. Enjoy!!

October 31th-Novemeber 6th.

1. Here is a picture of Ljubljana center. Isn't it just so pretty :,) I love this place. I don't remember why we were in center but I mean we are there pretty much every day 

2. Oh this past Monday was Halloween so happy Halloween everyone! I hope you ate LOTS of candy and enjoyed scary movies for me. On November 1st they have Day of the Dead here. We were able to go to the big cemetery in Ljubljana and see all of the lights and decorations people put up for their ancestors and loved ones. They also had street vendors lining the streets up to the cemetery selling chestnuts, candy, flowers and candles. Overall such a cool experience. Here is a fun selfie of Sestra Williams and I.  

3. Here are some of the lights from Day of the Dead surrounding the church at the cemetery. So beautiful.  

4. Sestra Hancock has a cool camera and here is a selfie we took together. I miss my camera :,(

5. We also had zone conference in Zagreb, Croatia this week! Here is another cool camera pic of us on the way ft mcdonalds. A vibe. Zone conference was really good! We were also able to go to the American store afterwards where I bought a Butterfinger (I never realized how much I miss Butterfingers) and ROOOTTBBEEERRRR wooooo!!!! On the way back, the expected 2ish hour trip actually turned into almost a 4hr trip because of the traffic at the border. We were all going slightly insane in the car haha. Also I forgot my Butterfinger in the car :,( Hopefully one day I'll get it 

6. Sestra Hancock has never tried Kebab pizza and it is literally so so so so so good. So of course we had to Wolt (Uber Eats equivalent) us some and wow. Literally so good. 

7. All of the sisters and I met up for dessert with Alejandra. She is the sweetest person ever. Before this we saw a bunch of tourists and got to have a nice long chat with them about missionary work, why we are here, and such. It was fun to interact with Americans again after not interacting with some for a long time (besides the other missionaries but that doesn't count). 

8. One thing Sestra Hancock and I have been doing is going through our less active list. These are people who are members of our church but either they moved, lost contact, and something else happened and they stopped coming. It is our job to get in contact with them and serve them in any way we can. After calling through literally soooo many people, finally one of them answered and he said we could visit him! Well last Sunday we went to the address we had in our records for him but when we called him, he was like um I literally haven't lived there for over 10 years. Awkward. He actually lived about 45 minutes from where we were and there was no way that visit could work so we rescheduled for this week. Now with the right address, we set out on our journey on the busses. And wow he lives in the most beautiful place ever. So so so so beautiful. I took pictures but they are all blurry. Žal. This picture is us waiting at the bus stop (an adorable wooden shack in the middle of nowhere) because we didn't get off at the right stop and he was coming to rescue us. 

Well we got rescued and we went back to his house and met his family. They were the sweetest people ever!! They had I think 2 or 3 cats and a cute dog. Y'all know where this is going. :( Well of course I had to pet the dog and cats. And of course I started sneezing and of course I kept eating things with my hands that touched the cat and of course my throat started to close up a little bit and of course it got a little hard to breathe, but no biggie xD I was dying but literally this family was so sweet and nice and they were even nice enough to give us a ride back to the bus stop. I can't wait to visit them again. I'll come prepared with allergy medicine next time though. 

I love you all so much and I hope that you cherish your loved ones. Send someone a nice message today!! Also since ice cream is not much of an option for a count, send me suggestions about other things I can have a count of. 

BYEEEEE