November / December catch-up

Sorry that I am taking forever in updating Jordan's blog! I got married last week and it has been a crazy month!!

Jordan has been in Zagreb, Croatia since mid November and it looks like he will be staying there for awhile! He is companions with the AP's now so he has a car now and they do a lot of work on the computer. His companions are Elder Sheridan form Northern Utah and Elder Scirkovic from New Zealand. There are a lot more members in Zagreb (40) so Jordan really has a great time going to church there! They were able to get a less active member who hasn't been to church for a few years to come back and he really enjoyed being back to church. Also in Jordan's November 18th e-mail he reported that they got 8 new investigators! He had some really great lessons with them and they seem very receptive to the gospel.

In Jordan's November 25th email he said that planning had been tough that week because they were traveling so much. They traveled to Bosnia and Slovenia to help with exchanges and he said it was great to be back in Bosnia and that Slovenia was a very pretty country! He said there were a lot of forests and that it was a lot cleaner than the other countries. For Thanksgiving they were able to go to President Rowe's home for a few hours and he really had a great time. They had turkey and stuffing and a lot of pie! After they ate they went to the park and played football. President Rowe played football for BYU and Jordan loves playing football so he had a really great time doing that. Then that evening they invited the investigators over for dessert and they had a great time talking with them. Jordan and his companions also did a language fast that week where they ONLY spoke Croatian, no English. Jordan said he was a little worried about it but he thought it would be great practice for the language. They also have been meeting with Kresomir who is a less active member and is 21 but that week decided he was going to turn in his mission papers. His two brothers are also investigating the church!

On the first week in December, Jordan traveled to Rijeka, Croatia and REALLY loved it there. He got to see his old companion Elder Fausnaught and  he said the Adriatic Sea is really beautiful. Jordan also went to the Slovenian Conference that week and he said the spirit was very very strong there. Here is a little insert from Jord's email:


Yesterday for Church (crkva) we had a district meeting with all of the members and missionaries throughout all of Croatia. Total there was about 173 people there and some of them were investigators of other missionaries. President Rowe gave a great talk on building the stakes of Zion here. He told the members in 5 years if each of them invites one person to hear the gospel there will be a stake. It was really powerful and I think it made the members think a lot about that. We had lunch with everyone after and it was good seeing some members I knew from Karlovac. Great Sunday for Croatia. Also last night we taught Kresomir's older brother Luka, he said he will be baptized but he doesn't know when. He kept saying when he is a grandpa but we are trying to change that. Kresomir is also doing good we have a goal with him to pass the sacrament next week and then after to be ordained a priest. I will have a follow up on that next Sunday.

In Jordan's last email (December 16th) he said it has a been a long week but he had this story:

I have a pretty funny story to share with you. So Monday night we drove to Karlovac to do an exchange with the elders there. After we got back to Zagreb it was time to go out tracting. We were knocking on doors for about an hour or so. We decided to try and go to this neighborhood where we thought maybe someone would be interested. We were walking around there when all of a sudden two cop cars pulled up to us and about eight cops were surrounding us. They asked us if we were in the building that we just tracted. We said that we were in there, then they told us that someone called the cops and said we were burglars ha. We told them that we weren't and all would have been all right if we had registered in Zagreb when we got there. We kept putting that off. So they made us drive in the back of a cop car to the police station it was a pretty funny experience. We just spoke English and pretended like we didn't know what was going on. The outcome was 600 Kuna fines for each of us, but don't worry the next day we registered ha.

Also we found a really nice family that let us in on Saturday night. THe mom was an Architect and had a son and daughter who were both 19 years old. We talked a little about the Book of Mormon they were Catholic but were willing to listen to us. All in all it was great they told us we could come back. That same night we met a younger guy who we had a lesson with yesterday, but he is satisfied with his belief and is pretty firm about it.

They also got transfer calls and Jordan will be staying in the trio that he is in for now! They had their Christmas party this week so we can't wait to hear how that went and we can't wait to talk to him on WEDNESDAY!!!! :) :) Keep Jord in your prayers and have a great and merry Christmas :) 

October 26th & November 4th

In Jordan's October 26th e-mail, Jordan was able to report that Zahid had stopped drinking and was ready to get baptized but then came up to Jord and his companion yesterday at church and told them that he had slipped up and drank becasue his sister who he hasn't seen in a year came to town. Jordan said he felt really bad and was sincere but now they want to move his baptism up to the 16th and Jordan doesn't feel that that is the best decision. The zone leader is still trying to decide what to do about it but Jordan asked that you keep him in your prayers because he is a really great guy!

They don't really celebrate Halloween in Croatia, but they do celebrate the day of the dead and Jordan got to see some pretty cool stuff from it! Everyone takes red candles to the cemeteries and puts them on top of the graves so everything is lit up and looks really cool! Even though they don't celebrate Halloween in Croatia, the missionaries all do so they had a ward Halloween party on Thursday! They carved pumpkins, make snack and bobbed for apples! The members didn't  think that Jordan really would dip his entire face into the water to get an apple but he did! He sent some funny pictures. 

Here is a funny story from Jord about the day od the dead: 

"Something cool they do here on the first of November is celebrate day of the dead. I guess it is a Catholic holiday and everyone is Catholic here so it was a big deal. We tried to talk to people on the streets but no one was around. I told my companion he had to at least talk to one person before we had lunch it was tough but he did it. Anyways they buy all of these candles and set them on the graves at night. They were all red candles and it looked really cool when all you could see was red dots through out these huge graveyards. Elder Bursell bought a candle and we didnt know you are suppose to wait till after you are inside the graveyard to light it. So we looked like idiots I was holding the candle like the statue of liberty and we were getting weird looks. Once the sisters got there they told us that we arent suppose to do that so it was kind of funny." 

Jordan also got 4 new investigators this past week! They are a family that has talked to the missionaries before but they will be going back this week to talk to them more. They showed them a video of the restoration and talked about Joseph Smith and they want to hear more so pray for their hearts to be open to the gospel and hopefully the elders can teach them all about it!

10/14 & 10/ 21

Jordan seems to be having more success lately in Croatia! He was made district leader and was stressed about it and didn't think he would do a good job but we have received a few messages from different people telling us what a great missionary Jordan is and how well he is doing. He is just too hard on himself! In his e-mail on the 14th he was very happy to report that 21 people had signed up for their English class. He really likes these classes because not only does he get to teach people English and hopefully share the Gospel with them, but he can also practice his Croatian!

They got an investigator named Zahid who accepted a baptismal date for the 23rd, of November but he has to stop drinking by today (the 23rd of October) as of this past Monday the 21st, he hadn't stopped because his best friend was killed in a car accident so he had a drink. We are really excited to hear from Jordan next Monday to see if he was able to stop drinking! They had a really great lesson with him this past week about the Atonement and he got very emotional while they were watching a movie on the crucifixion. It sounds like he is really accepting the Gospel.

Jordan had an exchange with a missionary named Elder Mecham who is going home next month so he really helped Jordan out a lot and gave him some great advice. He told Jordan that is he just does his best, the Lord will make up for the rest. That really made Jordan think and helped him get through his week. Elder Mecham and Jordan got a referral from the sisters that they followed up on this past week. This man is in his 60's and his wife died last year. Elder Mecham knows the language very well so they were able to have a conversation with him about the plan of salvation. He said he would come to church on Sunday to see how it felt but he is also now a new investigator for them.

He did have one thing that discouraged him this week and it really upset me as well. They were at a members home and when it came time for the Elders to give a spiritual thought he struggled with the language to get his testimony out. The members weren't kind about it and kept telling him to try it in English and maybe they will understand it. He says the members there aren't super nice and they really aren't helpful with the language. This really made me mad! I wish they could understand that this young boy is thousands of miles from home trying to learn multiple foreign languages and is working very hard. It makes me mad but all I can do is pray for him and hope it gets better.

Jordan got to go to a national park and he took a lot of pictures so I will post them below! Please please please continue to pray for Jordan!! I know they are helping him and I know he would appreciate it.

Plitvica: Craotian National Park

Monday October 7th, 2013

Jordan is all settled in Croatia! He was immediately made district leader and is companions with Elder Bursell from Parker, Colorado. He is a little stressed out since he himself is so new and now he is with someone who is even newer than him! But he is excited to be in Croatia and get back to learning that language better. 

Jordan told us a cool story about his first week in Croatia, here it is: 

"We were looking through our area book this week and found a husband and a wife that were investigating in 2008. We decided to go and visit them. Once we finally found where he lived we asked this guy if he knew where Branko lived. He told us he was Branko and told us we could go in. He already had a book of mormon but ended up becoming a new investigator. Looking through the area book does work." 

We are super excited for Jordan to be in Croatia and we are hoping he is also! Here are some pictures he took in Bosnia before he was transferred: 

And here are some of his new area Karlovac Croatia: 

Transfer!

Jordan is going to Croatia! He left Bosnia today for a city called Karlovac, Croatia. He seems really excited... I know my family and I are excited as well! He originally learned Croatian in the MTC and it seemed to come more naturally to him than Bosnian, so we are hoping this lifts his spirits a little! He will be getting a new companion also. He said his companion will either have been in the field for 6 weeks or 9 weeks! He is a little stressed about that but I think he will be a great teacher. We are excited to hear more about his new area when we get our e-mails next Monday. Keep Jordan in your prayers as he travels to Croatia today!

September 16th, 2013

Jord had another hard week, but his e-mail seemed more upbeat then previous ones! They had a barbecue which he enjoyed very much because 43 people came and some were investigators. Also, he did an Elder exchange and he said that made him appreciate having Elder Fausnaught as a companion even more haha. He got to drive a car for the first time since he was been gone and he said it was really weird! Jordan and Elder Fausnaught are teaching a man named Dan who speaks English and believes in God, but does not like the pravoslav religion. He is confident they will be able to teach him the gospel and he successful!

There are some couple missionaries in Jordans last area (The Winters) who really look out for Jordan and send us pictures of him and cook him dinner. Last week, Sister Winters e-mail my mom the following:

" I keep getting the impression that I should write you to let you know how safe I feel in Bosnia. I know they had a horrible senseless war here, but the people are some of the best in the world. I go out for walks by myself  every morning when I can and everyone smiles and tells me "Jutro." Please know that Jordan is safe here and helping with the beginning of the church in this part of the world. The Lord only calls his best young men and young ladies to this mission. It is hard to let them. go for two years but it really does go quickly. He always has a smile on his face when we see him and is doing a great job :)"

We were so grateful to hear this from her! Bosnia is so far away and has such a history of war so we always worry about Jord! Since Jordan has been having such a hard week, my mom sent him some things hoping to build his confidence and make him a little more happy:

While I was sitting at church today, I was trying to think of something I should say that would help you have a good week and not be homesick and worry about us. The scripture we found for your mission plaque came to my mind...Lift up your heart and rejoice, for the hour of your mission is come; and your tongue shall be loosed, and you shall declare glad tidings of great joy unto this generation. D&C 31:3. I really think that finding that scripture for your mission plaque was meant to be. It was what Heavenly Father had in mind for you. And as I was reading that scripture today, I noticed that the whole section 31 applies to you and your mission. I hope you will read it today and see what I mean. It is written for a man named Thomas B. Marsh who was called to serve a mission. He was worried about leaving his family and other things you have been worried about. I substituted your name for his name when I read it....it's only 13 verses, but I skipped a few parts..

1.Jordan, my son, blessed are you because of your faith in my work. 2. Behold you have had many afflictions because of your family; nevertheless, I will bless you and your family....3. Lift up your heart and rejoice for the hour of your mission is come; and your tongue shall be loosed, and you shall declare glad tidings of great joy unto this generation...4. you shall begin to preach from this time forth..to reap in the field which is white already to be burned...5. therefore thrust in your sickle with all your soul, and your sins are forgiven you...wherefore your family shall live...6. go from them (your family) for a little time, and declare my word, and I will prepare a place for them..7. yea I will open  the hearts of the people (in Bosnia) and they will receive you. And I will establish a church by your hand; 8. And you shall strengthen them and prepare them against the time when they shall be gathered..9. Be patient in afflictions, revile not against those that revile...10. you shall be a physician unto the church..11. Go your way..and it shall be given you by the Comforter what you shall do and wither you shall go..12. Pray always, lest you enter into temptation and lose your reward 13. Be faithful unto the end (of your mission) and lo, I am with you...

Please keep Jordan in your prayers this week!

September 9th, 2013- Finally!

Sorry it took so long to post something! I was having some technical difficulties with the blog but I finally got it figured out! I will be posting about Jordan's e-mails from 8/5, 8/12, 8/19, 8/26, 9/2 AND today, 9/9.

So Jordan is still in Bosnia, but he is in a new area called Banja Luka. Banja Luka is the second biggest city in Bosnia and it is also the Republic of Serbia so that means he is now on his third language!! Poor kid right? His ward is a little bigger there though with a grand total of 10 active members! A couple of them speak English though so that really helps Jord out a lot.

Jordan went out to eat with Elder Fausnaught and the sister missionaries a few weeks ago when they got to their new area and they all got soooo sick! When Jord and Elder Faunaught were feeling better that night they were able to go over to the sisters house and give them a blessing. I am glad Jordan has these little testimony builders here and there to keep his spirits up!

I was able to report good news to Jordan last night because the Rams won their first regular season game against the Cardinals! He was very happy to hear this, especially because I sent him a very detailed e-mail all about the game :) Jordan has started back up on his English classes on Tuesday and Thursday nights. They only have 3 students and 2 of them are members but they went and passed out 400 fliers so hopefully they can get more people to come to the classes so they can introduce them to the gospel as well!

One thing that has been really tough the past month is that Jordan is very very homesick. He is having a hard time trying to learn in 3rd language in less than 5 months and he is missing everyone very badly. He keeps saying that this is the hardest thing he has ever done and he feels like his mouth is taped shut. It is hard for him because not only is no one interested when they go knock on doors, but he also has a hard time communicating with these people. He said the spirit is such a comforter to him but PLEASE keep him in your prayers! I know they help him a ton and he needs as many as he can get right now. If you would like to, you can send letters to the mission home in Croatia.
The address is:

Crkva Isusa Krista spd
Svacicev Trg 3
Zagreb 10000
Hrvatska

I'm sure he would love to hear from anyone and handwritten letters are always appreciated :)

One of Jordan's favorite things... Bowling!! 

Preparing the pig for dinner :) 

Rocket Burger with the mission president! 

Monday July 22nd & July 29th

July 22nd: Sorry I am so behind on Jordan's blog! I was in New York for a week on a vacation with the girls in my family and then this past week I got engaged so I have been a little busy! Jasmina was baptized! Elder Sheridan ended up baptizing her and then all the Elders sang a song. Jasmina was very happy and she said that was the best thing she has ever done! With her baptism that makes 8 members in his ward :)

Jordan said zone conference went really well. They did a lot of role playing and he said it helped him a lot and he will be able to help investigators with more problems they have now. He is still working very hard on grammar and memorizing vocabulary words and he is getting better. It is still hard for him to understand what people are saying but he is getting the hang of it! Before Jordan left on his mission, he was going to the gym everyday and getting really buff! I asked him how that was going for him and he said he eats cereal pretty much every day and doesn't work out a ton so he is a little worried ;)


July 29th: Jordan was transferred! He is now in a place called Banja Luka, Bosnia. He is companions with Elder Fausnaught again! He was a little worried about that because they are both brand new to the language but he says he is very excited to be back with him! They're new apartment does not have AC and it has been close to the 100's the entire week, so he is trying to get used to that! At the end of my e-mail Jord said him and Elder Fausnaught were leaving to go bowling! He LOVED bowling when he was home (he has his own bowling shoes) and apparently the bowling alley they were going to is very nice so I am sure that was very fun for him :)

Monday July 15th

Jordan had a great week! He did an exchange with a missionary named elder Sheridan on who has only been out of the MTC for 3 months so he said that was very crazy trying to talk to people! They were able to give Jasmina her baptismal interview but then she called them the next day and said she had smoked so they had to call it off for now but hopefully they can baptize her in a few weeks! Jord is still talking with the Grandpa of the family they met a few weeks ago, his name is Osmo. He seems very interested still and Jordan is hopeful that he will want to be converted! They also have some other investigators that seem very interested. One investigator named Sanja is hoping to get baptized on August 27th! They only had 9 people at church on Sunday but there were 6 missionaries, 2 investigators and 1 member so they are really trying to get their numbers up. Jordan gave a talk about the Holy Ghost in Bosnian and really hoped that everyone could understand him!

Jordan told me that they met a tourist from Florida and that she took a picture with him and his companion so I decided to look on instagram and see if I could find the picture and I did! I love when people post stuff about my brother and I am so thankful for modern technology so I can see stuff like this!!

Monday July 8th

Pray for Jordan a lot this week! He became discouraged this week and really homesick and he needs all of our blessings! His e-mails this week were a little shorter because he didn't have much time. President Rowe came to church with them this week and Jordan said he gave such a powerful talk and that the spirit was so strong there. A 19 year old girl named Sanja from their English class felt the spirit so strong that she went and talked to President Rowe afterwards and wants to be baptized now! 

During the week the Elders saw a man carrying a lot of heavy groceries to they offered to help him carry them home. When they got to his house he invited them in and they were able to talk to him and his family about the restoration. The Grandpa seemed very interested so they gave him a pamphlet and came back for another lesson that week and showed them the restoration video. They are now new investigators! Jasmina is still getting baptized on July 16th and Bahrudina is still deciding if she will that day also. PLEASE keep Jordan in your prayers this week and pray that he will start progressing more with the language and pray that he won't be too homesick! 

This picture is on a different blog called "Winters in Bosnia". It is about Sister Winters and her husband in the middle and their mission experience. She feeds Jordan every Sunday and has posted some awesome pictures on her blog so we have been able to see more of Jord! 

Monday July 1st

Jordan's e-mail to us this week started out with "This week was a great week, I am really pumped to be a missionary right now!" Sounds like he is enjoying himself! They were finally able to watch the missionary broadcast this weekend and he said they enjoyed it a lot! He said every morning him and Elder Kroff get up and recite their purpose in English and Bosnian. Their purpose is to invite others to come unto Christ by helping them receive the restored gospel through Faith and Jesus Christ and his atonement, repentance, baptism, receiving the Holy Ghost and enduring to the end! Remember how their mission president challenged them to get to 10,000 church invites in June? Well they got 10,431! Jordan and Elder Kroff got 159 in one day! President Rowe was very happy with them and he will be in Tuzla on July 7th so Jordan is excited to see him.

Jordan and Elder Kroff had to spend 4 hours moving today because their year was up and apparently their landlord kinda sucks too. He likes his new apartment though and he really likes his new landlord, especially because she can speak English! Also, the Adriatic North mission is growing! Starting July 28th, Montenegro will be a part of Jordan's mission! Jord and Elder Kroff didn't have a ton of success this week because everyone they talk to says they are Muslim, even though they don't practice it. He also has a lot of the older generation telling him that they don't believe in God because God wouldn't have let the war kill thousands of people and destroy their cities. Another way Jordan and Elder Kroff have been working hard is by teaching beginner and advanced English classes every day! Jordan says he likes doing this a lot because it helps him with his Bosnian since that is what language he has to teach in.

Jordan was VERY happy to learn that the Jazz drafted Try Burke and 2 other very talented players on Thursday also. He is mad that when it looks like the Jazz will finally have a decent season, he won't be able to watch! But I will be sending him play by play details of every game :) Jordan asks that everyone please keep Jasmina in our prayers because she is still having a hard time with smoking but she really wants to be baptized still!