Road Trip to Slovenia

Last weekend I attended an Adriatic North District Relief Society birthday celebration in Maribor, Slovenia. Our district includes members from five different countries: Bosnia, Croatia, Serbia, Montenegro, and Slovenia. Because of the distances between us, getting together takes some effort. For this event, we drove about seven hours and crossed through three countries just to attend the party.

 Maribor is a beautiful city in Slovenia. Slovenia borders Austria, and the scenery has a similar breathtaking beauty. A lovely river runs right through the center of downtown, and it was filled with graceful swans gliding along the water.

I made this fun road trip with two very special ladies. Helen Smith, who is also a senior missionary, lives on the first floor right below us. Suzana rode in the back seat. Suzana’s dedication always amazes me. To attend our small group of members in Banja Luka, she walks two hours just to reach the bus stop, then takes another hour-long bus ride. She makes that journey faithfully each month when we visit the Banja Luka group, and on the other weeks she joins our meetings through Zoom. The members here are so amazing.

  

After watching the Relief Society broadcast, we had a sweet testimony meeting followed by a lunch of pizza and salads. Before we left for a hike, I arranged for us to take a group picture. Unfortunately, not everyone was able to join the hike, so we are missing a few of the women in the photo. Our next Relief Society activity I will try to get a group photo first thing. 

  

After lunch, we hiked up to a peak overlooking the city. Because most of us attend small branches, opportunities like this to gather together are especially meaningful. It is always so good to spend time together and strengthen our friendships.

We returned to the church where we learned an old Slovenian folk song and dance. It was such a fun way to end our time together. We finished the day by enjoying a delicious chocolate birthday cake made by one of the local members, a sweet sister named Dora. 

We spent a Pday with two of our missionaries Elder Rhees and Wright. They are both new to Bosnia so we took to visited the Sarajevo Tunnel or the “Tunnel of Salvation.” that kept the city alive during the siege of Sarajevo. 

And just a short drive from there, we stopped at Vrelo Bosne, a magical park at the spring of the Bosna River. A few wooden bridges with beautiful crystal-clear water. We are defiantly coming back this spring. 

Our little branch has also been blessed recently with two baptisms in the past two weeks! It’s exciting to see our small but faithful group slowly growing. I love our branch every member.

Another Zone Conference has come and gone.

These zone conference happens every six weeks and each one reminds me just how quickly time is flying by.  This is a picture of the missionaries who serve in Montenegro and Bosnia

                           

I love our group photos so I can have these memories. 

The fun pictures are always my favorite.

Branch Conferance We had visitors come from the district from Belgrade. The District Relief Society Presidency Marija Mihajlović, President Parkinson from the mission presidency and Brother Savić from the District High Council. 

A linger Longer lunch of 'super-bowl sandwiches' and salads and lots of deserts. 

The new Bosnia Branch Presidency.