Visitors from home - Sue & Karen Here!

Saturday May 12th - Wednesday 16th, we enjoyed a wonderful visit from Sue & Karen, our neighborhood friends from Bountiful.  Watching them walk through the doors into Croatia airport, we couldn't hug tight enough.  So wonderful to see them and enjoy listening to the news and greetings from home as we drove them into Zagreb for their 2 hour tour!




Even though they were very tired, they followed us around as we saw the sights and sounds of the capital city of Croatia - Zagreb.  Sister Miller from the mission office was so kind to give us the educated tour of a few of the special attractions.

Dinner, and a walk through the rain brought us back to the car and we began the 1.5 hour car trip to Maribor, Slovenia.

We had a wonderful Sunday meeting and the members just loved Sue & Karen. We finished out the day sharing dinner with our four young missionaries.

Next day we began the castle tour ...starting with our favorite Trakoscan, then Varazdin Castle, with a quick stop for pizza, Boel Castle and finished off the day with the Ptuj Castle.

















Ptuj Castle

Sue & Karen really got into the mood of the castles and loved enjoyed the history and events surrounding them.








The next day we spent at Postonja Cave and Predjama Castle, finishing out the day with a long drive to Zadar, Croatia.







Zadar is a beautiful Croatian coastal city, one Chris & I had not been to before. We found our apartment had a huge balcony overlooking the bay, lined with boats of every size, and style.  Crossing the bridge, we took in the old city at night.  It was magical.








Next day, included breakfast, and another visit to the old city with its famous sea organ, polished cobble streets and ancient Roman ruins. 





Sadly, we had to leave there and take our visitors to Split, for the next part of their tour.  After a quick lunch, we left them at their next apartment, where they would eventually catch a ferry for Dubrovnik .


Chris and I had to head towards Slovenia for a 10 am Zone Conference the next morning.







We drove for about 3 hours and stayed the night at a quaint seaside town of Senj.  We visited with the landlord who spoke mostly Croatian and were surprised to hear some of our Croatian words were still tucked away in our head.  We had a wonderful visit, laughing about the language and asking questions about their family.  They knew about Mormon missionaries so that was a treat as well.

That evening we took a quick walk through the old town and along the seashore.




We really wanted to stay longer but darkness came and the next morning included an early wake up call, with a long drive to Ljubljana for conference.






























What a special treat to have Sue and Karen spend some time with us.  We enjoyed each day and sharing the sights and sounds of our mission area with them.  Thank you for stopping by!!!

May Senior Mission Conference - Bohnj, Slovenia

Our spring senior missionary conference this year was held May 2-4 at Lake Bohinj in northwestern Slovenia.

A picture perfect area, near the Julian Alps.  Twenty-eight senior missionaries, plus the mission president and his wife enjoyed the time together to laugh, visit, inspire each other and give encouragement and share ideas on how to better help the mission.







A few hours before the conference started, a few of us, met at Lake Bled, which is another Lake for which Slovenia is famous and took a "pletna" (gondola) rowed by a young man whose family has passed the business down through generations out to Bled Island in the middle of the lake.






On the island rests the chapel of "The Church of the Assumption".  Archaeologists have found evidence of ancient people on this island from 8th century BC.  Records indicate that the first masonry church was built here in 1142.  Several earthquakes and lightening strikes have damaged the building but the present day church dates from the 17th century.




The gondola drops you off at the base of a monumental staircase built in 1655, complete with 99 steps.  Weddings are held here on the island and the local tradition is that the groom should carry the bride up the stairs!












The trip to the island isn't complete unless you climb to the top of the bell tower and take in the 360 degree view of Lake Bled.







We had lunch together in town with a perfect view of Bled Castle, which rests on a sheer cliff above the lake.  A picture perfect fairy tale castle.






Another 30 minute drive through the beautiful countryside brought us to Lake Bohinj and the Jezero Hotel, where our conference was held for the next two days.

During our conference, mission rules were discussed, problems addressed and ideas and encouragement shared.  Only twice a year are all senior missionaries ever in the same place at the same time and many new friends were made as we got to now each other.







One afternoon activity allowed us to take a water taxi across Lake Bohinj and catch a gondola to the top of a mountain of the local ski lift.  Fantastic views of the valleys and mountain ranges








One evening, Chris, Sister Miller and I rented bicycles and took a quick ride to a nearby town which sported an Alpine Dairy Museum.







As early as the 13th century, local dairy farmers would take their herds every summer, into the mountains where 28 historical pastures were owned.  Here they would live for the summer, milk the cows and make the cheese which was then transported down into the towns below.  In the fall they would return to their homes and barns below.



The museum displays the original cheese making shop along with all the tools used at the mountain pastures.  Quite fascinating for Chris who has been to many dairy farms with his veterinarian career.


We had a wonderful time and felt spiritually rejuvenated as we left and headed back to Maribor.  We had to stop off at the American Embassy to pick up a new passport...the old one is completely filled with stamps from crossing the borders in our mission into the five different countries.  We still have three months left and many more trips to make with our auditing responsibilities.