Well, after a couple weeks of busyness and then a social media fast for 10 days, I’m finally here to say, HAPPY OCTOBER!!!  I truly love this month, and with my first fall in the South, the weather is beginning to be nice and crispy.  I had to wear a hat and gloves when running this morning, and now I’m sitting with a cozy blanket shawl around my shoulders.  

I remember this autumn in Slovenia.  It was gorgeous, and a little colder than it is here, by the same time.  All the leaves were ablaze with color or scattering the ground, and the hat and gloves were starting to come out there, as well.

It feels very appropriate to have this be the post about the beginning of our English class.  There’s not a huge description here, but I remember being so excited.  Now, 20+ years later, I am again helping with an English class, or rather ESL for Chinese speakers, as part of my calling as a ward missionary.  Life truly is cyclical and Heavenly Father knows exactly what to help us prepare for.

3 Oct 1995

It’s already October, and it’s already cold.  I’ve neglected my journal for a few days. I know, I’m a bad girl.  It really has been an awesome couple of days. Well, kind of, but mostly good.

Sunday, church was so cool.  There were 12 investigators there.  Unbelievable! Now, 3 of those are now members.  Yes, Sunday we had a baptism at the sea. Dora was baptized at Ankaran.  The missionaries didn’t get to go, but it was beautiful, I’ve heard, and she’s happy, and now a member of the church, and has the gift of the Holy Ghost, and that’s what matters.  We, Sister Mix and I, had a big break up with Stana and her family. They’re great, and it was hard, but they just have no interest in the gospel, and that’s the only reason we’re here.  Stana didn’t take it very well. Who knows, maybe sometime they’ll be ready to hear.

Monday was cool too.  We went to service and played dominoes with the old ladies there.  It was fun, but they’re all so different and one of them always plays boss.  We also went out to visit Alenka at the the student dorms. She was so excited to see us, and we got to invite her to FHE.  

Yay!  Ivan and Jasna were baptized.  They both looked so happy. Then afterward we had a little party for the Dowdles because they’re leaving, and for Matjaž’s birthday.  It was awesome, but we were there late cleaning and didn’t get home until about 11pm. Ouch!

Today was good.  We did streetboards and it was great.  A lot of people stopped by. One guy named Ambrož stopped.  He’s from Bovec and goes to school here during the week in Ljubljana. He’s studying music and this is his last year.  He said he met with the missionaries before, about a year ago, then got in a car accident and stopped. He said he would like to meet again in a year when his school is over, and he gave us his address in Bovec.  I told him about FHE and he said he might some sometime if he’s in town. He sounded really sincere, and maybe in a year or two, when I read this again, he’ll be a member.

We had English class for the 1st time today.  It was fun. Luka and Barbara came, plus Marko, Ivan and Gospa Radjenovic.  Then we had another goodbye to Manca before she leaves.