This month marks the 23rd anniversary of these journal entries, 23 years since I said good-bye to Slovenia and the beautiful people there-in, and 23 years since I stepped out of the missionary world.  

Serving as a missionary shaped every other aspect of my life.  I know I’ve said that before, but God knows exactly what he’s doing when he puts young people into this role.  The lessons learned here prepare you for the rest of it, all of it.

I will forever love the country and people of Slovenia.  I love every bit of that part of the world and every time I hear someone mention the former Yugoslavia, my heart skips a few beats.  I stopped someone just this afternoon at a grocery store because she was wearing a t-shirt that said Slovenia and had the black panther dragon graphic.  The people and friends I met there still have a huge impact in my life.  Recently I saw a picture of the Adriatic North Mission districts at the Swiss Temple.  Bojana sent this to me and told me that it was her daughters’ first time to do baptisms in the temple.  I was flying high on that for days.  I remember teaching her, clear as day.  I remember when she said she would pray about whether or not the church was true and if she should be baptized.  I remember the day that she and Marko stepped into that portable “baptismal font” and she started all new.  How grateful I am that I was allowed to be witness to that amazing day and NOW she is telling me that her daughters are being baptized in the Lord’s house for people beyond the veil.  

The work of the Lord will continue.  In a few short (loooonnnnggg) months, my son will come home from serving his mission.  I can’t wait to hear all his stories.  I can’t wait to see the spiritual growth and deepened testimony that I hear in his voice when we talk on P-days.  I can’t wait for 20 years down the road when one of his friends, who he watched enter the waters of baptism, sends him a picture of their children entering the House of the Lord.

2 August 1996

Zdravo!  I’m so tired.  Man, I just slept  for about the past 15-20 minutes.  i could sleep all morning. I wouldn’t really be able to though, because we have an appointment with Ljubica and I would feel way too guilty.  But, I hope I don’t fall asleep at her house. I’ve been so tired lately, and I don’t like it. Yuck! I’ll get over it.

Joj!  I don’t think I wrote about the most upsetting news.  That is that Petra’s parents won’t let her get baptized.  Man! I hate it when that happens. Now, I think she’s a bit discouraged.  We haven’t been able to talk with her since Sunday. We’ve dropped some things at her house and tried to call, but she hasn’t been home.  She has to come to the fireside tonight. I’m hoping so badly that she does. We have a meeting set up with her for tomorrow with her parents and the elders.  I have no clue what to say. i’m hoping the Spirit will take over. We should have something planned anyway though. 

I’m also really excited because President Wondra is going to come talk with the Toskaj family after the fireside and we get to be there.  I don’t know that we’ll understand anything. it’ll probably be all German, but hey, we can get Adrijana to translate for us. I sure hope Elder Martin faxed that map to Pres. I’m gonna call them this morning just to make sure, plus to get him to bring some cookies or something tonight.  

What else?  Things are starting to go great again with Lučka.  It scares me because she believes in other people getting revelations and stuff like bio-energy.  But slowly, I think she’s picking up on it. She also believed that the Catholic church still had, or ever had, the authority/priesthood.  We gave her some scriptures to look up on the apostasy. I hope it helps and maybe she’ll find some of her own. There are tons of people I’m hoping will show up tonight.  She’s one. It’s not that often that we get to have the mission president give a fireside.  

Kaj še?  Well, I’ve got to start writing in here every night because it’s too hard to remember back and write.  Plus, you just don’t have the same feeling and thoughts few days after the event.

Well, it’s still the same day, I think?  Did I write in here this morning? Yes. Ok, I can go on now.  It’s been a mighty interesting day. We had an appointment with Lubica.  It went pretty well. We all klepetali for a while, that is chatted. She made us a good salad and rolls to soak up the juice.  Then we started reviewing the study guides for the discussions. it was cool. We started on the 3rd one and read all the scriptures that went along with it.  Then her daughter came to drop off some groceries. She’s so cool. We totally want to teach her too. We ate some peaches then went on with with the studying.  We heard lots of stories. It would take me 2 years to write all the stories she gets out in 2 hours. Anyway, the spiritual part of the lesson was great. She’s so funny.  She always gets, hmm… how to describe it, a bit nervous. She rubs her eyes and head a lot when we talk about new things for her, or rather hard things, but she understands.  I think she’s just massaging it into her brain. I want it to hit her heart. All she has to do is pray and ask God if this is the true church and if she should get baptized.  She’ll get the answer. I know it. But, she needs that experience. She already know it’s true in her head.

Then after our meeting was the interesting part.  Poor Sister Penfield, boy did she have frustrations.  It was sad, but funny. We went to the new apartment to pick up our laundry detergent and bleach we left over there.  Joj! I just went up to grab it and Sister Penfield waited down with our bikes. Well when I went up only one of the locks was done.  So, I figured either we only locked one and forgot the other, or Tatjana came home, so I rang the bell. No answer. So, I went inside to find Tatjana laying in bed.  She goes, “Oh, I’m sorry. I got in late last night.” Oops, I just grabbed my soap, said lahko noč, and was out of there. We’ll have to call her tonight. When I went back down, Sister Penfield told me she fell off her bike.  How in the world?! She was trying to adjust her seat and she fell off testing it out, right onto my bike. OUCH! When we started to go, my bike wouldn’t and I looked down and freak! The rim is way bent. So, we walked, carrying our bikes to the shop, only to find that it was closed until 3:00.  We just locked them up and left them by the shop. Then we went to the store and by the time we got home, Sister Penfield had enough detergent spilt in her backpack that she just dumped it out and I started a load of clothes. She’s still getting the soap out of her pack. Time for a little rest. Then it’s off again.  Oh yeah, the best part. Ljubica invited us for stuffed peppers on Sunday. Yum!

8 August 1996

I’m so full and so tired.  It was a really good day, but every person we saw felt like they had to feed us.  I’m not talking about a few cookies, oh no. We’re talking full on meals. Just when I got my stomach all shrunk down too.  Joj!

We had the coolest visit with Ljubica.  She also fed us a feast. Anyway, after we ate and talked, plus she had her grandson there, so after he left, then we had a great conversation.  We went over some of the studying she did, read some scriptures, and then had an in depth talk. She says she knows this church is right and that she knows she is supposed to be baptized, she’s just scared.  The more we talked it out the more we found out. She’s scared of what God has planned for her. It was a huge break through, completely honest and open, and no making crazy excuses. Ok, so maybe they’re not crazy but that’s beside the fact.  She even brought it up. She jokingly said that she decided that she’s too scared of the water and she’ll just have to settle somewhere in the middle, like the star kingdom or something. Then she reconsidered and said that God would be even more mad at her because she knew what was right.  She’s just so scared because she knows what she has to do and why we are here and that God sent us. So we are all asking in our prayers for help and power to overcome her fear. We were trying to set a date, but she said she wasn’t ready. I told her she was. She said wouldn’t you just be happy to get a letter about it.  Augh!!! Yes, of course, but no. Patience! She’s come a long way. She will be baptized. I just hope it’s soon. It’s too easy to lose a testimony if you don’t do something with it. Anyway, I hope so badly that she comes to church on Sunday, and we have another appointment on Monday. We’ll try it again I think we’ll also teach her a 5th discussion.

Then there’s Petra.  We didn’t see her today.  We saw her yesterday. it was her b-day and yes, she fed us too.  Then I wasn’t quite so full though. Anyway, her parents aren’t allowing us over anymore.  Yesterday her mom wasn’t home so we were clear, but we can’t call anymore. However, she still wants to meet, so she’s having us meet her behind her apartments, and then we’ll go to the park and teach her a 4th discussion.  It should be awesome.  

Time for bed.

16 August 1996

Well, this is a great habit, every 8 days writing.  Maybe I’ll get in 2 more times before I go home.

We had a great zone conference.  Actually, we had a great week. Where to start?  I can’t even figure it out. We had an incredibly busy couple of days at the beginning.  We got to visit with Ljubica and Lucka, and others. But the ones with those two were exceptionally good.  

Man, this place is so awesome.  I’m on a train and we’re just passing a spot in the forest where the trees had been torn down for someone to plant a corn field.

We got to spend 3 days in Ljubljana.  The first was for p-day. I got to go buy a whole bunch of stuff to take home for my family.  That was fun and I’m just missing a couple things, but I’m doing ok. Then they had relief society on Wednesday night.  It was fun, and sad, and emotional. Man, it was hard to say good-bye to those women. They all kept asking me when I was coming down to say goodbye.  I hated having to tell them that I wasn’t. This was my last time in Ljubljana for a long time and well as a missionary forever. But then Thursday we did splits with the sisters in the morning.  It was fun to go tracting with Sister Basker again. We got to talk to an awesome man and his 2 year old little boy. She got a return appointment.

17 August 1996

Ok, well I didn’t get much written yesterday, so I better finish up today.  Man was I having a hard time staying awake today. It was awful. Plus, because I was freezing, I didn’t want to get out of my covers.  I have to be good now, the best, for this last week and a half.

Thursday was cool. We got to go for pizza with Bojana.  I was sad though, because I was supposed to meet Mateja and that became impossible with the rain.  So, then she was going to come in after zone conference, but I couldn’t get a hold of her. Man, I hope she’s not mad.  She probably thinks I just didn’t call, but I did. I just couldn’t get through.  

Then Ines didn’t show Thursday night.  That was so sad. I don’t know why. I have to write all these people.  I don’t really know when I’ll do it, but I’ll find some time.

Friday, during the break in zone conference, Tatjana, David, Katja, Matjaž, and a friend showed up and I had to say goodbye to them.  It was so hard to say bye to them, especially Katja and Matjaz. Katja is just like a little sister, or a really good friend. it’s ok.  I’m coming back next summer to visit.

After zone conference we went to visit Maja at work.  She’s so cool; another great friend. Then over to Anka for a small lunch.  She’s so awesome! Definitely, one of the miracles here was watching her change.  Then with 20 minutes to get to the train, we took off running to catch it. We were on the other side of the river and we still had to stop at the church to get our stuff.  With 5 minutes to go, everybody came running in. It was so funny. Elder Clawsen whips out his train schedule, which had good news, and we opted for a later train. Thank goodness!  We got to catch our breath for a bit, then off to the station again. This time we had the other sisters, Anka, and Bojana with us. They’re so dang awesome! It was a sad, weird farewell to Ljubljana.  Of course I still have to write letters to some people and send my clothes to Katja, but I won’t be back there for a while.

Now, this next week and a half here is going to be awesome!  President gave me some great advice. He gave me all the directions and stuff to the home and run down about that.  Then he said,”Well, when you get to the home we’ll have time to talk about your future, but right now you don’t have inspiration for that.  You only have revelation for the next 2 weeks in Maribor.” I guess that sums it up.

 

18 August 1996

Today has been great!  Well, maybe it would be better to start with yesterday.  We got to see the coolest baptism in the river Savinja. We went down to Celje to see Renato get baptized.  We just met him last week. It was so amazing. Elder Bateman went down in his white clothes and felt around for the deepest spot at the river, without going too far in.  Then Renato followed him in, trying not to fall on the rocks on the bottom. It was an awesome sight to see those two get situated and watching Elder Bateman explain how this was going to happen.  Then after Ranato was so happy. I thought he was going to start playing in the river. We went back to the church, afterward, and finished out the meeting. No, I mean it was really great. Elder Burt confirmed  him and gave him a great blessing about prayer.

Then I had to say goodbye to everyone there.  It was so incredibly weird. That’s how it’s going to be for the next bit.  Just on and off crying. Man, this is the weirdest.

When we got back to Maribor, we started our fast.  i think that’s what made today so great. We were fasting and for a great cause.  It was to find a date for baptism for Lučka and Ljubica.

Church was really cool too.  We had the Relief Society lesson and it went well and everyone participated.  Half way through, Jasna’s dad came in. That was cool. He’s been out of the country and wanted to come see what kind of church she had joined.  He like it. Yay! Then Jasna also had the Sunday school lesson today. She did great! In sacrament meeting Elder Ledbetter and Nenad gave talks. I don’t know, things just seemed happier today.  i had to say goodbye to Dora too.

Well, we then went over to Ljubica’s.  She said to just come by and if she was home, she would let us in and we could visit.  When we got there, she had fixed a whole meal. Joj! We were fasting. Man, that was hard to tell here we couldn’t eat, since she had just cooked it all for us.  We did though. We told her we were fasting and she took it so well. I was very impressed, although we could tell she was disappointed. It ended up that we set up to go back and eat dinner at 8:00 tonight, which we did, and it was great.  The bulk of the meeting was kind of tough though. She was so close to giving up everything. Saying she just thought it was the same as everywhere else, it didn’t matter where you went to church. Well, I know that’s not right because we already worked that one out.  Finally we got down to the root of the problem. She’s scared to death of what her daughter will think. We got her to commit to talk to her and pray. Her prayer at the end was so sincere. She started crying. My heart broke for her a few times today. I’ll have to finish the day tomorrow.

22 August 1996

Hmm…interesting last few days.  yesterday was great. It was p-day and we went to Prekmurje with the Balazics.  They have family up there and we got to go up and translate for them and see that side of the country.  It was cool, on the telephone poles we saw a couple of storks nests. They’re huge! I wanted to take a pic but we were in a hurry.  We had so much fun with the family though. They just accepted us so well. The dad even went out and picked up the son out of the fields so he could come visit with their American cousins.  I was laughing so much too. He was showing me how he had his cow pasture set up. He had his truck parked in the barn and hooked up to a generator, which had some more wires hooked up to it, which led out to the pasture so it was an electric fence, and the cows couldn’t get out.  It was ingenious, but so funny that he was drinking all that energy from his car.

Then we also got to go up to Hungary.  Ok, we didn’t actually cross the border, but we went up and took pictures of it.  Then we came home. That concluded my last p-day in the mission field. When we got home I found a package slip in the mail, really it was for a letter of some sort, but I don’t know yet because we didn’t  have time to get it. We have to do that today, but I’m dying of curiosity.  

Homemaking last night was also fun.  It was just the regulars, Mihela, Vanja (with Patricija), Jasna, and us two misijonarke.  Jasna gave a cool lesson though and I got to do some photo stuff. Then we cross-stitched.  Mihela gave me the best gift ever. She cross-stitched a beautiful table cloth for me, with a Slovene motiff.  Amazing!

We had DDM after that.  It was cool. I was a but curious why all the sudden Elder Clawsen wanted a DDM.  He said because President wanted Elder Bateman to come up for some reason. I don’t know.  Transfers will be very interesting this time, but that’s beside the point. I wonder if he did it for my last week, just to be nice because he knows I like them.  Maybe that’s a little vain, but who knows. Anyway, I got to show off my pics, and I always love doing that. It was weird saying goodby to Bateman though. I know I’ll see him again.  My mind is kind of confused about being excited to go home or dreading it. Well actually, I’m not at all dreading it, but i am sad to leave. Honestly, it’s time. That much I know. I mean in a week, that is.  This week I still have tons to do.  

The other days of the week were probably better stories for my journal.  Yesterday was just fresh in my mind. Let’s just say that I learned a great lesson about following the Spirit, not just half way, but all the way through.  Lame that I had to learn it this late in my mission, but great that Sister Penfield got it so early in hers.

Great memories of the week: getting to be a lot closer with Lučka – sitting under a grape vine and teaching a 1st – an amazing discussion with Janja.  Man she’s so close, she just needs the discussions, in the university library, why not?! – the sunset coming back from Natasa’s over the bridge with the orange river – DDM in a circle on our front lawn – giddy in the back of Balazic’s car.

26 August 1996

it’s so crazy!  We just have to go around and say goodbye to everyone.  Sister Penfield is going crazy. This posloviti stuff is just “tedious”  That will be one of my favorite words to take home with me, and it’s not even Slovene.  Anyway, I guess I should start with Thursday.

It was my last day at the otroški dom, and my best day.  The kids were all so happy, and played so well. They just wanted to swing and walk around and climb all over us.  Bu,t they were cute and being good, so we allowed it.

Then we visited with Ljubica and then we went over and visited Mihela, since she was on vacation on Saturday.  It was so fun! We did a lot of laughing, however, I’ve waited so long to write about it, that I’ve forgotten the jokes.  

Man, it’s already 9pm and I still have the whole weekend, plus today to go.  

Friday we went to visit Petra, but she had gotten in a big fight with her dad and asked if we could come back another time, or rather call today, which we did, and she wasn’t home, so who knows if I’ll see her again before I go.

Then we went out to the Toskaj’s farm.  It was totally cool. The men were all building a roof, so they had a lot of work. Their uncles and aunt and cousins were over too.  That is the coolest family. They just adore all, mostly all, the missionaries. It was totally funny. I was taking pictures and everyone was posing for me.  I got some really cool shots.  

Then that night we went out to eat with Lučka.  We went for pizza out at Črni Baron. That’s out by where we played volleyball.  There was this cutest little blonde German girl who kept coming around the corner to our table.  We couldn’t communicate with her, she was cute though. It was fun. The classic line of the whole night was when for some reason we were talking about a wheelbarrow, and Lučka asked if we had driven one at the Toskaj’s, and Sister Penfield goes “no, we went by bus.”  It makes for a much better story po Slovensko, but man we were dying. Or, the other classic, Lučka was telling us the difference between language around Slovenia. In Ljub krap means a kind of fish, and here they also use it for drof. Then I said it meant something completely different in English, however I didn’t know quite how to explain. So Sister Penfield started telling her it’s the stuff that falls from animals. then said something else, I don’t remember, then Lučka goes, oh, it’s not people.  Like as in a man falling off a horse. I busted up laughing and Sister Penfield was like, “well yeah, it could be”, which made me laugh even harder. She’s so cool. I hope she finds the courage and wisdom to change her life, and how. She also gave us the coolest prints of things she drew when she was younger. I love it. Now just how to get it home without ruining it.  

Saturday we had an appt with Marjan.  It’s so had when we go over there. This time we found out that his friend that comes, gets visions, and speaks in tongues.  he told me to just wait and have more faith, and I would too. Hmm…you just don’t know what to say after that.

Then we met with Mirela.  That was sad. I never really realized how much the war had affected her.  I mean I knew she had to run, but man, her emotions are scattered for life.  She just doesn’t have the strength to change her life because she doesn’t see why, if it will all just be taken away again.  I wish I knew how I could help her, but I’ve got no clue on this one.  

Then we went over to Anica’s and baked a cake and made tartar sauce and got all prepared for our feast on Sunday, and then played cards for a bit.

That’s right!  We had a feast on Sunday.  We ate a shark. It was surprisingly good.  i’d never tried it before, but now I dare say I’d even eat it again.  It was raining really hard on Sunday afternoon and we got so dang wet riding over there.  We totally had coats and hats/hoods on and water flying everywhere as we rode over. I think they, Anica and her family, thought we were crazy.  It was fun though. The elders showed up about an hour and a half later. Anica wasn’t very happy with them, but I think she forgave them after they ate all her food.  She’s so cool. We had fun taking pics and I was happy because Alenka, her daughter, wanted to take a pic with me. I think she usually only likes the elders, but it seems like she likes us too. I also got to have the wonderful experience of breathing fire. Clawsen let the gas go in my mouth and then lit me right up. I will be grateful the rest of my life that I don’t smoke.  

Church was awesome.  I got to speak and it was fun.  I hope it’s that fun when I get home.  

Transfers came.  They’re huge! I won’t explain them all, but Domžale was opened.  Cool! Clawsen and Tingey will be there. I think they’ll do really well.

I had a huge organizing trip last night and this morning.  It was kind of fun, but at the same time a huge headache. Saturday I had gotten letters from Mom and Megan with a couple of questions and I knew I wouldn’t have time to write back and I was tired and grouchy for some strange reason, so I decided to call home.

It was so fun.  Mom was so surprised.  I love it, and everyone was so happy to hear from me. Mom said I could leave the helmet and then she told me my travel plans.  I leave Vienna at 9:something and fly into Washington DC. That’s cool. I get to fly with Sister Russo. Then I fly to SLC. Mom said Sylvia might meet me there.  That would be so dang cool. Then I get to Phoenix at 10:15 pm. Mom wanted to know who I wanted to come to the airport and stuff. I said just the family. That’s what she thought, and Mo and David are staying over.  Oops, can’t forget Lauren in there. However, I guess the Marcy’s told Merilee that we couldn’t keep them away. Man, I can’t believe this is all happening in just a few days. it made me so happy, because Mom was telling me how excited the boys are to have me come home.  She said Tom was talking to a friend on the phone and he was telling them that I was cool. The he goes, “hey, is that an earthquake? Wait, no, that’s just the house shaking ‘cuz Elise is coming home and Elise rocks the house.” That made me laugh. It’s so corny, but I loved it.  Anyway, so Friday we’re going to see President Jones, and then we get to go to the temple. Then the fam will come over. Merilee’s going to have all of our friends come over on Saturday. That’s cool. I guess Chris told Mom that if his parents had done that after his mission he would have killed them.  He wanted to be able to rest and see family, and no friends for at least a week. Mom’s like, not Elise. She won’t be like that. She’s right. I want the first, of course, for my own family. But then I can’t wait to see my friends too, married or not. Most of the spouses are my friends too, which reminds me.  Kim is pregnant. That’s so dang cool. I did have to tell Mom I wouldn’t be going to a Saturday night dance, however.

Cool though, the fam’s got a trip to San Diego  planned for a bike ride 2 weeks after I get home.  Coolest ever! I never thought I’d be excited for a ride before. I sure am now.

So we ended up talking for about an hour.  It was fun, but I can’t believe it’ll be real in just a few days.  I told Mom I was nervous. I don’t think she understood. I’m not sure I do myself.  She asked, “what? to come home?” I’m thinking, what’s home anymore? Of course I know, it’s in AZ, but man it really is hard to leave this place.  I think it would be even harder from Ljub. I know that’s awful, but Sister Balazic kind of summed it up at church yesterday. She said,”I can’t believe you’ve already been up here this long.  You just still seem like you belong in Lj.” I don’t know. In a way I feel like that’s true, but I would never trade my time up here in Maribor.

Today I had to say good-bye to Ljubica and Cvetka.  Those 2 I’m probably the closest to, and mostly Ljubica.  They’re my other moms. We all took pictures and everything.  It was so sweet. I told Ljubica I would send her a picture and she said yes, but it’s really not necessary because she has my face forever written in her memory.  She’s so dang awesome! Cvetka was wonderful today too. She’s growing!  

I also got to find the last couple of gifts I wanted.  Yay! They’re awesome! Then we went and took pictures of the dvorišče kids, and they all died over America.  It’s 11:00 now. Past bedtime.

27 August 1996

Sister Penfield’s good-bye letter:

Dear Sister Bogle,

I guess this is my opportunity to tell you all of the things I always and never wanted to.  First of all, I want to say thank you for trying so hard to put in 100% these last four months.  I have to say you were determined not to give up and you didn’t. When I first came to Maribor I was excited to work and learn the language, both of which  you helped me do. When I first came from the MTC, I had in my mind exactly what missionaries were supposed to be like and how you were not allowed to take time for yourself, and life was a complete sacrifice without any enjoyment.  Well, it’s like we said in the park tonight over sesame bread, “Some days we could have done more, and some days there was no possible way we could have worked any harder!” People kept telling me, “have fun on your mission”, “enjoy it so that you love the people, the work, and life.”  We did that together. Granted we never did get to the 3 ribniki restaurant or any of the others we planned on, but we did figure out palačinke, and 10 million different ways to fix pasta and/or tomatoes. We didn’t ever have the furtunate experience of baptizing anyone that we taught, but two days really stick out in my mind. (Ok, more than that, now that I think about it.)  When Petra told us “bi”, she would be baptized, and when we fasted for a date for Lučka and the Spirit spoke to our hearts. I learned some of my greatest lessons so far from these two days about faith and answer to prayers. Thank you for letting me play the greenie even though you and I both knew I was perfectly capable of understanding or asking someone to commit to something.  Thanks for making the phone calls and not complaining every time I said we need to call so-and-so, and then let you do it. Thank you for SYLing with me and eating my creations that were sometimes better than others. Let me know if you ever need to soak your hand and I’ll be more than willing to eat apricot fondue with you. And we’ll have apple pancakes for breakfast.  

I especially want to tell you how nice it was to teach with you.  Very rarely were we in conflict with what we wanted to accomplish, who was going to speak or anything like that.  People could feel our spirit. Even the numerous men we happened to meet noticed the different countenance we had. Let me know if you are having trouble finding a husband and I’ll give your address to Edvard or someone and I’m sure they would be more than willing to put you out/in for/of your misery.

I know that our work here was and is not “brez veze”!  No matter how many people we-you baptized, we made life a little easier for some, gave them more hope, and taught them the truth.  We have a Father in Heaven who loves us so much that he sent His Son, our older brother, to come to earth and die for us, to suffer so that we don’t have to if we let him into our lives.  I know that the Book of Mormon is another witness, a more clear witness, of the divinity of Jesus Christ and our Father’s plan. I’m so grateful for the truth that we learn from it and that you were around to talk about the things that I was discovering therein.  I know that Joseph Smith was called as a prophet of God to restore Christ’s only true church on the earth. This gospel message is the same missionaries have been carrying since the beginning of time. The people of Slovenija are a choice and prepared people. Some just take longer to act on what they hear than others.  I love the work and the people we taught together. Never fear. We won’t give up on them, just like you didn’t. I wish you all of the blessings the Lord has promised to those who are faithful! Thanks again for starting my mission off so well. Enjoy riding your bike without me, and remember to always wear a helmet, outside the city.  

Love, Sister Michelle Penfield

29 August 1996

This is the craziest thing ever.  I’m in the airport right now in Vienna.  Our flight got delayed an hour, so we’re sitting here without really knowing what to do.  I can’t believe I’m going home. Actually now that I’m here, it seems more real. Last night, however, I was bawling and I really, honestly didn’t want to go home.

Jelka picked me up in Maribor and we went to get Sister Russo at the train station.  Then we were on our way and nasvidenje Slovenija. I’m dying to speak Slovene. I’m thinking about just going around and asking people if they speak Slovene.  

We stayed at the mission home last night.  It was really strange.

Hey there, it’s me again, and it’s still 8/29.  I don’t know what time it is though because I have no clue what time zone we’re in.  We’re flying almost over New York right now. it’s about midnight in Slovenia right now, though.  We just experienced a huge drop in elevation. I think we’re stopping in NY for some reason. Oh, it’s 6pm here.  Nope, we’re not landing. It’ll be about 30 min to DC. This has been a crazy ride. We ended up being delayed 3 hours after getting there so nice and early.  So, I’ve completely missed my connections. That’s ok, I’m sure something will work out. I’m just so sick of being on a plane. I can’t move anywhere, my bladder is so full after being fed so much.  (I didn’t even eat the last meal) We have to stay in our seats with seatbelts on. Not that I’m complaining. I’m grateful for the seatbelts, I like to live. we’re now coming up on Lancaster. They have a screen on that constantly shows where we are and stuff.  It’s so weird. I feel completely emotionless. This might be partly because my nose is so stuff up that if I got emotional I’d really have a mess on my hands. Then my head is so gone from being in the air for over 8 hours and a couple before that. I better put this away now.  They just made another seatbelt call. We probably still have about 15 minutes though.