20th - 26th June 2017

Well... what a week! ​I'm now here in Sremska Mitrovica where it will all finish I guess.... kind of sad. But regardless it's been an awesome first week of the transfer. 

So Monday was my last day in Banja Luka, we just emailed and I had to finish of packing etc.... after all of that I had to find a magnet as I get one for all the cities, I eventually found that then Parko and hole came down and then me and Parko left off to Tuzla where I would spend the night.

Tuesday was pretty busy we first had to leave really early with all my stuff, I was with elder Hardy who was going to Beograd, we ended up arriving in Sremska a little earlier than expected so we got some lunch. After all of that it was just waiting for Lerohl and my new comp Sorensen to arrive. Eventually they came and yeah we unpacked a little and just did the normal "Beginning of the transfer" things. We had English class to teach as well, seeing as no one came for the beginner class we all just joined the advanced group. After that we went with the Senior couple here, "Elder and Sister Decker" he actually served his mission in New Zealand dad so you might know the same people... he likes his sports, obviously not aussie footy but that's alright ;) I'll convert him! Anyways after that we visited a member's place where we had Institute, it was an awesome lesson! Better than what I could ever do anyways but yeah that was great, after that we went back home and it was already pretty late so we just went to bed pretty much straight away, I was wrecked from the day anyways. 

Wednesday was fun, we had to go to the police station in the morning to get my short term visa, I'm not going to bother getting a work visa seeing as I'll leave but yeah anyways so I got that all sorted and after that we had some lunch and did some planning for the transfer. We have some good goals so I'm looking forward to the work :) We also cleaned the apartment as it always needs a good clean, missionaries aren't usually the best at cleaning but yeah I guess what can you expect from a couple of 18 year olds. We also went shopping for all of our food, I can't wait to not have to cook so much haha, I like it but yeah its annoying because all of the equipment sucks... when I have good equipment it's a lot better but yeah.. After all of that it was just dinner etc and some good old contacting! 

Thursday we had to go back to the police station for Sorensen seeing as he is changing address so that was fun as always.. after that we had district meeting, it was fun we have a cool district so it makes things a lot easier to do!!! After that it was lunch and just the normal things. We then did a bunch of contacting, it was so hot...... I forgot about summer! haha there weren't really many people out either and I don't blame em. Anyways after all that we had English and we had one student for our beginner class, she doesn't know a ton but tries hard so that's cool. After that it was just dinner and some language study...

Friday was pretty busy we had a decent amount on.. First up in the morning we visited a recent converts place to translate for the senior couple who is teaching the little daughter guitar, that didn't take too long so after that it was just contacting and a little snack really. After that we were going to a members house as it was Ada's birthday, we decided as a district to all buy a gift each, (you know just something kind of stupid) but yeah it turned out well haha it was really fun though! I missed going around there! After that it was just contacting in the heat as usual, good fun though, I swear I never sweated as much as I do now, I think it's just the white shirts but eh I don't know.  

Saturday was pretty blank, we had a lot of contacting to do so we just started in the morning to avoid the heat! We actually bumped into a couple of Australians of all people, I haven't really bumped into that many so it was pretty surprising seeing as Sremska is a little smaller than other places I have been in but yeah they were 7th dayer's.... but it was still fun to hear an aussie accent, it has been so long!  After that we had lunch and did some studies (Just the usual...) after that we had some more contacting and then we had to clean the church and prep for an activity we were having, we watched kung fu panda 2! haha that was great, I hadn't even seen it so I mean it was good. We had a decent amount of members and non members too which was cool,. the Decker's made some great chips for us all too. After that it was just cleaning up all the church and heading back for the apartment!

Sunday was church! It was cool to see all the members again, I'm surprised they all remembered... I mean it has been like 8 months and I was only there for 8 weeks but nevertheless it was great, I had a talk which was based on an awesome general conference talk. I butchered my reading... for some reason I couldn't speak the language, just like a cat got my tongue.. oh well doesn't matter everyone understood :P just hurt my pride a little! After church we had the elders over for lunch, they just made a mess in our apartment... oh well, they ended up sleeping over too! but anyways doesn't matter, we did some contacting and found a couple of people who seem decently interested, we will meet with them this week. We also bumped into another Australian/Serbian....... he just moved back from Australia because he was born here, it was the same for the other lady too. Anyways but yeah that was about my whole week, we had the other elders stay at ours for the night because they had to leave early in the morning for some things....

That was about my first week though! I'm super pumped to be here, it's going to be a great last transfer.

Hope yous all have a great week :) sounds like everything's going alright.

go the tigers :)!

​​

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Elder Winfield

Starješina Winfield

Старешина Винфилд 

Adriatic North Mission 

13th - 19th June 2017

Hey, sooooooo..... this week was pretty busy I guess....

Turns out I'll finish off my mission back in Sremska Mitrovica! I'm super pumped it should be good, Deleeuw and Lerohl will be in my district and then my comp will be someone I don't know so that will be interesting but either way it should be great.

So this week was fun, we started off going on a hike to Banj Brdo which was fun, I'm not a big fan of hiking on the mission because I mean we walk all day everyday so why walk more than what you have to but that's okay, it was actually pretty good. After that we went to Kod Muje.. we then got some souvenirs as Bowles was leaving the next day and after that we went to this fancy restaurant which would have cost in Australia probably like $30 a meal but here it was like $10 so I mean it felt expensive because I'm used to my cheap cevapi but it was really good :) it was kind of a goodbye dinner for Elder Bowles. 

Tuesday we were off to our summer conference in Zagreb, we had to take the 7am bus which was fun...... but yeah we eventually arrived and got some ice cream in the centre with a Zagreb member that Bowles knows.  After that we went to the mission home and started our Zone Conference, we were up second with our presentation so that was good to get out of the way early, after our presentation we had some outside time/ relax time which was good, we played some volleyball. It was a little sad as none of my mates were in my Zone but none the less I still had Parko and a few others but not the normal crew so we couldn't play basketball.... but that's alright.

Wednesday was the conference again and transfer reveals! My last one... wow. crazy. anyways, a lot of people already knew where they were going, there were like 4 out of the 20 that still didn't know and 1 of them was me so in the morning we got the transfer board, I was super surprised when looking at it but I'm super happy - it will be great. After all the presentations it was back to Banja Luka where I would take Elder King and train him into the area before I leave.. once we got back it was just dinner and unpacking etc..

Thursday was pretty busy we had district meeting, my last one as district leader (wooooo) now I don't have to worry about all of that... anyways that was good.. after that we went contacting and had lunch etc... I got my visa too which was kind of useless as now I'm leaving but that's okay. After all of that we had english class, it was sad to say goodbye to all of them as usual, you kind of have to get used to saying your goodbyes but yeah... I hope I can see them all again one day. After all that we went back home and had dinner and that was about it.

Friday was pretty normal we had a lot of contacting which was good, we got one person to come meet up with us so that was cool, we organised it for Saturday. After all of our contacting etc...  we had our last institute class! And then uno of course... I won one but lost the others.... so sad.. but that's okay I still got one! 

Saturday we had a few lessons and had to do a few business things at the church with the Branch President so we did all of that.. Our lesson went well with this young guy, he is really interested as to why we would travel half way across the world to come to a place like this... well we explained, I'm not sure how much he really believes what we say but we have another appointment with him. I won't be there but I'm sure it will go well. After that we had to clean the church and yeah I think that was about it..

Sunday was my last day at church here in Banja Luka. I gave my last talk which was nice, we had 2 investigators there too which was really good to finish on that note. One of the investigators is a seventh day and after church started on a bible bash talk etc... it was frustrating but we just said we can meet up another time we don't want to argue about the bible etc... it's kind of hard to pull yourself back sometimes because you want to be the best and the guy who proves him wrong etc... but you gotta realise sometimes that it's better to not do that as they say "it's not what you say, its what you don't say" anyways after that we had to translate for an interview for a member getting a temple recommend. After that we booked it to a members house to say goodbye and then we had lunch etc... after that we went back to the church to say goodbye to a mate that I made here. We then had to book it back home to clean the apartment before President came because he wanted to do the temple recommend interview with the member there for some reason... anyways there were like 10 people in our tiny little apartment, it was really weird but anyways.. said my last goodbyes to President Grant too as I wouldn't see him again, it was pretty sad actually.. he is a great man, it was awesome to have him as my mission president it was for sure inspired! After all of that I just finished packing and we made some palacinke! 

So yeah that pretty much sums up my week..... today I'm leaving with Elder Parkinson to Tuzla and we will stay the night there and then tomorrow morning I'll head off to Sremska to finish my last transfer! I'm super excited to work hard and finish strong, we have a great district and I'm looking forward to seeing all the members there and just really enjoying the last bit of my mission.

I love you all so much! hope yous are doing good, by the sounds of it everything is alright.. 

Take care and be safe :) xoxo

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Elder Winfield

Starješina Winfield

Старешина Винфилд 

Adriatic North Mission 

6th - 12th June 2017

This week was good we had a lot on, well we had to prepare a lot seeing as we had zone conference coming up, we also had a branch party.

Monday was good just had another relaxing day, to be honest I couldn't tell you what we did.... I know it wasn't really anything or else I would of remembered but yeah that was about it....

Tuesday we had english class and that was about all that separated our day up, we got a new english group poster to put on the front of our church so people can actually see so that's fun, we also had a new student come which was cool.

Wednesday we had our district meeting and contacted as usual! We had to meet with the sisters to discuss what we were going to do for the Branch party, we decided it was going to be a cultural night and we were going to at least attempt to make foods from different places :P apart from that not too much happened.

Thursday was english again that saved the day from a whole day of contacting! We also had to go to the church while someone fixed the air con in the building but apart from that it was yet again a very normal day :)

Friday was interesting we had to start prepping this party so we had to get all the games etc ready that we were going to do.  I decided that for Australia I would make Vegemite on toast and Pavlova, seeing as you can't get kangaroo out here :P after that we had institute, it was our turn to teach so we had our lesson all ready and prepared and then we played UNO, I won again! 2 weeks in a row.. woo! I'm really stepping it up these days.

Saturday was the big day, we had our party to prep, so we bought all the stuff we needed to cook everything and up to about that point was where all the good things stopped happening.. none of the food worked... the eggs that I were beating didn't rise or whatever I don't know the right cooking term so we had to go buy more eggs... but it all turned out well, we had about 12 or so of us all there, like 4 investigators/english class students.. it was fun though, it turned out a lot better then what I thought it would, we gave everyone a wrapped up Book of Mormon as a gift too so that was cool. After that it was just cleaning etc... also got a call from pres that night saying that Bowles will be leaving at zone conference and I'll get elder king in place of him for like a week (until transfers) then I'll leave, I still don't know where though I guess we will see... by the looks of it most likely I'll go back to Croatia for my last, I don't really want to but I guess we will see... we find out on Wednesday!

Sunday was just a normal one, we had most of our members there and one investigator of ours I guess... he is seventh day Adventist but yeah, what a coincidence! the lesson one of our members gave was on the Sabbath day... it was a little awkward but it went well, we have great members here so that's good.

Today was fun we went for a hike on a mountain of some sort its called Banj Brdo, so yeah that was fun, I mean... I realised I need to run a ton when I get home to play football but apart from that it was great! I think I got my neck sun burnt as its barely seen the sun in 2 and a bit years! Looks really ugly but whatever... it'll fix itself when I get home.... 

This week will be interesting though we have our Zone Conference tomorrow and Wednesday in Zagreb and I'll also find out on Wednesday the transfer announcements which will be fun, apart from that though the week should be pretty normal :P I'll have a new comp for a bit which will be weird... it's annoying sometimes to switch and have to get used to new things again... other times its for sure needed though :)

hope you guys are doing good :) love you all! good luck to Dicko going to America.... tell him not to get too fat with all there food and say goodbye to Kim and all the kids too :) I did on my email but yeah.. I'm sure I'll see them soon :P love yous! lataz..

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Elder Winfield

Starješina Winfield

Старешина Винфилд 

Adriatic North Mission 

30th May- 5th June 2017

Well this week was good, we had MLC on Monday so we went up to Zagreb which was fun, we had our meetings as usual and then after at like 9pm we got to play some basketball which is always fun! The next morning we had a beautiful breakfast from Sister Grant then we had some more meetings, and yeah that was pretty much about it, we left some time in the arvo then got back around 5 just before english class, we then had english class and then dinner which was a classic gyro. 

Wednesday was pretty normal, we had to translate for some of the members who were have meetings with the branch president so that took some time, after that we had district meeting. Then it was lunch and off to work as usual! I think that was about all we did though on Wednesday I feel like there was more but i would have to check my planner which I forgot so I'm sorry :/

Thursday was again pretty normal, we had lots of contacting and we had english, unfortunately no one showed up to english so that was a bummer... we just joined in the advanced class which was weird, i forgot what it was like to teach an advanced class! After that we just went back to have dinner as we waited till after english to do that.. 

Friday was again a normal day, (sorry about all the normal days) and yeah so we just contacted a bunch, acutally no I forgot.... we had stewardship calls, so we had a 45 minute skype call with president and then yeah that was about it, most of the day was just work work work, then we had institute at 6:30 till the rest of the night, one of the members here found an article about how the biggest domestic cat in the world was just found in Melbourne so he gave me a copy! One of the members gave a great lesson on Jesus Christ so yeah that was cool, after that we had our classic game of uno which of course I managed to win ;) its been a while so its good to get back on the winning train!

Saturday was again a pretty normal day, we cleaned the church in the morning as it suited our day the best, after that we had lunch and translated an article for our language study which was fun, felt like that was the best language study I have had in a while, probably should do that more often... After that it was mainly just normal work till the night!

Sunday was interesting, it was a fast Sunday so it was nice to hear all the testimonies from all the members​. We also had an "investigator" kind of.. he is a 7th day adventist so yeah but he just came along, one of the members invited him so that was cool to have someone there, I think he enjoyed it so he wants to come back a  bit more, he is pretty entrenched in his faith though, there was a little argument about the Sabbath day at the end.. good fun! haha our members are great though they handled it well. After that we did our weekly planning session as usual and just relaxed I guess, had a great big dinner to fill me up from the fast we just did so that was nice!

So yeah that was my week :) Hope you guys are all doing all good at home, I know these times are really tough with whats been going on and all I hope that everything turns out better. Love you guys heaps! xoxo love you heaps Liam keep on keeping on, I know this isn't easy on you or anyone really.. and congrats on your new job too, does this mean I get free bowling? ;)

GO THE TIGERS! eat em' alive right ;)

-- 

Elder Winfield

Starješina Winfield

Старешина Винфилд 

Adriatic North Mission 

23rd - 29th May 2017

Unfortunately it's still just the grind trying to find people!​ I'm going to Zagreb today.

Josh found out about Liam becoming inactive today : ( So hard to understand but he will speak with his mission President while he is in Zagreb.

16th - 22nd May 2017

Hey everyone sorry this won't be super long as I don't have my time cause I gotta get going to Sarajevo for our exchange..

Well this week was pretty crazy, we had a lot on and went fast which was good I guess... So we started off with our PDAY and as usual we just kind of stuffed around for a while then we went bowling with a member and the sisters which was okay, after that we went back and cleaned etc....

Tuesday we were pretty busy, we started off by going up to a grave site with some members to help them with some family history, they are preparing some names for the temple which is really cool, after that we had some lunch and district meeting, and as usual that night we had english class... it started bucketing down rain at the end so the sister went back with the senior couple to get umbrellas for everyone who those who didn't have one. 

Wednesday was our exchange with Tuzla so I got to be with Roberts again! Who was my comp a couple of transfers ago, it's funny how things change a little but not really, most of the time people have the same kind of habits and things they do etc.. Wednesday was fun though we had some lessons planned unfortunately they didn't rock up but... you know that happens... after that we had some dinner and that was about all the day allowed so we went back to the apartment.

Thursday was good, it was really hot but yeah as soon as we went out contacting Roberts felt really sick in the middle of a conversation with some guy so he just left me and went to sit down haah but yeah he got sick and wasn't doing well so lucky we had some things we had to do at the church and a couple of lessons, we also had english, he just sat at the back and looked miserable but yeah,.. I hope he is alright!

Friday we had to leave straight away to go to Tuzla as we were picking up one of the members there so he could come to Zagreb with us on Saturday. After we got done with that and made it back to Banja Luka, I made some pavlova again as the week before everyone really loved and and wanted it again... so I doubled the recipe and it turned out alright, it kind of failed a little because it fell because the institute lesson went long and I forgot to take it out of the oven but that's alright it still tasted good, I think. 

Saturday was the big day! We left bright and early to head to Zagreb for the Kreso basketball tournament, seeing as Bosnia had the possibility of not having enough players we went up just in case, they had enough players but they still wanted us to play... soooo we played :) Bosnia came 2nd out of 6 teams which was a decent effort seeing they didn't even win a game last year! There was a lot that happened but in short it was a great day :) There was also a huge  thunderstorm on the way back so that was fun to drive through!

Sunday was crazy,  I was so sore from all the basketball I could barely move, lucky the sisters had some deep heat so I rubbed that in and it was a little better, the smell of that brings back some memories of football! Anyways... we had some sister who served in Banja Luka return that that was interesting, she took up some time and spoke which was nice.. But yeah apart from that Sunday was just another Sunday!

Sorry about the crappy email I really didn't have a lot of time seeing as we have to leave to Sarajevo now so I hope this is enough and that you enjoy it :) Love you all and hope yous are doing great! 

Love Jowi :) xox

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Elder Winfield

Starješina Winfield

Старешина Винфилд 

Adriatic North Mission