Zdravo!
Hello from Bosnia! I apologize for not writing sooner. I would love to hear from y'all even if it is really short.
I have been in Sarajevo for the past 6 weeks. I am a district leader and the second counselor in the branch presidency. I am also training and with my trainee we are opening a new area. The past 6 weeks have been very hectic.
I said goodbye to Elder Nieves and the other members in Belgrade and then came here to Bosnia.
The branch here is Amazing and I love it so much. We meet in a little side alley near downtown. The branch is very small but has some members with incredible stories. My favorite member is named Ljubica. (Her photo is below-the lady wearing sunglasses) During the war there was fighting in her town of Mostar. One day a mailman just appeared with a package. During the war nobody would receive mail. It was a Book of Mormon from her daughter in Spain. She gained such a strong testimony that she would only feel safe going outside if she had the book of Mormon in her hands. She would hear bombs and gun shots in the background but it did not matter as long she had her Book of Mormon. I want to have a testimony of the Book Of Mormon like that.
It is currently Ramadan here in Sarajevo. Since Sarajevo is majority Muslim this holiday is taken very seriously. Restaurants are empty during the day but at night after it is dark they are packed.
Currently Bosnia is going through a political crisis. The northern part of Bosnia is a zone called the republic of Srbska. They have their own individual president and he has recently been convicted to a year in prison. He will not go to prison and is trying to split from the rest of the country. We are currently not allowed to go to the northern part of the country or to the eastern part of Sarajevo because they are to dangerous until the political situation is resolved. Some of our friends have been leaving to America or other nearby countries. People Are scared that fighting and other issues will start again. They are scared for another war. I think we will be completely safe.
Our branch president works at the U.S embassy and he has a son who is 14 and he loves basketball. Every Saturday morning I have been going to the U.S embassy with him and his mom for an hour. I have been teaching him some drills and playing with him a little bit. He has been bringing some friends recently so it was like I was running a camp the other day. It was so much fun!
I went to Zagreb to find out who I am training this last week. His name is Elder Albright and he is from Gilbert Arizona. I love him so much. He is a hard worker and loves being a missionary.
That's all I can think of. Love you all!
-Elder Mcconkie
george.mcconkie@missionary.org
