Hello everyone! From Zagreb, Croatia! I just got transferred to this country so I’m finally speaking the language I learned in the MTC. It’s similar to Bosnian and Serbian, but a different dialect so it will be ok!
I apologize for not writing an email sooner. I’m making a personal goal to do better!
Since my last email, I served as zone leader for the countries of Bosnia and Montenegro and was blessed to be able to go on exchanges and see those two countries. After my time in Sarajevo, Bosnia, I was transferred to Novi Sad, Serbia. Sarajevo and Novy Sad were filled with my favorite memories of my mission. I loved them because of the missionaries I served with, and the people I was able to meet, not just the natives of those three countries but people from other countries who have immigrated there.
For the first ten months of my mission, I didn’t see a single baptism from my service. But in the span of six weeks, with the end of my time in Sarajevo and the beginning of my time in Novy Sad, my companions and I saw 3 baptisms in the span of six weeks. This has been a common trend for many missionaries in this mission. The Lord is hastening His work and it is undeniable.
The past year of my mission, I have had more trials and more tests and more difficult days than the rest of my life combined. There have been many days and weeks, sometimes months, where it feels like I am struggling, incredibly. And when I was with Elder Albright in Sarajevo, I came to learn a couple of truths.
I learned that if we continue with faith, even when everything else tells you you should not believe, miracles will happen. I have learned that there is no gratification in striving for the recognition of men.
The most difficult days of my mission have been spent in Sarajevo, Bosnia. But guaranteed the happiest days of my mission, the days that I learned the most and grew from my experiences, were as well, in Sarajevo, Bosnia! Very often, we struggle, we try our best to endure. And we often are too worried about trying to be someone that we are not supposed to be. One thing that I learned in my time in Bosnia and in Novy Sad, Serbia was focusing not on how can I be like this or that missionary, but how can George McConkie be the best disciple of Jesus Christ that George McConkie can be. I look at my time in Bosnia and Novy Sad, Serbia and at the beginning, I was just a believer. But now, I feel I’ve become a knower. I feel that I have gained a greater surety that my Redeemer liveth. I have seen miracles that feel like they are on this side of the veil as well as the other side. In moments of need, I have felt personal tutoring and guidance from my ancestors and my Father in Heaven.
Thank you for all of your love and support. I love hearing from you so if you want, send me an email. Love, Elder McConkie
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