Fri 2/08/08 1:06 AM

Dear Family,
Boy does time fly when you are having fun or when you are on a mission. I don't remember what I wrote last nor do I remember when I wrote it. We have traveled all of Slovenia and most of Croatia doing interviews. I will finish up this next week in Croatia and in Serbia. We also received new couples and senior sisters with one more of each arriving on tuesday next week. We were able to go to Rijeka and watch all of President Hinckley's funeral at the senior couples apartment as they have BYU TV via a satelite dish. It is a real blessing to think about President Hinckley and to ponder on how ones life has been made better because of him. What an influence for good. I remember many years ago listening to one of his conference talks and feeling the spirit as he spoke. It came so strong and I knew this was a special soul that would bless many lives. I did not even think about him becoming the prophet. While at Rijeka I interviewed and made changes in the Branch Presidency by calling two new councilors and a clerk. One of the councilors had just received the Melchizedek Priesthood at the District Conference in January 2008. The other one is Elder Brown ( a senior couple missionary that just arrived four weeks ago ). We leave in about one hour for a flight to Frankfurt Germany to attend a day and a half Mission Presidents Seminar with the Area Presidency. I just received a letter informing us that the Europe Area and the Central Europe Area will be combined on August 1, 2008. The church always makes adjustments to meet current needs. We also just found out who the new Mission President will be. It is David Henry Hill from Citrus Heights California. He was born in Lehi Utah. That is all that we know for now except that they will bring a sixteen year old son with them. We will contact them next week. Well I have to keep this short. Keep praying for us and the success of the mission. Prayers are always answered. We love all of you and appreciate your influence for good in our lives as well.
Love Dad (Doug)