Mon 4/30/07 12:21 AM

Dear Family,
Has it really been one month since I sent a family email? Time moves on wings of lightning we can not call it back. We had a senior couple arrive on 3 April. Elder and Sister Poulsen. They have already served a mission together in Australia. We have them temporarily in Ljubljana in charge of the Institute Outreach Center for Young Single Adults. On the 5 April we went to Zagreb for some interviews for a missionary application for Kristian Mraz and temple interviews. On friday the 6 April there was a fireside in Ljubljana for the Slovenia District. It was about Christ and all members and investigators were invited. I sang with a local return missionary. We did "I Need Thee Every Hour". It was fun. I felt more comfortable than singing a solo. On the 10 April we traveled to Kranj and did interviews and then we came back to Ljubljana for a open house at the church for the Institute Outreach Center, A TV crew filmed the goings on and put it on TV a couple of times. On thursday we went to Celje and Maribor and did interviews. We went to lunch with the Miles in between the interview schedules. On the 13th April we had Zone Conference in Slovenia. Then on the 14th in the morning we had the Ground Breaking Ceremony for the Zagreb Chapel. Finally! What a great thing this will be. Then we hurried back to Ljubljana for District Conference for Slovenia. It was presided over by Elder Gerold Roth. He is a Area Authority Seventy that is assigned to our mission. He had me speak in a meeting that I was not aware that I would be talking in. It is amazing how the spirit takes over and helps give the message that is needed. On the 16 we went to the departing dinner for Elder and Sister Heath. It was good and Roylene did not have to cook. This couple is very special. They have so much faith. They served for two years and started our first Institute Outreach Center. We will dearly miss them, but we will be eternally greatful for having met them and having them influence us for good. On tuesday the 17 we took them to the airport and then left for Zagreb to do interviews and Zone Conference there. That took place the 17th, 18th, and the 19th. On friday the 20th and saturday the 21st we did interviews and Zone Conference in Serbia. Then we went to sacrament meeting in Beograd on the 22nd and had a financial training meeting with all Priesthood Leaders in Serbia. The meeting lasted until after 3pm. It started at 11:30am. We then drove back to Zagreb. By the way we took Elder Mike and Sister Karen Ferre with us to both of these Zone Conferences. It gave them an opportunity to see these two countries. They have done so much for us that we wanted to do this. They also extended to 23 months instead of 18 months. It is going fast. I don't know how Roylene will keep up with the cooking once they go. We drove home on the morning of the 23 and then I interviewed and met with our two senior sister missionaries as their mission was complete. One is from Finland and she left to drive home the next morning. The other one is from the US but she has relatives she is staying with in Germany for two months. She received special permission to do this. Then we went to the airport on the 24 to receive a replacement senior sister, but she called from Paris and informed us that she missed the flight. We went back that evening to meet her. She was really tired. On the next day I had a meeting with prospective missionaries from Ljubljana at the request of the Branch President to do a missionary prep class. I was the final teacher. The others just lectured them. We have too much of that here. So it was fun to teach and have them involved in the discussion. After the class I did temple recommends. The next day 26 April we drove to Zagreb for some member interviews and then back to Ljubljana for a meeting with the District President of Slovenia. On friday the 27th we had the CES Couple Elder and Sister Lunt meet with us at our home late in the day along with Brother Fingerle and Elder and Sister Ahlborn from Germany. This was to discuss the Institute Outreach Centers and CES. I forgot that earlier in the day we drove to Celje and to Maribor to meet with two of the three Elders that finally received their visas and came while we were traveling. So we needed to meet them. We met the third one the next morning in Kranj where he is assigned. Then we drove to Zagreb and stayed the night so we could get up at 5am and meet members who were traveling with us to Osijek for Branch Conference. There was six of us in the car. President Estigarribia the First Counselor in the District Presidency of Croatia. Brother and Sister Novak. He is a District Hight Councilor and she is a District Primary President. And a YSA Ana Hundric who interpreted for us. She speaks Croatian, English and Spanish. So she really got a work out. We then drove home to Ljubljana . What a month. Is it any wonder that I did not have time to write? Also I receive many church emails that I must respond to. It keeps me busy. Things are moving forward but it is always a challenge. The adversary fights us all the way. We are happy and healthy and having wonderful experiences with people and the spirit. Wish you well. We will be home this week so write back. Love Dad