Mon 5/22/06 2:47 AM

Dear Family,
On the 13 of May we had a double baptism here in Ljubljana. A young man and a young lady. The young man is talked about in the miracles sheet you will receive and it is the quote from Elder Gish. It is wonderful to see the change in countenance as people embrace the gospel. I did missionary interviews for some of the Slovene missionaries after the baptism. On sunday we drove to Varazdin and went to church. The Branch Presidency was changed by the District Presidency. It is great to see the local leaders perform their duty and make these changes. The former president of the branch has served for almost five years. He has been so firm that many members have quit coming. The spirit directed them to call a brother that is married this year to a sister from the US. She served her mission in Croatia some years earlier. This new branch president is very loving and soft spoken. It has already made a difference as he went out every night this week with his first counselor and visited inactive members. His first counselor is Elder Heath. He is a former chief of police that is very intune to the spirit. He taught early morning seminary for a number of years and he really knows the scriptures. He and his wife are missionaries that run the Outreach Center. This is where we have a ping pong table and a dart board and a fuss ball game and other table games. We invite member young single adults and students to come to the center ( which is in the church ) and then we use this to ask them if they will let us teach them the gospel. In this branch we have had 11 baptisms this year where they had none for many years before. Yesterday we had a change in the Slovenia District Presidency. On saturday I met with an Area Authority Seventy, Elder Wondra, and we interviewed and made the calls. It was a spiritual experience. The man that I thought would be called before the interviews was not who the Lord wanted. It was made known to me early on who it was to be. All week I have been praying that the person the Lord wanted would know by the spirit that he would be called. I found out after the call was given that he had such a witness. It is wonderful to have these experiences. His wife was ask in our initial interview by me to tell us how her family was doing and how she felt about the Savior. She then proceded to answer and in her answer she also put my mind at ease. You see before I wondered if she would support her husband in a meaningful calling. She had a reputation of in the past of being critical also. She brought both these issues up and made heartfelt commitments that she had realized her mistakes and that she is repentant. It was very touching and sincere. This is why before hand I had not considered that her husband would be called. After this I received the confirmation that he was the one. Elder Wondra concured as we talked later after a couple more interviews. This week we will have to reorganize the Ljubljana Branch Presidency because they are now in the District as counselors and clerk. Roylene had prepared a wonderful meal and we ate with Elder and Sister Wondra and Mike and Karen after a training meeting. They came to our home for the meal and a visit. Mike and Karen left for Maribor and we continued to visit with the Wondra's. They are such good people. He joined the church in Austria and she is from Germany. On saturday evening we went out to eat at our favorite chinese restuarant with the Wondra's and the Lotric ( he is the former District President ) and the Ferre's and the Hansen's and Sister Rodabough and Ashton and the Majc ( my first counselor ) and the Houck's. He was just released as my second counselor as they go home next week. I gave the Lotric our book of President Hinckley and a beautiful boquet of flowers. We had a good time and it was great to honor someone who has been the first to be baptized as a Slovene member. He has been in the church for 17 years. 7 as Branch President and 9 as District President. He will now teach Gospel Doctrine class. That will bless the members and give him a break. It is wonderful to see changes prompted by the spirit. I know that the work will go forward and success will continue to increase. Please continue to plead with the Lord to bless the people of this mission. Those prayers are being answered. We love all of you and wish the Lords blessings upon you as well. Love Dad