Thu 8/17/06 11:40 PM

Dear Family,
I know I am late. But better late than never. We finished Zone Conferences and Interviews the first week of August. It went very well. The theme was from "Preach My Gospel" section four which is " How Do I Recognize and Understand The Spirit ".
I taught them about having thoughts come to their mind and then their questioning whether it was inspiration or just their thoughts. Then I went to the scriptures about GOOD and EVIL. I specifically took them to Alma 5:33-49 and then to Moroni 7:5-15 with special reference to verse 13 which states it is "inspired of God". I then told them if it is good and leads to good then they do not get the credit. It is of God and they must act upon it and quit wasting time wondering if they just thought it or if it was inspiration. We then went to Either 4:12 and 2Nephi 15:20 and 23 and then to 2Nephi 28: 15-16. It was a good meeting in all three countries. I have had meetings about the construction of the two chapels. It is an uphill battle but we will win it soon. We traveled to Rijeka for a baptism of Ema Kosin in the sea. She has been investigating for a year or more and comes every week. I ask her when we were there in July if I could give her a Priesthood Blessing and she said yes. After the blessing I said a few things to her to remind her of what was said and I left the room. Then she talked to the sister missionaries who were the only other ones in the room and asked them. "How did he know?" Many things are known by the spirit as we know. The sisters told her that God knows. After that she comitted to baptism. On the 13 August we were assigned to speak in Karlovac, Croatia. After that I received a Presidents letter from one of the missionaries that said our talks answered questions of two investigators. Roylene spoke about the Godhead. And I found myself changing a talk about faith to a talk about reading the scriptures and praying for loved ones. It is amazing how the spirit takes over and the Lord's will is accomplished. What a joy and blessing it is to witness this so often. Then we had two missionaries from Serbia finish their missions and go home on Monday and Tuesday. Then I had planning meeting with my Assistants to prepare for the next Mission Council which prepares for the next series of Zone Conferences. Thanks to all of you for your prayers. We have had 11 baptisms this month and have another one tomorrow and more scheduled for the 26th. Then we have a number of comits for September. The Lord is really blessing this mission. August usually does not have baptisms because of peoples vacations and we are having a record month. I wanted to be at 50 for the year by the end of August. We are on track to double baptisms from last year. In 2005 we had 35 baptisms for the year. It is hard for you to relate with this when some of your missions did that many it a week. But the work is moving forward and it will continue to progress. Thanks again for everything and especially those faithful prayers.
Love Dad