Week 105: Pizzas, Ribs, and another Baptism!

Hey everybody! I'm still here! Don't worry, the heat hasn't killed us off. Not yet ;)

So, this week was pretty relaxed. On Tuesday we started off with some calls and some work in the area book (I gotta make sure I write down all my knowledge of Novi Sad before I leave, haha), and then had lunch at the apartment. That afternoon, while we were at the church for language study, Elder Bird ended up remodeling the way the church's gate shuts, since the latch has been having some problems recently; now there's duct tape on it, haha. We of course had English, and then got some pizza for dinner after. Not too many other interesting happenings that day.

Look at this cute little hedgehog!!

On Wednesday the sisters had one more lesson with "Shawn", and at the end they wanted to talk about the priesthood, and they invited us to help with that, so we got to participate, which was great. "Shawn" is an awesome guy. We had a pretty big lunch (pizza) at that cool restaurant called Bajka, and I have to admit that it got me to fall asleep during language study that afternoon (and you know that I don't like missing time to study languages, so you know that it also must've been some fantastic pizza, haha). After contacting around town some, we came back to the church for another lesson thing with "John" to review his new responsibilities with the priesthood, and also review the normal lessons. So, this time we again went over the restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and who Joseph Smith is, and it was a great lesson. Shortly after that lesson, as we were leaving with the sisters and some of their investigators, we happened to see a hedgehog in the middle of the road. Thankfully it was still alive and hadn't been hit by a car yet, but we didn't know how long that'd last, so someone picked him up and moved him over to a nearby park. Hedgehogs are apparently reasonably common here. Who knew? For dinner that night we went to Waffle Boss (sooo good) and I got a fried crepe stuffed with pizza stuff... I only realized after I ate it that I'd kinda had pizza pretty much 3 meals in a row. Oops. Oh well, haha.

Lots of church friends!

On Thursday we tried to do more calls, and though we didn't get anything set up immediately, we got a fair amount of stuff like "call me back in a month when I'm home from vacation", so that was still good. The rest of the day wasn't terribly interesting except for English group. We usually have a short reading each time, and this time the reading was a little story about a one-armed kid at a judo tournament. It just so happened that one of our friends, that only comes to English occasionally but who is apparently also really good at judo, showed up unexpectedly. I think he could smell the judo in the air, haha.

Friday included another District Council (formerly known as District Meeting), and then getting some details taken care of for the next day's baptism! That afternoon we also had our first session of our 12 step Addiction Recovery group that we're starting for anybody who wants to come. One of the people that came and who had great comments was one of the sisters' investigators who recently (this week) quit smoking cold-turkey. We might have another baptism this next weekend... In any case, since it was the day marking 2 years since I first entered the Missionary Training Center, we ended up going to a relatively fancy restaurant that none of us had ever been to. It was a total shot in the dark, but it turned out pretty darn well. Apparently that place regularly has live music, and we came on one of the right nights! And I got a meal of barbecue ribs (that were great) for approximately $6.50 including sides. I really like that place, haha.

I will miss the good food here when I return home

So, Saturday was fun. First thing in the morning, Elder Bird and I went to the church with Elder Nield to set up our portable baptismal font again, and then fill it up (what else would we do with it once it's set up? haha). At some point the sisters came to switch us out so we could go get some other stuff done. After everything was prepared and it was getting close to the time of the baptism, visitors started showing up, including (but not limited to) Sister Smith, who served here for a while and had worked with "Shawn". Oh, and if I forgot to say, the baptism was for "Shawn". So, a bunch of friends showed up, and we had some good talks and a musical number from the sisters, and I had the opportunity to baptize "Shawn"! After it all, we managed to get one of our younger members who's really good at ping pong to play against Elder Heaton, who is also really good at ping pong, who had come for the baptism. Unfortunately, it turns out that Elder Heaton is understandably rusty and was defeated, but it was still really cool to watch two pros going at it, and I guess that means that team Novi Sad won! Haha. In any case, the baptism was great.

This is our little portable baptismal font. I can't share pictures of the baptism due to privacy rules.

A heated ping pong tournament

Yesterday, Sunday, we of course had church! And you know what that means? It means the "Shawn" was confirmed as a member of the Church, and that he received the gift of the Holy Ghost by the laying on of hands. It turns out that he wanted me to do that one too =) Then a bit later I gave a talk on why the scriptures are important and why we need to actually read them, and I though it went well. Since neither of our Sunday School teachers showed up, I also ended up teaching the Plan of Salvation for that lesson, haha. We had a good lesson for Elders' Quorum too, and then had some business-type stuff after church like usual. But, after church we happened to witness our newest member "Shawn" decide on his own to pay his tithing. It looks like stuff is sticking! The sisters have done very well teaching him. That evening at the Nields' place we had our last supper of sorts, since next Sunday will be a bit busy. Sister Nield prepared breakfast burritos for us, and that was excellent.

A gathering of missionaries for some good food.

These are some cool missionaries!

Your homework for this week is to read Alma 37. That's when Alma speaks to his son Helaman about the holy records (scriptures), and why they're important. He compares the Word of God with a compass, which I really like.

Anyway, I plan on sending another group email next week too, though travel stuff may be crazy. So if you don't get anything from me next Monday, don't be offended or worried, haha. You'll get something from me soon thereafter =) So, here are a few photos from our recent adventures. Have a great week!
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Elder Ryan Echols
Adriatic North Mission
Svačićev Trg 3/1
HR-10000 Zagreb
Croatia