Zjima je tu! (Winter is here!)

Beautiful Bosnian pillow:)

Over 200 contacts this week!!! BOOYAH:)

Happy December!

I cannot believe it's already so close to Christmas! We have had the MOST beautiful and warm fall season here and just like clockwork we started to get snow today! Bosnia has got it going on if I do say so myself. :) I've loved being able to be outside so much and actually feel the seasons changing. I'm so grateful for God's creations! 

Beautiful Muberra from Turkey!

This week has been a huge week of finding. Since Sestra Black and I both felt like we needed a new start, that's what we're getting! I have loved tracting since my first day here, which I am very thankful for, but now Sestra Black is helping me see that contacting can be just as successful and rewarding! I've continued to be surprized with how many nice people we meet on the street no matter what time of day, or what the weather is like. I know that as we continue to work hard we will find those people who the Lord wants us to find! We've been really trying to be specific as we can so the Lord can help us the most, and we are really searching for a family! We know that when we have a vision of what we want to find and we work hard that Heavenly Father will help us. 

Sweet Nermina(one of the members) trying to fix my coat.

This week I had an interesting experience....my zipper on my coat broke! My zipper is about a meter long on my big winter coat, so it's been a bit of an inconvenience. Not to mention that people in these Balkan countries have a little fear about exposed skin to wind and cold: it causes stomach aches, flu and even infertility! (Yeah, watch out!) It's been interesting to walk down the street or go into someone's house and have them tell me that when my coat isn't zipped up it's --Bad for my belly--. hahaha We learn new things every day right?

Christmas Countdown!!!

I'm so excited for Christmas!!!!! In the closet at the church we found a DVD that has a bunch of Christmas Films that the church produced in the 80s like Mr. Krueger's Christmas, etc. and it's keeping the Christmas spirit burning over here in Bosnia. I have yet to burst out in a Christmas carol on the bus, but I think the time is nigh at hand. Not very many people celebrate Christmas here so it's going to have to be mostly in our hearts and among the missionaries. Elder Mecham was nice enough to make us each a --Christmas Countdown-- that has a candy that we get to eat each day until Christmas so we're celebrating a little every day! I'm going to miss going up to the lights at Temple Square, but the little lights at the top of the towers at the Mosques will just have to do for now. :)

This week I was studying in Mosiah. I LOVE THE SCRIPTURES! Alma the younger is talking about his repentance process and says in verses 28 and 29:

28 Nevertheless, after wading through much tribulation, repenting nigh unto death, the Lord in mercy hath seen fit to snatch me out of an everlasting burning, and I am born of God.

  29 My soul hath been redeemed from the gall of bitterness and bonds of iniquity. I was in the darkest abyss; but now I behold the marvelous light of God. My soul was racked with eternal torment; but I am snatched, and my soul is pained no more.

I love the imagery of God snatching Alma from his sins. Isn't that what he does with all of us? I know that even when we feel like we have been through so much and we aren't sure if God will still be merciful, I know that He will be. It definitely takes a little work on our part of repenting and reconciling, but He will always snatch us. Let Him snatch you! :)

I love you all. Have a fabulous first week of December!

Love,

Sestra Giles 

PS. Thank you for all the packages, letters, emails and prayers. They help to keep me going:)

Yay for Christmas packages:)