Week 45 – Azerbaijan
May 30, 2023
Week 58 – Senior Couples & New Arrivals
August 30, 2023Week 45 – Azerbaijan
May 30, 2023Week 58 – Senior Couples & New Arrivals
August 30, 2023
Sorry about that. A few major updates, it happened. The mission switch happened! We are now officially the Bulgaria/Greece Mission.
Crazy! There has been so much to do, we’ve been in meetings and calls pretty much all day trying to finalize everything. We haven’t met our new missionaries yet, but there’s going to be a mission conference soon in August!
To complicate everything, we also got a new mission president. I was really sad to see the Koivistos go, I love them and I will miss them so much.
The new president, David Nelson, is a really awesome guy. He’s taller than me, he’s 6’6″! He served his mission in Greece, taught at BYU, and he knows Russian! It’s going to be great to get to know him better and to serve with him.
Before President Koivisto went home, he took us on this amazing hike! Super beautiful place.
You take a ski lift about half way up this massive mountain, and hike your way through a fairly steep slope to the top.
On the way you pass 7 crystal clear alpine lakes, and once you get to the top, you can look down and see all of them.
Absolutely breathtaking, and hands down my new favorite hike.
Pretty difficult, but worth it!
We also got to go to the Rilla Monastery, deep in the valley.
It’s this SUPER old Orthodox monastery surrounded by towering mountains. Definitely worth the visit.
I got to go down to Blagoevgrad to attend church again.
This time I conducted!
It was also Fast Sunday, so we got to hear the members bear their testimonies.
Despite there only being 8 of them there, we didn’t have to get up and fill time, which was amazing! Even some of the youth got up and shared. It was a really heart warming and powerful experience.
Plus, the chapel has a really pretty view…
A super cool returned missionary brought us some American classics this week: Kraft Mac and Cheese and Reese puffs! It’s been so long!
We enjoyed those on the 4th of July. We also got invited over for dinner by a family who works in the embassy. They were awesome, it was so much fun to celebrate with them.
We ended up going on another hike last Pday, up to a waterfall south of Sofia. It was super cool! It reminded me a lot of the Kings Canyon Waterfall and the hike up there. Super short but really pretty.
Ever since all the Turkish missionaries left, it’s been pretty quiet here. We’ve been going through the apartments and cleaning. All in all its been a pretty smooth transition! I’ll keep you updated as we go.
Have a great week!!
1 Comment
No problem with the timing! Just glad that you are immersed in the work and busy, busy, busy. Keep working hard and the blessings will be amazing.
Grandpa.