What's Up With The Whites in Zadar,  Croatia

                            July 13-21 2025

If you're familiar with the story of Krešimir Ćosić—the legendary basketball star from Yugoslavia who came to BYU, became a standout player, joined the Church, and turned down NBA offers to return home and share the gospel with his people in Croatia—you’ll appreciate this connection even more. (He sadly passed away from cancer at just 48.)

This is Mišo Oštarčević, one of Krešo’s best friends and former teammates from their days playing basketball in Yugoslavia and BYU. Mišo and his wife, Ankica, are part of our branch here in Zadar—the first LDS branch ever established in Yugoslavia! Mišo now serves as the Europe Central Area Patriarch. His wife Ankica is becoming a dear friend and helps me understand this culture better. 

And here’s a fun little discovery: Mišo and I share the same birthday! So the four of us are planning a little birthday celebration together in Old Town Zadar. Can’t wait!

Grandkids: 

Bridal Shower

Madison (Jared's daughter and our first granddaughter) had her bridal shower, we were sad to miss it, but we were able to face-time and talk to her and a few other friends and family while they were there. Loved that. 

Scarlett our granddaughter was baptized, and we were so sad to miss that, but Lisa received permission to record it for us so we could watch it from Croatia. That was special to us. She sang a beautiful song. 'Step by Step'. Yes, these are hard parts to miss! 

Zone Conference: We had another zone conference in Zagreb (about 3 hours away from us in Zadar) This is just our Croatia West group, there were about 100 of us in all the zone.  President and Sister Cordray spoke and did a wonderful job teaching on the joy of repentance and what that really means and teaching the young new missionaries the standards for missionaries. I spent a lot of the time with others in the kitchen, there are a lot of mouths to feed here. 

These two wonderful sisters, Sister Larson and Sister Sheffield, were in charge this time—and they treated us to the best green and red curry ever! I just love them both. We’re really enjoying the friendships we’re building with the senior missionaries. And we especially treasure every moment we get to spend with the younger missionaries—one of the greatest joys of our service.

This is a fun story: One of my best friends from BYU- Hawaii is Patty Ballou. Well her brother just came to this mission. This is Elder and Sister Ballou, She is our nurse and we just love these two. How fun is this: I have my grandson, my cousin, Russell's. brothers grandson is coming in August and my good friends. brother & wife all here in our mission!  (Who is next?)

It’s always a joy to share dinner with other senior missionaries and hear their inspiring stories. We feel surrounded by faithful, good-hearted people, and it’s a real blessing to have friends who truly understand the unique experiences of missionary life. These shared moments create bonds that are deep and lasting.

Our missionaries: These are the four missionaries we serve with regularly—they truly become like family. They work so hard, love the Lord deeply, and bring such strength to the mission. We've shared so many spiritual experiences together, and it's always bittersweet when transfers come. It breaks our hearts to see them go, but that’s the rhythm of missionary life—so many wonderful people to love and then let go.

Elder Wagner (Austin, Texas / UT), Elder Schreiner (Riverton, Utah), Sister Sundell (Las Vegas, Nevada), and Sister Porter (St. George, Utah).

This photo was taken in the gathering room at our church building.

                               Another morning walk, this is about 10 minutes from our church. 

Russell continues a little bit of dentistry check ups for the missionaries when they think they have something wrong in their mouths. 

The Branch


This is beautiful Karisa, our branch young woman. We are doing bracelets with her for our activity. We just love her! 

We’ve had a few linger-longers after church lately—and part of the fun is never quite knowing who will show up! This Sunday, most of our branch members were out of town, but I felt prompted to make a generous amount of food anyway. One of our dear members jumped in to help, and I’m so glad she did—because about 35 people came to church, mostly visitors!

Several families were passing through Zadar from different parts of our mission and beyond—places like Austria, Abu Dhabi, the Philippines, and Egypt. I said a little prayer that the food would stretch—and somehow, it did!

One of the unique blessings of serving in a coastal tourist town is the chance to meet people from all over the world. I also had the opportunity to teach Relief Society that day, so between cooking, teaching, and visiting, it was a full (and wonderful) Sunday.

       We were able to take both Elders out for their birthday dinner! Croatian board (lots of meat)

P- day:  some of the visitors from Austria who's parents own an old castle restored out on the island Uglian near us, invited us out to see the Kreshimir estate. They let Kresimir use it often, and then he died young. Some of it was built during the Roman era.

They were so nice, they picked us up at the ferry port and drove us the 20 minutes out on the end of the island. 

Their daughter Zoey took us on a tour, this is an old cistern, it is really deep!

We climbed up the little tower

They fed us a delicious Austrian traditional meal. Schnitzel, potatoes and delicious desserts! They cook in a very old kitchen. It was hot and there is no air conditioning so this was so sweet of them. The Brandstatter family from Austria, and the Baeck family from Austria but living the last 5 years in Abu Dhabi. They visit here every year!

Best desserts, She loves baking! 

      

They asked the missionaries to teach a missionary message. What great families they are, and they love missionaries, 

                                             Zadar

          Alfred Hitchcock said that "the most beautiful sunset he ever saw was in Zadar, Croatia." 

This is Sister Merrick who is from Australia, she works in the mission office and came to visit us in Zadar with her friend Nadia from Australia. We had a nice dinner and took them around the old town sites. 

     This is the quiet Riva area we walk on and have the place to ourselves in the early mornings!  Now, in the summer tourist season at sunset it is a little crowded! 

Well if you are still reading you made it to the end of this blog. I love the comments some of you send us and it helps us feel connected with our friends and family at home. We truly do miss you, we try to keep our focus but once in awhile it blurs and we get a tear or two in our eyes. It's all good! Until next time. 

Whites on a Mission: Zadar Croatia Weeks 14-16 Part 2

 Continued from last blog: 

We begin our first trip to Serbia. We have been to Bosnia-Herzegovina, and Croatia. So 3 out of the 5 countries in our mission in our first 3 months. We had to confirm our visa's are on being processed status, and have the mission let the border know we were traveling since we are passed the 90 day tourist visa status. All went well at the border, but it was a long wait. 

              

 The amazing Church of Saint Sava, Belgrade Serbia. Serbian Orthodox 

We were there while they had the Holy Eucharist (Communion). It was very reverent and full of people who love Christ. 

It was reverent and beautiful. We felt so grateful they allowed us to see this cathedral inside.

Just down the street from the Sava Cathedral was our church. It has 4 floors. 

President White (Russell) and I taught the young single adults and the youth for the second hour on emotional health and missionary service. We had a large group since it was the district relief society weekend (meaning 5 countries came together for a Relief Society activity) 

I was asked to teach a course on being emotionally strong in the Lord. We had over 100 sisters from 5 countries attend. 

I had them have a moment of feeling their divine worth and the love and strength of sisterhood and community. A few tears shed. 

Women are pretty wonderful aren't they? 

The Belgrade Fortress: For centuries, the city population was concentrated only within the walls of the fortress

Major Protest going on in Belgrade. The Relief Society day was our 48th Anniversary, we were supposed to go on a boat ride down the Danube with the group, but we got stuck in the peaceful, well organized protests and mostly sat in the car for the evening. They finally let us back to our hotel at 10:30 pm, and Russell left to go pick up our car at the mall at 11:30. Happy Anniversary! 

We picked up our grandson (Elder Teige White and his companion Elder Rakhimov (from Russia) they were in Belgrade getting his visa renewed and took them back to Sremska, Serbia where they are serving. 

Elder White on Prep Day in front of their branch in Sremska, Serbia it was good to get to take them back so we could see where he is serving. We probably will never be back again. 

Getting in a quick ping pong game for old times. (what you can't tell is it was boiling hot!) 

The Serbian Orthodox Cathedral in Sremska. 

These are the hard things about being far away on a mission. They often bring tears to our eyes. Our sweet granddaughter Scarlet is being baptized this Sunday. We are so sad to not be there. Hopefully on zoom, but it will be 1:00 in the morning for us. 
So many other things going on in the family too,
Serving a mission means missing special family moments and important events, which is a real sacrifice. But there is great joy and peace in knowing you're giving your time to the Lord and helping His work move forward.

Missing our first granddaughter Madison's bridal shower, all the prep and the temple wedding, This one really tugs at my heart and my tears. 

Prep Day Bowling Competition with our Jr. Missionaries in Zadar

These are our great missionaries we spend a lot of time with and love so much. Elder Luke Wagner, Elder Jacob Schreiner, Sister Ellyse Sundell, Sister Jadelyn Porter. We can't say enough good about them! 

Whites on a Mission: Zadar Croatia Weeks 14-16 Part 1

 

Greetings from sunny, vibrant Croatia!

Note: We are heartbroken as I know all of you are for the families in Texas with the terrible flood, Our prayers join with yours for the love and peace of God to surround them.

These early days are filled with meaningful service, sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ, exploring new places, making new friends, and loving our fellow missionaries. We've learned that true purpose stretches and pushes us, but it's all worth it. We feel inspired and grateful for these transformative years.

This beautiful season also brings some challenges.

First, the heat—our apartment’s single wall-mounted air conditioner isn’t enough to cool the entire space, especially our tiny, oven-like bedroom. To cope, I’ve started using cooling towels kept in the refrigerator, which offer some relief.

Second, the crowds—Croatia has become a popular destination, especially in our Old City, where it's nearly impossible to find quiet moments. Cruise ships arrive in multiples now.

But we have a secret: we rise early, around 5:30-6 a.m., to walk along the shaded sea front. It’s almost ours alone—the peaceful, gentle sea inspiring awe. We walk 3.5 to 4 miles, often ending with a quick swim or snorkel in the clear water to refresh our spirits. Starting our days this way renews us and prepares us to serve with joy.

Honestly, there are also moments of anxiety, stress, total confusion and definite frustration. But I think I could have said that at home also! Even though these pictures show incredible side trips, we are very busy with our branch and missionary work and it is work! We are never bored!

We love serving others, watching lives change, and seeing faith grow each day. Every encounter teaches us more about this beautiful culture and reminds us that we are all children of God, united in His love. No matter where we are in the world, His spirit connects us, and His purpose guides us. We are grateful for the opportunity to be His hands and love everyone we meet. This is truly the adventure of a lifetime.

A Glimpse Into Our Mission Life in Croatia

Life on our mission is full, joyful, and constantly moving. Here's a glimpse into some of the things we do regularly as part of our service in beautiful Croatia:

• Daily Prayer Call: Each morning at 6:40 a.m., the “West Side” (all the coastal branches) joins together on a group call to pray for individuals on our mission-wide prayer list. It’s a powerful way to begin each day united in faith.

• Ministering and Service: We visit and care for branch members, especially those who can’t attend church. Service is a constant—whether it’s helping with needs, lifting spirits, or offering a listening ear—and it always brings joy to our hearts.

• Supporting Young Missionaries: We often help transport younger missionaries, offer support, and help them stay organized and focused on their work.

• Branch Support: Russell serves as branch president and that keeps him (us) very occupied, From organizing Relief Society, Primary, and youth activities to cleaning the church each week and making sure supplies are ordered—we stay busy helping our branches function smoothly. Russell also creates the weekly branch newsletter, and it's beautiful.

• Teaching and Prep: There’s a lot of last-minute lesson prep! Often, a scheduled teacher doesn’t show up or no one is assigned, so we come prepared to teach whenever needed.

• Conferences and Devotionals: We participate in and help with senior conferences, devotionals, and zone conferences—each one involves planning, travel, and logistics. Sunday night devotionals are a highlight, with amazing speakers invited by President Cordray. He has deep Church media connections and always gives 100%.

• SMA Assignment: Alongside our MLS mission, we also serve in a separate SMA assignment. At times, it feels like we're serving two missions at once—but we love this work as well.

• The “Extra” Work: Apartment inspections, fixing broken things, grocery shopping (which takes longer than you’d think), lots of cooking for events, linger-longers, and weekly district conferences all fill our days. We also celebrate special branch occasions, birthdays, and visits from guests.

---

What I Miss

Even though we love our mission life, there are still things I miss—

• A dryer, fluffy towels, soft socks, and central air conditioning that cools an entire space (not just a room!).

• Giving talks or lessons without waiting for translation.

• Wide city roads—the highways are great here, but city roads are often narrow like alleyways, and traffic is a bit of a dance.

• And most of all, I miss my family and dear friends. That ache never fully leaves.

---

Even with the challenges, this mission has been one of the greatest blessings of our lives. We're grateful every day to serve the Lord in this part of His vineyard.

I am posting several pictures, feel free to look at those that interest you!

This is what it's like on our morning walks, just all these places saying come in and cool off!

I tell Russell every morning on our walks across this bridge to the Old City and the Sea to never ever take this view for granted. This is about 6:30 Am. 

Our missionary here in Zadar, Elder Wagner talking with people.

Elder Wagner, Russell, Stiphen our new convert from India who just returned home, Elder Schreiner and Philip from Zadar.

This is us doing our weekly zoom visit with Sister Anna Louise Matalouvič-Mahoney. She is a service missionary who lives the island Korčula, about 4 hours from us. She does a lot of her work on BillionGraves. She has helped so many people find their loved ones.  We love her!

This is our service mission zoom chat with missionaries all around Europe who are in charge of the service missionaries. We have about 5 languages being translated while we talk. Italian, French, Spanish, German, English. Love these people!

We wanted to find a way to do more with our youth, so we all met on p-day to play some basketball, it was so hot! We can't get them to get up early! I think they were impressed with how Russell can play!  They keep telling us we are like their parents, but then the realize we have kids their parents age! We tell them we like being grandparents the most anyway. 

So we went for a 1 week trip on our way to Belgrade Serbia to do some SMA work, talking with Branch Presidents in our mission to teach them about service missionaries. While driving through Croatia we stopped at a beautiful City in Istria called Rovinj. I love this place!

                            So many beautiful cathedrals! Bells ring all of the time. 

                I love the way you just walk down the street and a little turn off like this to the side! 

                         Sometimes I can't believe what I am seeing! Now this is beautiful! 

                                  I know,  I know....too many pictures, but I love these old cities!!

We then drove to Pula. Settled in the prehistoric era and valued for its strategic location, Pula has been occupied, destroyed and rebuilt numerous times. The Romans, Ostrogoths and Venetians, as well as the Allied Forces in World War II, have each administered the city. It is the only remaining Roman amphitheater to have four side towers entirely preserved. It was constructed between 27 BC and AD 68,

          

                              Where's Waldo?

Then on to a beautiful sea side community called Opatija. We stayed overnight here, then visited with the Branch president in Rijeka. See what I mean! 

. 

We were able to visit with President Sirobaba and also see where Teige (Elder T. White) was serving when we first arrived, We meet one of the members he taught and was baptized

                                                    Next blog: Our trip to Belgrade Serbia