What’s Up with the Whites in Croatia?

Mission updates: August 28 – September 24, 2025

This month I actually posted on Facebook before writing here. That one went out to a wide circle of friends, but this blog feels more like a letter to our closer family and friends. Many don't look at facebook. Think of it as part update, part photo-journal—so feel free to skim if it gets long!

September has always been our favorite month, and Croatia hasn’t disappointed. The mission keeps us plenty busy, but we’re also pretty self-directed, so boredom doesn’t stand a chance. When Russell has a spare moment, he’s usually studying the language (with a little YouTube news, golf, and football mixed in). I approach Croatian the way I once approached math—reluctantly! But with tutoring, I’m learning bit by bit, even if my tongue still refuses to move that way.

We love our young missionaries and try to keep them lifted, encouraged, and laughing. Along the way, we’ve also seen breathtaking places that you’ll catch glimpses of in the photos.

Most of all, staying close to the scriptures, prayer, conference talks, and devotionals keeps us centered on what matters most. At times, this mission stretches us beyond our comfort zones—but stretching brings growth, right?

We love you, pray for you, and hope you keep shining your light wherever you are. We’ll do the same here in Croatia.

We had a branch party out in the country called Lika. A beautiful area. This little cottage is owned by the Ostarcević's who are in out branch. (the one who played BB with Kresimir) We had a great time with traditional country food, sour milk, honey, homemade scones, fruit, dried meat. 

These are our missionaries and two newest members in our branch. We had a wonderful time. As you can see it rained earlier. 

This is Mišo and Ankica Ostarcević. They have been so generous to our branch. He is a patriarch for the entire Eastern Europe without a stake. They have become our good friends. 

                        This is our group, we rented a van, this is about a 1 1/2 hour drive. 

Such a charming place, These are our sister missionaries in Zadar, Sister Jessika Hunter from Gilbert, AZ, Sister Kay from Kaysville, UT

Love this fence. They had a man try to replicate the old way that they made their fences getting sticks from the forest. 

We went on a tour near a cave. 

On many of our p-days we love playing pickleball. Some of the previous senior missionaries left us their net so we love the game. There are no pickleball courts here so we make the court on an ice hockey court at the Kresimir park. 

Love to touch the sea shell of our man by the sea every time we walk the sea front. 

Skipping rocks on our way to a nature park. 

The views along the way and in the restaurants are so amazing

Notice all of the small little islands here on the other side. It is hard to describe the feeling when you are up on the hills looking over this amazing creation. 

The nature park is huge

A small chapel with a  well

There is a little place in our old town that sells the famous cherry juice from this area and they add a picture of Kresimir Cošić. We love to give them as gifts. Tonight we are in charge of a senior game after our devotional and this is the big prize for the winner. 

We get a lot of good visits from other Senior missionaries, This is Elder Goodrich, just new in our mission presidency, they live in Ljubljana, Slovenia. He was here to call and announce our two elder missionaries as 1st and 2nd counselors. They get a lot of experience!

Taking them on a Zadar old town tour

These large cruise ships come in slowly while we are on our early morning walks. They make me feel like the size of an ant!

We feed the missionaries for district council and sometimes on Sundays. This one was the good old beef and potatoes and gravy from home. I am teaching them to like the Swedish lingonberries on top. 

We get so many fun visitors at church. These are from Germany, she lives on an island in Croatia over the summer and comes to our branch when she can. 

This is the ferry ride in to Korcula old town. The most beautiful old town. 

So much history. 

This is the walkway to where we stayed in Korcula. Such old town charm. Over 600 years old.

Sister Anna Louise. We love her! Got in a great visit and interview. This is our Service Mission Advisor mission, separate from our MLS mission. 2 in 1! 

This is a beautiful view of the city bellow. 

 The view in Korcula from the bell tower. Just takes my breath away!

   The yacht area at night, just beautiful, and a lot of people in town having a good time! 

Then we came home from Korcula and the next day we got to have a visit from Elder and Sister Bates. Kathy is my 1st cousin. My Dad and her Mom were brother/sister. We loved having them, They spend half of their mission in Turkey he is a branch pres. there. They are also doing Humanitarian work in Croatia. They are so busy. We didn't stop talking. 

This is in our little branch building. They met our missionaries. 

Enjoying the Sea Organ sounds 

Next come practicing for the primary program and gelato afterwards! I just love these kids! Kezia the oldest is in college in Slovenia now. We had a great program using all of the members, the missionaries, guitars and any way we could put on a sweet program. They were great! 

P-day taking a ferry to the island Uglian across from Zadar where one of our members lives. It takes her about 1 1/2 hours to get to church. We visited a fortress and then to her island over a bridge. 

On the island Uglian across from us in Zadar, we take the car in a ferry across about 20 minutes. This is an old fortress, started in 4BC and has been taken over by Venetian rule, bombed during the Croatian war and now a heritage site. 

And lastly, this is Orijana who is making all of us some traditional meals from the island. Sardines, and the best bread and cheese and tomatoes from her garden. So sweet of her, Ok, that is the last month! It makes me tired! 

 What's up with the Whites in Zadar? Aug. 25-27

P-Day: We took a trip to meet some other senior missionaries in Istria are. First night we stayed in Rovinj, one of my favorite quaint towns. This is a historic hotel from the 1700's. Look out to the sea!

Going for walks at night is so charming. I love the little alleyways and entrances. 

Seriously these places are so beautiful and so much history here. The late nights and early mornings are so quiet on the streets, the mid days are crowded with tourist. 

We met our friends the Hatch's and Elder Newton for some gelato and then dinner late (after Russell and I go biking) 

The food is delicious! No problems with eating well in Croatia! The company and atmosphere was so beautiful. 

From our window, sorry but I can't get enough of these Old Towns! This town is the most like Italy as any other in Croatia. They were once taken over by Italy. 

This is right across from us. I mean talk about a photo op. 

We rented bikes and went along the sea for a long ways then through a forest! Guess who was happy! Evening and early morning bike ride!

Yep, I loved every minute of it, and really early AM we were all by ourselves. I love mornings! They make you feel like the world is yours!

Views along our bike ride! See what I mean! The sun just hitting Rovinj Old Town

After a morning bike ride then a beautiful breakfast on the garden terrace. Love the European yogurt/museli, nuts, honey breakfasts. The chocolate croissants are so good!

Love these views! 

One more, I can't help myself! I am showing you the mini version I promise!

Goodbye Rovinj, on our way to Pula less than an hour away to meet all of the seniors for a concert. 

I've shown this arena when we visited before, Pula. So impressive. 

Nice dinner at the harbor before the concert. There were 11 of us from Slovenia to Zadar

It's not hard at all to write things in my gratitude journal

Hladky's from Austria, this was their last night of their mission, The Turners from Holiday (she writes a lot of articles for the church news) the Goodrich's from Orem. These people have beautiful personal histories and we are so grateful to rub shoulders with them!

We were all engaged in the moment, I kept thinking "I can't believe I am here!

Incredible views, changing colors and a wonderful concert. Jose Carrera (top 3 tenors in the world)

After the concert, we were all so glad we had come! Great adventure, company and inspiring music.