What’s Up with the Whites in Croatia?
Mission updates: September 25 - October 25, 2025
Wow, this month has flown by! A few family members asked why I haven't sent any news lately, and I realized it’s been a whole month. It’s been an absolutely beautiful time of year here in Zadar, Croatia—We know it is also stunning in Utah this fall! We love the changing colors, the crisp air, and all the pictures from Utah’s mountains and canyons.
We’re still loving our mission. We stay busy most days, and when we’re not, I find us adventures and things to do—definitely keeping life interesting!
Some little tidbits: we still wash small loads of laundry and hang them out the window to dry. Our towels exfoliate our skin—though I really miss my soft, fluffy ones. Socks tend to shrink and become stiff, and I finally sleep better now that the temperature is cooler—heat was one of my biggest challenges here. Russell jokes I have a two-degree tolerance from hot to cold—my thermostat’s gone! I miss central air and heat.
The food here is good—and even when we try to eat healthy, we’re both gaining more weight than we’d like (hard to count calories here!). Vegetables are delicious, and I mostly stick to chicken since I don’t like fish with heads, skin, and bones. Beef is tasty but expensive. Pork is common, and desserts—especially chocolate, bread, and gelato—are tempting. We’re doing our best to abstain, but it’s a challenge!
We’ve managed to put home worries aside. Our families are taking good care of everything, and we spend less time stressing about our two homes. Serving here is such a blessing—it gives us more time to read and study the scriptures. I love how I always feel strength and guidance through them. Our current focus is on the four Gospels; I’m constantly amazed at Jesus’ wisdom and His loving visit to the people in 3 Nephi—His joy was complete because He was loved.
This month, we’ve attended many conferences. You’ll see photos soon! I was asked to speak at our senior conference on “Strength for the Weary,” and I’ll speak at the Frankfurt Service Missionary Conference (with couples from all over Europe, speaking five languages) on how to do hard things as missionaries. I also shared my story of skin cancer surgeries right before our mission—ways we chose to come, despite challenges. Strangely, it didn’t seem hard. The blessing of faith and strength made it feel natural to serve.
We love it here—our fellow missionaries, both senior and junior, and serving our branch. I cherish the opportunity to focus fully on this work. For anyone considering a mission, I highly recommend it. If your heart is nudging you, just do it! It may derail your plans, but in the best way.
Now for the pictures (it is so hard to only select a few!)
Our morning walks continue along the sea front. This is our lucky sea shell, we have to touch it! Love these mornings where we feel like we have the city and the sea to ourselves!
These are our current set of missionaries in Zadar, They become just like our grandkids. We love their energy!
Elder Warncke (Germany) Warner (S. Jordan), Sister Hunter (AZ) Kay (Kaysville)
Incredible views!
These are the little excursion boats, love the colors!
We were heartbroken to learn of the passing of President Russell M. Nelson at age 101. Our prophet. We love him and will truly miss him. We watched general conference at our branch, but we are 8 hours ahead so we watch at strange times. We couldn't get enough of the great messages of hope, love and encouragement. I have so many places to work on myself!
This is Mišo Oštarčević, our patriarch, playing with our kids in primary. He comes in and they just love to play with him. We just love him and Ankica. We are very lucky to be in the same branch as them.
Great P-day and Sunday afternoon breaks
Lucky for us all of our group loves Settlers of Catan. We play it with 6, two are teams. No one has beat Elder and Sister White yet!
Some guitar playing. Russell has taught them his lullaby and they all want to sing it to their kids someday.
We love it when we get to meet our grandson (Elder Teige White and his companion Elder Görgen from Germany) the night before our Zagreb Zone conference. These are every 6 weeks and he is now serving in our zone. They serve in Maribor Slovenia, a beautiful area! We got to take them out to dinner) Lucky us!
Elder Wagner picks Pres. White to speak in language as they practice teaching about the gospel. He is one of the only seniors that is doing a good job with the language! He works hard at it.
Example of our zone conference, lots of learning and great speakers.
I am also so lucky to get to meet my 1st cousin Kathy Bates at zone conference. They spend 1/2 their time in Türkiye doing humanitarian. She and her husband Reid are amazing.
This is our Croatia West Zone. As you can see we are supposed to do a crazy picture! Missionary work is often fun and crazy, not always serious. (Thank goodness)
This is all of the "Sister" or women missionaries. Can I tell you how much I love these ladies! Some of the kindest people I have ever met! Fills my cup to be around them!
Lots of interacting in groups!
We are just driving in Zadar and happened to see our Elders talking with someone!
Prep day, we took our Elders to Plitvice lakes NP. Yes, it is this beautiful! Heavenly. About 2 hours from Zadar.
We are fortunate to have some members of our branch that make some famous stained glass nativity sets. We ordered one and so did two of our children. They will both visit us in Croatia this spring/summer, so a great memory for all of us.
We are so fortunate to get to know these humble, sweet people.
Temple prep classes. We get to go to the Frankfurt Germany temple in November with a new member.
Every Saturday night we have game night. Some only speak Croatian and it can be so fun! We invite friends, Jovan, in the back, is 88 years old and we love him. I can do my colors and numbers in language at least.
And then our Senior Confrence in Biograd na moru, Croatia. Our theme was Center Your Life in Jesus Christ and Be Not Weary In Well Doing. It was along the beautiful Croatian coast. Russell and I were on the committee with a few other couples, it was a lot of work, fun and the best conference ever! Great speakers: We had Elder and Sister McConkie from the area presidency, and the Oštarčeviċs, and some on our committee. Great eating, square dancing, which had me laughing myself silly, and Russell and I presented on the last day on "Strength for the Weary".
I know, it's a tough place to be! This little gem is about 40 min. from where we live in Zadar.
After the conference we all came to Zadar and had a tour. Our guide is from our branch.
Where we live, the beautiful city of Zadar. A large group of missionaries here. We love and support each other so far from family and our normal life! But most of us are happier than ever to be on a mission.
Our square dancing, one of my favorite people, Chris Sheffield.
Me presenting, Russell also taught a great metaphor on Zen gardening. Keep on raking!
Pickleball with some of them the next morning. Larry Ivancich, Howard Schmidt and Brian and Shelly Smith. (I call then my converts, they came to Zadar branch this spring to check out this mission and they said I converted them!) They are in Podgorica, Montenegro.
The Last big even was our mission wide 5K.
Finish line at the Church of Donatus
We run with our Districts, right now our district combines with Split Croatia, 2 hours away. They came up to be with us for the run. Had a great day!
Wearing our Zadar Kresimir jerseys. Also a BYU player. Russell ran, I took pictures, so I did run all over.
Ok, I will stop. As you can see it has been a very busy month. Full of conferences and full of adventure. Until next month! Love you all! Share the light within you everyday! (and drop a quick note, we love to hear from you!)
Side note: one of our best members who was baptized Aug. 2024 is in the ICU in Zagreb, with sepsis, and both legs had surgery. Not looking good. If you will please pray for our good friend Filip.
