Fun video

 If you haven't seen this on my facebook post, take a look. A friend made this for us and it is a good idea of our mission. Enjoy, and let us know what you think???

What’s Up with the Whites in Croatia? Mission updates: Feb. 1- March 8, 2026

What’s Up with the Whites in Croatia? Mission updates: Feb. 1- March 8, 2026

I get a little tired just making and recording our blogs! We stay very busy, and that is good. I must admit I am missing the days I get to just decide what to do with my days sometimes. We are grateful for our experiences, have so much coming up this next month and then in April we begin some of our family and friends visiting so we are very excited for that. There are many needs, many problems, and constantly new experiences but we find joy in the service, in the people and love spending time as a companionship! Wishing you all well, and thank you so much for those of you who reply back and let us know what is going on in your lives. We need the touch of home once in awhile. 

 This is Kathy Bates my cousin, our last picture as she and her husband Reid have finished their mission and have returned home to Washington. They served a humanitarian mission in Croatia and a leadership mission in Turkey. Back and forth living out of suitcases mostly. It was such a sweet experience to see her (though seldom) and share this together. 

This is zone conference in Zagreb, break out sessions. These have been 2 days each but have just been changed to only 1 day 6 hours. 

Our grandson Teige is saying something profound during zone conference. We are so lucky to get to see him (rarely) but he is a wonderful missionary. 

All of the sisters from Croatia and Slovenia. This will be another big change, the Slovenian's will have their own conference in Slovenia now. 

             This is our Croatia West (mostly coastal) group

Russell and Teige (grandson) do find relatives near me on family tree. They win, closest relatives. We also had Russell's brother Richard's son Elder Stewart here in the mission, this is very rare to have any relatives at all on a mission! 

     Elder Stewart our great nephew. He is Teige's second cousin!

Our good friends Jay and Tauna MacPherson (from Mt. Green) who are serving their mission here in Slovenia (Maribor) came to visit after an audit. 

Our favorite man by the sea. 

Ankica and Miso Oštarčević treated us to a lunch at a charming restaurant before her hip surgery, she is recovering now. Croatian hospitals are very different than the US. 

We had to do a little video so we also took our picture. I was happy the sail boat went by right then. 

             Russell doing a little "finding" with our young elders. 

After game night I taught Kris and Karisa how to help clean our little church. 

Zveki their mom (our Relief Society president speaking in church) 

               Our linger longer meal after church is over. 

Prep day over at the island nearby us, visiting the old fortress with Antonija Kolega and Andreas her son. Last p-day with Elder Warncke and Sister Call before transfers. 

This is a fun picture (not mine) of Teige our grandson holding up Elder McConkie (7 ft tall and our next transfer elder here in Zadar) 

Again, the very hard goodbyes. Elder Warncke we had him for 6 months (from Germany) 

One of the hardest parts of our mission. Sister Call (from New Jersey) is going to Bosnia, so a good chance we won't see her again on our mission. 

But the great hello's. Elder McConkie. Really he is 7 ft. tall. It hurts my neck to look up at him for very long! He is great! Yes, Bruce R. is his great, great uncle. His parents are in Germany, his Dad is a 70 in our church. We have met them twice are they are wonderful!

Ok, tiny car, large suitcases and a 7 ft tall Elder sitting behind me! Yikes!

Trying to make valentines a little special for a nice dinner with our young missionaries, 

I've been teaching several hours a week emotional resilience classes. Some to our young missionaries and one to members throughout our 5 mission countries. Using some of my skills as a counselor. 

This is a great couple the Dabo's. (from CA). They live in Rijeka, Croatia. We minister to them so we stopped in and had dinner on our way to Pula. Russell and I are in charge of the senior conference (3 days) in March and needed to go check out our facilities. 

   

In front of our church

Flying to go to the Frankfurt, Germany temple and meeting our service missionary for her interview with the temple president. This was a very special time for us. 

On p-day before the temple was open (Monday) we were able to visit my all time favorite town of Rothenberg, Germany. I went there 25 years ago with my daughter and sister. I was so glad I got to show Russell this charming city that was not bombed and still has a complete wall around it. 

My favorite Christmas store: Kathie Wolfart. Of course I bought some items! 

                      Yes, it is just like a fairytale city!

This was such a sweet experience, our service missionary who has some challenges was able to interview with the temple president (we helped arrange it) and was called to be a temple worker when our district (5 countries) come to Frankfurt (4 weeks per year) She was so happy! She is doing fantastic and she can help with both Croatian and with English. This will bless her life as she is done with her mission work in June. We have taken her out to eat and spent lots of time with her. We loved this week! 

We helped make the palenčenka for about 60 people one night. Like Crepes. 

Sorry so long, but our months are very full! This is the Thompson's from Blackfoot ID. They have become our dear friends. This is the Frankfurt Germany temple grounds. We stayed in temple housing for our first time, so we got the real experience.  

There is a lot of happiness to go around when your focus is in the right place! We are so very blessed. 

The Heidelberg Castle

We found out the Heidelberg Germany was only 1 hour 15 min away from the temple, so we took a morning and got in a visit. 

 

As we were leaving the Frankfurt temple we ran into some of our German Service missionary advisors (The Walters from Germany) that we met at our conference. There are 19 couples doing what we do all over Central Europe. 

Back at our apartment, having a fun dinner with our missionaries. We temporarily have Sister Gardner up from Serbia Media. (from Sandy UT) Elder McConkie is on serving #3. How do you fill up a 7 ft. tall hungry missionary?

            P-day with the sisters we went to 2 caves  2 hours away. 

Our beautiful sea walks in the morning. Love the sunny days!

    Finally, walked by my man by the sea, and he had tears in his eyes! 

Today (March 6) is the day 49 years ago my 19 year old brother Timmy died. I thought I would honor him with a couple of pictures from when we were kids. Love you Tim! 

                       Christmas, love my moon boots! (1977)

Great news! We got our landlord to get us a Klima (room air/heat) in our bedroom so it is not torture to live through the summer heat. We are up on the 6th floor! I am so happy!

      Another game night. 4 are friends looking into the church. 

Ending with today March 8, this is the Branch President's office, Russell, Elder Hughes and McConkie having their meeting. They are his counselors. 

We were honored to have our Area Seventy (Bernhard Cziesla) and his wife (Shauna) visit us for our two Sunday meetings and then we had a lunch with them afterwards. They are from Germany. So lucky to get them in our small branch. His brother is a general authority also (Michael Cziesla) that spoke in general conference about his sweet grandmother who taught his dad the church songs but lived to far away to attend any meetings. (See Oct. 2025 Simplicity in Christ. Such great stories he told us.) 

We had a good turnout for them, and a few friends visiting with us. Such a spiritual meeting. 

I will end with the tall men in our branch, Elder McConkie 7 ft. and Miso Oštarčević. 

Ok, this is the end of a month and a week. We are going strong everyday, about to begin a very busy 3 weeks coming up, with our senior conference that we are in charge of. We love our family and friends and deeply miss you all! We will reach our one year mark in two days! 6 months to go and we will give it our best!