Montenegro

A major part of our work is training new humanitarian missionary couples. On Tuesday morning we began our first training.  We arose early and went to the airport where we caught a flight to Ljubljana, Slovenia.  We changed planes in Ljubljana and flew to Podgorica, Montenegro.  Seven countries now make up what was once Yugoslavia.  Montenegro is one of the those countries.   We came to Montenegro to train a new couple who had arrived on March 8th.  They are R.Wayne and Leslie Johnson from Arizona.

Courtesy of Serbia and Montenegro Atlas:  Maps and Online Resources

The Johnsons picked us up at the airport and we went to our hotel and dropped off our bags.  After that we went to their apartment to discuss what we wanted to accomplish in the next few days.  After we went out for an early dinner.  We ate at a delightful restaurant called Lazaro where we had excellent food and service.  Sister Johnson's dishwasher is broken - we decided this was a good reason to eat out.

Susan, Sister Johnson, Elder Johnson, and Gary

Caprese Salad

Steak

Wednesday morning the Johnson's picked us up at the hotel and we went back to their apartment to start our training.  The first thing on the list of duties is to make sure the phones, computers, and printers are working properly.  This took pretty much the rest of the morning.  About noon we went to the local mall to just walk around and have a gelato to keep our energy level up.  After visiting the mall we went back to the apartment and continued our work on getting their equipment operating and help them learn the operating systems.  They each had a Surface Pro computer, so Susan and Sister Johnson spent most of the afternoon figuring it out.  At dinner time we went for a walk across a foot bridge and through a park.  We walked around the town and Gary purchased two new ties as souvenirs from Montenegro.  We ate delicious pizza at Goodfellas and then walked back to their apartment.  We discussed the work and they drove us back to the hotel so the young missionaries could use their car. 

Hard at work training

A wee bit windy

Thursday morning we were picked up at the hotel again.  Susan had been feeling very discouraged and inadequate the night before because we were running into so many challenges.  After a lengthy discussion with the Lord Wednesday night she felt that she had the faith to do what we were here to do and if not the Lord would help us to do "what we can do". 

Outside the church in Podgorica

We started work at 9am.  At 11am all the young missionaries showed up for a "Zoom Conference" call from their mission president.  It was transfer day.  All the different areas called in and President Melonakos announced the transfers.  It was certainly different from the time when we served in Bosnia in 2012/13.  Two of the young missionaries that were in the apartment for transfers had served in Tuzla.  After the transfers were over, went back to work.  About dinner time we drove to the main part of town and pared the car and went walking.  We walked past the store where we had bought the ties the day before, and Gary got another tie.  There were only 5 euros each.  The young missionaries had recommended that we could get some good crepes at a place called Presto Pizza.  We went expecting crepes with vegetables and meat.  Upon arrived we discovered that they had lots of pizza, but not crepes.  After looking at the menu, we remembered that crepes are called "Palachinke" in Croatian/Bosnian.  That is the word for pancake or crepe. They only had dessert crepes, which we all tried.  It was amazing how much of our language skills came back.  However now we are in Germany, and they don't use the same language skills we once had in Bosnia. 

President Melonakos

Susan with the Podgorica group

Friday morning the Johnsons needed to go to the Immigration office to begin their registration.  We worked on our computers and then went for a walk.  As we were walking back to the hotel, we met the Johnsons.  We went back to their apartment and did pretty much the same as we had been doing the past two days - working on equipment, filling out forms and getting the new couple set up in the various computer systems.  They also needed help with their phones and their GPS system.  Sweet Sister Johnson was using a map to get them where they needed to go.  It was very "old school".  We also went looking for a new printer for the Johnsons, but we were not successful.  By now it was time for dinner, the dishwasher had been delivered but not installed, so we went back to Lazaro for dinner.  The first night we spilt our meals, this time we forgot and each ordered a meal - the Johnsons had enough leftovers for Saturday and Sunday.  

Saturday morning we went back to their apartment to tie up loose ends.  Hopefully they are better off than when we came.  We have a list of things to do at the office Monday morning to continue helping them get settled and set up.  The Johnsons also have a list of things to do next week, including meeting with potential humanitarian partners.  Both they and we were grateful that we came.  We didn't do all we wanted, but we were able to do enough to help them on their way.  They are an excellent couple and will be successful in their work.  We are grateful to serve with them.

The Johnsons drove us to the airport about 12:30pm and returned the same way we came.  Podgorica to Ljubljana and Ljubljana to Frankfurt.  One we got into Frankfurt we caught the train and made it back home about 9:00pm.

"When we are on the Lord's errand, we are entitled to the Lord's help.  Remember that."  Thomas S. Monson