I was curious about the Serbian National Anthem. I found the posted video - what a beautiful song. I suggested to the family that we learn the song so that we could sing it to Darren at the airport when he returned home. Unfortunately there were no takers. Below are the works in Serbian and the English translation. There are eight stanzas, but only first two are sung.
Bože pravde
Боже правде, ти што спасе
од пропасти досад нас,
чуј и одсад наше гласе
и од сад нам буди спас.
Моћном руком води, брани
будућности српске брод,
Боже спаси, Боже храни,
српске земље, српски род!
God of Justice; Thou who saved us
when in deepest bondage cast,
Hear Thy Serbian children's voices,
Be our help as in the past.
With Thy mighty hand sustain us,
Still our rugged pathway trace;
God, our hope; protect and cherish
Serbian lands and Serbian race!
Sunday, January 30, 2011
Monday, January 24, 2011
Novi Sad - Week of January 24 Letter
Well Hello everyone!!!!
I would like to take my first paragraph of my letter to send out my sincerest apologies for not writing last week. Last week was an interesting week in the fact that absolutely nothing happened. I was contemplating what I should write and kept pulling up blanks. I had not a clue as to what words I could use to fill my internet cafe screen with. With a heavy heart, I decided that it was not possible to write a letter. Please forgive me. It was not an easy decision to make.
But alas, here I am to continuing another chapter in my saga as an Elder n such. We will pretend that last week never happened. But trying to recall what even happened or what I ate, it's safe to say that last week didn't happen. Elder Porter and I were talking last night about my life here in Serbia so far. He was commenting about how it has seemed like I have been here forever. I was inclined to agree with him. I know it has only been a little under a month, but it has seemed liked forever. It's funny, I think back on this previous month and it seems like it flew by. But as I think about it, it feels like an eternity. Funny how that works.
Well I finally had a conversation this week with one of the members here in Novi Sad. She arrived to Church this Sunday and greeted me with a question. As I was preparing to put on my "say what?" face, I realized I understood what she said. And to my disbelief, I knew what to say back! She asked how the language was this week and if I made any improvements. Afterwards, she asked me about my family and where exactly they lived. I didn't know where they lived, so I told her that they were born in Budancia, Croatia and that I believe they lived in Northern Serbia. I was truly astonished! I had a basic, but meaningful conversation with a member! Oh man, you could only imagine the joy I had when I understood what she was saying. I guess you could compare it to the first Christmas a kid has when he grasps the concept of presents. It was awesome.
I don't know if I have mentioned this before, but I love inflation in other counties. Its sooo nice to be able to go to a store and buy a nice beanie/scarf combo, gloves, and a nice white Nike belt with belt buckle for 600 dinars, which is 6 US dollars. Everything here is so cheap. DVD's here are 150 or 200 dinars. Each missionary here has a collection of 10-20 Disney DVD's that have been dubbed in Serbian or Croatian. Were not allowed to watch them, but it's cool to have them as souvenirs. The best thing to buy here though are the ties. High quality ties here at 300 dinars a pop, which is 3 US dollars. Some missionaries here have over 50 ties they have purchased. That's a lot of ties! I don't imagine myself needing that many ties, but it's cool to think you could buy 60 nice ties for about 180 USD. In the US, you could maybe buy 6 or 7 ties for that price. Viva Serbia and its inflation.
Anyways, things continue to progress here. Every Elder here in Novi Sad are awesome guys. I get along with extremely well. My companion, Elder Porter, is a one of a kind guy. He truly has been a great trainer. I am loving life.
With much love!
Elder Novakovich
I would like to take my first paragraph of my letter to send out my sincerest apologies for not writing last week. Last week was an interesting week in the fact that absolutely nothing happened. I was contemplating what I should write and kept pulling up blanks. I had not a clue as to what words I could use to fill my internet cafe screen with. With a heavy heart, I decided that it was not possible to write a letter. Please forgive me. It was not an easy decision to make.
But alas, here I am to continuing another chapter in my saga as an Elder n such. We will pretend that last week never happened. But trying to recall what even happened or what I ate, it's safe to say that last week didn't happen. Elder Porter and I were talking last night about my life here in Serbia so far. He was commenting about how it has seemed like I have been here forever. I was inclined to agree with him. I know it has only been a little under a month, but it has seemed liked forever. It's funny, I think back on this previous month and it seems like it flew by. But as I think about it, it feels like an eternity. Funny how that works.
Well I finally had a conversation this week with one of the members here in Novi Sad. She arrived to Church this Sunday and greeted me with a question. As I was preparing to put on my "say what?" face, I realized I understood what she said. And to my disbelief, I knew what to say back! She asked how the language was this week and if I made any improvements. Afterwards, she asked me about my family and where exactly they lived. I didn't know where they lived, so I told her that they were born in Budancia, Croatia and that I believe they lived in Northern Serbia. I was truly astonished! I had a basic, but meaningful conversation with a member! Oh man, you could only imagine the joy I had when I understood what she was saying. I guess you could compare it to the first Christmas a kid has when he grasps the concept of presents. It was awesome.
I don't know if I have mentioned this before, but I love inflation in other counties. Its sooo nice to be able to go to a store and buy a nice beanie/scarf combo, gloves, and a nice white Nike belt with belt buckle for 600 dinars, which is 6 US dollars. Everything here is so cheap. DVD's here are 150 or 200 dinars. Each missionary here has a collection of 10-20 Disney DVD's that have been dubbed in Serbian or Croatian. Were not allowed to watch them, but it's cool to have them as souvenirs. The best thing to buy here though are the ties. High quality ties here at 300 dinars a pop, which is 3 US dollars. Some missionaries here have over 50 ties they have purchased. That's a lot of ties! I don't imagine myself needing that many ties, but it's cool to think you could buy 60 nice ties for about 180 USD. In the US, you could maybe buy 6 or 7 ties for that price. Viva Serbia and its inflation.
Anyways, things continue to progress here. Every Elder here in Novi Sad are awesome guys. I get along with extremely well. My companion, Elder Porter, is a one of a kind guy. He truly has been a great trainer. I am loving life.
With much love!
Elder Novakovich
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
Week #3 in Novi Sad
We didn't get a group update from Darren this week so following are some excerpts from letters he wrote to us as well as some good advice from his Grandmother and a nice story shared with him about his Grandfather.
From Elder Novakovich:
Winter here in Serbia has been pleasant so far! Today it's 8 degrees Celsius, which means we are going to play basketball!! I am so excited for that. Last week was absolutely beautiful here. I actually had the joy of seeing the blue sky! It took two weeks to see it! But I am glad I have the chance now....I can't for the summer months as well! From what I have been told, they fly by like crazy! Thank you again for your emails. I love reading about you and Grandpa are doing! Love you so much!
Well the work is going along great. I have the chance to teach three lessons to members in our branch. We have taught a recent convert two times so far. She speaks a thousand miles per hour! I can hardly understand anything she ever says. It's crazy. I'm like........ I have no idea what you just said. But its good practice though. I'm excited, we are starting to give English lessons to one of the members, and in return, she will be teaching us some Serbian. Supposedly, she worked as a journalist. So she knows how to speak Serbian very well. I'm excited to learn a lot more from her. Ha ha I need help with the language desperately. It is so hard! I really have never struggled more in my entire life. This language pushes me to the limits every single day. I am getting pretty good at reading however. I read five pages of the Book of Mormon every day, and it seems to help with me speaking.
Wisdom from Grandma Novakovich
Well the work is going along great. I have the chance to teach three lessons to members in our branch. We have taught a recent convert two times so far. She speaks a thousand miles per hour! I can hardly understand anything she ever says. It's crazy. I'm like........ I have no idea what you just said. But its good practice though. I'm excited, we are starting to give English lessons to one of the members, and in return, she will be teaching us some Serbian. Supposedly, she worked as a journalist. So she knows how to speak Serbian very well. I'm excited to learn a lot more from her. Ha ha I need help with the language desperately. It is so hard! I really have never struggled more in my entire life. This language pushes me to the limits every single day. I am getting pretty good at reading however. I read five pages of the Book of Mormon every day, and it seems to help with me speaking.
Wisdom from Grandma Novakovich
I have printed out several talks lately by Neal A. Maxwell. I loved hearing him speak and felt like I could read them again. He has such insights and a wonderful, gifted ability of expression. I wanted to study again a statement that he made which meant so much to my understanding of life. Here it is:
"The submission of one's will is really the only uniquely personal thing we have to place on God's altar...The Many other things we give to God, However nice that may be of us, are actually things He has already given us, and He has loaned them to us. But when we begin to submit ourselves by letting our wills be swallowed up in God's will, then we are really giving something to Him. And that hard doctrine lies at the center of discipleship. "
Missionary Example set by Grandpa Novakovich
Well, Darren, again I leave you my testimony of the church. This week we went into a restaurant where your Uncle Matt and Aunt Tiffanie were eating lunch. Matt whispered that the people sitting next to him were bashing the church and one man (who he thought was a minister) was explaining how awful the Mormons are. Grandpa listened for a moment and then (much to my shock and chagrin, I might add) he butted into their conversation and told them that if they really wanted to know what the church was about they should ask a member. He went on to explain a variety of things. Finally he said he was sorry to interrupt their lunch, but could not stand by and let them be disrespectful to another church and shook their hand and we left. Of course, I asked him why he did that. Was he nuts? He said that when we pulled up to the restaurant (where we were just going to drop off our granddaughter) he felt he should go in and then he just felt strongly that he could not let that go on. I was proud of him. He certainly does not falter in standing up for his testimony of the church and the Savior.
Sunday, January 16, 2011
Childhood Friends
Darren was in the MTC with Jordan Spoerri who grew up with Darren in the same West Jordan neighborhood. Jordan leaves the MTC in February for Moscow Russia.
The following picture was taken the day before Darren left for Serbia.
The following picture was taken the day before Darren left for Serbia.
Monday, January 10, 2011
The good stuff!
Well another week has gone by, and here I stand alive, ready to tell my story to the world.
I finally experienced what it means to be a missionary in Serbia: I was physically and verbally abused!!! From what I was told, it's a relatively common thing, at least for the verbal assaults. Well let me set up this intriguing story: My companion Elder Porter and I were just returning from a apoteka, which is basically a pharmacy, with a load of "old men" diapers in our hands. We had just thirty minutes earlier been asked by one of the members in our branch if we would kindly go to an apoteka and purchase him some diapers. That being said, we were making our way back to his apartment. Along the way, we ran into some less than nice looking individuals who called us out and started to approach us. Having no idea of what they were saying, I just sat their where my companion started talking to these three gentlemen. I don't know what was said, but one of the "goons" slapped my fellow comrad across the face. I was at a complete shock at the moment for two reasons: What the heck is happening and more importantly.... Why did a guy slap another guy across the face? I know I am from the United States, but I am pretty sure that fists are a universal language. Slapping seems to send a weird message to my mind when one guy slaps another. Needless to say, I was taken aback. What man slaps another guy???? I just don't even know. Well good thing for them, one of the native Serbians had half the brains to grab his friend and walk away. Because I am more than sure it would have gotten pretty ugly had things escalated.
Well that's about the most excited thing that happened to me this past week. Besides giving a talk in sacrament, nothing really happened. I'm still like a little child here. I always need my daddy to talk to other people for me. I can order food and the like for myself, but besides that, I am a lost little child. It's hilarious whenever someone tries to talk to me... I just point to my companion and basically tell him I have been in Serbia for a week, ту сам неделу дана. Oh yeah, you can put all your chips down that I know how to say that well :D
Not much else to report on than that. Im doing well and I haven't died yet. So there is some good news there.
Love,
Elder Novakovich
PS.. My video blog won't load, so I will have to figure that out next week. Sorry.
I finally experienced what it means to be a missionary in Serbia: I was physically and verbally abused!!! From what I was told, it's a relatively common thing, at least for the verbal assaults. Well let me set up this intriguing story: My companion Elder Porter and I were just returning from a apoteka, which is basically a pharmacy, with a load of "old men" diapers in our hands. We had just thirty minutes earlier been asked by one of the members in our branch if we would kindly go to an apoteka and purchase him some diapers. That being said, we were making our way back to his apartment. Along the way, we ran into some less than nice looking individuals who called us out and started to approach us. Having no idea of what they were saying, I just sat their where my companion started talking to these three gentlemen. I don't know what was said, but one of the "goons" slapped my fellow comrad across the face. I was at a complete shock at the moment for two reasons: What the heck is happening and more importantly.... Why did a guy slap another guy across the face? I know I am from the United States, but I am pretty sure that fists are a universal language. Slapping seems to send a weird message to my mind when one guy slaps another. Needless to say, I was taken aback. What man slaps another guy???? I just don't even know. Well good thing for them, one of the native Serbians had half the brains to grab his friend and walk away. Because I am more than sure it would have gotten pretty ugly had things escalated.
Well that's about the most excited thing that happened to me this past week. Besides giving a talk in sacrament, nothing really happened. I'm still like a little child here. I always need my daddy to talk to other people for me. I can order food and the like for myself, but besides that, I am a lost little child. It's hilarious whenever someone tries to talk to me... I just point to my companion and basically tell him I have been in Serbia for a week, ту сам неделу дана. Oh yeah, you can put all your chips down that I know how to say that well :D
Not much else to report on than that. Im doing well and I haven't died yet. So there is some good news there.
Love,
Elder Novakovich
PS.. My video blog won't load, so I will have to figure that out next week. Sorry.
Monday, January 3, 2011
Arrival!
Well I made it!!!
After 9 weeks in the MTC, I have broken free of the little bubble and now I am in Serbia!! What a culture shock. I have absolutely no idea of what people are saying. I feel like a two year old again: I have to rely 100% of my companion, Elder Porter, for everything. Its frustrating to not to be able to understand anything of what people are saying. But that's the way it goes. I learned Serbian is a four out of five on diffiuculty as a language. English is a 2. So that might explain why its so hard to understand anyone.
Its was awesome, for New Years Eve, my companion and I went over to another companionship in our city, Novisad, and stayed the night over at their place. We made all American foods: Steaks, rootbeer floats, ice cream, chocolate, etc. It was sooo good. We had special permission to stay up till midnight also. What a mission president, right? It was a real neat experience. All the missionaries in Serbia seem to be really cool. Especially my companion, he is a really nice guy. We have already shared deep conversations :) That's a good sign, I reckon.
The food here is legit! Everything is so tasty. They have this "hamburger" like creation over here. You have cabbage, potatoes, ketchup, mustard, spicy onions, and this spicy sauce and slop it on top of a patty/meat thingy. It's so good. Holy cow, I never imagined having potatoes on a hamburger would be good. The burek here is amazing. Basically its baklava with meats and cheese inside instead of the dessert. Yikes. I will have to work hard to keep my girlish figure in tact. But its possible. Our apartment, which happens to the best on in Serbia, has a complete free weights set. Huh, and I thought we would of to rough it like pioneers :D
But it has been an amazing experience thus far. I still have no fricking clue what people are saying. I just nod my had and say "da". I can understand a lot at church though. Its apparent where the majority of my study went into: church and lesson words. Its kind of sad I can talk about the atonement and all that good jazz but not carry a basic, basic conversation. Its ironic, oh well, I am trying my hardest each day.
My last name does make a huge difference here though. Every time I bring up my ansestory, they freak out. They are like, your serbian!!!! They truly love their own kind here. They all seem to at least listen to you whenever you mention the fact your are Serbian. Pretty cool!
Well I hope everyone had a great holiday experience. I get to spend christmas all over again :) The orthodox church has Christmas on January 7th, so good news their.
With much love from Serbian soil!!!
Elder Novakovich
After 9 weeks in the MTC, I have broken free of the little bubble and now I am in Serbia!! What a culture shock. I have absolutely no idea of what people are saying. I feel like a two year old again: I have to rely 100% of my companion, Elder Porter, for everything. Its frustrating to not to be able to understand anything of what people are saying. But that's the way it goes. I learned Serbian is a four out of five on diffiuculty as a language. English is a 2. So that might explain why its so hard to understand anyone.
Its was awesome, for New Years Eve, my companion and I went over to another companionship in our city, Novisad, and stayed the night over at their place. We made all American foods: Steaks, rootbeer floats, ice cream, chocolate, etc. It was sooo good. We had special permission to stay up till midnight also. What a mission president, right? It was a real neat experience. All the missionaries in Serbia seem to be really cool. Especially my companion, he is a really nice guy. We have already shared deep conversations :) That's a good sign, I reckon.
The food here is legit! Everything is so tasty. They have this "hamburger" like creation over here. You have cabbage, potatoes, ketchup, mustard, spicy onions, and this spicy sauce and slop it on top of a patty/meat thingy. It's so good. Holy cow, I never imagined having potatoes on a hamburger would be good. The burek here is amazing. Basically its baklava with meats and cheese inside instead of the dessert. Yikes. I will have to work hard to keep my girlish figure in tact. But its possible. Our apartment, which happens to the best on in Serbia, has a complete free weights set. Huh, and I thought we would of to rough it like pioneers :D
But it has been an amazing experience thus far. I still have no fricking clue what people are saying. I just nod my had and say "da". I can understand a lot at church though. Its apparent where the majority of my study went into: church and lesson words. Its kind of sad I can talk about the atonement and all that good jazz but not carry a basic, basic conversation. Its ironic, oh well, I am trying my hardest each day.
My last name does make a huge difference here though. Every time I bring up my ansestory, they freak out. They are like, your serbian!!!! They truly love their own kind here. They all seem to at least listen to you whenever you mention the fact your are Serbian. Pretty cool!
Well I hope everyone had a great holiday experience. I get to spend christmas all over again :) The orthodox church has Christmas on January 7th, so good news their.
With much love from Serbian soil!!!
Elder Novakovich
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