James Rollins, The Last Oracle

Re-read this a few weeks ago. Was worth one read, probably not two.

Charles Dickens, Hard Times

It was one of my 50-cent library discard airplane reading books. Picked it up mostly because a smart friend with good taste loves Dickens. I still avoided it for a long time. Finally took it on the plane and finished it a day or two later. I can't believe the dude's skill. He wrote this for serial publication, i.e. keeping to a strict deadline for each chapter. Good characterization, plausible motives, a morsel of mystery, and of course lots of plot. A somewhat too-obvious theme (though the introductory essay by Robert Donald Spector argues for a more nuanced message). I can't believe Dickens published this book that is so down on monogamy with a poorly suited partner, knowing his wife would read it ... but then again, he reportedly took no pains to hide his mistress either.

It was fascinating that the day after I finished the most persuasive pro-divorce chapter of this book, I had a most inspiring conversation with a faithful Protestant colleague who was remaining faithful to (as he phrased it) "the woman I covenanted with before God," even though she had recently divorced him. He was living the advice of Ephesians 5:25.

Otto Reimherr, ed., Quest for Faith, Quest for Freedom: Aspects of Pennsylvania's Religious Experience

Includes an essay by Reimherr, "The Susquehanna: Mormonism's Jordan," but I also read essays on two early African-American clerics, Isaac Leeser and his remarkable contributions to American Jewish culture, a comparison of 3 early Roman Catholic intellectuals in Philadelphia, and a history of Katherine Mary Drexel.

Rick Riordan, The Son of Neptune

So despite not thinking much of the first one, I like reading these books. The quality is improving.

Samuel Beckett, Waiting for Godot

The book was on my dresser for a year or so after I started it, waiting to be finished. I finally did.

I'm sure it's been said before, but . . .

Still waiting for a plot, waiting for interest, waiting for relevance, waiting for enlightenment. . . .

Hey everyone!

I hope you're having a wonderful week. Things are pretty good in Osijek. This week has had some miracles and some big disappointments. Dužanka, who I thought was about to get a baptismal date, gave up. She was beginning to get answers, but it was too much work, and things didn't happen as fast as she wanted, and she's overwhelmed with life, and she says she can't do it anymore. We haven't given up on her yet, but if she's given up believing she'll get an answer, she won't get one. The highlight of the week was friday. We had a lesson with Kristina where we watched the restoration movie, and we finally got her and Marijana together. It was awesome for Kristina to have someone who's going through what she is. My testimony of member-present lessons was strengthened. At aktivnost, Matea, an investigator who is going to school in Zagreb, but is from here, came, and she brought 2 friends.

Marijana's grandma came to church this week, and we asked her if we could meet with her, and she agreed. Marijana asked her if she'd get baptized, and she said maybe. I knew she was ready. she's seen how much the book of mormon and this church has blessed Marijana's life, and she wants to learn about that. Marijana has been sharing scriptures that she's found through her scripture study with her grandma, and it's been softening her heart to the book of mormon. I'm so excited about that. and seeing how excited Marijana is about it makes it so much more exciting. For english spiritual thought, we made a chart for questions of the soul, and invited people to find answers from the book of mormon, and it got a few people more excited about the book of mormon. that was cool. We also had a very good lesson with Žužika, a woman who has a really cute family who we met with once, but haven't seen in a couple months. She really got a good understanding of our purpose, and I feel like we were bold and loving in our invitations. She didn't accept everything, but I feel like I did everything I could to help her understand our message.

Elder Wade and Mulder were here for some visa stuff for a couple days from Varaždin, so we sent them on some goose hunts for us to find people. It was fun to have some servants for a couple days.

Seminary was awesome, like every week. Elder and Sister Taylor, who are leaving in a couple days, came to visit for the last time. I love having lessons with her. We'll be talking about something in the old testament, and she'll bring up a scripture in the Book of mormon that goes along perfectly with it that she found in her scripture study that week. She knows much more about the book of mormon than most kids her age, especially ones that have been members for less than a year. She really understands the principle of finding answers and revelation through scripture study.

On sunday, President Babić, the district president, came to Osijek with the district Relief Society president and her councilor. That was cool. They've never come before. I was disappointed Kristina didn't come. She needs to come to church, or she can't get baptized. I would've loved for her to hear President Babić's talk too. it was really good. I gave a talk about charity too. It's sort of annoying. there isn't really a good translation for the word charity. in the bible it usually just uses ljubav, but that's love, and most of the official church stuff uses dobrohotnost, but most people I've talked to say that's a horrible translation, and I'm not sure what connotations it has. I think the new Book of Mormon they're translating uses the word dobrotvornost... i don't know. I can't wait until the new Book of Mormon comes out. That'll be exciting. They're pretty much done, they're just working on finishing the guide to the scriptures that's in the back.

have an awesome week!
love you guys!
Sestra Ariana Black