Off-court story: The life of Kresimir Cosic - trailer

Safely in Zagreb: Met President & Sister Rowe

Dear Family,

We arrived safely and happily this afternoon in Zagreb, Croatia.  All is well.  We already love our mission president and his wife.  We have been meeting the senior missionaries and some of the younger ones in the office and love them too.  

They have been making plans for the last four months for the upcoming celebration this weekend. It sounds like it will be really great and we are excited we got to come here first.  We will go to our apartment tomorrow morning if the arrangements are finished.  Dad said maybe we will go regardless and sleep in the car.  

Thanks all of you for getting us ready to come.  The reality of being here and getting to work is setting in.  We are excited to be here and learn what we need to do.  We love you all.  Take care of each other.  We will write again as soon as we get our computer hooked up.  We love you.  

Mom and Dad/ Mutti and Bumpa

They're off...on their way to Zagreb!

Elder & Sister Ivins embark in a few hours

Above: Jim & Kay Ivins Family (8 kids, spouses & 20 grandchildren) at home for Christmas 2011.

Their bags are packed; they're ready to go. We're not sure we're ready to say goodbye. But, we are so excited for all that lies in store for Mom and Dad  in the Adriatic North Mission in a couple more hours.

We found out today that Mom and Dad just got a change in their travel plans.  Now they are headed directly to Zagreb tomorrow morning, instead of to Frankfurt.  Pres. Rowe called early this morning and said he really wanted them to be at the 40 year Celebration of the Church in Croatia!  So exciting.

Above: Sister & Elder Ivins at the MTC in Provo, UT (May 22, 2012)

Today, Mom and Dad also found out where their first assignment will be:  Ozijek, Croatia!

Ozijek is on the border with Serbia, Hungary and is in Croatia.  It will be very central to the entire mission and there are 3 people from Ozijek scheduled to be baptized at the Kresimir Cosik Estate during the celebration this next Fri. Sat and Sun.  One of those getting baptized is a 17 year old girl with bone cancer.

Pres. Rowe asked Mom and Dad to drive her down from Ozijek to the Celebration.  (Other members will be going on a bus--but, due to her cancer, he wants Mom and Dad to drive her down.) So, Pres. Rowe called and had the church change their itinerary.  It was done in an hour or so.

They will still do the Frankfurt training, but aren't sure yet when that will be. We're so excited that they are off and running! Thanks so much to everyone for coming yesterday to their mission farewell and for all of the love and support.

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UNITED AIRLINES       29MAY SALT LAKE C UT DULLES/WASH DC 930A    337P

UA 1595             TUESDAY SALT LAKE CITY DULLES INTL

Q ECONOMY                   TERMINAL 1

                            FOOD FOR PURCHASE             NON STOP

                            RESERVATION CONFIRMED         4:07 DURATION

                  AIRCRAFT: BOEING 737-700

AUSTRIAN AIRLINES     29MAY DULLES/WASH DC VIENNA         530P    835A

OS 94               TUESDAY DULLES INTL    VIENNA INTL            30MAY

Q ECONOMY    

           NON SMOKING      MEAL/BREAKFAST                NON STOP

                            RESERVATION CONFIRMED         9:05 DURATION

                  AIRCRAFT: BOEING 767-300/300ER

AUSTRIAN AIRLINES     30MAY VIENNA         ZAGREB         1250P   140P

OS 683            WEDNESDAY VIENNA INTL    PLESO

Q ECONOMY

           NON SMOKING      REFRESHMENTS                  NON STOP

                            RESERVATION CONFIRMED         0:50 DURATION

                            FLIGHT OPERATED BY VO TYROLEAN AIRWAYS

            AIRCRAFT OWNER: VO  TYROLEAN AIRWAYS

                  AIRCRAFT: FOKKER 100

RESERVATION NUMBER(S)  UA/AEML96

IVINS/JAMES R  287795-I

     ETKT:OS/257 7100829204

IVINS/KAY BABBEL  287796-I

     ETKT:OS/257 7100829205

**IN CASE OF EMERGENCY, FLIGHT CHANGES ENROUTE

OR SIGNIFICANT DELAYS, IMMEDIATELY TELEPHONE    

CHURCH TRAVEL (801-240-5111 OR 1-800-537-3537)

CHURCH TRAVEL IS AVAILABLE 24/7

JAIME STEELE - EXT 25703

MISSION PRESIDENT EDWARD B ROWE

PH011 385-14-577-783 OFFICE/ 011 385-91-444-8101 MP CELL

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Mom and Dad's setting apart

Excerpt from Michael Babbel Ivins' Journal

May 20, 2012

At their home in Bountiful, UT (with all family members except Peter, Tash, Ger,& Grey)

Dad began by introducing everyone. Tanya offered a Lengthy and very nice prayer after which Pres. Taylor their stake president commented that the older you get the longer you pray. He commented that in his home the kids have learned to volunteer to pray in order to have short prayers. He then gave each of mom and dad's kids 30 seconds to share some thoughts. It was very nice and touching. Jason shared a part of his patriarchal blessing that praises mom and dad has royal persons and mentioned mom's great faith.

Bishop Mott then shared some thoughts, followed by Pres. Taylor. He said that he had just come from a patriarchal blessing for his 16 year old daughter, and was in the spirit if fasting and prayer and feeling very humble. He wanted us to recognize that he was acting under the direction of Pres. Thomas S Monson who had personally signed their mission call. He was not acting in the authority of the stake president but rather under the authority and direction of the prophet who had called them.

He mentioned a recent experience of setting apart a granddaughter of Pres. Eyring, who pointed out that the signature of the prophet on the mission call is the same as if the Savior himself had signed it.


He mentioned Jason's remarks and said how have they were for mom and dad. He also talked about how people suggest the book of Mormon is the greatest witness for the truthfulness of the Gospel. But in reality it is families who live by the precepts of the book of Mormon who are the greatest witness have the Gospel. He mentioned Pres. Uchtdorf's talk about preaching the Gospel always, and when necessary use words. He said that mom and dad do not need to use any words - they are great witnesses of the Gospel. When Pres. Taylor asked dad what specific requests he might have for his blessing, dad responded "I have full faith in the Lord and will receive whatever you give me."

It was an awesome and powerful blessing, and I could not help but reflect on dad's initial service as a missionary and felt transported back in time to the occasion when he was set apart the first time. One specific blessing he gave that I remember now was that he would have a long view (a vision, mbi) of what processes and other things could be implemented now to bless the development and establishment of the church in the countries he serves in. It was really neat.

Next was mom's turn to be apart. ( He had earlier said that this is a rare case where the women doesn't come first,  for the sake of allowing the set apart missionary husband to participate in the setting apart of his wife. Maybe I didn't notice, but I don't think mom even waited for him to ask if she had any specific requests for her blessing.


She held his hand and with a face full of faith said she was excited to serve, but very anxious for the welfare of her family, tearfully pleaded for the Lord bless and watch over and keep them, all her children and all her grandchildren. It was a tender and moving sight to see her pleading to the stake president who I felt stood in the Savior's place. Mom's blessing was as beautiful as Dad's and fitting her elect spirit and nature. I don't recall exactly, but I believe I heard him mention those on the other side of the veil who would be involved in her service.

It was a beautiful occasion... somewhat sad, as the reality set in of their departure. The tributes and experience was a little reminiscent of a funeral. Maybe that makes the next 18 months easier to bear, knowing they will be returning to us soon enough.