Monday morning Dec. 10, 2012
Dear Kiddos,
We want to give you a report on the “Kingdom” here in
Slavonia—not to be confused with Slovenia. You may need to be reminded
that we are in the flat plains (between a few hills and mountains) of south
central Europe. I was surprised to find out that our elevation here in
Osijek is less than 300 feet and our river, the Drava, runs (down) into the
Danube about 10 miles from here. The Danube, the major river in
central Europe running about 1800 miles, starting in the Black Forest of
Germany runs and passes through the capital city of 4 countries, Vienna Austria,
Bratislava Slovakia, Budapest Hungary and Beograd Serbia. It also runs
through or touches Croatia, Bulgaria, Moldova, Ukraine, and Romania. The
two main rivers in Croatia end up in the Danube. Zagreb, which sits at
the foot of a ski mountain, is only about 500 feet over the sea (above sea
level) and its’ river, the Sava, runs into the Danube at Beograd, Serbia, about
200 miles further down the river. You get the idea that there isn’t a lot
of slope on the Danube, especially between here and the Black Sea (sea
level). Next time we’ll learn a little about population distribution if
anybody asks.
We prepared to teach a Sunday School lesson yesterday
about fasting and the blessings that come from it. We are grateful we
could talk with each of you (we couldn’t reach you, Jonny and Lindsay) and help
you recall times we fasted together and times you fasted on your own for a
specific purpose. We read together the 3rd paragraph of the
“Proclamation on the Family” that starts with “In the pre-mortal realm… “and
details why we are here and how we plan to remain as an Eternal Family.
We didn’t spend much time on talking about fasting yesterday, but we are
prepared to talk more about fasting in a later lesson. It was so nice to
hear your recollections that we want to share them with you. You might
recall more as you read the memories shared. We would encourage each of
you to fill in the details from you own memories and return them if you choose
to and we can create a “Small Plates of Ivins” of our most moving memories.
· Grandpa
and Grandma Babbel asked all of their children and grandchildren to fast and
pray for Mike Babbel to get a job. He got a really good job and is still
happy with it.
· Christian
remembers fasting for Robyn and Jason while we were living in our old house to
get pregnant. Following the fast, we knelt in prayer and went around the
circle, each of us asking a prayer.
· Grandpa
and Grandma Babbel asked all the family fast and pray for Lee Brundage to get a
job.
· Our
family had a fast with the Back family for the future of Meridian Title.
Allen started his own title co.
· Michael
remembered fasting on his mission to have a greater testimony of the
gospel. He said he remembered the card Richard Wilson carried in his
wallet that says: “Nothing is more important than my membership in the Church
of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day-Saints.” Michael said he felt that his testimony
helped support Betsy through her parent’s divorce.
· Betsy
said the prayer following Rosie’s baptismal interview with the Bishop.
Betsy said she felt a witness of the spirit that Rosie was doing the right
thing.
· Tasha
and Geremy asked us all to fast and pray for them to get pregnant. They
knew they would if they were patient and waited for the Lord’s timing.
· Peter
remembered that we asked all of our family to pray for Dad and me to be healthy
enough to serve a mission.
· Amy
said she and Christian fasted and then prayed about their decision to get
married. She felt peace and complete confidence to go ahead with their
decision.
· Just
this summer Bishop Mott asked the ward to fast and pray for Gabe Stout
following his serious motorcycle accident. Amy said still today people in
the ward talk about what a bonding opportunity it was for the ward. New
members to the ward felt a connection to all during the fast.
· Robyn
fasted and prayed for her friend that had quit coming to Church. Over the
next several weeks some of their common friends asked Robyn what they could do
to help their friend. Jason felt the friends wanting to help was an
answer to Robyn’s fast, a different answer than Robyn expected.
· Christian
remembered two elders fasting for a lady in the hospital. Following their
fast the elders went to visit the lady in the hospital. The elders both
fainted during their visit and replaced the lady in bed.
· While
Tasha was the Relief Society president in Africa one of the sisters lost her
place at the market where she sold her wares. She didn’t have much and
her livelihood came from what she could sell. A fellow Congolese had
taken over her place. She fasted for a couple of days and when Tasha
heard she was fasting she went to take her some food from the Church. The
sister told her she was fasting because she didn’t want to be angry at the
man. She went to the man and told him she forgave him. A few weeks
later she found another spot to sell her wares.
· Tiffany
went to Nauvoo for a semester with BYU. While there she began to
question if Joseph Smith was a prophet. She called Dad to talk to him and
he was in a meeting and couldn’t talk right then. She fasted to know if
Joseph really was a prophet. She said it was so good for her to find out
on her own that he was indeed a prophet.
· When
I was called to be the Stake Young Women president for the Bountiful Stake I
fasted and then went to the temple to know who I should serve with. I had
the impression that Carole Ann should be the secretary. I sat in the
Celestial room of the Bountiful Temple and after pondering and praying, I knew
who should be my counselors. It was an incredible experience. Dad
had driven me to the temple because I wanted to walk home after being
there. During my walk home it was confirmed to me over and over again
that these were the sisters who should serve with me.
· Tanya
emotionally recalled how all of our family (Babbels and Ivins), her entire
ward, friends and friends of friends had fasted and prayed for her when she had
her heart attack. She remembered one less-active man from her ward told
her that he had fasted and prayed for her. She was filled with gratitude
and love that so many cared about her.
· We
can’t write down even the thousandth part of what we have cumulatively fasted
and prayed for over the past 50 years. We could estimate that about 20 of
us have fasted 10 times a year for 25 years. That is a lot of
fasting.
It’s our “P” day and we’re going to go for a walk.
We love you. We fast and we pray for each of you. Thanks for your
faith and prayers for each other and also in our behalf. We feel them and
know that each of you feel a greater confidence in asking Heavenly Father for
the things you want and need knowing that there is great power in joining
together in doing this. We are praying right now for Tanya and her Doctor
as she has her wrist operated on. We love you.
Bok. We love you! Mom and Dad/Mutti and Bumpa
xoxo
--
Elder and Sister Ivins
Matije Gupca 7a
31000 Osijek, Croatia
385 (0) 91 444-8114 (Elder
Ivins)
385 (0) 91 444-8115 (Sister
Ivins)
