Week 8: Perëndia ka një plan

C'kemi everyone!!!

MTC Culture Shocks:

1. We've got a cat here that keeps coming back. They've tried to remove the cat several times but it ALWAYS comes back. HAHA. They have actually told all the teachers that if they see the cat they need to move it. HAHAH dumb cat. 

2. We are getting a new MTC president this week! We're super sad because we love President and Sister Martino but it'll be fun for a change!

3. As it is our last week in the MTC, we get to experience a lot of fun "going away" devotionals and our district will be singing in Albanian in sacrament on Sunday!! How fun!

4. One thing I have to add on here is that MTC choir is the best. I'm not talking about the actual choir directed by Brother Eggett, but MTC SHOWER CHOIR. Almost every night, when all the showers are filled, we burst into song and it honestly sounds so good. That is a highlight of the week for sure. 

Details: I love our skyping TRCs!!! They are so fun! This week we talked to an 18 year old girl named Jona who lives in Albania! She is so beautiful. She is also preparing to serve a mission and we're so excited for her! It was super intimidating at first to talk to her because we don't know very much... however, we immediately started loving her which made communicating with her so much easier. The Lord helped us so much! 

Good goofy giggles:

1. Motra Webster's mom sent us walkie talkies this week! It has been so fun using them whenever we've had to go on splits or talking to others outside our companionship! Hahah we are just spicing up the MTC ;) 

2. I had to go to Orem (the real world) to get an MRI this week and on our way there we passed a lot of places that we're used to seeing! Who knew that seeing cars and babies and sheep could be so exciting!!!

3. There are these new Italian elders whose classroom is down the hall from us! Somehow (I'm not entirely sure how), but Motra Webster and I convinced them that we're from England because the first time we ever talked to them we talked in english accents. It's so funny because imagine Motra Webster and I talking normally and then bursting into full blown english accents once the Italians walk by HAHAA. We must have really good accents for them to believe us haha. 

Spiritual thoughts:

1. We had fast Sunday this week and the sacrament prayers were done in Albanian and it sounded so amazing. We also had fast and testimony meeting and many of us were able to share our testimonies in Albanian. Never in a million years did I think that I would know so much Albanian in such a short amount of time. THE LORD ALWAYS PROVIDES. 

2. This week our teacher surprised us with a lesson that we didn't prepare for. Her goal was for us to all teach without any lesson plan and try to speak from our hearts. We ended up teaching Frida about developing a changed heart and we also invited her to be baptized. As we spoke, the spirit testified to me how much God loves us. That lesson was so incredibly powerful. When we invited her to be baptized, she started crying and said, " Yes. I'm not quite sure why, but yes. I love this feeling. " Somehow, we were able to touch her heart and ALL of us were able to feel the quiet whisperings of the spirit. How wonderful. 

3. We had a devotional yesterday with Jean B. Bingham from the general relief society presidency. She talked a lot about how agency is one of the greatest gifts we've been given. We need to use our agency to use the talents and gifts that God has given us to help other become the best they can be. As we choose to look for the good in life we can decide how to become our better and best selves. 

 

This week has been absolutely full of blessings and spiritual experiences. I just want to leave you all with my testimony of the gospel of Jesus Christ. I love my Savior. He performed the miracle of feeding over 5000 people with 5 loaves of bread and 2 fishes. He performs miracles in our lives everyday. I promise as you look for those things and look to Christ in all things you'll see miracles more often. I love you all!!

Hurrah for Israel!!!!!

Love, Motra Sëtën

Pics: It's the small things in life that make me the happiest :), the real world, my fun district!, and me and the BEST BRANCH PRESIDENT AND HIS WIFE. 

Week 7: Gëzuar vitin i ri !!!!!!!

Motra Beals, Motra Sëtën, Motra Webster and our MTC President! 

 HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!

MTC Culture Shocks:

1. New Years is not celebrated in the MTC. I'm not going to lie, if it weren't for the few decorations and the sparkling cider here New Years would have been any old day. We stayed up until 10:30 (WOW) before tuning in for bed. We even forgot it was New Year's Day because it was just a normal day here! 

2. The MTC is EMPTY in January. So many people left the MTC this week. In fact there is only 13 people in my entire zone now. 

3. Our MTC president is SOOO AWESOME and has the best accent. We got a picture with him this week so we're basically like famous. 

Alrighty folks so here is this weeks details. First things first, we had our first skyping TRC this week!! We skyped a beautiful woman from Albania named Stela. She spoke so quickly but we actually almost understood everything she said it was amazing. Afterwards she told our companionship that she understood everything we said and loved our message. She was so impressed!! Ahh it was so awesome. We couldn't have done it without the spirit that's for dang sure. Also this week we said goodbye to our German friends which was sad. It's hard seeing so many of our friends leave! New people come into our zone today though so we're excited!! Besides all the awesome things that happened this week I did have a minor setback. I was playing volleyball this week and an Elder accidentally jumped to hit the ball and landed on me. My knee was in soo much pain. I got a priesthood blessing and I've been doing better. I am able to walk it's just painful. After some xrays the doctors think that I might have pulled a ligament of some sorts but they don't know for sure. Since I tore my acl in 2016 they want me to go see the orthopedic doctor on Friday to make sure it's not any part of my acl again. I'm gonna be fine though. Albania here I come!!! (13 days woot woot )

Good chuckles: 

1. I woke up at 3 AM the other night to myself yelling in Albanian. HAHA after I woke up I heard both Motra Beals and Motra Webster respond to me in Albanian. It cracked me up. I thought I might have imagined the situation but in the morning Motra Beals confirmed the story from her point of view. HAHA that was super funny. 

2. We had our own New Year's Eve party in our residence!! We had fun hats, poppers, whistles, and all the fun stuff. We have SOOO MUCH food here so we invited some of our friends going to Cambodia, Vietnam, and Thailand to come party with us! After spending about half an hour to open a bottle of sparkling cider on every door handle, bunkbed, and wall we finally we able to "cheers" to the New Year (at 10:30 lol) :)

3. My knee hurt SOOO BAD the first day that I hurt it! I couldn't flex my thigh muscle at all but then Motra Webster gave me this weird cream stuff made in a monastery blessed by the fine eagle medicine women and suddenly I could flex and move my leg. It was so freaking weird. Between that and the priesthood I think I'm gonna be fine. 

Spiritual thoughts:

1. When I first got hurt this week I was able to receive a blessing from Elder Dixon (my 5th cousin) and Elder Stephan. That was the coolest experience. The spirit was SO INCREDIBLY STRONG. THERE IS SO MUCH POWER IN THE PRIESTHOOD. Seriously, pretty much every one in the room was in tears. He said the EXACT words I needed to hear and I know they came directly from Heavenly Father. I love this gospel. 

2. I finished The Book of Mormon this week and it was so wonderful. I love that book so much. It is able to answer any question if you take the time to look for the answer and pray sincerely for guidance. It has changed my life. I encourage you to read it, cover to cover, and then write down your feelings/ testimony to look back at another time. I promise you'll be able to see God's hand in your life if you do so. 

3. Last night we heard from Tad R. Callister, the Sunday School General President. He spoke about revelation and the importance of learning how to receive personal revelation. Almost every devotional we've had here has touched on the importance of learning how to receive personal revelation. Miracles happen when we listen to the spirit. 

Life really knocks you down sometimes. Keep praying, keep smiling, and keep on going. Make this the best year ever!!!! I love you and miss you all so much have the best week!!

Hurrah for Israel!!!!!!

Love, Motra Sëtën

New Year Celebration!!  

Pic:COUSIN PIC (Left: My two cousins who are twins, me, Motra Webster, Elder Teems who is Motra Webster's cousin)