Adriatic South Mission : 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