My 1st Baptism!!!

What a splendid week we had here in Kosovo. Teuta (Teyoota) got baptized this week and it was absolutely beautiful. President and Sister Anderson attended the baptism and she gave the most rock solid testimony ever. She was so ready!! We also had a branch activity at a members house like 30 minutes away and we had a huge bbq! We learned how to make traditional food called fli that takes about 3 hours to cook outside. It was awesome. I think this might was my favorite weekend on my mission so far. We were out in a fshat (a tiny village in the country) and we played soccer and games, listened to music and danced, learned how to make traditional foods, and everyone was so extremely happy. What a fun time!! I love this place SOOO MUCH.

Culture SHOCKS:

1. Everyone here is VERY VERY TOUCHY. For example, when someone arrives to some kind of gathering they go through to every single person and kiss them on both cheeks and hug them lots. The are always grabbing our faces and kissing them and holding our hands it is so cute :')

2. Things are veryyy cheap here. A $4 meal is considered EXTREMELY expensive here and those restaurants are for like the "high class" people. A $1 meal could feed me for the entire day. 

3. All day everyday we see people walking back and forth at the boulevard. This is what people do for fun. They just walk back and forth back and forth all day with their friends and family. It's called a gjiro (geerow).

Funnies:

1. This week we had a lesson with this adorable woman named Mire. After teaching her she was so thankful and started giving us gifts like earrings that she had made and a bunch of stuff like that. We didn't want to take those from her but she insisted! So we told her we would at least give her a Book of Mormon to say thank you but she wouldn't take it!! She thought we were being way to nice and just really didn't want to put us out. So as I was hugging her goodbye I set my book on the table behind her and then we got out of there as fast as possible so that she couldn't give us the book back! We started fast walking and then about 2 minutes later we just here Mire yelling down the street SPRINTING saying, "HEY HEY HEY HEY STOP HEY YOU FORGOT YOUR BOOK!!" So what do you do when a woman tries to give back her eternal salvation? You run like the wind. 

2. This next story isn't funny, but it was also hilarious. We had the cool branch activity this week like I mentioned earlier and it was the funnest thing ever. We had taken a personal bus to get there and on our way back we had a very interesting experience. Let me just set the scene first... We are in a 20 people bus with muppet seats, every seat is full, it's 1000 degrees, air conditioning doesn't exist, it smells like BO because deodorant isn't really a thing here, and we are enjoying our time wanting to die together. Then, a member starts THROWING UP HER FREAKING GOAT YOGURT SHE ATE IN THE BUS OH MY GOSH. HAHAA. It was not pleasant. So the bus driver stops the bus so she can get out and throw up whatever she had left, but no one would let us get out of the bus so we are just basking in the smell of throw up. HOT, HUMID, THROWUP. I start gagging because of the smell about to lose my lunch and everyone else starts getting sick. Oh my. What an adventure. 

3. This last funny story is about the games that Albanian's like to play here in Kosovo. All the games that they like usually involve slapping people or inflicting pain in some shape or form HHAHA. We play this game we nicknamed called "Olti Culti". It is because we look like a weird cult like group when we play it is such a weird game. So everyone stands in a circle and puts their hands back behind their heads. They aren't allowed to smile or show their teeth. One person goes inside of the circle with their hands behind their head and they crouch down and spin around and the people on the outside of the circle take turns slapping the hands of the person inside the circle. If the person inside the circle sees their hands move or sees them smile then they switch places. It is so weird. 

SPIRITUALNESS:

Here is the story of our lovely Teuta. She is a rock star. When we first met her she was about to give up on the church. She had lots of questions and didn't think she was finding answers to her prayers. We decided to meet with her (and she came reluctantly) and we felt inspired to share a scripture with her. She fell in love with the scripture which was Alma 32:21 and she decided to meet with us again (even though she didn't know why). She was listening to the spirit!!! She developed a desire to learn more and she decided to put in the work on her end. She kept commitments, researched, and asked as many questions as possible. The spirit was able to testify to her because of her efforts and willingness to listen. The best part is that her conversion was developed through a team of missionaries and members. EVERY SINGLE MISSIONARY in Kosovo (including the senior couple) had a chance to teach Teuta and add to her conversion story. She decided to be baptized on her birthday so that she could have a literal "rebirth" and enter into a new commitment with God!!! She is already a missionary and brings new friends to every activity!! Her conversion is graven in her heart. She knows it, lives it, and loves it. She is the perfect example of someone who trusts God and his answers. We can all be a little more like Teuta! 

I apologize for the novel email today but I LOVE YOU FOREVER!!!!

Love, Motra Sëtën

Adriatic South Mission

P.O. Box 2984

Bulevardi Gjergj Fishta 

Qendra ALPAS

Shkalla NR. 5 Apartamenti NR.14

Tirana, Albania

BILL CLINTON IN KOSOVO!!

HEY EVERYBODY!!!! We have had such a great week here!! We were able to see Bill Clinton, go to a graduation, had a party with some UVU students, and had the first branch conference ever here in Prishtina!! President and Sister Anderson came and I got to have a rockin interview and learn sooo much from them. Also, this week warmed up SOO much. To put it simply, I am sweatin my buns off. 

Culture shocks: 

1. Okay so a funny culture thing is that everyone is VERY blunt here. If you lost weight they'll tell you. If you ate too much they will till you. If they hate you they tell you HAHAH. It is a good thing and a bad thing HAHA.

2. They wear traditional clothes (like robes and cool hats) when there is a holiday or big event! 

3. The Albanian lunch time is between 2-3 and then they take a nap! 

Funny stuff: 

1. Bill Clinton came this week and we got to hear him speak at the boulevard! Hahaha the people here almost worship him. They love him more here than they do in America that is for sure.  Everyone was going through the streets wearing American shirts and chanting USA USA USA or CLINTIONI CLINTIONI. It was pretty wild. In fact, they have a bunch of billboard things with his picture and 2 statues of him. Everyone went wild this week and was so excited to see him.

2. Okay so we went to dinner at a members house this week and their daughter threw this plastic bug toy thing at their dog and the dog totally swallowed it. Everyone in their family started freaking out because they knew that the bug would not be able to digest in the dog's stomach and would just kill her intestines. So after 15 minutes of research they decided that feeding the dog hydrogen peroxide and making her throw up the bug would be the best option. Their poor dog!!! She was outside just throwing up and we were all grossed out and it was horrible. The worst part was that after she started throwing up MOTRA ADAMS FOUND THE BUG ON THE CARPET. NOOOO.

3. We went to a graduation for a member this week because he is the only graduate from his school hahaha. He is also the valedictorian and so he won a bunch of awards hahha it was kinda funny showing up to a graduation for 1 student compared to my graduating class of over 700. 

Spiritual goodies:

This week we were able to see some amazing miracles. Every night we pray specifically for people we love and care about. This week however, we decided to pray even MORE specifically for those people and even write down the names of those people. We would think about them through out the day and then pray about them at night and in the morning. Boy did we receive some answers to prayers. On multiple cases we were able to see the Lord's hand in our work. We were guided to know how to help people and guided to know which opportunities we had to take to help them. I encourage you all pray specifically, by name, for the people you love. I know that as you create that relationship with your Father in Heaven that you will see those miracles in your life as well. 

Last week we were on a bus and I didn't have anything to hold onto so I was just flying all around everywhere (I guess my balance isn't that great). Anyways, I ran into this woman and apologized but didn't keep the conversation going. Then the bus started swerving all over the road so I hit the woman like 5 more times on accident hahah and I suddenly had the impression that Heavenly Father really wanted me to talk to this woman. I mean heck, he was literally throwing me into her arms. So we struck up a conversation and were able to finally meet this week and she is a miracle. We gave her a Book of Mormon and she is so excited to read the whole thing and learn more. Sometimes we pray to have opportunities to serve and help other people however, I encourage you to also pray for the ability to recognize those opportunities. 

LOVE YOU FOREVER!!!!

Love, Motra Sëtën

Adriatic South Mission

P.O. Box 2984

Bulevardi Gjergj Fishta 

Qendra ALPAS

Shkalla NR. 5 Apartamenti NR.14

Tirana, Albania

MUSLIM FESTIVITIES!!!!!!!

HELLO ALL!! I hope everyone is having a rockin week because our week here has been so fantastic. We got tons of rain at the beginning of the week and towards the end we were sweatin our buns off!! Summer is coming and it is coming fast!!!! We celebrated Bajram this week too which was also a blast. Bajram is the celebration that everyone has to end Ramadan. It was quite a blast to say the least! Often times the people here take naps in the middle of the day so we now have entered into summer schedule where we can take a nap in the middle of the day and go home an hour later! Crazy! 

The weird culture shocks:

1. Alrighty so I have already mentioned before how awful the traffic and everything is here but there is something really funny that I forgot to mention. Not a ton of people actually have cars so when someone actually has a car it is full of like 20 Albanian's all just mushed in there. 

2. The word for June in Albanian is Qeshor which is also cherry. IT IS OFFICIALLY CHERRY SEASON. That means cherry trees EVERYWHERE. We just pick them and eat them hehe. I don't even love cherries but man the cherries here are so dang scrumptious. 

3. Bajram is the celebration of the end of Ramadan which lasts 3 days. The first day is set aside for family, the second day is for friends, and the third day is for everyone to party. Some fun facts are that you cannot leave the table until you are full, you have to try every single thing, and everyone digs into the same pots of food with their hands. Very sanitary. 

Good laughs:

1. There is this huge statue and billboard thing of Bill Clinton here and apparently he is coming to Kosovo this month so everyone is freaking out they are so excited. 

Albanian moj: Hey you girls look American

Us: We are American

Albanian moj: THAT IS SO COOL. Why are you here?

Us: We are missionaries!!

Albanian moj: *disinterested look* Do you know Bill Clinton?

Me: Yes, actually we are neighbors!

Albanian moj: *suddenly interested* What church are you from again? #goodcontacting 

2. If you know me, you know that I am not like a SUPER touchy person. HAHHA well that is exactly opposite of Albanian's. All they do is hold you arm, hold hands, hug you, touch you, kiss you, and rub your arms and back. So awhile ago I met this lady who was so happy that I said hi to her that she just started hugging me and kissing my head all over hahaha. We finally were able to meet up with her this week and she was so excited to see us!!! She ran in and then proceeded to kiss every inch of my face with her big red lipstick. That was very exciting. Thank you Fatmire. 

3. This society here is EXTREMELY patriarchal. The women are to do the cooking and that is that so they are always VERY surprised when I tell them that I played soccer! Well this week we played soccer as a branch and we have this investigator, Olti, who is like 14 years old and he is veryyyyy competitive. We get along very well. Usually he gets really frustrated because none of the girls really play soccer but when he found out I played he begged me to be on his team and we definitely dominated. I have never seen him so happy. The twins' mom played with us too and she was the goalie for the other team and SHE WAS SO FUNNY.  The entire time she was yelling at Motra Adams to not be lazy and yelling at her team to step it up HAHAH. She also told me that she was recruited for Barcelona but she turned them down. She was a baller out there not gonna lie. #impressed 

Spiritual goodness:

1. Okay I just have one simple thought for today. It is about listening to the spirit. I learned this week that listening to the spirit is kind of like a cellphone. Cellphones are super awesome and we need them to be able to communicate right? However, sometimes we lose reception when we drive in a tunnel or a canyon or we enter into a "dead spot" with bad reception. This is kind of like us and the spirit. The spirit always wants to talk to us and guide us on our way and we need that guidance in our lives! Sometimes, however, we don't listen to that spiritual "ring" or we enter into a zone of bad reception or a "dead spot". Some of those dead spots can include anger, frustration, sadness, rejection, gossip, selfishness, sin, etc,. We can choose to put ourselves in situations where we can always have reception from the spirit. We can put outselves in places where we can always hear "the ring". Although the voice of the spirit may be small and quiet it is also powerful and be able to guide us in all of our endeavors. 

LOVE YOU FOREVER!!!!

Love, Motra Sëtën

Adriatic South Mission

P.O. Box 2984

Bulevardi Gjergj Fishta 

Qendra ALPAS

Shkalla NR. 5 Apartamenti NR.14

Tirana, Albania

Pics: our view, cherry season, yummy deserts (courtesy of my second family), bajram meal, a picture for your delight 

LAST WEEK OF RAMADAN YEET!!

Hello hello friends and family!!!! What is poppin? We had a fantastic week here in Prishtina, Kosovo. Besides the air raid alarms going off, everything was pretty rockin. Elder Cook from the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles came and talked to our mission so that was pretty rad.  We were able to do some pretty cool things this week. I got to tour one of the most popular news stations and watch Kosovo news live!!! If you know me, you know I was just having a blast. Besides that, we have met some amazing friends and are having so much success! This week will be sooo good because Ramadan finally ends. NO MORE FASTING. 

Your favorite part  (CULTURE SHOCKS):

1. Nobody smiles here in pictures. Everyone just naturally throws a straight face when taking pictures. They are so awkward it is adorable. 

2. Typically, decorating includes a large wall with one tiny picture in the most unaesthetic place. They also decorate with stuffed animals. It is so awesome. 

3. THEY CANNOT HANDLE SPICY FOODS. Spicy food literally doesn't exist in Kosovo and Albania. Neither does Mexican food... 

For the laughs:

1. So this week we met this girl named Yllka but we couldn't find her information anywhere. So creepy Sister Adams started following a bunch of people on Facebook named Yllka. She messaged a bunch of them and this one girl was soooo creeped out that Sister Adams had messaged her and had wanted to meet. So later we got invited to attend our investigators flute concert so that we could meet a bunch of people. There were only 6 girls in the concert and Yllka (the one who was really creeped out at us) happened to be there. She thought we were stalking her and wouldn't leave her alone lol. This story might be one of those "you had to be there" stories but let me tell ya, it was freakin hilarious. 

2. We taught English course this week and I really wanted to play a game and mix up our typical class. So we decided to make an obstacle course in the classroom. We took turns blind folding ourselves (including the students) and then the students had to direct us from one side of the room to the other in English. Oh man. It was so stinking funny. I can't even explain how funny it was to watch everyone running into chairs and hitting the walls. We taught them the word "careful" and by the end of the activity everyone was so frustrated that they were just yelling CAREFUL CAREFUL CAREFUL. HAHAHAA good news though, they was definitely their favorite class and I'm not kidding when I say their directions in English are SPOT ON now. 

3. We met up with an investigator and his dog (the most adorable huskey) and it was so much fun!! However, there are stray dogs ALL OVER KOSOVO AND ALBANIA. They are seriously EVERYWHERE. So as we were leaving the park, suddenly 12 dogs started following us and then they started attacking our friend's dog and it was the scariest thing. I don't think I have ever ran that fast before. 

For the spirit:

1. The coolest thing happened this week. We got pulled over this week (again) and it is always kind of scary because 1) they attempt to steal your license 2) They are Muslim so they do not care at all if we are there representing Christ. Usually we can just say we are American and they will let us go, but if that doesn't work we are screwed. So anyways, the cop asked us why we were in Kosovo. We looked hesitantly at each other deciding whether or not to say anything about the fact that we were missionaries. Suddenly, at the same time, we both just got the impression to testify boldly of our Savior, Jesus Christ. The cop looked at our tags and said, "You are here for Jesus. You are free to go." What a miracle. We realized a big thing this week. We are NOT ashamed of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, for it is the power of God unto Salvation to everyone that believeth. It doesn't matter that we are in one of the most Muslim countries, because the Lord is with us in all that we do. And He is with you!! Be brave, be bold, be courageous, and be proud to share your beliefs. I promise that when you are not ashamed of Christ you will see incredible miracles in your life. 

2. Teuta did some rockin missionary this week. She brought a friend, Jehona, to our activities this week and she is so prepared to hear the sweet message of the gospel. Teuta listened to the spirit and brought this friend with her!! We are now teaching Jehona and she is SO AWESOME. Not only do we have another investigator who is ACTUALLY interested, but Teuta is practicing for her mission!!! She wants to be a missionary how cool!!!!! We cannot wait for her baptism this month. 

3. We had fast and testimony meeting in church yesterday and the spirit was so undeniably strong. Our cute Elsa got up and gave the most beautiful testimony. She testified of the realness of the spirit and her desire to be baptized. She testified of missionary work and her desire to serve a mission. She testified of Christ and God's plan for her even though she is unable to be baptized right now. By the end of her testimony she had everyone in tears, including me. Man that girl has a testimony and she was willing to share it. I WANT TO BE MORE LIKE ELSA. If we could all brighten up the world with our testimonies we would live in a much better place. 

LOVE YOU FOREVER!!!!

Love, Motra Sëtën

Adriatic South Mission

P.O. Box 2984

Bulevardi Gjergj Fishta 

Qendra ALPAS

Shkalla NR. 5 Apartamenti NR.14

Tirana, Albania