WHAT IS UP MY PEOPLE. I miss you all so much!!! Albania is
doing better than ever. We are working hard and working miracles out here in
the great Adriatic South. This week was FULL of adventures (as is everyday in
the GREAT COUNTRY OF ALBANIA!!!!). Count your many blessings because we are so
lucky to be alive!
CULTURE SHOCKS:
1. You cannot compliment Albanians on anything because they
will give it to you!!!! And they will insist that you take it too hahaha.
2. There are ALWAYS people willing to drive you on a bus no
matter where you are. They are so kind and can whip out transportation for ya
out of nothing
3. Older Albanians always have candies on them to give to
you:) especially to give to girls!!!
FUNNIES:
1. I HAD THE FUNNIEST CONVERSATION THIS WEEK
HAHAHAHAHA. We have this cute friend who sells us all of our fruit and we love
talking with her! Well we were buying some fruit when she looked at my
companion, Sister Long, and then asked if she was Chinese (the word is
"kineze" in Albanian and also my companion is not even remotely close
to looking Chinese). However, I was terribly mistaken and I could have sworn
that she said "kastravec" which means cucumber hahaha. I chimed in
the conversation and while laughing a bit I told her, "I love
those!". She gave me a super weird look and then to make matters worse I
went on to explain how I love eating those. Somehow it got even WORSE because I
went into detail talking about how I like to pick just the right one and that
they were better in Albania because they are bigger! I proceeded to tell her
that I sometimes don't even cut them I just bite them and oh my heck was that
lady mortified. Then she was like, "Are there lots in America?"
And I was like "Oh yeah we have lots to choose from!" Finally, we
made the connection and realized where I had gone wrong. It was so freaking
funny my explanation did not do it justice. Our fruit lady was very thankful we
do not eat chinese people in America.
2. So when riding the bus I love standing on those round
spinny things that turn inside when the bus turns (hopefully that made sense).
I love standing on those because A) it feels like I'm surfing B) I always have
balance competitions with the cute little kids on the bus. It is so awesome!!!
Well this week I was standing on one of those things and I accidentally dropped
ALL of my english course flyers that we were going to handout! I tried to pick
them up but the bus was so wobbly that I just hit the ground every time I tried
to pick up my papers! The other people on the bus were physically trying hard
not to laugh but they couldn't help it. Sister Long and I were laughing so hard
because we literally could not pick up the flyers and every time we tried the
bus would move and we would miss them. No one else dared to help us pick them
up so we were just scrambling all over the place flying from end to end of the
bus. It was such a fun game that the bus created for us. Hahahahahhah we are
lucky too because we had a fan club that cheered for us when we finally
gathered all of our flyers:).
3. This story is CRAZINESS. So, for our pday (break day) 8
missionaries and I decided to go on an adventure. We chose a random bus and got
on to see where he would take us! After sitting on the bus for awhile we
realized we were not going anywhere so we decided to get off and walk towards
the mountains. When we reached the mountains a random bus came and we hitched a
ride to the top of one of the mountains. THE RIDE WAS CRAZY. We were sitting on
wooden boards bouncing around more than you do at airborne. Hahaha it was so
crazy!! Once there we explored around a dried up river bed and collected lots
of rocks. On our google maps we saw that there was a lake close by and we
decided to hike there! When we got close to the lake we realized that we had
gotten ourselves into a pickle because there was a lot of mud that kept
attempting to steal our shoes. After hours of walking we finally made it to the
lake and it was BEAUTIFUL. However, on the way back the worst thing happened
HAHA. I went to go wash off my shoes in the river and I stepped in some mud and
boom I just sunk to the bottom. I WAS SOAKING WET AND IT WAS SINKING SAND.
Every time I moved I sunk lower and the mud just solidified around my legs. I
felt like I was in indiana jones it was so scary. After about 20 minutes of
attempting to get out of the mud I MADE IT (with the help of the other
missionaries). HAHAH but there was a slight problem. I came out with only one
shoe!!!!! My other shoe had sunk down into the sinking sand. It was horrible!!!!
Somehow a miracle happened and we were able to find my shoe but everything on
my person was DRENCHED. Good thing one of the elders had my phone:) We ended
our adventure with one sock, lots of mud, and 1 million memories!!! My advice:
watch out for quick sand.
SPIRITUAL GUIDANCE:
One of the most amazing lessons I have learned on my mission
is the fact that we can receive answers to prayers through the scriptures. I
have found this to be absolutely miraculous. We had many instances this week in
which we faced many dilemmas. However, we prayed and prayed and prayed and
searched for answers to our prayers and then right in the very moment we needed
our answers came. We all seek for answers daily but just like 2 Nephi 32:3
says, "feast upon the words of Christ; for behold, the words of Christ
will tell you all things what ye should do". We will know what to do!!!
When we read the scriptures with intent and purpose and diligence we can truly
take something from what we read. Our priorities define us and our sacrifices
refine us so we must put God above everything! President Nelson said,
"Time for scripture study requires a schedule that will be honored.
Otherwise, blessings that matter most will be at the mercy of things that
matter least." I am thankful for my knowledge of The Book of Mormon and
for the opportunity I have each day to FEAST on Christ's words. HE TRULY LIVES
AND LOVES US. I love you all so much!!!!!! Don't forget to read your scriptures
and have a groovy week this week:)
Love,
Motra Sëtën
Adriatic
South Mission
P.O.
Box 2984
Bulevardi
Gjergj Fishta
Qendra
ALPAS
Shkalla
NR. 5 Apartamenti NR.14
Tirana,
Albania
Pics:
the lake, comp photo, the first time the mud took our shoes, cute fam I love,
the best missionaries
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