MTC Aug 15th

Thanks everyone for all the wonderful letters, pictures, and.... AMAZING package!!! I loved it so much! and of course everyone was jealous. ha. I love you all too! and Huge Hi five's all around.

This week has been great. I've really been able to learn a lot about the doctrine behind Baptism, and it has changed my view as a missionary greatly. I love learning so much here. Sometimes it''s a little overwhelming but whatever its okay. This gospel really is so amazing. I love it. This week I have also increased my ability and understanding of planning. I think that planning is one of the very MoST important things to do well as a missionary and its also something that takes time to understand and has been kinda hard for me to really feel like I am doing it a little better. However, everyday or every week I feel like I have gotten better at planning my weeks, lessons, days, etc. so that I can use my time wisely and not waste any of the Lord's time as I am here.

This week my Christlike attribute I am working on is Diligence for this exact reason. I need to be better at planning so I can feel more accomplished and proactive, and better at making GOOD goals that I can measure and see my improvement and development in learning. Its been great so far. Last week I started waking up early to read my Albanian scriptures in the morning to help me get up and to help me pronounce words better. It has made such a big difference in me feeling more obedient. It is amazing how different your day starts out not only when you begin it with scripture, but when you get up willingly ready to serve the lord instead of having to wake up to serve the lord. It really has been so great! 

This week for my Sunday night movie/talk I watched "The Character of Christ"" by Bednar. He gave it here at the MTC last Christmas and ... WHOA it definitly changed my whole life and purpose. It really was so wonderful. I don''t know if you can watch or read those but if you can you definitly should. I know now that I am here not for myself AT ALL. I need to not only have a testimony of this church/of this gospel but be converted to it. That I will show my love and appreciation for it in my life by always living it. I know that the more we live it. The easier it will be to always do good and become even better than our very best. By following the example and character of our Savior, Jesus Christ. I also know that as a missionary there are things that are really hard, somedays I feel so tired and somedays I feel like I cant learn anymore, or just feel down on myself a little.. not that I stop trying but you just do. But After this talk I realized that ya.. their might even be somethings that we personally as humans can''t do, or think we cant do because of the natural man in us. However, I know that the Savior and our Father in Heaven can do ALL things, and if we will even just allow them to work through us by the spirit we will be able to do ANYTHING. Pretty awesome. and so whenever it gets a little ruff I think... well maybe this is hard for me, but it wouldn''t be hard for the Savior so I just try and act like I am litterally Him and miracles happen!!! I love it. 

So finally this week I have been grateful for so many things, but here are just a few from each day...  Yam Shume Mirenjohes per...First and ALWAYS my Family! I love you all. My room full of sisters. My teachers love and support. The opportunity to increase my knowledge and understanding of this wonderful gospel. SHORT, cut bangs!! ha. Our new Branch Pres. and his cute wife! Tuesday Devotionals. Temples. The Gift of tongues. Fuqi e luteni. Dashurine e Perendise dhe e Jezu Krishti. My new socks!! Great, respectful Elders that I spend all day with. Thank heavens they are all nice... and not too goofy and loud.. like some are. ha. Fun gel pens. and Music!!

Thanks again for all you love and prayers. I love you all so much and am so grateful for this crazy opportunity to be a missionary. I often say to myself... or to my companions... can you believe we are really here. We are really missionaries. This is really what it is like. It really is kinda crazy. But i love it all the same.

Love you all!!!

Motra Hoover.