Another Crazy week in Albania. Because my companion
Motra Atkin is the Coordinating sister we have done a lot of traveling. I
have traveled all over Albania already, which is something most people
don't get to do their whole time here. Lots of the missionaries haven't
even been to all the places I have. Pretty lucky I guess. This week we
had an exchange in Vlora. So I went there for a day or so and did
missionary work with Motra Richardson, in the Picture we are on the top
of a really tall building at a dinner appointment\birthday party for a
member. They set out all the food, the dad carved the turkey that they
had cooked, (and prob. bought alive that morning haha.) and we all just
ate with our hands. kinda typical I'd say. Kinda crazy but kinda fun.
This last week as I was studying I read in Alma 56:
47-48 about the stripling warriors and their mothers. It made me
immediately think. Whoa I want to be a mother just like them someday and
also made me think of my wonderful mother. In verse 47 it says, that
they never had fought yet they did not fear death. and they did not fear
because they had been taught by their mothers that if they did not
DOUBT, God would deliver them.... Then my favorite part is in 48 when
the warriors rehearsed what their mothers had taught them saying, we do
not doubt our mothers knew it!. Not only did their mothers teach them to
not doubt and have faith in God, but by the way their mothers lived,
living what they knew, is how their son's knew that what they said was
true. I immediately thought: Teach what you believe, and believe\LIVE
what you teach. My mom does just this as well I think. She has such
great faith, but not only does she believe and teach us to believe...
she always acts and lives what she teaches us and learns everyday. I'm
so grateful for her example to me, because by the way she lives I don't
doubt that my mom knows the things she has always taught me to do and to
be. I think we need to all be better at living what we believe and
never being ashamed or afraid to stand up for what we believe, and also
to always step up and be the one that will accept callings, go the extra
mile, be a person that others look up to, and can count on.
As my mom and dad have done these things for me in my life I have
always striven to do just the same... like this last Sunday in
Sacrament... no piano player... great. But don't worry Albanians because
I will play. Why? because my mom would have done just that. Even though
I honestly could not play the songs they had chosen, I knew that if my
mom were there she would have had such great faith to know that as long
as she did her best Heavenly Father would help her make it work. She has
done that countless times for us, her family, and for others. Because
of her teaching to me and then because of her example of what she taught
I could be a help to the ward here and even though I didn't play
perfectly (or very well at all) their was music and everyone sang.
Thanks mom! I love you.
This week we have had lots of lessons. Even though I
still can't really speak Albanian I feel that it is improving, slowly
but surely. I love it when I am able to say things that I never thought I
would be able to. The Lord is definitely on my side. We taught a girl
named Elona more about who Christ is cause she is declared Muslim, and
after we taught her not even planning on asking her to be baptized that
day she pretty much asked us. Miracles! We taught the Pjetri Family a
few times and my favorite was when we taught the Word of Wisdom and Law
of Chastity. We have been kinda nervous to teach it because we know that
they drink coffee sometimes and wine. But the lesson went SO well. They
all said they wanted to follow these commandments and understood why
they should. (most important.. the WHY). The mom especially said she
knew it wasn't good for her to drink and she had recognized in her life
before when she started drinking coffee frequently that she was starting
to get addicted to it and so stopped drinking it so much. It's amazing
how the Lord prepares people to here His message. They already wanted to
give up these things just needed a reason why.... However the funniest
part of the lesson was leaving.. as we walked out of their house in the
front, their dad was brewing up some "Raki" pretty much straight Alcohol
that Albanians make and A lot of Albanians drink. How ironic. haha. It
is sad really cause their dad is such a nice man. He always walks us to
the bus stop from his home, talks to us, shakes our hands (with his
cigarette in the other), and has expressed to us his appreciation for
teaching his family. He works so hard for them and says that his family
is everything. He will come around someday I just know it! His family is
so amazing and I think they must have learned a lot of what they know
from their dad. We'll see.
I love being a Missionary and being a part of so
many miracles that happen everyday. I think the one thing I've learned
to most so far is that I never want to stop being a missionary. I wish I
had been a better missionary before my mission, and I never want to
stop sharing this gospel and living it everyday of my life. It's
amazing!
One of my favorite things is finishing a lesson,
even just on the street and just feeling good. Like this is where I need
to be and this is what I need to be doing. Knowing that I am sharing
the thing that in my life makes me the most happy with others. I often
can't help but smile after. Even though it's tough... it really is the
greatest!
About Albania:
1. As Nicki always says the
Hoovers have late dinners... because Dad always worked late. Albanians
have REALLY late dinners. I'd say they usually eat dinner by like 9,
9:30, 10. really late dinners here. We are often teaching a lesson at
like 8:30 or 9 and they are like "do you want to stay for dinner" I'd
say I gratefully say No. we have to go home. ha.
2. At the Pjetri Families home and the Pranga's home (more in the
mountains) we have had ALOT of homemade "Dhale" and "Kos". I'm not gunna
lie... it's nasty. I don't know how Albanians like it so much. Dhale is
pretty much the watery stuff on top of Cottage Cheese or Sour Cream,
with salt in it. Kos is just Chunky Dhale. I can handle Dhale cause you
can pretty much just swallow it fast, but Kos... I almost threw up one
time. I gagged at least 5 times. haha. Hopefully we can get by without
too much of that if not.. none of that again. ha. OH being a missionary.
ha.
3. When you go into Albanian homes you always take your shoes
off... Everything is cement and Tile here. Which is funny cause Tile is
like the nice thing in America. Anyway so our feet don't get cold they
always make us wear their shoes in the house. Sometimes it's kinda
awkward, but oh well. ha.
I love you all! Hope you are all doing well. Happy Halloween!
Love Motra Hoover
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