Oct. 22nd -- FUN things About Being a Missionary in Albania

So this morning I woke up, did some yoga, and got ready for the day. We did studies and prepared for our lessons tonight and then we went hiking with our district. It was SO great! Hiking past lots of bomb shelters, hay stacks, goats, olive trees, turtles, and much more. We hiked all the way over this mountain to the sea on the other side. The missionaries say that on a clear day you can see Italy in the distance.. Not quite sure about that, but sounds cool. The sea is so pretty and we had a really great time. 

Here's a few photos from our hike today,

 With a turtle. They are everywhere here. We saw like 5 just on our walk today. They are so cool!

Picking Olive's in the Olive orchard. REally cool!

Today by the sea. The 2 boys in the water are Albanians they were fishing for squid... nasty. like Octopus.

This is a pic of an Albanian Barn. ha. it is like a mine kinda, But we went in and after like 50ft it opened into this HUGE room that lead to an opening on the other side. It is all in the mountain. pretty cool. One of the farmers came and showed us it too as he was working.

At the sea!

Another pic from inside the Amphitheater from last week. 

I don't know... pictures are fun. We also got tons of Pomegranates from our Landlord this week from trees at our house. They are so delicious and make me think of Dad every time.

This week I have learned ALOT! When do you not when your a missionary. I love it. On thing I have learned a lot about in my studies is the Holy Ghost. In Preach My Gospel (Which you should all be reading and studying as Families, even just for family night! Because it has SO much information and activities and is SO good)  pg. 11 ch. 1. Scripture Study, I absolutely loved all these scriptures of how missionaries felt when they desired so greatly to do our Fathers will and share Christs message with everyone. They often felt very sad, were wade down with sorrow and anguish because of the people. However, because of their righteous desires and faith they were all exceedingly blessed. I really loved D&C 15, 4-6 and 16, 4-6. The SAME verse said twice. It explains to us as clear as can be what we should do with our time to make it of MOST WORTH! How to use our time more wisely... and from God! Okay... He tells us to declare repentance. I think we need to remember this more often in our daily lives. NO matter where we are or what we are doing their is always time to share your testimony in little ways to others. To help them feel their saviors love and father in Heavens love, and teach them how they can feel it more through repentance and the gospel of Jesus Christ. I think one main way that often slips by so easily is Visiting Teaching and Home Teaching. It really is so Important and can be a real blessing. At the end of the 1st Chapter in PMG it has quotes from Prophets. I really loved the quote from Harold B. Lee. Check it out. 

I also have been studying alot about the Holy Ghost and the more I learn about this gift the more I am so grateful for this gift in my life. I love the promises from this gift that are in the scriptures that I know I often forget or didn't even really know about. Their Amazing. If we would only use them more. I love the scriptures D&C 68:2-6, and also 2 Nephi 32. My favorite ever! I read this one in the MTC and was so Amazed that through the gift of the Holy Ghost we are blessed to speak with the tongues of Angels... and Angels speak the words of Christ. Therefore, we are given the blessing to speak the words of Christ! WHOA. This gift isn't only for missionaries it is for all those that have been given it through the priesthood, are faithful to hold it and obedient for it to be with them, and also ask for the blessings that it contains. So powerful. I also really love the quote Also on pg. 12 of Preach My Gospel by Brigham Young. Check it out!

We have Been teaching a WONDERFUL family! The Pjetri's. A mother, Marta, and her 5 children. She has 2 daughters in their teens: Marjeta, Nertila, a son that is 11: Martini, and Mariana who just turned 5. They seriously are so great! I am so amazed at the things they say and we have only known them for a week. I feel like everytime we go to teach them we talk about the lesson and learn from the scriptures and pretty much they are teaching me the doctrine of the gospel. I love it. They all always want to comment on every question asked and want to share their thoughts and opinions. They read together as a family and came to church this Sunday with us. They all loved it and motra Atkin and I both felt like they knew more and participated more in the lessons than any of the members. It was awesome. We are planning for them to get baptised on the 10th of November and they already can't even wait! I love this family. Hopefully someday also their father will follow their wonderful example and learn about the gospel as well. One of the pics attached is us at their house with a few members that referred them to us eating a feast for the mom's birthday. It was super great. 

Reading the scriptures, saying your prayers, and going to church are all so important for us to progress and continually allow our testimonies to grow. I love seeing the progress in our investigators as they are willing to act and do these things we ask of them. The things of the gospel that we should never stop doing. I really love teaching prayer and it is so fun to see the progression the investigators have with their prayers. Little by little they improve every time. 

FUN things About Being a Missionary in Albania:

1. One day we were walking down the street and we say a Book of Mormon in a Bread Shop. It was sitting up next to the bread like it was for sell. SO Great!

2. Everyone should be planning on going on a mission when they are older as senior couples. They do the coolest things. Motra Atkin and I decided that it is basically like having a calling in a different country. This last week a few of the couples that serve here and our mission president and his wife went to the England verses Albania Soccer game.. so fun. When I'm older I'm definitely doing it. 

3. Their are no Addresses in Albania. It's actually kinda hard. You just have to explain where things are by where other things are. Like, Oh we live by the stadium, or across from the hospital, ya it's kinda crazy. But also makes for some fun adventures trying to find people's homes. ha. 

4. When we go to other people's homes they always ask me how many people are in my family and when I say "We are 11 kids" They say Marshalla! Which is actually Turkish. Kinda like WOW. They also ask How many are married. Cause that is important to know i Guess. And lots of people ask where I am from "with Origin" or originally. ha. Usually we just always say America, but sometimes I say Italy... it's true. Lots of people go to italy to live or to work. I would say its like South American's coming to America to work and hopefully live. Kinda crazy. 

I love you All! Hope you have a wonderful week. 

Te puth, forte, forte, forte, forte. ha. 

Motra Hoover