Goals --- Nov 19th

For studies a couple weeks ago I started to read the Bible. I finished the Book of Mormon on Halloween and am now just reading it in Albanian everyday. But It has been so fun to read the Bible. I just finished Genesis yesterday and I loved learning about where I come from really. Adam, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Ephraim. So Great! It was also really fun to read all the Bible stories like Noah and the Ark, etc. That you learn about so much growing up. Really great! I have read a lot of the Bible and studied it in Seminary and stuff, but I haven't ever read it all the way through. So I'm excited for that. 

This week has been pretty busy. However we were only successful I feel because we planned to be successful! Planning and making goals is such an important part of missionary work and life I think. I always had a planner when I was in school to keep track of things and make goals for myself for specific classes. Now as a missionary I'm so glad I was already in this kinda mode because Planning and setting goals is the only way to be a successful missionary. The more that we plan and the more we are determined to accomplish the goals that we set the more successful we will be in all aspects of life! Sometimes I feel like we set goals, but then we aren't fully committed to the goals we have set. We don't believe in ourselves enough really and we fall short of our goals. However I do know that if we set goals for our lives and plan our lives in order to accomplish our goals and then go to our Father in Heaven for help to accomplish them. Through His help and guidance, and a lot of work and listening to the spirit we can accomplish ALL things! 

This week we had a traning for the new missionaries and the trainers in Tirana. Our mission President challenged each of us to teach 20 lessons this last week so that we could be examples the the rest of the Mission that it is possible. He will ask some of us how it went and how we did it on Thanksgiving. (When we will all gather for Mission Conference and a feast! by the senior couples! I can't wait!) Motra Atkin and I have taught 20 lessons a few weeks since I have been here, but I think that alot of the other cities aren't doing as well with teaching. So.. we challenged ourselves to the test and I said to Motra Atkin if we want 20 lessons, we will plan to get 20 lessons... and we did! I think if Pres. asks me how we did it on Thanksgiving I will say. That we had a goal and we personally and as a companionship were TOTALLY committed to our goal. Therefore we planned to get 20 lessons this past week and we weren't going to not. It was great! and really strengthened my testimony even more on this principle. Use your time wisely, set goals that you can be totally committed to, and plan to accomplish them... then DO it! 

We now have a couple teenage girls that are still progressing towards baptism. Ilda and Alma. We had lunch with Ilda yesterday. Her mom made us pizza, and Kos, and mandarin's, and cookies, and still wanted to feed us more.. but we just couldn't eat any more. ha. Her mom is very nice and has been listening to the lessons and coming to church here and there with Ilda also. She always likes what we teach, but is "muslim." Whatever that means in most Albanian's lives. Just that their ancestors were muslim so they are too. Hopefully she will accept the gospel too. The pizza she made was delicious! It was really fun. Both these girls are so sweet and it has been the coolest thing ever to watch them progress in the gospel. It's amazing. I think that is my favorite part about being a missionary is watching those that truly have a desire to learn. Change! and progress so much! Just wanting to learn more and more. It often goes from I don't have 5 mins to read the Book of Mormon to... I read lots, and I have been going to seminary every morning, and I have some questions about the Godhead, Tithing (cause they talked about it at church), etc. I love it! 

Albania:

This week I sent a picture of my and Nertila Pjetri. This was the day she got the Holy Ghost! I just love her. 

 

 

A picture of me at the "Source." In one part of Durres, in the hills, they all use the source for water... I think it is just for their animals.. or at least I hope. It's pretty dirty. ha. But still really cool. Reminds me of the Bible actually when they are always going to the source for water. It's kinda a gathering place. 

Love you all! Hope you have a fun week for Thanksgiving.

Motra Hoover