It's been fun to be in Kosovo. This week flew by! I have learned so
much about the history here and I am continually amazed at the strength
and love these people have. One thing I really love about Albania and
here is that Family is so important. They do everything for their
families and always put their families first! Like we all should. We had
some amazing lessons this week, talking about the simple doctrines of
the gospel. I've felt the spirit really strong, trying to help the
people here also recognize what Faith is, Who Heavenly Father really is,
Who Jesus Christ is, how we can feel the Holy Ghost, etc. I've really
loved it.
Yesterday also we had an amazing lesson with a girl
that just got baptized here before we came. Her name is Aida and she is
Gorgeous! Teaching is a little different here, because most of it takes
place in the church, building. However, since we've gotten here a lot of
the girls have allowed/invited us to come over to their homes!! It has
been amazing because we have then been able to teach their families and
friends as well. First home visits! Anyway yesterday with Motra Jones,
the senior couple mom here, we went to Aida's and taught her and her
MOTHER! about Family History. It was a really powerful lesson, I love
linking and connecting families. They were both really excited about it
and said they would start now to really try to get as much information
as possible. Her mother is "muslim" as her whole family is. They often
get mad at Aida for doing so much with the church all the time, and
pretty sure they don't know she has been baptized yet, because she told
us not to talk about it the first time we went. However, it was a
wonderful meeting. They always give us something to eat, and some tea
also as we teach. I loved it! and loved that Motra Jones came with us to
share her thoughts and experiences with Family History. I've been
wanting to use Family History more with finding and teaching, but it is
kinda hard here. Because of the many wars, and bad people in these
countries no one has any records! Its so sad. So pretty much they just
have to try and ask as many people as they know for dates and names, and
they just have to try and figure it out that way. To decide dates they
often just have to remember their ages when they were married or when
they died and then count backwards to estimate a date. Kinda crazy. I'm
so grateful for Records!...Anyway it was great!
Also being in Kosovo, their is a lot of Translating
in Church. Because of the Soldiers and the Embassy couple. Therefore,
last week I bore my testimony in Albanian and was translated by someone
else back into English!! It was kinda weird, but cool. Then yesterday I
felt like I was back home again because I had so many things to do in
Church. I played the piano for Sacrament, Motra Richardson and I spoke
in Sacrament, and then I also taught Relief Society because the teacher
was out of town. A busy day, but I loved it.
Thanks for all your love and support! This week is
going to be a crazy one because the elders have a baptism tomorrow, they
do it in a hotel pool here for winter, and then since Motra Richardson
is the oldest sister, she is also coordinating sister and we have to do
exchanges with all the other sisters.... so we are going to Albania for a
few days. Its going to be a lot of traveling for me, it's hard to leave
your area for so long, but it should be fun too. We'll see.
Diten e mire! Kalofshi mire!
Motra Kristi Hoover
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