Well after a short couple day delay in Tirana, we were off to Prishtina, Kosovo. We got here on Wednesday Afternoon and it has been great! Change has always been something for me that is hard at first, but then as I continue to accept the changes I always grow to love them as well. Kosovo is definitely different than Albania, and I have learned alot already.
My first few days here were actually kinda discouraging. Its been kinda hard for me to be super confident, I guess, in myself. But just my personality really i think doesn't let that ever get the best of me. Everyday I knew it would be hard and then people prob. wouldn't understand me or I wouldn't understand them really, but I really tried to do my best and still tried to talk to a lot of people. Not a lot of members here yet, so we've been doing a lot of tracting and Street contacting... Finding. As the days went on, like they always seem to do, you have a lot of up's and downs. Good moments and not so good ones.
But Friday morning making new goals, and then Saturday afternoon when I started my fast I felt strongly to fast and pray for specific help. To help me learn more, speak and understand better, and love greater! The lessons we had after I fasted all went so well. I felt the spirit already working stronger in me helping me remember everything I've learned and help me have a clear mind and understanding. It was amazing. Feeling the spirit stronger helped me love greater and be more bold also. I would try to talk to everyone and not be afraid or feel kinda awkward walking up to random people walking by to talk to them, even when they really didn't want to talk to me. We'd been contacting together on the street, but I felt that I should stop thinking I'm not good enough without my companion to back me up and just have greater courage and belief in myself to talk to people about what I love! So I did and I spoke and understood even better. I had a really nice conversation with one lady, who even though wasn't interested took my card and said maybe when would give it to her daughters. It was awesome.
Since then all of our lessons and contacting has been a lot better for me. I understand better and I can speak clearer so that people can understand me... a little better. ha. They speak really "Thick" Albanian here, so it's... different. I also have been able to finally get our regular studies in and have really been trying to use all my study time wisely so that I can be the most prepared and it's amazing the difference it makes. I always feel more prepared when I put in my effort to study the gospel and the language before.
This morning also I was reading in Dueteronomy Ch. 20 and loved verses 1-4. Eventhough not about missionary work I applied it to my life and again remembered that I need to not have fear! I need to not tremble or be terrified, but always make sure that my faith is stronger than any fear. Eventhough it didn't really seem like I was afraid to talk to people I was allowing the little awkwardness and my fears of the language decrease my faith in my Savior's love for me and for all of God's children. Then to top it off... I get my emails today saying that not only was I fasting and praying for help to have greater faith, but my Family all did the same for me as well without me even knowing it. Wow! The power of fasting and prayer is so real! I love my family and I love this gospel!
So... Kosovo is really great! It snowed this morning!! wahoo. Just a little, but still. It feels more like home here, weather wise. Their are a lot of muslims here. The tradition is really, really strong, but most people aren't fully practicing muslims. Therefore, they don't kill their family if they change faiths like in the middle east. Their are a lot of women wearing full muslim dress and a lot of men with beards, but also a lot that aren't. I think a lot of people are looking for something better, they just literally don't know that it is Christ that will give it to them... That's why I'm here! The first sisters in Kosovo. Many, Many people here have vivid memories of the wars, which is quite crazy to hear some of the stories. We have only a few members maybe like 10 Kosovars were in Church yesterday, most are young singles. They all have the greatest faith it's amazing. All of them are the only one in their families that will accept it, some haven't told their families that they have been baptized, and some that have told their families really struggle because their families are afraid for their souls having changed from muslimism. Quite the experience, but I've already loved being around them and see the light that they carry with them. The Senior couple here the Jones's are amazing. They do so much. Elder Jones is the President of the Branch here, and Sister Jones knows and does SO much! It has been great to be here because everyone has kinda been waiting for the sisters to come to Kosovo. I also love that people see you and wonder who we are. We immediately met a girl that works at a little grocery store across from the church that is Catholic, but has SO many questions about who we are. Really cool. She prob. just never wanted to ask the elders, and the Couple... well doesn't really speak Albanian.
Sorry Kinda long letter, but all in all. I love it here! Church yesterday was really the coolest experience to have 5 American soldiers come to church with us all dressed in their gear, with guns on their persons. We also have a little newlywed couple with one little son from America also that works at the Embassy here. What a cool experience to really know that the church is everywhere! It's the same everywhere! and we really all are God's loved Children. ya!
Love you all! Pics: are of church. All the sisters that were there and us with the solders... pretty cool.
Motra Kristi... in Kosovo.
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