This last Friday we traveled to a city called Gjakova, the other city in Kosovo with a little group of the church and that just got missionaries there January. We went there to do a family night lesson about Family History! I have really loved being able to do more family history lately. It is so important, and ever since I got here I have been wanting to use it more in all the things we do. We are really starting to get the members more into it, and we have been using it alot in our finding also. (having the members show their family, friends, neighbors their pedigree charts, talk to them about them, and invite them to meet with us to teach them more about it and help them fill their own out.) We haven't had alot of success with it yet, but we just thought of the idea and so hopefully we will start getting them to do it. I'm excited. It is really difficult here though even to fill out their grandparents names and dates in, because everything was destroyed in the war... even cemetery headstones. It's all by word of mouth, and if no one knows.. they are kinda out of luck. However, we've promised them that if they are diligently searching for the information and listening to the spirit, miracles will happen. We have also taught them alot about writing down their own records/journals of their lives. We gave all of our members a journal to begin writing! I hope you are all writing a little in your journals every day too! I just finished my first journal as a missionary! Wahoo! It feels good to have so many great memories all written down!
Here in Kosovo there are black birds...everywhere! They will fly in huge groups, so many that it looks like the whole sky is black. It is pretty cool, as long as they don't poop on us! ha. Last week we went to Shkopje, Macedonia for District meeting, because the two elders and one couple there are apart of our district. It was really fun! I'm getting lots of stamps in my passport with all this country hoping. Kinda fun. Macedonia was really fun! LOTS of statues, bridges, arches, and beautiful buildings. We will be going back again next week I think too. Hopefully one day we will go to one of the biggest crosses in the world. That is there on top of a mountain. Sounds cool to me!
The people here have VERY strong relationships with their families. Families first! Just like us. I think the muslim religion is very centered on families, which I think is great! Another kinda crazy tradition is that when a couple gets married the wife then moves in with the husbands family and takes care of his mother and family. We think they are kinda crazy, but that is what they do.
Motra Jones (the wife of the couple here in Prishtina) was realizing something this week that I really liked! The people that live in Prishtina are from all over Kosovo. Most are here to study. The gospel is starting here, but someday when everyone goes back to live in their villages, it will spead everywhere! I can't wait to see that day in the future. so neat how the Lord works.
Another fun thing that is done here and in Albania is that people (and us) when you have extra food or things that you don't want anymore you simply put it in a bag and put it next to or in the garbage cans. Motra Atkin and I would always call it giving it to the DI. :) but Motra Jones always says "oh we'll just give it to the poor" or "if you don't want it, no big deal we will just give it to the poor" I love it! Everyone does it too not just us. Therefore, also you never worry about wasting anything. ha.
Love you all!
me dashuri,
Motra Kristi Hoover
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