Monday, July 22, 2013

Just so great --- July 22nd


Lots of Elders always do the burning of things at different time marks in the mission. I remember my brothers doing that too. So I decided I would just make myself a little sign. ha. One year as a missionary!! So cool!
 
 
Sounds like everyone is just doing so great... and so am I! I have been studying a lot from Chapter 4 in Preach My Gospel this week about the spirit and it truly amazes me the power of that gift we have been given. The work here had been getting a little overwhelming and hard lately and I just knew I needed to take a step back and make some changes to continue on doing my best. Through the spirit I know I was able to figure out the little things to focus differently on and realized that I need to always work hard, diligently, but not harder than I have strength. Sometimes this one is hard for me, but it is true. It's no good to be exhausted, have no time for yourself, and do tons of good things but not enough of the best things! 
 
Basically, we have been making some delicious lunches.. FULL of fruits and veggies. Oh my it is so good here! You can't buy a watermelon that is bad. and I have had lots of bowls of peaches and milk lately... always reminding me of my dad. Wish you were here to share it with.
 
Pic of our Apartment building... from the outside. ha Communism buildings are always not the prettiest cement blocks on the outside. However, lots have been re-done and are pretty nice on the inside. Ours is nice. ha. 

The stairs are all different lengths though, and we are on the very top floor. I definitely have strong calves already.

The work in Tirana really is doing good. We need to focus now on finding more new investigators and helping them to be progressing. Motra Kokol and I made some new goals to focus on and are growing closer and closer together as companions everyday! I am excited to keep working hard, focusing first on our goals and then on all the other good work that needs to be done after. I love having a purpose as a missionary. It makes me realize that I will always have a purpose as a part of God's plan of Happiness. That is something so special in our Church that we know! We work hard everyday with a distinct purpose of preparing to meet God again, and doing our work that needs to be done while we are here. So that we can live with Him, and our families, forever!! I love that! Having a purpose makes all the difference. Knowing I am here as a missionary now to help and invite other to believe in Christ, Repent, be Baptized and receive the Gift of the Holy Ghost, so then they can continue forever enduring to the end. I am really going to try harder to always keep my FULL purpose in my mind and try to see people where they are and what they really need to progress instead of just what I want for them. 

Studying about the spirit this week has helped me alot to be full of that light and love God has for all His children. I'm SO grateful for this gift that I have. I know it is far more powerful than we often think, but as we continue to work for it and use it in our lives the power becomes so real one piece at a time. I love it! 


Today we went to a little "fshat" or village/city outside of Tirana. It was so good to get out for a little. It is called Kruje! It has a beautiful old fortress that we got to climb in and a newly built castle on top of the mountain that they have made into a museum.



 
 
It has all kinds of things about Skenderbeau. (The Albanian savior of Christianity). It was really awesome. 
 
 
We all ate lunch together at a little pizza place outside on the balcany that overlooked the whole world it seemed! We were sitting like on a cliff. It was so Awesome! Like a dream. Often I feel like things we do, places I go, and people I see just can't even be real... but then they are! It is incredible. 

I love it here! My family in Kosovo is doing well as far as I hear also. I am so happy! 

Love you all! Work hard to always have the spirit and to receive all the blessings that this powerful gift has in store for us! 

Be empowered! 
Motra Kristi Hoover

No comments:

Post a Comment