Një vitë!!! July 15th

Next to the church Sunday

Oh me oh my!! I just can't even believe it, but it is true.... This week on the 18th I will have been a missionary for 1 WHOLE YEAR!!! AHHHHHHHH. I don't feel brand new anymore, but definitely don't feel like I've been here for this long. It is so crazy how the time seems to pass as a missionary. Crazy. një vitë!! O sa e c'mendur!!! ... and this week is our half-way mark for this transfer too... oh my too fast!

A beautiful tree all in bloom at the 4th branch presidents house.

It has been a hard week. Being over 2 big branches is a big responsibility and sometimes it can feel a little overwhelming and frustrating.... I like it though. busy is good. We had our interviews from our mission president, President Ford,  this week for the transfer. We talked a little and then he gave me this expression "When the going gets tough, the tough get going"  I really liked it and needed it. I hope you all know that I am TOUGH!!! and I am definitely just going to keep going. I'm so grateful I have learned my WHOLE LIFE that I can do hard things and to never give up! Especially on what matters most, the Lord. We are going to really try to start doing some exchanges this week with some Albanians to cover some more ground more often and I think that will be a blessing for sure!! 

We have a few investigators, but really need to keep finding more and more! The main ones we have were given to us by the Elders and so are kinda at that point where they just need to know they want to be baptised. I told President Ford I thought that coming back to Albania I would finally be able to find and teach more people that were ready to change, and act on the gospel that they were learning to love..... but instead I've found more Kosovar stories... ha. I think the Lord just knows I am strong and will strive to do my best always to know how to invite and help even the toughest. Pres. Ford reassured me that all people are not like that and as we continue to work hard and find we will find those that are ready. Motra Kokol and I made a goal to find, or bring a family together in the gospel this transfer, we've had some potentials, but nothing really solid yet. We'll keep working and searching!!

We are doing ALOT of branch rescuing and retaining. There are ALOT of members here that are lost and don't come anymore. It has been fun to find through these visits as well as strive to bring people back. It can be quite tricky with the address system here... meaning addresses don't exist, but I know the Lord will continue to help us find those that are lost and bring them back to the Fold.... helping us to grow and create a stake! LOTS of work to be done!

A traditional Albanian food that we just ate again today actually. It is good! 

Jodie asked me in her letter this week about the food here. They eat some different things, but pretty much traditional Albanian is rice, salad, bread, and different kinds of cooked meat. Traditional daily is also Byrek. Kinda like... an egg roll in a way but... way different. ha. They cook it like a pie in a big round pan and cut it in squares. They are filled with lots of things like Tomatoes/onions, cheese, meat, etc. The dough is flaky and it is good. they also have more fast food kinda things to eat like calzone type things and lots of Crepes. I think right now my favorite thing to eat is all the fruit and veggies!! They are all SO good and I love it. We have been getting good at making some good things with all the fruit and veggies. I'm learning to be a little cook as a missionary and I love it! I've always wanted to like cooking more. I love buying the fruit and veggies at little markets everywhere, or really just all over on every sidewalk. This is what they do for a living, sell fruit and veggies everyday, all day on the sidewalks. Everyone kinda has their little spot and I love it! Right next to our house is the cutest little old Nënë that sells spices. She is adorable! and looks so old and is tiny, but when you talk to her she is so spunky! She has new teeth and new glasses and she is feeling good. ha. I'll have to get a picture of her and the streets soon. I always want to but just haven't yet. I am officially starting to enjoy tomatoes... crazy right! I've always made myself eat them know they are good for me even at home, and I am really starting to like them... green olives also. They are growing on me. ha.

Here are some pictures I've taken lately of fruit stands: 

Xhaxhi's playing chess or other games in the park... They are everywhere really. Albanian men either work their butts off or they play chess with their buddies all day... quite interesting. The women on the other hand are always working like crazy. I love seeing them play though.

The street out the YSA center window.

 Today we went and rented Albanian (Tirana) traditional wedding attire and all took pictures in them. We will get the pictures on Tuesday. I am excited it was really fun. I always think I need one of these costumes because I love them, but I just think I might take the pictures instead. So fun!

I love you all! I love it here. Missionary work isn't easy and I am always so tired at night, but it is so good! I couldn't be happier being anywhere else doing anything else. I'm so grateful for my family and for my testimony of the Savior. Heavenly Father's plan is so perfect! I'm so grateful and am so blessed to know it and live it! 

Have a good week! Everyone take a morning ski for me too! With a bowl of cereal after also! love it! 

Motra Hoover