Hi Family!!
Well, this is just my last email as a missionary you see so...
My mission President has changed our P-day next week to Wednesday,
Christmas Day. I get to skype you all on that day and I guess maybe I
will also send an email just because it will really be my last chance
but we'll see. Therefore, I won't be emailing next Monday.
I'll be busy doing missionary work for my last week I get to be one! I
am excited to skype on Christmas though we will be skyping at 6:00pm our time so I'm pretty sure that is 10:00am your time. It will be so great!
This week has been a little crazy. We did a lot of
traveling... exchanges in Tirana and Lushnje and baptisms to see in
Vlore and Durres! It was definitely exhausting and I've been a little
sick, but the spirit has been so strong. I will never forget it! I love
being a missionary!! The Pjetri Dad... Ndue was baptized on Saturday
and I got to go to give a talk on the Holy Ghost. I could barely talk
that day, but I had to go! Heavenly Father helped me say what I needed
to say and I only teared up a little at the end talking about how
incredible forever families are! I'm so grateful for mine and now the
Pjetri's are getting closer to enjoying the same blessings! Ndue left
behind A LOT of mistakes and sins in that baptism water. The elder that
baptized him, Elder Foster, even kinda choked up in the water saying the
prayer. Afterwards he said "Wow, that was like a spiritual bomb." It
really was! The youngest daughter, Mariana, gave the closing prayer and
she did it so beautifully!! I love seeing him smile when he talks about
or looks at his family. He was all dressed up in a suit after the
baptism, looking sharp! I told him congratulations after and asked him
how he felt? he said Good! I asked him if he felt clean? and he said oh
yes! very clean! What a cool experience only one year ago I got to
teach his whole family and now they are all complete and still so
incredible!! The daughters thinking of missions and such a strength the
the branch there. Miracles!!
I got released as Relief Society President yesterday
and a wonderful Lady named Brikena was called. She was my first
counselor and I know she will be fantastic!! I can't wait for her to
keep unifying the women here and just take off serving!
We also as elders and sisters of Fier (Elder
Roberts, Elder Linderman, Motra Wendt, and I) started to do the 12 days
of Christmas for Anila, Dajana, and her son also. We started Saturday night. Sunday
early morning we got a call from Anila, worried! She asked us if we
left the gift at her door and we had to say no! She said she was so
worried all night she couldn't sleep. She called the cops and her mom
came all the way into town to be with her. After she told us how
distraught she was we had to tell her it was us. Obviously you can't
just always do American traditions in other countries. haha. It also
doesn't help that she's been having some troubles still with her
previous husband. We felt really bad that we caused a huge problem, but
once we explained to her what we did and why she was fine. She even
agreed to still keep it a secret from Dajana so we could keep doing it.
They both came to church and I played the piano. Everytime we would make
eye contact she would give me kinda glarry eyes, like I can't believe
you did that. Along with a huge sly smile, thankful we want to serve and
love her. So, crazy happening but we are still doing it so that's fun!
I love you all very much! I'm so glad I get to be a
missionary and love the people here. I wouldn't take this decision back
ever! Being a missionary isn't easy, but it is so wonderful! There is a
special spirit that you get to feel everyday, like ALL day! I hope I can
always work to keep this spirit with me. Seeing the world from a
missionary point of view is so fantastic! It really puts the real
meaning into everything and helps you always focus on the real purpose
of life. It helps me so much to see others for who they really are and
not be afraid at all to talk to everyone, help everyone, love everyone,
serve everyone, and teach everyone the special message that I know and
love! What a special time it has been to be a missionary. I can't wait
to go again someday! I hope you all will keep being member missionaries
everyday even just by your example in all things!!
Ju dua shume!
Zoti ju bekoft! Pac bekime pa fund!!
Me shume dashuri,
Motra Kristi Ayana Hoover
ps. I will be coming home the 30th of December...ya only 2 weeks left. I leave here early in the morning on that Monday
the 30th and will basically fly for 24hrs until I get home I'm thinking
I arrive at night in Salt Lake the same day. I left my plans at home. I
hope you can all come to the airport. I have so many wonderful memories
dropping off and picking up my brothers and sisters from the airport. I
can't wait to see you all there!!
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