Zone Conference

Thursday was our first Zone Conference.  It was held in Tirana which is about a 2 1/2 hour drive from where we are.  We picked up a couple of elders here in Vlore at7:00am and they directed us right to the mission home.  When we saw the meeting agenda we realized that the meeting would not be over before we would have to leave to get back for a Pathway meeting here in Vlore.  We decided to leave early anyway and let the elders that rode with us go home with the other missionaries from Vlore (they all took a bus).  Needless to say our greatest worry was knowing the way out of Tirana and back to Vlore.  Tirana is a very large city and the Mission Home is smack dab in the middle.  We took several wrong turns, ended up on some very small streets, turned around, thought we recognized a few things and finally saw a sign that indicated Durres was to the right.  What a relief.  Words cannot describe the driving, and traffic conditions in Tirana.  There are simply no English words to describe it but mayhem comes fairly close. 

So we are on our way to Durres we follow the signs there and find ourselves downtown Durres.  The road to Vlore does not go into Durres.  We missed our turn and now we have to fight our way out of Durres and hopefully again find the main road south to Vlore.  A few wrong turns, a couple of prayers and a complete turn around we see a Bus with "Fier" in big bold letters in the back window (Fier is the name of the next big town South just before Vlore).  "Why send an angel to show us the way when a big ol' bus will do."  The bus leads us out of Durres back to the main road to Vlore.   So here we are back on the highway heading south.  But we just keep going and going and I get worried that we are really not on the right road and we are probably getting pretty close to Greece right now.  We see a couple of Police guys at a gas stations so we decide to ask them which way to Vlore.   OOPS!  We don't speak Shqip.  So I search my memory for words and come up with three, "Ku esht Vlore?"  The cop points down the road and we jump back in the car satisfied that we are going in the right direction. 

So 3 1/2 hours from Tirana we finally get back home just 15 minutes before our Pathway meeting was to begin. 

What an exciting day!   I think we'll take a road map with us next time but since what's on the map does not match what's on the ground it may not solve all our problems.

We'll take a few pictures of the traffic in Tirana next week when we travel there to do some work on our visas.  This time we were so intent on finding our way out we never even thought of taking a picture for you guys.

Sight Seeing Trip

After our Sunday meetings and a YSA fireside yesterday we decided to take a little break today and drive down the coast a bit.  All-in-all it was a pretty fun drive.  We were able to get out of the city and tourist type stuff and into the country.  It was fun to see cows and sheep grazing in the fields, vineyards and terraced hillsides and some of the most ornate gates ever.  I found it interesting to see palm trees and pine trees growing in the same environment. 
It was a pretty rainy day and we got lost a couple of times on some very narrow, muddy, and flooded roads but the mountains were majestic and the coast line very picturesque.  When the road started winding its way up into the mountains, and we crossed a few washouts and a bridge with a gaping hole on the downhill side we decided it was time to turn around and head back to Vlore.  Just as we did we came to this really nice rest stop, wayside, or little kiosk.  We stopped got a drink and headed back to the apartment.  It was a nice diversion and the traffic was pretty light.  I would sure hate to drive that road in the summer when there might be a lot more cars on the road.  The "rules of the road" are pretty loose around here.

Here are a few pictures to go along with the narrative:

Fun! Fun! Fun!

We had a blast shopping at the treg today.  The treg is a huge open-air market covering several alleyways and blocks.  The booths sell everything you could ever need:  housewares, plumbing and electrical supplies, clothing, shoes (they must looovvvveee shoes here), food, ceramics, linens, furniture.  We bought 5 sheets of cardstock (50 leks). 4 electric plug adapters (100 leks each), one electrical multimeter (600 leks) (it doesn't work). 2 area rugs (1000 leks each), and one set of insoles (100 leks).  These prices included the "American Discount" of course.  We came out of the treg thinking we were right next to our car - but no, we were totally lost.  We had come out on a completely different street quite a distance from where we were parked.  We had to go back into the maze and retrace our steps to find our car.  It was a lot of fun.  And while we were there we met our first bonafide Muslim.  Some fellow noticed our namebadges and started up a conversation (sort of.  He didn't speak English).  Four other men surrounded us and chattered away.  John gave them a passalong card with a picture of Christ on it.  One of the men kissed it heartily, then said "Islam Islam.  Peace.  No terrorists here."  It was great.  I love Albania.  There is a surprise around every corner.

"P" Day

My goodness it can rain pretty hard here.  We woke up to a fantastic thunder and lightening storm coming in across the bay.  Then it started to rain.  Then it really started to rain.  I know why the Andruses said if it rains hard and you don't have the shutters pulled shut you may get a little water in your bedroom.  Well we wanted to see the thunder and lightening show so we didn't pull the shutters.  Yup, rain comes into the bedroom through the double sliding glass doors.  Dixie threw some towels on the floor and I dropped the shutters....they work pretty good.

We spent most of the morning reading and studying ward lists, and pathway instructions.  There are so many things to memorize right off my brain is getting a bit exhausted.  The rain quit in the afternoon so we went for a nice walk around the block.  It's a big block.

Today was district meeting.  Both Dixie and I are really impressed with the quality of the meeting.  Our district leader Elder Grey really does a good job organizing things and keeping everyone on track.  They are really a great bunch of young elders and sisters.  They have strong testimonies and really want to help the people here find a better life. 

The Smith's came down today from Tirana to answer questions and get to know us a little bit better.  We went out to lunch together to a really nice restaurant on the waterfront.  They are doing the same thing in Tirana that we are doing here in Vlore.  It was good to bounce some questions and ideas off them. 

I am beginning to feel like the "honeymoon" is about over now and we are going to get down to the real business of running a program and trying to reach out to the future leaders of the church in this part of the world.  We have a great group of kids to work with and hope to do our part to assist them in their worthy desires and goals.

Thanks for support and interest in the work here in Albania.

Fun on the Beach

The missionaries mentioned that they were going to play football (soccer) on the beach this afternoon so I thought I would go see what that was all about.  All the missionaries in our district a few church members and some friends met on a corner near our apartment and walked over to a beach.  There we met a few others waiting for us and commenced to play the game.  Looked like everyone was having a fun time so I took a couple of pictures to show you the beach and the view across the bay from the beach.  Neither Dixie or I got into the game but we enjoyed the time with the young people.  We played until almost dark then walked home. The Andruses left this morning for Rome to spend a couple of days there before flying back home to Orem.

1st Sunday in Albania

We had the opportunity to attend our first block of church meetings yesterday.  We found the members her to be very friendly and welcoming.  They have a really nice building to meet in.  Although it is not a typical "western" chapel it is quite functional with lots of rooms for offices and classrooms.  This ward has a complete ward council that is functioning very well.  There are 4 sets of missionaries assigned to this ward and they are all working very diligently to help the work move forward.  From all outward appearances they are doing very well.  The gospel essentials class had about 20 recent converts and investigators attending.  Almost as many as were attending the Gospel Doctrine class.  The primary is relatively small, as is the YM & YW.

I'm going to attach a few pictures of the entrance of the church building.  Maybe I'll add some more of the other parts of the building later.

We have also attended the Institute class which is held on Wednesday nights.  The teacher gave a great lesson which was enjoyed by the fairly large group of young adults (25 aprox.)  We had refreshments and a chat session after the lesson and really enjoyed talking to the young people. 

We've also had one Pathway class.  The four students attending this program are really sharp and it was fun to be with them.  They are required to speak English while attending class so it was nice to know a little more about what was going on.  All of the other lessons (Institute, Sacrament Meeting, Sunday School and Priesthood and Relief Society) were all in Albanian.  I hope that at some point in this mission I will be able to understand a little more. 

Other than the language, the church, teaching, interaction, fellowshipping, and spirit is pretty much the same.  People have testimonies of the Gospel and express them, they know and love the gospel of Jesus Christ, and they enjoy being together as they worship.

Sunday was a good day. Oh, if I could just remember names and faces a little better.....  Right now were on kind of an overload for memorizing things.

The Gospel of Jesus Christ is a blessing to all the world around.  The spirit is the same here as it is in our home ward.  Good people, good friends, all trying the best they can to live a good life.

Today's word... JETLAG

It's 11:00pm in Tirana and I am wide awake.  But it's no wonder, I went to bed at 5:30pm.  After 28 hours of being up I just had to get some sleep.  There were other things to do but I'd been awake enough for one day. 

President Wiedman and his wife met us at the airport, drove us to the Mission home (which of its self was a memorable experience), fed us a wonderful meal which we ate with the Mission home couple and the Andruses.  After a bit of chit chat we said we were tired and would like to lie down for a bit.  So here it is the middle of the night and I'm telling my body to go back to sleep and it's not responding too well.  I'm sure it will take a couple of days to get reprogramed.

Part of our Senior Missionary group

Packing up Again

We're leaving the MTC tomorrow morning at 3:30am.  A short trip to the airport and then check-in and boarding a plane to Chicago at 7:58am.

It has been a marvelous week at the MTC.  We have attended classes been treated to some fantastic food and got to know some of the most wonderful people in the world.  From 7:00am until 4:30pm every day we've been busy learning, practicing and enjoying the training.  There have been large group classes, firesides and small training sessions.  The Senior missionaries were divided into groups of 4 couples each called districts. Each district was assigned a classroom and a returned missionary instructor.  Then we started going through the "Preach My Gospel" manual learning how to teach non-members and less active, about the Savior and His Church and how to work with local leaders.   It was a marvelous week with many rich spiritual experiences.  The 3 other couples in our district were just exciting to get to know and work with.  They each had their own talents and church experience and we enjoyed learning and sharing with them this whole week. They were from St. George, Spokane, and Missouri.

The firesides, mission conference, and sacrament meeting were a powerful spiritual experience.  The speakers were simply outstanding and very inspiring.  To listen to the young missionaries bare their testimonies in Sacrament meeting today was very reassuring.  These kids are just outstanding.  The future of the Church is in good hands. 

I have really been impressed as I have looked into their faces,and heard them speak, sing and perform.  They are the best of the best.  I am so happy to be a part of this movement, a part of this "hastening the work" a part of this Gospel of Jesus Christ.  There is nothing like it in all the world.  This is the work of the Lord.  It is marvelous to behold and even more marvelous to be a part of.  God lives and Jesus Christ is aware of each one of us. That has been clearly manifested to me personally as we have participated in this MTC experience.