I thought that this morning I should take the time to wright
a little about the things that we are doing here in Albania. Serving a mission has been both a joy and a
challenge. Perhaps a review of the
things we have done over the past few days may serve to exemplify this paradox.
Tuesday was the regularly scheduled High Council meeting in
Tirana. The meeting is held at 6:00pm so
we have time to attend the District meeting in the morning with the Elders and
Sisters here in Vlore before driving the 2½ hours to Tirana. The District meeting usually last 2 hours and
helps us understand who the Missionaries are teaching and what we can do to
assist them in the lessons and fellowshipping.
We also enjoy the time we spend talking about the principles presented
in the “Preach My Gospel”. We are always
impressed with the understanding that these young missionaries have of the
Gospel and its application in the lives of those they teach. We are strengthened by knowing that they will
be the future leaders of the church.
They are impressive young people and we enjoy spending a couple of hours
with them each week in this meeting.
When we get to Tirana we usually stop in to the Mission
office and pick up the mail for the district and maybe the mail for the Fier District. This week we also picked up a printer for the
family history center here in Vlore.
Then it’s lunch time. We have
gone to lunch with the Mission office couple, found a restaurant on our own, or
go to the American Center (a restaurant that serves American food). We’ve gone shopping at one of the large
malls, had my hearing aids adjusted, been to the dentist, or visited a book
store as we have waited for High Council meeting time.
Attending stake high council or stake council is a wonderful
experience. I get to meet with the
leaders of the stake and enjoy their testimonies, dedication and desire to
serve. It is always strengthening to me
to feel their strength and sacrifice as they magnify their callings. There are some difficult challenges to deal
with here in this stake. Not
necessarily unique ones to building the church but none-the-less
challenging. Of course they speak in
Shqip and I am usually provided with an interpreter who sets beside me and
whispers in my ear what is being said. I
think it is an interruption to the whole meeting to have this being done while
they try to carry on a meaningful discussion but they are very patient with my
inability to understand the language.
Once in a while I may even make a germane comment and sometimes I even
feel that I have contributed to the outcome of the discussion.
The meeting is usually over by 7:30pm and we climb back in
the car - which incidentally is parked a few blocks away in a parking lot
because there are absolutely no parking spots closer to the church. In fact the stake offices aren’t part of a
church building and a church here isn’t a church at all as we think of it in
America - it is part of the 2nd floor of a 12 story apartment
building right in the middle of downtown Tirana. As you walk into the building you would think
you were walking into a construction zone.
But once inside, the stake offices are very nice and well cared
for. The ride home is long. Getting home at about 11:30pm we are ready to
drop into bed for a while.
Thursday we had an appointment with the Branch President in
Fier to talk to him about starting a Young Single Adult program in the
branch. We had talked with the Stake
President and the Mission President last week about expanding what we have been
doing in Vlore into Fier and Lushnje. We
thought that was a possibility so we made appointments with both Branch
presidents and missionaries serving in these branches. Fier is about a 45 minute drive and Lushnje
is about ½ an hour on the other side of Fier.
Since our appointment wasn’t until 4:00pm we thought that we would take
the opportunity to do some apartment inspections. It falls the senior couples lot to make sure
that all the apartments that the missionaries are living in are kept clean and
functional. It’s not particularly a
desirable job but a necessary one. So
off we go with our inspection sheets in hand to Berat. Berat is a little town south of Lushnje
where we are making an effort to build a branch of the church. Right now they have a group of about 10
people and one set of missionaries. The
group is growing and the missionaries are finding success in their labors. It is faith promoting to hear how the work moves
forward and how people are found and accept the message of the restored gospel.
The apartment looks pretty good – much better than the last
time we were there. One of the
missionaries is sick in bed and the other is busy study at the kitchen
table. We run through the check list
have prayer with the Elder – leave a blessing on the apartment and a request
for health to return to the sick companion and head out to Lushnje. We arrive there a little after noon and
perchance drive by the elders as they are walking home for lunch. After a brief conversation we park and walk
around the corner to the sisters apartment.
We call to find out which floor they are on and jump in the
elevator. It sure would be nice if all
the missionaries would keep their place looking as good as these two
sisters. Things are very tidy and the
pleasant aroma of lunch fills the apartment.
After running quickly down the check list we head to the elders
apartment. Both of the apartments in
Lushnje are very large and beautiful.
Two bedroom two bath with large living rooms. Both are well maintained and provide a refuge
from the difficult task of contacting and teaching all day.
Finishing the inspections there we drive on to Fier and
inspect two more apartments just before our appointment with the Branch
president. The missionaries are there
with us to interpret the conversation with the Branch President. After reviewing the status of the 60 Young
Single Adults in his branch we decide that we will have a weekly institute
class on Thursday at 4:00 followed by some type of activity. I think the president is happy with the
extra help he is going to get for this group of young people in his
branch. It will be challenging for us to
take on this extra task but I think it will be of great benefit for the growth
of the church here in Fier.
Toward the end of the meeting we notice several people
coming into the room where we were holding the meeting. The elders explain that they are here to
attend the English class that they are teaching next. We shake hands and speak a little English to
a few of them and then remember that we haven’t eaten anything all day. We drive over to a restaurant and order a
club sandwich and a pizza.
We get back to Vlore about 8:00, check our email, log on to
facebook, generally unwind for an hour and head for bed.
Friday When we were in Lushnje we were able to set up an
appointment with the Branch president there to talk about the Young Single
Adults in his branch. So Friday morning
we jump back into the car and head to Lushnje for a 10:30 meeting. We grab the sister missionaries to help us
interpret and have a great meeting with the President. There seems to be some good potential with
the youth here and we think that we can help them get together to study the
gospel and have some social time with each other. They have a young man on a mission in Italy
right now who will be returning home next month. If we can convince him to stay in Lushnje he
can really assist with the work of building a good group of young people there.
After an hour there we drive back to Vlore each lunch and go
over to the ward building to visit with the missionaries and others. There is a baptism scheduled for 6:30 so we
get the chapel and font ready for that.
The electrician had been working on the lights in the chapel earlier in
the week so the chapel was pretty much a mess.
There was a real nice family baptized – Father, Mother and a
10 year old daughter. They also have a
younger boy. We look forward to their
participation in the ward. They seem a
little shy right now but I think they will feel more comfortable as they grow
in the church. The missionaries have
done a great job teaching them and they have good testimonies of the
Gospel. We set up to show bible videos
while waiting for the people to change their clothes after the baptism. We used to just sing songs but after a few of
those it gets pretty tedious. I think
the videos are much better. I have
placed shqip subtitles on the videos.
After the baptism Dixie helped the Missionaries clean up the
floors etc. while I set in on a lesson with the elders. We had a great discussion about standing up
for what we know to be true after viewing the video about President Monson’s
boot camp experience. It’s a wonderful
experience to be in lessons with the missionaries. The spirit is strong and testimonies are
strengthened.
So we get back home at around 8:30 check out a few things on
the computer, look at plans for our
Saturday beach activity and spend some time reading in bed.
if you have taken the time to read all this – you will
understand that we try to keep busy and effective In that which we have been
called to do. I know that I should be
able to fit in a brief personal note here and there but sometimes I get
tired. And sometimes I get discouraged
with our results and I don’t feel like reliving the experience by writing about
it. But please know that we love you all
much. I think of you often. I rejoice in knowing of your success and
work. I know this restored church and
it’s teachings are the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
I know God lives and loves each of His children. He is there for each one of us if we will but
acknowledge His hand in our lives. I
know He answers our sincere prayers. I
have observed that in the lives of others over and over again and have been the
recipient of this tender mercies again and again. At times His spirit is overwhelming and my
heart is full to overflowing and I am left only to fall on my knees in humble
gratitude for His love extended to me.
To me this is real, it is the essence of my existence, the plan for our sojourn
here upon this earth is perfect and the role that Jesus Christ has in this plan
is central to it. He is my Savior and
friend. I enjoy working with Him in this
great cause of building His kingdom upon the earth. I sincerely hope that my small efforts are
acceptable to Him.
With love,
