Temple Trip to Switzerland

Someone asked about our trip to the Swiss temple.

It was an awesome experience.  A really "out of this world" experience.

Simply Beautiful

We left Vlore at about midnight to catch a 3:30am flight to a town and country I've never heard of (Lithuania something).  We spent and hour there and then flew to Zurich.  From Zurich we took a bus to Bern.  There were two groups of stake members ~ about 15 in our group and 6 in a group that took another flight to Vienna and then to Zurich.  They were to meet up with us there but they missed their connecting flight in Vienna and had to spend about 4 hours there waiting for another flight..

Looking out the front door toward the Alps (can't see them)

   When we arrived at the temple dorms the Stake Relief Society President greeted us with a trunk full of groceries and instructions for the week.  Most were quite tired and the temple was closed (Monday) so we had a snack and went to bed.  I think we, Dixie and I did a couple of sessions on Tuesday and decided to take a bus ride to down town Bern.  A most interesting experience...But we are getting used to being in a place where few speak your language.  The temple was beautiful.

One of the two marriage sealings

 The endowment sessions were usually provided in 4 or 5 languages ~ Shqip, German, Swiss, Italian, and English.  It was a joy to be with the Albanian saints in the temple.  We were so impressed with their diligence and desire to be there.  The two wedding\sealings were very impressive.  To view a mother, father, and two children be sealed together for all eternity was a marvelously touching experience for everyone in the room.  A testimony of the reality and effectiveness of that sealing was instilled deeply in my soul.  A recollection of my own covenants with my family was reaffirmed and I am most grateful that God has made such covenants and promises to me and mine.

We had a double wedding celebration

 These things are no lightly given nor are they frivolously received.  They have an eternal nature and are recognized as never ending covenants.  They contain beauty and fulfillment beyond words or descriptions. I can't emphasize enough how deeply I was touched by the "beyond this world" reality of what takes place in the temples of our God.

We were at the temple Tuesday through Friday and flew home Saturday.  We did endowments, sealings, and baptisms.

A truly marvelous and uplifting experience.  We've never done 4 endowment sessions in one day.  They just kept getting more and more revelatory as the day went on.

I can't get this picture to turn upright in this program.  Sorry,  turn your computer screen.

One Activity Right After the Other

Let me just catch up on a few things and add some supporting pictures.

First the flood.   Well, it started raining about 3 in the afternoon Saturdaz and rained hard all night long until about 5:00 in the morning.  When I say hard it's like buckets full.  The city was filled with water.  The streets, many homes, underground parking, businesses lower than 3 feet and all buildings close to any drainage..

Note the high water level on the house 

this is a street just outside our apartment

 The pictures tell the story better than the words.  A few of our church members had their homes flooded and one's home was destroyed. I mean they lost everything.  But here's the good part of the story... Members of the church in Durras and Tirana hearing about the flooding and loss in Vlore started collecting clothing, bedding and other things in an effort to send some relief.  After a week of donations they filled a truck full of stuff and sent it down here.

The Bishop and the Relief Society are still in the process of distributing it to needy families.  It was a tremendous outpouring of generosity and charity for their fellow saints in Vlore.

4 weeks later things are pretty much back to normal.  All the mud has been picked up and hauled off and the flooded businesses are back doing business.

We had a mission conference last week which was most inspirational.  A councilor in the Area Presidency was here and spoke to us for about 2 hours.  We met the new missionary couple replacing the Whites.  They take over the responsibilities of the mission office.

We have had a couple of really good youth activities this past two weeks.  The bowling party was fun and the Halloween party went off quite well.

 Again some pictures will help more than the words.

We continue to teach Institute class in Lushnje and Fier each week along with attending the one here in Vlore.  I am still serving on the High Council and spoke in sacrament meeting last Sunday.

We spent a week with the Europe Area YSA leaders and enjoyed learning from them all the thiings that are going on with

YSA's in all of Europe.  They are a great couple serving in Frankfort Germany and are from Utah..

I won't take time to mention the fantastic game night, the workd wide broadcast for YSA, general conference, or sharing family home evening with ward members.

Lots of love to all our friends and family in Lewiston, etc..........

3 Days on A Mission

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 2^nd 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,

Address Change

Dear Elders and Sisters,

After 6 months we are still receiving mail posted to the old address.  Please inform all your loved ones and friends  once again of the new Address:

P.O. Box 2984

Blvd. “Gjergj Fishta”, Qendra “Alpas”,

Shk. Nr. 5, Apt. Nr. 14,

Tirana, Tirana, 1000, Albania

Our angels at work - again

3 September 2015

Tuesday we went to Tirana to take the sister missionaries for transfers, pick up the mail, shop, have John's hearing aids adjusted, go to high council meeting - the usual.  In the middle of the afternoon, we got a phone call from our landlady.  Eli speaks English, but all Albanians are hard to understand on the phone.  She breathlessly asked, "Are you OK?"  Yes,  Why?  "Something...something...Gas...just wanted to make sure you are OK."  A few minutes later she called again. "something...something...fire department...able to break into your apartment...balcony...something something...only the balcony."  So we called the elders to go to our apartment and find out what was going on.  They called back and said that the propane gas tank on our balcony had exploded.  They said it was like a bomb.  There was shrapnel and glass and firemen everywhere.  But inside, our apartment is just fine.  When we got home about midnight, the landlady had cleaned up all the mess.  The balcony door was broken and wouldn't close.  There are holes in the 8"-thick concrete wall.  Almost everything that was on the balcony is shredded.  We can't use the stove, but that is the only thing we use propane for.  The whole 6-story apartment building stinks.  But generally everything is fine.  The landlord replaced the balcony doors right away.  He thinks maybe we could get along without the stove, but I may have to make some rumbles about that.    We have met a couple of people staying in hotels along the bay.  They said they heard a loud explosion and thought a bomb had gone off somewhere.  The balcony faces south, and it has been really hot, so the landlord thinks the tank go so hot it just exploded.  Just another day in paradise.  My mother always made us clean the house before we went anywhere in case there was an accident and the Relief Society (or firemen) had to come in.  She was right.

Things I am grateful for:

1.  We went to Tirana that day.

2.  I had not been doing any cooking.

3.  I did not decide to finally clean around that rusty gas tank.

4.  My laundry was not drying on the balcony.

5.  I did not pick that day to enjoy the sunshine.

6.  It wasn't my fault.

Until the next near-death experience.

Motra Larson

Trip to Sarande

I think I should say something about our adventure last week.  It was certainly something out of the ordinary and never (I hope) to be repeated again.  I wouldn't want to wish this on anyone. 
We started out Thursday on our way to a Couples Conference in Sarande - a resort town on the Ionian Sea in the southern most part of Albania.  It was our intent to drop off some missionary supplies to the Elders in Fier, inspect an apartment in Berat and then drive on down to Sarande.  The map shows a state highway going south out of Berat towards Girocaster which is just over the hill from Sarande.  We'd never been that way and decided it would give us an excuse to see some of the mountains and interior of the country.  It certainly did that.  I should know by now that the road maps they print in Albania show how the roads are going to be when they are finished with constructing them not as they presently are.
About 1 mile out of Berat we started climbing a fairly steep hill and about 2 miles out we ran out of pavement.  Repentance is knowing you're on the wrong road and turning around and getting on the right one.  We decided to press on.  The map was clear and the phone GPS was working well and we could tell we were on the right road to Girocaster but the roadway got worse and steeper and narrower.  Well, we met a 4 wheel vehicle coming from where we were going so we decided to press on knowing that there are other people using this road and so it must be alright.  After passing the first village there were no more vehicles coming our way and we soon discovered why. Nothing but a goat or a burro could have made it where we traveled in our little,  low to the ground, city car.  You know it is really scary to be driving through the middle of nowhere bouncing off rocks and scraping the sides of the car with bushes knowing that if anything should happen to the car we'd have to spend the night there.  They'd have to send in a 4 wheel drive wrecker to pull us out.  Well, we thought that surly this state highway would get better soon and where we were was just a short section that they hadn't finished yet.  Besides the map shows that there is a town just up ahead so people must travel this road all the time.  Wrong again! The town was a ghost town with one sheep herder a couple of dogs and a mule. 
Some of you may have driven the road up out of Eagle Creek Beach down on the Salmon River.  That is a "piece of cake" compared to what we were on.  The level parts were torturous enough but when we started going straight up the side of the mountain or following the switchbacks. Looking over the side at the top it was heart stopping.  Oh my how I feared driving over that land slide even if it had been dozed out just wide enough for a wagon.  The whole thing looked like it could slip again at anytime and it was a very long way to the bottom of the canyon.  And nobody in the world knew where we were,


It was a very long drive

The view is beautiful from on top




Very rocky and narrow

State Highway 74

The full moon is just coming up over the mountain

you know how you mind plays tricks on you when you're in a bad situation.  But obviously we lived to tell about it so... all's well that ends well.   right?
After 3 hours we thought we should turn back because according to the GPS we really hadn't gone very far (we were doing about 10k per hour) after about 4 hours of this insanity we stopped making jokes about the situation and the road and the beautiful mountains and the goat herds and decided it wasn't fun any more.  After 6 hours and a couple of impassable mud holes and washouts we were getting weary.  After 7 hours the car was developing some distinct rattles and scary jolting noises.  After 8 hours we finally hit pavement again and actually saw a few people.  We pulled into Sarande about 10:00 that night checked in to the motel, had a prayer together and passed out on the bed.  Now that's what missionary work is all about - right?

This is an Albanian pickup truck - very creative

Dixie's Birthday party

A Few New Pictures

Beautiful Swimming Beach

Pirate's Cave?

Nice Boat Ride to the Pennisula

The Sunsets are just exciting

See what I mean

Two new converts and one investigator with the missionaries

It's getting a little HOT here also

Every once in a while we take the opportunity to look at the weather in Lewiston.  My goodness it has been hot there.  Well, we seem to be catching up with you here in Albania.  There is one distinct difference - the humidity is a little higher here.  Like about 85%,  I don't know how that compares to Lewiston's uncomfortable index but when it's 95 F and 85% humidity all you have to do is walk out the door and you begin to perspire.  I mean I don't mind a little moisture on the brow but like my shirt is just soaked.  My collar is wet enough to wring water out of it.  So we stay inside in our air conditioned apartment a bit more.

So how's the work going?  It really seems to be moving forward pretty good.  We are happy to be here and hope that the small things that we do will be of benefit to those we help.  Our video nights in the park are going well and we enjoy being with the missionaries as they talk with people on the street.  It's good to know that even though we can't speak the language we can do something to help with teaching the gospel and working with the people.  About twice a week we set up a movie screen at the local city park and show the Bible videos while the missionaries talk with those who stop or just walk by.  There are thousands of people out in the evening just walking up and down the main street of town.  The park is full of old men playing chess, dominos and cards.  And there are always a couple of groups of kids playing soccer or volleyball.  The park is also lined on three sides with outdoor restaurants and shops.  A very different culture than the one we have in Lewiston.  At home a few people get out and walk the dyke in the evening but nothing like what we see here.  Sidewalks on both sides of the street are packed with people just strolling along enjoying the company and the cooler evening air

Emeljano took us on a boat ride last week that was really a lot of fun.  We went to a beach across the bay and then up the peninsula to a fascinating cave.  What we thought might be a few hour trip took most of the day.  But it was very enjoyable.  I enjoyed the boat ride more than staying on the beach.

Our Pathway program will be over this week and we have really enjoyed watching the students improve their English comprehension, use and writing.  So we are starting to recruit for this Fall.  Things don't look promising but we're going to see how many students we can shake out of the trees.  It's a great course and really helps the kids prepare for college work.  But many fail to see the benefit of a college education.  Seems so obvious to us but some say it doesn't matter if you have a college degree or not you still can't get a job.  So we try hard to dispel the false notion that it doesn't really matter life's going to be hard anyway.

Okay I'll try and drop in a few photos with this blog.  Be sure and check out Dixie's facebook page.  She is way a head of me on sharing photos.

This beautiful young lady was baptized last week.

Two of our YSA girls posing a the castle Kanine

Looks like Kasem got is kite in the air

Just relaxing at the castle with the kids

Flying Kites was a lot of fun... just the right amount of wind

Playing Volleyball at the beach

YSA and Sister Missionaries

What happened to June?!

Looking back it's a blurr.  But one that is full of really great memories and wonderful feelings (if only I could remember what they are).  "Of all the things I've lost I miss my mind the most!"  Let me go back through some of our pictures and my daily planner to remind myself of what we did this month....

Oh yes,  Two all day trips to Tirana for High Council meetings, fixing tithing reports for the stake, eating with the other senior missionaries, getting lost (however I am getting better at finding myself around in that city of mass confusion), stopping in to pick up the missionary mail and several other miscellaneous to do items.  We did a quick trip to Lushnja to inspect apartments before transfers, apartment inspections at Vlore and Fier and ate lunch with the missionaries.  We had an exciting trip to Berat (we took the back road this time) and a nice drive out to the end of a country road which brought us to a beautiful cove beach on the sea shore.  Okay, so we mix in a little  pleasure site seeing with the apartment inspections - that's okay isn't it?

Our YSA activities this month consisted of a pergone ride up to the Kanine Castle, a beach party (watermelon, volleyball, kite flying, campfire spiritual thoughts, etc), a really good fireside by the Stake 1st Counselor and his wife, and a movie night watching "Other Side of Heaven" with Shqip subtitles.

We've worked a little with the humanitarian missionaries (Ortons) on a couple of projects here in Vlore.  There are a few items that the home for austic children needed so we are working to itemize those things and prepare a budget to provide them.  We also went with them to a government trade school to try and get some equipment for their cooking school.  It is interesting to see how different people react as we come in and say we want to help them with their institution.  The project we completed for the orphanage here was right around $3000.00.  The church did two new parquet floors a lot of painting, some roof repair, toys and clothing.   Some act like they deserve the help while others seem really grateful for the assistance.

Working with the ward seems to be a never ending project.   I love working with the Bishopric and helping them understand the programs of the church.  They are very easy to teach and respond well to my help.  I appreciate their trust since they do not have a church handbook in their language they have to trust that I am really teaching them the correct way to do things.  Like organizing the Aaronic Priesthood, the Young Women's program, calling and setting apart members, home teaching and all the rest of the details of running a ward.  The ward council is still struggling a bit with getting along with each other but they are making great progress.

We now have an Elders Quorum President and I have been asked to be his 1st counselor.  He's doing a great job and the Home Teaching is moving forward.  It's been 0% for the last 6 months but June is up to 20% .  We are now following the lesson schedule - 1st Sunday Presidents message 2nd & 3rd Sunday President Benson and 4th Sunday General Conference.  I know that sounds like some pretty basic stuff but we are now headed in the right direction.

I love cleaning the church building early in the morning.  It's quiet, I can think, and also feel the spirit that abounds in church buildings.  I even did a little painting last week.  It's so pleasant to meet in a nice clean building.

Well, for not remembering what we've done for the past month I've sure thrown out a lot of words.  Missionary work is both rewarding and disappointing.  Some days we feel great and some days we struggle with our effectiveness.  Still in it all is a powerful influence of the Spirit of God.  We have come to know Him is a different way and can without hesitation testify that He lives and is intimately involved in the work of salvation of every one of His children.  It's true, He is our father and He loves us - everyone of us.

Elder Larson

May is all but gone.  June and summer is rapidly approaching.  The month has gone by very quickly...I know that there is still 24 hours in every day but looking back I am puzzled by the blur.  Where did the month go?  If the speed of the passing months continues to accelerate as much as it has the past 5 months we will be finished with our mission before we have time to absorb it. 

I've noticed that the space between these blog entries keeps getting wider and wider.  I think it is because the available time to make an entry is getting thinner and thinner.  There is a compounding  problem with this:  with more and more happening and longer and longer time periods between entries there is more and more to blog about.  So, admittedly I am not going to be able to mention all we have experienced since the last entry. Here are just a few highlights.

On our way to Berat to interview an individual who wanted to be baptized we passed by this most unusual place.  Upon further investigation we found it to be a restaurant.  Maybe next time we go to Berat we will stop here for Dinner.

The other photos give you a glimpse of our trip to Gyjrokastra and Sarande.  We had the chance to tour a castle and an ancient town site.  When I say ancient I mean BC.  It has been partially excavated and is now a national historic site.  We hired a guide to show us through the place and were really fascinated by the antiquity and construction of the place.

Oh, and yes we are doing some missionary work.  I am on the stake high council, serving as the temporary elder's quorum, president, organizing home teaching, working with the bishops in the stake to complete their 2014 Tithing declaration report (So, Bishop you're  not as far behind as you thought you were).  Doing a weekly Pathway Meeting, Dixie gave a sacrament meeting talk last Sunday.  I taught both the Aaronic and Melchezedek priesthood lesson, we did a YSA stake conference last Saturday, and we're working with the young missionaries teaching investigators and attending district training meetings.  Plenty of work to go around.

Pretty fancy restaurant entrance

This is a picture of the court yard around the restaurant

This is the Baptistry.  Dating from about 200 AD



This theater was originally built by the Greeks 1st Century BC. but added to and improved by the Romans in the 2nd Century AD.  It was an unique thrill to set upon a 2000 year old stadium chair (Rock) and think about all who
sat there before I did.

I would guess the bigger stones weigh 1000-2000 pounds each.  They are piled up  15 feet high.
Can anyone explain how they did that without a crane? And then fit them together so tight
that you can't get a piece of paper in between them.

We stayed in a sea side motel in Sarande.  It was awesome to watch the sun sink into the sea.

Inside the castle at Gyjirokaster.  Yup, not just a small little bungalow on top of a hill.

Another shot inside the castle at Gyjirokaster.  Who hauled in all the rock and how did they get it all to the top of this very high and very steep hill?

Time for an Update

Orphanage Project - The humanitarian missionaries came to Vlore a few weeks ago and talked with the director of the orphanage.  They identified a few ways that we (the church) could be of assistance to the children.  Over the past week we have had a contractor install a nice parkquet floor over the top of their broken tile one in two different rooms.  We will be having a contractor paint a couple of rooms and a roofer patch some of the leaks in their roof.  We also were able to get some  money approved to buy some new toys and clothes for the children.  Last Saturday we gave our Young Adults some money and sent them out on the street to buy some clothing for the children.  I must say, they really enjoyed the activity and found some really great bargains.  They seemed so excited about what they bought and how well they did.  I am sure the little ones will enjoy the clothes too.

Teaching people the Gospel -  It has been our great privilege to teach with the full-time missionaries.  They are talking to some really great individuals.   So far only a few of them do not speak English so we have been able to share our feelings about Christ and his Gospel directly with them.  When the people don't speak English  the elders translate for us.  But it is a wonderful feeling to testify and witness of Christ and our relationship with God.  We had three people baptized this last week.  It is exciting to make friends with them and see them grow in their feelings toward God and the purpose of their mission on earth.

Teaching Lessons - As the High Councilman assigned to this ward and having no Elder's Quorum president it has fallen upon me to teach the lesson in Priesthood meeting.  As you know I love to teach but in this instance I don't speak their language.  How do you teach something to some one who doesn't know a lick of what you are saying and then when they do respond you have no idea what they just said.  Wow, what a challenge it has been.  Like the rest of the church we are studying President Benson's lessons.  So I decided to see if we could get the English and the Shqip translations of his lessons up on the TV monitor at the same time, side by side.  That way we could both be looking at the same ideas and lesson points.  That worked pretty well today as we talked about home teaching and finding the lost sheep.  I hope next week will be even better.

Service Projects - We've done a couple of service projects for members this past week.  The Relief Society president needed some bricks moved from the ground floor to the roof of her 3 story home.  So we (the 6 elders and I ) moved bricks one morning.  Another family needed some help putting in a terraced hillside.  So we spent some time digging dirt and placing rock.  They were pretty physical projects and I enjoyed the exercise.

So here are a few pictures to go along with some of our adventures this past two weeks.

Clothing for the kids at the orphanage

Young Adult Dance

Adriatic seashore

Service Project with the Elders.  Beautiful view of the bay