Dear Family:
We are finally on the internet. You don't realize what a lifeline it is until you can't use it. We have had the most frustrating week. Pres. & Sister Neil picked us up at the airport at 2:30 p.m. Albania time. We couldn't figure why everyone was so anxious to get off the plane almost to the point of rudeness, until we went inside to get our luggage and noticed the customs' lines. Nobody in Albania wants to wait for anyone. We were the last to go through with our 250lbs of luggage plus our bags with our materials in which weighed another 20 lbs each at least. We drove through traffic and decided we were very glad we didn't have a car. Much worse than Mexico, Malaysia and the Philippines. We dropped off our luggage in our apartment (which is another story), went to dinner with two couples and the Mission Pres. & Wife. He gave us a phone that ended up not working (which we didn't know for 24 hours). The dinner was great, then Pres. Neil helped dad get monies out of an ATM machine that was safe, then brought us back to our apartment. Dad tried to set up the computer only to find out it needed a password which we didn't have. It took two days to find out the password, then we found out the internet in the building was down. To top it off, we haven't been able to get any monies out of the ATM since. Today has really been the downer. Still no money, no internet, plus frustration at how we are going to accomplish our calling. I was looking out our window at the city (at night it looks much nicer), feeling very down and sad, wondering why these things were happening. I decided to go back out and read my scriptures, and in a few minutes dad called and said, Virginia, were on. My heart swelled, my eyes tiered up, and I was so grateful for the blessing we had just received.
I could go on and on, but just know we are ok. The Young Adults we have met are wonderful. They are loving and kind and want to help us anyway they can. The two couples here have been a great help.The Prestons who e-mailed you, have already become great friends, we must have known each other in the pre-existence, and the Wilsons who are the humanitarian couple, invited us to dinner Sunday and took us shopping yesterday. So life hasn't been all bad. For family night Monday night I served waffles to the young adults which they loved. Most of them speak English, but the meetings are conducted in Albanian.
Anyway life is good, the gospel is true and Karen is working with the Credit Union to get our money problem resolved. It will all turn out. By the way, Pres. Neil gave us another phone which works!!!
We love you very much and are grateful for your prayers in our behalf.
Will write more later and try to include some pictures which we haven't taken any.
Love Mom and Dad
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