This is Brissi Beleshi (on the left) and a friend (non-member) at one of our activities.  We were up at the monument where Albania was dedicated and the wind was blowing a lot.  Brissi speaks very good English, but we have a hard time keeping her coming. 

This is Besmir Gjoni who just went to the temple for the first time.  He had us help him with some family names so he could do their work while at the temple.  He did his grandfather, uncle, great grandfather and great grandmother.  His family is Muslim, but they gave him permission to do this work.  He was so excited to go and it was so fun to help him get ready.  Glen taught him the temple prep. lessons.

This is Neti Lapi getting the names and numbers of two girls that stopped to talk and we invited them to stay for the activity.  They came out a few times, but nothing happened.  Elsa, in the purple, was working with them.  The girl in the back next to Elsa is Besmir Marku's sister.  They are Muslims and her father won't let her get baptized.  Besmir is baptized and is one of our strongest members.  His sister will be 18 soon and we hope then she can be baptized.  Neti is in our branch presidency and is preparing to serve a mission.  Glen has been teaching him the missionary prep. lessons, and he is getting all his medicals done.  He is 23 and is so excited to finally be going.  That is Besmir Gjoni next to Neti who is also in the branch presidency.

The Road to Elbasan, New Mission President

Last Sunday Glen and I were to assigned to speak in Elbasan.  To get to Elbasan from Tirana we have to drive over the mountain.  It winds back and forth all the way up and down.  Of course in  Albania there is not much to protect you from going over the edge and it is a sheer drop-off.  Riding on the passenger side, I can hardly stand to look down.  The road is very narrow and cars  travel at top speed going around the bends.  Glen went to pass a truck when a dog darted out in front of us.  He slammed on the brakes and the dog ran back which was a good thing because we couldn't get back to the right side of the road, we had to go forward to pass the truck.  We made it without having a head-on, but it was scary.  Of course, Glen thrives on roads like this.  It was much, much worse than driving on the road to Hana.  I never thought I would be excited to be back on the roads in Tirana, but I was that day.  My heart started beating normally again.  On our way home, Glen stopped to take a picture of the valley below and met a women from Bulgaria.  She saw his name tag and of course a conversation ensued.  As he was explaining about our church, and living prophets again on the earth, she wanted to know if they had been reborn.  Glen said no, then she asked how we knew he was a real prophet.  Unfortunately we didn't have any pass along cards with us, but as Glen was looking through his scriptures for a card, she got excited thinking they had gold on them.  Anyway she and her husband drove off, but we hope someday they will see the missionaries and talk to them.

We were asked to speak on the topics forgiveness and choose not to be offended.  Albanians get very offended and need this talk every week.  There is a branch is Fier which used to be the strongest branch is Albania.  The RS Pres. and YW Pres. got into an argument and the branch took sides.  Then a new branch president was called, but because he was missing part of his arm, the members decided he wasn't whole, so he couldn't be called of God to preside over the branch.  An apostacy took place and the branch went inactive.  There are only between five and 15 members that are active or semi-active to this day.  They even had a piece of property to build a chapel on.  So sad.  I took my thoughts from Elder Bednar's conference talk in 2006 where he addressed this very subject.  It is hard to understand how people can be willing to give up their eternal salvation for such little things. 

Yesterday we met our new mission president.  Both he and his wife are wonderful.  They are like a breath of fresh air.  Elder Ford was an Area Authority, lives in England and has a law practice.  They are only in their fifties, which makes us feel really old, but they are very sharp and fun.  They both have a great sense of humor and are going to be a real blessing to this mission.  They met with our zone yesterday, and today met with the outer zone.  The missionaries were a little apprehensive at changing mission presidents, but I think they are very pleased with the Fords.  We lose 13 missionaries on the 12th of July.  This is a big group and most of our leadership, so the others will have to work very hard to fill in the blanks.  Pres. Ford is actually going to interview the couples, so we are really looking forward to our interview.

Since our last post where we were told we could not have a new center, things have changed.  Now we are to try and find someplace, not very expensive, that could be used as a center.  So we are looking again.  It seems two other places in Europe need a stand alone center, and if they are looking at doing it for them, then they will have to do it for us also.  Kind of sad, if you ask me, but we will take what we can get.  This has been a very frustrating four months for us.  We feel we have been hitting brick walls everywhere we go.  We can understand why couples struggle with going on missions.  We don't expect things to be perfect, nothing is, but we do expect a little cooperation with meeting our needs.  There are so many different departments in the Church, and so much protection over each department, they have forgotten how to work together for the common good of the Church.  We are all members and we all want to see the gospel move forward, that means we all need to work together for this to happen.  Someone forgot to tell that to Germany.  Anyway, we are pleased with their decision and now need to find the right place.

 

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A picture of a shepherd watching his flock up on a hillside in Kruje (crewee).  We were visiting the ruins of a castle and stopped to eat at the restaurant in the white building. 

Us and the Prestons overlooking Tirana where Elder Oaks came in 1993 to dedicate Albania for preaching the gospel.  Sister Preston just had an emergency appendectomy at the Greek hospital and is doing good.  We are all a little anxious about the doctors and hospitals here, so this is good news.

The chapel in Elbasan  which was built out of the city and no one can get there unless they are bussed.  The Albanian way of life needs to be studied before chapels are built.  People don't have cars, and regular buses don't run here, so they hire mini buses to take the members.  I am not sure who pays for the buses.

This is in Kruje again.  A favorite pass time for men is to sit and play games (dominoes).  They have no jobs, and this occupies their time. 

Cars & Trucks and things that go

We have now adjusted to all the crazy drivers and pedestrians who run in front of the cars anytime they see an opening.  Glen and I usually wait for the light to turn green for us.  We make sure the cars and trucks and motorcycles have stopped before we cross.  Just when we think we are safe and start to cross, along comes a bicycle and almost runs us over.  They just don't understand "right of way" here.  You can't even be nice and allow one driver to go through, because five or six will follow him without stopping.  They are crazy, crazy, crazy drivers, and a little scary, well actually a lot scary.  Now that we have a car and drive in this crazy town, we are always so very grateful to get to our little apartment safely, park the car, and only drive when we have to.  Actually it is easier and safer for us to walk where we have to go in the city, and only use the car for distances. 

We received word, on our anniversary, that Germany is not in favor of us having a bigger Center.  They don't want to put money into Albania, they are too busy with other projects.  We haven't given up, we are just going to wait for our new mission president and see how he feels about it.  Being a general authority, he may have more pull or at least more clout.  Elder Causse who is the first counselor in the Area Presidency and also in the 1st Quorum of Seventy will be here in Tirana on Thursday and wants to speak to the YA's that night.  We are hoping to show him our numbers and space in hopes of getting a little sympathy.  We understand he likes Albania.  Meanwhile we forge ahead with our program.  We have enlisted the help of Pres. Apostoli who is in the district presidency to work with us in finding YA's.  He is the one Glen is supposed to be finding a wife for.  He is a wonderful man, retired, and has lots of time on his hands, so he is excited to work with us.  And the YA's love him.

We had a little retreat last week with our mission president and the other couples in Albania.  Pres. & Sister Neil go home the end of this month and it was good to spend a little time with them.  We went to Durres and stayed in this hotel on a side street that turned the lighting off when the sun came up to save on electricity.  Luckily in our room the outlets still worked.  We went to a museum that had artifacts dating back to 7th Century BC.  Durres is a town right on the coast, and a lot of travel came across the Adriatic Sea in bibical times.  It was quite interesting.  We then walked across the street to an ice cream restaurant and sat on the outside area enjoying the cool breeze from the sea.  Then we walked to the amphi theatre, which is the second largest in the Balkins, and dates back to the Christian era  of  900 AD, where we could picture the gladiators, animals and people sitting and watching things take place.  We also walked underneath to see the places they kept the animals and slaves and whatever else they would send out into the arena.

We spoke in 1st Branch two Sundays ago, this next Sunday we go to Vlore to speak, then on the 4th Sunday we go to Elbasan.  Vlore is down south on the coast,, so we will go the night before and stay then come home after Church.  It is a three hour or so drive.  The summer has hit, very  hot and humid and we aren't to July yet, which gives us something to look forward to!!!!  Our health is good, we enjoy walking the streets of Tirana, and for the most part people are friendly.  We are doing good.

One more thing.  I don't know if we told you about Amarildo.  He comes from an atheist family.  They are not happy with  him joining the church and do not like him reading the B of M at home.  He is a faithful priesthood holder, but can never leave home in a white shirt and tie.  So Glen and I bought  him a white shirt an tie which he will leave at the church.  He wore it Sunday for the first time and was able to participate in passing the Sacrament.  He was so happy.  Little things we take for granted are so wonderful to people here.  It was very humbling to us.  There is another man who was just baptized, and cannot afford to buy a shirt, so we will get him one also.  Blessings, Blessings, Blessings!!!