Saturday, July 23, 2011
Pictures
New Mission President, Brother Lami, this and that
We finally had our interview with Pres. Ford. My heart goes out to new mission presidents who have transfers two weeks after arriving, not to mention everything else they have to deal with. But it was a very positive experience. He is all for a new Center and is going to call Frankfurt to see exactly what they will be willing to do. As he has been an area authority, he knows everyone we need to deal with, which is a very positive thing. Anyway we will see what happens. Some of our concerns he has already recognized and knows very aggressive training has got to be done for the leadership of all the district. He is a no nonsense type person and gets right to the point. He wanted to know if my faith was strong, and I told him if it wasn't I would have gone home months ago. But I know the Lord has a purpose for us and we are to fulfill that purpose. And we will!!!
For one of our last hurrahs, before we lost half the district to transfers, we went out to the Lami's. Bro. Lami was just baptized about six weeks ago and is a great person. Before he was baptized, the Elders could not say anything nice about him. How the Spirit changes a person. There were 10 missionaries allowed to come to his baptism, those who had worked with the family before, so you know he has been a hard case. We bought him a white shirt for Sundays, and when Glen was out there before, just with the Elders, he went and put on his white shirt and Sunday pants, also a tie he had, and came out and modeled for Glen. Glen put his name tag on Bro. Lami, and he beamed from ear to ear. It was a sweet experience. When we were out a few weeks later, they cooked us corn (field corn is what they eat) over an open fire (it was already 110 F.), brought us byrect, and then a dessert, which they make like rice pudding, but put a couple of beaten eggs on the top and bake it. They made a drink out of plums they grow, which you could have chewed, but just treated us royally. They live off the land, and away from the city quite a distance. We are to come out often.
We also visited the Topi family. They are an active family in the ward who speak English. Bro. Topi is over the security at the American Embassy. The security guards are made up of Albanians. When you visit anyone, they always serve you a drink and cake or something. You need to remember not to eat before you go. The sisters then took me to Mylinda's Iftiu's home, who is our RS Pres. and, of course, she also fed us things. Mylinda is a seamstress and is making me some skirts. She does a pretty good job. A few days later, our Zone Leaders, who are in our district, called and wanted us to visit the Cara family, who went inactive in 2007. They were sealed in the temple in 2002, but Motra Cara got her feelings hurt by a member of our branch, and they stopped coming. They spoke some English and could understand us. We invited them to come back, told them we needed them and they needed the Sacraments of the Church. They have two YA daughters who have gone the way of the world, but we hope and pray they will all come back into activity. They are special people. They fed us ice cream, little cakes, and water. It is a good thing we walk a lot!!! They do get their feelings hurt if you don't eat.
Our internet seems to be down more than it is up. We will probably have to change the modem. It is very, very frustrating, but other than that our spirits are up and we are moving forward. Glen still hasn't found Pres. Apostoli a wife, but he will keep looking. We speak in Dega 1, tomorrow for Sacrament mtg. on missionary work, and we are trying to get prepared for our YA Conference the end of Gusht (August). Some words I think in Shqip (sh-cheep ((Albanian Language))) so it is best to use them.
We had a 4th of July party at out apartment with the Elders and Sisters of our district. The A.P.'s also attended. One of the A.P.'s (Elder Fey) is British, but didn't seem to mind. We took a picture of him holding the American flag. He was a good sport. We have also had home-made icecream. Life is good !!!!
For one of our last hurrahs, before we lost half the district to transfers, we went out to the Lami's. Bro. Lami was just baptized about six weeks ago and is a great person. Before he was baptized, the Elders could not say anything nice about him. How the Spirit changes a person. There were 10 missionaries allowed to come to his baptism, those who had worked with the family before, so you know he has been a hard case. We bought him a white shirt for Sundays, and when Glen was out there before, just with the Elders, he went and put on his white shirt and Sunday pants, also a tie he had, and came out and modeled for Glen. Glen put his name tag on Bro. Lami, and he beamed from ear to ear. It was a sweet experience. When we were out a few weeks later, they cooked us corn (field corn is what they eat) over an open fire (it was already 110 F.), brought us byrect, and then a dessert, which they make like rice pudding, but put a couple of beaten eggs on the top and bake it. They made a drink out of plums they grow, which you could have chewed, but just treated us royally. They live off the land, and away from the city quite a distance. We are to come out often.
We also visited the Topi family. They are an active family in the ward who speak English. Bro. Topi is over the security at the American Embassy. The security guards are made up of Albanians. When you visit anyone, they always serve you a drink and cake or something. You need to remember not to eat before you go. The sisters then took me to Mylinda's Iftiu's home, who is our RS Pres. and, of course, she also fed us things. Mylinda is a seamstress and is making me some skirts. She does a pretty good job. A few days later, our Zone Leaders, who are in our district, called and wanted us to visit the Cara family, who went inactive in 2007. They were sealed in the temple in 2002, but Motra Cara got her feelings hurt by a member of our branch, and they stopped coming. They spoke some English and could understand us. We invited them to come back, told them we needed them and they needed the Sacraments of the Church. They have two YA daughters who have gone the way of the world, but we hope and pray they will all come back into activity. They are special people. They fed us ice cream, little cakes, and water. It is a good thing we walk a lot!!! They do get their feelings hurt if you don't eat.
Our internet seems to be down more than it is up. We will probably have to change the modem. It is very, very frustrating, but other than that our spirits are up and we are moving forward. Glen still hasn't found Pres. Apostoli a wife, but he will keep looking. We speak in Dega 1, tomorrow for Sacrament mtg. on missionary work, and we are trying to get prepared for our YA Conference the end of Gusht (August). Some words I think in Shqip (sh-cheep ((Albanian Language))) so it is best to use them.
We had a 4th of July party at out apartment with the Elders and Sisters of our district. The A.P.'s also attended. One of the A.P.'s (Elder Fey) is British, but didn't seem to mind. We took a picture of him holding the American flag. He was a good sport. We have also had home-made icecream. Life is good !!!!
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