These last two months have been very busy for us and we are glad things are settling down a little. On August 20 we were asked to pick up the presenters for EFY and take them down to Llogora, then wait until Wednesday and take them back. They came from Portugal, Holland, Germany and England. We borrowed the old blue van from the office elders since it held nine, and had so many different conversations going on in the van in different languages, it made us smile. We then went back down to Llogora on Monday, August 29, to the YA Conference which we were basically in charge of, and had a good time with them. We had 69 YA's go which was the biggest conference ever and except for a few encounters, most went really well. It is a little harder to chaperone YA's than it is seminary students and by midnight we just had to call it a night. We are glad it was only for three days because we were extremely tired by Wednesday night. We saw new members welcomed, testimonies strengthened, and friendships formed. We had a dance and they danced their native dances, it was so fun to watch. Albanians enjoy parties. I made over 400 cookies for family night up there and they ate almost every one. They love homemade cookies.
Elder Clayton from the First Quorum of Seventy visited and wanted to have a fireside with the YA's. We had a good turnout and the visitors wanted food after, so I fixed them food. The next morning they had a meeting with the missionaries in the Tirana area. As couples we usually don't go to these meetings, but for some reason they wanted the couples there also. Being obedient we went. The next week (last week) we had three men from BYU Idaho come to talk to the YA's , presenting a program for online courses at reduced costs, to give opportunities to these members they wouldn't have otherwise. There was a lot of interest in this and we are grateful for this opportunity. Of course, this was a fact-finding mission, but we feel it will happen. We also went to Apollonia last Tuesday, not Paul's Apollonia, but the Albanian Apollonia. At first we thought it was Paul's, but in doing research there was another Apollonia above the Black Sea and this was where Paul went. However, we did learn that the Greeks founded Apolonia in 620 BC, and the Romans conquered it after that. Festus and Agrippa visited around 34 AD, and Caesar visited in 48 BC. Pompey visited also. So many important events. Not much of the city remains, and the excavation is going very slowly, but is was still fun to see what we could. So much ancient history here in Albania.
I thought it would be fun to tell you a little about the street vendors here in Tirana. You can buy everything on the street from underwear to jewelry, used shoes, cigarettes (most everyone smokes), plus all kinds of fruits and vegetables. On the busy streets they set up their areas around 9:00 a.m. and stay there until 9:00 p.m. They sit on boxes, foot stools, whatever they have all day long. It just amazes us to see so many of them. The sidewalks are very wide, and they are on both sides, leaving the middle to walk down. Then there are also the beggars, Romas (Gypsies) with young children, begging money. They keep their child covered and we believe drugged so they will sleep. It is a sad, sad thing to watch. Some are more industrious and when you stop for a traffic light, they run out and wash your window before you can tell them no. But at least they are giving a service for our dollar. What happens in the winter months we will soon find out, but we know there won't be nearly as many unless they are in a protected place. We have our favorite places to go to buy fruits and vegetables and our rolls and bread. We try and stay away from the yummy pastries, but every once in a while we can't resist. There is also a form of ice cream here that is really good. Each vendor makes his own, and we have a favorite place to stop for that also. We aren't suffering.
Glen got his time with Germany. Elder Fingerle who has been so against a stand alone Center for us, came with Elder Clayton. He asked Glen a question and for the next 40 minutes they were in deep conversation. We understand he looks more favorably on a Center now, so it is just a matter of finding the right place. Things are looking up and we are grateful for that.
GO UTES !!!!!!
