I STAND ALL AMAZED! July 10, 2017

(Qëndroj Plot Habi) I STAND ALL AMAZED! This is my favorite himn and this week it brought some miracles. Ok so we had a training where President Anderson told us to try and use music in our teaching. Also we talked about talking about baptism more throughout the lesson. So, we made some quick goals as we went to a lesson after the training to sing and to talk a lot about baptism. This was a first lesson with a lady, Mariona, we had met two days earlier. We started with this song Qëndroj Plot Habi. Then we said a prayer and it seriously was one of the coolest lessons I have ever had. We were not afraid to tell her who we were, why we were there, and throughout we just always said-and this is why we follow Christ, we do that by being baptized. The book of Mormon testifies of Christ and we try to become like Him, we do this through baptism. Then after we had taught about the restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ, we asked her if she wanted to be baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ. She said-well of course I want to, I will do anything for this happiness for me and my daughters. Of course I will read the Book of Mormon.  Two days later in the second lesson (we were on an exchange so unfortunately I wasn't there but) she said 1. I read 42 pages of the Book of Mormon and 2. now I know who you are. I read about what I am going through in my life. When they said that we are called by God, she said, I know. 

Another lesson with the same song. With Alma, with whom we have taught about english and the gospel. We wanted to talk a lot about baptism to help her understand why we are here. We seriously just talked about Christ and His love and why we follow Him. I felt the Spirit so strong I cried. woah. But this time, she didn't want to be baptized. But we still felt good because we know that we did what we were supposed to do-show who we are, why we are here, and to invite her to have that too. And now she knows that AND felt the Spirit.

Numero Bekimet (Count your blessings) is the most overplayed oversung song in all of Albania. The Albanians LOVE this song. So it has become one of my...not first picks...but we went to Alma Sulevari's house who is less active and has been for a long time. At the end of the lesson we asked her if she had a favorite himn, numero bekimet...oh...BUT it was cool like we were singing it I just felt super happy and like everyone there was just enjoying the song, enjoying this himn. So it was cool to feel a new way that the Spirit can touch you through music-just plain I'm happy. :)

Music is a powerful tool. Actually it's the reason I chose to go to school at BYU. I went to a musical devotional and felt the spirit so strong I started crying and so did my mom. I decided that I should go to school there because it would be there that I could feel that spirit, that I could get ready to go on a mission. So not only now on my mission has it been an effect in my life but throughout. If you feel that Spirit, go to the places where you feel it. That's where the blessings come. We want to feel good and happy. We want to feel the Spirit. What a great blessing that we have that Heavenly Friend. And we can have it forever with us, when we are baptized in the name of Jesus Christ, by someone who actually has His authority. And then we receive that gift of the Spirit. And the Spirit gives "love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith" Galatians 5:22

Have a good week! Don't forget to Sing!

Motra Hegërd

Bat Caves July 10, 2017

We went to bat caves! u Rrëshqita! i slipped...classic

Good thing someone else is in charge of this work July 3, 2017

Albanian expression of the week:

Ha. Merr. Ik.   Amerik.  (eat. take. leave. america) get it?

Summer:

I have seen way too many xhaxhi's (old men) without shirts on. just chilling. cool. alright.

Speaking of xhaxhi's, one totally recited poetry to us, memorized and in english. he was actually pretty good. impressive. and then he told us we were stars of the earth. then he kissed our hands. aww

I tried a fig for the first time. weird monster looking fruit but hey not that bad.

This week, especially Sunday was full of miracles. Of course every day we can see miracles doing this work, but it's an extra special blessing when you don't have to think very hard because they are too many miracles to remember! So basically yesterday every meeting we had with people cancelled...and because of that we met people "randomly" in the street. 

1. we were supposed to meet a girl from Shkodër who came to Tirana and didn't know where the church was. She didnt come. So we ran into a member on the way to church. And we ran into a lady, Merita, that we had called the night before and had set up a meeting for later that day. We asked her if she wanted to come to church with us-She came! (what?!)

2. When we were in church, another lady, Katrina, walked in that we had invited to church. (let me just add-when people come to church- yes, it is a miracle)

3. Then we still were going to meet Merita, that came to church with us but she ended up being at work so didn't show up. So instead, this other lady, Rumie, that had met Sister Ollsen before but they had never been able to set up a lesson with her, came and was like hey come to my house...oh ok yes ok. what?!

4. Then after that lesson we were able to go to the house of Merita and her family. Perfect timing because family members just kept coming in. 

What an awful day right? haha wow so cool. It's great to be able to see days that just kind of "fall into place". 

Hey even when we may think that everything is ruined, just wait for everything to just fall into place. maybe not the place we thought they would be but end up being so much better. Good thing someone else is in charge of this work and not me :)

Have a great week!

Motra Hegërd

that humidity...

also encaptured is a classic nena watering her patio.

the two presidents and us tirana missionaries singing at the airport