Baptism 31 July 2017

Liliana is getting baptized this saturday! Actually each of the companionships in our district have a friend getting baptized that day. Crazy! 

Today we went to a museum called Bunkart. It told the history of Albania. Poor Albania has just jumped from under one rule to another. The bunkers that were built (hence the name bunkart) that are now scattered all over the country. It's a normal thing to see. And then when all the religious buildings were destroyed. This is the history that we often here on the street when we are talking to people. They were a very religious people, and then their religion was destroyed, people who were religious were thrown in jail (Ded, one of the friends that is getting baptized on saturday was thrown in jail for 15 years because he believed in God) 

So given their history, a statement that we hear a lot talking to people on the streets is that life is not fair. Why would God do that? Why are their people suffering when some people are rich and comfortable? I just recently read a scripture that I think pretty well gives an answer. Alma 28:13-14

13 And thus we see how great the inequality of man is because of sin and transgression, and the power of the devil, which comes by the cunning plans which he hath devised to ensnare the hearts of men.

14 And thus we see the great call of diligence of men to labor in the vineyards of the Lord; and thus we see the great reason of sorrow, and also of rejoicing—sorrow because of death and destruction among men, and joy because of the light of Christ unto life.

Here's the thing. ya we have a lot of reasons why we can just sit here and sorrow about our situation. ya life isn't fair. but here's the better option: you can have Christ's light in your life and then you can rejoice in life no matter what your circumstances are. Pretty simple fix. 

Liliana never got married, her brother and mom just recently died. She was feeling pretty hopeless. Then she met the missionaries and when she started reading the Book of Mormon she found peace. Her life is not easy. Her circumstances are not ideal.

Ded is practically a modern day Job. In prison because he believed in God. His family left him. Right now he lives in a small house in which someone just recently broke in and stole all his money. To be honest it probably wasn't a lot but it was what he had. 

These two amazing people are getting baptized on Saturday, because Christ is the only way that we can find that joy in life. We need it. Even when we don't have anything else, we always have that opportunity to have Christ in our lives.

From an undone cookie 24 July 2017

So maybe to sum up this week I'll share some quotes from lessons...

Us: If you open your heart to God, He will show you how much He loves you.
Her: I have opened my heart. I've had an operation. They cut in right in half. (Then she shows us a scar..)

 

 Thanks nëna. And the same nëna:

Us: So we all have the gift of choice. If I want to drink milk right now, I can

Her: Ju bëftë mirë (bon apetit)

 

 She's a lil spicy nena.

God put us all in the oven. He took you out unbaked. Then He forgot us in the oven.

 

So basically I'm an underdone cookie. No shame. And guess what? God loves all His cookies. I guess I'll just make this short and sweet. God loves all of us and don't you ever think that you are "the one" that He forgot. When I have a hard week and then at the end when I'm wondering why, I get sent a couple little miracles. Does that mean He only cares about me at the end of the week? na. I think He's definitely going to make me work, probably struggle. Then I can learn. But then when we need that extra boost to keep going, He will send down a little "oh just letting you know, that I still love you". And then we can keep going.

“Keep trying. Keep trusting. Keep believing. Keep growing. Heaven will be cheering you on today, tomorrow, and forever.” —Elder Jeffrey R. Holland, “Tomorrow the Lord Will Do Wonders among You”

Motra Hegërd

To the Friends of the Church 17 July 2017

Last Day with Motra Olsen

Transfers. Staying in Tirana with Sister Godfrey. Sister Olsen is going to Macedonia. woah. It'll be sad to see her go. These 6 weeks flew! Here's a thing I learned from Motra Olsen:

Romans 1:15-16

15 So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also.

16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.

WE are here, not because we are American tourists, we are not here to teach english (although we do it as a service), we are not here to work (we actually don't get paid), we aren't here to "add people to our church group", WE are here to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ because WE know that the gospel, or teachings, of Jesus Christ is the only way that we can bring salvation to those that accept it. A lot of people don't understand who we are, why we are here, and what we do. 

This is a talk from the last general conference directed to the Friends of the Church written by a convert to the church 

(https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2017/04/to-the-friends-and-investigators-of-the-church?lang=eng)

"When I first met with the missionaries, I did not understand much of what they said, and to tell you the truth, I may not have paid much attention to them. My heart was closed to a new religion. I wanted only to prove they were wrong and to gain time to convince Renee to marry me anyway.

Today my children have served and are serving missions, and I understand the sacrifices that these young men and young women make to teach the gospel of Jesus Christ. Now I wish I had paid more attention to Elder Richardson, Elder Farrell, and Elder Hyland, the wonderful missionaries who taught me.

So, from my first lesson, I say to you friends and investigators of the Church:once you meet the missionaries, please take them seriously; they are giving up important years of their lives just for you."

I know that if people take this seriously, they seriously ask God if what we are sharing is true, then they will receive an answer from God. The gospel can only change lives that are willing to be changed. I have let it change me. I'm really happy. I love my life. I love my eternal family :) 

Motra Hegërd

Dedicatory Prayer over Albania 17 July 2017

DEDICATORY PRAYER FOR THE
LAND OF ALBANIA
April 23, 1993
Elder Dallin H. Oaks
Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

Oh God, our Eternal Father, as the sun streams over the mountains from the east and
warms the land, we thank thee for this beautiful day. We thank thee for the light of the gospel.
The light of the gospel warms the land and gives light to our hearts and minds, just as the sun
lights us this morning. We thank thee for the restoration of the gospel in these latter days. We
thank thee for the Prophet Joseph Smith and for the other prophets of this dispensation, including
our present prophet, President Benson. We thank thee for all of the leaders of thy Church. We
pray for them. We pray for the members of the Church in every land. We thank thee that thou
hast seen fit to send the gospel to the nation of Albania. We thank thee that the leaders of this
land have consented for the missionaries to be here. We thank thee for the missionaries who have
come to proclaim the gospel. We thank thee for thy worthy sons and daughters who have
accepted this message and who have gone into the waters of baptism to make covenants with
thee. We are reminded of the words of a modern apostle, Parley P. Pratt, who declared, “The
morning breaks, the shadows flee, lo Zion’s banner is unfurled; the dawning of a brighter day,
majestic rises on the world.”
We thank thee for this brighter day and we pray thy blessings upon all who hear the
message of the gospel. We pray for this land, for its leaders, and for the citizens of this land. Wilt
thou bless them with wisdom and strength, that the light of freedom be preserved in this land,
that those who are hungry may be fed, that those who are suffering may be comforted. We pray
that this land may produce in abundance for this people. We pray that its industries may flourish.
We pray that peace may be preserved in this land for the blessing of its people. We pray that thou
wilt forestall the forces of evil and frustrate every effort that would interrupt the peace and
freedom and prosperity of this land. And now, in the authority of the holy priesthood, and in the
office of an apostle which I hold, I turn the key for the preaching of the gospel in this land of
Albania. I open the door for thy work in this land that the gospel may be proclaimed here, that this
message in its fullness may lighten this land and bless the lives of its people. I bless the people of
the scattered tribes of Albania wherever they may be in this world, in Italy, in Kosovo, in the
United States of America, and in other lands that their hearts may be inclined to their native land,
that the missionaries may be led to their doorsteps, that they may hear and understand the
message of the gospel, that they may send aid and support to their native land.
We bless the people of this land that they may hear and understand the message of the
gospel, that they may make covenants with thee, and keep those covenants, that they may be
blessed. We bless this land that the spiritual gifts may be rich here, that the gifts of
communication and understanding may be felt in abundance, that the gifts of blessing and healing
and translating may be here. We pray that those who translate the scriptures may be guided of
thy Holy Spirit that the message of the gospel may be given in its fullness and clarity through thy
holy scriptures, and by those who preach and teach in this land. And now, Holy Father, we pray
that all of these blessings may be granted to thy children, and in the office of the holy apostleship
that I hold, I bless this land and its people, and open the door for the preaching of the gospel here,
and all of this according to thy holy will. We testify of Jesus Christ, our Savior, and thank thee for
his atonement and redemption. As we have sung, we believe in Christ, and all that we do in the
sacred name of Jesus Christ, Amen.