Thanksgivi​ng? Sa shpejt!

It has been pretty rainy here in Lushnje. But lucky for me, I got to see a rainbow...3 days in a row! The first one disappeared so fast I barely got a picture, the the next morning when I saw another one I grabbed a bowl of cereal and just sat there and watched it appear. The next day it was a double rainbow! I love little happy tender mercies of the Lord!

This past week (Friday) was clean Albania day! Kids got out of school for the day, or part of the day and went around picking up trash. It was fun to see groups holding slightly soiled napkins and taking pictures.

Round is the new square when it comes to baking pans in Albania. Round pans are used in making byrek, therefore they seem to be the pan of choice for everything. Fun stuff. 

I love having fresh bread here in Albania. Its something I know I will miss (our teachers in the MTC talked about missing it). The funny thing is when Motra Tengu got here and she saw some packaged bread in the store (you don't see it often). She asked if we could get it even though it was kind of expensive. We did and it tastes like packaged bread back home (pretty much). She loves it. I'll continue to enjoy bakery bread for as long as I can. It always seems like you want what you don't have. Haha.

Albania has their Independence day the same day we have Thanksgiving. A day to celebrate for sure! Can't wait!

I always thought it was funny how missionaries referred to the trainer/trainee relationship as parent/child... but since becoming a trainer, it feels like being a parent more than I thought it would. When I compliment or thank her for doing something she absolutely beams. We do things slowly to allow her to learn. I rejoice in her success. I feel pain when she feels pain. I often want to protect her from things, but realize she has to learn from certain experiences. She follows closely behind me and often imitates the things that I do (It is so important to be a good example) But most of all, I just love her lots!

But also as a "parent" I feel like you are so much more aware of your own weaknesses. Its just made me so grateful for the Atonement and the ability we have to change. I'm not perfect, but having someone learning from everything I do makes me re-evaluate what I'm doing even more and think about how I could be better. 

I noticed last week. I'm not sure exactly when it happened but Albanian has seemed to click for me. Më në fund!  I understand what people are saying and I'm able to express myself. It was as if one day the light just turned on. Not that I understand everything (I don't) or can say everything I want correctly (I don't)...but I'm finally feeling like I can follow conversations and contribute to them. I know you're probably thinking 'after speaking and listening in only Albanian for 2 months it just NOW clicked?'. But yeah. Më në fund! I'm sure grateful it did. Maybe I'm a late bloomer, but better late than never!

Anyways, happy Thanksgiving! How grateful I am to be a missionary! 

Ju dua!

Motra Kërtis

Pictures: lots from the rainbows and I've been super bad and having taken pictures with my companion so I've included a couple from when we were in Durrës (a wedding and with her mission call)

Well that was slightly unexpected

C'kemi!

This has been my last week with Motra Guri. It has been such an adventure being companions with her. It has come with unique experiences and lots of learning. I'm so grateful for the time I had with her and all that I learned. It seemed everyone in the branch wanted to feed her before she left so we've eaten quite a bit this past week. As her first companion/trainer we always joked about me being her ma (mission lingo: a missionary's trainer is their "ma") Motra Guri just has the biggest heart and is so outgoing and funny. I'll miss having  her around. She is going home to finish her papers and then will hopefully get her mission call soon!

Guess what? I'm going to be a trainer! I wasn't expecting that until January when the big group of sisters come from the MTC, but Klaudia is coming back from the Madrid MTC Tuesday and I"ll be training her, crazy! I thought President said he was going to wait and train her with the big group. Guess plans changed. I'm nervous but I don't know why because I feel like I got to have a 'trial run training' with my mini. I think that experience is really what is going to enable me to train Motra Tengu. But this time I'll be on the training program with her. My first official daughter. Whaat?!

I remember helping Klaudia finish her mission papers. I took the picture that we attached to her papers. Then she wanted to wait a couple days to open her call when her whole family could be there and asked us to keep it in our apartment. I remember standing by her as she opened her call (literally, she wanted me to stand right next to her). Now I will be her first companion and trainer. What a new experience this will be. 

I'm grateful to be training an Albanian because I don't know that I am currently prepared to train/help someone in the language. I feel like Heavenly Father is just trying to give me all the help He can with the language. I don't know why, but Albanian just seems especially hard for me, I still make so many rookie mistakes. Sometimes I feel like I'll never "really" get in down. But even when we want to give up on ourselves the Lord NEVER gives up on us...even with something like learning a language. Prandaj, He just keeps giving me native companions! Here it goes!

Remember that one time Motra Guri asked this lady if she was ready for the 2nd coming of Christ and then when she answered "yes", raised her eyebrows and asked if she had been baptized....well we've been teaching her and she got baptized this weekend! It was beautiful. The water was cold but she said when she came up she didn't feel cold at all. Her first covenant with God. But it't not the end, I'm excited for her to continue to learn and prepare for the temple. She is amazing. 

Missionary work is full of change. But I'm grateful for every aspect of missionary work. I know that its the Lords work and I love that we get to take part in it. Missionary work is full of growing and stretching. The church is true! God love us! 

Peace and blessings!

Motra Curtis

Pictures:
1. On exchange in Fier we were given the heaviest bags of oranges and mandarins! I think I'm 37.8 % stronger now. 

2. Iliriana and her family at her baptism!

3. People who I love.

Well that was slightly unexpected

This has been my last week with Motra Guri. It has been such an adventure being companions with her. It has come with unique experiences and lots of learning. I'm so grateful for the time I had with her and all that I learned. It seemed everyone in the branch wanted to feed her before we left so we've eaten quite a bit this past week. As her first companion/trainer we always joked about me being her ma (mission lingo: a missionary's trainer is their "ma") Motra Guri just has the biggest heart and is so outgoing and funny. I'll miss having  her around. She is going home to finish her papers and then will hopefully get her mission call soon!

Guess what? I'm going to be a trainer! I wasn't expecting that until January when the big group of sisters come from the MTC, but Klaudia is coming back from the Madrid MTC Tuesday and I"ll be training her, crazy! I thought President said he was going to wait and train her with the big group. Guess plans changed. I'm nervous but I don't know why because I feel like I got to have a 'trial run training' with my mini. I think that experience is really what is going to enable me to train Motra Tengu. But this time I'll be on the training program with her. My first official daughter. Whaat?!

I remember helping Klaudia finish her mission papers. I took the picture that we attached to her papers. Then she wanted to wait a couple days to open her call when her whole family could be there and asked us to keep it in our apartment. I remember standing by her as she opened her call (literally, she wanted me to stand right next to her). Now I will be her first companion and trainer. What a new experience this will be. 

I'm grateful to be training an Albanian because I don't know that I am currently prepared to train/help someone in the language. I feel like Heavenly Father is just trying to give me all the help He can with the language. I don't know why, but Albanian just seems especially hard for me, I still make so many rookie mistakes. Sometimes I feel like I'll never "really" get it down. But even when we want to give up on ourselves the Lord NEVER gives up on us...even with something like learning a language. Prandaj, He just keeps giving me native companions! Here it goes!

Remember that one time Motra Guri asked this lady if she was ready for the 2nd coming of Christ and then when she answered "yes", raised her eyebrows and asked if she had been baptized....well we've been teaching her and she got baptized this weekend! It was beautiful. The water was cold but she said when she came up she didn't feel cold at all. Her first covenant with God. But it't not the end, I'm excited for her to continue to learn and prepare for the temple. She is amazing. 

 

Missionary work is full of change. But I'm grateful for every aspect of missionary work. I know that its the Lords work and I love that we get to take part in it. Missionary work is full of growing and stretching. The church is true! God love us! 

Peace and blessings!

Motra Curtis

Pictures:
1. On exchange in Fier we were given the heaviest bags of oranges and mandarins! I think I'm 37.8 % stronger now. 

2. Iliriana and her family at her baptism!

3. People who I love.

 

I love you, my chocolate!

Don't have much time this week!

Here are the things to know:

It was a rough/awesome week with investigators. We got dropped by a couple people. The hardest was with our investigator that was waiting for her baby to be born before getting baptized. We met with her this week and before we started the lesson she told us that she got an answer to her prayers. To quote Jinx from The District "I got my answer, the Mormons not for me." That was heartbreaking. We have gotten really close with her and she has been such a stellar investigator with a real desire to know. We had one more lesson with her but nothing really changed. She doesn't want us to come back to teach her but is still friendly. I hope one day that answer changes.

On a higher note, our other investigator passes her baptismal interview and is getting baptized this week! Yeah! She is sweet. Her daughter has been sick for the past couple days but hopefully gets feeling better soon.

Fun things to know: 

Motra Guri is on a weight losing kick right now and is always telling me what will make you thin or fat. I guess eating yogurt after meals means you can eat whatever you want and however much you want (is there any kind of proof of that? If you find any I would be interested to know). But she also says that crepes will make you fat but insists that ice cream won't. She also didn't know that exercise would help in losing weight. But I don't blame her for being concerned. I've never been fed so much! I've been fed more in this past week than my entire time in Durres. I don't know if its the area of that people absolutely adore my companion (which they do). All the time they tell her that they love her because she understands them. And its true, she loves giving health advice, singing Albaninan songs, and can talk culture stuff with them.

There is this song she has been singing all week about chocolate and I finally asked her about it, I guess its a real popular pet name that boys will use with there girlfriends: "I love you my chocolate". I think its hilariously awesome but can't take that song seriously anymore.

I didn't really how much Motra Guri and I use sound effects to communicate. I think it started our first week and has just carried over. Plus she is a sound effects kind of talker anyways and I've become more of one being around her. But is makes our conversations more interesting. 

Another thing I love about Albania is that people instead of saying "mommy", "mom" or anything like that they say "oh ma". The little kids, the teenagers, everyone. I not-so-secretly love it and may or may not apply it to my everyday life now. The same goes for dad but its short from babi, prandaj its "oh ba". 

I had my first go at making byrek this week. I'm pretty sure most missionaries learn in the homes of members but I got to make it in a bakery! (yes, the magical bakery). It was way fun. I'm not a natural but I'm sure with practice I could open a business and make millions. Or just make it for friends and family when I get home. Whichever happens first. 

I love being a missionary. I know the church is absolutely and completely true. I know God loves all His children and has given them agency. I'm grateful for that precious gift.

Over and out,

Motra Curtis

 

 

That's a pretty red car!

C'kemi!

 

Food:

Okay, I gotta start with food this week. Not that it’s the most important...but kinda... haha. Elder Knight is getting transferred this week and so one of the couples had the elders over for dinner and invited us too. It was so good! We had probably the best byrek that I have ever eaten. The soup was "super" delicious as well. (get it, soup, super...haha). It was a fun time. Also, Iliriana gave us byrek at one lesson and we talked about making byrek together sometime. Although we couldn't go when she made byrek next she brought us a whole pan of it (and the elders too). We are also given lots of mandarins, all the time. We are trying to keep up with eating them before they go bad (we each eat about 6-7 a day). The elders made a cake for transfers last night and gave us some (they borrowed butter from us because they ran out). It was one of the most intense cakes I've ever eaten. They weren't joking when they said it's pretty much just butter and sugar. But it tasted way good.

Investigators:

They continue to progress, slowly but surely. Some new people we found haven't really gone anywhere, but sometimes it is through them that we find other people. You just gotta talk to everyone. We also found a less active member. We had a map that gave us the general direction and a picture of the house. It took a little bit but we found it! We kept getting calls during the lesson but usually we just reject them and call back later. But it was this number and the elders. Finally, I excused myself to talk to them. One of Motra Guri's aunts was in distress and wanted to talk to Motra Guri. It was a rough situation and Motra Guri was worried after. So here we are trying to meet this girl and help her come back to church and instead she is helping me comfort my companion. It was an interesting situation but I feel like it pulled us closer. She really opened up about why she hadn't been coming to church and we were able to help resolve some of her concerns. Hopefully she will be at church on Sunday. 

 

Motra Guri:

 

I forgot to tell you, Motra Guri loves cars. But not just any kind of car, specifically red cars. She always points them out. Not in a "that’s a sweet 1940 Mercedes Benz" way (I obviously don't know car talk either) but more in a "that's a pretty, red car". It makes me laugh. There is this red car that we pass all the time that we're gonna get a picture with one of these days...haha. She also gets hiccups all the time! They say here that you get hiccups whenever someone is thinking about you. Every time we try to guess if it’s her family or a special boy. Either way, I never get hiccups! What is this? Do you people never think of me??! Hahaha. Just kidding. What other fun things to know about her...she’s a joker and loves to laugh but often assumes the most serious faces for pictures. She’s a fun companion.

 

Fun things that make my life happy:

 

Motra Guri's aunt's mother made us these sweet matching orange socks that may or may not be the coolest thing ever. I'm converted to the way of the knitted socks and will learn the art someday so that all my socks will be such. Sometimes I bring them with me to wear in peoples houses. (We always take our shoes off at the door.) They are legit! I seriously love them.

 

Sometimes we take pictures with the toys we find in the house's of those we teach. We found Tigger! Also, the woman gathered all the toys together so we could pose with them. It was hilariously fun. 

 

We went back to one of the houses of members who we promised to take pictures with but we had a couple other members with us. I wasn't sure if they still wanted to take pictures so I waited to see if they would bring it up. They didn't until at the end I was saying goodbye to one of them and she was like we'll see you again sometime and then whispered in my ear, "and bring the camera". They are a hoot!

 

We had an all time high church attendance this week since I have been in Lushnjë! I think we had 42-45 people! It was fantastic! We also had an all-time high number of people show up to play soccer this week. It’s neat to watch the friendships that are happening. I love being friends with these great people, but even more I love them making friends with each other. 

 

Life is good and the work is going forward. I love being a missionary. I look talking and thinking about Jesus Christ everyday. I promise that if you will think of Christ everyday you will feel the spirit stronger in your life. I know it’s true. A mission is such a unique opportunity to have a Christ focused day, everyday. But I also know you don't have to be a missionary to make that happen. So I invite you to make that happen in your life. Right now. Just do it. Paqja dhe bekimet!

 

Ju dua shumë! Zoti ju bekoftë!

Motra Curtis

 

 

 

Loving life in Lushnjë

Good things are happening here in Lushnjë!

 

Investigators: Our sweet investigator Majlinda is no longer on a baptismal date. The member we brought with us was really concerned about her being baptized being pregnant and suggested that she wait till after the baby is born in December. So her baptism is on hold for now but she still wants to be baptized she just wants to be careful (her first child died shortly after being born so it’s understandable that she wants to be extra careful). She came to church and brought Meri, her co-worker that we met this week. Their other co-worker that the Elders are working with was also at church. We almost had the whole bakery in church! Meri had to leave early but Majlinda stayed the whole time. I think she made some good friends. Our other investigator Ilirjana was also in church! She really loved it. She was there last week but had to leave early. She has the most adorable little girl! She is still on for her baptism in November. She is stellar. Usually we call people to meet with them, she calls us! Its funny, we met her in English course on our last day. We were talking about the Book of Mormon and she asked if she could have one (of course!). We met with her briefly after to talk about what it was. We read the final paragraphs in the introduction and Motra Guri straight up asks her if she is ready for the 2nd coming of Christ. She was like yeah, I have a lot of faith. Motra Guri just looks at her with slightly raised eye brows in this "really?" looking face and asks if she has been baptized. I thought Motra Guri was going to scare her off before we even got to teach her! Albanians are blunt. But lo and behold, she is preparing for baptism and is so excited. I'm learning lots from Motra Guri.

 

Motra Guri: What I love about Motra Guri. She loves to sing. Especially hymns. She does not however, know the tunes to any of the hymns. So what she does is sing the words to her own tune. Sometimes I'll sing them with her so we sing the right tune, but sometimes I like to just listen to her variations. She especially loves Joseph Smith's First Prayer. Another thing I love about her is how she extends baptismal commitments. In the MTC we learn the invitation that is in Preach My Gospel about following the example of Jesus Christ and being baptized by someone with the Priesthood Authority. We memorize it in Albanian and practice saying it. Sometimes I forget that Motra Guri didn't go to the MTC (she is already such a good missionary!). After talking about baptism and before asking if they even want to be baptized she's like "We have a surprise for you! We have a date for your baptism!" So far everyone has accepted...maybe its a better way to go! Haha. Another thing is her cooking. The other day we were at a lesson and they gave us this delicious rice pudding dessert thing. I loved it! Another house gave us baklava which was also good. I was telling Motra Guri that I liked the baklava but that I really liked the rice pudding. She was so surprised because the baklava is such a special treat and rice pudding is common. "It’s so easy, sister, I will make it for you tomorrow." And she did. And she makes a delicious pasta, her rice is excellent and she makes byrek. Its a good thing she won't be here the whole transfer or I would probably gain a million pounds.

 

Life: The weather is beautiful. Some days more hot, some days more cold.

 

We sister missionaries taught the temple lessons to those who went to the temple and the last lesson is one you give after they have gone to the temple. It was such a neat experience to meet with all those members who have just been to the temple to talk about their experience. It reminds me how much I love the temple and how grateful I am for the opportunity I have to go back several times to do work for other people. Many of these people will only ever get to go once to do their own work. These people are amazing.

 

There is a magical bakery here in Lushnjë (I've already talked about it briefly). It is not magical because of its bread and pastries (although, they are delicious!) but because of the people there. A member here referred her boyfriend/fiancé and the elders started teaching him. He invited his co-worker to church and she came and wanted to be taught as well. Then one night we were walking by and stopped to talk to her in the bakery and ended up talking to her other co-worker who also came to church on Sunday with her and asked for a Book of Mormon. We stopped by another night on our way somewhere else and she had a friend that was there talking to her. Her friend was actually walking to same direction as us and so we taught her as we walked and will meet with her later this week. It’s a magical bakery.

 

We haven't had Primary since I've been here because we haven't had any kids. But yesterday we had 2 kids show up for church and so I got to teach. It was way fun. They are quiet but really smart (brother and sister that live above the church -literally, not figuratively). We sang songs, read some stories together, drew pictures and played a game. I forgot how much I love Primary.

 

I belong to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I know who I am. I know God's plan and I'll follow Him in faith. I believe in the Savior Jesus Christ, I'll honor His name. I'll do what is right, I'll follow His light. HIS TRUTH I WILL PROCLAIM!

 

Ju dua! Mirupafshim!

Motra Curtis

 

First full week of working out in Lushnjë!

Përshëndetje!

This was our first full week together and my first full week of working in Lushnjë which is crazy because it has been the last week in my planner (they come in 6 week increments). The lady who showed up at church last week is awesome. We have met with her 3 times this week and she loves learning. She has read each pamphlet we have given her as well as the Book of Mormon. When we invited her to be baptized she was like "po pra" which being interpreted is "obviously". She is a neat lady. She is pregnant with a baby boy and due in December. She has had one other child but it only lived a couple days. We are working on getting a member to our lessons with her so she can have a friend at church. That really makes a difference.

On Sunday we had testimony meeting. We had  5 members go to the temple this past week (the district has 2 temple trips a year to the temple in Germany). They were glowing with happiness and each one bore strong testimony of their experience. We had an investigator there for her first Sunday and even though she had to leave early she had lots of good questions in our lesson later that evening. I love the temple and I love the strong desire that members here have to go. I can't wait till the temple in Rome is finished. It will be such a blessing for the members here in Albania!

Motra Guri continues to be a rock star. At the beginning I really did take advantage of the fact that she knew Albanian and let her take the lead in lessons and make phone calls (I still don't understand everything people say, especially on the phone!). But that is exactly what should not be happening. I have the potential to learn so much from my companion and I wasn't using the opportunity to the maximum ability. I was letting it be easier for me. So, I talked to my companion about it. Now I have been stepping up a lot in lessons and it using the phone/talking to people. It helps having her know too because in the moments when its hard and I need a little extra encouragement...she pushes me to do it. But she is so supportive! Sometimes too nice, I want her to correct my language mistakes but she has been around me enough to understand my cave man speech that she forgets to correct me. Until I bring it up again, then she is good at correcting for another 5 minutes haha. This has been such a fun companionship. I'm learning so much and not the things that I thought I was going to learn.

I loved listening the conference this week in English. I can't wait till it comes out in the Liahona! There is something about being able to read and study them..its like all kinds of new things pop out. 

 This was a good week. The weather was cold at the beginning but has been straight up beautiful these past couple days. Thomas S. Monson is a prophet. Jesus Christ lives. God is our Father. The church is true. Of this I testify.

Mirupafshim!

Motra Curtis