9th pday email from Albania!

This last week was a great week of gratitude. The Thanksgiving Conference we had this last week as a whole mission was amazing. The spirit was SO STRONG! I have been spiritually uplifted and have been moved to a new plain of perspective of my life and my purpose as a missionary and as a child of God. One thing out of the many wonderful things the mission president's wife said was, "We should forget what we want as we are here serving the Lord." This is HIS work and HIS time. And as missionaries we need to really forget ourselves and go to work. The spaces we cannot fill or do, God does. He knows we can't do this on our own. There is no way we could. That is where the expression of "Seeing the Hand of Lord" comes in. It is just up to us to pray that we can see His love and His goodness at work as we work as His servants in His vineyard. I know that God lives and that God so loved the world that He gave His only Begotten Son (John 3:16). Because He did this, we can return to Him. WOW! Talk about a love He has for each and everyone of His children.

Okay so there is a video that the church has come out with that is called "He Is the Gift". (http://www.mormon.org/christmas)

IF YOU HAVE NOT SEEN THIS WELL DONE FILM, GO WATCH IT NOW!!!!! The He Is The Gift video was such a testimony builder for me that Jesus is the Christ. That He IS Christmas! That because of Him, we can celebrate the true meaning of joy during the wonderful holiday season. I felt the urgent seriousness as missionaries to share of this marvelous video to all those we come in contact with.

So this week a few things happen that were such cool experiences. "God knows you. We all need to gain the knowledge that God knows about us and what we can do!" That was something that was said at Mission Conference by Sister Jill E. Dyches. When she said this, I found it to be very profound but also so true as I have gone through my day. This week especially. For example, a recent convert we are teaching is just beyond amazing. She is one of those we call the "Elect" or part of the "Chosen Generation". Anyway, we had a lesson with her and in the lesson she had a question not relating to the topic but was really inspired about Patriarchal Blessings. We said we would love to teach her about them. So when it came time for the next lesson, we made sure the lesson answered to her needs and questions. WOW! Can I say that spirit was so strong as we taught. Such a great calm of peace. She is so interested in getting one now! Something that she said near the end of the lesson was so inspired. "I know we were supposed to meet right now." AHHH! It is SO awesome to be a missionary. Something she said also after the lesson was that she looks forward to our lessons all week!

That honestly just made our day! Another example, we went to visit a less active. Well, when we got there just the grandmother was there and she normally is the hardest to get to. She hasn't come to church since I have at least been here. But this time, her heart was completely open. She told us her sister had cancer. The scripture we felt impressed to share was honestly inspired because as we read it, tears began to flow to her eyes.

These two experiences really struck with the quote above for me because God knew Motra L and me, and that through studying the scriptures and seeing our purpose as missionaries here in this ward, He then gave us the revelation to teach the things for these people and have them grow closer to Him.

I honestly love this gospel. WITH EVERY FIBER OF MY BEING. If it were not for it, I would not be the person that I am. I am grateful that we have a living prophet for today and if it weren't for the Prophet Joseph Smith, we wouldn't have had the Book of Mormon. This Book is the word of God. I see it everyday as I open and read it. No can be fully converted to this gospel, unless they have taken the time to read and to know and gain a knowledge that it is true. That it is the word of God.

Thank you again for all your love and comfort. You are all amazing!

Motra Bezas

Motra Bezas found a substitute for her beloved Nutella! :)