17th pday email from Albania!

Hello Everyone,

This week I learned so much I don't even know where to begin. That is a blessing in itself. That we can learn, grow, and progress. That all connects with agency and what effort we put forth is what we receive the fruit of. I know that I start off saying that I learned a lot every week, but I realize that we are never not learning. This life is the TIME. To become like our Father in Heaven and gain knowledge everyday.

On Sunday one of our investigators came to church. She is an amazing daughter of God that loves her children so much. Every time we go to teach her at her home, you always see a deep connection between her and her children. The thing that is so amazing that her son is the only member out of his whole family. His example strikes me as he nurtures his family with Gospel truths. I know that without a doubt that before this life he promised that he would come down at this time and bring them into the fold of the Good Shepherd. He is so strong in his faith and Sister C and I have discussed how each of his sisters and brother and parents have seen the difference and impact the church has made on him.

He is his own stellar pioneer here in Albania. All the members at this time are pioneers that before this life agreed to come down and be the foundation layers for this people here in Albania, Kosovo, and Macedonia. These saints are strong and are capable to handle the challenges they face with their testimonies as a beacon of light to the people here on this side of the world.

One day, no matter how long it takes, I would love to see the whole family get sealed in the temple together for all eternity. This would bring them even closer together as a family unit and begin their journey to their Father in Heaven.

As I have been serving here in this ward, a blessing I've received from my Father in Heaven is my District. My District is AMAZING! Sister C and I talk about how blessed we are to have this lovely elect group of individuals. As we come together each week, it is such a spiritual builder. Elder S is our District Leader and he is such a leader for this group. I know that he is just one of many examples that the Lord knows our true potential and what callings we are foreordained to serve in.

This week we came to the conclusion that with hard times we learn to recognize the good times even more with anything we face in life. For example with this week. We had way more lessons this week and we were tremendously grateful for them when they went through and the spirit was there. These wonderful Albanians are His children. We are His messengers, to testify of the Love He has for each of us and what Christ has done for each of us.

I felt of this love with an experience we had this week. We were visiting with a less active. We shared the scripture in Moroni 10:32 and testified that because of Christ, we can become like Him and Heavenly Father. I remembered I had a feeling to tell her specifically how much the Lord loves her. As I testified to her of this, the spirit filled the room to the brim, more than I could fully comprehend. But I knew that she felt this spirit as well and her eyes teared because of it.

I. JUST. LOVE. WORKING. WITH. LESS. ACTIVE. MEMBERS. They are just important as investigators and active members. I didn't truly understand that before my mission. But now it is almost my favorite work to do. To bring the light of Christ into the lives that once had it and that are given another chance again and again to come unto him. :)

We had many amazing experiences this week but one of them was with another woman as we took her to institute. Elder S taught around this quote, "Leaders should demonstrate love and concern for those they lead." We then went into Jesus Christ is the Good Shepherd and how family and leaders SHOULD Strive to Follow the Pattern of Leadership Set By the Lord. The spirit was so strong throughout this whole lesson but especially as he showed this video (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6zhAT-jaljY). GO WATCH IT! IT IS SOOOO GOOD! :D But afterward, we asked this sweet woman what she thought of the class and she gave us this look like her mind was blown away at something. She then told us right then she had received some impressions. That is huge for her. Impressions for her means spiritual growth and knowledge. We then talked about how we would meet later that week and talk about those impressions with her.

AHHHHH! I love this GOSPEL and how through the temple, we can make covenants with our Father in Heaven and become closer to him and our Savior. That there is only beginnings. That my Savior Died for me. That Because of Him (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_S3TI4bYerU) we can turn to him again and again as we go through life. He will be there. In fact, he is with you now. ALWAYS!

Thank you for all your love, examples, and prayers. They keep me going everyday.

Know: 

YOU. MATTER.

GOD. LOVES. YOU.

YOU. ARE. HIS.

HE. IS. WITH. YOU. ALWAYS.

Motra Bezas

 Bowling in Albania!

 More missionary sisters bowling!

 Her scripture bag

16th pday email from Albania!

Hello Everyone,

I must express that this last week was one I will never forget. Not because something huge happened. But small things that drew the conclusion for me that God is real. That He LOVES each individually. We are His. And He wants to help us.

Two Weekly Planning Sessions ago and this last one as well, we both had personal goals of a lot of things but two specifically we both had were being more Positive and Patient. This last planning session especially we emphasized that not because we were negative, but it is something since the beginning my mission in the field that I always want to keep at being better because we are never perfect at anything. Even with things we are better at. There is always room for improvement in everything. That is what this life is for. To become like Him every single day.

So being Positive and being more Patient with myself and situation was my goal, along with Sister C's. Well, this week hit and may I just say the Lord really wanted to help us gain these attributes. This week we had 5 planned lessons everyday with investigators and potentials and members, but most of them all either canceled last minute or didn't show up. This whole week we tried so hard to do all that we could to have lessons. So when they did cancel last minute or they didn't show up, we went and visited less actives. (Which I must say that I LOVE WORKING WITH LESS ACTIVES. There is such a rewarding feeling as we serve and teach those that have gone astray. That is one of the many blessings for serving a mission.)

But as I was saying before, when we went to visit them, they either weren't home, or had family in town, or it was bad timing. We tried really hard not being discouraged. We knew as this kept happening all week, that the Lord was trying to teach us something.

I learned more than just one though. That is something that the Lord does for us. Always giving. I learned though that He was with us. He wanted to help us gain those qualities of Positive and Patience. He loves us. And He knows our true potential of the people we can become.

We had a lesson with a wonderful woman. She is just amazing. We showed Because of Him. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_S3TI4bYerU) This video I have seen so much, but no matter how many times, the video brings this wonderful and hard to describe. But what I do know that is it brings the spirit in. It softens hearts. It recharges you. It brings a new light and hope to life. As we showed this for her, she was teary eyed and said that she didn't truly understand why, but every time she had seen this video, it gave her all these thoughts.

We watched this with another woman as well and had the Senior couple in our lesson with her. Something that Sister Smith said with her testimony after the film was that the Gospel of Jesus Christ, can solve any problem that the world has suffered and is going through today. I found that to be SO true. HE IS THE ANSWER to everything!

Something interesting that happened last night was that I was talking with the Sister Training Leaders. Which by the way, ARE AMAZING. Sister F and Sister D are such a gift and blessing to this zone. I am so blessed to receive their words and guidance. An example of this: last night I was talking to them and how I was feeling a little bit of a failure as a missionary since our numbers for lesson this last week were not high. Well, they read this amazing quote and gave me a commitment to pray and ask Heavenly Father if I am a good missionary that He needs.

Well, I didn't get a answer right away, but this morning I did. President Weidmann sent out his normal morning text, which I LOVE, and in today's, it had a quote that said basically we need to enjoy the journey and not just focus on the finish line. Well after that, we got a call from him an hour later and he talked with me and was asking how things were going with Speak Your Language. (That is a goal we had as a zone. When we are outside of the house to speak full Albanian with your companion). Well after awhile he said something that I realized afterward was my answer to my prayer. He said that I am great missionary and that "God is very proud of the work and service you are putting forth." That really touched me.

Something that I also learned is that Love Unfeigned is Love that Is Not Fake. That is the kind of love the Savior has for each of us. We took one of our investigators to an English Institute class that Elder Smith taught. I learned that there, along with the fact how God is a God of Balance.

I know that God lives. He loves us. He has given this life to learn and grow and to have experiences to shape us into the people we need to become to become more like Him. I am so blessed to have this gospel. I know I wouldn't be the same with out it. I know that I was saved for this time to do a mighty work and a wonder in the vineyard here in Albania. I am honestly so blessed to be serving with my Companion Sister C. I am inspired everyday as we work together. I know that she was placed in my life at this time to become the missionary He needs me to be for the people here in this area.

I know that even though that we faced a lot of adversity this week, I have felt a deeper connection to the Spirit as it has been poured out this week. I know that in the end, if we each put forth all that we can, that is all that matters to our Father in Heaven and our Savior.

This is His work and we are His. That will NEVER change. I am so blessed to be able to go out and teach others of the love the Savior has for them. To have them realize what of great worth they are to them and what a marvelous purpose they have at this time.

Thank you for all that you do. Know that even the smallest acts of love and kindness don't go unnoticed.

I love you all and hope that if you don't know already the love the Savior has for you, then to pray and ask. I promise the answer will come. In God's timing. All we have to do is look and up and live.

Motra Bezas

Having a light-hearted moment.

 It looks like Motra D helped with another haircut!

15th pday email from Albania!

Hello Everyone,

This week I have learned so much. I first wanted to say how blessed I am so have President Weidmann as my mission President. We had interviews this last week and I see more and more through his wisdom and spiritual input in every aspect of the work here in Albania, Kosovo, and Macedonia, is a blessing to all those that come in contact with the missionaries and the members.

I have seen witness after witness of the purpose of why each are specifically called here and I know that these witnesses are just the beginning. I know more and more of the LOVE that Heavenly Father has for each of his Children and I am so blessed I have the WONDERFUL opportunity to testify of this to all that we come in contact with. What blows my mind away is that some are not aware of this miraculous love God has for them. I personally don't fully comprehend the love he has for each of us. But I am beginning to see more and more. And that is a blessing in of itself.

Something that Sister C and I have started is a notebook where we write down blessing that we see in our lives from day to day even in the small and simple things to the big and miraculous. We had a lesson this week with a woman and gave her a book so she could start one for her own. Inside we wrote the scripture, Doctrine and Covenants 78:17 - 19:

17 Verily, verily, I say unto you, ye are little children, and ye have not as yet understood how great blessings the Father hath in his own hands and prepared for you;

18 And ye cannot bear all things now; nevertheless, be of good cheer, for I will lead you along. The kingdom is yours and the blessings thereof are yours, and the riches of eternity are yours.

19 And he who receiveth all things with thankfulness shall be made glorious; and the things of this earth shall be added unto him, even an hundred fold, yea, more.

When we gave this gift to her and talked about the Hand of the Lord in our lives, she was completely taken a back. She looked at us and said that we had read her mind and was wanting something just like this to document what God has done in her life for her. One of the amazing things about her is that as we talk about the things she is facing day to day, she always remarks how the Lord is giving her the strength to keep going and endure and she is amazed how she can keep going. She knows that it is all through him. Motra C and I have talked more than once how she is an inspiration to us. As well as the rest of those that we teach.

I love this gospel with all my heart and I know that there are those that are waiting to hear God's word and so we are taking the challenge of finding a new investigator every day and sharing God's word with them. I know that Jesus Christ is our Savior and that through him and Because of Him, there are no ends, there are only new beginnings. A bright future full of HOPE.

One last story I want to share is amazing. So this last Pday I was writing when I got a call from a random number. I started to talking to this lady and I could hardly understand what she was saying but she said she was interested in meeting. I asked if it was for the lessons or for English help since we do that as well and teach a spiritual thought at the end. She said both. SO we planned on meeting her the next evening. Well, we met with her. OH MY GOODNESS! SHE IS SUCH AN EXAMPLE TO THE FACT THAT WE ARE SEED PLANTERS AND THAT SOME ARE LATE BLOOMERS BUT THEY STILL RISE TO THE SUN. Two years ago two elders knocked on her door and she said that she and her family met with them two times. Well, this planted a seed in her heart, and two years later she went on the lds website and emailed someone saying she wanted to get in touch with people in the area where she lives from our church. Well, she got a few numbers and ours was the only one that worked. (Coincident, I think NOT!) Anyway, she also said that she knew that after we die that our spirits don't die. She knew this because a friend of hers died and came to her in dreams after he died.

Well, after this lesson with her, we shared with our zone leaders and sister training leaders and our mission president and I realized that her story is inspiring so many not just us. Something that was amazing with her is that as we met with her SIster C and I both received revelation that we were specifically supposed to teach her.

I know that God lives and that he knows what is best for all his children. I know that he sent his son, Jesus Christ, to suffer and die for us. Something that our Sister training leaders challenged the sisters was to study the scripture Moroni 7:45 and to take each section and study it. This last week I was studying "suffereth long" and I grew a HUGE understanding of what does that mean now and what the Savior went through. I know he understands what we each go through. I know he is by our side every step of the way.

Motra Bezas

Her book of blessings she made from the Christmas journal gift we sent.

 Making the beloved Albanian Phoenix bird - 

Albania is an amazing country of resiliency and strength. And Motra Bezas is loving being there.

 On the way to visit another city - having fun with her new companion.

 Not sure what word this is spelling?  :)

 A big thumbs up for missions!

 The coastal area!

 Motra Bezas's beloved Albania - visiting a town on her pday.

 Another pday photo of the delightful sisters in her district having fun.

 Going (or is it returning) to visit another city on their pday (preparation day)!

14th pday email from Albania!

Dear Loved Ones,

Wow this week I have seen one witness after another of the Lord's hand in my life. I have seen the gift of tongues even more at work in my life. I am so blessed to be working with Motra C. She is such a blessing and a gift to this mission. I have seen it already the impact she will make on the Adriatic South Mission and how her testimony and her sweetness, and her sincerity will bring those that have not a relationship with their Heavenly Father and Savior, closer to them. I know that she has been saved for these last days before the Savior comes again. I am so privileged to see her as she learns and grows into the person God knows she can be. I see it more and more everyday as we work together.

I know that it has only been a short amount of time into the transfer, but I have seen already how the Lord is working through us as we teach and talk with people, either if it be in lessons or on the street, he is always working through us as his tools. All we need to do is just be worthy to hear the promptings and to follow them. I can't say I am still perfect, but I know with practice of listen and acting upon the answer I receive, I will become better.

Something I love as missionaries we have the privilege of doing is testifying about our Savior and the great love He has for us. How we are never alone. How He is there, guiding us by the hand as we take each step slowly through the path of our lives.

The Lord is amazing. I see how he works through others to help accomplish great things. Sister C is that for me along with many others. She is such an example to me. AHHH! God has great plans for ahead. :)

I grow a love for my Savior deeper more and more every single day as I serve my mission. I know He lives and is with us through everything that we face.

Something that I have seen is that the gospel gives us is a happiness that can only be found in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. I know that I crave for that happiness more and more as I serve on my mission. And I know that I am only having a taste of it. That in the eternities we will truly feel of the joy and happiness that our Heavenly Father feels every day.

Thank you all for your prayers and love. I felt them carry me this week. Remember. You each have a work to do. Satan knows this is doing everything he can to not realize it and will do everything in His power to have you not come to the knowledge of it. Just know that when this happens, just look your Savior and know He will be there as you push forward. I know this is a promise that will there for us always we can rely on. Like our Savior.

Motra Bezas

Visiting yet another place on her weekly "Preparation Day" (pday).

Pdays are time to do laundry, shopping, and refuel physically by

visiting some of the beautiful areas on the country.

The pictures below are from yet another area Motra Bezas and

the other sisters visited on this week's pday.

 With her new companion.

 The amazing fun of Albania!

 A picture of the other sisters who came on the trip

 A little bit of photographic symmetry with Motra Bezas and her companion!

 The beautiful countryside of Albania.

New Year's email (13th pday email from Albania!)

Dear Everyone,

This past week has been a time of huge growth and lots of wisdom. I have to start off saying that I love my new companion, Sister C. She is such a light and is going to bless this mission in great ways, especially as we serve in the same city where I've been. Even though I have not been with her long, I know that the Lord called her to serve in this mission and that her call was something that was preordained before this life. I know that anymore as time gets closer to Christ's coming that we each have specific work that needs to be done. That is why a mission is such a sacred calling. I also saw this with being called as a trainer this transfer.

Sure, I have moments where I feel like I am not fully adequate, but I know that the Lord knows me and knows that what I can and can't do. Something that I loved that President said at the training we had with the new missionaries that really stuck with me was, "Only if we struggle, we grow." I know that we only can truly grow unless we are progressing and trying new things and going out of our comfort zone.

I am honestly so grateful for so many things. I know that they all come from this everlasting gospel. I love that. EVERLASTING. How many things in life can we say that about? I love my Savior and I love how every single time without fail, when something is bearing witness of the Savior, the Spirit comes and it is such a wonderful thing. I can't get enough of it!

Something really cool that happened this last week was that even though the rain was really bad, there was a lot of less actives that we have been inviting back to church and they came. Even with the bad weather!

I know that God lives. That He loves us more than we even can truly comprehend. I know that we are never alone. Our Savior is walking beside us every SINGLE step of the way. That as we go through life, we can always rely on the Savior. ALWAYS. I love my Savior. I am forever in debt to Him. I love this gospel. I love the blessing and promises that it brings to each and everyone of us. No matter who we are. I know that we are God's Children and that He wants each and everyone of us to return to Him. I know that serving a mission is such a sacred privilege.

I have seen specifically to my mission that Satan is doing everything he can to stop God's message being spread throughout this country of Albania along with Macedonia and Kosovo. I know that we were sent here at this time to preach the Lord's word and do His work here. I see how it changes people's lives for the better. No matter the situation, this gospel can make it a better situation.

I want to express my gratitude for all those that have touched my life. I know God puts people in our lives to guide us on the path that where we need to be. I know this with all my heart!

With Great Love, Motra Bezas

Motra Bezas is a new trainer - even though she's only been there about 3 months.

This is rather unusual, but she trusts the Lord in what's been asked of her.

These ladies in the picture are the other trainers for the new sister missionaries 
who have just arrived in the country. 
(The girl on the left of Motra Bezas also was just made trainer ...and arrived with Rachel 3 months ago - they had been companions in the MTC in the states. Their 3rd MTC companion was 
just made Sister Trainer/Leader. Pretty astonishing stuff.)

 Her old district's sister missionaries - the two on the right are now home.

It's been a tender time for Motra Bezas to have to say goodbye to such two amazing ladies.

 Here is Motra Bezas's district at Christmas time.

 She needed new names tags . . .

and received ones ... as if she were an elder.

New ones have now been ordered. :)

 And now for the best news of all:

Motra Bezas's new companion - freshly arrived from the MTC in the states! 

(Although we are all sad to have had to say goodbye to Motra Bezas's trainer, Motra L - 

she was a gift from heaven.)