There and Back Again - An Albanian Tale: Mos Harroni të Buzëqeshni (remember to smile) :)

Hello Everyone,

This week was AMAZING! I am so grateful my Lord and Savior and all that He does each of us. I am so grateful for this wonderful opportunity we have each received to come to this life and to gain knowledge and wisdom for ourselves and become more and more like our Father in Heaven. This week I saw my spiritual growth this week with my personal study, my companion study, lessons we had with investigators and members of the church, and all the small things in between.

Something that I have seen time and time again is that the Gospel of Jesus Christ changes and softens hearts to make a mighty change in their lives.

12 And according to his faith there was a mighty change wrought in his heart. Behold I say unto you that this is all true.

13 And behold, he preached the word unto your fathers, and a mighty change was also wrought in their hearts, and they humbled themselves and put their trust in the true and living God. And behold, they were faithful until the end; therefore they were saved.

14 And now behold, I ask of you, my brethren of the church, have ye spiritually been born of God? Have ye received his image in your countenances? Have ye experienced this mighty change in your hearts? (Alma 5:12-14)

An example of this is with a girl in our English Class. Sister L and I met her the first time when she and her two friends had heard about English Course and stopped by the church when we were there on a day that it wasn't for English. We were waiting for another lesson (which never ended up showing), and they saw that the door was open and came in. Now I believe that we were never meant to have the other lesson. Well, her two friends never ended up coming but she did.

This amazing person now has been coming since Sister L was here, and the transformation process has been amazing to see. As an example of this, it almost looked like she was going to be our only student in class, and we asked her if it ended up being her by herself, if she wanted to go to the baptism that was being held downstairs. We were so surprised to have her say yes. A long time ago she would have turned that invitation down. Although others came - so we did the class - but a few weeks later, we were closing the class with a prayer, and I looked over and made eye-contact with her and felt to ask her to say it.

As soon as I did she was surprised herself but said, "Yeah, just give me a moment to gather my thoughts." After a moment of silence, she prayed. It was a very meaningful, sincere, simple prayer. Afterward, everyone left and she was the last one to leave. She came up to us with excitement and informed us that was the first time she had ever done that.

She then quickly said goodbye to us and left. Sister C and I looked at each other right away and smiled ear to ear. The spirit filled that room at that moment, and we knew that God had heard her prayer and that He is aware of all that she is going through.

THE SPIRIT IS JUST AMAZING!!!

At our last English class we had together, we gave them an assignment to bring a family photo and talk about their examples in their lives. As we talked as a class, there was a special spirit that filled the room. I know that Families are precious and that they were given as a gift from God - that you are part of the family that you are for a purpose. We have families to get us through times when we get stuck in a rut and to help you get back on track.

With update on another wonderful lady. We followed up on her reading the pamphlet for the Gospel of Jesus Christ. She said right off the bat that once we receive the gift of the Holy Ghost, we always need to be worthy of it. MAN! SHE IS AMAZING!!! I swear there a moments I feel like I am the one being taught. As we teach her she is really getting the fact that we are, as missionaries, representing Christ as we serve our mission here in Albania.

She said that we are very lucky because we get to work for the boss of all bosses. We couldn't help but chuckle at that sweet and SO true principle. We really are so BLESSED to get to work with our Father in Heaven and we get to work alongside Him in His vineyard here.

We had another lesson later on this week and talked about the Word of Wisdom with her. Something she said as soon as she saw the pamphlet: she said that she had a thought come to mind right before we pulled the word of wisdom pamphlet out that, "I would love to have words of wisdom from Christ". Talk about a desire being answered right then and there.

Well, we taught her, said that she didn't drink alcohol, coffee, tea that has caffeine, drugs, and other illegal substances that are harmful to us physically and spiritually. Our hearts rejoiced at this news as we continued to testify. But as Sister C went into an example of how when we drink alcohol it makes it difficult to feel or receive promptings from the Holy Ghost... well, that is when she finally mentioned how she drinks wine.

Well, as the lesson progressed we felt the spirit was going slowly by how she was reacting. Sister C and I were at a loss of what to do and were trying to feel what the Spirit needed us to say, but nothing was coming. After a bit of trying to fight to keep the Spirit there because Satan was doing all he could to lose the spirit, I got the slightest impression to ask if she had prayed to know yet if Joseph Smith was a prophet called of God. She said she knew the story could happen in these days but no she had not. Well, everything began to click after that and we committed her to know and pray.

The other thing she said was that how this time we will look back on throughout the rest of our lives and take things from it to help with future things that we will face. BY GOODNESS. SHE IS AMAZING!

It has been a spiritual growth for both of us as we testify of our purpose as missionaries is and that we are here from the across the ocean to help people come unto Christ through the waters of baptism now!

Something I have felt over and over again this week is the Love God has for His children here and all over the world. As we went to teach a less active woman, we testified of this and tears began to fill her eyes multiple times. The spirit in that room was SO strong of the love God has for this woman and I know that He feels this for all of His children more than I can fully comprehend.

So, this week, I had gained an experience to help me become more positive and patient. We were playing Futbol as a district with the youth to bring their non member friends to play. Well I was playing goalie and as I blocked the ball, my knee turned in the wrong direction. All is well. No bruising or swelling. But... I can't fully straighten it out. I received a blessing for it from Elder W and Elder S. They are such examples to Sister C and me. We are so grateful for all they do for us and for the ward.

I've learned though that with every experience we receive, we become stronger (literally or spiritually speaking). They are times we get to become closer to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

He is the one that has paid for all that we have done and all that we will do.

This is a talk given by Brad Wilcox called "His Grace Is Sufficient." I love this talk! Listen to it if you have not yet. It is one for the books.

I love this gospel with all my heart and I know that it helps each of us individually and as whole families. The Gospel of Jesus Christ blesses families. I testify of this with all my heart and conviction I can muster. I know that as we rely on our Father in Heaven, He will be by our side as we do all we can to be worthy to listen to the divine guidance of the Holy Ghost. God lives and as we do all we can, we too will live again with our Father in Heaven.

Mos Harroni të Buzëqeshni (remember to smile) :)

Motra Bezas

With her awesome companion, Motra C

(not sure why the photo won't flip correctly)