22nd pday email from Albania

Hello Everyone,

This week I learned so much. Especially life lessons and principles that I know that I can take with me the rest of my life. The first one is about service. My example with this: serving my companion this week who got really sick one day and so she rested all day in bed. Well, this was a great time to serve my companion! I learn so from much her. (I am not saying that He got her sick, but because she became really sick that one day, I was able to completely serve her!)

So I got to clean up her space and put lovely little heart sticky notes all over her stuff expressing how important she is and of her GREAT and MIRACULOUS work that she is putting forth in this mission. I know God is fully aware of what she is doing and is appreciative and eternally grateful for her service she gives every single day as she serves here in this part of Albania and wherever else she serves later on, and also when she is back home.

Sister C has been such an example to me for many things. But one of the biggest things I keep learning is that as missionaries we teach people, not lessons - going even deeper of "what do they need." It really makes me have a deeper desire myself to truly understand the investigators and members that we visit with and teach.

They are all God's children and they are all unique and so it is up to us to pray for the power of discernment and then pay close attention to what the Spirit tells us. I learned this from Preach My Gospel this week, along with where I have been reading in my scriptures with the story of Ammon in the Book of Alma in the Book of Mormon: (Alma 18:16-20)

16 And it came to pass that Ammon, being filled with the Spirit of God, therefore he perceived the thoughts of the king. And he said unto him: Is it because thou hast heard that I defended thy servants and thy flocks, and slew seven of their brethren with the sling and with the sword, and smote off the arms of others, in order to defend thy flocks and thy servants; behold, is it this that causeth thy marvelings?

17 I say unto you, what is it, that thy marvelings are so great? Behold, I am a man, and am thy servant; therefore, whatsoever thou desirest which is right, that will I do.

18 Now when the king had heard these words, he marveled again, for he beheld that Ammon could discern his thoughts; but notwithstanding this, king Lamoni did open his mouth, and said unto him: Who art thou? Art thou that Great Spirit, who knows all things?

19 Ammon answered and said unto him: I am not.

20 And the king said: How knowest thou the thoughts of my heart?....

Last week I hurt my knee from futbol as I was playing goalie and so this week, after having visited Sister W at the office, I have been having to take things slower - which goes into my second life lesson of gaining more patience for things and myself. Healing is something that is a process, and if you push it while it is trying to mend itself, you could cause future damage. That can be with anything in life especially with blessings from God. Just when we want to give up, God has something good coming that is even better than you have now. Satan knows this and does all he can to get us to stop just before we receive a deeper joy and happiness in our Lord and Savior through our blessings we receive.

There were times that I felt a failure as a missionary for the fact I had to slow down so I wouldn't make my knee worse and felt like I was slowing down the work. Well, I couldn't be more wrong. I wasn't slowing down the work, I was just able to receive an extra enhancement to observe more in the lessons we were able to have.

As to the update with my leg, I am basically able to use it how I used to. I can almost straighten it out all the way. I have seen the Lord's hands at work with my knee being healed. This was a witness to me that the Lord lives and that He understands us and all that we are going through. He loves us and is always helping us along our paths of life. Even when we think we are completely alone. WE ARE NOT! We are His and He is going to get us through things SUCCESSFULLY!

So as to updates to one of the women we have been working with. We have seen time and time again the Spirit working through her and telling us things she has learned that we know she has received through revelation of the Holy Ghost. An example of this was with a lesson we had with her this week. She went straight into and said she reread the Gospel of Jesus Christ Pamphlet again and the Word of Wisdom pamphlet the first time.

Something that we have learned through Fabiola as another life lesson is to listen for two things. One, listen to what the investigator is saying; and two, listen to what the Spirit wants you to teach and testify that you can build off of what they have said. So we did this with her. She makes the comment then about her rereading the Gospel of Jesus Christ Pamphlet and said that baptism gives you a DEEPER connection with the church. WOW, SERIOUSLY SHE IS SO AWESOME! She then related God's church to like a big family. She said she liked that a lot.

Now I know all of you are dying to know what she said about the Word of Wisdom Pamphlet... OH MY GOODNESS! She goes into and finally asks the question, "So 100% there is no way I would drink wine?" We told her, "100%." She pauses for a moment in silence and she thought. She then finally speaks again and then finally says, "Alright... I will do it."

WE WERE SO HAPPY FOR HER!!!!!!!!!!! We began to testify to her of how the blessings will flow into her life more than she can even imagine. THE SPIRIT WAS JUST RADIATING IN THE ROOM. NO JOKE. God was SOOOOOO pleased with her. I am sure He sits in on our lessons. Fabiola is just another witness of the Love God has for His children to come unto him and gain a pure and joy and to live with him again. (2 Nephi 2:25; Moses 1:39)

As we continued to testify to her, she said, "I guess this is going to be. I didn't realize that. All of my friends are going to make fun of me because I already have standards and now that I am not even drinking wine , they will seriously grill me." We told her that her example is huge to all of those she has in her life. Even if they don't say anything, they notice what she does because of the standards she already has.Our examples bless others.

A scripture I really feel like this connects with is in Matthew 5:14-16:

14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.

15 Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.

16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

The other thing that came to mind was this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QhoyQIxrpes

Literally go watch it. If you haven't yet, do it now! Tis SO good! SERIOUSLY! If you have already, WATCH IT AGAIN!

There was another great woman this week! We went to go teach her and it was a sweet and simple lesson but the cool part was her Dad - she informed us - was going to be coming to Albania. (Her family is from Poland and she hasn't seen him in a few years.) Well, we weren't sure if she would bring him to church but we had hopes she would but took a leap of faith and just trusted in the Lord that he would help Her to bring her father to church. GUESS WHAT! HE CAME WITH HER! SHE ACTUALLY BROUGHT HIM! They came in a little late, so we couldn't say hello to them right away but as soon as Sacrament was over, we went up to them right away to introduce ourselves to him. MAN I WISH I KNEW POLISH. Learning Albanian has made me want to learn other languages. He was so happy to meet us and tried to express that in his broken English. HE WAS SUCH A SWEETHEART! There was a sweet spirit about him and I knew Heavenly Father loved him and that He missed him.

Okay, another investigator we have that I LOVE.... AHHH! I LOVE ALL our investigators. They seriously are God's precious gems. Well another is another great lady . She seriously is amazing. Every single time we meet with her, We feel God's love for her! ALWAYS! We shared with her this last time 1 Nephi 8:1-12. We talked about the fruit and what does it symbolize. We then shared the answer with 1 Nephi 11:21-22. As we shared this with her, something in her eyes gave us the impression that she learned something really new. I LOVE THAT. As we read and discussed the scriptures, we receive new insights. Sister C and I do that for each other all the time during our companionship study. The spirit just fills the room.

A cool principle that I learned this week was through a less active member and her two sons. As we went to visit them, her sister was there. She is not a member of the church but she totally sat in on the lesson and the coolest part was the boys were teaching her how to pray and how to find in the scriptures and giving awesome comments in the lesson. It was such a witness that members are missionaries for their family members. It was something that struck Sister C and me.

A life lesson I learned also was the fact that all you do in the service of your God is not in vain. We have seen this with one particular family. They were doing really well and then slowly started to fall off, but recently as we have been going over, only the oldest daughter has been home. OH MY GOODNESS. SHE IS SO READY TO BE BAPTIZED. She talks about how she reads a little bit every day and opens the scriptures to see what Heavenly Father has to tell her that day. IMAGINE IF WE ALL HAD THAT DESIRE ALWAYS?! Fun Food for thought.

Something I last wanted to share about investigators is one that had issues about the Book of Mormon. She asked all these questions that were not of truth. We just listened as she expressed herself. In the end Spirit completely guided that lesson and we just testified that we are each here in this life to gain a witness for ourselves of the truth. We then gave her reading assignment and plan to meet with her once she has finished and asked her to ask for herself for this witness. Satan has been trying so hard with her as soon as she began meeting with the missionaries. But as we meet with her, we know that Her Lord and Savior is with her and is doing all He can so she is not alone.

I just wanted to finish with something we learned in English Institute with one of our investigators, from Elder Smith. "Leaders should lead with good cheer, optimism, and courage." That is so true. As you have that, everything changes in perspective. I know that the times when I have been training with a positive attitude, things change completely. Something that one of our beloved investigators said is that one way to add to a positive attitude is to think how lucky we are to have that calling we have received. That is so true.

I love this gospel and all the hope it brings. I DON'T THINK I HAVE EVER BEEN MORE EXCITED TO DO ANYTHING ELSE THAN SHARING GOD'S WORD.

Thank you for all that you do everyday to be a light to all those around you. Remember, You are of great worth and that you MATTER greatly to your Father in Heaven. You have a role in this life. I bear witness of this with all my heart. You are loved and You are needed!

Until Next Time, Remember Heavenly Father Loves Us

Motra Bezas

Some of the amazing Albanian country -

Motra Bezas loves this place!