29th p-day email from Albania!

Dear Loved Ones,

This week I do not have all the time in the world to write all that I have learned this week. But what I can say is that God loves us. I know this with all my heart. Through times of trial and hardship and in times of joy and charity, He is there and He lives.

This week I have learned a few amazing things. The first is in a story through one of our investigators. She is getting baptized this coming week and as we were preparing her for the baptismal interview, we gained an amazing experience with her. She came out of her baptismal interview and said she had an invitation to read talks by President Thomas S. Monson and pray every time she reads to know if He is a living prophet today. She had not specifically done that. So during that week we read with her all the talks* suggested and visited with her and helped her gain the ability to recognize the answer from Heavenly Father for herself. We knew if we just told her, she would use us as a crutch the rest of her life and would not have a strong testimony to be able to keep her strong in the gospel.

Well, one night we went as usual to read and pray with her for her answer when something amazing happened. She told us as soon as she opened her Ensign, she was reminded of a dream she had the night before -- it was her telling herself over and over again, "Thomas S. Monson is a prophet today." The funny part was she was telling herself in the dream, "I know, I know, okay stop I am trying to sleep." But it happened at least 8 more times. It was so cool to see how God answers prayers.

Another amazing lesson I learned this week was about Family History Work. Oh man, being here I have really wanted to get into family history and especially learn about the culture and the family history stories here in Albania. It is so sad with all that has happened here in the past that they don't have really good records from the generations that came before.

I remember, though, an a amazing experience with another investigator. We went out to her little village and taught her about family history work, but the cool part about the whole thing was before we began to teach her, she randomly (or at least it seemed at the time...but how well it really connected with our lesson!). She brought out family photos of her family from now and before, and it gave a great transition to our lesson. As we taught she was so EXCITED AND THRILLED to do her families' work.

I know with all my heart that as we do all we can and are putting forth our best effort in all things and especially in His glorious gospel, we will be blessed tremendously in our lives and for those that are all around us. I know that we are all His! We are literally HIS! That is such a blessing to know that He is ALWAYS with us and as we face adversity in our lives, He is there to bear us up!

Love you all and hope this week you can see the Love and worth that He sees in each and everyone of you! (D&C 18:10)

Motra Bezas

*[As Motra Bezas's mother, I'm not sure the exact talks, but here are two sample ones: "Guided Safely Home" and "Courage."]

28th pday email from Albania!

Dearly Beloved Ones!

WOW! God is just amazing! I know that we matter to him because we are HIS! He is our Father in Heaven and we are here to become like Him. Something I am gaining more of a knowledge of is the Pre-Earth Life truly was preparation for us to come to earth. But as we are here on the Earth, we are taking kind of what we could call the second preparation class to return to our Father in Heaven and live in His kingdom. As we live the commandments and make sacred covenants with God, we are preparing to live how we will live for eternity in the Kingdom of God.

AHHH! I just feel of the spirit so much as I begin to see the Plan of Salvation start to unfold more. I know that we cannot comprehend fully the Love He truly has for each of us, nor can we understand the Plan God has sent in front of us to follow and to come out successful. But I know this. If we rely on Him and do all we can to keep His commandments, He will revel the knowledge He has for His great and marvelous work. It is a blessing He has for us to partake in. All we have to do is to take it (and Him) into our lives!

This week, we saw the hand of the Lord in it all so much. Right off the bat, the Lord blessed us with us so many lessons this week. The lessons we had this week were just amazing! They were spirit filled! Missionary work is amazing! We also began teaching the English Course this week, and I honestly grew a love for the group of people in the class right away. They are amazing. I saw how much they meant to their Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

This week I also saw the gift of tongues really at work. I just felt a surge with the Albanian language this week. Not saying I am even perfect, there is still a lot of room to improve, but I see it really at work in my life more than ever!

So on the 17th of Friday, Sister O and my life changed forever. We found out that we both have lice. Believe me when I say that, yes, at the beginning I broke down due to my distaste for bugs, but as time grew on for both of us, we agreed to take this as a challenge to see the blessings of having lice. One I saw right away was Sister O. I am honestly so grateful she is in my life and that she is there with me to go through is wonderful adventure together.

On Sunday, I officially lost my voice. I know without a doubt that the Lord is aware of me and that even though I feel at times that I am falling apart physically, I am strong spiritually as I rely on Him. He knows my health challenges and is helping even as I write this. He lives and understands fully our physical and spiritual challenges. I testify of this with all my heart that I know this to be true.

So a miracle happened this week. We have been teaching a girl the lessons since the last transfer a few weeks ago. Her parents had not yet given their consent for baptism. Well, her brother who is 17 got baptized this last Friday and it was just amazing. Afterward, we spoke with him and there were pure tears of joy. He was so happy. That joy is something so eternal it is a gift in itself.

Well, once Sunday hit and he received the Gift of the Holy Ghost, we had a lesson with the two and his sister informed us that her mom consented to her getting baptized. WE WERE SO HAPPY! It seriously was a miracle we were not expecting but we are so grateful for this!!! :)

I know without a doubt and gain witness of it everyday that Jesus Christ lives and He is our Savior who lived and died and lived again so we too can live and die and live again with our Father in Heaven. And through all our physical and spiritual trials He is there!

Never Give Up! Because I promise you, He is never giving up on you!

Love, Motra Bezas

Some scenes from exquisite Albania.

Motra Bezas loves this place!

A beautifully carved wooden piece.

The key to their apartment. :)

Motra Bezas's adorable companion!

Albanian coins...

The whole reason they are there - 

to teach of the Savior's huge sacrifice made for all of us!

27th Pday Email from Albania!

Dear Family and Friends,

This week has been one of reflection and looking towards the future part of my mission, specifically to this transfer that we have just began. First off, I knew the day would one day come that I would leave the area I'd been working in, but I guess it really didn't hit me until I left and went to this new area. I have seen time and time again, with each person, that transfers are mini mission calls from our Heavenly Father for a specific area with a specific companion. Because the Lord knows there are those who it is their time to come unto Christ NOW! This is their time to shine bright and come clean through the powerful Atonement of Jesus Christ.

Second, I have to say that my new companion has been called of God to serve here. I have been blessed to see moments as we teach that her testimony is one of strength for the people here. I know that there are those that she promised before this life that she would come, find, and rescue. I know that anymore now that everyone who serves missions were preordained to serve in the assigned missions, as well as in the assigned places within the country.

One thing I loved during Weekly Planning that my companion said that I could work on is to get to know the people. She went on to tell me that it is a big task but she gave me the challenge to, "Greet them like you've known them forever." I believe that is a true principle as missionaries we should take into account. Greet everyone we come in contact with like we have known them forever...

BECAUSE WE HAVE!

I have grown a deep appreciation for the Plan of Salvation and how we gain happiness and the knowledge God gives us, such as that we are of great worth, that we matter to our Father in Heaven, that this plan is a perfect plan for us, to help us return to our Father in Heaven, that we are here to realize our great potential as children of God, and so much more!

An amazing experience we had this week was with a recent convert here in Vlorë. We taught her about prayer and how it is not just a one way conversation. That there are things our Father in Heaven wishes to teach us and help us learn. It is just up to us to give Him time to come in and share His thoughts. So as we taught this to her, we then at the very end did the exercise we did with another wonderful woman in Tirana. Sister Olsen prayed and at the very end of her prayer, we waited in silence for the words of the Lord He had for us.

Something amazing that happened was a question Sister Olsen asked. "We now have one question for you, Lord. Are you there?" And then BAM! It HAPPENED! The spirit was SO STRONG. I felt Him there in the room answering our question. He was there and we mattered to Him!!!

This Gospel is a rare thing that you can't get anywhere else. I see more and more how this Gospel is the key to opening the door to starting our real lives and our journey:

To Return to Him and to have Eternal Joy!

I honestly love being a missionary. I know there is nothing else I am supposed to be doing at this time. As I serve my mission, I see how I was saved for this time to testify and stand as a witness at all times, in all things, in all places. I am so grateful for this wonderful opportunity to teach others and invite others to come unto Christ. I am so grateful that I have this blessed opportunity to learn the Albanian language.

I see tha God has given me great trust to love the people of Albania! It is still hard once in awhile, but I have seen the gift of tongues at work as I have gone out the door and talk with the people of this great land.

I know that there are those that God is preparing for servants of the Lord to change their lives forever. I know He lives.

He is our Lord and Savior and as we come unto him, EVERYTHING IS POSSIBLE!!!! I love the new "Because He Lives" video; it really captures in reality that He is there throughout every phase of life. I know He is with us. ALWAYS. Through think and thin, He's there! Even when we're most despairing. It is up to us to recognize his guidance through the gift of the Holy Ghost. You have to watch this: Because He Lives.

Thank you all for your examples and for standing for your beliefs. Believe me when I say they matter. No matter if you are wearing a missionary tag or not, there are those needing to hear from you the words of Christ and His Gospel. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P43Qa9WgRcY)

I hope all that the Lord has in store for each of you this week will one of miralces and that you'll learn miraculous things with the Lord by your side.

Because He lives, He is with us ALWAYS!

Motra Bezas

Motra Bezas's new companion!