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."]