33rd pday email from Albania!

Dear Precious Daughters and Sons of God,

This week miracles came right and left. I know that the Lord is watching out for us here with all the people we come in contact with. They are placed there by our Loving Heavenly Father to help each other learn and grow. That is why are even here in the first place. It is not a competition. It is a journey we embark. And as we go through our different parts of our journey, we slip and fall, but that is where others come in and help each other up. We are literally all in this together.

I know that we are each needed to help one another. It is why we have the families that we do. We are a team and as we work through our trials together, we gain a deeper love and connection to one another, which brings the blessing of peace of the Holy Ghost. And as we feel the spirit of God, we are becoming closer to our Father In Heaven. My favorite thing to tell others about why we are here as missionaries, is to help others coming unto Christ and gaining a deep loving relationship with their Father in Heaven. It is a great way to remind people of who they are and that Our Father in Heaven Desires greatly to hear from us and updates on our journey.

I know that His whole focus is on His children. We matter so much to Him. I felt His overwhelming love at moments this week when I was getting down on myself and it would be a reminder and a comfort, that everything is going to be okay and that it is just a day of growth that will add to the whole picture. Every single step we take is NEEDED in our journey through life.

Every step we take is a step forward to Christ and to our Father in Heaven. So we must never think we have not made any progress. EVERY SINGLE STEP IS PROGRESSION!!!!! Either towards Christ or towards Satan. I know that this life is FULL of experiences that we can receive and God knows what we can and cannot handle.

I actually have a story with this concept. It was with one of our newer investigators. She is a single woman with her 7 year old son. He has some mental problems that make him one of the most sweet innocent boys his age here. I know that he is a without a doubt a BLESSING to her with all the trials she has faced. She lives with her Father and her sister. We were teaching her and her sister the first part of the Plan of Happiness (I say happiness because  the knowledge we gain in this plan God has created for us, brings a joy and happiness that this life is a blessing) when I was testifying about how God loves us so much and that we matter to him.

She then asked the question to me, "Okay, I know you say God loves us, but then why have I suffered so much?" By this point she is in tears and I just remember looking into her eyes and just smiled at her. After a moment of silence, the spirit filled the room as she wiped away her tears. I grabbed her hand and just smiled deeply at her as if the Savior would have and said that we go through this life to experience many things. All that she was going through was to help her grow and giving her opportunities to use her agency to bring herself closer to Christ. 

I told her that the Lord is fully aware of her and all that she is going through, she is fully capable. I then told her that from personal experience that the times that I faced things with my Father in Heaven, I still faced my trials, but not alone. I was never alone. In fact, I had more joy and more strength when I opened the door for Him to walk in and be by my side as I walk  forward with my journey. 

I just remember the amazing Spirit that was there as I looked into her eyes. This woman has been through many hardships, but I know the Lord has been and is fully aware of what she needs. She just needs to continue down this path that she has started to her Savior, Jesus Christ.

I know that the Spirit was the teacher in this lesson with her. It was in those Still and Quiet Moments that I was able to know as to what to teach her.

This song really struck me with that experience.

Still and quiet moments -  Mckenna Thomas

It's in the still and quiet moments

It's in the words of a prayer

It's every time, I listen closely

That I can feel it near

In the earning of my soul

When I need love the most 

I cry out for a comfort and I'm filled with hope

That's lead me on 

It's in the peace of the promise

To our heart that it's pure

It's in the love that surrounds me

When I'm learning for more 

Is the true that I feel

When I start to see

I know that is the answer that's meant just for me 

That's lead me on

And I feel it deep in my soul 

And it speaks the truth that I know 

And He guides my life 

So I'll go...

Leading my heart 

Leading me home 

Leading me on

It's in the still and quiet moments
It's in the words of a prayer 
It's every time I listen closely 
That I can feel It near.

I know this is true. That this life is all about the still and quiet moments of listening and being in tune with the spirit. 

An amazing experience I learned also about the spirit was through Sister O. I was feeling super sick one day this week of food we ate, and so while I was suffering, waiting for it to end, I had fallen asleep in pain. But Sister O went into the other room to pray over the lessons that we had that day (little did I know until later) and asked in specifics as what we should teach those we would be meeting that day. 

Well, later after my sickness subsided, we came together to do companion study and plan our lessons. She then begins to explain that she felt really strongly impressed that there were certain lessons  that we needed to do today that were not what we had planned. One lesson we had was with one particular woman, and Sister O  had a amazing experience - that after she asked God, she flipped open Preach My Gospel and it opened to "Effective Study". Sister O looked confused at the section and flipped a few pages away but felt that she needed to go back.

She flipped back and as she looked at the contents of the section, she realized that this was what the  woman needed. She is a investigator that has read the Book of Mormon a couple times now but can't get baptized until March next year due to her mother, so she is doing all to follow Christ while waiting. Sister O then realized that this could be good with her and her approach with scripture study.

The next part that was amazing with this was as she shared this with me, a thought came to mind of a bookmark a received in a package from my family at Christmas that said, "50 Different Ways to Study the Scriptures". As I grabbed it, I starred at it and Sister O asked, "What is it?" I then handed it to her. I watched her face as she studied what I handed to her.

I just remember her face looking up at me and said, "You had this this whole time?" I just nodded and as I did so, the Spirit filled the room. She then said, "We are SO teaching her this!" 

Another miracle that happen this week is not something that just happened just this last week, but the whole transfer but it has made huge progress this week with one of our investigators. Well, SHE IS GETTING BAPTIZED THIS NEXT WEEK!!!!!!!!!!! 

Believe me when I say she has been one of the biggest miracles I have seen this transfer. I never thought that her family - one - would allow her to be baptized and two, that she would be baptized this transfer. She seriously has a sweet desire to follow her Lord and Savior every time she comes to our lessons and church. She feels that recharge. I know the Lord is pleased with her.

Another blossoming miracle that happen this week was with another investigator and her family. Before in the beginning, her family was nice, but their hearts have really opened to us and even this last week, I saw this family being a solid active family. She is seriously so ELECT!!! The thing that Sister O and I came to the conclusion was that the spirit really softened their hearts along with seeing that we actually do what we actually teach. By living by example. 

I honestly think that it is this way in every aspect of life. We even had an experience even today with this. We went to this little shop that we passed every day to go to the church from our house and this lady made a commented on how we dressed. We both couldn't help but smile that this woman gave it away that she had noticed us enough on the roads that she knew what we wore as a standard. She was such a sweet lady as we talked with her as we shopped in her shop. God loves His Children. I cannot say it enough. :)

Another cool experience was we were eating lunch and as we were at the window of this fast food place, the two ladies working knew us from the couple times we were on that side of town and this last time asked if they could get a copy to read while they had their breaks at work. It brought such great joy to us to realize that even though they are not ready to be baptized right now, it is okay. :) The fact they are acting in following the Lord by wanting to hear His word, is a sign they have the makings of greatness in their lives.

The last story is with another member. He called us and told us that one of his close girl friends was going to be coming to the church soon and wanted us to meet with her. We ran over and asked some background on her and he looked at us and asked back, "Can we please watch, 'Finding Faith in Christ.'" We looked at each other and just looked back to him and said, "Sure."

WOW! The spirit that filled that lesson was amazing  as we watched the acts that the Savior did for God's children and how finding faith is just the first step to our journey towards him!!!

I know that as we are here, we have hardships and wonder why are we facing the things that we are facing, but in the end we need to remember that the only way to grow is through trials and challenges. I know without a doubt that if I had not faced what I have faced thus far, I would not be where I am at today. As hard as it is at times to say, hardships are good for us. :) But it is so true! To return to our Father, we need to do all we can now to prepare to meet God. Like it says in Alma 34:32:

 "... For behold, this life is the time for men to prepare to meet God; yea, behold the day of this life is the day for men to perform their labors...."

This life is precious time God has given us to be put to the test, will we follow Jesus Christ, who has suffered it all for us, or follow the Liar of all lies? I know that as we rely on the Lord through the Holy Ghost, we will never go astray. NEVER! It is a promise we receive as we follow Him. He loves us and He is willing to do all He can to help us on our journey to returning to Him!

I love you all so much. Remember that Christ understands all the trials and challenges we face through the price He paid in the Atonement of Jesus Christ. He knows you and loves you and will always be with you. So keep relying on Him because He will never leave you!

Me Dashuri,

Motra Bezas

32nd pday email from Albania!

Dear Loved Ones,

The Lord this week has opened my eyes to deeper of understanding that He is fully aware of everyone and what they are going throughout their lives. I have learned more how the Atonement can take a person and their circumstances and change them into a transformed being. It has opened my eyes to all those we can come in contact with on the streets and in our lessons. We have no idea where they may be, but our Father in Heaven does. So we just have to search, ponder, pray, and ask what the Lord has in store for us that day. Once we have received the Lord's instructions for that day we need to act, be bold, and testify of Him and His teachings. As we do all that He asks of us, receive the great blessing of His spirit throughout every minute of the day.

That is something I also received a greater deeper understanding of - the sweet spirit we feel anytime something we hear or see or has taken place, is the SPIRIT of GOD! If that is not a witness in itself that He is ALWAYS with us and LOVES us. It just has begun to take on a whole new meaning for me. Along with this week, I have felt and seen how the Spirit of God throughout our lesson changes the people into happier and more joyful!

We had a lesson this week with a person who has a baptismal date for the 29 and she is just GOLDEN. She was so sent to her family to be the pioneer to bring the Gospel of Jesus Christ into their home. This last time we had a lesson with her and watched the Restoration film.

When it came to the scene in the film of Joseph Smith going into the grove of trees and the hymn playing, "Joseph Smith's First Prayer", the spirit began to hit the room POWERFULLY. I honestly felt myself sinking deep into my chair by how the deep the impact was. The first thing that came to my thoughts was, "Is she feeling this right now?" My question was answered as she looked down at her arms and began to rub them and looked at us with excitement in her eyes and all she could say was, "WOW!" Pure joy filled my entire being as she looked back to the screen. She was one of the elect that we needed to find. She is one of the noble and great ones and I felt something inside tell me that what we have done here today was right and that the search for finding her was over. That she is on the next part of her journey. Following Christ through the waters of Baptism and beginning with a new clean slate. After that, going through each day standing for truth and righteousness.

Another amazing experience was of a new investigator. A young man who just got baptized brought in a friend and agreed to take the discussions with us. As we taught her, the spirit was just pouring in that lesson. Especially as Sister O share about the First Vision. After that we had another lesson with her friend right after and as we taught her the restoration it was such an interesting experience I will never forget, the spirit was there but it was different. I couldn't quiet figure it out what was different about this lessons from the other woman's. All I knew something was off.

Afterward, I was talking with Sister O, and she brought up the two lessons and recognized that same thoughts and feelings I was having. We came to the conclusion that it was a lesson to learn. They are both amazing daughters of God. There was a sweetness and joy with both of them, but the difference was the first had this spirit that she was ready now. Not that the other wasn't but just not right now. Everyone is at a different point of their progression on the way to the Savior. 

Another one I wanted to share was about another woman we've been working with to come unto Christ. She is seriously such a gift. I remember when I first came into the area and she seriously was very shut down to really truly listening to us when we taught her, but with time of loving her and expressing the knowledge to her that she is one of the noble and great ones to her Father in Heaven. We had even read to her Abraham 3:22-23 and had her exchange her name:

22 Now the Lord had shown unto me, (NAME), the intelligences that were organized before the world was; and among all these there were many of the noble and great ones;

 23 And God saw these souls that they were good, and he stood in the midst of them, and he said: These I will make my rulers; for he stood among those that were spirits, and he saw that they were good; and he said unto me: (NAME), thou art one of them; thou wast chosen before thou wast born.

The light in her eyes has transformed her as we come to visit her now. There is a change that is in her. She is feeling the Spirit of God in her life.

The last story is about another investigator. She seriously is just AHHH! AMAZING! I am just seeing the worth of souls more than ever while I have been here in this area. They really matter to HIM! WE MATTER!!!!

We had one lesson planned for her, the lesson ended up taking another form and Sister O shared a scripture in Helaman 10:5:

And now, because thou hast done this with such unwearyingness, behold, I will bless thee forever; and I will make thee mighty in word and in deed, in faith and in works; yea, even that all things shall be done unto thee according to thy word, for thou shalt not ask that which is contrary to my will.

The Spirit was seriously the true teacher and I loved every minute of it!!! :) When the Spirit is in the lesson I have come to learn that the lesson was approved by the Lord especially after what I have learned about the Spirit of the Lord.

I know that Jesus Christ is our Lord and Savior and that when we testify His name, we gain a deeper connection to Him through the Spirit of The Lord as we teach and testify to others of Him. I have learned that as we do these things and follow the Lords teachings we are not only changing the Lives of others that we teach, but we are changing our own!!!

Remember, you MATTER because you are HIS!

Me Dashuri,

Motra Bezas

 Going to last week's zone conference in Tirana...
a long but scenic drive! 

31st pday email from Albania!

Dear Precious Gems,

You are all amazing and I hope you know that Heavenly Father loves you so much and that as you go througout each day, He is there for you and understands you and all you go through. 

I SERIOUSLY WANT TO EXPRESS RIGHT OFF OF HOW TRULY GRATEFUL I AM TO BE A MISSIONARY FOR THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS.

The spirit I have felt this week has been unreal. I just don't even know where to even begin. I know that I have a purpose here and that is to bring others to Christ through Baptism. We are the guides to bring others to the gate of baptism and they hold the key (which is the promise and covenant they make) and start their new life in a world of PURE JOY! 

I think of this through an analogy. While we were driving up to Tirana for Zone Conference I saw a highway sign and it said Fier was the next stop and a stop way along Tirana. I feel that is what life is like, a highway sign. We know of an event or two in our lives that are going to come down the road and other things WAY down the road but the little events in between (littler towns along the way) shape us and get us ready to get to that next big stop of our lives. 

A spiritual feast that I had this week was the Zone Conference. Believe me when I say I was physically and spiritually drenched in the spirit and was all the way home to Vlore. Dripping all the way. It was so inspirational. I have gained huge insight of what I need to do to become a better missionary, which has been a desire of my heart as to how I can become a better teacher, better at showering love and service on others, and a better representative of the Lord.

The spirit was just throughout the whole conference and I seriously can't even express the knowledge and wisdom I learned, for example with Elder Cani's conversion story while He and His family were living in Greece before they came back to Albania when he was a kid. I know that he was saved for this time to serve a mission for the people of Albania. It is just such a great witness that we each seriously play a serious role that NO OTHER PERSON can do. That is why we CAN NOT even compare to each other.

I learned a deeper understanding of how talking with everyone is a huge success even if they do not accept the Gospel then. It is okay. The Lord knows the progression of His vineyard and how long it takes some fruits to ripen and be prime to accept the Gospel. So when it comes to talking with people even more than ever on buses and on the street it is so crucial. Because even if they do not take part of the Gospel right then they need that to water the seed that is planted in their heart. (I imagine us as missionaries having big tubs of water, which is the gospel, and people on the street have a seed in a small potted plant. Are we going to be selfish and not share the thing that blesses our lives right now that one day they could have? No, we are going to water their seed! No matter where they are in their progression).

The commitments of being more bold about opening our mouths to proclaim the gospel has given Sister O and me a challenge and we can honestly say that we have seen MANY blessing come into our lives and not to mention 4 new investigators and another we received in church from a member. We are just overwhelmed with the Love the Lord has for His children. It is now up to us to do His will and share the water we come to share for those that need it.

We had an amazing experience actually even today during our Pday. We were heading out to this food place by the beach and were at a bus stop when we kept making eye contact with this lady, who was college age. Well, after a moment before we could go to her, she came up to us and asked if we saw the bus coming. We began to talk and got to know this daughter of God. As we got on the bus, we continued the conversation. She was in her second her of studying to be a lawyer at the university. In the end she asked for our number so we could continue our conversation. She didn't seem super interested in the gospel as others we had talked to but didn't turn us down.Well, I can say right now the Lord was in this conversation, because she so wrapped up in our conversation and missed her stop. Second thing that happen was she forgot her sack of food she bought from the store on the bus. After she left we saw it and grabbed it as we got off. We got her number already and gave her a call. We finally met up again and met two of her roomates. I knew that this didn't happen by accident. I think the Lord was using us as tools to do Christlike Service to soften her heart for the day that we will met again. The Lord knows this girl.

The thing I expanded a deeper understanding on this week was on the Atonement. About how specifically how He suffered for each of us one by one in the Garden. He searches one by one, and we need to pray for the one that God needs us to find that day. I know that even if this girl does not move forward right now, it okay, because she felt the Lord come into her life and she will remember this day for the rest of her life. That someone gave service to her and asked nothing in return.

I love this Gospel. I know that I am not perfect and that I am not the teacher and testifier of the truth that I want to be, but I know that through Christ and His atonement, all can become to people that He knows we can become. I know that as we come to understand the Atonement more in our lives and how it relates to us personally, the more meaningful and overwhelming love will we feel in our lives.

God lives and because He lives, we know that we can become like Him THROUGH CHRIST.

Until next week, remember you are loved and you MATTER!

Love, Motra bezas

During their prep-day (the day they do their wash and go visit sites)...

this is Gjirokastër Castle 

Gjirokastër Castle

Gjirokastër Castle

The winter is over and Albania is green-ing up!

 Giving a bit shout-out to her family and friends!

30th pday email from Albania!

Dear Ones Of Great Worth!

This week was week of knowledge building spiritually and physically. I learned that as we go throughout each day and face adversity, we can do all things through Christ. 

Like in Philippians 4:13 when it says, "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me."

I know that this to be so true. I have seen Him strengtheneth me this week. I have seen how He understands all that we go through every single minute in our lives and is with us to bear us up. ALWAYS.

This week we went on exchange with Sister C and Sister J. They are just FANTASTIC missionaries who are such examples to me in MANY WAYS. I look up to them so much! They are such blessings to this mission by their witnesses and who they have become throughout their lives to get to this point. It is just amazing to get to know the missionaries and see how we have each been prepared to serve our Lord and Savior. 

As I was with Sister C she taught me so many things. But many of them were by her example. AHHH! She is just amazing with her desires to follow the Lord in what He needs. One of the verbal things she taught me out of the many was this scripture in 3 Nephi 5:

13 Behold, I am a disciple of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. I have been called of him to declare his word among his people, that they might have everlasting life.

I remembered she looked at me and said, "Motra Bezas, You fear NO man!" That is something that I am always to struggling to do is to be a teacher full of confidence. But I know that as I testify to the investigators and promise the spirit guided blessings God has for each of His children, that my confidence will grow and I will gain a deeper faith in my Savior. 

A song I found myself studying from the Hymns this week I felt really fit with this goal of becoming more of the teacher God knows I can become. 

1. More holiness give me,

More strivings within,

More patience in suff’ring,

More sorrow for sin,

More faith in my Savior,

More sense of his care,

More joy in his service,

More purpose in prayer.

2. More gratitude give me,

More trust in the Lord,

More pride in his glory,

More hope in his word,

More tears for his sorrows,

More pain at his grief,

More meekness in trial,

More praise for relief.

3. More purity give me,

More strength to o’ercome,

More freedom from earth-stains,

More longing for home.

More fit for the kingdom,

More used would I be,

More blessed and holy–

More, Savior, like thee.

I know the Lord is just waiting for us. Every step of the way. I know that it is just up to each of us to take the steps in this life to keep walking with Him in the Life to come. We are His disciples here to teach His word and to have His Children gain a deeper relationship with him. Because He suffered and died for us and the sins we make everyday, He knows us through and through and it is our turn to get to know him and know all that he has done for us.

I know that as we do this, we will feel a deeper overwhelming sense of Love to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and I know that this is a promise that God gives each of us.

If I knew nothing else, I know that God gave His only Begotten Son so that WE can LIVE again. We lived with Him before this life and He WANTS us to live AGAIN with HIM. BECAUSE WE MATTER TO HIM MORE THAN WE CAN COMPREHEND!!!!!!!!!!!

Thank you for all that you and remember that you matter To  HIM!

Motra Bezas

How Firm A Foundation

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ezGzcuAfyBE`

More Holiness Gives Me

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2V1s8SmtX7g