47th pday email from Albania!

Time cannot full capture all that the Lord has blessed us this week to learn. I learned more this week that the Lord is throughout every detail in our lives. Like something Sister B taught me this week was, "Everything Happens For A Reason". I testify that I know this to be true. I saw it day in and day out this week.

This week was full of the sweet and tender mercies and miracles this week. I am overwhelmed by the love and great joy that our Father has for each of us.

As an example of this, Monday night we had a lesson with one of our dear investigators and afterward had a lesson that canceled on us. Let me remind you, that EVERYTHING HAPPENS FOR A REASON! as we were walking down the street from the second home, there was a lady pulling suitcases out of her car. Sister B felt prompted to go and ask if she needed help. So we did. As I asked the question in Albanian, she turned around and said she didn't speak Albanian in English. We then began to speak with her and introduced ourselves. 

With time her daughter came up to the car and we began to speak with both of them. I testify that all of God's children are precious sons and daughters of God!! This precious mother and daughter were so open to listening to us and asked us many questions. With time we found out that they were from Serbia and were passing through on Vacation. Since Macedonian and Serbian are very close in language, Sister B was able to speak to them a little in Macedonian. It was amazing! Near the end before we left, we asked if they wanted to learn more about our church when they returned to Serbia with missionaries. They said they wouldn't mind at all. So we were able to get their information!

I can honestly say that I felt like that night we walked home on cloud 9 feeling the fire about the work. I literally felt that I was filled with a serge of excitement for the work of the Lord!

So this week I received a blessing due to being very sick in my stomach. I talked with Sister H our nurse and she said that I have a toxin or something earlier this week from a certain food I ate. I can tell you that even in this experience of pain that every happened for a reason. Because the blessing I received, gave a deeper witness that every medical condition I have faced throughout my life and will face, is to help with my investigators here. I was promised that I will be able to testify to them the words that the Lord would have them hear that would touch their heart from the experiences I would receive to help with that time in my life.

An amazing  lesson I was taught also in my blessing was that my potential as a daughter of God is ENDLESS!

It is the same for everyone of God's children.

So this week the APs and the Zone leaders came to our area to do exchanges with the elders here. We had two amazing devotionals with them. I know that there were lessons that the Lord needed for each of us to learn.

They talked about the four foundation principles of our mission. That we serve with faith, obedience, diligence, and joy. The APs gave a visual with an egg and had four of us go up and carry the egg across the room with just the touch of our pinkies. That's it. As they did it and as we discussed afterward what we learned in connection with four principles of our mission. I learned that these principles are called of God for our mission not just by chance, but by what the people need. It is such a witness to me that the Lord teaches people not lessons.

I know that these are the principles we can have for ourselves because if we have one at its fullest, we are doing all for then.

I know that the Lord is with us. I felt him this week. His presence is with us always. I learned that more this week in a lesson with one of our investigators. I felt him there. Listening to her. Knowing exactly what she needed.

I know that the Lord loves us. He really does. He is with us. And through the gospel of Christ, we can come to know of it.

Because He lives, we too will receive that greater joy of living again with him!

motra bezas

District luncheon

On the streets of Albania

46th pday email from Albania!

Dear Precious Ones,

I just love the gospel!!! It seriously is amazing!! I always want to be a defender of the Faith. I want to be Loyal to the Lord my whole life. I never want to stray. Something I learned this week more was that as missionaries we say what our purpose is. To invite others to come unto Christ. Through Faith, Repentance, Baptism, Receive the Gift of the Holy Ghost, and Endure to the End. But this week, I really wanted to know what my purpose and goal in this life for me personally my whole life as well as keeping these principles with me always by inviting others to coming unto Christ everyday.

Sister B helped me with that this week:

One, To follow the Will of the Lord.

Two, To be worthy of the Spirit.

She then went on to say that is my purpose, that is her purpose, and is for every child of God. To follow his will and to be worthy of his spirit to guide us always!!!

This week I saw such sweet tender mercies coming from some of our new investigators we taught this week. 

The first was from two amazing women. The first is 19 years old and has been coming to our English Course here and the second is her mother. As we had our first lesson, with them, we really got into what they believed personally about God and who is his son, Jesus Christ. Their simple testimonies of what they knew swelled my heart in great joy. Especially when the mother said that they only knew a little about them both but really wanted to get to know them and gain that relationship with them. THEY ARE JUST AMAZING! I just remember that there was a time in the lesson where we began to talk about baptism a ton and that the best gift we will ever receive from our Father in Heaven while we are here on the earth is the Holy Ghost. I remember the daughter looked so excited and said right after that, "I CAN'T WAIT!" It brought such a sweet spirit into the room.

I knew that their Father in Heaven loved these two with all his heart. I know that each of his daughters are so precious to him! We then felt prompted to invite them to pray to the Lord and ask him as to when they should be baptized. It was a lesson that really touched Sister B and I.

The other new investigator is another family member (mother) of another investigator that has a son. She right now is in Germany to get medical help for her son but called her mother to have her come to church and to start taking the lessons with the sister missionaries. (We were not aware of this) So she then came to Church last week and welcomed her with open arms and she told us of what happened with her daughter and asked if we could start teaching her. It was such a sweet and precious moment I have seen on my mission. The love a daughter had for her mother to enjoy the the joy that she has felt her life.

When it came to the first lesson with her, it was so good! As we met with her, we got to know more of her religious background and why she personally wanted to meet with us. She then told us that she felt that this was the time in her life that she should know more about Jesus Christ, after receiving a picture of Christ for her home. She then soon after that asked simply how soon she could be baptized after taking the lessons. We told her that this was her journey and that it is between her and the Lord. So as often as she was willing to meet with us, we could then goal for her date. She then said with joy, "Everyday". We then discussed and set a date for the 25 of September. I know that the Lord was bless her and her daughter because of her desires of coming unto him.

I know it is the same for all of us.

The last experience I wanted to share was when we were in Primary helping Sister L translate during singing time for the children. We started teaching, "As I have loved you." As we taught it, two of little girls held hands and looked into each others eyes and sang the precious words...

As I have loved you,

Love One Another

This New Commandment,

Love One Another.

By This Shall Man Know,

Ye Are My Disciples,

If Ye Have Love,

One to Another.

The spirit that filled that room as these precious children of God sang. I know that This is truly the first and great commandment. When we have love always for everyone we come in contact with. When love is the first action we take. When we are ever not sure how to react in a situation. We should have love for one another.

The blessings will come and will flow into our lives and then can we truly begin to see that "Worthy of Souls, is great in the sight of God." (Doctrine and Covenants 18:10).

KNOW THAT YOU MATTER TO HIM!

Motra Bezas

A sweet Albanian grandma

Albanian ice cream is known for its amazing-ness!

At the ice cream shop with fellow missionaries: a wonderful senior missionary couple 

and Sisters Riley and Davis

One of the chapels

Another delightful sister missionary

Having a funny moment

Motra Bezas's companion Sister Barch and a wonderful Albanian woman

 Some pictures of the beautiful flavor of Albania

Motra Bezas, with her delightful personality as always - 

we miss her so much, but are so grateful she would take part of her life

and serve God's children 

She was sick this week 

 :o(

(but she still kept working - sweet girl) 

 

 With another adorable Albanian - 

Motra Bezas loves these people!!!

With fellow missionaries

Teaching families about Jesus Christ and His love for them

is one of the most rewarding experiences of a life time!

45th pday email from Albania!

O Dear Ones,

This week the Lord really has opened mine and Sister B's eyes. HE. IS. AWARE. OF. HIS. PRECIOUS. CHILDREN. I have an amazing experience with that this week. But I will share that later. 

First, I just want to testify that I know that the Lord has seriously placed Sister B in my life at this time to help stretch me and push me to become the missionary that God needs me to be for the rest of my life and for the person I need to become for my future family and people I will come in contact with throughout my life. 

I learn so much from her every single day from her example to serve the Lord and that these people we teach REALLY MATTER to our Father in Heaven, to her desire to speak with the Lord constantly by relying on him to guide the work. This idea was not something completely a new thing to me, but just how constant we talk with the Lord has just been amazing. I really feel more than ever that he really guides us here.

I know His Power and Authority reign here. I saw that this week a lot, but especially with one night there were several priesthood blessings given. I will explain. So we were teaching a lesson to V, A, and L. Well, we had an uplift by the spirit by our lesson with them, when they asked for the unexpected thing. But with God and the spirit, nothing is unexpected but inspiration!

They wanted to received Priesthood Blessings for help in their lives at that time. We then called the elders to come and give them the blessings. As L went first, it talked about how she would be the mouthpiece for the gospel for her family and that she would be the foundation of the gospel of Christ in her home for her family members for have not come into the church.

Next was V. As she went to sit down in the chair, I felt the spirit speak to me saying, "This is why the Priesthood MATTERS in a home!" It was a witness to me of this that I am so blessed to have a father who is worthy of the Priesthood who can be a beacon for the home.

Out of the three, A's was the one that struck me the most and that I felt the spirit really wanted me to pay attention. There were many great things that came from hers, but the biggest thing was when it said straight forward and simply to this young girl, "You will serve a full time mission when you reach of age. There are people that are right now being prepared by the Lord that one day you will find."

I testify that I know that the Work of the Lord is real and is ALWAYS moving. People, all around the world, have a role to play in this work. I imagine if we each reached out and touched just one soul, what the calculations be. THEY WOULD BE MIRACULOUS!! The Lord's work is a work of great JOY!

The biggest thing that was said within each of these blessings was to:

    Rely on the Lord always and go to him in prayer as you face EVERYTHING!!!

    To study the scriptures daily.

    To listen to the words of the Prophets constantly!!

I know that this is a counsel that is meant for everyone of his children.

Another cool experience with this was by the end of this meeting the Spirit literally filled the room and it was constantly being filled. As if heaven was being poured in there.

Before the end Sister B asked for one as well. It is so interesting how the Spirit works, as soon as she asked I knew that our Father in Heaven really needed to speak to us because I felt the prompting as well to ask for a blessing. Her blessing was beautiful and fully wisdom and joy for her. The things that were said were things that only her Father in Heaven knew about her and her life that the Elders giving the blessing did not know about.

It then came to my turn. I asked and went and sat down. By this point on my mission I was facing a big hardship of feeling completely stretched and just felt that I have had some trials that really had made me emotionally, spiritually, and physically stretched that I became weary. So when the blessing began the first words expressed to me brought me to full tears and the Spirit completely filled my entire body and soul, "Sister Bezas, Your Father in Heaven is aware of how much you have been stretched at this point in your life and knows all that you are going through..." It was at this moment I felt as if my Father in Heaven had tears in His eyes as He was saying this to me.

I know that the Lord is fully with us every step of the way and all that we go through, He feels for us and reaches out to us to bear us up so that our burdens can be light. Like it says in Matt. 11:28 - 30:

 28 ¶Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.

 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

I know that we come to this life in one purpose. To gain eternal life. Meaning that every day we prepared to meet our Father (Alma 34:32) we learn more about Him and how we can become like Him!

I know that our Father in Heaven is with us and something that Sister B taught me today is that, as we have great faith in the sun rising every day, it can be the same with our Father in Heaven with US! Once we have that faith, I testify that we will begin to really know our Heavenly Father than we have ever known Him before!!!

With Great Love,

Motra Bezas

Pictures from Albania!

 

Motra Bezas loving being in Albania, with one of the 

terrific people there 

Reflections from Albania

Missionary work is happy work, even during a recent huge storm :)

44th pday email from Albania!

Dear Loved Ones,

I have to testify that the Lord is a merciful one. I know that our Savior, Jesus Christ, is aware of our every need. So as we work with him through our personal prayer and studies every single day, he can help us get to our full potential.  This week, man, the Lord has blessed us in ways I have never before seen in my life and I am very much grateful for the experiences I have received that I can take with me the rest of my life. 

I am so grateful for my companion Sister B to be such a light and a guide for me in my life in helping me become the missionary that the Lord needs me to become so I can testify to those of my personal witness to those I have promised before this like I would find. I know that the Lord has those waiting for each of us personally that need us to call them in from shore and towards the trail to their Lord and Savior.

This Zone Conference I seriously learned so much this week. One of the biggest things I learned was LOYALTY IS OBEDIENCE. It never has been so clear in my entire life. We show our obedience to the Lord when we are loyal to him. Meaning we are faithful. Meaning that we will NEVER LEAVE HIM. Meaning that we will endure the VERY end that the Lord has set for us.

I really felt the Love that our  President has each of us when he said, "I don't want to lose any one of you. That is why we are talking about Obedience..." I felt the spirit so strongly that this is how our Father in Heaven feels for each of us. We are SO PRECIOUS to HIM! He doesn't want to lose a single soul. That is why his work going forward and with great strides and challenges afoot. 

Something else that struck me during the meeting was that the moment we are obedient, we are HIS. HOW BIG OF A BLESSING IS THAT!? I mean seriously. It is just amazing to think about it. By the means of a Savior and his suffering for each of our sins so we can become clean through repentance, we can then have the Lord come into our Lives more and we can fully become 100% HIS. 

I know that the biggest question that stayed with me during the conference was, "Will you be loyal to the Lord during your mission and during your whole life?" That really gave me the time to ask that question. I know that later this week I had my spirit confirmed to me the answer to this question. I was reading in my personal study when I felt so strongly, I don't want to leave this church. It was almost a plea from my spirit. I want to be loyal to the Lord. I want it with my whole soul. I am beginning to see that ever since I was a little girl that I had that desire planted as a little seed at a very young age that has been blossoming throughout my life and is still going. I know that I am always learning and that it is a never ending processes. 

As an example with this, Sister B and I had an amazing experience with this during our Personal Study. I remember I began to read where I left off in my studies the day before and after starting off with one footnote in the scriptures, I went on a crazy adventure through the scriptures where I was being spiritually taught by the Lord himself as to how I could become better as a teach and as a child of God. 

I learned within my studies that every time we go to study, I grew a image in my head that we go into a separate room in which the Lord is and he is the teacher as he teaches personally the words of God. I know that the scriptures are living words that have and always will apply to us today. I know that the Lord is always thrilled when we open the words of God and coming unto him.

I can remember that after I went through my spiritual road trip, I looked up at Sister B and by the look on her face, I knew that the Lord really taught her in her studies that day as well. The Spirit was just amazing in that room as we both looked at each other and were tremendously happy. I NEVER want to forget that moment. What it felt like to have the spirit of God as I studied with the Lord. That is what it is every time when we do our studies. It is simply up to us as to how we take our private tutoring time with the Lord. That is such an amazing concept I learned this week. 

I know that I don't have all the time in world to express all the blessings that the Lord blessed us this week, nor can I fully capture all that I have personally learned. But I do know one thing...

That this Gospel is meant to be ENJOYED!

Thank you for all that your encouragement. I know that the Lord has called me and along with every single one of these missionaries here to bless the people of Albania. Something that stuck with me from President Weidmann told me in a reply to an email that serving in the Adriatic South Mission is a great privilege that the Lord has given us personally to be a part of. 

I know that the Lord has pick very specific missionaries to serve here and that we were all together before this life, knowing what we were about to take on here on earth. I know that the vineyard here is sacred ground for the Lord and has chosen us because he trust us with his precious children here and he knows of our great gifts we have  that we can add to this mission. And I know that this time is a time rejoice! Because we are embarked in the service of Our GOD!

I know that the Lord has a call for each of us and that there are things for each of us to do. It is up to us to go out and do what he has asked us to do. (1 Nephi 3:7) Because he really has prepared the way for each of us.

Know that you are all amazing and that I love you all!!

Just remember you are 100% HIS! Because you MATTER TO HIM!

With Love, Motra Bezas