Scatter Sunshine: Adriatic South: Back in the 50s

Mirëdita!! Wow, this past week has been such an awesome week just FILLED with blessings and tender mercies from the Lord! From doing a training at zone conference to having one of my previous companions Motra Willey GO HOME, to hearing so many conversion stories, it has been such an awesome week!

Culture Shocks of the Week:

1. There's something here we like to call "watering the sidewalks". It's a thing. Every cafe or restaurant or store comes out and waters the sidewalks, like you water flowers, in front of their store. There's no scrubbing going on or soap, just water. It's our favorite thing to see haha

2. We were helping someone wash her windows at her home and she kept telling us, "Don't kill yourself, don't die" I guess it was their way of saying be careful with the rags and water we had haha

3. I had my first burger that was the closest to an American burger! Wow I didn't realize how much I missed an American burger!!

So this past week and lately we've been really focusing on growing closer to the ward members in both of our wards. We've been able to meet with a ton of our members and hear their conversion stories. It was so awesome hearing about how their lives have changed once they have found this gospel. One said that she watched the missionaries go to church for 5 years and one time, they invited her. She came, and she has been going ever since. Another shared, "You know, I read the book (Book of Mormon), and was baptized."

We had so many blessings this week and I have just seen more and more how much the Lord truly does care about us individually. We are teaching that sweet lady Lili who retaught us basically everything we've shared with her. She is crazy with work so we didn't have the opportunity to really see her this last week but I saw how much the Lord cares for her because we ended up running into her 2 other random times throughout the week. One because we missed 2 of our bus stops and was coming back and ran into her (I know it wasn't a coincidence). It was such a blessing to just keep reminding her how much we love her and having her share with us what she's read in those little moments. There truly were tender mercies (blessings from the Lord) and we are excited to have the chance to actually meet with her this week!

Another blessing was that we had someone we've been teaching contact us letting us know she needs peace in her life so we got to meet up with her and sing and read from the scriptures with her. These little moments mean the world to me! I love the peace and joy that this gospel brings!

Finally, I made my way back in time to the 50s as we are teaching these sweet ladies who own their own Salon! We gather around in the salon and honestly they are dressed like they are from the 50s and the salon I feel like I should be wearing a poodle skirt with a pink leather jacket from Grease. It is the funnest thing and the lady, Val, has had such an interest in this gospel. She said she is muslim from origin (like most people here) but has felt such a peace and likes the idea of going to church and learning about Christ. It has been so special to share that with her and the hope that is our Savior, Jesus Christ.

Lastly, something I have really learned this week is the importance of hope. I didn't realize how crucial it was until I realized if we don't have faith, faith always starts with hope. A hope to believe, a hope that things will work out. A hope that someone won't reject you right on the spot. A hope that while I may not know how to help others with their challenges, the Lord will. A hope that through every discouragement and loss of a beloved friend, everything will turn out okay. Hope is what keeps us looking to the future, and hope is what helps us strengthen our faith. Hope is truly what brings us joy.

Ether 12:4 Wherefore, whoso believeth in God might with surety hope for a better world, yea, even a place at the right hand of God, which hope cometh of faith, maketh an anchor to the souls of men, which would make them sure and steadfast, always abounding in good works, being led to glorify God.

I love being a missionary! Honestly I wouldn't trade it for the world! I love this people, I love this work, and I love my Savior! Have a wonderful week!

We were out in a little fshat one day!

The sweetest ladies! We helped them wash their windows :)

Just having a nice meal riding home on the public bus. I guess you don't see 2 American girls stuffing their face on the public bus of Albania very often....we had a lot of stares haha