Gëzuar Festa!

Përshëndetje! Ju dua shumë!! This week has been an eventful one! To start off, Ramazan started this week that means that there will be a month of fasting in the Muslim religion and a month of people sharing they can't pray or meet with us because they need to be dedicated to their religion. It has already begun!

Culture Shocks of the Week:

1. Driving here is like watching a NASCAR race. I sometimes wonder where are the lines or even speed limits or rules? haha

2. The Summertime is WEDDING season! So fun! So we've been seeing cars covered in ribbons and flowers with people blasting their horns throughout the street! Usually a wedding celebration lasts about an entire week and they are huge here! I have yet to see one but I have a goal to one day see one! :)

3. I experienced an earthquake here wooo! It was the littlest thing but it was pretty fun! Also, back to food because I'm telling ya, that's something to talk about haha but they have a bunch of Albanian traditional food places here in Tirana and 1. They are SO GOOD and 2. THEY ARE SO CHEAP! It's the best :)

So this week has been a week of finding and meeting with new people! We have sadly not been able to meet with a lot of people that we are teaching this week and we are doing all we can to meet with them and continue to teach and serve them! We will see how everything goes this week! But some fun stories from this past week, we decided to do more tracting (going door to door to people's homes) due to the rain and heat. We were talking with this one man one night and he was like, "Hey! My wife might be interested!" it was the coolest thing and we planned to go back 2 days later. Then when we came, she made us this delicious meal and we talked with her about her beliefs and we left with a prayer. The prayer was so special as we asked to bless her home and her family. After the prayer, she was crying and asked us to come back! It was such a tender experience to see the spirit touch her and now we can go back and share the beautiful message about the Restoration! I am so thankful for this gospel of Jesus Christ that we can share that truly touches people's lives! We will see how that goes this week!

Another tracting story: we were talking to this one older lady who said she was about to head to Kosovo to do a film. We were like, what? She explained how she's an actress and proceeded to bring us right into her home and show us all her awards and films and things she's accomplished! Some she received from America so that was pretty cool! This week we also had a lady invite us to her work at the hospital. She works with Albania's abandoned babies and she showed us pictures of Laura Bush being there. It was special to talk with her and she said she'd love to meet again but we'd need to wait a month until Ramazan is over. We are excited!

Some other things we experienced this week was a movie night with the Relief Society in the Wards! We watched The Joseph Smith movie and honestly it was an evening of popcorn and tears. Also, I wanted to share of a special experience I had in my English course this last week. The class with filled because we had new people come in and at the end of each lesson, we share a little spiritual thought. As I was thinking of what to share with the people, a thought came into my head to sing. As I testified of Christ with the scripture Omni 1:26 "And now, my beloved brethren, I would that ye should come unto Christ, who is the Holy One of Israel, and partake of his salvation, and the power of his redemption. Yea, come unto him, and offer your whole souls as an offering unto him, and continue in fasting and praying, and endure to the end; and as the Lord liveth ye will be saved." I then sang, "I Stand All Amazed" which is a song about Christ and His sacrifice saying, 

   I stand all amazed at the love Jesus offers me,

Confused at the grace that so fully he proffers me.

I tremble to know that for me he was crucified,

That for me, a sinner, he suffered, he bled and died.

​Oh, it is wonderful that he should care for me

Enough to die for me!

Oh, it is wonderful, wonderful to me!​

​I felt the warmth and love of the Spirit in the room and was able to share about the love that Christ truly has for us! He just asks us to come unto Him and and partake of His love and His peace! His arms are reached out all the day long for us but we need to come unto Him! I know that our Savior, Jesus Christ, suffered for us. He died for us. And He was resurrected for us! He lives! I know that with all of my heart! He lives and as we come unto Him whether that be through prayer, service, scripture study, baptism, forgiveness, love, He will welcome us with a warm and loving embrace and strengthen us in our times of trials. I know that to be true! O it is wonderful, wonderful to me. I say that in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.​

​I hope you all have such a wonderful week and Happy Memorial Day!​

Ramazan began!

I loved this bar code mat haha also it is very typical to see a pair of shapkas (slippers) outside of peoples' doors. They always have a pair to wear around the house!

The doors here typically have 2 knobs. We don't know why :)

The food we got, and there in coins is how much we paid for it. Not bad ;)

Spending time with the babies in the hospital! Too bad I didn't get to hold them.

Our activity with the wards!

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​Hopefully becoming a pro at making byrek :) The Albanian women always tell us we need to learn how to cook so we can get a husband haha 

Our Byrek!! 
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Mirupafshim! Të dua!

Motra Olsen

Letters:

Adriatic South Mission
Sister Natalie Olsen
POB 2984
Bulevardi "Gjergj Fishta"
Qendra "Alpas", Shkalla #5, Apt #14
Tirana
Albania

(If you can't send it with the POB box number, you can just send it without it. I'll still get it)

Email: natalie.olsen@myldsmail.net

mormon.org

Lopa e Shenjtë!!

​​

Lopa e Shenjtë!! (Holy Cow) this last week was a good one! hahaha I have learned so much this last week and am filled with so much gratitude!!

Culture Shock of the Week:

1. I cannot express how blessed I am here with the mounds of fruit on every corner oh my goodness!! There are some new fruits included that I have never tried before! One is the fruit kumbulla! They're like mini apples kind of but don't actually taste anything like apples haha they're green, crunchy like an apple, and really I can't explain the flavor. They're a little sour I don't know but I love them. The other fruit is MANA! Yeah-like you hear from the Bible!-however, it's not bread, and it looks like white blackberries and taste a little bit like grass :) haha

2. Because we're talking about food, something a little funny is how much Albanians love to drench as many things as they can in either olive oil or sugar water. It's the best. You end up practically drinking a lot of things haha

3. When it rains, it rains a LOT here!! We've had lots of rainy stormy days this week so it's been a lot of fun seeing rainbows and then out of no where, getting drenched. 

So for this week, the rain has brought about so many blessings. Rain has led us to being able to visit some people in need of the love and comfort of Christ! It's incredible how much the Lord truly places people in our path so that we can always serve and be His hands through sharing the Lord's love for them. We've had many wet days and many stolen umbrellas but all has been well! haha

We've been able to visit a lot with Lili, Val, and the other younger girl Adi and it has been such a blessing! A lot of our days are pretty much running through the streets of Tirana talking with others, teaching English course, visiting a lady in the hospital, and sharing the message of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ in people's home, at their salon, or in the streets. I got to go to Durres again this last week for a day and was so blessed to meet so many more people! 

Something that I have really bit hit with this last week and have learned a lot this last week is humility. I have always had the scripture Ether 12:27 from the Book of Mormon on my mind as Christ says, "27 And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them." You know I thought, "Well that's convenient. I'm coming unto Christ right now serving Him and have seen plenty of weaknesses of mine." I have then been having a difficult time seeing the strengths, the changes! I then had such a humbling experience this week as I read in Alma 32:1-16 (read it!) and this part stood out to me, 

"14 And now, as I said unto you, that because ye were compelled to be humble ye were blessed, do ye not suppose that they are more blessed who truly humble themselves because of the word?

15 Yea, he that truly humbleth himself, and repenteth of his sins, and endureth to the end, the same shall be blessed

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16 Therefore, blessed are they who humble themselves without being compelled to be humble

​..."

It was then that I realized what it meant to "come unto Christ". I learned that I need to humble MYSELF to compel MYSELF to be humble. Just as Christ said, "If they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them." I learned that what it means to be humble is to rely completely on the Lord. It is through prayer that we can compel ourselves to be humble and to rely on the Lord. It is through that daily communication between our Heavenly Father that we rely on Him, we humble ourselves before Him, and then counsel with Him to do according to His will. Then through the Savior's strength we will be strengthened and have weak things become strong unto us. It was when I humbled myself than being compelled to be humble that I found strength through my Savior. It was that moment that I was able to learn how I can change and what I could do to be a better person, a better companion, and a better servant to the Lord. I am so thankful for my Savior and His Atonement that truly strengthens us as we come unto Him and rely completely on Him in all things. I say that in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

​I hope you have a wonderful week! I love you all more than words could ever explain! Just know you are in my heart and in my prayers! Love you!​​

Binjakë!! (been-yawk) (Twins!) Also check out my sweet tan lines.....

I LOVE these girls!!

​After a wet day :)​

​A sweet member in one of the wards here!​

​I love this girl! I was so blessed to meet her when I went to Durres!! Cool story was that when she was taking the missionary lessons, she would do all she could to meet early in the mornings before work and to meet during her lunch breaks! She is incredible!​

​Literally it is so common to casually see cows, sheep, and goats EVERYWHERE!​

​Another sweet lady in the ward!​

​I am in HEAVEN!!​

​Kumbulla!!​

​Mana!​ (The "Holy" Fruit ;))

​Chilling with some mountain goats!​

​​

​We went to this beautiful church that kind of reminds me of Hogwarts haha it is called Kisha e Laci and it is well known here in Albania. People travel from all over to come see this church! It is absolutely beautiful and I got me some holy water from the church :)​

​And the title of my email: HOLY COW!! :)​

​Where we got the holy water.​

​

-- 

Mirupafshim! Të dua!

Motra Olsen

Letters:

Adriatic South Mission
Sister Natalie Olsen
POB 2984
Bulevardi "Gjergj Fishta"
Qendra "Alpas", Shkalla #5, Apt #14
Tirana
Albania

(If you can't send it with the POB box number, you can just send it without it. I'll still get it)

Email: natalie.olsen@myldsmail.net

mormon.org

Venda e Kalajave

Welcome to the land of Castles!! Honestly Albania is just filled with castles! Am I in a fairy tale land or what? ;) Also, I wanted to share how blessed I was to have been able to Skype my family yesterday for Mother's Day! I love them all so much and I am especially grateful for my mom this Mother's Day for raising me to be close to my Savior so that I can be here to serve these people of Albania. The greatest thing she does for me is helping me feel the pure love of Christ through her love for me! I am forever grateful!

Culture Shocks of the Week:

1. Apparently it's not a usual thing to have 2 American girls singing at the top of their lungs to a couple of children in the streets of Albania. We had a little fun street contacting (or I guess you could say street singing) this week :) 

2. FOREIGNERS! You wouldn't think that would be a shock right as I am one of them haha but being surrounded by Albanians, I can't help but get a little thrown off hearing English or seeing a non-Albanian in the street. I guess that's what people think about us when we get a bunch of stares haha 1. I'm blonde and 2. My companion is 6'1". 3. We're not Albanian.

3. I spent a day in Shkodër this past week on an exchange and I stepped into a whole new world! Instead of most people being Muslim, most people are Catholics and the streets are filled with bikes! It was fun to experience a day out of the craziness and noisiness of Tirana but it's so good to be back :)

Wow this past week was just filled with blessings!! I've started writing down something I've learned everyday even the littlest things and I have been learning so much! I want to start sharing with you a little something I've learned each week. Some blessings we experienced this past week was the salon lady and her friend came to church!! I was so happy and they loved it and are now more open and excited to learn more! I truly love the peace I feel when I go to church every week!

Other blessings this week was that this adorable girl that's been learning about the gospel returned to Tirana after a couple of months. She is incredible honestly and it has been such a blessing teaching her and having her come to lessons with so many questions and with her scriptures marked up just ready to learn and to grow closer to Christ! Every time we meet up with her she has this giant ëmbëlsirë (dessert) prepared for us. I guess I'm not complaining ;) I can't express how many desserts I'm given each day...honestly. What to do. I can't say no, and literally, I can't say no.

So I've learned so much this week but one thing has truly changed my perspective in everything and has helped me through so much. I have definitely been feeling a little overwhelmed. How can I talk to everyone? I miss so many opportunities and chances and have a desire to do all that I can to serve the Lord but sometimes I feel that I've fallen short. There's so many weaknesses that I want to strengthen and so much energy I wish I had but I have felt that I have fallen short. I then realized something so real and so tender that has changed everything and brought me peace. That something is my Savior and His strength. His grace. I realized that yes I'm going to mess up. Yes, sometimes I may not be able to overcome a weakness or have 100% energy to do all that I can. That's where Christ's Atonement comes in. When I've done all I can, or maybe even have not done all that I could and may still have even messed up, I have a sweet tender communication between me and my Father in Heaven each night asking for  forgiveness for my weaknesses and mistakes, and then have the opportunity for strength to try again. When we feel like we fall short or that we are not doing enough, we need to turn to our Savior and His strength and His love. The beauty of Christ Atoning sacrifice is that we can repent and try again. It is who we become that is what matters, not a collection of our good works or things we've done in the past. It is more about where we are facing than what we have accomplished that matters. I have truly felt a greater strength as I am always facing my Savior, and trying again. Then each day, we grow. Each day, we come to know our Savior. And each day, we can find peace in knowing we are not alone. I love my Savior and I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Have a wonderful week! I honestly love you all so much! I am truly so happy here in my precious home of Albania.

Castle by Shkodër.

We took a little trip up to a kalaja! (Castle)

Some sweet weapons from who knows when :)

A little restaurant up in the castle.

Me and my sweet companion: Motra DeCoursey

Just a wild donkey... :)

​We had to try some Albanian Arabic food!! :)

-- 

Mirupafshim! Të dua!

Motra Olsen

Letters:

Adriatic South Mission
Sister Natalie Olsen
POB 2984
Bulevardi "Gjergj Fishta"
Qendra "Alpas", Shkalla #5, Apt #14
Tirana
Albania

(If you can't send it with the POB box number, you can just send it without it. I'll still get it)

Email: natalie.olsen@myldsmail.net

mormon.org