Scatter Sunshine: Adriatic South: The Last Lap

Wow a lot has happened this last week!! It's been yet ANOTHER week of miracles!!! I am LOVING Gjakova and how beautiful it is here!

Culture Shocks of the Week:

1. WE GOT OUR FIRST EVER DINNER APPOINTMENT IN KOSOVO!! We had a miracle moment where the members called US to come over to eat a special Kosovaren dish they made-Fli. This is a big deal because we are not invited to anything here haha so we're are developing great relationships!

2. Perks about living in a Muslim culture-there are always modest clothes :) The dresses are LONG!!!

3. Along with the culture....there is a lack of pork here. (I hope someone gets that)

SERVICE!!! That has to be the theme of this last week!! Motra Ahlstrom and I have been looking to find a lot of ways to serve here and it's been a major blessing!! Service allows you to be more aware of those around you and we truly were led to so many people! We've helped a woman clean her rug (The Albanian way: With a hose, scrub brushes, and soap. I'm thankful that wasn't my weekly chore growing up haha), we helped a member paint her house, and we went around with the members to pick up trash at a nearby park we play futbol at (or soccer for you Americans :)) SERVICE IS SO AWESOME!! A major service opportunity we have every week is helping to teach a member here how to read. It truly is a miracle. We've started reading the Book of Mormon with her and we give her certain words to look for so as we read aloud, she then reads her assigned words. It's been incredible because there is truly POWER in reading the Book of Mormon. She is picking up a lot faster and has a great confidence knowing that the Lord is helping her and wanting to help her read. She just so badly wants to read from the Book of Mormon. It has been a major miracle!!

Other moments from this last week! We met this family on the street who actually wanted us to come over and teach them!! When we did, they invited us back the next day so that they could feed us fli.....but also to hear more. They invited their family and their friends. We then taught the Plan of Salvation to everyone there all gathered around and it was AWESOME!! Then to top it off-they all came to CHURCH!!! We are so excited to be seeing the Lord truly leading us to those that are searching and prepared for this gospel!! I love this work!! We were also able to meet with and teach many other families. That has been our focus and I am just so thankful for the Lord and this opportunity we have to have so many more families apart of our lives. I love this work and I love this gospel!!!

Jacob 5: 75 And it came to pass that when the Lord of the vineyard saw that his fruit was good, and that his vineyard was no more corrupt, he called up his servants, and said unto them: Behold, for this last time have we nourished my vineyard; and thou beholdest that I have done according to my will; and I have preserved the natural fruit, that it is good, even like as it was in the beginning. And blessed art thou; for because ye have been diligent in laboring with me in my vineyard, and have kept my commandments, and have brought unto me again the natural fruit, that my vineyard is no more corrupted, and the bad is cast away, behold ye shall have joy with me because of the fruit of my vineyard.

I have just loved reading the Book of Mormon everyday and Motra Ahlstrom pointed out this scripture to me this last week. I just want to testify of the JOY it is to serve the Lord. As we have been serving so many this week and teaching so many and as I am reflecting back on my mission, I truly have found JOY in this work. I love that the Lord says that we will have JOY WITH Him. That is His joy-WE are His joy!! He just wants us in His arms. He just wants us to return home to Him. He truly does love us. I testify of that in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

This will be my last week! It's crazy but I am so thankful to live every moment to the end. I am eternally grateful for this time that I've had to serve my Savior and my Heavenly Father. Words cannot even begin to express my gratitude. I'll be seeing you all next week.

WE WENT ON A GORGEOUS PDAY TRIP TO VALBONA!!! It is SO BEAUTIFUL HERE!! I cried. When do I not?

I love nature so much!

Gjakova!! Isn't it so CUTE? It's my cute little city :)

We celebrated one of our English Course kid's birthday this last week! I made some Albanian chocolate cake :) This is our class!! I love them!!! They get SO PUMPED to read the Book of Mormon at the end of the class it's so funny to watch kids fight over reading and responding to the passages haha