Gëzuar Dita e Falendërive!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!! This past week was a CRAZY week with lots going on! One being that on Thursday we met up with the entire mission in Tirana at a beautiful hotel to have a massive Thanksgiving Dinner!! No it was nothing like an American Thanksgiving but everything is always better with an Albanian twist on it :)

Culture Shocks of the Week:

1. Thanksgiving Dinner!! It was the best. You can't have vegetables and potatoes in Albanian without having it fried in olive oil! Also the turkeys were impressive! I especially loved the cube potatoes. Mashed potatoes, gravy, stuffing, or really any of that doesn't quite exist in Albania.... :) I did manage to make pumpkin cupcakes with cream cheese frosting! We had a massive dessert buffet as every companionship brought a dessert!

2. Olive trees. Albania is KNOWN for its olives! We actually went out to serve this lady by gathering olives and we spent a lot of our day whacking a tree with a stick it was awesome!

3. POMEGRANATE SEASON! Man, I love pomegranate. Also my kitchen must love it too because it is COVERED in pomegranate juice. Whoops. :)

Highlights from the week: The first one being MY COMPANION Motra McGuire! No her name's not Lizzy.... ;) She is from Southern Utah, SHE RUNS! THIS IS CRUCIAL! And she sings and plays percussion. She is awesome and here is a quote that describes her: "uhh....do you know why I smile a lot?....uhh.....because it's worth it" :) I love her! I am so blessed to be able to train her for these next few months! We've already been running everyday and I couldn't be happier! Also-I'm realizing how OUT OF SHAPE I AM wow I cannot wait to get running again haha

Another highlight was the Thanksgiving Variety Show! I was able to accompany the violin to "A Poor Wayfaring Man of Grief" and sing to "How Can I Be Sure" I'll try to send those :) I just want to share how THANKFUL I am for my Savior and this time that He is giving me to serve Him. I am so thankful for my family and for my family here in Pogradec! I am so thankful for my companion and for all of you and your support! I couldn't be filled with greater gratitude this Thanksgiving season!!

Finally I want to share something so powerful that I learned this week and that is GRATITUDE on the SABBATH DAY. I was able to give a talk to our little group here in Pogradec and as I stood up in front of all of our members for Sacrament meeting I just saw so many that I have grown close to and so many that how impacted my life and how many more people have been added ever since I came in. I was just FILLED with gratitude and I had tears streaming down my face as I just shared with them my gratitude for them and for the Sabbath Day. I learned so much in that moment that I would like to share with you. One being, why do you think we have the Sabbath Day? Isiah shares in the Bible that the Sabbath is a DELIGHT! But why? The Sabbath Day TRULY is a HOLY day! God created that from the beginning. It is sanctified so that we don't have to work, we don't spend money, we partake of the Sacrament in church, and we spend this day worshiping God with our families. Have you ever thought that this day was literally designed for us in order for us to count our blessings? What happens when we count our blessings? We are grateful! We are thankful! And we are HAPPY! I think of "Count Your Blessings"  

When upon life’s billows you are tempest-tossed,

When you are discouraged, thinking all is lost,

Count your many blessings, name them one by one,

And it will surprise you what the Lord has done.

As we keep the Sabbath Day holy, we are showing our gratitude to our Savior and our Heavenly Father. As we keep the Sabbath Day holy, we have this day to be surrounded by things we are blessed with. Our family, our friends in church, and most importantly, our Savior and Heavenly Father. WHAT A BLESSING! Then what happens to the rest of the week? We are regenerated! We are aware of our blessings SO THAT those trials and difficult moments throughout the week are forgotten as we cherish the DELIGHTFUL Sabbath Day.

D&C 78: 19 And he who receiveth all things with thankfulness shall be made glorious; and the things of this earth shall be added unto him, even an hundred fold, yea, more.

Finally, we are able to partake of the Lord's Sacrament EVERY week! We are able to renew our covenant at baptism and be cleansed AGAIN! As we keep the Lord's commandments, take upon ourselves the name of Christ, and always remember us, He promises us something SO SPECIAL!

Mosiah 24: 13 And it came to pass that the voice of the Lord came to them in their afflictions, saying: Lift up your heads and be of good comfort, for I know of the covenant which ye have made unto me; and I will covenant with my people and deliver them out of bondage.

14 And I will also ease the burdens which are put upon your shoulders, that even you cannot feel them upon your​ ​backs, even while you are in bondage; and this will I do​ ​that ye may stand as witnesses for me hereafter, and that​ ​ye may know of a surety that I, the Lord God, do visit my​ ​people in their afflictions.

​HE WILL DELIVER US! HE WILL BLESS US! This is why we come to church EVERY WEEK! This is why we partake of the Sacrament EVERY WEEK! He sanctified this day not just to be HIS day, but this is a SACRED day for us! We are with our families! We remember our Lord so that He WILL deliver us! I testify of that that the Sabbath Day IS a Delight! It IS a day FILLED with gratitude and I truly felt that! We can now be grateful not just at Thanksgiving time, but always and ESPECIALLY on the Sabbath. I can testify of that with all of my heart. I am SO GRATEFUL for the Sabbath Day. I love my Savior and His work. I testify of that in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.​

​Keep sending those Christmas Cards!! :) Love you all!​ Also this week is the start of #LIGHTtheWORLD!! Check it out and just us in LIGHTING the WORLD this Christmas season everyday for 25 days. 

​https://www.mormon.org/?cid=HP_FR_24-11-2017_dMIS_fMORG_xLIDyL1-A_

​

Yes that is supposed to be potatoes and stuffing :)

An attempt at a Gingerbread House....

My MTC group :) I love them!!

Just some stallions along the beach :)

Pomegranate!!!

My companion, Motra McGuire and me :)​

-- 

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

I’M TRAINING!!!!

SO MANY MIRACLES THIS WEEK!! I don't even know where to begin! One being that we had yet another baptism and it was ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL!!! Her entire family came (all of her kids and their families) and it was absolutely beautiful! We also received transfer calls and I am going to be TRAINING here in Pogradec as my companion is going home!

Culture Shocks of the Week:

1. Don't count on the menu at restaurants. You only end up being able to order one thing. Then it comes out to be something completely unexpected.

2. Sometimes the pizzerias are out of pizza. You then just end up ordering drinks.

3. It's weird that somehow when contacting people in the streets, not a single person has a phone or any way of contacting them.....(I've tried to make that as sarcastic as possible) haha

I want to share about this woman's baptism. Her name is Sabiko and she is INCREDIBLE!! I've already shared with you what she has given up-alcohol, tobacco, coffee, all of these things and in just 2 weeks. Do you know what helped her? Reading the Book of Mormon. She gave it up in just 2 WEEKS because she came unto Christ through reading His words in the Book of Mormon. The Book of Mormon is POWERFUL!! It was the most beautiful thing to watch her get baptized. That morning we were over in her shop and people were telling her she's crazy for getting baptized in the lake at such a cold time and that she shouldn't get baptized. She then just responded, without doubting, "Christ helped me to give up smoking and alcohol. He will make the water warm for me." I am happy to testify that after her and her grandson's baptism, they were WARM. They said the minute they stepped in the lake, it was warm! I know that it was Sabiko's faith in CHRIST that the water was warm. As we were there sitting at the baptism, I saw that her daughter was crying. She shared that she is so happy that her mom has finally found peace. I just want to testify that Christ truly is the Prince of Peace! As I watched them get baptized and as we went about in the program, I felt SO MUCH PEACE! It was absolutely beautiful! 

I came across this scripture in the Book of Mormon, Helaman 5: 47 Peace, peace be unto you, because of your faith in my Well Beloved, who was from the foundation of the world.

Christ truly was chosen from the foundation of the world to come to the earth, to atone for our sins, our weaknesses, and our pains so that we might find PEACE and RETURN back to our Father in Heaven! I also want to testify of the power of the Book of Mormon. It truly is the Word of God!! Its words truly are the words of Christ! I have never seen so many people overcome temptations, give up unhealthy habits, and unite their family BECAUSE of the Book of Mormon and its power! It has power because in it, we find Christ. It TRULY testifies of Christ and He has suffered for US so that we can find peace, we can overcome our weakness, and we can return back to our Father in Heaven WITH our eternal families!! I love my Savior and I testify that the Book of Mormon is TRUE with ALL of my heart! Read it everyday and you WILL be blessed! I can't testify of that enough! In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Have a wonderful week!! I just have one request from you all-PLEASE send me your Christmas Cards!!! I'll make a deal, if you send me one, I'll send you one :) LOVE YOU!! I want to know how you all are doing!! 

​Sabiko's family!!!

My little buddy :) He's AWESOME!!

Our mission president was able to come and baptized her!

My perfume gal :) I love her!

In the beautiful village of Tushemisht.

I honestly don't know what I'm doing here haha

FALL in Pogradec!

-- 

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

Become Like a Child

HEY THERE!!! Sorry for that cliff hanger last week, my email went a little weird and cut off the rest of it. But I forgot to mention that last week I went to Macedonia!!! So that's where all the pictures came from :) Also for a major blessing this week: A FAMILY WAS BAPTIZED!!! One of the member's family after a year finally got baptized AND this member is SO CLOSE to heading on her mission! I just teared up watching her family one by one get into the waters of baptism and become one step closer to an eternal family. It was absolutely beautiful!!

Culture Shocks of the Week:

1. When Albanians go our for ANYTHING-for example, out to pizza for a member's birthday, they get SO DOLLED UP! It's impressive actually. You wonder why their weddings have got to be so decked out. You saw a little glimpse of that with me when I had a little makeover in Kosovo....

2. I'm getting SO EXCITED FOR CHRISTMAS! It's not much of a thing here but I started to decorate our apartment and put up some Christmas lights my mom had sent me in the MTC. Let's just say, that the voltage doesn't match. After about 10 minutes they all blew out haha I was wondering why the lights were abnormally bright...No explosions, all is well-ha! :)

3. Just an update on the weather: It is rainy and cold. It has been raining a ton this week and it gets super dark here. It's beautiful here though!!

So I have got to tell you about the miracle grandson of one of our investigators. First off-we have another baptism THIS Saturday with this woman and her grandson. I need to tell you some stories of these incredible people. The woman we meet with her at her cafe and after fasting this last Sunday, she has not smoked SINCE! She smoked A TON before meeting us but through reading the Book of Mormon, and fasting to have more strength from the Savior, she gave it up! It is so sweet to see her grandson be like, "Grandma! You're not smoking anymore!" She then proceeds to share, "I don't do that anymore." She is incredible. So now her grandson is going to join her. They read together everyday from the Book of Mormon and in one week he's about finished the children's explanation of the Book of Mormon (he's little) He's already sharing his desire to go on a mission! Oh my goodness-the influence of a child is INCREDIBLE. They are so innocent and are so in tune with the Spirit. The woman invites literally everyone who comes to her cafe to church and kicks people out whenever she meets with us. She's always like, "I've got some business to do!" haha She also immediately when learning about the Sabbath Day was like, "I'm closing down my shop on Sundays and will be with my family." Her faith is absolutely incredible and I just learn from her each and everyday. I honestly love these people so much.

I want to share a tender experience I had. We were in a difficult situation and I came across this scripture that just impacted me.

3 Nephi 9:22 Therefore, whoso repenteth and cometh unto me as a little child, him will I receive, for of such is the kingdom of God. Behold, for such I have laid down my life, and have taken it up again; therefore repent, and come unto me ye ends of the earth, and be saved.

I have seen how important it is for us to humble ourselves like a child. I have seen it that children get it! They don't overthink, they truly are so close to God. We had an experience asking a little boy, "Do you want to be with your father forever?" and with an immediate "Yes!" The Spirit just filled the room! It was a feeling of sweet peace :) I have seen with that other little boy getting baptized this week, he immediately read the Book of Mormon, he immediately acted, and truly was so humble to do what the Lord asks. We have another woman we are teaching and her little boy randomly in the middle of the lessons yells out "Everyone quiet! I need to pray!" When I look at this, I think how submissive am I? How immediate am I in being obedient and would drop down to my knees to pray whenever? I have seen that I have been learning so much doing the little things and it truly strengthens us. It is when we kneel down in humble prayer, accepting the will of God, that we can become as a child and have the power of Christ's Atonement in our lives. I can testify of that in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

I love you all! Hug your little children and hold them for me because I can't for some time :) LOVE YOU!!!!!

What a cute family :) We had it at the local hotel pool.

Me and a member from Korcë! I love her :)

The first memebr I met when I entered into the field in Korcë!! I got to see her again :)

​Me and my girl :)

-- 

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

​And for a bonus..... :)

Gëzuar Hallouin!...ose Dita e të Vdekurve?

WOW!!! Lots have happened this last week! One thing being that I swear I have perfume in my blood now!! I'll explain a little more later :) Also HAPPY HALLOWEEN!! Or Happy Day of the Dead! I celebrated a little more of that one. No it's not a thing in Albania...I just have a Mexican companion :)

Culture Shocks of the Week:

1. Apparently I spoke in my sleep. That's not the shocker though....the shocker is that my companion told me I spoke in ALBANIAN!!! WOOOO! Still have yet to dream in Albanian but I'm on my way!

2. This last Tuesday was Halloween! It's kind of a thing here in Albania....it's more of just a random kids in masks screaming through the streets haha that's about it. HOWEVER a NEW culture shock was that I was able to celebrate Day of the Dead with my companion so we made and decorated candy skulls and even made a Pinata for Family Home Evening! No it has nothing to do with Day of the Dead....we just wanted an excuse to make a pinata :)

3. The Albanians are TALENTED with their knitting!! Here's a little something that one of our investigators knit for me :)

Now for the miracles of the week!! Wow I don't even know what happened but we truly have been blessed with all of these incredible people here in Pogradec! Two people we were able to meet with this last week one called US! The other we met passing by the perfume shop she works at. The first one I apparently met 2 months ago and she called us from a pass along card and the other one, we were walking through the vacant streets of Pogradec late at night after all of our lessons fell through just looking for something breathing when we passed by all of these shops and passed by the perfume shop. We decided to turn around and approached her and she was like, "I was hoping you'd turn back! I've always wanted to learn about Christ!" We then now have been teaching her at work and she doesn't have us leave without COATING us in heaps of perfume. I probably sweat perfume now haha but hey-always smelling good :) haha

Funny quote from someone we are teaching (the one that kicks EVERYONE out of her cafe so she can go to church) after church we went to visit her and she was like, "I was like counting down the minutes until I could go to church" (do we ever do that?) She then said, "I was so happy I just felt like I was at a party!" She went on about HOW happy she felt in church! A joy unlike any other that she's ever felt! She's now preparing for BAPTISM! I am so excited for her!!

I just want to share a little something that has come to change my perspective of everything! THANKS to my wonderful family, they sent me a gratitude journal that I have come to use every day. I gotta tell you-on the worst of days they were the BEST of days! I still found SO MUCH to be thankful for! I swear things are so much brighter as I just look to extend that thank you for something so little and for the little things I am SO THANKFUL for! Gratitude truly is a light in the darkness! I was listening to a talk from President Monson in having an attitude of gratitude. Do you know how much better life is to just be grateful for the little things around us? And do you know how we develop this attitude of gratitude? I suggest to start a gratitude journal. To start off, I am so grateful for my family. SO grateful! I am so grateful for this GOSPEL! I am so grateful to be a missionary. I wouldn't want to be doing anything else in the world at this time. I am then am so grateful that I have this time to then prepare for my future family. I am especially grateful for my Savior and how He continues to change my life and the lives of those around me. I challenge you everyday of this Thanksgiving month to share with others that you are grateful for them.

Love,

Motra Olsen