Gëzuar Pervjetori!!!

HEY THERE EVERYONE!!! So first off-I love you tons. Second off-POGRADEC HAS BEEN OPEN FOR A YEAR!! It opened when Korcë opened up so it has been the coolest thing to be here for it all (that means I'm almost hitting my year mark-YIKES!) We had a celebration for Pogradec's first year anniversary this week! I am so thankful I was able to be apart of that :)

Culture Shocks of the Week:

1. WE ATE THE KURAN FISH!!! There is a fish that is only found in the Macedonian lake here and somewhere in Russia (but only sold here). It's even illegal to eat it in Macedonia so we had a rare experience in this cute little village along the lake. It was good.

2. I've been realizing how much of a lack of American food I've had that I about cried when for Sister's Conference this week, we had homemade soup and apple crisp! Sorry-these aren't much of a shock for you :)

3. So our hose broke that was attached to our shower head so I've become skilled using a bucket :) There are just some things you don't get around to fixing.....haha we'll get to that

This last week, we met this incredible woman in the street. I honestly don't even remember beginning to talk to her. She just shared the stresses that she's been going through and we got her number to find a time to meet with her. I then remember feeling that we needed to contact her 2 days later. As we met up with her and shared with her the message of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ, she just sat in awe sharing that we were sent to her by God and this is a sign for her. She doesn't actually know a lot about Christ being raised in a different religion and when she learned what Christ had done for her, I saw her light up and her struggles leave her mind. She has such a desire to know more about Christ and I have already seen an immediate impact in her life as she has been reading the Book of Mormon and listening to the words from the General Conference Woman's Session.

We also had the chance to have a baptism here in Pogradec of a couple. After their baptism, they just shared their desire and excitement to now prepare to go to the temple and be sealed as a couple. I just saw them beaming as they stepped out of the lake and stood there together wrapped in each other's embrace. I honestly love this gospel so much. I've had many people here-including tourists-telling me that what I'm doing is a waste of time and what I believe in is false hope and that I'm not living real life. Let me tell you something-THIS IS REAL LIFE! And if anything-I am HAPPY! And TRULY happy! Do you know why? Because I KNOW that Christ is MY Savior! I KNOW that this is HIS gospel and that it is RESTORED through the prophet Joseph Smith and we are led and directed by a living prophet of God today! Why would God change? Why would He stop giving us direction and stop showing His love for us THROUGH directing us through HIS prophets? He is our Father in Heaven and He loves us so much that He sent His Son, Jesus Christ, so that if we follow Him we WILL find JOY. When we follow the prophet, we follow Christ because all that the prophets testify of and speak of are the words of Christ. I testify of these things because I have found JOY! The source of joy is Jesus Christ and I testify of that because not only have I personally found it, but being here for this past year, I have found and seen COUNTLESS people through following Christ and His gospel in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints change from a person filled with sorrows, to a beaming person happy even if they can only afford a loaf of bread. They are happy because they know they have a Savior and a family and others surrounding them. This gospel is TRUE! And if you don't know for yourself, I have one request for you:

I'm really passionate about this because I want you to be happy. All I can say that if you haven't done it, or it's been some time, just do it. Ask God if the Book of Mormon is true. Ask God if His church is restored or even if He loves you! If you sincerely ask, He will sincerely answer you.

Moroni 10:4 And when ye shall receive these things, I would exhort you that ye would ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are not true; and if ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, he will manifest the truth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost.

5 And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things.

6 And whatsoever thing is good is just and true; wherefore, nothing that is good denieth the Christ, but acknowledgeth that he is.

7 And ye may know that he is, by the power of the Holy Ghost; wherefore I would exhort you that ye deny not the power of God; for he worketh by power, according to the faith of the children of men, the same today and tomorrow, and forever.

I'm really passionate about this because I want you to be happy. All I can say that if you haven't done it, or if it's been some time since you've asked God, just do it. Ask God if the Book of Mormon is true. Ask God if His church is restored or even if He loves you! If you sincerely ask, He will sincerely answer you. Once you receive an answer, act on that and you will surprise yourself. Or more that God will surprise you :) 

There have been many things that I have learned one my mission-some being that I can whip up a batch of no bake cookies in 20 minutes when we have a last second need for refreshments, or that you can make about 20 different Albanian desserts with flour, sugar, and oil, but something so REAL and so TRUE that I have learned is how REAL the love of God is. He loves YOU. And not just you as a people or as a group, but you individually. One by one, individually we teach, we serve, and just to bring one more soul unto Christ; one more soul to true joy. I testify of that in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

 This is a very special image to me of the Savior walking along Pogradec. <3

Heading to Tirana for Sisters Conference!! All of the Sisters in the Mission gathered together for a Sisters conference put together by our mission president's wife: Motra Anderson. She is SO CUTE! We all got scarves going along with her message, "Fear knot"

APPLE CRISP WITH MY CUPA!! (Daughter)

Me and the Macedonian Sisters :)

Back with my girls :)

 

At the Anniversary all of the missionaries were on the cake! Notice all the Elders and then Motra Risk and I on at the end :) I am so thankful I have the opportunity to be here :)

Me and my comp :)

Our invitation to the anniversary.

She got baptized!!! I love her :)

Baptism at the lake.

I love these people/

The Kuran Fish!!!

​Bonus Pic :)

Heyo Cookie Ya’r the Whole World

Hahaha this is what I walk out to see everyday as we head out to work. It's my favorite :)

Culture Shocks of the Week:

1. WINTER'S COMING! Do you know what that means? All of the women and families at this time are canning peppers and jam, making homemade pasta, and spending their days storing food for the winter when the fruits and vegetables aren't in season. Now that's what I talk about following the prophet's council of food storage!

2. As we were studying in our apartment, we hear some MAJOR chanting outside and walked out to see a professional futboll game begin at the stadium by our apartment. It was AWESOME! Then it starting pouring and everybody sprinted away it was the funniest thing! 

3. Lots of rain here :) I love it. And thunderstorms! 

A major blessing from this last week was that I got to go on an exchange with MOTRA JONES my companion from the MTC!! I love her! She currently is my Sister Training Leader and I went to Elbasan for a day. It was fun to teach lessons and spend time with her especially when we could speak more than, "God loves you" in Albanian. :) 

This week was yet another good week as we are still continuing to teach both of those families. I will say it is my favorite thing going out and meeting with this families. We all gather around, usually the mother makes some sugar drenched cake or brings out a byrek along with some juice (this is a usual tradition to guests. It's calling "qeras" The host brings out some drink and then some sort of treat or candy). It is good :) Then we all gather around and have a lesson. It is honestly so special to talk about eternal families and see them all work and progress together! As we finish a lesson, we all kneel and have a family prayer. WOW how powerful it is! I love family prayer :) If you're not doing family prayer everyday-DO IT! That's all I can say. It truly brings us all closer together as a family.

Something that I've began to start doing more that has helped me SO MUCH in feasting on the words of Christ through reading the Book of Mormon and the scriptures is using a study journal and keying and commenting on each verse that stands out to me and teaches me something. It's actually incredible! This week I learned a lot more about repentance and what it means. It is so much more than just asking for forgiveness and then continuing on with our lives. Repentance means that we TURN to God. Literally, we decide that in that moment we will follow God and His will. I love Elder Holland's comment, "You can change anything you want to change and you can do it veryfast. That’s another Satanic sucker-punch—that it takes years andyears and eons of eternity to repent. It takes exactly as long to repentas it takes you to say “I’ll change”—and mean it."

I have just found that as we turn to the Lord in prayer, rely on Him, and serve Him, He WILL heal us! That's what repentance does! We see that in the Book of Mormon with Alma and the Sons of Mosiah (Mosiah 28). They were the "vilest of sinners" however when they decided that they would repent and turn to God, their hearts were changed and they desired the welfare of others and to serve God! 

It was so much more than just stopping what they were doing, but truly CHANGING! How awesome is THAT? We can do that too! In order to truly repent, just turn to the Lord and He will change us! Life is SO MUCH BETTER that way! We just need to obey His commandments and follow Him and He is just WAITING to pour out His Spirit and blessings upon us! I testify of that as I have knelt in prayer and asked the Lord what He would have me change or do, and He truly guides and directs me. It is then that I am filled with the greatest joy: True joy. God knows better :) Something I realized this last week was that "Working with the Lord means working smart because it's dumb not to" -Motra Olsen. Quote for the day!! I know this to be true in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

I LOVE YOU ALL! Have just a fantastic week and let me know how you are all doing! (Please ;))

Back with Motra Jones for a day!!

Me and some girls in Elbasan!

A day in Elbasan.

Motra Risk, Motra Jones, and me 

Motra Dunn too :)

Mastering byrek with a Nëna in the branch.
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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

The Gift of the Gab and the Byrek Battle

Hello everyone!! Just wait until you hear about this week!! IT's a GOOD ONE!! I have not seen so many miracles at once before! This week was a week of miracles! And I mean MIRACLES!! Along with that, try getting challenged and then crushed greatly at a byrek battle with an Albanian Nëna haha Also for my P-Day I went to KORCE today and met with some of my most FAVORITE people!! They are my family! It was fun to feel like I was back home, like I never left :) I love Korcë...if you can't tell haha

Culture Shocks of the Week:

1.  Something I've learned is that you cannot compliment people on their clothing or anything they own because they will than GIVE IT TO YOU! The people here are incredibly selfless and giving it's incredible! Included in that is that they just give you SO MUCH FOOD! We have collected so many apples (apple season) and have been giving so many homemade jellies and juices (cherry juice and plum jam). So. Good.

2. The old men here carry around these portable radios and they sit and jam out to their popullore traditional music. It is so funny. We were talking to this old man one time and he would not turn down his music so we were basically yelling over his music. As we gave him a pass along card, we were walking away and 5 minutes later we get a call. It's from him! We opened it and all we heard was the music. He called us to then hold up his phone to his radio so we could listen! haha it was so funny.

3. The time it takes for me to make a byrek is about 6 times longer compared to a Nëna here. While I take 3 hours to make a byrek (you have no idea how tedious it is), a Nëna takes about 30 minutes. 

This leads right into my BYREK BATTLE!! We were walking home and I was holding a byrek pan. This older lady from her balcony called down to me asking me, "Do you know how to make byrek?" She then runs down from her balcony and says that she'll take my pan, make me a byrek, and then return it to me. Then in return, I'll make a byrek,  then share it with her and we'll see who makes it best. I just got challenged by an Albanian Nëna to a Byrek Battle! I shared we'd love to do that, as long as we could also share a little something else with her that is greater than byrek and that is the message of the Restoration! It was so fun! I definitely was put to shame haha but we were able to share with them the message of the Restoration! I am also thankful for all of the previous Nënas who have taught me to cook up to this point. I just don't think I could ever compare to their cooking though!

Another huge success this last week was that we began English Course and prepared to have a big picnic with the members in the "group" here (not a branch yet) along with just inviting those who wanted to come from our English Course. We show up to the picnic with what we expected to be just a few of the members, but then we enter into the church to find 30 kids and their moms from English Course prepared for the picnic. We then call up the Senior Couple here grabbing the pizzas for the picnic and we were like, "Uh.....we don't think 5 pizzas are going to cut it" haha it was so awesome to have such a huge family here! We went out to the picnic and were able to show others that we are not just these strange Americans with skirts, shirts and ties walking the streets but that we truly are a family here! We had many come up and ask who we were! Our members and the people here were so happy to say, "We are from the Church of Jesus Christ of Later Saints!" Pogradec is growing!! And it's only been open for about a year!!

Then for some other MIRACLES from this week! First off, the greatest compliment ever was from the senior couple here telling us "You Sisters have the Gift of the Gab" a new Spiritual Gift :) From just trying to talk and meet with everyone, we have been able to meet with a lot of families! Some INCREDIBLE miracles were that we were able to meet with 2 of the members families and as we testified of temples and of eternal families, they BOTH accepted to prepare for baptism so their families can prepare to go to the temple and become eternal families! We also had such a special lesson with a girl here who has been concerned about getting baptized again as she has been baptized in the Catholic Church. However, as we shared and testified about the Restoration and asking the Lord what He wants for her, she prayed right then and there with us if she had to get baptized again, and in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. What was key was she shared that if she received an answer, she would get baptized. She then prayed and it was so special as we felt such a powerful Spirit. The whole room was so warm and I was beaming and I couldn't help it! After the prayer, she shared that she felt SO GOOD and knew it was the Spirit and knew she needed to get baptized as the Lord was letting her know that this was true. 

I truly cannot even begin to express my joy that I am experiencing here in Pogradec. Miracles are SO REAL and they are happening! I have just seen that I need not to fear or worry about anything. As long as I have faith and I trust in the Lord and just do my part inviting, testifying, and showing my love for the people here, The Lord brings about His work here! Through this, I just see the joy from others! I want to share a scripture from the Book of Mormon that describes me: 

Alma 27: 17 Now the joy of Ammon was so great even that he was full; yea, he was swallowed up in the joy of his God, even to the exhausting of his strength; and he fell again to the earth.

18 Now was not this exceeding joy? Behold, this is joy

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which none receiveth save it be the truly penitent and

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humble seeker of happiness.

I about passed out a few times this last week ;) But I truly want to testify of this. I couldn't be happier. True joy truly comes from the LORD! Is this not exceeding joy? If we truly are seeking happiness, then we are seeking Christ. I can testify of that because I HAVE EXPERIENCED it! It is so true! Please, turn to Christ because you will taste of this JOY!!! I testify of that with all that I am in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.​

​I love you all!! Have a wonderful week!!!​

My family :) They've been with me since the beginning!
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I was meeting up with my Albanian family and we literally ran into everyone else on the boulevard. It was such a sweet reunion!!

There's Pogradec for you!! 

We had a rainbow after a rainstorm here!!!

Just after one day of tracting and work, look at how much we are GIVEN! Yes that is plum jam :)

My byrek. Let's just say I forgot the salt....

I beat all of the guys at the plank competition at our picnic. It was awesome :)

We had a member come from Tirana to our little group. She is SO CUTE!

KORCE!!!! :)

Showing my comp around my home. It is THE PRETTIEST city in the mission. I'm so happy to call it my home :)

Welcome to Europe :)

My home :) This is the church building in Korcë

Old Korcë

We went out to eat traditional food together in Korcë. There are now 4 sisters in Korcë! I also ran into Monika! I love that 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

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