STILL ALIVE!!

You’ve probably been wondering if we are still alive or are lost somewhere in Alabania…the answer is why yes, we are alive, and while we currently know where we are, we have been lost a few times! Never trust a google map–at least while you’re in Albania. We had to visit the city of Korçë which is about 3 hours from us, and google maps gave us 2 choices, so we took the shorter (supposedly) route.  Four and a half hours later we were wondering if we would ever see civilization again because two hours into the trip all cell signals dropped, (including maps) and we ceased to see any signs of life anywhere! It was a beautiful wilderness area full of canyons, waterfalls and lakes, but when the crazy twisty, narrow road that hung off the side of cliffs we were on came to a fork in the road, it was a little disconcerting. Someone had spray-painted “Korçë” on a retaining wall with an arrow pointing to the left, so we hoped it wasn’t a prank and followed it. Luckily, it was the right move and we’ve lived to tell the tale!  Needless to say, we now take the other route when we go to Korçë!!

It’s been a very busy couple of months!  In mid November, We had a trip to Frankfurt, Germany for a seminar with the Europe Service Missionary Advisors.  We know we definitely have an international church, but when you are in the midst of people from so many different countries, speaking so many different languages, it really hits you.  It was great being there and meeting these amazing, dedicated people. We also got to visit the Frankfurt Temple and had a wonderful session with all the people we had just met!  We did go to Germany a couple days early so we could do some shopping–we both needed shoes and people in Albania apparently have small feet--we haven’t been able to find any our size!  Germany is a beautiful country for sure! 

We also spent a week in Italy again, this time with the young adults and youth of the Albania Stake for a temple trip.  It was so wonderful being back in the Rome temple and also getting to know so many people better. We visited this temple a couple years ago, but it was an even better visit this time with just being able to focus on attending multiple sessions and doing work for those who have passed on before; a nice restful, reflective break from all the busyness of the mission!  What’s unique to me is that the workers who serve at that temple also come from other countries. We ran into a woman from Romania whom we had met at the seminar we attended in Germany a few weeks earlier!  What people do is come for a couple weeks at a time, volunteer at the temple, then go home. It’s definitely a little more of a sacrifice to serve there than our weekly 30-minute drive to the Oakland temple back home!

Our institute work is going well, we opened another class in Elbasan (about 1.5 hours from us–or 2+ if you get lost on a backroad in a crazy lightning and torrential rainstorm, another fun adventure we had!).  One of the young adults has been called to teach there and has been doing a good job.  We also will be starting a new class this week in Berat, which is about an hour away, also with one of the young adults teaching.  One of our responsibilities in setting up these classes is to train the teachers and as we meet with them, it’s great to see their willingness and excitement to do this.  Our goal is to attend each class at least once a month (hopefully we get time to do this!) so there will still be a lot of driving around the country! (More opportunities for navigation adventures, haha!)

Our service missionary advisor responsibilities are slowly moving along.  We have one young man who is working with his branch president in putting in his papers to serve, and we’ve had an opportunity to do a couple presentations on what a service mission is all about, with more scheduled in the coming weeks.  We’ll be meeting with another potential service missionary next week!  Still lots to do on that front!!

What has been very exciting is seeing the changes in our branch.  Cliff has been doing a great job as branch president (not being biased, I promise!). We have excellent young missionaries and we’ve just been given sister missionaries as well here in Fier!  That will make all the difference.  The young men missionaries (Elders) are great, but sister missionaries have that special something that connects with people in a different way. Don’t get me wrong, our members LOVE the Elders!  The Elders recently started teaching a family with 7 children–unheard of here in Albania!! They are planning on being baptized on January 24–keep them in your prayers!  This is such an amazing family, the kids are from age 14 to 8 months and they are incredible.  They all pretty much speak English, love coming to church, and are sooooo well-behaved!  All of them sit so quietly in their seats throughout the entire meeting, something that you rarely see of kids that age in the U.S.  We also now have a Primary in the branch, something that hasn’t happened in a long time! (Primary is a class for kids under 11, it includes singing time and a short, scripture-based lesson).   The 10 year-old boy is especially enthusiastic, even gave the closing prayer at church! It was cute, we were at their house and their aunt was visiting from Gjirokastër (a little over 1.5 hours away). She was very interested in the lesson and asked if there were missionaries in Gjirokastër. Currently there are not. The little boy said “I will be the first missionary there!” Love that kid!!

Then the aunt asked if she could have a Book of Mormon to read! Of course!! We wish everyone would want to read the Book of Mormon! Along with the Bible, it is the tenet of our religion. It is a second witness to Christ, and reading it has brought us so much peace, direction, and a desire to be better.  It brings one closer to Christ, and answers so many of life’s questions, like where did we come from, why are we here, what happens after we die?  We both love the Book of Mormon and read it daily. It’s life changing for those who are seeking truth in such a turbulent, confusing world. 

Christmas and New Year’s Eve has come and gone.  It was a very different experience here.  New Year's is the big holiday–much more than Christmas.  In fact, the Christmas trees they set up even in early November are called New Year’s trees by many.  During Communist times, anything religious at all was outlawed and punishable so New Years became the family gathering, celebration event. Unfortunately, while many do now celebrate Christmas, it is not for the focus of honoring the birth of our Savior Jesus Christ.  There are decorations and a festive spirit, but you rarely see any reference to Christ’s birth, maybe a couple nativity sets sold in the stores.  Our Christmas was different in that all the missionaries were asked to perform service and go caroling on the Monday before Christmas, then the entire mission was able to come together for 3 days in Elbasan. (Senior missionaries stayed in a nearby hotel, younger missionaries farmed out to other missionary apartments within an hour’s drive for the night, but all spending the days at the Elbasan chapel.)  Since our mission leaders are from Germany, they introduced the custom in Germany of celebrating Christ’s birth on Christmas Eve with a very wonderful program, ending the evening with everyone singing Silent Night. (in Germany, you don’t sing it until then apparently!)  It was a quiet, thoughtful and spiritual evening.  On Christmas day, we all enjoyed being at the chapel together playing games, having a fun gift exchange and eating tons of food and treats.  That evening all the missionaries went to a local movie theater and watched the movie “Klaus”.  It actually was really good!  We truly appreciate the time and effort President and Sister Auras (our mission leaders) put in to make sure all the missionaries were occupied and not missing home. We definitely feel their love and concern for each of us.

The day after Christmas we had a mission conference until that afternoon, after which Cliff and I headed down to Korçë (on a different road this time!) to spend the night so we could help with a young adult conference the next day.  All in all, a very satisfying, (albeit tiring!) week!

Then New Year’s Eve…. HOLY COW!!!! They warned us it would be a crazy celebration and they were right!!  Every town (and person) in Albania celebrates with firework--shot off from balconies, rooftops, sidewalks, backyards!  It is insane.  All the senior missionaries got together and stayed in Tirana for games and watching the fireworks (some exploding right in front of our balconies! Yep, Albania knows how to celebrate for sure!!). A week later, people were still shooting off firecrackers and fireworks. Someone somewhere has made a killing on explosives!! 

Well, hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and we wish you all an exciting New Year ahead!  We’ll be in touch!!! (if we don’t get lost again…)

This chicken and turkey will soon be dinner. Especially around Christmas and New Years, you will see herds of turkeys being tended on the side of roads...people buy the turkeys live, then take them home and when ready to eat, will kill them (usually in a bathtub if it's an apartment, or backyard if a house). They say here that Fresh turkeys are the best! (we did not have turkey for Christmas or New Years!)

Service Missionary Advisors Seminar in Frankfurt. Advisors from all over Europe, attended. So fun to meet everyone! And Cliff and I had a day to do a little sightseeing as well! Germany is so clean and nice!

The Rome, Italy temple is beautiful. Cliff was privileged to act as escort for our Elders' Quorum President Xhon (pronounced John, but he goes by Johnny) as he received his endowment at the temple. The temple is very close to Marco Simone Golf and Country Club which is where the 2023 Ryder cup was played. Of course Cliff had to check it out! Also did a little sightseeing with some of the senior couples. Italy never disappoints!

Our current set of missionaries in Fier! We love Sister Beal, Sister Campbell, Elder Soares, and Elder Gerratt. They are fabulous!!

Cliff has been missing golf...No golf courses anywhere in Albania! The Elders were kind enough to give him a little golf set for Christmas. Christmas night at the movies was very fun in an incredibly clean and really nice theater!! Every city in Albania lights up for Christmas and New Years, the streets are decorated everywhere and the Qender (city center plazas) have a bunch of amusement park rides set up for a couple months. In Fier, new lights and decorations appeared daily!

New Years Day the Senior missionaries took a hike to Cape of Rodon. It's about a hour northwest of Tirana on the Coast. It was a beautiful day, hiking up and down the coast as well as to

Rodoni Castle, also known as Skanderberg Castle, a 15th-century medieval fortification built by Albania's national hero Skanderbeg as a strategic defense against the Ottomans.

Service project with our elders and the elders from Vlorë, patching up a cracked wall for a family. Elder Middleton (3rd from the right) actually had experience, the rest of them probably won't be starting a construction business anytime soon!

Alas, no golf, but Cliff did get to play soccer with the boys. As goalie, he actually blocked some shots and didn't even get hurt running around!