Best Weekend Ever! (10/2/17)

Our 1 year old church in Pogradec!!

This week was amazing! It was really busy but it all turned out amazing. So at the beginning of the week we realized that on Friday it was the

Me as "One of the daughters of Ishmael" 

Pogradec 1 year anniversary of being open to mission work! So we decided to through a party for it! We didn't really know how we were going to put together a party in like 4 days but we were determined! So we worked at it all week.. and it all turned out so great! We made these little flyers and stuff and handed them out and a ton of families showed up! We made the whole focus of it on families which made it really special! We played a game of jeopardy which the Albanians loved so much! It was the first time they ever placed it and it came together really well. Then me and my comp did this skit which was like the highlight of the night.. He dressed up like Nephi and I was "One of the daughters of Ishmael" and we like sang a love song together and then like we did a traditional Albanian wedding dance which was like hilarious. I wore a skirt and a yellow mop on my head it was really goofy but it was so funny! We also got a cake with all the names of the missionaries that served in Pogradec from the beginning! It was a really successful night. The members all seemed to love it which was awesome! 

Baptism day

So the next day was also amazing.. Because Virgjinia and Kostandin got baptized!! It was really special! We drove out to this part of the lake about 30 minutes away from Pogradec and baptized them in the lake! It was a gorgeous place. We were pretty worried because a day before the baptism it was freezing cold outside and like rain and wind and it was just terrible. We were worried that the baptism was going to just be miserable but then it ended up being sunny!! The sun came out of the clouds right after we baptized them which was really special for them. They are such an amazing couple and they always talk about their goal of one day getting sealed in the Temple. This week we are going to get them started with their Family History work so that we can have them take it to the temple! Me and my companion were talking about it this week.. Missionary work in Albania is special because I feel like we aren't only doing missionary work on this side of the vale but we play a huge part on helping with the work on the other side as well! In the communist times in Albania all of the records of peoples ancestors and stuff were destroyed so there are very very little written records of peoples ancestors. So me and my comp were talking about how important it is that Virgjinia and Kostandin do family history work because they are literally the only hope of their ancestors names getting to the temple! It is really special. I love this Gospel! 

We are also teaching this guy named Kosta who has amazing faith. He lives in a really humble home and doesn't have work but he has great faith! He has read 150 pages of the Book of Mormon and he loves it! On Sunday night we had a Word of Wisdom lesson with him and he gave me his pack of cigarettes and told me that he was never going to smoke again! It was amazing! 

Me and my trainees family pictures 

Well, this is it. One more week then the tag comes off! I can't believe that it has already come and gone. I have loved my mission so so much and I am determined to finish strong :) Stay tuned for my final remarks next week! 

Elder Farnworth