We have had a lot of people cancel on us for lessons, or a bunch are out of town, so teaching wise, it has been difficult, but we have still done well! In August, everyone in Tirana goes to Durres for vacation, so it slows down the missionary work here. But we are still doing our best!
On Wednesday night, I had my first exchange! I went to 4th ward with Sister White (the sister who took me out on my first day in Albania), and Sister Cheshire stayed in 1st ward with Sister Zollinger. We did street contacting on Thursday morning, and then had a lesson that afternoon. After that, we met with an inactive family. All of the lessons were really good, and I had a great time! Sister White forced me to talk a lot, which helped me realize how much I actually know. She helped me realize that I need to stop being so hard on myself, and just be confident. I second guess myself a lot, or just don't think I know how to say something, when I really do. But anyway, it was a good exchange and I learned a lot!
On Friday, we visited a family that lives about an hour away from us. We took a bus and then had to walk down this dirt road to get to their house. We got to the town (Babrru), and it was like a little ghost town!! Seriously, it was crazy quiet, when I'm used to being in the loud, crazy city. We were walking through the town, and this guy just started randomly yelling! We thought he was yelling at this teenager walking down the road, but the guy passed him and he kept yelling! Then he started looking at us and yelling! We ignored him and kept walking. He past us, and kept yelling! We don't know what the guys problem was, but it was hard not to laugh! He passed these two boys (probably like 13 years old) and started yelling at the boys! So then the boys thought it was hilarious, and started yelling back, making fun of him. The guy was totally drunk, and wasn't even yelling in Albanian. Once he passed, I just laughed. Sister Cheshire and I thought it was hilarious. We are in this little ghost town, this angry drunk guy is walking down the road yelling, and its not even in Albanian. Hopefully you find this as funny as I did..Once we got close to the house of the family we were visiting, it was so pretty! Town is above the city, so you could look out and see all of Tirana. It started sprinkling, and was just perfect. Besides the crazy guy, I would love to only serve in that town for a little bit. I will send a picture of the town in a little bit. It was great.
We also taught the Keqja family some more this week. We were going to have a lesson with them about keeping commitments, and tell them that if they don't keep commitments, we won't be able to visit as much anymore. We started the lesson, and started talking about a scripture we shared, when the mom starts yelling to the dad. Their 1 year old son had started pooping, and he wasn't wearing a diaper. So the dad grabs him to rush him outside before he poops in the house. As soon as he picks him up, it plops out of the 1 year old's pants and lands on the tile floor...The parents go outside to clean him up, and the other kids and us start laughing a little bit. Then the 2 year old starts laughing, walks past us, and before we can grab him, steps right into the mess on the floor, slips and lands right into it. He starts crying, so the dad runs in and grabs him to clean him up too. The mom keeps apologizing to us, and I look over at Sister Cheshire, and she is laughing hysterically! Tears in her eyes, and just can't stop laughing! The whole experience was only about 3 minutes long, and every time we think about it, we burst out laughing. Sorry for the gross story, but seriously, it was so funny and chaotic!
One more funny story. So we are starting an English Course next week, and are super excited! We have been passing out flyers to tell people all about it. Yesterday, we were passing out flyers, and I handed one to a man and said "Kurs Anglisht!" He replied with "Thanks! What's this? (his response was in English, and sounded like he was American)" I then, after realizing how ironic the whole thing was, said, "Oh...it's for English Course (replying in English)." He laughs and hands the flyer back. I said, "Ya I don't think you need it!" We laughed about it and then he kept walking. It was so funny, and awkward! We run into a lot of people from other European places, but almost never run into Americans, so it really shocked me, when he responded in English!
Sundays are always hard for me here. People try to talk to me in Albanian, and I never know what they are saying. It is so difficult, because I know the words they are saying, but for some reason, I can't for the life of me figure out what they mean/how I'm supposed to reply. I need to just remember not to be so hard on myself. There are so many times where I can have a conversation with someone and it is great, but then at church, I don't understand any of the lessons, or what people are saying in the meetings we go to. I know it will come, but it's just frustrating!
In positive news: Kela (Kayla), who is one of our investigators, is getting baptized on Saturday! We are so excited for her! She had a problem with modesty and with drinking coffee, but as soon as we taught her Law of Chastity/Word of Wisdom, she changed her ways! She dresses modestly now, and hasn't had coffee since we invited her to keep the Word of Wisdom. She is amazing! She is so excited to get baptized, and we are so excited for her and the happiness that this gospel brings. We have seen her change, and see how happy she has been since she has followed each commandment.
I think that's about it for this week. It has been a really good week, and I have learned a lot (both in the language, and this gospel). I have really seen the importance of bringing members to every lesson, and it has been a huge blessing to have members who want to help! So that's my challenge this week for you! For all of you members, call the missionaries this week and ask if you can help them! Go to a lesson with them, and share your testimony! Help the investigator feel loved, because that's what they need from you. They need members that are going to help them through everything, besides the missionaries. The missionaries will appreciate is so much!
Have a fantastic week and a good rest of the summer! I love and miss you all!
Love,
Motra Bennett
Ps. I tried my first crepe today, and it was amazing. I was in heaven.