Self-Reliance

For all that read this Blog! Go back and reread because I just learned how to go back an edit all those mistakes I typed!  I just push that publish button without editing!  Ha,  now I can go back and wipe out those embarrassing mistakes!   Just to let you know that the auto write on this computer wrote pastures wife instead of Pastor's wife!  What a crack up!  I laughed for a good 15 minutes over that one.

Today was blissful!

It was Elder Isufaj's Birthday.  The missionaries from Korce came: Whilley and Olsen,  Divkovich spelled terribly wrong I will correct it later with my new found edit button,  and Elder Holding who is sooo sick that I wanted him to just take a nap the poor dear!   Gave him some vitamin C packs and some Sudafed if he wanted to use them.
We had the self reliance experts  ( Matt Mathius from France) come today.  Woo Hoo! Got to speak French Today!!!   It felt so great to feel like I actually could connect to someone speaking another language!!   Also, the Albanian Rep from Tirana for Self-Reliance came with him.  They were so great.  We are now to implement a program that can possibly help to get people jobs here in Pogradec.
I taught two piano lessons, ate cake for a birthday party, danced a traditional Albanian dance with everyone (left foot, right foot--grape vine left foot hop Hey !)
I also taught two English classes today.... Did I tell you how much I love my English students.  I really do love them!  I could just KISS them all!  Oh I actually do Kiss them because that is the Albanian way to say Hello and Goodbye.  I am Kissed about .....oh maybe 40 times a day!  Hugs and Kisses to all who are reading!

We have somewhat of a handle on the smokey Kitchen.

 Lorin and I took a run on the beach this morning and somehow that run just makes EVERYTHING better again.  Off to Macedonia tomorrow morning early so got to go!

Leadership Training for Branch Presidents or "Almost Branch Presidents"

Hey kids!  

Just a follow up—I’ve NEVER been homesick a day in my life but I have to say….. After talking to Ya’ll on your birthdays and knowing that Annique  and George were not only flying in once, but twice—I was still doing fine until I the great BURN OUT!

The Great Burn OUT!  

After Class Posse 

Greta Xhoana and Klevis
Xhonaton, Elder Winegar, and Elder Anderson
 Rei, Elder Isufaj   Greta

      Greta, Motra Uaneger Winegar Xhoana dhe Klevis

Piano Lessons And English Lessons

Today was a proud moment for Me, Xhonoton and his mother Yeta.  We had a ward member meeting. For two weeks Xhonoton has been learning a song on the piano. Every time he is at the church (which is almost every day) he practices.  He and I played the opening song together and he did it perfectly.  Two weeks of lessons and already cranking out songs!  What a beautiful proud moment!  Love this church that provides everything for playing the hymns!  The lesson book, the practice lessons, the music and even the piano!!!  We are a blessed "almost Branch!"
Xhonaton is in the red with Elder Winegar, and Elder Anderson.

English Classes

The following are my English Class Students.  Can I just say:  I have the smartest, most kind students in the world.  I Love My English Class Students!

This is only about Half of my first class:


And this is my Second class --I missing about 10 people that usually come.


Every Tuesday and Thursday We Learn English and they are so proud and encouraging of me when I try to "flas Shqip!"  They Pray for me and I pray for them.  We are a team.

Learning Faith, Power of  Prayers and Charity to Fellow man

Thank goodness for sister Weidman who takes pictures or I would never have any pictures.

Okay, confession.  Lately I've just missed wearing my jeans so much that when I wear boots i just wear my jeans under my dress!  Ha, I only have to remember that I can't put my hands in my pockets.  Hey it keeps me warm and when I get home Hey none of this changing clothes back and forth (Christine Peacock you know better than anyone how I hate those nylons and dresses!!!!!! ) I did  get caught the other day because when we go into people's houses we take off our shoes/boots (the mud streets and rain keep your shoes always muddy) and when I pulled off my boots-- there were my Levis!  OOPS!  I forgot about the taking off the boot thing.   I would go on a mission for many years if it wasn't for the dresses!  Next mission---Anywhere I can ride a horse in my Levis!


Just starting piano lessons and the church has a great program.  Really in almost two lessons I have two young boys 14 and 15 playing songs--it is great!

Young Women's personal progress is in process We have 3 weeks in the works.
Taught the most fun English class where they were each a different animal and we had to keep the beat and move with the beat and move in a circle.  It was such a kick watching them young and old learning the names of animals!  They were laughing and having a great time and learned them all!   Elder Anderson and Lorin (Elder Winegar) are teachers together.  Elder Isufaj -from Albania-and I are teaching partners.  I just assumed that Elder Isufaj speaks and translate as much as Elder Tare did (my last Albanian teaching partner)--I'm learning that Elder Isufaj is going through the language barrier  somewhat like Lorin and I are.  By night time, he is on total language burn out!  Thank goodness that Elder Anderson speaks so well and has such a positive helpful disposition.

  Here at Pogradec this week,  we witnessed quite a miracle!  We as an "almost branch" learned about God's love for us all, forgiveness, charity, and brotherly love.   Testimony of prayer and fasting have been confirmed once again!  It was enlightening to watch us all growing up together.  Even Lorin and I came out of the week a little bit wiser, a little more aware of God's Grace.

• Happy Birthday Week to my Children!  

Happy Birthday to Annique- February 20,
                                 George--February 22
                                 Braiden -February 25
                                 Conner  -February 25
                                 Paige      -February 27!
 

 Let's Skype!

First Group Activity

VALENTINE'S IN POGRADEC!

This is our thank you letter from everyone for the piano!  Each person signed their name and drew a picture of themselves!
Romantic flowers from Lorin:  The lady who wrapped them up took great care and watched me standing outside knowing the flowers were for me! I felt like I was in one of those short films without words--and there are no words here I cannot speak them! But the language will come--it's got to!   Fun night walking getting lost in Pogradec and ending up with flowers!  Rea and Monika mother and daughter also gave me flowers at English class.  It was Flower Day!  This day also was the the day our crew of people banded together a coup!  A week long of ups and downs as bumpy as the roads in Pogradec!

    

    People are often unreasonable, irrational, and self-centered.  Forgive them anyway.

            If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives.  Be kind anyway.

            If you are successful, you will win some unfaithful friends and some genuine enemies.  Succeed anyway.

           If you are honest and sincere people may deceive you.  Be honest and sincere anyway.

            What you spend years creating, others could destroy overnight.  Create anyway.

            If you find serenity and happiness, some may be jealous.  Be happy anyway.

            The good you do today, will often be forgotten.  Do good anyway.

         Give the best you have, and it will never be enough.  Give your best anyway.

         In the final analysis, it is between you and God.  It was never between you and them anyway.....Mother Teresa 

LEARNING ABOUT JEALOUSY AND ENVY

Conference February-Tirana

Ne s’mund të bëjmë dot gjëra të mëdha, vetëm gjëra të vogla me dashuri të madhe :)
Nënë Tereza

We don't need to do great things, only small things with great love :)
--------------------Mother Theresa  

Another Baptism from Korçë

Korçë

Families and friends came to Pogradec for the baptism because we are connected with a Hotel and we have baptisms in the Swimming Pool.  This is Elder Holding and our German Elder D. (get spelling later) That makes four baptisms since we arrived here!  We are growing!
It was a lovely day and so happy to have a new member of the church.

Simon came up to me saying" MOTRA MOTRA remember me!  We won the Volley ball game together!  We are the winners always together!"  Smiling a somewhat tooth missing smile-- I couldn't be happier to be on his winning team, but more importantly...We are on Christ's Team and that gives us all the strength and power we will ever need.  So pleased to be apart of this happy group of people who although face their own struggles they find joy in the simplest of things.
This week I have been giving out cupcakes with plastic hearts on top.  Greta, Rei and Elder Sufaj couldn't have been more pleased with their gift!  They kept the plastic heart as a treasure... Gretta says "it's like a thousands gifts to me".  I want to mail the entire country of Albania plastic hearts for Valentine's  --Spread the LOVE! 

Virginia WinegarFebruary 11, 2017 at 12:21 PM

Senior Conference is much more than exercising and seeing the local bunkers. 

It was two days of getting ideas, getting supplies, learning how to approach problems and teach English classes, Piano classes, Seminary, Personal Progress, Sunday School when you don't have the language down and how to do it all at once. Shopping like a crazy woman looking for special items that would be helpful for our little almost branch. Thinking four months in advance because we might not get back to the capital city for a while. Every minute was used for idea making, advising and fun. Albanian missions are the best!

SENIOR CONFERENCE AT THE SHERATON HOTEL!  

Happy Valentines 

 Happy Birthday to the Lundbergs on the 7th and 11th!  

Happy Birthday to my Children Annique on the 20th, George on the 22nd, Conner and Braiden on the 25th and Paige on the 27th!    I am thinking of you as we make our calendar with Elder Anderson and Elder Isufaj (still can't remember how to spell his name)  I LOVE you and am thinking of you!  

Today February 10, 2016 was the beginning of Pogradec Personal Progress joining this worldwide program.  We had our first official meeting and we had 6 in participation.  

I am so very please to be apart of Pogradec and the Strong, Intelligent young women that live here.  

My impression of this blessed place is that the people here are THE MOST LOVING, GIVING AND OPEN PEOPLE !   E dua my Pogradec!   I prayed to come here when I first heard of it.  I called it my Pok-a-dots!  The Lord granted me another answer to prayer and I am so very glad I am here!

We are seeing hearts filling up with LIGHT!  Literally you can see it as they come to church and pray with us, play with us, give up habits that darken their heart for others that brighten theirs and others around them.  We are so happy for them and happy to be here!

Let's Make it official! Lorin is the BEST!!!

Our Pogradec!   We love our members and our church house!  
We teach English lessons everyTuesday and Thursday. We have Family Home Evening Together at the Church.  Everyone is so helpful to one another.  We read scriptures together play Uno go on excursions to the nearby villages.  We pray for one another and have every hope to become a branch soon.  Our neighboring friends are kind to us.  We love our Pogradec!


Prayed for a piano and immediately got one--after the mission had been waiting 9 months!!!  This praying with Faith idea is the BEST!!!! Prayed for books for Personal Progress in Shqip--4 days later they were there plus an extra one in English so I can now do personal progress with our lovely girls!  Prayed for Elder Tare to be replaced by Elder Isufaj--Done!  Prayed for a parking spot in Tirana, turned the corner and there it was, right behind the mission office!  Prayed for a copy center that could make our signs in color--next day a man says hey lady, what do you need and walks me 20 minutes to the exact place, orders it for me and says have a nice day!  PRAYER IS THE BEST!!!!

   

“If you judge people, you have no time to love them.”  — Mother Teresa

Our Apartment:

FREEZING, DARK and WET!  

The apartment is on the bottom of the floor that has been newly remodeled.  The first few days was hit and miss and spark with the electricity.  But its doing better now because they came and fixed it with duck tape!  The bathroom floor is beautiful (blue and white) with water that springs from the shower area.  There is a whole in the tile that drips water to a pipe in the middle of the room.  There is no heating in this room but we do have freakishly hot water that can scald us or freezing water if you turn it the other way….. So mix the both and wait to dip and drip on a floor that is warmer than a block of ice.  Pictures coming.   Outside is a view of garbage from 300 years ago and an old dog that barks around 11:00 pm to 1:00am to wake up the Rooster who crows at 1:00am, 3am  5am 6:30-7:30 on schedule.  

Our heater worked only one day in -5 C and when it did, the neighbor came over and explained that the motor was keeping him up that night.  My thought WOW!  I would think that the -5 C would keep you up like it did us!  Later, we learned that the campfire smell was coming from all their houses burning wood—thus the wooded donkeys—and only the apartments have no heat except if you can get electricity.  We bought a portable heater that I drag from room to room and leave in the bathroom for ten minutes before bathing so my butt doesn't stick to the seat!

But Lorin got the electricity to work, a washing machine, two heating units that we negotiated with the neighbor to use until 10:30 at night and then 5 in the morning. And a plug in draggable heater.  He also ( and I am still amazed with him that he was able to get a new gas/electrical stove working with the help of a workman  (you get a workman to come and 5-6 show up because NO ONE HAS WORK HERE!)  Lorin, how I still can’t believe it, got a man building a cabinet for us in our bathroom( only place to set my toothbrush and make up is in the bidet—a low oval basin used for washing one's privates—and possibly something to guide the water in the bathroom.  I LOVE THIS MAN I MARRIED!!!!  HOW YOU CAN TALK TOOLS WITHOUT ANY WORDS IS BEYOND ME!  BUT HE DOES IT!  Oh and the men are building a cabinet for our new church building “store front”.  Fabulous!  

So I am writing you all from my new kitchen table with new cabinets with a new stove and water filter (that I stole from the mission office) without my down coat and wool blanket that I'm sure 50 other sheep herders have used from the local hotel-our landlord left for us.  I made soup yesterday and it all worked!  We were invited to a lovely dinner with our new members tonight. All is well with our little Shqiperia Zion!  That is until 1:00am when the cock crows—Hey that gives me an idea to speak about Peter the apostle at church, repentance, and patience next week!  Perfect!

Love Mom