Memorial Day Picnic  

Our day started out going to a Memorial for fallen soldiers then to a picnic in the Park.

  

   

   

     

Frenki's Baptism!  
Frenki is only 16--looks a lot older and is extraordinarily enthusiastic !!!!!
In less than a week he has memorized the Sacrament Prayers, the 13 Articles of Faith and D&C 4 completely!  He is a rare dude our Frenki!  We love our young men and want them to be bonded together!


Me Elder Winegar , Frenki and Elder Riepel

Perparim Frenki, Elder Riepel, Admirim

Elder Riepel Frenki and Elder Persival

Beautiful day!  Baptized in the Lake---He said it was cold.  Elder Riepel did a magnificent job!  He is a kind and sweet Elder.

Albanian Memorial Day!

Greta Can Ride A Bike!

This weekend we rented  bicycles with two of my girls who have never ridden a bike before!  This was our NEW summer goal.  

Greta learned at the football field on Friday.   She had all but given up when Elder Winegar held the seat ran along with her and then ran ahead of her to show her that she was riding all by herself. Her surprised look was PRICELESS!!!!!!!    Greta is 24, her brother has a bicycle, but she herself has never learned.  We have been talking about this with her since February.  So we made it part of our Personal Progress to get these two girls able to ride a bike!   Next week!  Rea! Rea is very close but we just didn't quite get there with the peddling this weekend.  

That was Friday for young women's  then on Saturday we played football (soccer) in the morning with our ward for an activitet .  I personally scored two goals.....However, when I was guarding the goal..... I accidentally let 4 goals for the other team go through..... so I guess that  wasn't the greatest game ever played on my part.  Perfect weather!  Over cast not too hot , not too cold and then just as we made it back to the church.... Rain!  Ha!  We are always being watched over. 

The young men had a bike ride to the Macedonian border and then met us at the football field.  A fun and much needed stress reliever for the branch.  

 

Now is that in the Accusative?  Genitive, Dative? Ablative?   Wait!  That's a direct object!  or    Could I put that in a command form and make it easier?  Hum....  By the time I figure it out,  the conversation is long gone and the subject has changed completely. 
S'ka gje S'ka gje  S'ka gje !   That's Ok That's OK That's OK!  
Avash Avash!!!!!!!!  All those in the scriptures with people who were struck dumb and couldn't talk-----I can relate!  
   

The Big Switch!!!

Yesterday our New Mission President and His Wife sent out this on Facebook:

We are sorry to say that President Rawson and I will not be serving in this mission. Yesterday we got a request to now serve in the St. Petersburg Russia mission. We have enjoyed trying to learn as much Albanian as we can, but now must switch to Russian! We have prayed for you all and were so excited to serve with you. I know the Lord will continue to bless us all as His work will continue to roll forth. Mirupafshim 




WHAT?!!!!   We have 7 of the best missionaries going home in June.   No Senior couples coming in.  The only other senior couple is ill and cannot come now.   No Sisters coming to Albania, only one going to Macedonia (another language completely)   We are going to have to close 3 cities already and now a change of Presidents!  WOW!!!   This will be exciting!  I almost wonder if they will call someone within the country who already knows the culture and language......  Never a dull moment here in Shqiperia!!!!---Little increase of the anxiety level today!

Happy Birthday XHOANA!11

We love our 14 year old!  

We decorated Xhoana's door for her birthday for April 28th!  Xhoana lives on the 9th floor of a building.  I must be getting in better shape because climbing those stairs this time just wasn't as hard as usual.  I wasn't out of breath at all.  Or maybe with women we climb half the rate as when with the long legged Elder Anderson!!!  As soon as we arrived we were caught because Sweet Jeta was on her balcony and saw us.  She waved us up  .  We  are not very sneaky!  We made flowers for Xhoana, posted them on her door and the tape made so much noise and Monica kept telling us we are too noisy!  Ha! it was such fun to be with my girls.... then we took a nice walk along the beach and met about 20 of Greta's family.. I think she is related to 1/2 of Pogradec.  Her parents came from 7 or 8 siblings in both families.  No wonder Greta is always saying.... I got to come late cuz I have to help with my cousins!!!!