Lincoln writes from Kosova

Dear Family,

Well, I don't know if you've heard but I'm now serving in Prishtinë, Kosova. It is the most northern part of the Adriatic South Mission. My trainer is called Elder Linderman from Visalia, California; he's been here about 6 months and came in with Elder Gunthers group. Speaking of Elder Gunther, this was where he was trained as well, so I'm excited to follow in his footsteps.

   I've learned a lot this week and I have a whole bunch more to learn. Up here in the north they speak a dialect called Geg, different and thicker than the traditinal Tosk. So I'm definately praying for the gift of tongues! While street contacting, I ask a question and then just hope my trainer will answer it. But there have been a few times where he has stayed silent and I felt like Elder Faust on his first day of his mission when Grandpa made him do it by himself. I know what he feels like now....In fact, I think now I realize what work you all did on your missions. By being here, your missions are coming to life!

   A lot has happened since I last wrote (that feels like a line straight out of my journal). We had a great time concluding the MTC with a devotional by Richard Elliot and David Archuleta and other awesome devotionals. WE had in field oreintation which was really good, but the scenarios they do there are completly different than what we do here in Kosovo!

  The flights were good. I gave the first vision a couple times, bore a strong testimony against a lady who couldn't get over the fact that we are a cult or something and Joseph Smith, and recieved the contact information for a Bulgarian man who wanted to know=what is truth? Then we arrived in Albania. Oh it was gorgeous.

The mountains remind me of the wasatch except it is a lot more green and all the rooftops are the beautiful european orange. I love it.

Kosovo is a little more wildernessy. The mountains are more like foothillls, but the forests are beautiful. Each grove looks like it is straight from the first vision or the nature video dad and I watched before I left (choose which you will!) The dedication spot for Kosovo is a humble little place in the hills, it was done by president Nelson in 2008.

   Also, konference was awsome. I loved Elder Bednars talk and the one talk about obedience. I just love how Elder Bednar really dives into the atonement of Christ and comes out of the water after his dive with a gold nugget that he found at the bottom of the raging river of knowledge. He does it every time. I guess he is a sort of pearl sea diver always delivering the most profound thoughts.

   One thing I've started to apply here in Prishtine is the importance of Fatih. Every person we've stopped...litterally everyone...is Muslim. I've had tests of faith, wondering whether my message would really get through to them. But, in the time that i've gotten here, we went from 0 investigators (we're whitewashing), to teaching a few men who are promising...one even came to Konference. I know that even though I don't understand everything, that they are feeling the spirit. I love how the gospel is the same no matter where you are at. I love the opportunity to teach it over and over.

And so, I start my jouney in the Land of the kosovars. Doors have been slammed. words have been yelled (though not too much, they are pretty nice rejectors). The spirit has been felt. I'm excited to be preaching the gospel in a country that is on the brink of expanding churchwise. The buzz is that this is the -Kosovo Blitz- by our presidnet (who is so great and is coming up for our Zone conference tomorrow). I'm excited to be part of it! Give my best to everyone who you talk to...because we should be talking to everyone! I'm grateful for a prophet of God who recieves revelation today for us. That is a definate foreign concept for these people. I'm grateful for the atonement and baptism. This week we observed the baptism of our zone leaders here in Prishtine. It was simple and beautiful. I played the piano. I love the change that comes upon people when they find the truth!

I love you all and I love the Lord.

Elder Bangerter

P.S. our mail is delivered to the mission home and we only get it when we go to the mission home and pick it up, so about once a month. Also, packages are cheaper in Kosovo because of the Military Base here.

P.P.S. Kosovo looks like this this transfer.

    Prishtine

       2 sets of elders (3 of us are new to the city)

       1 set of sisters (just opened this transfer)

   Gjakova

       2 sets of elders (both training)

   Peja

     1 set of elders (just opened this transfer)

   Prisren

     1 set of elders (also opened this transfer)

And thats our Zone!