The update after Mothers Day

Dear Family,

I loved skyping yesterday. Thank you all my brothers for the advice. Adam, I went out and the next person I approached, I approached with an attitude focused on How the Gosple can change their life. We then had a great lesson that was short and powerful, led by the spirit. You know, the lesson that you plan for, but when you go in you just change it. I love being led by the spirit.

   So to clarify some numbers from yesterday. My companion and I calculated it and figured that we contact 3-4 hours a day. We also have about 40 hours of proselyting time a week, with the training program, aka more study. And yes, it is about 60/40 with street contacting/tracting. 

   So my first transfer is over. But, here in albanina all transfers are 12 weeks not 6, and at the end of each transfer you DO get a new companion, every time. the 6 week transfer we call "mini-transfer", where nothing really happens, unless a missionary is going home. This mini-transfer we got a new AP! Elder Davis, who is knew Parker Williams in High School and his Sister knows McKayla and Hannah! Well, yes, it is a small world (He brought it up to my attention, Aunt Duella)

   Today for Pday we went south to Prizren, arguably the most muslim city in the mission. We heard the prayer call and it was really loud! But the funny thing was, the city had a feel of disneyland, with big cobblestone streets with only people walking around. On the top of the hill over the city is a big fortress that was built, I assume, by the Turks. It reminded me of Fort Ticonderoga but WAY smaller, and not kept up, free, and no hand railings or bars! It was very beautiful.

   This week has been a week of endurance. Many people "prish" or break off appointments. But every time, it seems that God leads us to someone else. I like how me and Elder Linderman are getting in the habit of saying, "Well, now who does the Lord want us to find. Cause it wasn't them!" Per shembull (for example, they use it A LOT, especially when it is old men who never stop talking. When you hear per shembull, you know a big story or explanation is about to follow!) last night Elder Linderman suggested we talk to a girl we had just passed, we hesitated because we hate awkward situations, but we've tried this week to overcome awkward situations by talking, and thats what we did. Turns out, shes Catholic! And she lives near the church and wanted to learn more! Wow, a tender mercy! In contrast, we then went and contacted 8 Muslims and 1 undecided. The Lord really can lead us. 

   Also this week we, as a companionship have grown a lot in our testimonies of the Atonement. We found some gold nuggets together during our studies. Those which I realize, that though we try to explain to others what we learned, never will have the same change in the listener as it had in the one who studied. This is where a simple phrase that you've heard your whole life means a whole lot more. For me this week it was this phrase adn I urge you to find out what it means to you, though I know it means something diffrent to each of us: Through the Atonement and Resurrection of Jesus Christ, we can be taken back to the presence of God to be judged. This is found in the first paragraph of PMG in the Gosple of JC section, with great scriptures attachted. 

  I am so greatful for Christ and his sacrifice for all of us. Without him, we would literally be lost for ever. I'm so grateful for the knowledge I've recieved from learning about him. 

  Well, tomorrow we head down to Tirana for a Trainer-trainee conference! We'll wake up at 3 tomorrow morning! I love you all. Be safe in all you do.

Love, Elder Bangerter

Good Gifts

Dear Family,

   The people of Kosovo are very fun and interesting. The first thing is how focused they are on FAMILIES! As we street contact, we see many many pregnant women, families with 2-4 kids, strollers, and the best part...the boulevard is lined with vendors who sell bright flourescant childrens toys, everything you can thing of, that is plastic. It's like walking through santas workshop, except its all plastic. Plastic, pink, and the type of toys that will probably break in week two. But the part that makes me jealous is when I see all the little kids riding in those "mini" cars...I always wanted one and the Backs always had one. But now I'm too big, and I don't know if I want to drive down the small streets of Prishtina! 

   But really, family is a focus. You wont be surprised to find 3 generations living together. You pretty much live with your parents until you get married and even then...Honestly, It makes me glad that I have 
​a family and an eternal family. Thank you all so much. Thank you for the birthday cards from all the cousins and the Reneers (Ya, I just got them. It takes a long time for mail, sometimes it doesn't get here!)

   This week I've thought a lot about gifts. Think of the last time you had a birthday, Christmas, or received something from someone else, completely unexpected. How did you feel? For me I think, "Really? Are you serious? This is for me? What did I do to deserve this? It's a nice shirt. Thanks for the candy bar! I can't believe you paid for my lunch! Thanks Aunt (enter name) for the wonderful food! Here's some money for your misson! Good luck, be good!" The more I think about it, the more I realize that I've been given so many material things. Things that were thought out. Even now as I'm typing, I see a ring that I was given by some friends! 

   Now, just think of everything Heavenly Father gives us!
 A body. Wow what a gift. What a special gift. Because of this gift we have the Word of Wisdom, the Law of Chastity, and every physical ordinace in the gospel. 
Agency. Through this FREE gift we can choose everything that is good! Sadly some people in Kosovo don't choose good, but rather turn to 40 cigarettes a day! What a waste of a precious gift. 

Scriptures. now I know they cost a little temporally. But how much was sacrificed so that they could be in our hands today! Words from thousands of years ago that are for us, and we didn't do anything for them. Moroni and Mormon had to haul around these records for "a wise purpose which {we} knew not of"

Holy Ghost. Or should I say the GIFT of the Holy Ghost. Baptism is like a birthday. It's a birth and we get a present! Ever thought of that? And it is all for Us.

Resurrection. A free GIFT for everyperson on this earth. The Atonement of Jesus Christ is for those that follow him. It is amazing to think of all this.
Wow. What love. I love the scripture in Matthew and 3 Nephi that the church also uses for the "Restoration" Video:  "Or what man is there of you, who, if his son ask bread, will give him a stone Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent? If ye then, being evil {or mortal} know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father who is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?"

    And so we learn that there is something we must do. Not every gift is Freely Given, but we must do something, something really easy...Ask. This is something I've recently overlooked. I see blessings promised to people and I assume, oh ya thats me. But then, when I pray, I forget to ask for the gift. you HAVE to ask! Ask and then you shall recieve. And so, are there any blessings that you feel haven't been given to you? Have you ASKED for them? It is really simple. 

   I hope you've seen how the whole gospel is full of asking and giving. The scripture we share with everyone is to ask god if the BoM is true and then by the power of the Holy Ghost, then will RECIEVE an answer. 

  Sometimes when we think we know a principle is when we really don't. Think of the best thing you're "good at" in the gospel...now go work on it. I did ithis and realized because I thought I was good at it,I had neglected to try to develop it any more. The oh so true promise came to my mind that the Lord will take away the gifts we don't develop. 

   I learn a lot every day here in Prishtina. Work is progressing. We have a few investigators that are looking good. For example. 2 weeks ago 3 kids from our English Class (ya, I'm an English Teacher) just showed up to church. Yesterday, they showed up again...this time we got a lesson with them. We met with 5 kids in all, parts of 2 different families. They were from 10-14 years old. We asked if there parents were alright with us meeting. "Yes". Well could we meet your parents and have a lesson with them. "Yes". So, we are happy! AFAD! I hope it works out. Pray for these families. Also, a man Adem who read 200 pages of the Book of Mormon between the first two visits with us, pray for him! He has potential! One cool thing about him is that when he walked into Church he tapped one of the recent members on the shoulder who happened to be his classmate from 1st to 8th grade! God watches over us and will give us everything if we ask him!

   I love you all and I look forward to talking to you on Sunday! Happy Mother's Day!

Love, Elder Bangerter

PS- So I think I'm going to be skyping from a local internet locale at around8 o'clock in the morning your time!  That is 4 in the afternoon for me...Good after church and a good meal from the Jones'!

Two pictures

Okay, I love these two pictures. The fist is the Skenderbeu statue. He is a stud. Really cool. Saving the Albanians from the Muslim Ottomans for 40 years or so. 
the second is great two. If you follow Skenderbeu's eyes you see him staring down the Xhami (Mosque-the pointy thing in the background), while holding his sword. He was an emblem of Christianity and so we joke about how mad he is now that there are so many Xhami's everywhere! He'll take them over...through us. 

Question and Answers

Answers

1.Do the muslims have the call for prayer in Kosovo?

              

YES! all the time! The mosques dot the city like chapels in Utah Valley! no joke.

2. Do the women cover their heads?

            

YES! A lot of women cover their heads. Some are stylish while others are very traditional. Sometimes we wonder how devoted they are

3. I assume you don't see the Mid eastern "burkas" - but do you?

                

SOMETIMES! We see a good amount of those, escpecaillay around the Xhami (that is a mosque and it is pronounced Jaw-mee) That is if by burka you mean a full covering of all except really the eyes

4. Muslim women won't shake hands in most parts of the world - is that
the case in Kosovo?

         

I DONT KNOW! We don't contact the women in headdresses and everytime I say Si jeni! they don't respond. We just respect them becuase there are enough that aren't super practicing that we can talk to.

5. Do you only teach the men or will women attend the classes?

              

We teach men and women in the class. But we as ELDERS focus on teaching men and give the women to others. We don't teach a lot of practicing muslims. But a few have very practicing fmilies and can't talk to their family about us. We've had to drop a few because of this

6. How many investigators do you have?  What approach seems to work
for those good people?

       

I guess looking at my numbers this week, we have 10 new investigators with 4 progressing. REally, a few are from english class, but most are from stopping on the street.

7.What is your main method of contacting?  Knocking on doors or street
contacting?  

WE do half street contacting and half tracting. I really am impartial to both. SC is easier to get a lesson at the CHURCH. but Tracting pays off when they let us in and we're in their home, and KNOW where the are all the time!