Happy Forth of July

Familja,

Well, unlike a lot of other emails that I read from missionaries whose countries don't celebrate the fourth, I'll have you know that Kosovo is probably more American than New Mexico, which is probably more like Mexico. We treated ourselves at lunch to the most American burger we could find, but it couldn't beat the ones dad cooks out on the back porch. Due to the Pro-American feelings that Kosovo has, we had a ward party on the 4th! It was really awesome. We had 6 of the people we invited come, including Hazir, who now has a baptismal date! The funnest person that came was named Granite. He is an Albanian who has grown up in America and I believe he is more american than me! He was so excited to come because he hasn't celebrated a Fourth for Four years (that's a lot of 4s) He was the first one there and the last one to leave. He became the life of the party when he wanted to start taking pictures of the American Flag, leading the pledge of Allegiance, and filming me and Elder Price fold the flag in its appropriate boy-scout-learned way. (Maybe the sad thing was that there were more people there than usually come to church? but, oh well, this week we actually increase our church attendance!) 

   Elder Watson and I are having a 'grand old time' serving together again. We both speak a lot more and our language has improved dramatically. Heavenly Father has answered our prayers. We try each day to get the most out of our finding and teaching. We were really blessed as we found new investigators for us and for the sisters! The best lessons came from two college boys.

 These two young men are muslim but were open with coming to the church with us. As we taught the restoration the spirit grew so strong! After the First Vision, I asked one if he felt the spirit, to which he nodded in the affirmative. However, it was very interesting to observe the other boy. It appeared that both were equally muslim, but one had a softer heart than the other. The other boy kept asking, "so where is the proof. How do you know you have a living prophet? Who is Thomas S. Monson? What has he done?" It seemed that his friend was on our side in the midst of the questions, but we addressed his questions by saying that we'd be totally open for meeting the next day to talk about our living prophet. He agreed; actually they both agreed, and they both agreed to read Alma 32 before the next day. Well, the next day rolled around and they apologized for being 5 minutes late (which never happens, the apology I mean). This just shows how kind these boys are. During our lesson, they kept saying how they loved what "she" said in Alma 32. We were afraid we gave them the wrong chapter until I realized that 'Alma' is a girls name in Albania! We kindly corrected them and we all laughed; but I couldn't help but try to picture Alma as a sister missionary teaching about faith. It must have been an interesting concept in their mind too. But, with all that aside, they loved the chapter, agreeing completely that we must plant good seeds inside us. We then gave them another seed to plant: a talk by Presidnet Monson. I am so greatful for the prepared people that God puts in our path. However, he keeps us humble by testing us. The day of this 2nd lesson was their last day in Prishtina. They were leaving to their village for the summer. So, we hope to stay in contact with them until September. Please Pray for Zeqir and Atdhe (Ze-cheer and Aht-they) that they may be able to continue in their reading and searching. 

  Also this week we got a new mission President: Louis Weidmann. He is so awesome. He came to our Zone Conference on Wednesday. He is so loving and so Swiss! I made the connection with him about Aunt Julie and Uncle Ramon, and we may have more connections through German missionaries. All his son in laws served in Hamburg and a few relatives in Frankfurt. He talked about how, when he was a young missionary he had a desire to serve a foreign speaking mission and was sent to Frankfurt! Then, as a to-be-mission president, they had the desire to go to a German or English speaking mission and were sent to Albania! He has a great vision for our mission and I look forward to a great time with them!

I love you all and pray for you every night!

Love, Elder Bangerter

Picture of Lincoln and his new companion Elder Watson (or I guess you could say old companion)

Dedication sight of Kosovo 

Statue of George Bush

Dr. Suse Tree

The Small and Simple things of the Spirit.

Dear Family,

Well, what a great week. 

It has been quite a blessing to have Elder Watson back with me. We know each other, we understand each other. It was nice to just slow down and embrace this companionship. Already, I've seen how our faith, combined has brought blessings. 

  So, one of the hard things that we've had to overcome is how to teach our lessons together. Since we were both trained last transfer, now we are together and trying to combine our knowledge. We were blessed this week to have lessons where the gift of tongues really helped me and where the investigator felt the spirit in spite of our language barrier. Truly the gift of the interpretation of (our) tongues is real!

  I've really enjoyed showing E. Watson around the city. I was shocked about how much I knew about all the little things, and all the people that are now "friends" with the missionaries: the taxi drivers, sunglasses salesmen, ice cream scoopers, hotel security guards, old couples on benches, and a nice drunk guy!

  This week I've simplified my schedule. My studies, my thoughts, my approaches, and even my appetite (though I should probably keep that mixed up a bit). Simpler is better. When we are simple we can have the spirit. For example; we had a lesson this week with a young man that wanted to learn English. We taught him the restoration of the gospel through Joseph Smith. He was studying history so I talked about how the need for authority was so...needed! Corruption never was one of the fruits of the spirit, be it in the early christian church or the government of Kosovo! Anyway, this lesson was really full of the spirit. After teaching the first vision and bearing testimony of the Book of Mormon, he, our investigator said, "I can feel that its true, because you feel it's true. If it wasn't true, and if you didn't believe it, you wouldn't be here in Kosovo." He said he would be baptized if he knew the book was true. I know that he CAN know its true because I know it is true. 

That is another thing that I have simplified:The book of Mormon.

No, I haven't created a New International version or something, but I'm studying it simply. Taking verses that are appropriate to share with investigators and organizing them in a notebook according to PMG topic. This way of "going through" the Book of Mormon has really made it become a missionary tool and a very effective one at that!

   On Sunday, I was happy to perform for the first time a piano solo in sacrament meeting (I couldn't escape Sister VanderBeek here!). It was nice to play a bit again. As in the MTC, I feel the spirit through music better than I think any other way. 

  This week we are hoping for Baptismal Dates and Progressing Investigators. Kosovo has a direction to go, and if I have anything to say about it, it will be UP! We were able to go to the dedication site again, and that rejuvenated my energy for the work here in Kosovo. I am so grateful for a Living Prophet who has living Apostles who dedicate foreign lands to bless inadequate, young boys teach grown-ups about Christ. By small and simple things. 

I love you all and I pray for all of you all the time!

Love, Elder Bangerter

P.S. what is andrew's email address. I alwasy send it to Caitlyn, but I want andrews too...

Persevering in Prishtina

Dear Family,

    We wake up each morning in Prishtina not knowing 'weather' or not it will rain. Prishtina, though the capital of a country, is pleasant in size, with only a few blocks of large buildings, and many houses surrounding the center. Even though it is the furthest area from the mission home, it feels like home. When someone asked me, "IF you could choose a city to go to serve in (within the mission), which would it be?" And honestly, I could answer with nothing other than Prishtina. Like all my brothers, my training city will always hold a special place in my heart.

   Well this week we received transfer calls. President Ford makes a personal phone call to every missionary in the mission telling him his area, his new companion, and any additional assignments. Since transfers only happen every 12 weeks (it might change with a new Mission President), waiting for the call is like opening presents on Christmas Morning! I got my call first. I'm staying in Prishtina and taking Elder Linderman's place as the district leader over the 3 companionships in Prishtina. My new companion is Elder Jacob Andrew Watson! Yep, my MTC companion! I was literally shocked when I heard! (ok maybe not literally and studio c would be upset, but they cant touch me, I'm a missionary!) I am very excited for this change and sad that I'll be losing Elder Linderman as my trainer. He does so much for me. Though it will be good for me to "be on my own" now. Elder Watson and I will be learning together.

    This week we went down to Tirana for Mission Conference. We drove down with the Zone Leaders in their car. The conference was really awesome. I loved seeing the missionaries from the MTC and also hearing the final testimonies of all the missionaries leaving, many of which I served with, or near, up in Kosovo. From their testimonies, I learned that it all goes by so fast and that we need to Enjoy every moment that we have. I've always loved Brother Bird's exhortation: "work so hard they'll have to carry you home on a stretcher!". And so this mindset of perseverance has been well, set in my mind this week! As we left mission conference, Elder Harlow (more like Hah-lo like an englishman) had on his ipod Grandpa Bangerter's devotional talk "Enjoy it". I really, really enjoyed hearing his voice while looking at all the country side, thinking that he is watching me, a privilege that only a few of his grandsons have gotten. I loved picking out Uncle Cory's voice as well as Dad's. His voice honestly reminded me of Dad reading to us at nights. 

   And so, this week we tried to work with perseverance, while enjoying it, until the transfer. After long days, our burdens were lifted when SIX investigators came to church; a man, his wife and 2 kids, and two other fathers. To give you an idea, we usually hope for one to come. I was immediately filled with gratitude for the blessings that God has given us. We sometimes feel inadequate, but we put our offering on the table and Heavenly Father blesses us with more than we ever deserve.

   I have a testimony that this church is true. I know that as we study the scriptures we may dive deep and swirl around the depths and come up with a nugget. However, that nugget usually is a simple phrase, maybe even a statement you've heard your whole life. But, this time, this nugget means more, because you worked for it and it is YOURS. I remember a Family night where Lauren talked about the power of diving into the scriptures. Well Lar-face, I found a few, thank you for your testimony. I love you all, It sounds like you all had a BLAST back east, but lets remember I'm still the furthest east! Seth, you better wear that green jacket proudly as you go door to door...but don't get too comfortable...I'll claim it back when my time comes. Todd, you made a good run. The jacket has become an interstate emblem of family unity and pride, from Utah to Kansas, then from Maine to North Carolina! Andrew, I feel your pain in the loss, better luck in a few months. Also Michael, I know you'll win the next one, you are always so close, so you get a 'W' in my bracket. Lauren, I loved seeing all the pictures of you and your family...and your glasses. I remember when we bought our pairs together and now we are seeing the world together! Farmer Adam, I bet you feel you're living the dream, because I know you are. Steven, please report to me your height, you look a lot older and it is scaring me. Mom, your letters are so--to use a word of dads--precious. Thank you all for the encouraging and prayers. I pray for you. I have no doubt that the Lord is blessing our family. May he continue to bless us, according to our faithfulness!

I love you all, 

 Elder Bangerter 

P.S. In another email is my transfer call that we got from President Ford. One is mine, the other is Elder Lindermans. I hope you enjoy hearing my president's voice for the last time. We get President Weidmann this week.

P.P.S. So, if you haven't sent a package yet, a voice recorder would be really awesome!