Përshëndetje nga Vlora!

Well my dearest Family,

I'm feeling awfully Uncle-ly today. Claire, I still want to see pictures of baby Emma! 

   Hello from beautiful Vlore. Actually that is not quite right, seeing that right now I'm in Lushnje (a city about an hour north). We have a training here today, and one in Fier tommorrow, and then I'll be back down to Vlora! Just like all Albanian cities, you can pretty much pick whether you want to say Vlore, or Vlora, it is just a matter of definitity that has no application in English. Maybe if anyone has twins, a boy and girl, they can use both!

   The work is great down here. I've transferred into a ward with a wonderful bishop with about 200 members on record--a large difference when compared to Prishtina. On Sunday, i had the opportunity to give my testimony in Fast and Testimony meeting, and it almost felt like speaking to a congregation back at home, instead of a seminary class. But congregation size or seminary size, the church is the same. I found a great talk by President Uchtdorf that talks about the comparison of two planes:

"If you were to ask me which of these two flying experiences I enjoyed more, I’m not sure I could tell you. In some obvious ways, they were very different, to say the least. And yet in other ways, they were very much the same. In both the Piper Cub (small lane) and the F18 (large plane) , I felt the excitement, beauty, and joy of flight. In both I could feel the call of the poet to “[slip] the surly bonds of Earth and [dance] the skies on laughter,silvered wings.” Now, you might ask, what do these two totally different flying experience,have to do with our meeting today or with the priesthood we are privileged to bear or with the priesthood service we all love so much?"

Well, I'm finding out that the difference between these two planes is the difference in my two areas. I'm excited to feel the excitement, beauty, and joy of the flight, because in both places I slip the bonds of the carnal Earth and dance the skies on the silvered wings, being one who is set apart, having the opportunity to invite others to come to Christ.

 This week, we had a couple lessons with 2 investigators; Albano and Kristi. They are boyfriend\girlfriend, have been taught for about a month, keep all the commandments, came to church, help us with service projects, and are to be baptized on the 15th. I'm very grateful to be able to come into an area and to keep the success going. These two are amazing!

I've loved teaching with Elder Penrod. When we teach together, we know the material, but we really have no set plan, but really follow the spirit as we teach together. We try to focus on their needs rather than checking off boxes. I know it sounds like that is how it should always be, but it can get easy to fall into habits. But, we feel ready to use this co-senioring opportunity to grow in our teaching and finding; because last transfer he did much of the former, while I did much of the latter! 

A great blessing of the week came on Thursday night. We walked down the stairs of the church and a YSA-aged man was standing at the bottom. "Is this the mormon church?" We were shocked. However, after a few exchanges of words, he almost seemed too good to be true...well it was. He revealed his identity as former-Elder Daja, a missionary from Vlore that just returned from his mission to England. He thought it would be funny to play a trick on the Elders! The blessing part is that on Sunday, he was called to be the New Ward Mission Leader! He has so much fire and wants to help us find everyone! Its like having another missionary in the ward...like it should be! We are very excited to work with him. (Dad, his English accent, sounds like you when you do your Portuguese accent, so it makes me feel at home!)

I definitely miss the city of Prishtina, and I realize more and more, how much I really loved it up there. We worked hard up there! We tried with all our heart mind might and strength. I'm grateful for Elder Watson and the obedient companion that we was with me. On the way down to Vlore, I was able to stop in Tirana and say hi to my trainer, Elder Linderman. I didn't realize how much I missed him until I saw him and gave him a big hug. He taught me so much and I know that I was very blessed, beyond blessed, to have him as my trainer. He taught me how to improve, how to find weaknesses, recognize them, and overcome them. Sometimes it may be hard, but it is worth it. 

Well, I also had three 'firsts' on my mission this week. 1-I saw the ocean 2-I had a suflaqe (a very good food that you should look up), and 3-played soccer (which was actually on the beach!). Thank you all for your prayers. I know that you all have been so blessed in your lives. NEVER take the gospel for granted. It brings so much perspective!

I am very grateful to be a missionary and for all that I have been given. I know the gospel changes lives. I know that the Prophet and the Apostles anre called of God for to help us in our dark and light times!

I love you all, thank you for your prayers. I ask for yours.

Love, Elder Bangerter of Vlore

1-Our View of Vlore outside our Apartment

2-my First Suflaqe

3-Elder Penrod and I

4-the Vlora Bay and the Adriatic Sea