Well, it's true. The name of my new companion is unknown. He'll be flying in from America tomorrow. I will be bidding farewell to Elder Penrod, who will be going up to Kosovo! I'm excited for him and I'll know he'll do great things up there. I'll be staying here in Vlore for the next 3 months....Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years! Wow! That seems so far away, but it is neat to know where I will be.
We had a great final week together, one of the best on my mission. I feel that Elder Penrod was successful in handing over all the knowledge he had of this area, especially before he leaves. (and I can't call him, because he'll now be in a different country!)
Happy Birthday Claire! Abby, Eliza, Jay, Emma, be obedient! She was my 'mom' before she was your mom, so behave! Claire, I'm so grateful to have such a wonderful sister to look up to and to talk about! I think about you all the time!
This week I asked myself one of those questions. You know, the type of question that goes something like, "what is my purpose, why am I here?" A classic question that can never be exhausted. My mind reflected on my life in High School and even back to Elementary School. I always thought I was an obedient boy, a good boy. I attribute this to loving parents and siblings who showed me great examples. Yet, I realized that even when I was alone, I had a conscience tell me 'this is good, that is bad'. I always thought that everyone had such a conscience of decisiveness, telling you what to do. But then I found people here without direction and I wonder, 'don't they know that's wrong?' My mind has reflected back to when I was baptized, and afterwards I received the Holy Ghost. I realized, "Oh, that voice I've always heard was the Holy Ghost! I was given it when I was 8 years old! Now it makes sense!" I then discovered that I've heard the holy Ghost my whole life. The experience reminded me much of Dad's experience in Portugal. Then, suddenly, in all my lessons everyone would ask for direction, or happiness. My answer was always, "Well, when we get the Holy Ghost we have direction and he shows us what to do. But we only get that after we are baptized. A më kupton? (do you understand?)" Everything truly points to Baptism. And so, what is my purpose here. To invite others to receive the direction and light I've abundantly received by means of the Holy Ghost! Like seth always said, 'If you can get them to love [a principle] as much as you, then they'll become converted, etc.." I then found the scripture that described this process
"Blessed are they who hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be filled with the Holy Ghost."
Note that in the bible 'with the holy ghost' is not mentioned. How greatful I am for the Book of Mormon and it's pure translation. now, I know that throughout my life as I hungered and thirsted to be good, I was filled with direction. I think that scripture describes well our families attitude! We just do those good things. Claire I think of you, "Lincoln, Bangerter Boys don't do [so-and-so]" Thank you all for making me hunger and thirst after righteousness! Kristiana (baptized a month and a half ago) gave a talk on Sunday, short but sweet. Albano and Klodi are awesome recent converts and we were able to visit their parents this week!
I know this church is true, I know that I am where I am supposed to be. I beleive I'm only starting to believe what people mean when they say 'I was sent there for specific reasons'. Please pray for my new trainee, the bishop and the ward (especially because 6 members are currently en route for the Frankfurt Temple), Kreshnik and Eljona, Ismet and Hazir, and the Merkaj and Veizaj families.
I love you all, thank you for your care and prayer!
Love, Elder Bangerter
P.S. Happy Birthday Aunt Julie, Uncle Grant, Jenny, and Benj!
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