I am just so happy for all the good news. I really hope someone is taking care of the family song! With so many changes I don't know what to think! I know that our family is a living example of the blessings of the gospel. We truly are chosen. In my Albanian scriptures I have a picture of all of us (at the time) at Bear Lake. I often show people this and they are shocked, as am I! I still can't wait until we can go to Bear Lake someday again to have a family reunion...but this time lets go to the south beach!
Christmas is coming! Here in Albania they celebrate new years more. The streets are lined with lights, trees, and santa clauses, reindeer....but all of them represent the new years fest! Ya, kinda backwards, but we are changing it. We have weekly devotionals about Christmas, and a 7 foot poster that says "Ai Eshte Dhurata" with a nice picture of the nativity scene. I hope that you all have shared the gift of Jesus Christ. We go door to door showing the 2 minute film to everyone. One time, the person didn't have a key to the door, so we just showed it through the peep-hole! You can always do more!
Lindsey and Adam! I am so, so happy for you and Sydney and Sarah! (I knew those names a few weeks ago due to my missionary privileges)
Being a missionary is a wonderful opportunity, to talk to so many people about Christ. Day after day I realize that this calling of mine among these people is only for another year. Then I realized that I'll only be here in Vlore for two weeks. aka, it is crunch time.
Crunch time because we have a mission baptismal goal. We are so close to it, so every day we are working and working to reach it! In our district this week, we were blessed with 4 more people that accepted to be baptized in December. Christmas Day we have about 7 planned! It will be a great, great day!
Last Sunday we met a young adult named Donald. We've met with him every other day and he is so prepared. He is an central member at a local church, but after 6 years of membership he asked himself, "where is my relationship to Christ?" We've been so blessed to meet with him. Please pray that he will advance towards his baptismal date!
It may get dark a little early, but the Light of Christ is in our lives.
Last point, I don't have much time. We were able to go to a great Stake Priesthood Meeting in Durres (where the Haymonds served 20 years ago, now they have a beautiful church building) We learned from the Albanian Stake Presidency about being better Priesthood Holder. They are truly hastening the work here! The Stake President said, "The reason we sacrifice is to remember Christ's sacrifice." So ask yourself, what is the quality of your sacrifice? Remember, Cain made a sacrifice, but it wasn't with his heart, he didn't understand. I hope we understand WHY we sacrifice. I've found that this sacrifice of service is the antidote of sin. The reason we hold the priesthood is so that others ''can know to what source they may look to for a remission of their sins" (Alma 13). Are you the type of person through which others see the reflection of Christ? Just like the moon reflects the light of the sun for the earth to see, let us reflect the light of the true Son for our little pieces of the world that have been personally selected for us. I never saw Jesus Christ heal others, or saw him teach. But I did have parents that loved, I've seen Bishops lead. I've seen leaders receive revelation. I've seen sacrifice. IF you want to see Christ, look around you and recognize him. Take a break to go see Syd' and sar' at the Hospital and you'll know what I mean.
I love you and pray for you!
Elder Bangerter
P.S. Talk to you in 10 Days!
P.P.S. meaning, our P-day is on Christmas, so that is when I will talk to you. I will call at 8am Utah time. And we got 40 min!
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