Dear FamilyThis week was a great week!So other than that... this week was a great week! We met a family atWell all in a ll things are going great here! We have been able toOne thing that I have realized in the past few weeks is the affect the I really have learned a whole lot. I hope that you know that I love all of you. We only had 30 minutes to write today. We have been helping president a lot. I know that the church is true. Keep the faith.First of all we had a baptism here!... well not here but in France...So I don't know how much I have told you about this because my emailwas so short last week but we have been teaching an Albanian family inFrance for about the past two weeks. The Elders in France met them andtaught them most of the discussions but they were not able tounderstand everything because they do not speak french very well. Sothey contacted our mission president and we had the opportunity toteach them on Skype! First let me say.. Skype teaching is reallyreally hard. The connection is never good and they are always cuttingin and out. It actually was so awesome to see how the Lord makes upfor our short falls. It seemed as if every lesson started out as atrain wreck... Kids screaming us not being able to communicate, andbad connections, but by the end it was always amazing how strong thespirit would come into our lessons as we would testify and make it allworth it! So they were baptized this week in France it was great! Wewere fortunate enough to be able to watch the baptism on Skype as welland they sent us a picture. I was honestly really sad yesterday as wehad our last lesson with them on Skype. I never met them in person,and probably never will but I hope to meet them in the next life maybeand then we can talk about how difficult it was to communicate onSkype!!the end of last week while tracting and they seem to be reallyprepared. They are the Doni Family and there are four of them.... Mom,dad, and two boys (11 and 10) their families are orthodox but theyhave never been baptized because it was not aloud during the communistregime, but they have a lot of faith in Christ. The mothers faith isso strong in Christ because of the help she has received from Him.about ten years ago she was in a accident and went into accoma for towyears. When she woke up she was paralyzed on the left half of herbody. As time has gone on she has gotten a lot of moment back but shestill does not have full function. It is amazing to see here faith inChrist and her desire for her family to learn and have faith in Him.We also have one other investigator that we work with named Danjel(Daniel). He was a referral l from one of the young men in the ward.His family is Catholic. He is 15 years old and is really interested inthe Book of Mormon.re-activate a lot of priesthood leaders in the ward lately so thingsin the ward are going better, which means the missionary work is aswell!spirit really has on our lives. we have been thinking about latleyabout what the investiagtors get from the lessons and we came to theconclusion that for most of them it doesnt matter so much what we sayas is does what they feel. The majority of them already know a lot ofthe doctrines, if not all of the doctrines that we teach them but thething they miss in their day to day life is the Spirit! It issomething that we cannot continue on without. As it says in 2Nephi32we must "feat upon the words of Christ" everyday. It is like food forour spirits. We don't go to church to learn so much as we do to feelthe spirit and to feel how it changes us, we don't read so much toread or to learn but more to draw closer to God. We pray because itdraws us closer to Heavenly Father. I know we need these things in ourlife daily. I know that if we forget them and they slowly become lessof a routine in our day to day lives, we slowly forget God and thefeelings of the Spirit. So, my invitation to you make sure thateveryday you are feeling the Spirit of the Lord in your life. Love, Elder Bnagerter
Monday, January 26, 2015
Wednesday, January 21, 2015
A CRAZY DAY (Sent Jan 19)
Dear Family,
It has been one crazy day. We drove for 7 hours. We taught a lesson in an unopened city. The family was the family of the family that we are teaching over Skype in france (I hope that makes sense). Lets just say it was a day full of miracles. We even gave a blessing. Our faith has been really strenghthed. It seems that at every turn we say, "Wow, the Lord led us here". Due to the driving we have about.....no time.
We also found agreat family of 4 this week. At the second lesson though we walk in, are about to start when suddenly two boys run of the stairs yelling. Apparently the family's son had just fallen outside. Well, it hurt the lesson, but it also hurt my heart. You see, all day he'd been asking, "Mom, when are the church people coming over!" He wanted to go to church on Saturday cause he didn't want to wait tillSunday. Well, it was a sad story, but we went back over and had a great lesson. I really know that they are prepared for us, despite our busy schedule.
In the car ride home today, we (naturally) read a talk from the MTC. We learned about how to be a consecrated missionary by basically leaving everything on the sacrifical altar. I guess that means writing short emails (just kidding). So much to say, but all in all, when you have the spirit you can do ALL things!
I love you all,
Elder Bangerter
Obedience, Driving, and 8 yr olds! (Sent Jan 12)
Dear Family,
It has been a wonderful week!
Monday started off with a wonderul haircut, drycleaning, etc. and a FHE with President, and 2 senior couples, the Whites and Ortons. Each week we rotate the location of where we will hold FHE. I was in charge of the game. We played a game about spelling words. It was really funny becuase President and Sister Weidman kept slipping into German! It is really great to get to know the couples around here. (We also talk business in the FHE,so I'm not having TOO much fun!)
Tuesday we were able to go get President's oil in his car changed, find a missing projector, set up for MLC-mission leadership conference (a meeting with all the Zone Leaders, Sister Training Leaders and us-20 in attendance), and then start teaching. It was a busy day to celebrate Eliza Jayne's Birthday! Seeing that we had so much to do, we were wondering about how our lessons would play out. As we were in the car, leaving presidents home, Asllan called us! Perfect timing, cause he lived really close to Presidents and we had just enough time to go and teach his wonderful RC family. As follow up, he then blessed the sacrament on Sunday for the first time!
Wednesday. We had a wonderful MLC! We set some new goals for the upcoming year of 2015! Our over arching goal is to have 4 baptisms per companionship per 3 month transfer. It was a goal that we set with the spirit and we are so excited to work for it. We hope to carry forth the excitement that we all got from the He is the Gift initiative that we had for Christmas. In fact grandpa Garlick, I told everyone that instead of finding 4 different people, they could just find a family of four! They all really liked that. AFAD! Again, we were blessed to have some great lessons that night.
Thursday. We had time to go to our own Zone Training and see the Zone Leaders present the mission goals. Again, we felt the spirit testify of the inspiration of these goals. The best part of the Training was when our beloved Zone Leader, Elder Clawson (reminds me of Andrew) said, "Now we are going to do a role play...and I'm going to exercise MY authority and choose...Elder Linderman and Bangerter!" I had a great time teaching my companion why he should come to church, being devastated when he said he couldn't come, and then recommitting him to come. I feel like I'm always chosen for role plays now!
Afterwards, we ran to the air port to pick up Elder Waters! He was in my MTC group, but had to go home the day we left for Albania, due to medical reasons. It was great to see the tall, dark, and handsome kiwi walk through the airport with such a big smile on face. His trainer is his MTC companion (President didn't know that...I guess that's how the spirit works!) We spent the rest of the evening with them, showing them Tirana, and having a great meal with them and President.
Friday. We planned. While planning we discussed how we could be more obedient. Answer: Driving. The night before we got a parking ticket so we were determined to be obedient to the traffic rules. (at least those that apply in Albania) Well, we were immediately tested in our obedience as we searched the house for Elder Lindermans drivers license. We really, really needed to find it because we had an exchange that night. I was driving to and from lessons, but he needed to drive back when he dropped me off in Durres. After one lesson, we were kinda frustrated with the situation: we wanted to be obedient, but there seemed no way to do so. I noticed that I had forgotten my bags at home, so we had to run back and get those. Those extra 15 minutes gave us the idea to look one more time through the house. We said a prayer together in the car, went upstairs, and within 30 seconds Elder Linderman found it! It was truly a miracle. We hit our knees and almost laughed at how fast the prayer had worked. We were able to be obedient. He provided a way. (And I only drove 90 km/hr the whole way to Durres!)
Saturday. I had a great time serving in Durres, the coastal city just West of Tirana. I served with a great Elder, Elder Roemer, one of the kindest people I've ever met.
Sunday we were back in Tirana and had a wonderful time in sacrament meeting, having the best attendance that Elder Linderman had ever seen yet. We had a great Skype lesson with a family that lives in France, they have learned quite a bit, and were SO happy to hear Albanian! We concluded the night at the Veliu Family's house. With so many people in the house, I thought, "This lesson is just not going to be effective!" We started with a prayer, and right after more people walked in the door. "NO!" I thought, but I kept my cool, knowing that the SPIRIT knows all things. I listened to him and had an impression to turn to my right and address a question to the 8 yr old Abigail (Abi) "What does it mean to have faith in Christ?" She then went on and on in a beautiful way, telling a story of how she had invited her friend to read the Book of Mormon. The friend showed interest and said she wanted to come to church with her. Then Abi started to tear up as she told us that her friend's parents would not allow her to come to church. This sweet girl had the strongest testimony of Jesus Chirst. She understood that it was so very important to come to church. I believe she couldn't understand why people would say that going to church was a bad thing. I was so grateful that the spirit had prompted me to ask just one question. As a result of her moving answer, all the adults in the room understood and were moved as well. We then proceeded to have one of the best lessons on my mission about faith.
During the whole week we've been trying to be more dedicated...we now only speak Albanian when we are not at home or in the office. It really has changed our mindsets, we have become a lot more in tune with the spirit at able to do His will.
Thank you all so much for your letters, I love the updates. I pray for you all. Thank you all so much for your prayers.
Love, your brother and son,
Elder Bangerter
P.S. We weren't able to go to macedonia....maybe another week!
Pictures Sent Jan 12
The one picture I've been able to take in the past two weeks...I guess its been pretty busy!
1) It looks spookly like Provo
2) Us in the Elevator
The Spirit and 1st Ward! (Sent Jan 5)
Dear Family,
I know I emailed you 5 days ago, but I'll let you know that my preparation day will still be on Monday. We have been really busy with transfers. After getting everything settled Elder Linderman and I were able to teach a few lessons. Friday was very blessed, being able to meet with 5 different people. Here in Tirana 1st ward there are members that live in 2nd, 3rd, and 4th ward as well. So, even though we have a specified area, we are driving around the whole city. The city is coming back to life after the 4 days of 'deadness' of the new year (kinda ironic).
One of the recent converts that we teach is named Asllan (yes like the lion, and yes, he talks and looks like a lion, in fact in our fist lesson I was kinda scared to talk to him because he had such an air about him). They were Skype taught while living in Norway. His knowledge of the Book of Mormon is so good. After teaching them I thought, "and he's only been baptized for how long?" It really is a miracle to see how much the Book of Mormon changes people's lives.
We had the awesome privilege of going over to president's home to three times. Once for arriving missionaries, once for leaving missionaries, and once for a meeting to review what we'll be doing for the whole year. Each time we talk together it just makes me so happy. He really loves each of his missionaries. I don't know how I got such a privilege to sit at the same table as a man that has such an understanding of the scriptures.
I learned something neat about the Holy Ghost this week. I tried to more fully understand the difference between the gift of the holy Ghost and the testimony that one receives before baptism by the Holy Ghost. I compared it to a dinner. If I go to a dinner at the Weidmanns I have a wonderful time. I eat the good food, I participate in the conversation, and they make me feel welcome. However at the end of the meal, I go home to my own bed and my own house. Now, at the same dinner, imagine that the Weidmann children are present. They eat the same food, participate in the same conversation, and experience everything that I as a guest experienced. However, at the end of the meal they stay at home. Not only do they stay, but during the meal they felt the true of love of parents for children. This is the difference between those without and with the Holy Ghost. When one receives the Holy Ghost, they still experience the same meetings, feelings, and read the same scriptures as they did when they were non-members. However, they become "no more a stranger or a guest, but like a child at home".
Serving in 1st ward is a great blessing. Some of the members here have been members since the early nineties. This week I'm going to look around for anyone that remembers the Haymonds! I have a few options.
This week it looks like we'll be heading out to Macedonia, and picking up a new elder (actually one that was in the MTC with me) so it will be busy. Please pray for us.
I know that this is the work of the Lord. I am so grateful to be serving in a country like Albania. I am very excited for the things we have ahead. In one of our meetings President said, "You know, I've had a feeling lately about how we can use the spirit of Elijah in the missionary effort here? Elder Linderman just looked at me and said, "Well, you'll have to ask Elder BANGerter here about that!" It was a humbling sign that God knows who he calls. That connection was only one of many that we've made in the couple weeks here in Tirana!
Thank you all for your updates. Andrew keep it slow, I walked like an old man for about a month after my surgery. Give all my congrats to Jay, Quinn, and Jayni! Adam, Lindsey, it looks like you got your hands full, I know I can't call, but I'd like to make an appointment to hold Sydney and Sarah on January 5, 2016. Is that ok? That's what works with my schedule. Thank you for your example; I know that you are really living the dream! Thank you all for your loving examples. President sends you his love. Farewell from First!
Love,
Elder Bangerter
P.S. Elder Linderman was wondering if there was a way he could get a copy of Grandpa Bangerter's talk book.
A New Year, A New Area! (And his Companions _Sent Jan 1)
Dear Family.
Well, it happened, I got transferred. I loved serving in Vlore. On Monday night we had a Vitin e Ri party (new years) and a few of the 10yr old recent converts came up to me and hugged my legs and said, “don’t go!” I really didn’t expect to have such an effect on these people, but I am grateful that Heavenly Father was able to show his love to me through those kids. A few tears may have been shed. But, I am excited for my new assignment.
On Sunday we had a massive rain storm. Determined to keep on meeting with our lessons, and realizing that no one was going to come to us, we hit the streets; or more accurately, we hit the rivers. At one point we were grateful for a kind soul that had placed cinder-blocks as a dry path across the road. When we got to one area of apartments, each building was like an island. Sadly, our cinder-block friend did not go before our face and we were stuck in a dilemma. Elder Fowles went first and tried to jump and eventually ran really, really fast through the water and got really, really wet! I then took one jump, landed, and, realizing it was hopeless, sloshed through the shin-deep water. When we finished our lesson inside, we felt bad as we left to puddles on their tile floor. I felt like the mail man who wouldn’t let rain or snow or sleet stop him from coming. And the package we deliver has an eternal-lifetime guarantee.
We saw a lot of success in our transfer together. Many recent converts are now active, many people are closer to God. And even Tomi came back from Italy! The work will progress very well in Vlore as I leave. Vlore will especially increase in efficiency because they are bringing in another set of Elders! I guess they had to bring in 3 elders in when I left! Just kidding.
Right now I’m serving in Tirana; the capital city of Albania!
There are four wards in the city and I am serving in the 1st ward. My new companion is Elder Linderman! This was a big surprise because he trained me! I guess we didn’t learn something the first time around. It actually is a really big blessing, and we were both super excited to hear about serving with each other again.
Last night we had new years. And if you remember my last few letters, they don’t celebrate Christmas, but they do celebrate new years! We had to go into our apartments at sundown (4:00) to avoid all the fireworks. Elder Linderman and I passed the time by planning out our new transfer together—it is going to be one awesome transfer—and then watching endless amounts of the churches Bible videos.
We were awoken at 11:30 by many fireworks which continuously grew larger until midnight. On our balcony we saw thousands upon thousands of fireworks lighting up the whole city! We were glad to be in our safe, warm apartment.
When we went to the airport to pick up the new missionaries, we welcomed 6 new sisters and 1 new elder from Hungary. I was able to ride with him back into Tirana. All 7 of them are so ready to contribute to the mission. I loved seeing their Fire for the work that comes with them from the MTC.
I know that God puts us where he wants us to be. He directed the mind of an apostle to place me east of Italy, and then directed the mind of an inspired mission president to put me here in Tirana. President Weidmann always says, “This is what makes our church different. We do EVERYTHING by the Spirit. That is why we call the ASM an Always Spiritual Mission.
I love you all! I loved talking to all of you last week. I wish you all a happy new year. Think of how much you did since last January. Now think of all you can do till next January! Life is packed; more like a candy jar than a suitcase (if that makes sense). I hope that you enjoy each day of 2015, because each time you see those four numbers you can remember that two-thousand-and-fifteen years ago, a child was born. And that one-thousand-nine-hundred-and-
Love,
Elder Bangerter of Tirana!
PS-P day was today because it was new years, but it will continue to be on monday
FROM ELDER LINDERMAN
Well Everyone Happy New Year! I hope everyone had a great new year and had lots of fun!! This week was a an amazing week!
Well first things first it was transfer week and after five months with elder Davis he was transferred to a new area. It was awesome to serve with Elder Davis adn to learn from him. He is an awesome missionary and a really great friend. We got a long very well and well that is kind of important when you spend every minute of the day with that person for five months! It really was great and I am really going to miss him. He was transferred to Vlorë and will be training the new missionary from Hungary that just came in, so needless t say he is pretty excited about that. He loved Vlorë and training is AWESOME!! so that will be good for him! As for me... Any guesses? I am staying in Tirana First ward, I will continue to serve as an assistant ans my new companion will be Elder Bangerter!! So for those of you who don't remember or who don't know I served with elder Bangerter as a trainer in Pristinë for three months at the beginning of last year! It wasn't exactly a surprise to me since I have know for about a month who my next companion would be but Elder Bangerter was very surprised! I am really excited to serve with him again. He was one of my favorite companions that I have had I and he is just really awesome, so this transfer will be pretty awesome!
Anyways other than that the week was really good. we spent the end of last week preparing fro transfer and then on Tuesday and yesterday we had transfers. It was pretty stressful being in charge of everything and having a companion that didn't know a ton about what was supposed to be done but we made it through. It is defiantly a little stressful being the one in charge of a lot of these things and having a companion that hasn't learned it all yet but I'm sure that Elder Bangerter will get it all very soon and then things will start to be a lot smoother... or at least as smooth as they can get!
Well by far the highlight of the week was the past three days. First was on Monday night I got to go to the last dinner with President Weidmann and the sisters that I came into the M.T.C. with. It was really weird to think that they were going home because they had been in the M.T.C. with me. It seems like not that long ago at all that we all just got here and then they left! Anyways we got to go to a really fancy restaurant and I ordered Octopus!!.... It wasn't good so I wouldn't try it. The next morning we had to wake up early and take the sisters to the airport. That morning almost all of the mission was at the mission home for transfers! That is always very chaotic and stressful! That afternoon we had the awesome opportunity to go to the airport with President Weidmann and to pick up the new missionaries. They seem like a really awesome group and actually speak the language really well but like all groups of greenies they seemed pretty wide eyed for the first two days! That night we got to get to know the trainees, got to work with them for a little bit, had dinner at the mission home and then got to have a short testimony meeting with all of them! It is really awesome to get to hear both the new missionaries testimonies and the missionaries going home testimonies to see how much people really grow on their mission. The next day we had the trainer/trainee training. We took the new missionaries up to the place were Albania was dedicated... It was FREEZING!! it was 0 degrees outside with wind.. so it really was freezing! It has been really cold here lately I think the coldest it has been on my mission so far! I am not enjoying it! Anyways then we went to the mission offices to have a training with the trainers and the trainees together. Then we got them some Byrek and Dhallë for a snack and we went to presidents office to put the companionship together for the trainers adn the trainees. (For those of you who don't know Byrek is the word for pie but that is not what it is at all. It is essentially a bunch of Phillo dough with something called gjizë or tomatoes or meat and sometimes other things in it. And dhallë is a milk product that is essentially sour milk that is super saturated with salt... so all the trainees really liked that! just kidding dhallë may be one of the worst drinks ever.) Anyways Meeting with president and talking about the transfer was an awesome experience It is always nice to work with President and to get "practice" seeking the Lords will. It always amazes me how truly inspired this church is. That because of the restoration of the priesthood, God, through his servants calls us to these offices. In the words of Presidenty Weidmann, "as long as we are seeking to do the Lord's will He will not let us fail." it is a continual testimony to me that this is the Lord's church guided by His prophet and run by His hand.
Then, that night because of New Years and the ridiculousness of the celebrations we had to be home by sunset. So we had a really great transfer planning session and then we watched the Bible videos, ate Cheerios, and drank hot chocolate to celebrate the new year. The fireworks at midnight were AWESOME! it is literally just everyone in the whole city buying the firework show fire works and they shoot them off their balcony. Its very chaotic... and I'm sure very dangerous as the fireworks blow up at eye lever sometimes but it is like nothing you have ever seen before! The entire city is lite up with fire works.
So that was pretty much it for my week it was a really good week! Im rewally excited for this transfer. Anyways well after watching the Bible videos I got to read through some of the stories that we had watched and it really opened my eyes to some of the meanings, so I have an invitation for you all! Pick any Bible Video watch the video and then study the sctriptures that go along with it and see if you learn anything new! It really is awesome they are really well made by the church! And if you should tell me what you learned when you did it, so I look forward to hearing from you all! (Ill add the link to the videos to this email so you can go to them!)
Anyways I miss you all and love you all! Happy New Year! Have a great week!
Me Dashuri,
Elder Daniel Bruce Linderman
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