The update after Mothers Day

Dear Family,

I loved skyping yesterday. Thank you all my brothers for the advice. Adam, I went out and the next person I approached, I approached with an attitude focused on How the Gosple can change their life. We then had a great lesson that was short and powerful, led by the spirit. You know, the lesson that you plan for, but when you go in you just change it. I love being led by the spirit.

   So to clarify some numbers from yesterday. My companion and I calculated it and figured that we contact 3-4 hours a day. We also have about 40 hours of proselyting time a week, with the training program, aka more study. And yes, it is about 60/40 with street contacting/tracting. 

   So my first transfer is over. But, here in albanina all transfers are 12 weeks not 6, and at the end of each transfer you DO get a new companion, every time. the 6 week transfer we call "mini-transfer", where nothing really happens, unless a missionary is going home. This mini-transfer we got a new AP! Elder Davis, who is knew Parker Williams in High School and his Sister knows McKayla and Hannah! Well, yes, it is a small world (He brought it up to my attention, Aunt Duella)

   Today for Pday we went south to Prizren, arguably the most muslim city in the mission. We heard the prayer call and it was really loud! But the funny thing was, the city had a feel of disneyland, with big cobblestone streets with only people walking around. On the top of the hill over the city is a big fortress that was built, I assume, by the Turks. It reminded me of Fort Ticonderoga but WAY smaller, and not kept up, free, and no hand railings or bars! It was very beautiful.

   This week has been a week of endurance. Many people "prish" or break off appointments. But every time, it seems that God leads us to someone else. I like how me and Elder Linderman are getting in the habit of saying, "Well, now who does the Lord want us to find. Cause it wasn't them!" Per shembull (for example, they use it A LOT, especially when it is old men who never stop talking. When you hear per shembull, you know a big story or explanation is about to follow!) last night Elder Linderman suggested we talk to a girl we had just passed, we hesitated because we hate awkward situations, but we've tried this week to overcome awkward situations by talking, and thats what we did. Turns out, shes Catholic! And she lives near the church and wanted to learn more! Wow, a tender mercy! In contrast, we then went and contacted 8 Muslims and 1 undecided. The Lord really can lead us. 

   Also this week we, as a companionship have grown a lot in our testimonies of the Atonement. We found some gold nuggets together during our studies. Those which I realize, that though we try to explain to others what we learned, never will have the same change in the listener as it had in the one who studied. This is where a simple phrase that you've heard your whole life means a whole lot more. For me this week it was this phrase adn I urge you to find out what it means to you, though I know it means something diffrent to each of us: Through the Atonement and Resurrection of Jesus Christ, we can be taken back to the presence of God to be judged. This is found in the first paragraph of PMG in the Gosple of JC section, with great scriptures attachted. 

  I am so greatful for Christ and his sacrifice for all of us. Without him, we would literally be lost for ever. I'm so grateful for the knowledge I've recieved from learning about him. 

  Well, tomorrow we head down to Tirana for a Trainer-trainee conference! We'll wake up at 3 tomorrow morning! I love you all. Be safe in all you do.

Love, Elder Bangerter

Good Gifts

Dear Family,

   The people of Kosovo are very fun and interesting. The first thing is how focused they are on FAMILIES! As we street contact, we see many many pregnant women, families with 2-4 kids, strollers, and the best part...the boulevard is lined with vendors who sell bright flourescant childrens toys, everything you can thing of, that is plastic. It's like walking through santas workshop, except its all plastic. Plastic, pink, and the type of toys that will probably break in week two. But the part that makes me jealous is when I see all the little kids riding in those "mini" cars...I always wanted one and the Backs always had one. But now I'm too big, and I don't know if I want to drive down the small streets of Prishtina! 

   But really, family is a focus. You wont be surprised to find 3 generations living together. You pretty much live with your parents until you get married and even then...Honestly, It makes me glad that I have 
​a family and an eternal family. Thank you all so much. Thank you for the birthday cards from all the cousins and the Reneers (Ya, I just got them. It takes a long time for mail, sometimes it doesn't get here!)

   This week I've thought a lot about gifts. Think of the last time you had a birthday, Christmas, or received something from someone else, completely unexpected. How did you feel? For me I think, "Really? Are you serious? This is for me? What did I do to deserve this? It's a nice shirt. Thanks for the candy bar! I can't believe you paid for my lunch! Thanks Aunt (enter name) for the wonderful food! Here's some money for your misson! Good luck, be good!" The more I think about it, the more I realize that I've been given so many material things. Things that were thought out. Even now as I'm typing, I see a ring that I was given by some friends! 

   Now, just think of everything Heavenly Father gives us!
 A body. Wow what a gift. What a special gift. Because of this gift we have the Word of Wisdom, the Law of Chastity, and every physical ordinace in the gospel. 
Agency. Through this FREE gift we can choose everything that is good! Sadly some people in Kosovo don't choose good, but rather turn to 40 cigarettes a day! What a waste of a precious gift. 

Scriptures. now I know they cost a little temporally. But how much was sacrificed so that they could be in our hands today! Words from thousands of years ago that are for us, and we didn't do anything for them. Moroni and Mormon had to haul around these records for "a wise purpose which {we} knew not of"

Holy Ghost. Or should I say the GIFT of the Holy Ghost. Baptism is like a birthday. It's a birth and we get a present! Ever thought of that? And it is all for Us.

Resurrection. A free GIFT for everyperson on this earth. The Atonement of Jesus Christ is for those that follow him. It is amazing to think of all this.
Wow. What love. I love the scripture in Matthew and 3 Nephi that the church also uses for the "Restoration" Video:  "Or what man is there of you, who, if his son ask bread, will give him a stone Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent? If ye then, being evil {or mortal} know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father who is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?"

    And so we learn that there is something we must do. Not every gift is Freely Given, but we must do something, something really easy...Ask. This is something I've recently overlooked. I see blessings promised to people and I assume, oh ya thats me. But then, when I pray, I forget to ask for the gift. you HAVE to ask! Ask and then you shall recieve. And so, are there any blessings that you feel haven't been given to you? Have you ASKED for them? It is really simple. 

   I hope you've seen how the whole gospel is full of asking and giving. The scripture we share with everyone is to ask god if the BoM is true and then by the power of the Holy Ghost, then will RECIEVE an answer. 

  Sometimes when we think we know a principle is when we really don't. Think of the best thing you're "good at" in the gospel...now go work on it. I did ithis and realized because I thought I was good at it,I had neglected to try to develop it any more. The oh so true promise came to my mind that the Lord will take away the gifts we don't develop. 

   I learn a lot every day here in Prishtina. Work is progressing. We have a few investigators that are looking good. For example. 2 weeks ago 3 kids from our English Class (ya, I'm an English Teacher) just showed up to church. Yesterday, they showed up again...this time we got a lesson with them. We met with 5 kids in all, parts of 2 different families. They were from 10-14 years old. We asked if there parents were alright with us meeting. "Yes". Well could we meet your parents and have a lesson with them. "Yes". So, we are happy! AFAD! I hope it works out. Pray for these families. Also, a man Adem who read 200 pages of the Book of Mormon between the first two visits with us, pray for him! He has potential! One cool thing about him is that when he walked into Church he tapped one of the recent members on the shoulder who happened to be his classmate from 1st to 8th grade! God watches over us and will give us everything if we ask him!

   I love you all and I look forward to talking to you on Sunday! Happy Mother's Day!

Love, Elder Bangerter

PS- So I think I'm going to be skyping from a local internet locale at around8 o'clock in the morning your time!  That is 4 in the afternoon for me...Good after church and a good meal from the Jones'!

Two pictures

Okay, I love these two pictures. The fist is the Skenderbeu statue. He is a stud. Really cool. Saving the Albanians from the Muslim Ottomans for 40 years or so. 
the second is great two. If you follow Skenderbeu's eyes you see him staring down the Xhami (Mosque-the pointy thing in the background), while holding his sword. He was an emblem of Christianity and so we joke about how mad he is now that there are so many Xhami's everywhere! He'll take them over...through us. 

Question and Answers

Answers

1.Do the muslims have the call for prayer in Kosovo?

              

YES! all the time! The mosques dot the city like chapels in Utah Valley! no joke.

2. Do the women cover their heads?

            

YES! A lot of women cover their heads. Some are stylish while others are very traditional. Sometimes we wonder how devoted they are

3. I assume you don't see the Mid eastern "burkas" - but do you?

                

SOMETIMES! We see a good amount of those, escpecaillay around the Xhami (that is a mosque and it is pronounced Jaw-mee) That is if by burka you mean a full covering of all except really the eyes

4. Muslim women won't shake hands in most parts of the world - is that
the case in Kosovo?

         

I DONT KNOW! We don't contact the women in headdresses and everytime I say Si jeni! they don't respond. We just respect them becuase there are enough that aren't super practicing that we can talk to.

5. Do you only teach the men or will women attend the classes?

              

We teach men and women in the class. But we as ELDERS focus on teaching men and give the women to others. We don't teach a lot of practicing muslims. But a few have very practicing fmilies and can't talk to their family about us. We've had to drop a few because of this

6. How many investigators do you have?  What approach seems to work
for those good people?

       

I guess looking at my numbers this week, we have 10 new investigators with 4 progressing. REally, a few are from english class, but most are from stopping on the street.

7.What is your main method of contacting?  Knocking on doors or street
contacting?  

WE do half street contacting and half tracting. I really am impartial to both. SC is easier to get a lesson at the CHURCH. but Tracting pays off when they let us in and we're in their home, and KNOW where the are all the time!

We are free to choose

Dear Family,

   I'll start with a bit of advice. Never leave your house without an umbrella. Today, we casually strolled out in our white shirts for P-day. After shopping and lunch we found ourselves in quite the predicament: it was raining cats and dogs and we had to get to the internet cafe so that I could right this email. Obviously we survived the Mississippi and Missouri that we crossed to get here. You should embrace this moment, this is probably the most you'll ever feel like the early pioneers who didn't know if they would receive mail from their loved ones on missions because of mother nature's best efforts. Just imagine that this email is on wet parchment and you can barely make out the words because the ink is bleeding.

   It may sound dramatic, but it is just really fun. I'm having a blast over here. I've jokingly told my companion that I want to be a weatherman when I get home because I love seeing the clouds roll in, sunsets etc. 

   This week I've fell in love...with the book of mormon. Not the book of mormon but the BOOK of mormon. The little one. Only 9 chapters. I would say it is some of the most underrated and underread scripture in the Book of Mormon. I've imagined in my minds eye Mormon, a man who sees no hope in his people. Yet he leads them because they look to him. They plead with him to guide their armies. He leaves them, but goes back to help even though he knows it will probably be in vain. He realizes that even though he may not bring them to Christ, he can still help them. This Apostasy contained in these 9 chapters is sobering. No longer do the battles have inserts of how the leader "spiritually" prepared the people. No longer to generals council with prophets. No longer does the Lord deliver his people. No, each battle is decided according to the strength of the men. To me, I just pictured the NFL: Survival of the fittest, no drive, just money, except for the rookie QB (Mormon) who has that fire in his throw and has a desire to win. I hope it was alright to compare football to the Book of Mormon. Then consider the final testimony of this "Hall of Famer". It is humbling and beautiful as he describes his purpose in writing. For me, I found the most power in Moroni's conclusion of his fathers record. I imagine that he didn't know if what he was writing was the end of the record. Reading it like it IS the last chapter of the whole book really puts it into perspective. Thankfully, we have the books of Ether and Moroni to round it out.

   We often wonder why people don't except the gospel. I wonder why the people of the Book of Mormon reject the prophets. Why does apostasy happen? I find it everywhere: national and personal. It is because of one thing, not recognizing God's hand in your life. When one becomes too self-centered, their reliance on God diminishes. I've seen too many people here recognize the truth of the gospel, but aren't willing to give to God, in the words of President Packer, "the only thing that he can't take away", our agency. We are the deciding factor for anything in our life.  Gods for us, satans against us: we choose. It is a gift from God, but we must give it back. The way to give it back is to do what he wants us to do. The way to do what he wants us to do is to recognize what he's done for us, what he's done for our ancestors, and what he will do for the children of God in the future. Then after we recognize, we'll WANT MORE and start to live more righteously. The gosple becomes a part of us and a constant adventure. I really want to keep up this studying even after my mission (I guess I should focus on the 2 years at hand now!)

    I see miracles every day. some are big and some are small. Some are manifest in numbers but most are not. I just love the little light that we can be in someone else's life. My favorite miracle is seeing myself stop someone randomly and we end up teaching them a lesson. This is a miracle because I think of what they're life would be like if we didn't stop them. 

    I love my district. The Zone Leaders and the Sisters are also in our city so we see them all the time. All of us just want to work so hard. The Zone Leaders have a baptism next week, so that's super exciting for all of us! The Senior couple (Jones) is just amazing. I love talking with Elder Jones. He was a dairy man in Cache Valley and was drafted into the Vietnam War. He reminds me of Grandpa, Uncle Steven, David, and all the Hicken Uncles in one. He's great. He serves as the Branch President and does a tremendous job. We'll miss him when they leave in a few weeks, as well as sister jones's cooking (I need to run a little more now!)

   Sounds like life is HAPPENING back home. I love the updates. I think about you all the time. Keep the members and non-members of Kosovo in your prayers!

Love,

    Elder Bangerter

P.S. Mom, do you know how much my money card started with, and the history of withdrawrals? Thanks

P.P.S. Mom and Dad, I love you so much. One thing I've realized this week has to do with you. In the MTC someone gave a talk about reasons for serving a mission: (in order) Everybody else is/ They want me to, for yourself, for others home and abroad, for the lord. I immediatly thought, "oh I want to be the last and greatest serving for the lord" which I've learned is the wrong attitude. Last night for example, I was washing the dishes and I thought, "why am I doing this? why do I wash dishes?" And I realized that it was becuase If I saw you, mom, walk into my apartment, thats what you'd want me to do. I did it because you, dad, always did it with me and that it was comfortable. I wasn't "doing it for the Lord", but for you. Sometimes I just do what I do becuase I know that if I did anything different YOU would be disappointed in me. We don't have to jump to the "last and greatest" of talks like I did. I realized that I needed to evaluate where I was at and then work from there. Thank you so much for everything! I love you.... a lot! Ti amo! Ich liebe dich! Ju dua!

   

Pictures: Bell tower in Prishtina...notice the different wrong times

Continues On

Well, last week I said "Springtime in Prishtina", but lets be real. If it is springtime in the rockies, how often does it snow! Yep, that was this week, and what a dramatic change it was.

   Tuesday, my companion/district leader had a DL meeting down in Tirana, about 4 hours away. We awoke about 3 to get to the OTHER capital city on time. Honestly, I don't complain because it is always so beautiful, but not really at 3 am. Por, (but) when I awoke again aound 7 I was amazed at the scene before me. From heaven to earth the landscape was breathtaking: rainclouds, green mountains, lowerclouds, green city. All bathed in splatters of early morning sunshine. I'd call it my sunrise, because only me and maybe the bus driver saw it.

    We spent the day in tirana, he at his meeting and I street contacting...in a short sleeve shirt! (first time ever) But that choice almost proved to be fatal! As we came back we entered a half mile tunnel with a drizzel of rain. When we exited about 1 minute later, 4 inches of snow covered the ground! Yep, Kosovo is very similiar to springtime (summer even) in the Rockies!

    Well for the rest of this week, all hail broke loose! Snow, Hail, and finally rain have covered the ground until well Sunday! And what a fitting time it was. Easter. A time for rebirth, a refocus on the new Life of Christ. I felt a personal conection obviously....proud to share a day with the whole Christian world. But everything about the day was new. A new year for me, the meaning of easter, a renewal of my baptismal coventants, a new chapter of my life, a new country, a new companion, everything new! But, good new. I've learned alot this week about opening your mouth. The lord counsels, "For some I am not well pleased for they will not open their mouth!" I figure he is pleased if we serve him, but if we want him to be WELL pleased, we better act.

    Being the younger companion I am, I've gotten used to stopping someone, attempting to understand, and handing it over to my companion. But, that is not the way it works. I know heavenly father has blessed me a bit by putting english speakers in my path...but that wont last for long. After a companionship inventory and a personal reevaluation, I've found the comfort that the lord gives when he says "I will use the weak things of the world to confound the wise...""I give unto men weakness that they may be HUMBLE, and MY grace is sufficient enought for those that humble themselves before me...I will make weak things STRONG unto them." Oh how this is true! We can rejoice in our weaknesses! For we know that is when we recieve strength, like my fellow eastern european missionary paul said, "When I weak, then I am strong" Our companionship has gotten a lot better at just talking to the normal joe on the street...so often the last person we plan on stopping is the one the lord has put in our path. Like my friend Austin Fullmer said in a letter to me, from advice he learned from Seth, "Sometimes our plan B is God's plan A" very true. Everything happens for a reason.

   And so, why the rain?

   Obviously, we have asked this question a lot this week, but in a negative sort of way. But I purpose the "Plan A of God"

Rain forces those who are comfortable street contacting where? INdoors. Therefore, tracting became the missionaries tool in Prishina this week...and for good reason.

   As we came up to our first door one day, we said a prayer, really trying to have faith that this week would be successfull and not seem long. Well, first knock? An answer, an admittance, a shoe removal, a lesson, and a return appointment. As we left the lesson, I coudn't help but smile as we both recognized God's plan in our life. Whether that return appointment happens or not, it does not matter to me, becuase I know that from that experience God taught me that he is always there, even when things are tough, he is there for his missionaries. I thought in my head, "huh, that was one of those experiances that missionaries type home in their letters. that's cool. It really happens. wow!"

  But God is a loving God and always will contintue to bless us. Naturally, that lesson took up a good amount of time and we were done tracting for the day. So we finished and planned to finish the building the next day.

  Next day arrived and we were back on the landing. To our right, the door of first opening was situated, to our left, the first door of this NEW day. After another prayer, we knocked, he answered, he admitted, we removed our shoes, we taught a lesson, and set up a return appointment. Words cannot express the feelings that were felt as we left that special

landing. A landing where God showed his love to 2 missionaries by giving them something to do, and giving it to them in His way, a way that required precipitation from heaven, which precipitation is, when conversing with the locals, a rare 20 year occurance in April in Kosovo. Wow. Now I really hope the return appointments work! I know that God lives, and loves me too, his spirit whispers this to me and tells me it is true. It is true. We are the ONLY true church on the earth. We have një profet i gjallë, a living prophet, who has POWER and AUTHORITY. Wow that is amazing.

   One last thing, today we went to an old Serbian monestary which had beautiful 1200s paintings. I stood in the cathedral alone as I saw an old nun do her sacred routine, kissing various pictures and crossing herself. It was very beautiful and peaceful. I knew she had faith in Christ, but my heart pained as I knew what WE had. I know she has dedicated her whole life to this, but I know what blessings come from elderly women in my life. This nun could've been a teacher to primary children, or a grandmother to many, a lady of love in a church thats true. But that was not Gods plan for her. I know she'll be blessed for her service, but oh how glad I am to have the true and living church today.

Love you all,

Elder Bangerter

Pictures from the week

1. The signs in Kosovo they believe should be only in albanian....not serbian, that's why they cross them all out

2. 1 of 5 waterfalls we went to