To Albania and Beyond!

October 5, 2011!  What an amazing thing to see our son, Riley, in person after two years apart.

We were so fortunate to be able to spend a week with him in Albania and Kosovo.  I will never regret the decision we made to take this trip.  We would not have been able to fully appreciate his experiences without being able to experience it firsthand ourselves.  We were able to see some of the country and meet some amazing people. 

I took close to 1000 pictures.  How do I go about choosing only a handful of those to share that will convey all that we experienced and all that we felt.

It is hard to believe we have been home a week already.

Doctrine & Covenants 133:37

Doctrine & Covenants 133:37 reads, "And this gospel shall be preached unto every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people."

On May 30, 2011 - Elder Riley Smith wrote us:

"I forgot to mention that the area presidency has also received permission to send elders into Kosovo.  Elders Klein and Norris will be opening the country for proselyting this Wednesday.  It's interesting how things have worked out.  I'll forward you the letter that President sent us.  They will be sending a new missionary to Kosovo once every transfer (because the Church isn't recognized in Kosovo, missionaries can only stay as tourists for 90 days in a 180 day period).  Love, Elder Riley Smith"

Date: Mon, Jul 11, 2011 at 3:59 AM
Subject: Re: Sunday, July 10, 2011

Good Morning!

Wow, it's a hot one.  Albania is just as hot and humid as Florida.  The other day it was supposedly 108.  The last two nights I've gone home and gotten in the shower because I feel disgusting.

This last week we had interviews with President Ford.  He really is a great guy and I'm positive that we'll see progress in our missionary efforts with his direction.  When he first came, he made a very true comment: "Each Mission President adds something."  It's really true.  He commented one some of the things that President Neil added to our mission culture.  It is obvious that he will also have an impact on that culture.

In interviews President told me that he would send me assistant with Elder Moyes if we weren't leaving at the same time.  He said he would do it anyway if he wasn't a new mission President.  He said that because he's a new mission President he needs the over lap between assistants so that they can help him more.  We had transfer calls on Friday.  I was interested to see where they'd send me. 

This will be my last Monday in Albania.  I'll be going to Kosovo.  I'll be the third missionary in Kosovo, and the first Branch President. It's a little intimidating.  I'm afraid of the language.  It's different that Albanian Albanian.  they have a different accent and use different words.  Elder Klein told me that it's not that bad.  I'm also afraid of being Branch President.  I'm not really sure what a Branch President does, but I imagine I've got a pretty good idea.  I got better at a couple of things while I was in the office.  One of those things is controlling and dealing with new situations.  

Last week was a good week.  I figured that I'd be leaving so we made visits to members and old investigators.  I took pictures of most of them.

Last Monday, there was a baptism.  It's the zone leaders responsibility to get everything ready for the baptism.  We weren't super happy about that, but in the end it worked out.  We had the Elders doing the baptism come spend some time watching the font (the heater doesn't work very well; it shuts off by itself sometimes).

President Apostolli is the second counselor in the district presidency.  He's a super awesome guy.  He's very good at handling teaching moments with tact so that people are willing to be taught.  He lives with his mother. She is 91 years old.  She's actually originally from Macedonia.  They're both amazing people.

We went out to the Lami family.  They're still awesome.  The dad just got a white shirt and tie.  He's so proud of himself.  I got to see the mom (Rajmonda) and son (Angelo) that just got baptized.  They weren't at Church this last Sunday, but she was busy. They're super poor and they don't have any source of income so she is taking a course to become a hair dresser.  They still have lots of faith.

On Sunday we went to see the Cara family with Elder and Sister Stacey.  The Cara's have to daughters (23 and 25) and we wanted the Stacey's to meet them.  The Stacey's are over the Center for Young Single Adults.  We had a really good lesson.  We invited them back to Church by telling them how much we need them.  They do everything that a member family should, except come to Church. They want to come back. And eventually they will.

So far this morning, we went and played frisbee and got haircuts.  We're going to go bowling as well.  Sorry, I didn't get the letters for Parker and Macey written, but they're coming.

This week during my personal study I've been reading the Book of Mormon.  I've also been reading "Marvelous Work and a Wonder".   At first the book didn't really do it for me, but over time some of the comments have really grown on me.  I've particularly liked this most recent part.  Legrand Richards talks about all the prophecies made in the scriptures and how many of those have been fulfilled.  It really is amazing to look at all those promises that the Lord has made and see them fulfilled in this, His Church.  The words in the scriptures really are the words of the prophets.  And those words will happen.  As those prophecies and words are fulfilled, their words really do stand as a witness for God and His Son, Jesus Christ.

With only three months left a lot of people start getting trunky.  I have thought about home quite a lot.  It's hard not to.  But, instead of becoming trunky in the last little bit, I've started feeling more like I did back in the MTC.  I feel more... energized to do missionary work.  And I have more hope of the possible outcomes of my efforts.  Don't worry too much about me.  I was built to work, and that's what I'll keep doing.  I don't know what I'd do with myself if I wasn't working.

Well, I have to go.  I love you all.  Have a great week.

Love,

Elder Riley Smith.

Merry Christmas! From a Missionary Mom!

Christmas Tree 2010

I don't know that I've ever done a post without a picture.  I saw a friend do just that and thought why didn't I think of that.  It just seems like it takes so long sometimes to find the 'just right' picture.  Since this is sometimes, somewhat of a journal of sorts I think I should do just that - post with no pictures - just say a few words.

Funny thing is I just found a few perfect pictures - so pictures it is.

Stockings were hung all in a row with great care, in hopes that Saint Nicholas soon would be there.

We got to talk to our two missionary sons today.  Elder Austin Smith called at around noon.  It was so awesome to hear his voice.  We talked to him for almost an hour on the phone before Elder Riley Smith called via video skype from an internet cafe in Albania.  We were able to hold the cell phone close enough to the computer for the two Elders to converse with each other a little bit.  They were able to ask each other a few questions.  Skype is a little hard to hear at times and there is a little bit of a delay.

While talking to Austin in the beginning we were able to conference in his Grandma Swensen.  At the tail end of Riley's call we were able to get Grandma Lois on the phone and hold it up real close to say a quick hi and Merry Christmas.  The amazing marvels of technology!

There's so many things you want to say and then you can't remember what.  Through it all our greatest appreciation goes out to those in the areas where they serve that love and take care of them as their own.  We cannot express our appreciation and gratitude enough.  Tear fill my eyes and my heart swells with love for you and hope you know it.  I hope that blessings to you and yours will come full circle someday.

Elder Austin Smith has told us of fun families & their kids and many dinners - their latest meal included authentic Chinese food including duck & octupus and was really good.  In the last week he has reconnected/met two families that we knew when we lived in that area 14+ years ago. 

Elder Riley Smith was going to a members home tonight and he and the other 3 Elders had made dishes to contribute to the meal.  Riley had made homemade mashed potatoes and attempted to make stuffing.  He said he hadn't tasted it yet so he hoped it wasn't too bad. 

We are grateful for our sons, we miss them more than mere words can convey.  Our hearts are with them every moment, but we wouldn't want them to be anywhere else at this time in their lives.  We know that this experience will shape them and build them into greater men.  They will be blessed for their efforts to do good and to testify of Christ.

We wish all of you a very Merry Christmas!  May you keep the spirit of Christmas in your heart all year through.

Who's There?!

 Well the missionaries of course!  Our thoughts are often of the missionaries of our church who are spending two years of their lives serving others and sharing their testimonies, teaching and convictions of their Savior, Jesus Christ.  

Our thoughts have turned often to our own two sons doing this same thing especially at this time of year as we celebrate more than one holiday and we miss even more the opportunity of being together as a family.

Elder Riley Smith has been gone for over a year now.  He is serving in Albania.  He hit his one year on October 21, 2010.   He has had many new experiences - new language, different food, cold showers, no electricity - but many learning experiences as well.  He has learned to do audits, be in charge of buying a new car in a foreign country for his mission president, negotiate leases and work with the German Embassy for visas for members to attend the temple in Germany.

Elder Austin Smith is serving in the Seattle Washington area.  He will have been serving for 6 months on December 2, 2010.  He is the one that sent us the first picture.  His humor is still intact and his smile as well.  It has always been infectious.  He is serving in somewhat familiar territory.  John's family (his dad's) family all live in Washington State.  John's sister and niece both live within Austin's mission boundaries.  He is currently serving in part of the area where we lived 14 years ago.  Some people we knew then are still there now.  What a small world. 

We have faith that the Lord has his hand in the many workings in each of our individual lives.  He knows us and loves us.  There is purpose in the places he sends us, the places we end up and the experiences we have in this life. 

Fun Times w/Grandma's

It was fun to have (2) Grandmas in Florida at the same time. What a treat! Thank you Grandma Smith and Grandma Swensen for taking a little bit of your time to spend it with us. We love you.



Then we were able to take a detour to Washington before our final destination of Provo, UT. We were able to spend some time there with Grandma Lois and other family. Thanks for coming to see us. Who was it that got 'the last word' anyway?